# BidShield Verdict: SKIP / VERIFY FIRST **Auction bid unit: PER CARD.** A $2 displayed bid on four cards creates an $8 hammer total—not $2 total. A 20% buyer premium adds $1.60, so the purchase is **$9.60 before shipping**. This example explicitly assumes no tax. Real auction tax rules must be checked. The resale prices, sell-through and inbound freight below are hypothetical scenarios, not verified completed sales or actual shipping quotes. There is therefore no unconditional maximum bid. ## Three-Scenario Profit Report | Scenario | Cards Sold | Resale Each | Inbound Shipping | All Costs | Net Profit | ROI | Margin | Max Bid/Card | |---|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|---:|---| | Pessimistic | 2 of 4 | $16 | $20 | $45.14 | **−$13.14** | −29.11% | −41.06% | **No viable bid** | | Base | 3 of 4 | $22 | $12 | $47.30 | **+$18.71** | 39.55% | 28.34% | **$2.72 conditional** | | Optimistic | 4 of 4 | $25 | $5 | $50.45 | **+$49.55** | 98.22% | 49.55% | **$7.51 conditional** | ## Base-Case Cost Breakdown **Acquisition:** - Hammer: 4 × $2 = **$8.00** - Buyer's premium: 20% × $8 = **$1.60** - Incoming shipping assumption: **$12.00** **Resale:** - Gross receipts: 3 × $22 = **$66.00** - Marketplace fees: **$9.95** (rounded) - Outgoing postage: 3 × $4 = **$12.00** - Packing: 3 × $0.50 = **$1.50** - Returns reserve: 3 × $0.75 = **$2.25** **Financial outcome:** - All modeled costs: **$47.30** - Estimated net profit: **+$18.71** - All-cost ROI: **39.55%** - Profit margin: **28.34%** Amounts are rounded for display; intermediate calculations retain their precision. ## Maximum Bid Analysis In the base scenario: - Break-even displayed bid: **$5.89 per card** - Target-constrained maximum: **$2.72 per card** The $2.72 amount reflects the stricter profit, ROI and margin requirements. It depends on the hypothetical base assumptions being true. ## Why the Conservative Answer Is SKIP In the pessimistic scenario, the lot loses **$13.14 at the current $2-per-card bid**. With $20 incoming shipping and only two cards sold, the buyer's targets cannot be met even with a $0 hammer bid. Therefore, there is no single safe maximum bid across the stated scenarios. ## Three Things to Verify 1. Obtain an actual shipping and handling quote for the entire four-card lot. 2. Identify the exact card variations and conditions, then research genuine completed-sale comparables. 3. Confirm bid increments and whether the buyer premium or shipping charges are taxed. **Final recommendation: SKIP / VERIFY FIRST.** Recalculate after confirming incoming freight and sold-price evidence. Never round a maximum bid upward to meet an auction increment.