14 replies to this topic

[jkaris]

I am considering setting up our own full blown auction site (similar to ebay, via PHPProBid).
However, before I take the next step, I am curious as to your thoughts?

1. Would you use it? If so, how much?
2. What would a fair per listing fee be to you guys? 5 cents? 10 cents? 15 cents? percentage of sale price?

Anyways, just wondering what your opinions would be.

BTW, here is the actual program I am looking at:
https://www.phpprobi...atures/auctions

[Ridureyu]

Dunno.  Would peopel take the extra steps to sign up?  I'm thinking that it would be best on a smaller scale, as an adjunct to our selling/trading system - nothing huge, but useful for the people on the site who want to post an auction.  The only thing will be convincing them to sign up for it.

[Draznar]

Personally, I wouldn't use it. But I don't use eBay either so I would take that with a grain of salt. (I should clarify that I do use eBay periodically for purchases, but never for selling.)

I prefer posting something for sale and making said sale than worrying about an auction.

[Sydot]

I would certainly use it.

 

As someone who does not use facebook, I feel like I miss out on lots of deals there.

An auction site could lead to some of that becoming more accessible for someone like me.

 

Also, there are certain things that I find difficult to search for on ebay.

For example there is a certain Rampage custom figure I am looking for, and have been for quite sometime, but I have to search several things/complicated filters in hopes of pulling up the result, and even then it could be slipping through the cracks.  

I feel like this is the type of item that could really benefit from an LRG auction site. 

[plasticfiend]

I'm only hesitant on the idea, because I don't feel like folks take advantage of the auction system that is currently in place.  Perhaps having a separate site will streamline the process and in fact attract more sellers and in turn buyers... but how many people try and do auctions on LRG currently?

 

I would hate to see you put in all that effort - only to have it fizzle.

 

HOWEVER - if you felt the need to impose some sort of fees or percentages taken out of sales made on LRG, I feel that's fair!

I wouldn't go as high as Ebay, because obviously that has been a detourant for sellers and buyers alike in recent years, but if you needed to charge 5% or lets say a flat fee for folks that deal on LRG then so be it!  I think a 10-20 cent fee would be fair.

[jason76basin]

Great idea. Stagger the fees. For example if you sell 100 $ per month you pay 5%, but when you hit 200 it drops to 4% fees.... and if you sell 300 per month it drops to the max discounted fee of 3%. This would drive more folks to list their stuff on the lrg auction site and in turn net you more from the sellers that do use the site. Just an idea to maybe help motivate the ones that use it to REALLY use it

Edited by jason76basin, 08 November 2016 - 08:42 AM.

[Beastformers]

This idea has some serious pros and cons but in the end I think the main question you´ve to ask whether all the effort and struggles to get it setup within the LRG environment would pay off.

 

Pretty sure nobody out here would´ve issues paying a bit of a fee or percentage for it because in the end we all know it´s going to a good cause supporting LRG. The so called board auctions now are free to list but it´s a bit of a struggle to make it work in a fair and transparent way and that might be one of the reasons why there aren´t as many as could but on the other hand our LRG community is relatively small. So if someone is aiming for the $ they´d most likely head to Ebay because there´s simply more exposure there. The ones who do sell/trade within the community know how to find each other anyway in most cases and I don´t think that an LRG auction site would make a whole lot of difference unless you´re planning to close/replace the Got Toys section instead. Apart from the running auctions this also means LRG becomes responsible for the feedback/arguments/lost-/broken packages, etc. and this might be hard to implement alongside the current status and feedback reputations we all know? There´s a reason why Ebay´s policy has become longer and longer and I´d feel pretty bad if this idea might get you in trouble because of someone is causing issues on the LRG Auction site, whether that´s seller or buyer.

 

Unless its just matter of a few clicks, allowing LRG members to do a quick run to see if and how it might work out, I personally think it´d be to much of an effort and struggle for you to implement it and that´s not weighing the risks that might come with it.

