...As for money-making...

I sold a Blue-Print Edition Shi: Battlebook, Signed & Numbered, for $36. Starting bid of $7 (cost) and I even stated in the description, that it retails for $12.95.

A Nightwing Die-Cut Retailer Promo Poster for $36. Starting bid, $2.

Any Alex Ross promo poster I put up always brings over $30. Always starts at $2-$4.

Most of the signed books I offer start at $3-$5 (prices vary due to book, creator, and condition), and 80% of the time, go for $10 or more. I am bonded and give COA's, but I use them mostly for advertising, since most people want them, and if resold later, they go with, and thus, spread the word. Plus, since my signed books are cheap, I've used them to get people interested in certain titles, artists, or writers, and wound up selling more books to the person of that type.

It's nice to take books that would normally be in the 3 for $1 bin, and at least get cover price + for them.

90% of my eBay sales are signed books. I list 30-40 a week, and normally sell 25-30 of them, or at least all by the relist.

Plus my wife lists cross stitch books, and other things, all under the same ID, so it all helps the feedback number (well, actually I list under hers, since she started first, and we saw no need to start from scratch. [img]http://207.69.158.95/ubb/smile.gif[/img])

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"That's just my opinion, I could be wrong." - Dennis Miller

Jack, you do the $1 thing? I always thought it would be smart to set a reserve and start the bidding at 50-75% of it. Or would that put people off? I mean if you had a $300 book, you wouldn't start it at a dollar, would you?

I have good results selling on eBay. Mostly Marvel Masterworks and Fireside hardcovers...Comics I try to bundle in groups of 5 or so and start the bidding at less than cover. I had real good bids on Kitchen Sink Spirits, Miracleman, Lone Wolf and Cub. Just have to find the time to scan in the pictures. I have about 600 books I am working through now to grade and scan then list em up. I usually don't pay too much attention to the ending day but last time around it was Saturday or Sunday, and Results were very good.

One thing I detest as a buyer is a reserve auction...so I never list my auctions that way.

Discovercomcis.com is now in early growing pains with much agony over navigation and download speeds. But it has some content up [img]http://207.69.158.95/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

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Arriving one day if I can find the time is
http://www.discovercomics.com

hmmm

when I sold my Fantastic Four #1 last year (I had a poor/fair copy restored by Susan Cicconi to about VF) I put it up at 1200..no bids..I relisted it at 500, got one bid and they never closed the auction. Put it up a month or so later at 1.00 got 45 bids on it and it closed at 2050.00

With posters and promos its different, but with comics it seems the higher the starting bid the lower the overall yield.

I went through a phase where I put up stuff at half guide and my sales fell through the floor.

For some reason people will pay more for something in the end if they really want it, if they think they are getting a good deal for it up front.

[This message has been edited by Jack Venooker (edited 05-11-2000).]

Well, I don't have Golden Age stuff to sell, so that may be a factor in my poor showing on comics. I mainly put up Silver and Bronze age stuff, and generally get less than half of guide. Even a couple of Fawcett Captain Marvel books I put up brought less than guide. Oh well.

I agree: reserves tend to piss off buyers. They certainly piss ME off. Who wants to do the guessing game of how much the seller REALLY wants for it? I virtually never bid on an auction with a reserve. If something is in high demand, (i.e. Jack's FF #1), it WILL generate bids. I agree, it can be nerve-wracking to put up a really valuable book at $1.00, but (again), I'd have to go along with Jack that a low opening bid seems to generate excitement rather than one closer to the item's true value. I probably should do it more often and see how it affects my sales.

JE Smith

Visit COMPLEX CITY at www.bettercomics.com

I can tell you as a bidder that reserve auctions put me off of bidding. I won't bid in one where the reserve has not been met, and am dubious of bidding in one where it has. I really don't feel like wasting my time playing the bidding game if I could place the highest bid and still not get the book. You want to ensure a price? Set it as the starting bid. Simple.

Wow. Unloosing everything for potentially a dollar. What if the seller were to set that starting price at 20 bucks and specifically mention "my reserve is only 30?"

[This message has been edited by Greg (edited 05-11-2000).]

Nat is spot on about that.

Ebay proves that people like to gamble with the idea that they can get something for cheap. Once they get that "itch" scratched, they seem to love to play.

Ebay has different listing fees and rules for sellers around reserve auctions, and in general, they discourage them.

So Jack...what do you advise is the BEST day and time to start an auction, and get those power bidders over the closing weekend?
Is it best to close it on Saturday or Sunday?
As opposed to a Wed. or Thursday night?
And based on which you think the above is the best time to close, then when should I start it at? Thursday night at 6:00pm? 7:00 pm?
PS...Do you have an Invisibles #14 (1st series lying around your shop?
-Rich

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http://www.timespell.com

I have to say Greg, for every book Ive sold at a dollar worth more, Ive sold many for more worth less.

Or however that translates [img]http://207.69.158.95/ubb/smile.gif[/img]