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Hello guys,
After about 8 years of doing nothing but buying rifles and ending up with just short of 120 of them it is now time to do a bit of selling in order to rid myself of some that just happened to show up, were to good to pass up, or were a part of a multi-gun package. I will be listing a couple of Model 52’s, 61’s, 94’s, and a Model 42 shotgun. My plan is to have a real auction with a $1 start. For those of you who have done a fair bit of selling would you run the auction for 1 or 2 weeks? Any preference between Gunbroker or Guns International. And of course any helpful hints would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
January 26, 2011
Offline
Michael,
For that type of auction, you would need to use Gunbroker. Guns International is fixed pricing, unless negotiated behind the scenes. I see some of the frequent sellers that do very well with a penny start and a two week run. Let us know when you post them, some of the folks on here might be interested in what you have.
I have done very little selling online, but bought quite a few over the years, all through Gunbroker, and a few of the big auction houses.
~Gary~
If you have a particular price you want, put it on Guns International. If you like a little excitement, put it on Gun Broker with a penny start & no reserve. As for the length of the auction, there is a lot of days in a two week auction where there is no bidding. I believe you can do as good in a week or even a 10 day auction as a two week one (they get long & boring). Like pdog said, put a message on here when they go for sale. Good luck & am always looking for some thing to bid on.
FWIW, I have had great success with both sites. I would cherry pick the ones that you know will sell quick, and use Guns International.
Then use Gunbroker for a week with a penny start for the real action.
Never ceases to amaze me how the energy of auctions can draw in those who would normally not get involved.
Can’t count the ones I have purchased in this manner….
I’ve had good luck selling my extras on Guns International. Cost is $12.00 and includes 15 pictures. Ad runs for 3 months and can be extended at no extra cost.
If it hasn’t sold in 3 months, the price is obviously too high.
I’ve started at a price I would like to get and if nothing happens, I’ll Edit my ad and drop the price 5% or so. Keep doing that til it sells.
Works fine for me.
I’ve sold several on Gunbroker. Always no reserve and start at a penny. I’ve noticed it works best to list them on a Sunday afternoon or Monday and run them for a week. Towards the end of the auction you catch the weekend which appears to have a few more bidders. Lots of pictures the best quality you can upload. Also it doesn’t hurt to have the thumbprint picture. I’ve never used the featured. Good luck!
Yes, use the thumb print photo that will be seen by browsing buyers.
For auctions, check the calendar. Start date is not as important as end date. Choose an ending date and time that you think will find most bidders at home and able to comfortably participate in the last hour(s) of your auction. The Super Bowl is over, so that won’t trip you up. East coast/West coast time–Ending at 8:00 p.m. West coast might find your best Eastern bidders are already snoring. Be aware of Sunday church–It’s tough competing against God.
Thanks everyone for the input. Some great suggestions. Now if I can just get the “Advance Picture Loader” to run I will be in business!
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
Michael,
Let us know where, and when you post your guns for sale.
Thanks,
Al
twobit said
Thanks everyone for the input. Some great suggestions. Now if I can just get the “Advance Picture Loader” to run I will be in business!Michael
You might have to down load the picture resizer for that option. You can find it in “tools for sellers” page.
lund2075 said
If you like a little excitement, put it on Gun Broker with a penny start & no reserve…
NO reserve? Seems pretty risky to me, unless you can enlist a collaborator to shill for you–a common practice on auction sites. Guess I’m out of step here, because when I see a “penny start,” my reaction is “that’s bait for fools, and I’m no fool.”
clarence said
NO reserve? Seems pretty risky to me, unless you can enlist a collaborator to shill for you–a common practice on auction sites. Guess I’m out of step here, because when I see a “penny start,” my reaction is “that’s bait for fools, and I’m no fool.”
Respectfully, I have the opposite opinion. When I see a reserve I walk away. Why hide what you want to get out of the rifle? If there is an absolute minimum you need to make on the gun then start the bidding at that amount otherwise it just looks like you are fishing for a sucker or information. I have noticed that most auctions with a reserve tend not to sell, usually because the reserve is too high so they get relisted over and over until either the right person with want and means comes along or some sucker bites. That is not my idea of an “auction”.
I agree with penny start or starting at your minimum price. I buy on Gunbroker all the time but have not bid on a “reserve” auction in many years. I know lots of people with the same opinion so keep in mind you might be reducing your potential market with hidden reserves. If you are looking for a fixed price like a high reserve would fetch then maybe Guns International is a better choice. I bid on penny auctions all the time and have not seen one go cheap, at least on the Winchester auctions I normally bid on. They certainly draw more attention and attention equates to bidding frenzy in most cases. Check out the “Jack the Dog” auctions on Auction Arms/Gun Auction. He lists nice stuff with a penny start and lots of quality pictures. His auctions generally bring a good amount, typically higher than average and have lots of bids. No need to reinvent the wheel, just copy the techniques used by the other successful and reputable sellers. Always keep in mind that in an auction the buyers are looking to purchase at the lowest possible price and sellers are looking for the highest possible price.
That is just my personal opinion and everyone here has given good suggestions.
Best Regards,
WACA Life Member #6284 - Specializing in Pre-64 Winchester .22 Rimfire
I agree with JWA. As a GB patron as well, reserve is often a red flag and I walk away. I go to GB looking for a fair (emphasize fair) deal. Reserve is a game I’m not interested in playing and a penny (or at least reasonable) open gets the item on my watch list and has me coming back at the conclusion of the auction (and sometimes- against my better judgment) gets me caught up in the frenzy.
If you are going to place a reserve, you might as well go to GI and state your price.
Just my two cents.
WACA Member. CFM Member. NRA Lifer.
JWA said
Respectfully, I have the opposite opinion. When I see a reserve I walk away. Why hide what you want to get out of the rifle?…
On the antiquated theory that “honesty is the best policy,” you should not! But starting an auction at some ridiculously low price that you would not accept IS hiding what you “want to get out of the rifle.” So I always start at what I feel is the very least that I’d accept, and hope the bidding drives it higher; but if for whatever reason it does not, I don’t worry that I’ll go into a hole.
Actually, for some inexplicable reason (Alzheimer’s?) I failed to follow my own rule about starting at the “least that I’d accept” when I listed a beautiful Stevens scope on ebay not long ago. I started it at a low price without reserve because I was so sure it would go much higher; it did not, and I ended up giving it away.
clarence said
lund2075 said
If you like a little excitement, put it on Gun Broker with a penny start & no reserve…NO reserve? Seems pretty risky to me, unless you can enlist a collaborator to shill for you–a common practice on auction sites. Guess I’m out of step here, because when I see a “penny start,” my reaction is “that’s bait for fools, and I’m no fool.”
Gosh Clarence. And all this time I thought I was an honest guy!!!???
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
twobit said
Gosh Clarence. And all this time I thought I was an honest guy!!!???
Michael
If you’re willing to sell at your starting price, 1 cent or whatever, in the event no higher bid was received, you most definitely are!
I have not used the penny-start at GB as yet, but I have only sold items that I knew would sell at or near the reserve I had set for them. So, when you use the reserve auction, you need to know the market or chance losing your shirt on some pieces. This experience was as I had expected, successful in every respect, except for an old Remington-Keene favorite of mine. I have since learned that not only do Remington-Keene collectors not come in droves, they must be extinct, or do not frequent GB on a somewhat regular basis. Mostly, I used the fixed price option on the stuff I have sold on GB.
Since I plan on selling off some guns, myself, I plan on using the penny-start on guns that are highly sought after by a lot of people. My thinking right now is that I will not use it for a gun that I have recently purchased, since I did not get any of the rifles I own for a song.
So, as I see it, the reserve is a blessing for a lot of people and a lot of certain type guns, and the same can be said for the penny-start as well.
I might also make a list and a disc and try to sell what I have at a 25% discounted rate. I just don’t know as yet.
James
jwm94 said
This experience was as I had expected, successful in every respect, except for an old Remington-Keene favorite of mine. I have since learned that not only do Remington-Keene collectors not come in droves, they must be extinct, or do not frequent GB on a somewhat regular basis.
James
Gee, Maybe those would be something I could afford! Because the things I’m most interested in, I can’t! And I kind of like their bizarre appearance anyway.
clarence said
Gee, Maybe those would be something I could afford! Because the things I’m most interested in, I can’t! And I kind of like their bizarre appearance anyway.
This is one gun that I really felt that I had to use the reserve auction on since I had not the slightest idea of what might be a fair value. Looking back…a penny-start might be something to think about. I think the penny-start and the fixed price options are the best way to go on GB. I guess that I, too, like the bizarre type stuff.
BTW what could you afford?!
James
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