I've had a little success in this area. If someone has listed a coin that I would like but the price is too high. I'll contact them and tell them what I would be prepared to pay for it, then they reduce their price. I picked up a tongan 5c coin like this this week. The guy had it listed at a couple of dollars over catalogue value. I wrote to him and told him what the catalogue value was and asked if he would sell it to me for that, he agreed and we did the deal.
This past year I bought quite a few lots on eBay, some through bidding but some through "Buy It Now" option. I found a couple of sellers with very high score value (and obviously 99.5%+ rating) that agreed to a lower total price when I selected a bunch of lots for a total of $100+. I saved about 10% total this way. Not bad I think. I also always try "Make an Offer" option when available. A few month ago I really wanted this Belarus coin and it was on eBay for $7. I offered $5 with a nice message and the guy agreed.
BTW, even though I don't really collect non-circulating coins, I really wanted that Belarus coin for two reasons: one, because I didn't have any coins from Belarus (they simply don't use coins), and two, in the mid-80's I was on a tour on Sedov ship. It made it kinda special to me.
Mine are through our local auction site and they don't have the "make an offer" option like they do on E-Bay, I just cheekily contact them and ask them to list it at a lower price, you'd be suprised how often they drop their price.
The other thing I do sometimes is to ask them to list specific coins out of a bulk lot separately if the big lot doesn't sell. That way I don't get all the garbage that (a) I don't want or (b) I already have.
For instance one guy had a lot of 40 fijian pennies for $40 and the only one I needed was the 1959 penny so I asked if he'd give it to me for $1 if the lot didn't sell, the lot didn't sell so I got the 1 penny I needed for $1 and didn't have to try and get rid of the other 39 coins that I already had.
Yes, but, I never do it on the first transaction. Over the years, I have managed to develop rapport with a mini network of US/Canada dealers and sellers who I contact directly, pay through paypal and it is always less than their listed auction prices.
Quote: smoked_caramelA few month ago I really wanted this Belarus coin...
I also have one Belarus design, on two coins, that I had to have...
What I do is approach the seller with a price and offer to either buy it for that price to avoid fees or off them to add "or buy it now" for 0.01 and the rest if the value in postage then they save on fees !
Quote: Mark240590What I do is approach the seller with a price and offer to either buy it for that price to avoid fees or off them to add "or buy it now" for 0.01 and the rest if the value in postage then they save on fees !
That's not really legal, it's against the e-bay rules
I usually offer them to add a buy it now on then they are the last-ditch tactics to get a bit lower a price lol
Offer the seller a lower amount of costs. I know its against rules but you know the saying !
