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January 19, 2006
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Well, please let us know when you decide to post. Sounds like there is some interest here. Myself included. Would be nice to keep stuff in the WACA family, should it work out that way.
WACA Member. CFM Member. NRA Lifer.
December 1, 2012
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As a buyer on GunBroker I don’t even look at the ads with the red “R” that indicate there is a reserve. If the seller has i minimum, it should be listed as that is what the so called “reserve” is.
As a seller I think I would simply set an opening bid as the minimum I would accept (much more than what a gun dealer would pay me for the piece) and hope the bidding goes higher than that.
"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend."
May 24, 2012
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clarence said
If your starting price is your “bottom dollar,” without a reserve, then you’ll get at least that (if it sells!), and possibly more than with a fixed price.
November 1, 2013
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Wincacher said
As a seller I think I would simply set an opening bid as the minimum I would accept (much more than what a gun dealer would pay me for the piece) and hope the bidding goes higher than that.
Exactly! Pretending you’ll sell it for “a penny,” or any other ridiculously low opening bid, is silly and dishonest. Any dealer who does so, without a reserve, is teamed up with a shill bidder to make certain he doesn’t loose his shirt.
April 15, 2005
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clarence said
Exactly! Pretending you’ll sell it for “a penny,” or any other ridiculously low opening bid, is silly and dishonest. Any dealer who does so, without a reserve, is teamed up with a shill bidder to make certain he doesn’t loose his shirt.
Clarence,
You are certainly entitled to your opinions, but in this case, I (and many others) do not believe for an instant that sellers who start the bid at “a penny” are being “silly and dishonest”. You are using an awfully wide brush and painting everyone with it. Accusing “any dealer who does so…” as being teamed up with a shill bidder” is positively wrong, and is not accurate. I will ask that you rethink your position, and not make broad all encompassing accusations… especially those that you can not prove.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
November 1, 2013
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Bert H. said
Clarence,
You are certainly entitled to your opinions, but in this case, I (and many others) do not believe for an instant that sellers who start the bid at “a penny” are being “silly and dishonest”. You are using an awfully wide brush and painting everyone with it. Accusing “any dealer who does so…” as being teamed up with a shill bidder” is positively wrong, and is not accurate. I will ask that you rethink your position, and not make broad all encompassing accusations… especially those that you can not prove.
Bert
No, I cannot “prove” my accusation–how could I without access to the private communications of those involved? But are you seriously telling me that YOU believe any prudent person lists an item at a ridiculously low “come-on” price, without any reserve, and then trusts to blind fate that a fair selling price will be assured? If so, it’s the kind of faith that enabled Peter to walk on water, and I admit, I don’t have it.
April 15, 2005
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Clarence,
I personally know a few of the sellers who use the “penny” starting bid option, and they are honorable people. And Yes, they have had to sell a small number of items at below the expected sale price. However, that has not deterred them from using that option. It is very rare when an item of value sells for less than true market value.
On a side note, I am sorry to hear that you have lost that much faith in your fellow man.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
July 8, 2016
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I just sold about 11K worth of guns on GB. I start them all at .01 and let them go to the highest bidder. I try to take a bunch of very good, clear pictures and give a thorough, honest description. I always start them on a Thursday night at 9PM Eastern time and run for 9 days, so the auction covers two weekends and they go off on Sunday night. In my opinion, to start a gun at the high limit is a waste of time. It creates very little interest because the bidding is about nill most of the time. Also, in all reality, most buyers do not know what something is worth, so the guns that have a high start price just sit there whereas mine that start at .01 get lots of bids, and create a lot of interest. Many times they sell for more than I thought, and sometimes not. I always use a thumbnail picture and find that those that don’t usually have a screwed up auction anyway. Many times, those that do not use a thumbnail picture are relisting something for the 100th time and they don’t want you to recognize their gun. In the batch that I just sold, there were a couple that went away at a price that I thought was to low, but they’re gone. I would say if you are a bit afraid to start them at .01 and let them go, then start them at .01 and reserve them. That way you’ll find out what the folks will pay and then you can lower the reserve and list it again, but don’t go on and on with it. Peter
Michael, I’d be interested in a nice 32-20 if you have one going out the door
March 20, 2009
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Eagle said
