Yep someone already pointed it out. But like you said at last it'd be a lot easier to separate the two since earthbound 2 never happened. 

 

Yeah i know the 3333 price is high and weird but Ive had a lot of 3k+ offers and I wanted to start there and see what happens, if it doesnt sell on ebay ill prob just private party it to one of the people that offered 3k+

kinda surprised not to see the silkscreening, are there other protos that have popped up like this?

Looks like your concern has already been assuaged. Maybe $3,333.33 wasn't a ridiculous starting price after all..  
 

with Earthbound fans, you never know. They're friggin insane

It's odd to me when folks are so adamant about something that does not have a clear cut market price. The NES Classic doubled in price the moment they announced it was discontinued. Just because it has previously sold for less than $3,000 doesn't mean it can't sell for more. Congrats on the find, I hope it provides more than enough for your California move.

We will see once it gets paid for. What things are bid up to means nothing until its paid up. 

I still stand by the fact that a starting price that high for an item that doesnt have a set value is ridiculous, but it isn't my stuff so it doesnt matter.   

I don't believe your opinion qualifies as fact. Can I stand by the fact that a starting price that high for an item that doesn't have a set value is brilliant? The market shifts, a lot. He should do whatever he thinks is right. In an absolute worst case, it doesn't sell. Nothing ridiculous about trying to get top dollar for a sought-after collectible. 
 

Thanks for pointing out a context mistake I made

Let me change that because I obviously touched a sensitive nerve with you. 

My OPINION, is that starting an item that high is silly. It doesnt matter though, because if it was started at .99c it would still theoretically hit this amount anyways. This is an internet forum where we are allowed to express our OPINIONS. If YOUR OPINION is that starting items super high is the right way to sell crap on eBay then go for it. 

I never understood why people are so afraid of starting things at $.99. Especially where there is little supporting data, thats the only argument Im trying to make. After I said that the OP put down the fact that he already had $3000 offers which makes more sense as to why he did it. I'm not really sure why you're focusing on the fact that I think starting items high is ridiculous. Because that will never change. 

This x1,000.

It gets more attention and more people add it to watch list when the price is low “just in case.” After a few reminders from eBay, some people might suddenly realize they really want it. Then you might have more people in the final bidding war.

I also added in my edit that the fact that stated he had 3k offers made it make a bit more sense, but I hadn't even thought about the whole bidding war thing and people being more interested because it started low.  WOnder if .99c items get more exposure in eBays algorhythym.
 

I'm not sure if you've sold high value stuff, but offers have a way of disappearing when they aren't accepted.  You probably just pissed off the people who made you offers and will have to go crawling back when it doesn't sell.

lol k

Crawling back? The item has bids from two different users. Why don't you think it will sell? I get the sense you and MrWunderful are rooting against a sale just you can be right. 
 

This item gains nothing from a $.99c starting price. Anyone who is attracted by that isn't looking to spend $3,000 on a cart. If you think a $.99c starting price is the way to go, keep doing so with your listings. It's one thing to offer constructive criticism ("I think the starting bid will push potential bidders away"), and another to declare a listing ridiculous. You can get your message across without talking down to him.

I didn't realize there were bids.  Speaking from experience, I've seen high start items go unsold, relisted at 0.99, then sell higher than the prior start price.  High start price deters bidding and makes people want to want for a cheaper relist.

Of course high start price is relative, and I don't know the value of the proto.  If buyers value it at $5k or $6k, then $3k isn't a high start price at all.  My opinion of it being high simply comes from some of the other valuations in the thread, that is all.

I have no personal stake in the thread and do not care what happens to it either way.

Plenty of big spenders will bid on a $.99 auction. They'll watch it like a hawk and it'll get more of them in on it. Pretty soon people will get into the groove of "well, it's just a few dollars more ... a few dollars more ... a few dollars more" and it gets into a frenzy. You could set Stadium Events at $.99 and people will bid it up to its market value and beyond. No one's going to get it for a dollar.

$3000 starting price pretty much sets it around that and you'll only get a few people to even look at it, let alone toss a bid.

 

Well 0.99 is another topic entirely, but I do agree that 0.99 on this is a bad idea. I would have gone BIN / OBO at a markup, or just counter offered with the two guys privately. Ebay gets 10% here for no reason, if he already had buyers lined up.

0.99 is a great idea if you really need money (fast sale), have little into an expensive item (found a $100 cart for $1), or if you are selling a bunch of like items separately ending at the same time. Then you cause bid wars and can get things to go over value.

But on single listing for an expensive item... no so much. Also opens yourself up to trolls and non-payers. And if you have to relist after a non-pay, results are usually worse than you expected. People are no longer in the heat of the moment and may already be over their impulsive bids.

I don't care about prototypes, and have zero stake in this. I wasnt talking down to anyone, and AFTER i made my initial post more info was brought forth. Why not start it at 4k then? Or 5k? Its doesnt matter to me, I still think high price listings on "unkown" value items are dumb. Im sorry you feel so strongly about my opinion- for the record, you were the one that quoted me. We can just agree to disagree. 

Wow upto $11,000!!!!! Never thought it'd go that high. Maybe I should put my Grail on eBay lol

Lol as soon as I say that he takes it off and puts it up there for $8,200 obo?????? Fake price driving or what...

It sold for $7,150. Pretty good for a yard sale find!

well no. We don't know if another will pop up, so there's isn't anything to drive up is there? Unless another one gets found or a current owner puts one up

Oh and the bids were trolls. This way makes for an easier sale with less headaches

Sold for 7150. The first time it went for 8200 but the bidder backed out and so did the next in line via second chance offer. I relisted it and was hit up in a couple hours by the 3rd in line who said he still wanted it for his earlier 7150 offer and I accepted. I just dropped it off at the agency thats shipping to him in japan today and I am glad to not have it anymore, to much stress haha. Also the drama that unfolded when I sold it on a few facebook groups was unreal. So many people talking mad shit about me and calling me a fraud/mad I didnt sell it to them instead, this one guy in particualr was convinced I was fake bidding up the price on ebay and he would not let it go. Talking so much shit it was honestly hilarious to me. I shouldnt be suprised that some retro gamers are very childish but it was way over the top with some of them. Im glad its over. Also it went to a real legit Earthbound collector so its in a great home

Awesome   congrats on a very nice sale!