Confused at what EBAY cues has become.

[Ken_4fun]

Honestly, I used to review Ebay daily looking for deals and just looking for a "deal". I seldom look and I am confused at people posting cues that are probably $5-8K cues for $50,000. There are a bunch of cues that I must admit I shake my head.

Help this old timer - why in the heck would anyone post those cue for stupid high prices? What a waste of time. I can understand if you have a $2K cue and you post it for sale for $3K to see if you get a bite.

Years ago, it was fun to see what was listed, now I just shake my head after looking at a couple pages.

Ken

 

[garczar]

Honestly, I used to review Ebay daily looking for deals and just looking for a "deal". I seldom look and I am confused at people posting cues that are probably $5-8K cues for $50,000. There are a bunch of cues that I must admit I shake my head.

Help this old timer - why in the heck would anyone post those cue for stupid high prices? What a waste of time. I can understand if you have a $2K cue and you post it for sale for $3K to see if you get a bite.

Years ago, it was fun to see what was listed, now I just shake my head after looking at a couple pages.

Ken

you really have to have your 'bullshit-o-meter' on to fade Ebay for sure.

 

[Benelli]

What I have learned is that there are several online communities for eBay sellers, many of which teach people how to make a living off eBay.

It seems one of the most common tactics taught in these groups is placing an insanely high price on your item to get people's attention and click on your listing. This is supposed to drive overall awareness of your listing and the random lucky chance that someone will see the listing, believe the item is worth that much, and then buy it.

The other key part of this approach is having a "make an offer" button active on the listing so folks who actually know what it is worth and interested in buying can make a reasonable offer and you sell the item via that route.

All of these eBay flippers who use this approach are also running complicated searches against any new listings so they can snap up any low-cost items that get posted by regular people and then turn around and relist the item at a significantly higher price aligned with the strategy above.

So the net result is all these eBay flipper/side hustle folks are driving up the cost of shit across pretty much every online auction site. The predominate strategy they are deploying is stupid and makes people think the value of random things is significantly higher than it actually is which also then drives up the posted prices of items on eBay.

TLDR: eBay is a cesspool of morons who feed each other shit in an effort to make a living off something that was only supposed to be an online garage sale.

 

[Chopdoc]

What Benelli said is correct.

I took a more than 5 year break, come back, and much has changed. Carbon fiber shafts? LOL!

Anyway, I had very little trouble adjusting to the Ebay environment. I have the habit of looking for things that are listed incorrectly and other methods anyway.

This cue recently sold for $64.95, but I missed it. Obviously that sucked. I have landed a couple of good deals almost right away though.

It depends on what you are looking for and how you are searching. And then there are the other sites besides Ebay. I got a Fellini for $100 on one of the other sites.

 

[mikemosconi]

eBay has moved much of its sales people from selling via auction to the “ make an offer “ format - that has resulted in ridiculous buy it now and opening price points. This is the result of that gradual movement away from lower opening price auction formats.
E bay found that overall sales prices are higher and hence - commission for e bay works best with this mode of selling.

 

[billiards_watch]

What I have learned is that there are several online communities for eBay sellers, many of which teach people how to make a living off eBay.

It seems one of the most common tactics taught in these groups is placing an insanely high price on your item to get people's attention and click on your listing. This is supposed to drive overall awareness of your listing and the random lucky chance that someone will see the listing, believe the item is worth that much, and then buy it.

The other key part of this approach is having a "make an offer" button active on the listing so folks who actually know what it is worth and interested in buying can make a reasonable offer and you sell the item via that route.

All of these eBay flippers who use this approach are also running complicated searches against any new listings so they can snap up any low-cost items that get posted by regular people and then turn around and relist the item at a significantly higher price aligned with the strategy above.

So the net result is all these eBay flipper/side hustle folks are driving up the cost of shit across pretty much every online auction site. The predominate strategy they are deploying is stupid and makes people think the value of random things is significantly higher than it actually is which also then drives up the posted prices of items on eBay.

TLDR: eBay is a cesspool of morons who feed each other shit in an effort to make a living off something that was only supposed to be an online garage sale.

Pretty much all of this.

Yes, I do blame these companies for "teaching" aggressive sales tactics to these sellers and as a result, the regular selling guy also thinks his shit is worth that much.

