Why did these mid-grade T206 go so high?

[bunst]

These are just regular commons as I see it and the final price is way high. I could somewhat understand if they were PSA registry collectors, but they are SGC. What's the deal?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1911-T206-BASEBALL-TOBACCO-CARD-SGC-GRADED-50-JAKE-WEIMER-PIEDMONT-CIGARETTES-nr-/190691281683?pt=US_Baseball&hash=item2c66160b13
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1911-T206-BASEBALL-TOBACCO-CARD-SGC-GRADED-50-WILHELM-w-BAT-PIEDMONT-CIGARETTES-/190691281192?pt=US_Baseball&hash=item2c66160928
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1909-T206-BASEBALL-TOBACCO-CARD-SGC-GRADED-40-CONGALTON-SWEET-CAPORAL-CIGARETTES-/190691277465?pt=US_Baseball&hash=item2c6615fa99

[CMIZ5290]

Something sure isn't right, noticed how all 3 are the same seller "florida moment". None of those 3 cards are special in anyway......

[sb1]

Certainly not the seller involved as he is a long time and well respected collector/board member.

It appears two individual merely got into a pissing match or one of them might have placed a high max, which the other one kept trying to hit. There are always a few of these bidding anomalies which usually occur with newer bidders/set collectors who have to have it now. Neither one has extremely high feedback, might want to see what they also recently purchased(I did not look) but odds are both are buying SGC T206's.

[3-2-count]

Very odd indeed. Those cards can be found for far less in many sellers stores currently on Ebay.
I wish my cards brought these prices when I sell.

[CMIZ5290]

SB- Yes, you are right about the seller.....probably right about 2 bidders getting ridiculous trying to out do one another. It's just that these 3 cards are very common cards. Why would anybody want to give away that kind of money?

[pgellis]

I saw those this morning too and thought about posting. There were other SGC T206s from this seller that went too high, but not that high. I put in 2 pretty high bids on 2 of his cards yesterday and thought I had them "in the bag".......onlly to wake up this morning and see that they went for about double of what I thought was a very high bid to begin with.

I feel like it is probably a newbie to the T206 set and since there are very few in mid-grade coming up on eBay as a true auction, the buyer must have wanted them at any cost.

But everyone so far is right, these went for 5x-6x times "normal" retail.

[T206Collector]

I think something else is at play here. Did two people, with no illicit motives, really bid over $200 for an SGC 40 Bunk Congalton?

Here's an SGC 60 for $110:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1910-T206-BUNK-CONGALTON-SGC-60-EX-5-COLUMBUS-/200770678706?pt=US_Baseball&hash=item2ebedd6fb2#ht_2304wt_1159

Two people cannot be this stupid.

[T206Collector]

Here's another stupid one -- SGC 40 Hoblitzell:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&hash=item2c6615e9e8&item=190691273192&nma=true&pt=US_Baseball&rt=nc&si=SfDLAoQSm5JWKchxDHFXaqIh5VI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc#ht_613wt_1392

[pgellis]

There was also an Art Devlin, SGC50 that went for $89 and some change with a very nice Art Devlin, SGC50 for a BUY IT NOW for $79. So someone wanted it so bad that they paid $10 more for a very similar card that was on eBay for several days at a BIN for $79?

[JohnP0621]

It does seem odd. The same person won all 3 cards and the under bidder is the same on all 3 cards and has a 97% bidding rate with this seller . Theses cards can all be found for under $100


John P

[Leon]

The seller might be THE most honest guy I know in the hobby (and I know a few people). I know him very well and he is a good hobby friend. He is certainly someone I try to hang out with when possible (and do so at many National Conventions). I would trust him with my life. No way he did anything improper. Pick the most honest guy you know, that is him. Yes, those prices are very high and I couldn't be happier for the seller. They are very nice cards too, btw.

