License plate collecting with the Wizard

Auction closes in under four hours. Price holding at $750.

Quote: Wizard

Auction closes in under four hours. Price holding at $750.

I checked it and the auction is totally
gone, poof. It's looks like Ebay pulled
it.

Quote: Evenbob

I checked it and the auction is totally
gone, poof. It's looks like Ebay pulled
it.

When I pull up the link I get an auction for 1957 US Forces in Germany plates. I've never seen that happen before. However, my EZsniper screen indicates it went for $1075 with four bidders. My max bid was $1050. I'm happy to have pushed up the price on a fine plate.

Quote: Wizard

When I pull up the link I get an auction for 1957 US Forces in Germany plates. I've never seen that happen before. However, my EZsniper screen indicates it went for $1075 with four bidders. My max bid was $1050. I'm happy to have pushed up the price on a fine plate.

You'll never know how much
higher the other guy would have
gone.

Quote: Evenbob

You'll never know how much
higher the other guy would have
gone.

I know. Probably a lot. This is the kind of plate you either must have or it doesn't fit into the rest of your collection well. My strategy is to put in a sniper bid a little less than my indifference point. I've come in second in many auctions and it doesn't bother me. In fact my Ebay handle is "secondagain." I don't think I have ever bought anything embarrassing, so go ahead and search.

Quote: Wizard

I know. Probably a lot. This is the kind of plate you either must have or it doesn't fit into the rest of your collection well. My strategy is to put in a sniper bid a little less than my indifference point. I've come in second in many auctions and it doesn't bother me. In fact my Ebay handle is "secondagain." I don't think I have ever bought anything embarrassing, so go ahead and search.

It is interesting to me to learn where and why folks bow out of auctions. I always wonder if another $5 would have done it, especially if I was all ready to commit 200X that. When I bid, I will sometimes put in an odd amount past a round number that I assume other bidders will submit as a max. e.g. $26 if I think they will bid $25. That way the $25 max bidders get turned down, and I don’t have to make a “full” raise over $25.

I have no idea if this works.

Quote: Ayecarumba

When I bid, I will sometimes put in an odd amount past a round number that I assume other bidders will submit as a max.

I almost always do that. My bid of $1050 on the auction being discussed is a good example.

1932 Vintage Auto License Plate Tag for 32 Ford Dodge Chevy Duesenberg Mercedes.

This is one of the best collections of license plates I've ever seen on Ebay. A lot of these plates are repaints, which I hate, but still there are a lot of sweet plates here. I'm going to have to go through the whole list, but I think this is worth about $5,000 to make a rough guess right now. I hate to see the reserve. The seller might just be fishing for a value.

I'm serious about that 32 run. I looked in up a price guide the values for each. The premium states for that year are: AK, AZ, FL, HI, and UT. Hawaii and Alaska are the biggest. That Alaska is a repaint, but nice metal and a low number. The Hawaii is original but a bit rusty.

Here are my approximate values for the "big 5," and these are pretty conservative.

Alaska: $700
Arizona: $500
Florida: $300
Hawaii: $500
Utah: $300
Total: $2300

For the other 45, I'll say $40 a state, which is 45*$40 = $1,800.

So, the whole enchilada is $4,100. That would be about my indifference point. I don't want to say my bid exactly, but that's where I'm thinking at the moment.

The auction has a little under 72 hours to go and is at $1,658, with the reserve not met. I'm sure there are lurkers on this one, like me, ready to snipe.

Quote: Wizard

I I'm sure there are lurkers on this one, like me, ready to snipe.

Lots of watchers, you don't have a chance.
This collection would set a newbie up pretty
good.