Outline · [ Standard ] · Linear+ Yahoo! Auctions now FREE

[bob_TCC]

From their web site:

"06/06/05 Changes to Yahoo! Auctions

Yahoo! Auctions has changed its pricing to create a model that is free for all consumers listing items on our Auctions platform. We have eliminated all fees associated with Auctions listings, including listing fees and final value fees.

Many users have been asking for this type of structure, and we are happy to provide it as a way to strengthen our partnership with the seller community and clearly demonstrate our commitment to our sellers' success. The new pricing model will go into effect Monday, June 6, 2005.

This move to free listings was designed with the consumer in mind, as we are continually looking to offer the most relevant and useful products and services to our users. Over the years, we've achieved our objective of improving the quality of the site, making it easier for buyer and sellers to connect. This most recent move will make auctions more cost effective for both large and small sellers who wish to list items on Yahoo!, ultimately improving their margins.

Thank you for your support of Yahoo! Auctions!"

Very interesting. Time to take another look at Yahoo. What does everyone else think about this news?

-Bob

[Tri_Fecta]

that's great news.

[bob_TCC]

that's great news.

Although, it does mean that we all now have one more place to monitor for good deals.

-Bob

[Tri_Fecta]

that is very true. I was contemplating opening a free auction site of my own but I guess now I may not have to.

[snowblink]

Hmmm...never knew Yahoo had auctions. Guess I'll take a look at it.

Wonder how much opportunity for fraud this invites tho? What kind of credentials do you need to provide to create an account to list auction items on Yahoo?

[bob_TCC]

Wonder how much opportunity for fraud this invites tho?  What kind of credentials do you need to provide to create an account to list auction items on Yahoo?

I'm already signed up and it just wants my standard Yahoo login. I thought that used to be different though.

Let us know what was required after you sign up.

-Bob

[jrlenox]

I just got in with my regular yahoo ID .. nice to see one ID to remember gets you everywhere - as I type I'm listening to launch.yahoo.com which is a really cool service for online music - and I'm also checking the fantasy football league with the same ID.

As for the auction site .. I see a lot of things for sale and not many bids - and I don't see a way to search descriptions yet - but must admit I didn't search for long.

I see that Sports cards are prominently featured as one of the categories ..

If the functionality gets better - The free listings should give eBay some competition across all areas that no other online auction site has yet to provide ... and might find a steal or two from people looking to build up their ratings and no bid competition.

-Jim

[bob_TCC]

As for the auction site .. I see a lot of things for sale and not many bids - and I don't see a way to search descriptions yet - but must admit I didn't search for long.

I see that Sports cards are prominently featured as one of the categories ..

Less than 31,000 items in Sports Cards though which is pretty low compared to eBay and NAXCOM. It will be interesting to see how that number grows as word gets out about this change.

I do think there are some "deals" to be found on the site. For example, check out this auction. Less than $115 currently for a 100-card lot of game-used cards. Only $7 for shipping as well.

Who wants to spend $125-$130?

-Bob

[Tri_Fecta]

I think thier mistake is having the auctions incorporated to the rest of the site. I think they need a seperape url just for auctions and they need to increase the functionality of that site. I needed to verify my CC to get going. in my yahoo wallet. just my .02

[northicehero99]

Wahoo! This is great news. I used to sell on Yahoo! and did real well for a while. Then they started the fees and I quit selling. Hopefully, I can list some base inserts for real cheap and move them again. I moved to Bidville.com auctions when it was free but with a lot less sucess. They now charge fees unless you are grandfathered in. I am going to see if I can list some of my cards and see what happens. Since, I do hockey, it helps to have a popular site that the Canadian collectors look at. Will let you know how I do.

[bob_TCC]

I do think there are some "deals" to be found on the site.  For example, check out this auction.  Less than $115 currently for a 100-card lot of game-used cards.  Only $7 for shipping as well.

Who wants to spend $125-$130?  

