Where would this hobby be without eBay?

[Y4NK335]

Sorry, i took the "these boards" comment to mean sport card forum in general.

Yea, when I went back and read it I realized it could have went either way.

But when speaking about sports card forums in general, there would have to be far fewer to have a stronger concentration of collectors. No more than maybe 2-3 would be able to successfully exist.

I wonder how many LCS would exist without having eBay around?

 

[swish54_99]

My PC wouldn't be anything near what it is today without ebay. I also echo the feeling that there'd be more lcs and card shows would be more prominent than they are now.

 

[brewerfan99]

For me it wouldn't be fun at all without EBay. As a player collector that's the greatest thing ever invented

 

[byronscott4ever]

Pre-Internet was more work and good collections were the result of much time and effort. Now it's easy to assemble a good collection.

 

[gracecollector]

I don't think we would have seen the proliferation of low serial numbered parallels without ebay. Pre ebay (generalizing at 1997), a card numbered to 100 was preposterously hard to find. You not only had to go to the right shows, but ask the right people or chance upon it on a dealer table. It's no fun to be a player collector and have low number parallels out there that you had virtually no chance to find. eBay definitely changed that. It made finding the really rare stuff so much easier, and I feel it fueled the popularity of low numbered parallels since it made them viable to player and set collectors. Without eBay, I don't think they would have caught on as well, and we'd still be seeing the hardest parallels numbered to 100 instead of 5.

 

[BenG76]

Anyone buy much from Yahoo Auctions before they shut down here in the USA. I think they would have filled the role of EBay had EBay never taken off. Before I quit collecting in around 2000 I bought and sold a ton of stuff on Yahoo Auctions. Plus there were few if any fees. At least I don't remember paying any. I hated to see them shut it down. Looks like they are still going strong in Japan and such though.

 

[IndiansFan]

The hobby would be ebay-less.

 

[BiggioBrooks755]

I dont use Ebay so ita not really a problem for me.

 

[RAZOR-Z]

I remember when I would use ebay in the beginning - so many money order receipts,,, lol

 

[Therion]

Do you mean nobody on the Internet decided to try that format? I think if eBay hadn't done it, one if the other attempts would have exploded. Ultimately, we end up right where we are.

 

[joey12508]

Anyone buy much from Yahoo Auctions before they shut down here in the USA. I think they would have filled the role of EBay had EBay never taken off. Before I quit collecting in around 2000 I bought and sold a ton of stuff on Yahoo Auctions. Plus there were few if any fees. At least I don't remember paying any. I hated to see them shut it down. Looks like they are still going strong in Japan and such though.

loved yahoo auctions hated to see it go also.

 

[hohlernr]

This is a great topic; very interesting to think about.

After contemplating what world I would enjoy more, either the current eBay world or the imaginary non-eBay world, I would have to say that eBay definitely allows me to be a more active member of the hobby. I would imagine w/o eBay I would have to spend a lot more time traveling to shows. As someone who works full time and lives in a less-populated area of the country, traveling to shows would be a rarity rather than the norm.

 

[muskiesfan]

It would be a lot different without ebay. As many others have said, it would be more regional and low numbered cards would be extremely hard to find.

I know there is a lot of complaining about ebay at times, but I think the overwhelming majority prefer having it over not having it.

 

[mmier118]

Ebay drives the high end higher

and the low end lower

I agree with this. Also I really don't think that I would be interested in the hobby anymore if ebay wasn't around. The ability to browse such a large selection and complete sets that without some form of the internet would be impossible to complete has really kept this hobby interesting for me. Also knowing that I would have an outlet to sell my cards on relatively short notice at a relatively small (say 12%) spread has enabled me to more confidently buy some higher end cards that I would not have purchased if I thought I was going to have to sell them at a 30% to 40% discount to market and that's if I could find a buyer for them.

But honestly if ebay weren't around the business would just flow to COMC or whatever website took it's place but I didn't think that was the point of this thread.

 

[nosterbor]

Mall shows!

 

[MansGame]

There would be less of the "rip & flip" mentality and case breaking without eBay. IMHO.

Great point.


---

Buying Albert Belle cards! PM me!

 

[Hendersonfan]

I wouldn't have nearly the collectu on I do, even if it is small. Would attend shows to buy cards and maybe not collect anymore. Don't think I would have sold off, but might not buy anymore. I yhink prices would be more steady but maybe not as high? No auction means bidders can't get into a war. I would never see lots of the items I have as they are either regional or from out of state sellers. eBay became my virtual card store.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Freedom Card Board mobile app

 

[brian26]

I would not be in it. That easy.

Ebay really got me back into collecting in 2001 after a several year hiatus. The hobby would most likely be on life support.

 

[jcmint]

beautifully put

Ebay drives the high end higher

and the low end lower