July 18th, the official release date for The Dark Knight, the newest Batman movie. For years I've been telling people to watch for big releases, and cash in on the buzz with eBay. Does it still work?
I did some research with Terapeak, and the results are interesting. If you have some old Batman grappling hooks, or one of the three Batmobile replicas in your barn, you may want to drag them out. In fact, as I write this, there is a No. 1 issue of Bat-Man on eBay for nearly $6000. (Yes, he was first referred to as Bat-Man.) As the buzz for the movie increases, so will the interest in Batman memorabilia. And there is some really cool stuff out there.
Terapeak results show the sell-through rate for Batman on eBay, over the past seven days is at 52% and climbing. The best sell-through rate is Toys & Hobbies category, with Collectibles category doing a little less, but with the most items listed. The fact is, this is a great example of a predictable pop culture event, that will pull all the Bat-people out of the rafters to sell their stuff. Collectors will be looking and the competition will raise prices.
eBay used to be the go-to place for these things. My opinion is eBay still is. While I love Amazon, no place has the excitement of the eBay auctions for collectibles. With all of eBay's bruises lately, lets see if they can still perform for the Dark Knight.
Check out the Batman items for sale below. Holy IT Batman!!
 Batman Inc Incorporated BATMAN 7" Figure DC Direct $20.00 Time Remaining: 29d 16h 51m Buy It Now for only: $20.00 Add to watch list |
 Lot of Superman/Batman comics Michael Turner 3 5 6 10 11 $9.99 Time Remaining: 34m Add to watch list |
 BATMAN 670 A 1ST FIRST PRINT - 1940 RESURRECTION RAS AL GHUL - NM $3.99 Time Remaining: 50m Buy It Now for only: $4.99 Add to watch list |
 BATMAN LEGACY EDITION WAVE 4 ARKHAM CITY NIGHTWING 7" ACTION FIGURE $17.99 Time Remaining: 29d 16h 55m Buy It Now for only: $17.99 Add to watch list |
 BATMAN 670 C 2ND PRINT - 1940 RESURRECTION RAS AL GHUL - NM $3.99 Time Remaining: 51m Buy It Now for only: $4.99 Add to watch list |
 BATMAN LEGACY EDITION WAVE 4 ARKHAM CITY HARLEY QUINN 7" ACTION FIGURE $17.99 Time Remaining: 29d 16h 54m Buy It Now for only: $17.99 Add to watch list |
 HOT WHEELS LOT OF 5 ARKHAM ASYLUM BATMOBILE 2011 BATMAN $5.99 Time Remaining: 53m Add to watch list |
 Batman Legends of the Dark Knight NM/M #55 #57 Watchtower part 1 part 3 $0.99 Time Remaining: 1h 4m Buy It Now for only: $5.99 Add to watch list |
 1/6 Hot Toys Batman - Batman Michael Keaton DX09 Collectible Figure $279.95 Time Remaining: 29d 7h 24m Buy It Now for only: $279.95 Add to watch list |
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
First, I give 2 thumbs up fo The Dark Knight. Awesome movie.
Second, I had a plan to sell my Batman collection on ebay, when the time would come, if it were necessary, although I am a buyer more than a seller.
Unfortunately, Jan. 29th 2008 happened, and all things ebay came to a screeching halt.
On this infamous date, then President Bill Cobb announced a new fee structure. It was announced that the fees would decrease. However, this decrease in listing fees amounts to nothing. A nickel. On the high dollar items, 20-80 cents. And while that sounds great, keep in mind that just a few years ago, the highest listing fee was merely $2. In the past few years two new levels were created, $3.60 and $4.80; so, cutting back 60 and 80 cents here is a joke. Meanwhile, the final value fees jumped as much as 66% Some fee cut.
But its worse for sellers. As of May, sellers can no longer leave legitimate negative feedback for buyers. This alone has made selling on ebay so risky for good sellers. Good, honest sellers fear extortion and blackmail.
Ebay claims there are only a small number of buyers who are bad. Well, there’s about 13 million listings on ebay (not all are legit, as seen in this video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKkUCMLZG6E) but, let’s say that only 2% of the buyers are bad. Sell-thru rates are about 35% which would mean about 90,000 are bad. ONE is far too many, when this was forseseeable. But, 90,000? And, that’s based on “old” stats. I’m hearing of more and more nightmares.
In early Feb. a myspace page was created to allow members to unite; thus, http://www.myspace.com/boycottebay was born. Due to myspace policy, it was necessary to expand out and create a more readily available space for members to unite and have a place to talk and plan more freely than on the ebay boards. As a result well over 2500 members have joined together and have joined forces to make this current ongoing boycott the largest in ebay history. Our Delphi Forum is http://forums.delphiforums.com/boycottebay/start
Contrary to what ebay claims, “Buyers don’t boycott ebay” we do. While I have sold on ebay, I am primarily a buyer, and I am boycotting ebay, and have asked sellers and buyers around the world to join in the boycott. I now ask you to join the 2500+ people who have joined me and fight ebay.