Proxiblog spent the past few weeks winning lots on eBay to compare the experience with Proxibid. We wrote about that initially in this post. We continue this week with more posts in the series, noting the comparison between the two portals in terms of coins, shipping, photography and service.

The first thing you notice scanning eBay for coins is the quality of the photographs, as covered earlier. Then, of course, is the selection–tens of thousands of U.S. and World coins on the world’s biggest numismatic portal. The second article in our series focuses on shipping. Later this week we’ll discuss search functions, payment, and bargains with a final post adding up the tally so bidders can determine what portal suits their needs and auctioneers can assess the quality of the competition.

No doubt about it: When it comes to shipping, eBay has it all over Proxibid in coin auctions. To be sure, several of our top houses ship quickly and professionally. Silvertowne and Key Date Coins, for instance, ship within a day or two and use quality numismatic materials, including coin bubble wrap packing rather than grocery bag remnants or shredded paper (creates a mess when packages are opened).

Moreover, eBay keeps bidders informed at every phase of the shipping process. Click to expand this example below:

In many cases, eBay sellers ship for free. To be sure, shipping is included in the cost of “buy it now” items; but in timed auctions, the buyer actually is getting free shipping almost always with tracking and delivery confirmation.

Once again we applaud Proxibid for instituting badges, including one on shipping. But terms of service like these can come as a shock to eBay bidders trying out Proxibid’s coin and currency page:

Special Terms of Sale
PLEASE READ: This auction company has requested and been granted access to see all bids placed including any maximum pre-bids. This auction is permitted to engage in this activity by providing this clear disclosure to you, the bidder.
Internet Buyer’s Premium: 22 %
Sales Tax: 5.00000% – Tax may apply to the total invoice, including Buyer’s Premium
SHIPPING COST IS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BUYER: Our staff may assist but is not responsible for packing, handling, or shipping your purchases. Invoice must be paid in full before orders will be shipped. Actual Shipping costs will be charged to credit card separately and are non-refundable. Items are shipped in the order that full payment is received. NOTE: Due to Amount of Items Sold in Our Auctions It May Take 7-14 Days For the Items to be Shipped From When Payment Is Received. Your shipper will be required to produce identification and authorization from you to have your property released to them as your agent.

We encourage Proxibid to set minimum requirements for shipping. In the past, when Proxibid was developing the Coins and Currency page, it was important to sign up clients. The sales team has done a marvelous job with that, and the Omaha-based company has recently enhanced its team with four new executives, as announced on June 13. But new auction house additions to the Proxibid family need to understand basic service obligations, especially for smalls like coins.

As you will see in other posts this week, Proxibid has advantages over eBay. A final post will determine where Proxiblog will do increasing business in the future.

Stay tuned.

Proxiblog is an independent entity with no connection to the auction portal Proxibid. Our intent is to uphold basic numismatic standards as established by the American Numismatic Association and the National Auctioneer Association and to ensure a pleasurable bidding experience not only on Proxibid but also on similar portals such as iCollector and AuctionZip.