Auctions: Heritage Vs Greatcollections Vs Ebay

@basebal21, sounds like you have had experience with them. Thank you. Just the type of info I would eventually find out the hard way...

Once I figure out all the pricing differences, I'll post a chart to this thread. I think I'm going to need to spend some money on this effort and perhaps target one of the monthly "larger" auctions versus go with the standard weekly auctions.

I found several discussions on the web from people who had bad experiences with these auction companies where it was a "soft auction" and their coin sold for cheap (no reserve). Only to find it a week later being sold on ebay by the auction company. Not sure about the facts on those stories but I need to consider the possibilities of those stories being true.

I think you have to be careful that you aren't over-valuing it, since those auction prices are from 2004 and 2010.

Anyone not negotiating that rate down is doing it wrong

SuperDave had a great suggestion. I would add that you should start accounts at the PCGS and NGC forums and post your coin in the Buy and Sell section.

You cannot negotiate the buyers fees of 20%. You can only negotiate the sellers fees and unless you have a major collection you will not be in a very good position to bring it down from the 10% to lower. Most ordinary mortals will pay 10%.

I routinely bid on greatcollections and have done so for 2 years. Selling on GC has a few more stinker surprises: listing and seller fees combined with insurance and shipping to and from add up quietly and then you get your total deducted and when you get your check its just enough to make a person say "dang it".
But...GC will move your coin rather quickly (30 days or less) and their up front about everything (just be sure to read policy or ask, they are customer oriented). Compared to Heritage and others GC is my choice for buying and selling.
Here is my observations and they are only mine so please feel free to disagree. 1. The modern variety coin market is currently soft, I consistently buy scarce variety cents at 45-60% book whoohooh some of the tougher ones 70% but only a few for me its a buyers market. 2. The ones I sold surprised me (had 20 that were doubles or not necessary for my set) a couple hammered at book but most pretty much what I paid for them. 3. Selling coins is a bummer for me as I get emotionally attached so I'm a rotten coin dealer but a great customer :) then why am I butting in? Ha, ok sorry I was in your shoes a year ago so felt the need to chime.
You can tell GC to go up to 80% value and they will, they will also go in betwbeen 30, 50, etc. When I totaled up everything I received pretty much what I paid for them...
I checked out the others and they bite. I recommend GC for buying and selling. And yes I get your drift about selling a coin to buy more, my tastes are evolving and I'm catching on quick about this coin stuff I'm learning patientence is a painful virtue to learn (in my case) example being the 1992 D Close AM, criminy their all over the place now for around 1000 (paid 1800 for mine 18 mo.ago ouch).
If you do sell list that baby at 80% and pay the eight dollar listing fee the worst it will do is not sell. I got 8 of my coins back from GC that I pulled after 2 auctions, smartly I requested 80% and they didn't sell so back in the safe they go.
Good luck on your decision either way, your nickel sounds like a real peach.

Thanks for your observation, luvmyCAM. I have one coin I've been meaning to sell through GC to get my feet wet -- maybe a few other things as I start to upgrade, but I'm not quite there yet. Good to know what I can expect, including the rate of return and market conditions.