Has the Glove Market on Ebay slumped

[softball66]

Forgot I started this thread. But, I've sort of unscientifically studied the day by-day results of ebay sales on vintage gloves. It usually runs about 50% of sales vs. listed vintage gloves though I've seen some
below the 50% mark. Many variables involved on this from overpriced, buy it nows, to some sales which hardly make sense on some routine 50s 60s common gloves.
We certainly need to bring more new blood into the hobby and develop a heightened and sustained interest. I wonder, when some of us list some gloves, that without putting the link in the description, mention our glove forum (I think ebay would delete any direct link) or mention JD's site. I think this has been done on referencing before.
I'm just throwing out some ideas.
I DO know this. The modern glove area has some peak interest on ebay. When I've listed desired more modern gloves, i.e. Nokonas, Rawlings and Wilson premiums from the 70s and 80s forward eras, non endorsed, I get hundreds of hits and watchers.
I would agree on the economy, the proliferation of common and low to middle condition gloves on the internet have been factors.
By the way, thanks to the help of several of our diligent glovers, we are working on a new "expanded" glove catalog source book!

[vormyogi]

I think it was a mistake to split the forums into vintage and modern. Not really sure if that has hurt the glove collector community, but I would think it has had some effect. The forums generate interest and the younger collectors I suspect are primarily over in the modern forum.

[vintagebrett]

I think it was a mistake to split the forums into vintage and modern. Not really sure if that has hurt the glove collector community, but I would think it has had some effect. The forums generate interest and the younger collectors I suspect are primarily over in the modern forum.

I have to disagree here. Although some collectors may have a crossover between vintage and modern, for the most part they stick to what they like. This began as a vintage forum and a lot of the feedback I was getting from vintage collectors was that the modern was taking it over and they had no interest in it. Therefore the decision was made to go back to original plan. There was little to no crossover in the collectors who did modern with vintage. Plus I think people will find this forum if they have an interest in vintage gloves - if you search "vintage baseball glove" on google, this forum pops up either as the first or second hit depending on the day.

The glove market, like any other, fluctuates all the time. Sometime prices are high on certain times, other times they are down. If you're a seller, you need to be careful when opting to downsize. Quality gloves are always going to bring a premium. Look at the prices from the Mastro/Legendary auction just a few months ago - those gloves went for insane prices.

[ScottWNJ]

I'm more of a buyer than a seller. But living on a fixed income really limits what gloves I can go after. If the price goes over $50, I'm out. I would say the economy definitely is the reason for slow glove sales. Also, Ive been disappointed with some of my purchases on Ebay. Often the glove arrives and it's a child size or has cheap plastic piping which wasn't apparent in the photo. I prefer the hunt at flea markets and estate sales, even though good finds are few and far between. Also I'm puzzled by the comments about bringing more collectors into the hobby. With a finite number of gloves out there, why would we want to increase the pool of collectors and thereby decrease the odds of finding the better gloves?

Scott

[Mr. Mitt]

I believe that there's a direct correlation between increased sales numbers and the quality of items being offered. If there's a perception of sluggish eBay sales it's simply a factor of what's being brought to the table isn't desirable. I mean, look at the glove of the month thread. I agree with Brett, if its not worth highlighting, don't highlight it. The result is an extremely thin thread versus one filled with doggie chew toys. There is pent up demand out there, no question about it. The problem is, nothing of substance is for sale. Perhaps you could look at it from a different perspective, then. If nothing of quality/desirability is available, wouldn't that suggest the glove market is strong?

[fungo8]

I am one of those guys that loves to buy gloves low, clean them up a little maybe do some relacing and sell them for a few bucks more than i paid. I put 10-12 gloves on every once in awhile and occasionally throw in some masks and catcher's gear if i can get it. The thing i haven't figured out is the volume of gloves in the Sports Memorabilia - Vintage Glove section which is the one i use to sell. when i first started as just a buyer and even when I first dabbled in selling the total number in the category ranged from 300 - 500. Heck there were even times it got down in the 250 area. Now when you look at the total number it is right at or over 1000 !!

I have noticed that there are many high priced Buy It Now gloves in the category and fewer and fewer of the ol $9.99 generic or high volume gloves that were the most common. I do think Ebay's selling policies have had some effect on that as well as shipping prices. It used to be good courtesy to send a bought glove in a nice crisp Priority box and almost taboo to stuff a glove in a reinforced big envelope but with shipping priority in one of those boxes averaging about $9 now those $4.95 envelopes seem more accepted.

I still look to buy the "sleeper" glove i can clean up and get $15-20 for and i still sell the old way but I do it just for fun and my interest in cleaning up the old gloves. Monotarily I probably break even if I kept up with it.