 

That´s just my thought but whatever you do I´ll support you either way because it´d definitely be a more professionalized way to frame the current complex and nontransparent board auctions although its questionable whether we´ll actually see more auctions than what we have now....   

Edited by Beastformers, 08 November 2016 - 08:46 AM.

[Sixthwizard]

I think that a strictly toys auction site, with no bin option- would be an awesome sidestep from eBay.

 

The amount of people scouring eBay for toys, run into an issue constantly. Whether it is cluttered with crappy Bins, or just cluttered with crap that is not toys.

I would much rather search an auction site that only has toys for listings. You would basically have all the people who look on eBay, etc- looking at your site, because they KNOW there's no bullshit non toy items on your site.

[bigburty]

I think it could work, but certain lines here have lost their way and members have moved on, making it unlikely that people would be able to find what they want based on a lack of collectors. The best example is the MIMP market. Anyone looking for uncommon figures aren't going to find them here anymore, like they used to be able to, as many of the people who have/had those figures have moved on and don't use the forum anymore. eBay, Facebook, IG etc have a bigger audience and in turn offer more chance of someone having what you're looking for.

[Sydot]

Another thing worth making note of is with something like ebay, you need to search for a specific thing.

If there were an LRG specific auction site I imagine it would be small enough that one could search through all listings. It could be a way to browse if that makes sense.

 

For example, there are a few things I discovered that popped up on 'Got Toys' that I bought because I was exposed to that opportunity

On ebay I don't have as much of an opportunity to stumble upon things like that. Sure there are the broad searches I can do like 'Rubber Monsters' to discover unique or even mislabeled figures and such but I know that there is so much more out there that I may want, but I do not have simple exposure to. 

 

Also, these are the opinions of someone who is primarily a buyer as opposed to a seller. 

[plasticfiend]

Another thing worth making note of is with something like ebay, you need to search for a specific thing.

If there were an LRG specific auction site I imagine it would be small enough that one could search through all listings. It could be a way to browse if that makes sense.

 

For example, there are a few things I discovered that popped up on 'Got Toys' that I bought because I was exposed to that opportunity

On ebay I don't have as much of an opportunity to stumble upon things like that. Sure there are the broad searches I can do like 'Rubber Monsters' to discover unique or even mislabeled figures and such but I know that there is so much more out there that I may want, but I do not have simple exposure to. 

 

Also, these are the opinions of someone who is primarily a buyer as opposed to a seller. 

 

 

 

As a BUYER I would probably LOVE it!!  As a seller - would probably still lean towards EBay or private sales - just through sheer exposure.  The potential customer exposure on something as big as Ebay is hard to argue with - even when the fees become obnoxious.

 

PF

[Sixthwizard]

The exposure will come in time. With everyone hating ebays 10%, 5% would surely get people checking out that selling option with your auction site. everything started somewhere! I haven't seen a strictly toys auction site anywhere. Yours would be the first, as far as I know! eBay took a while to get going....anything on the web will- I'd start it up while your energy is up, and time is available if it were me. From what I hear, from multiple business owners, is that a fresh business will make or break you within 5 years.

Edited by Sixthwizard, 12 November 2016 - 11:13 PM.

[Ericnilla]

I barely sell on ebay, like at all really anymore. I sell a lot on Instagram actually. An auction section would be cool, but it would take a lot to get a lot of people to use it.

Plus when I sell something I have an idea of what I want for it so I put it at that, and it usually sells. I don't gamble with auctions, starting low and hoping it ends up selling for more that I wanted. If I'm gonna give someone a deal I'd rather just do it outright to someone I like.

[Jesse]

Just as a side note. This wont effect SALES on the board? Only auctions? It might be a good idea since a site specifigly designed for auctions would most likely function better than the current system on board. Mostly because of the way a site works, different from the guideline-only rules here wich have caused trouble/arguments in the past.

I rarely auction anything but if i would i would do it here or in the new lrg auction if it becomes a thing. Ebay is too much of a hassle and supporting this community is a big advantage on the system (Obviously not as many people would see it but putiing a link here will catch the eye of the interested ones)