 

[billiards_watch]

eBay has moved much of its sales people from selling via auction to the “ make an offer “ format - that has resulted in ridiculous buy it now and opening price points. This is the result of that gradual movement away from lower opening price auction formats.
E bay found that overall sales prices are higher and hence - commission for e bay works best with this mode of selling.

This.

Its happening with everything and not cues.

 

[Chopdoc]

This is an interesting example. Obviously they know nothing about cues, the description looks AI generated.

Ebay Viking and Case

Nice cue. Nothing real special, but a nice old Viking. Looks to be in good condition.

What caught my eye was the case, which is not tooled leather as said in the Ebay listing, it is an embossed plastic "lethertex they call it in the below advertisement from 1976.

I have occasionally contacted a seller and asked for the case, or a cue in the background. I found a McDermott C-17 for $100 by asking to buy the cue that was in the background of a picture.

So, the case? Have a look, then check this out.

1970's ad.

1976 Rich Q Catalog.

Then, bottom center of this flyer.

So, it's not a Joss West cue, and it's not a Fellini case. But it's still cool chasing this stuff down.

I already have one of those cases in black that I got cheap, so I am not interested. But if you are into "vintage" unusual cases, you could ask and maybe get it for cheap? It's short, so unless you have an old 57 inch cue for it, it won't likely fit.

 

[Johnson]

I do not sell cues on Ebay but tons of shoes and clothes. Used to it was just Vintage clothing sellers that would have thousands of items listed but only 100 - 200 or so sold per quarter which isn't profitable. Vintage resellers are also collectors and they want everyone to see their collection even if it's not technically for sale!! Now I see sellers w modern shoes/clothing and not even a 5% sell through rate PER QUARTER that brag about anything they sell over $100 on FB sites which ain't much and it's quite creepily BIZARRE!!

Ebay has changed sooo much since before Covid, auctions are virtually useless now (I used to sell 95%+ of my items via auctions for set prices and a lot of them would get bid up. A good first auction cycle for me would be 33 - 36% and each cycle would be lower and lower then raise prices to up the sell through. Now w the best items I've ever had I can't do a 5% sell through on my first cycle with any items NO MATTER HOW I PRICE THEM!

Literally sellers are instantly promoting newly listed items and putting them instantaneously on sale or buyer's can't find them, it's very bizarre. For items that should sell for $70 or more it's very difficult for Ebay to hide and buyers find these types of items a majority of the time but everything else is hidden until you promote them and put a discount on them and stand on 1 foot while touching your nose with your left pinky!! Late last night a buyer sent a $20 offer on a $60 item and I get tons of $20 or $22 offers on $30 - 40 items. Same buyer sent a $22 offer on some brand new levis TWICE?? and I got an $85 offer instantly on some high end shoes then a $87 offer a week later and an $88 offer a week after that.

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

Well Ebay is not where I go looking for Pool supplies, don't need nothing, but if I do go to Ebay I some time look at the Most expensive Cues. For a good chuckle.

 

[vintagecollectibles831]

Honestly, I used to review Ebay daily looking for deals and just looking for a "deal". I seldom look and I am confused at people posting cues that are probably $5-8K cues for $50,000. There are a bunch of cues that I must admit I shake my head.

Help this old timer - why in the heck would anyone post those cue for stupid high prices? What a waste of time. I can understand if you have a $2K cue and you post it for sale for $3K to see if you get a bite.

Years ago, it was fun to see what was listed, now I just shake my head after looking at a couple pages.

Ken

There are no bargains to be found, on anything anymore. Seems that everyone is a reseller. I know, I am completely off topic.

About the high prices, they are the "I do not want to sell my cue prices, and just for show", lol. $50k of Sentimental value maybe. I do not know.

The great thing about ebay is that you can put in the price range that you are shopping for, and ebay will just show those price. Like, if you are loking to spend $1,000 to $1500, you can put in that price range, and just buy it now listings, or all pool cue listings, and ebay will just show those listings.

Or, you can use the Drop down menu, and start at Highest prices 1st, and then just go down maybe 10 or 15 pages. Also just Search Used listings. There is an option for that too. I also Search North America only listings, to avoid the Japanese listings, which are just out of control, with 3rd party Japanese sellers, who do not even own the cues they are selling, and just putting up a really high price, with Offers accepted.

