Auctioning Assets

Privatization via eBay.

Comments

[Lonewacko: I'm Still Blogging]

This is a pretty stupid idea except for the publicity stunt part of it. Even in a benighted, eastern shore place like Elkton MD I was able to find yachting magazines listing yacht brokers and showing pictures of yachts. Listing it with someone who's already sold yachts in the Bay would seem the smarter choice.

[excitableboy]

On the other hand, eBay may attract some dumbass who will pay a premium price for it, especially if he gets into a bidding war with another dumbass.

[Warren]

Ebay and Amazon are the dot-com success stories. The reason people sell their items on Ebay, is because the price you can get on an Ebay auction is by definition the market price. I seriously doubt that paying a broker would net them more dollars.

[Tom from Texas]

Warren, I would hesitate to say that the final bid price on Ebay is the going market rate. Rather, it is the price that one person is willing to pay and maybe a little above what one other person would pony up.

As a sometime Ebay seller of collectibles, I have been downright embarassed at the high prices some of my items have brought. Usually in such cases the majority of bidders drop out at very close to the same level and it is left to two individuals to fight for the prize.

Ebay has tended to skew the price of certain items offered for sale off-line. "One just like it sold for X on Ebay," I have heard. Fine, then why aren't you selling yours on Ebay? The prices for many collectible items can vary around the country, based on supply and demand (duh). That's why I can often pick things up cheap here in Texas and triple my money or better selling on Ebay to New Yorkers.
What Ebay has done is given sellers virtually a worldwide access to buyers. That antique widget in your El Paso shop window may never sell, even for two dollars, but if you can reach the east coast widget collector market, then just watch the price climb.

[Trey]

"State officials won't disclose their minimum asking price but hope to recoup at least as much as the $295,000 to $375,000 an appraisal says the craft is worth."

"Maryland spent more than $600,000 in 1986 to buy the boat..."

I'm not a boat person, is this depreciation, or stupidity?

[seditious_nick]

Confiscation and theft via ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2579649837&category=43376

[Ruthless]

When will the New York Stock Exchange be auctioned on eBay?