I just sold about 11K worth of guns on GB. I start them all at .01 and let them go to the highest bidder. I try to take a bunch of very good, clear pictures and give a thorough, honest description. I always start them on a Thursday night at 9PM Eastern time and run for 9 days, so the auction covers two weekends and they go off on Sunday night. In my opinion, to start a gun at the high limit is a waste of time. It creates very little interest because the bidding is about nill most of the time. Also, in all reality, most buyers do not know what something is worth, so the guns that have a high start price just sit there whereas mine that start at .01 get lots of bids, and create a lot of interest. Many times they sell for more than I thought, and sometimes not. I always use a thumbnail picture and find that those that don’t usually have a screwed up auction anyway. Many times, those that do not use a thumbnail picture are relisting something for the 100th time and they don’t want you to recognize their gun. In the batch that I just sold, there were a couple that went away at a price that I thought was to low, but they’re gone. I would say if you are a bit afraid to start them at .01 and let them go, then start them at .01 and reserve them. That way you’ll find out what the folks will pay and then you can lower the reserve and list it again, but don’t go on and on with it. Peter
Michael, I’d be interested in a nice 32-20 if you have one going out the door
Thanks for the informed input Peter. I greatly appreciate it. No 1892’s moving at this time. Sorry
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
March 20, 2009
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This guy MUST be crazy!!! A penny start and NO reserve????!! What is he thinking? But he always seems to do quite well on his auctions. Must have a darn good shill bidder working for him. How DOES he stay in business?? Because he does this all the time. 
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
July 8, 2016
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It seems that if one is a frequent seller, takes very good pictures, and has a very good honest descriptions, that the buyers begin to believe in you, as long as you get good feedback. Guys like me that sell once every 2-4 years, and then only a few at a time, don’t develop the following that guys like Austin Guns, Chayns etc do. If I was to start selling some more right now following the 10 or so that I just sold, I would do better the second round than I did the first one I’m sure. Selling the guns at no reserve is one of the key things that the buyers like. Peter
October 11, 2012
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He has been a saved seller of mine for seven years. This guy, and several others that I bid frequently, continue to roll out the quality pieces.
His inventory speaks for itself, and if not, the hundred plus pictures tell the rest of the story…..
I don’t know why he doesn’t have reserves?
January 19, 2006
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I’m like a moth to a flame on the $.01 start. Right Michael?
WACA Member. CFM Member. NRA Lifer.
October 11, 2012
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Great snag on the 52 B, I missed that one yesterday , by a matter of minutes…..
June 11, 2014
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I never bid on a Winchester that has a reserve price. I have no idea what that reserve price is and a lot of the time, it turns out to be too high and it is just a waste of time to have been following it or bidding on it. If there is a minimum one will accept, then start a minimum bid and no reserve. For the last number of years, when I put something up for auction, I always start at the minimum (1 dollar or 1 cent). My belief is that the market determines the value not what I think it is worth (unless I’m an expert at knowing values, which I am not).
July 8, 2016
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Also Michael, for whatever it is worth, I think the market is a bit soft (maybe more than a bit), unless you are selling a high finish, very collectable firearm. The low/medium grade (50-70% finish and condition) firearms that are not really rare or have a very basic configuration are not, and have not been doing really well for some months now. Not sure what’s going on there. Just my opinion of course.
Peter
March 20, 2009
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Should I be concerned? An “NR” (non rated) bidder asks if I will accept post office money orders? My feeling is if you can buy money orders you can get a bank check. What is your experience?
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
February 24, 2014
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twobit said
Should I be concerned? An “NR” (non rated) bidder asks if I will accept post office money orders? My feeling is if you can buy money orders you can get a bank check. What is your experience?Michael
Postal money orders is as good as cash.
July 7, 2011
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Michael, I have had people ask for postal money orders because they live in remote areas where they are closer to a post office than a bank. Just what I have had happen. I have had people send me them for the same reason. The only problem is they have to send several of them because of the limit that the post office puts on them.
Paul
March 20, 2009
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lund2075 said
Postal money orders is as good as cash.
94shorties said
Michael, I have had people ask for postal money orders because they live in remote areas where they are closer to a post office than a bank. Just what I have had happen. I have had people send me them for the same reason. The only problem is they have to send several of them because of the limit that the post office puts on them.Paul
Thanks guys!
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