When I very first got into the hobby I bought an N300 from this seller. I had no clue who he was at the time nor did he know me at all. This was almost before grading (right when it started). I bought it raw but when I sent it in a full 3 mos. or more after I got it, it came back EVID TRM. I told the seller and there was 0 hesitation on a return and refund. A few years later I got to meet him and we have been good hobby friends since. You won't meet a nicer guy in the hobby......and a very smart guy too. Nowadays (and for several years) he has been way more into collecting tobacciana and non-sports and posts a fair amount on the non-sports board.

[pgellis]

I don't think anybody posting so far is intimating that the seller did anything fishy. I have purchased cards on eBay from him in the past and it couldn't have gone smoother.

I think if anything is fishy it is on the buyer's side, or they just don't know "market" value. But you need 2 bidders to run prices up this high, so it seems funny that 2 different bidders would be fighting over SGC40 T206 commons.

I hope he gets paid those prices without a problem.

[3-2-count]

And here's a better looking Congalton in the same grade for $161.55 less that what the head scratcher ended at.

Edited to add - For the record not stating any funny business is being done by the seller here. kapeesh!!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SGC-40-1909-T206-Sweet-Caporal-Bunk-Congalton-Columbus-Senators-MINOR-LEAGUE-/380448491276?pt=US_Baseball&hash=item58947f470c

[barrysloate]

Don't assume every buyer knows what he is doing. Many don't.

[phikappapsi]

Don't assume every buyer knows what he is doing. Many don't.

+1

Let's be honest, there are probably a majority of people in the hobby that have very narrow focus, and they are ascribing their own ridiculous valuations on whatever it is they want.

I've met some sellers up here in upstate NY that honestly believe EVERY T206 is a $1000 minimum, because they view them as 100+ year old Americana art, and believe they ALL are investment grade.

Needless to say, I don't buy from them, but someone must.

[Edwolf1963]

http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&ftab=FeedbackAsBuyer&userid=wlkewlke&iid=-1&de=off&items=25&interval=0&mPg=10&page=5

Here's the buyer info - looks like he's been on a heavy buying binge to acquire the set - price/market average being no object .. many of "fargenblue's" cards went well above industry average as well, hell - he even paid Bleam prices!! :eek:

Quick, someone send him an invitation to get on the board!!:D

[Matthew H]

I purchased a PSA 5 '34 goudey Frisch that had been sitting with a BIN of 70$ for at least 3 months. I kept it for a very short time as my collecting focus changed. When I put it up for auction it ended at 90$.

There are many people out there who click the "auction only" tab and never know what they're missing....

-Matt

[teetwoohsix]

I remember when I first started buying T206's on ebay, I wasn't too familiar with the true value of the card, and got caught up in the "bidding war" thing- I probably, on a few occasions overpaid because of this :o Mostly I just really wanted "that card".

On the same token, I know I got some steals as well ( as far as some of todays pricing goes at least).

Congrats to the seller !!!!:D

Sincerely, Clayton

[GregMitch34]

I suspect sometimes someone bids a super-high max figure, to guarantee they get card, but figuring no one else will go nearly that high, meaning they get card at just above market value. Then someone else does keep bidding, so their maximum kicks in...Live and learn.

[bn2cardz]

I can't imagine that the seller will be getting paid. The buyer is likely to see that they over bid and just won't pay.

[SetBuilder]

I enter max bids of $100,000 for all my T206 commons. Then I head off to the grocery store. I win every time!

[Davy_Kangaroo_Jones]

Very weird indeed. I just bought a few items from this seller and was very happy with everything (price included).

[birdman42]

Looks to me like a couple guys just discovered sniping. On the Wilhelm a single bidder placed 7 bids in the last 9 seconds. On the Hoblitzell that went for $140 the same guy placed 8 bids in the last 9 seconds. I think both k***l and b***t (not me) learned a lesson Thursday evening.

Bill

[Exhibitman]

The auctions are legit; Henry is as good a hobby person as you are likely to find anywhere.