The evolution of knife commerce on eBay

[zzyzzogeton]

The biggest change on fleabay that I"ve noticed lately is for sellers to have EXTREMELY outrageous starting prices or shipping fees.

I just saw a reasonably priced USN M1852 officer's sword with an initial price $150 with a shipping fee of $80. Another one starts at $179 with $72 for shipping. Another starts at $300 but has shipping set at $190. The starting prices aren't that bad but the shipping fees are very high.

A really weird one is a Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets hat badge starting at $375 but reduced to $337.50 but only $12 shipping. There's one on there at $12.99 for weeks that hasn't sold yet. A couple more are associated with hats at $125 and $99 OBO. If the $100 ones aren't selling with a hat thrown in, why would a seller ask $300+. I'm tempted to make a $15 offer and see if he takes it.

I've gotten a few swords lately by offering what I consider to be decent prices along with a note stating why I believe my offer is a good deal.

[Lansky1]

Ebay was a blast until about when the pandemic started. For some reason still unknown to me, things changed and prices consistently skyrocketed far beyond what would be considered "normal" inflation rates over that time.

It’s simply economics. The government increased the supply of money. (The $2.2 Trillion Covid Relief Economic Stimulus Act, aka the CARES Act, passed in 2020, and later supplemented by an additional $900 Billion in 2021). However the supply of goods available did not increase. (In fact due to Covid related supply chain problems the amount of goods available decreased - remember when many states forced companies to close for months?).

More money chasing the same, or fewer goods results in inflation. That’s not politics. It is economics.

Ken

Good points Ken. I just think paying nearly twice what we did less than a decade ago has become normalized today on eBay, and exceeds any reasonable inflation rate that would apply to other goods and services over that time frame ... there's something different with knife collectors being willing to pay so much more than they did not long ago. Who knows, I could be wrong in under-estimating the economics aspect, but this eBay excessive pricing increase has proven itself to be iron-clad in my experience. Honestly, my take on it is a bit different ... lets face it, collecting traditional slip joints is an older man's game. I think as we age and can't do many of the things we used to we tend to collect things ... many have expendable income unlike when we were younger and were raising families ... thus those longer in the tooth have the funds and are willing to pay more, very often a whole lot more than they did not long ago. Again ... it's just speculation, but it's all I can come up with to explain the recent dramatic knife selling price increases that far outrun inflation.

[MOKNIVES1]

Ebay sets the prices for lots of things, in fact the value guide Kovels uses Ebay results quite often. I heard a wise man say "its worth what someone will pay for it" and that is entirely true. I buy nearly all my collector knives off of Ebay, honestly where else are you going to find that kind of selection without leaving home? As a seller, I genuinely hate Ebay, I think they charge way too much on a transaction and when there's a dispute, even if the seller is right, odds are Ebay is going to give in to the buyer. The minute some geek comes up with a better mouse trap Ebay is dead, that's for sure.
Yes, these are some sneaky good-for-nothing scammers who ridiculously inflate the price, or try and sneak a big fat shipping bill in there, but most people see that from a mile a way and scroll on by.

[SwedgeHead]

Ebay sets the prices for lots of things, in fact the value guide Kovels uses Ebay results quite often. I heard a wise man say "its worth what someone will pay for it" and that is entirely true. I buy nearly all my collector knives off of Ebay, honestly where else are you going to find that kind of selection without leaving home? As a seller, I genuinely hate Ebay, I think they charge way too much on a transaction and when there's a dispute, even if the seller is right, odds are Ebay is going to give in to the buyer. The minute some geek comes up with a better mouse trap Ebay is dead, that's for sure.
Yes, these are some sneaky good-for-nothing scammers who ridiculously inflate the price, or try and sneak a big fat shipping bill in there, but most people see that from a mile a way and scroll on by.

That's a great point! It seems the default when someone here on the site asks for value estimates, the 1st recommendation is to scan Ebay (sold) prices.
Yet here we are in direct conflict with that .

[Steve Warden]

The minute some geek comes up with a better mouse trap Ebay is dead, that's for sure.

The "better mouse trap" is our own AAPK store. A chance to buy from reputable folks at fair prices. I haven't had a bad AAPK experience at all. Quite happy with who I've dealt with and what I've purchased.
Yet E-Bay rolls on, allowing the swindles to happen with no repercussions or consequences.

