Thoughts On This Auction

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Originally posted by Susanlynn9

There are advantages for certain items. Generally, items geared toward stay-at-home moms do well ending in the morning around 10 or in the afternoon around 1:30-2:00. (We have done well with various china pieces, Hummels, plates, etc. ending at these times). We have tried ending coin auctions in the mornings and afternoons as an experiment and found that it is simply a bad time to end them. Bids were less than half and final hammer price was very low. That's why we end our auctions between 9:30-10PM Eastern Time. It has also been shown that most hits on eBay-US come from the east coast. That's why we gear our auction end to that.

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Again, Susan and I agree almost exactly down the line. As a Seller, I have found my most successful auctions (in non-summer months) end on Sundays during mid-evening Eastern Time. This time catches competing bidders in the East before they have gone to bed while giving left coasties a chance for last minute bids after their supper. With some exceptions, 10-day auctions don't draw in any more bidders nor watchers than 7-day or 5-day auctions (I try to list for 7-day auctions; if I can't get it together on time, I'll go with 5-day auctions, i.e. list on Tuesday for ending Sunday evening Eastern Time).

As a Buyer, I can handle most any closing time, but prefer to watch the auction end; I will certainly try to take psychological advantage of an auction if it closes at an oddball time (too many parameters to qualify this statement). If I want a coin badly enough, I'll put in a snipe if the ending time is inconvenient, e.g. 2AM. I am very suspicious of one-day and 3-day auctions; they tell me the Seller is trying for a fast sale without permitting time for any questions. With some exceptions, questions to the Seller on such auctions go unanswered; no answer, no bid from me.

There is real psychological insight at work during auction planning and execution. While it requires experience and experimentation on the part of each individual Seller to learn what works best for him/her, and there are a LOT of variables in play (including establishment of the target Buyer), these generalities will usually hold true for the majority of coin sales. Your mileage may vary.

I hope that the bidder doesn't report your email or let the seller of the NTC coin know. If ebay gets wind of this, you will be booted off ebay faster than you can imagine.

I looked at the NTC coin very closely and the strike looks sharper. It is also a blast white coin. While I do not believe it's an MS65 coin, I do think it could make MS64. The strike above the ear is sharper and the breast feathers look very defined.

I agree with Mike. While many of us have emailed bidders at different times to inform them of a counterfeit issue, I see that as different in that we are attempting to protect the buyer and provide information.

This forum was created to stand for honesty and ethical dealings in coins while providing a source of education and information. As such, I cannot condone interference with the sale of a coin that was fairly represented.

Very well stated Richard. Mike

Agree.

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Originally posted by TerrapinWill

All good points, and humbling for me. Thank you for the honesty. But you have to admit, the chances that the NTC coin is actually an MS65, or even 64 are very low indeed. perhaps a lot of newer collectors don't know that. I suppose I was out of bounds and the greed monster was strong. I was simply trying to explain that NTC grading standards are not on par with NGC, ANACS or PCGS. If ebay NARU's me, so be it. I don't feel bad about telling someone that there is a good chance the coin in question is not an MS65 and likely not worth what the bidder has in it. Does that sound so wrong? I realize ebay may have a problem with that, but ethically I don't think I was that far of the mark. I do like the opinions given here, and they have given me something to think about.

Mike,
I especially thank you for your opinion.

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Hi TW,
Don't want to seem as if I am piling on, but personally, I would have absolutely NO trouble with you sending that email to the bidder, had you NOT had a competing coin up for auction. The fact that you do, makes it enlightened self interest at best, and sour grapes or interference at worst.
Don

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Originally posted by TerrapinWill
but in my email to bidder I did not offer any suggestions or advise against bidding. I simply stated that NTC coins tend to be over graded.

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Please take this as just my humble opinion and advice.

I fully understand that your heart is in the right place, but I could show you MANY coins in PCGS, NGC, ICG, and Anacs holders that are also overgraded.
I turn down coins each and every day because I do not agree with the holder. You have to take into consideration that any grade is an opinion of the 3 people who looked at it. Each and every person who looks at it afterwards will also have an opinion.
I am pretty good at grading, and I still miss the mark on occasion. I have been looking at thousands of coins a year for more than a decade, and I am no where near an expert. I have bought low tier graded coins that are crossed over and even upgraded because I buy coins, not plastic.
You are judging this coin based solely on a photo and reputation. That is not fair to you or the coin. While you will be right 99% of the time calling a low teir service bad or overgraded, it can lead to more trouble than it is worth.
A bit of friendly advice...Some of these companies SUE people for their remarks. While they may not win, the lawyer fees are a real pain in the (-) if you know what I mean.......

Just be careful out there....

TerrapinWill


May I make a suggestion. If you are going to use a reserve method of selling It may not be good to also have a "Buy it Now" price. Buyers will assume that the reserve and the Buy it Now price are the same. You defeat your own purpose.


catman