 

[Chopdoc]

There are no bargains to be found, on anything anymore.

I just posted a National cue above that sold for $64.95. No bargains?

 

[vintagecollectibles831]

I just posted a National cue above that sold for $64.95. No bargains?

Do you ever notice those reselling thrift shop videos on youtube, where they video their finds, and tell their watchers how much they believe they will profit on the items? Those youtubers have seemingly turned everyone into a reseller, I believe.

Well, it seems that most cue buyers are also resellers. I find it so funny. I will see a cue sale, and then a few days later, I will see the same cue listed again, for at least twice the amount of money that it sold for last.

 

[vintagecollectibles831]

I do not sell cues on Ebay but tons of shoes and clothes. Used to it was just Vintage clothing sellers that would have thousands of items listed but only 100 - 200 or so sold per quarter which isn't profitable. Vintage resellers are also collectors and they want everyone to see their collection even if it's not technically for sale!! Now I see sellers w modern shoes/clothing and not even a 5% sell through rate PER QUARTER that brag about anything they sell over $100 on FB sites which ain't much and it's quite creepily BIZARRE!!

Ebay has changed sooo much since before Covid, auctions are virtually useless now (I used to sell 95%+ of my items via auctions for set prices and a lot of them would get bid up. A good first auction cycle for me would be 33 - 36% and each cycle would be lower and lower then raise prices to up the sell through. Now w the best items I've ever had I can't do a 5% sell through on my first cycle with any items NO MATTER HOW I PRICE THEM!

Literally sellers are instantly promoting newly listed items and putting them instantaneously on sale or buyer's can't find them, it's very bizarre. For items that should sell for $70 or more it's very difficult for Ebay to hide and buyers find these types of items a majority of the time but everything else is hidden until you promote them and put a discount on them and stand on 1 foot while touching your nose with your left pinky!! Late last night a buyer sent a $20 offer on a $60 item and I get tons of $20 or $22 offers on $30 - 40 items. Same buyer sent a $22 offer on some brand new levis TWICE?? and I got an $85 offer instantly on some high end shoes then a $87 offer a week later and an $88 offer a week after that.

It must be really hard to compete when you have 1,000 other sellers trying to sell the same exact pair of shoes, or tee shirt, right? That is probably why Auctions do not work, unless it is a very rare type of item, that would be high in demand. Like maybe a very rare Grateful Dead tee shirt for example, from the 60's or 70's, that is still brand new. I do not know, just a thought. Only something like that would be good to do a 7 day, no reserve auction, starting at a Penney. I do not know though.

Cues are the same. If it is a Gina for example, and you start the price low, take really great pictures, and post a video showing its condition, then it will sell for a lot. Rare, and high in demand items do well on auctions. Everything else is probably best for a Reasonable buy it now price.

 

[book collector]

Honestly, I used to review Ebay daily looking for deals and just looking for a "deal". I seldom look and I am confused at people posting cues that are probably $5-8K cues for $50,000. There are a bunch of cues that I must admit I shake my head.

Help this old timer - why in the heck would anyone post those cue for stupid high prices? What a waste of time. I can understand if you have a $2K cue and you post it for sale for $3K to see if you get a bite.

Years ago, it was fun to see what was listed, now I just shake my head after looking at a couple pages.

Ken

There are a lot of nutty people on this planet, I quit trying to figure them out, it was making me dumb.

 

[Chopdoc]

Do you ever notice those reselling thrift shop videos on youtube, where they video their finds, and tell their watchers how much they believe they will profit on the items? Those youtubers have seemingly turned everyone into a reseller, I believe.

Well, it seems that most cue buyers are also resellers. I find it so funny. I will see a cue sale, and then a few days later, I will see the same cue listed again, for at least twice the amount of money that it sold for last.

Yes, lots of stuff on YouTube, but I mostly watch entertaining or interesting stuff. I am aware of what you are talking about but I don't watch them.

I grew up in a historic home. My parents furnished it by restoring antiques. They were "pickers" before there were "pickers".

I dig the adventure of the hunt. I learned that at a young age.