Well, it was up to $145.50 with under 10 minutes to go and then when I checked again - the auction was cancelled. Guess Yahoo auctions have some of the same problems as other sites.

-Bob

[bob_TCC]

Wahoo!  This is great news.  I used to sell on Yahoo! and did real well for a while.  Then they started the fees and I quit selling.

<snip>

Will let you know how I do.

You and almost every other seller. Looking forward to what you think after trying again for awhile.

-Bob

[northicehero99]

I put some cards on so we will see how much traffic there is and how I do. Hey, I will try it, while it is free. It sure beats using Ebay and getting killed in fees, and then accepting Paypal and getting whacked again with FEEs! I understand they need to make money to stay afloat but anything that closes under $25 should be a straight listing fee, and everything over should be the listing fee plus 1% of the closing price.

When I was on Yahoo before, I would list my insert cards, that was what was fun, I could find cards helping me to build a master set at a reasonable price (no inflated shipping), and I put my doubles on to help someone else build a master set. Although today, there are not too many set builders anymore with the cost of packs and all the shortprints.

I will let you know how it goes.

[northicehero99]

OK, here is how I did. I ran 8 auctions for 4 days (set up this way to hit Saturday on first auction runs final day)with a relisting 3 times. 3 auctions were for autographs and 1 was for a game used and the remaining 4 were for some better priced inserts. Nothing sold on the 1st and 2nd running of the auctions. On the 3rd try, I sold the GU for what I listed it for with only one bid and sold one of the auto lots to the same buyer at my listing price. I listed the cards at less than 10% of book, the cards were hockey cards, and none of the players were great stars (I would say Semistars at best). The GU booked $25 and it sold for $3, the auto lot booked $10 and it sold for $0.50 plus $1 postage. I am not disappointed as at least I sold the cards, all they were doing here was collecting dust. I would not have received as much locally for them, most dealers are not buying unless it is real cheap $1-2 for GU, or a very hot card/player.

You and almost every other seller.  Looking forward to what you think after trying again for awhile.  

-Bob

[bob_TCC]

OK, here is how I did.  <snip>  I am not disappointed as at least I sold the cards, all they were doing here was collecting dust.  I would not have received as much locally for them, most dealers are not buying unless it is real cheap $1-2 for GU, or a very hot card/player.

Thanks for the update.

Have you tried selling cards any other ways recently? If so, how does Yahoo compare to those ways?

-Bob

[northicehero99]

I sell the better items on Ebay. Ebay is better, you can see how many people are watching your item right from your main screen without having to go into each item. It seems like there is not much traffic on yahoo. If you have something you know will do well, I would put it on Ebay. Just remember it will cost you part of what you sell it for.

That being said, I have to say, no fees is a lot better for creating general selling and I think as people become aware of it they may start to list and look more. On Ebay I could not sell my doubles of inserts, there was just no market for it with the cost to list the cards and final value fees. I tried Bidville.com (was a $5 annual fee with no limits on listing) for a while but it was the same as Yahoo seems, no real collector traffic. Inserts are hard to sell as is, who wants to pay even $0.01 for a card and $2.00 for shipping for a $3-5 card. I had a rough time even with insert cards that book more. A few months back, I put a Roy parallel card on Ebay that booked $20 and I could not even get passed my opening bid price of $2, with a p/h charge of $2 to cover Ebay fees. I will let you know how it goes on this next batch. I am hoping it goes better. If not all I have lost is the time it took me to list them.

Thanks for the update.  

Have you tried selling cards any other ways recently?  If so, how does Yahoo compare to those ways?

-Bob

[Hallsgator]

Sure would be nice to have a free auction site again.

[Tarasadie17]

Sure would be nice to have a free auction site again.

Cody must me reminiscing to be bringing all these old threads back up...

[chopinalex]

dang I got rickrolled! I thought yahoo auctions were back!

[bulldogbaseballcardz]

Same here.... I thought maybe they were back as well.