Seeking COMC sellers/flippers input on data

[3rdpedal]

Hello All,

I'll save a long intro and backstory... I'm looking for some input from regular COMC users, particularly sellers and flippers.

How often do you export your sales data?
Do you have an Excel template/macro/etc that you dump it into?
Do you use any charts/visualizations to see sales data/trends?
Do you have any calculations that you apply to the data/records?
^If you don't mind, would you consider sharing them?

I'm really interested in anything related to how you use COMC sales/flipping data.

I am working on something, and hoping to get some good input before I go too far down a path.

Much appreciated!

[chezball]

https://www.blowoutforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=44

[tpeichel34]

Originally Posted by 3rdpedal

Hello All,

I'll save a long intro and backstory... I'm looking for some input from regular COMC users, particularly sellers and flippers.

How often do you export your sales data?
Do you have an Excel template/macro/etc that you dump it into?
Do you use any charts/visualizations to see sales data/trends?
Do you have any calculations that you apply to the data/records?
^If you don't mind, would you consider sharing them?

I'm really interested in anything related to how you use COMC sales/flipping data.

I am working on something, and hoping to get some good input before I go too far down a path.

Much appreciated!

I have not done anything with the data, but you got me thinking that maybe I should dump it into Qlik and take a look at it.

[3rdpedal]

Originally Posted by chezball

https://www.blowoutforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=44

thanks, i'll post over there too. is it ok to keep the thread here too though? i feel like i usually get better interactions on the baseball forum.

[3rdpedal]

Originally Posted by tpeichel34

I have not done anything with the data, but you got me thinking that maybe I should dump it into Qlik and take a look at it.

What kind of information would you be most interested in?

[chezball]

Originally Posted by 3rdpedal

thanks, i'll post over there too. is it ok to keep the thread here too though? i feel like i usually get better interactions on the baseball forum.

Tell the mods to make this thread go poof. All the comc related stuff is in the section I linked.

[tpeichel34]

Originally Posted by 3rdpedal

What kind of information would you be most interested in?

Ha ha. Am I wasting my time?

[tpeichel34]

Spitballing for you:

Percent flipped in less than 3 months/6 months/9 months/12 months
Percent unsold after 3 months/6 months/9 months/ 12 months
Unsold Storage Fees
Final Storage Fees on Flipped Items
Current Unsold cost (purchase price + storage fees)
Final Sold Cost (purchase price + storage fees)
Total Dollar Profit on sold items
Percent Profit on sold items
Avg Total Dollar Profit
Avg Percent Profit
Top 10 Avg Total Dollar Profit by Player/Sport/Brand/Card Type (auto, relic, numbered, refractor, etc)
Top 10 Percent Profit by Player/Sport/Brand/Card Type (auto, relic, numbered, refractor, etc)
Average
Bottom 10 Avg Total Dollar Profit by Player/Sport/Brand/Card Type (auto, relic, numbered, refractor, etc)
Bottom 10 Percent Profit by Player/Sport/Brand/Card Type (auto, relic, numbered, refractor, etc)
Top 10 Not Flipped by Player/Sport/Brand/Card Type (auto, relic, numbered, refractor, etc) with filtering by 3 month, 6 month, 9 month, 12+ months
Top 10 Not Flipped by Player/Sport/Brand/Card Type (auto, relic, numbered, refractor, etc) with filtering by 3 month, 6 month, 9 month, 12+ months

Seems like there is a lot you could do.

[mjohnatgt]

Originally Posted by tpeichel34

Ha ha. Am I wasting my time?

No, but this is a jerk statement. There are a bunch on knowledgeable posters in the correct forum and many baseball forum people tired of off-topic threads.

[tpeichel34]

Originally Posted by mjohnatgt

No, but this is a jerk statement. There are a bunch on knowledgeable posters in the correct forum and many baseball forum people tired of off-topic threads.

Huh? It was a joke about wanting to know if I was wasting my time buying and selling sports cards. Is buying and selling baseball cards "off topic" in the Baseball Cards Hobby Talk forum?

[gmarutiak]

Originally Posted by mjohnatgt

No, but this is a jerk statement. There are a bunch on knowledgeable posters in the correct forum and many baseball forum people tired of off-topic threads.

While you're cleaning up the baseball forum, can you please do something about all of the Project 2020 threads on here? Aren't they technically off-topic since there's a specific place for them in the Topps Now forum? Thanks!!!