[Mumbleypeg]

Ebay sets the prices for lots of things, in fact the value guide Kovels uses Ebay results quite often. I heard a wise man say "its worth what someone will pay for it" and that is entirely true. I buy nearly all my collector knives off of Ebay, honestly where else are you going to find that kind of selection without leaving home? As a seller, I genuinely hate Ebay, I think they charge way too much on a transaction and when there's a dispute, even if the seller is right, odds are Ebay is going to give in to the buyer. The minute some geek comes up with a better mouse trap Ebay is dead, that's for sure.
Yes, these are some sneaky good-for-nothing scammers who ridiculously inflate the price, or try and sneak a big fat shipping bill in there, but most people see that from a mile a way and scroll on by.

That's a great point! It seems the default when someone here on the site asks for value estimates, the 1st recommendation is to scan Ebay (sold) prices.
Yet here we are in direct conflict with that .

I see no conflict. I may not like the prices being paid on eBay, but in fact those are the prices being paid. When someone here on the site asks for value estimates, just because some complain about prices knives are selling for doesn’t change that those are real selling prices.

In fact take a look at the prices being paid right here on AAPK. At least if you buy from a seller here you unlikely to get a fake.

Ken

[Sharpnshinyknives]

I just bought a Wendell Carson whittler with baleen handles on it. I love Wendell Carson knives and especially appreciate the incredible handle materials that he used. However, here is the AI knife description of the knife: “ The product is a collectible folding knife manufactured by the brand FIGHTIN BULL in the United States. It features black baleen handles and three blades, including a not used or resharpener blade. The knife is designed to resemble a bull, making it a unique and sought-after piece for collectors of modern folding knives.”

I’m glad I am experienced enough with knives that I wasn’t counting on the description. I’ve never seen a knife “designed to resemble a bull”. I think the stupidity of AI is not going to help the hobby. Who knows it might have helped me buy this knife cheaper than it should have sold for. I had a top bid that was much higher than what I just paid for this beauty. Here is the listing for future reference: https://www.ebay.com/itm/407020083189

[bestgear]

I think the stupidity of AI is not going to help the hobby

maybe after the land, water and power grab by AI companies things will improve……. not in our lifetime but maybe in our grandchildren’s.

[ea42]

I've been an Ebay buyer and seller (much more buying LOL) since the beginning. Remember the anticipation of waiting five minutes for a picture to load line by line in the dial up modem days? In spite of its flaws I think any true collectors have missed out tremendously if they've avoided that platform. You just need to weed out the chaf like any other hobby. At least half of the really good knives in my collection were Ebay finds. Sure they don't come around as often as they used to but every so often a stunner shows up that you're not likely to find anywhere else. Prices? I just ignore the speculators and sky high Buy it Nows, not hard to do and you can even screen those categories out of your search. I look at it this way: Before Ebay the only real avenues to finding great collector knives was knife shows, private sales, and the occasional auction. Do you remember the prices folks were getting back then for scarce models or minty classics? Not cheap!! Just look at some of the old price guides! Then Ebay came along and suddenly tens of thousands of knives of every ilk were available at your fingertips. Rare models that you previously had to travel far and wide to find popped up regularly, and as a result average prices plummeted big time. Some folks saw they value of their collections chopped in half. Fast forward to today and I think those prices have finally caught up to what they should be (roughly). There are now more collectors and there's a scarcity of models that were more plentiful twenty or even ten years ago. Sure there are still a LOT of highway robbers but by the same token if you're patient you'll find what you're looking for in your price category. In all my transactions, and there are close to 2,000, I've only been disappointed maybe four or five times. I never even read the AI descriptions that pop up nowadays, I can normally tell what I'm going to wind up with through good pictures and if they're lacking I just move on.