Yes, eBay has changed. Lots of people caught on, lots of schemes developed. So what? Fads change, things change, I'm not going to get riled up about it. I mean, not to pick on you, but look at your screen name. If you have to tell somebody something is "vintage" or "collectible" it probably really isn't so much. This are simply two highly abused terms. That the Cabbage Patch Kid and Ty plush toy phenomenon. Some businesses are built on it like Franklin mint. Buy low, sell high, that's business. And if you can boost your marketing by calling something "vintage" or "collectible" that's fine.

eBay is a web site. Sure, it's a market. What the heck did we do before that? I can't build my world around it anymore than I could build it around an online forum or YouTube.

I still enjoy garage sales and flea markets. Some of the flea markets look like retail malls now. So what?

Yes, lots of people flip all kinds of things. That's their thing. I have sold exactly four pool cues in my life. That's all. Two here on AZB for a very small profit. Two to a good friend I only know online and by phone that I sold to because I had what he wanted and I sold them to him for a fraction of their value because I got them cheap by hunting the way I do.

I just don't understand getting all riled up about it. But I don't have a dog in that race. I'm not trying to do anything but have fun and satisfy my interests.

 

[GoldCrown]

I alleviate all confusion, misunderstandings and haggling. I buy high sell low...never got a complaint or return.

 

[billiards_watch]

Do you ever notice those reselling thrift shop videos on youtube, where they video their finds, and tell their watchers how much they believe they will profit on the items? Those youtubers have seemingly turned everyone into a reseller, I believe.

Well, it seems that most cue buyers are also resellers. I find it so funny. I will see a cue sale, and then a few days later, I will see the same cue listed again, for at least twice the amount of money that it sold for last.

Yes and it even happens here. When a cue is sold pictures and price gets taken down for reasons you mentioned.

 

[Bob Jewett]

I've also seen all the bad practices mentioned above but for billiard books. It's not all new. About ten years ago I got the remaining stock of a billiard physics book (Wayland Marlow) and started selling them for about the list price on Ebay, $30. I would often see a book I just sold offered at around $100.

If anyone wants the Jack White book -- he was Scott Lee's mentor -- there's one listed for $3500. I've heard there are pricing bots that scan for prices so the seller can put their prices just a little higher than the lowest. When an uncommon item is only being sold by bot users, the prices quickly go to infinity.

Ebay could get rid of all that crap, but that would reduce their profits. I refuse to pay for promotion and I have a hard time finding my own items in a search. Nasty.

 

[Johnson]

It must be really hard to compete when you have 1,000 other sellers trying to sell the same exact pair of shoes, or tee shirt, right? That is probably why Auctions do not work, unless it is a very rare type of item, that would be high in demand. Like maybe a very rare Grateful Dead tee shirt for example, from the 60's or 70's, that is still brand new. I do not know, just a thought. Only something like that would be good to do a 7 day, no reserve auction, starting at a Penney. I do not know though.

Cues are the same. If it is a Gina for example, and you start the price low, take really great pictures, and post a video showing its condition, then it will sell for a lot. Rare, and high in demand items do well on auctions. Everything else is probably best for a Reasonable buy it now price.

Auctions are weird, even when they performed any stale inventory that I started at a penny never ever went past $8. I personally hate tee shirts and the higher end ones like you are talking about are more likely to be traded/sold for cash in a Goodwill Outlet parking lot than on Ebay. For the rarer items I have always put them into buy nows with best offer if it's the only item online then the offers tell me to raise the price or what offer to take.

I want items that have the highest demand and the lowest supply even within a common very popular brand. For preowned items there's never gonna be 1000 or 100 of the same type of item there's just too many variations but with new items like anyone can find at TJ Maxx there can be 100 of the exact same item which I try to avoid. For any mens popular brands the rarest items are gonna be the Big & Tall sizes, especially for any 36 or 38 inseams that correspond with someone who's 6' 5" - 6' 8"+ or 2XLT 3XLT 4XLT, there are millions of obese people but only a small percent of a small percent of the population of that height.

There are literally women every week on this large FB reseller group saying they just quit their jobs to become a fulltime reseller with ZERO experience in Ecommerce or sales. Every other day they are posting autographed balls/hats pics that THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW who signed them so they can market them for sale as a legit auto on Ebay, these are screenshots from earlier today: