Rare Very Rare Super Rare Ultra Rare Extremely Rare Extreme

[doubledown]

I know we all know that people who don't know shit about video games, but love garage sales and love Ebay over use the hell out of the word "RARE." I just happen to be going through the Ebay - Video Game - listings with a search for "ColecoVision" and was absolutely dumbfounded by the number of auctions with the word "RARE" in the title. So in further research I found these results:

Auctions in the Ebay category - "Video Games" - 228766

of those 228766, those with the following phrase in the title:

"Rare" - 8692

of those 8692, those with the following phrase in the title:

"Very Rare" - 897

"Super Rare" - 976

"Ultra Rare" - 893

"Extremely Rare" - 36

"Extreme Rare" - 20

 

Now while some items actually are reasonably rare, most of them are something along the lines of an Atari Vader with 3 copies of Combat, or an original NES with the hard to find Super Mario Bros. It's starting to get real damn annoying. Now I don't sell a helluva lot of rare stuff, I like to hoard it for myself, but when I do sell something of a rarity I sure as hell don't spam the hell out of the title and description with what has become my most hated word - "RARE". The only people that the word Rare is going to mean anything to are the real collectors and hobbyists and they already know what is rare.

 

This has been an editorial by DoubleDown.

 

Please rant along with me.

[Mindfield]

Rare has ceased to have any meaning on eBay. It's been used for everything from Combat to Malagai and everything in between. Using the word (or any variation of it) as a search criteria is completely useless -- not much better than browsing the category independently. But then eBay is pretty much a digital microcosm of the real world: If key words and phrases can catch one or two unwary neophites that believe it and pony up the overpriced value of it, then they'll use it all the more.

[Blackjack]

How many with multiple instances of rare (or variations). I once saw one with it twice in the title and once in the extra subtitle.

 

And don't forget [email protected]@K! and WOW!

[shining slade]

I usually put HTF (hard to find) in my auction listings for a rare item. I hate looking at common crap labeled as rare too.

[Red 5]

I am selling a Banjo Kazooie for N64 right now.

It's made by Rare.

Does that count ?

[dvdguy]

Here's a "RARE WHITE VERSION" of Donkey Kong.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...8149591167&rd=1

[sku_u]

I don't understand why people waste their time putting any of those terms into the title. No one searches for games using the keyword rare. (Except for doubledown )

[doubledown]

That was only for research!!! It really is amazing what sellers consider rare though isn't it.

[Philflound]

Using a word in a title more than once is useless. HTF is a good idea if you know people search it.

 

List of keywords to look for:

 

MINT

MIB

CIB

BOXED

BOX

RARITY (usually has a # next to it)

COMPLETE

SEALED

 

Phil

[dvdguy]

Ultra Rare Defender MIB: $100 bucks

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...8151501256&rd=1

[dvdguy]

Rare Q*Bert MIB: $85 bucks

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...8151495424&rd=1

[glitch]

Ultra Rare Defender MIB: $100 bucks

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=62053&item=8151501256&rd=1

 

I love his suggestions

TIP: Don't Get Outbid At The Last Moment: A lot of bidders are disappointed at losing in the last second. They've been "sniped" by other bidders. You can prevent this by entering your Maximum Bid (highest amount you're willing to pay) when you place your bid. Then, if someone places a higher bid, yours rises just enough to cover theirs (up to your maximum). This gets you the best possible price.

 

I better bid $350.00 just to make sure I get the best possible price

[candiru]

I better bid $350.00 just to make sure I get the best possible price  

 

Did you bid yet? I've got my $349.99 bid ready to go.