Eric

[Sharpnshinyknives]

I've been an Ebay buyer and seller (much more buying LOL) since the beginning. Remember the anticipation of waiting five minutes for a picture to load line by line in the dial up modem days? In spite of its flaws I think any true collectors have missed out tremendously if they've avoided that platform. You just need to weed out the chaf like any other hobby. At least half of the really good knives in my collection were Ebay finds. Sure they don't come around as often as they used to but every so often a stunner shows up that you're not likely to find anywhere else. Prices? I just ignore the speculators and sky high Buy it Nows, not hard to do and you can even screen those categories out of your search. I look at it this way: Before Ebay the only real avenues to finding great collector knives was knife shows, private sales, and the occasional auction. Do you remember the prices folks were getting back then for scarce models or minty classics? Not cheap!! Just look at some of the old price guides! Then Ebay came along and suddenly tens of thousands of knives of every ilk were available at your fingertips. Rare models that you previously had to travel far and wide to find popped up regularly, and as a result average prices plummeted big time. Some folks saw they value of their collections chopped in half. Fast forward to today and I think those prices have finally caught up to what they should be (roughly). There are now more collectors and there's a scarcity of models that were more plentiful twenty or even ten years ago. Sure there are still a LOT of highway robbers but by the same token if you're patient you'll find what you're looking for in your price category. In all my transactions, and there are close to 2,000, I've only been disappointed maybe four or five times. I never even read the AI descriptions that pop up nowadays, I can normally tell what I'm going to wind up with through good pictures and if they're lacking I just move on.

Eric

Well said Eric! Most of the knives in my own collection have come from eBay and I approach it very much the same way that you do. It is exciting when something really rare or for which I have been looking a long time pops up. It’s like Christmas when I was a kid.

[tvic]

He goes on to conclude “The economic damage is real, borne entirely by the buyer today, but it will be borne by all of us in the future by discouraged collectors leaving the knife game.”

Ken

Bottom line, guys, it’s difficult to blame a seller’s outrageous selling price if there’s someone out there willing to pay it. So, as Bruce Voyles pointed out, it’s the buyers who are doing the damage - whoever the heck they are - cause I don’t believe these people are the regular family of collectors like we have here on AAPK. It’s like one of those 1950s sci-fi movies - we know they’re out there, but we can’t see them and don’t know where they are! And, as we all know, auctions are like a drug with the “I gotta have it at whatever it costs” mentality for so many - particularly those new to auction bidding. How many times have all of us seen someone pay 30%, 50% or even 100% more for the exact same knife they could have gotten at most online dealers for much less?

[Dinadan]

How many times have all of us seen someone pay 30%, 50% or even 100% more for the exact same knife they could have gotten at most online dealers for much less?

How many of you folks still participate in auctions? In a way I miss those nights when the game was afoot: crouching over my computer like a hunter over the tiger's bait. I recall my finger caressing the enter key as if it were the trigger of my my .500 Express: watching the seconds wind down so I could fire off a last second bid. Those were fun times.

I think that as I acquired more knives, the late night sniping ambushes seemed less urgent. And, these days less than 10% of knives are sold at auction, probably closer to 3%.

At some point I just quit even looking at auctions. Now I scan the Buy it Now listing. Getting back to the topic of the evolution of knife commerce on Ebay, for me the rise of the Buy it Now option is probably the biggest change. That and the way everything goes through Ebay now, with no interaction at all between seller and buyer.

[Lansky1]

How many of you folks still participate in auctions? In a way I miss those nights when the game was afoot: crouching over my computer like a hunter over the tiger's bait. I recall my finger caressing the enter key as if it were the trigger of my my .500 Express: watching the seconds wind down so I could fire off a last second bid. Those were fun times.

I think that as I acquired more knives, the late night sniping ambushes seemed less urgent. And, these days less than 10% of knives are sold at auction, probably closer to 3%.

well put Mel ... I look back at those sniping days fondly. eBay was a whole lot more fun back then, before the sniping apps.

[btrwtr]

I have purchased some of the very best quality old knives I have ever owed via eBay sales. eBay was and is a boon for sellers of small collectibles like knives. Larger items that require high shipping costs not so much. No doubt, as evidenced by all the posts here, eBay has evolved and not in so much a good way. Some of the changes have been a natural occurrence, like fewer HOKs as these knives find their way into private collections not to see the light of day for many years. Rising prices are a natural product of low supply and high demand.

I still look to eBay for decent, honest old knives. I don't look as often and tend to be sporadic since it so much harder to find good knives at a price I am willing to pay. Just a few days ago I saw a very nice Case USA 62048 SSP sell on eBay for $709. After shipping and an 8% tax that number would be about $770. I can only surmise from sales of this type that there are buyers with way more dollars than sense out there. It's hard to be optimistic about finding that gem at a decent price in today's eBay given sales of this nature. It seems that every seller now believes or maybe just wants you to believe they have the grail for sale.