[mjohnatgt]

Welcome to the COMC forum. I don't really export my data, just type out interesting flips when it comes to the Flipping Successes thread every once in a while. Making a good number on the cheap Marvel inserts when people either list them cheap, or by buying up 10 at 50 cents each and then having the only one on site for $2.50. Sell 2 that way, you make all your money back. Big issue is whether others are holding 20 of the same card in reserve waiting for them to sell out.

One of my biggest tricks I revealed in the Primer thread, which helps you determine which cards on sale are most likely to flip best on eBay through COMC.

[mjohnatgt]

Originally Posted by tpeichel34

Huh? It was a joke about wanting to know if I was wasting my time buying and selling sports cards. Is buying and selling baseball cards "off topic" in the Baseball Cards Hobby Talk forum?

It's because it applies to all types of cards, not just baseball cards. So people that frequent the basketball forum or football forum that don't collect baseball cards won't find it. But those same guys normally will check out the eBay/COMC discussion forum. It's not futile, a lot of guys like me post great recommendations for flipping on COMC in the correct section.

And people can request that threads get merged or moved by PM'ing the mods or marking one with the Report Thread button. If the mod thinks there deserves to be 10 different Topps 2020 threads on the main page of the baseball board, they will leave them.

[pfb11]

never
no
no
no

I would rather use the time that would take to compare my prices to others'.

[3rdpedal]

Originally Posted by mjohnatgt

Welcome to the COMC forum. I don't really export my data, just type out interesting flips when it comes to the Flipping Successes thread every once in a while. Making a good number on the cheap Marvel inserts when people either list them cheap, or by buying up 10 at 50 cents each and then having the only one on site for $2.50. Sell 2 that way, you make all your money back. Big issue is whether others are holding 20 of the same card in reserve waiting for them to sell out.

One of my biggest tricks I revealed in the Primer thread, which helps you determine which cards on sale are most likely to flip best on eBay through COMC.

Thanks for the welcome message! Although I'm not really looking for tricks and tips, I'm always learning and picking up new strategies.

I'm realizing how limited the COMC sales/export data is, and as a software developer and nerd, I think i can fill in some gaps.

Originally Posted by pfb11

never
no
no
no

I would rather use the time that would take to compare my prices to others'.

If you had an easy tool (provided by me I hope) would you use it? Something you could import your .csv into and it would provide you with insights?

[3rdpedal]

think there was a misunderstanding/confusion with the OP and the response.

I apologize for putting this in the wrong forum.... it's in the COMC forum now.

[tpeichel34]

Originally Posted by 3rdpedal

Thanks for the welcome message! Although I'm not really looking for tricks and tips, I'm always learning and picking up new strategies.

I'm realizing how limited the COMC sales/export data is, and as a software developer and nerd, I think i can fill in some gaps.




If you had an easy tool (provided by me I hope) would you use it? Something you could import your .csv into and it would provide you with insights?

I would.

I think people have a pretty good idea of how they are doing with successful flips because they display the purchase price and sales prices for you, though there is some value to quantifying the data for successful flips.

Analysis of the unsold flips is more of a challenge. Won't you need purchase data, sold data and requested shipments data to determine if an unsold purchase is really a "flip"?

[3rdpedal]

Originally Posted by tpeichel34

I would.

I think people have a pretty good idea of how they are doing with successful flips because they display the purchase price and sales prices for you, though there is some value to quantifying the data for successful flips.

Analysis of the unsold flips is more of a challenge. Won't you need purchase data, sold data and requested shipments data to determine if an unsold purchase is really a "flip"?

There are definitely limitations to the data COMC provides. I'd like to get a full sales export (not just by year), as well as have a full profile export (sales, shipments, and purchases (unsold)).

I have a prototype working for just sales data, but it needs improvements. I'd like to be able to also import the purchase data to perform calcs on unsold inventory.

Would love to hear more ideas... it's helping me build a useful product.

[tpeichel34]

Originally Posted by 3rdpedal

There are definitely limitations to the data COMC provides. I'd like to get a full sales export (not just by year), as well as have a full profile export (sales, shipments, and purchases (unsold)).

I have a prototype working for just sales data, but it needs improvements. I'd like to be able to also import the purchase data to perform calcs on unsold inventory.

Would love to hear more ideas... it's helping me build a useful product.

From a high level, it sounds like you know what is successfully flipped and the profitability of the flip. The big question for unsold flips is why isn't it selling? It could be a number of factors. Is the price accurate? Hard to tell unless you can compare the price to actual sales data for other copies of the card.

[mjohnatgt]

You can get more data into a spreadsheet easier by using the Bulk Pricing Tool, which you can download from the COMC blog. It only works with certain Windows operating systems, though.

[3rdpedal]

Another question: does anyone have a contact at COMC (preferably in the tech/web department)?

[ClipsandVols]

Originally Posted by 3rdpedal

Another question: does anyone have a contact at COMC (preferably in the tech/web department)?

Are you trying to access their servers? That's gonna be a big no from everyone at COMC lol.

To answer the original question, I have a workbook that I use and import my sales/purchases/For Sale items into about every 2-3 days. I've been working on a dashboard in BI but haven't found the time to complete it. Feel free to PM me and ask any questions if you'd like.

[3rdpedal]

Originally Posted by ClipsandVols

Are you trying to access their servers? That's gonna be a big no from everyone at COMC lol.

To answer the original question, I have a workbook that I use and import my sales/purchases/For Sale items into about every 2-3 days. I've been working on a dashboard in BI but haven't found the time to complete it. Feel free to PM me and ask any questions if you'd like.

Oh no, I know that's a easy no! I'd love it if they just added larger exports, rathering than limiting you to 1 year at a time at max.

I'd also love a more combined sales + purchase + shipping export.

[checkoutmydeals]

When my son was 11, I showed him and one of his classmates how I flip cards on COMC. Within a few weeks, most of the cards I wanted to flip had already been snatched by one of them. Eventually, they lost interest and got on with other things. So I'm happy to discuss general principles, but reluctant to get into specifics.

I download my COMC sales data at least once per year when I file my taxes. I might sometimes use recent data to tweak my flipping behavior. But for the level of detail you're looking for, I would suggest creating your own spreadsheet to track some of your flips.

The big reason is that COMC's sales data doesn't include a lot of information which you would find useful. They won't tell you why you bought the item in the first place. They won't tell you how many similar items you might have purchased which didn't sell. They won't tell you most of the information you were looking at during the time of purchase.

There's also different reasons why one flip might be attractive and another might not. You might have different time frames in mind for one flip vs another. In one instance, you might feel strongly about a particular player / set / team. In another instance, someone might be dumping their port at 50% / 75% / 80% / 90% off asking price and there are some attractive deals to be had.

You might have another market for one type of card vs another. For example, if you set up at shows, you might buy signed cards / memorabilia cards / rookie cards of players or teams which are popular in your area for 75 cents to $1 and relist them on COMC for $2.50. Then, if those cards don't sell, you might take physical delivery of the cards and put them in a $2 or $3 box at the shows you set up at.

If a card could potentially wind up in your personal collection, you might be willing to pay much more for it than if you are looking strictly to flip. Some people will relist literally every single card they buy at 50% / 100% / 200% higher than they paid, and then take physical delivery when they have 100 cards in stock. (There is an advantage on COMC for shipping 100 cards at one time).

You don't have to keep data on every single card you buy to flip. I've bought and sold close to 400,000 cards on the site. I would go nuts if I tried to keep track of each one.

One thing you could do is open a 2nd or 3rd account just for flipping experiments. Maybe put $100 into each account, use a different technique for each account, and see which one does better after a month / 6 months / a year. If you want to keep detailed spreadsheets, you can keep them just on those accounts. Then you can see exactly what would happen if you change one variable vs another. Over time, you can develop a flipping style which suits your personality, your goals, and your personal risk tolerance.

[mjohnatgt]

Originally Posted by checkoutmydeals

When my son was 11, I showed him and one of his classmates how I flip cards on COMC. Within a few weeks, most of the cards I wanted to flip had already been snatched by one of them. Eventually, they lost interest and got on with other things.

That's classic. Whenever my wife or sister gripe about their jobs, I offer to teach them how to flip cards on COMC and they stop griping.

I give out my tips pretty liberally because they seem to be forgotten or not used by most other flippers despite me making them open source. I never really have a problem finding cards to flip on site, since I'm always scrawling the newly listed categories I shop in and am always watching the sales of at least 65% off. Sometimes I drag all the way down to 50% off, but I prefer to look for flip cards that can triple or quadruple and still sell.