Mastro Auction 2005

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Posted By: tbob

There is a near set of 1910 Obaks 175 series and about 10 150 series cards in the Mastro auction (Lot 981). I keep bidding and getting outbid because I am after one frigging card, the 150 series Mohler.
If anyone is serious about winning the lot and is willing to part with the one card, please let me know, I'll make you a great offer and quit bidding the lot up.
Thanks,
Bob Marquette

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Posted By: Robert

I can't beleive how high the auctions have already gone up in price. I bid on about 20 different lots figuring the value minus 20% and they usually hold up until the last day and then I usually lose about half and win half. So far on the second day I am already outbid on 18 of these auctions, does not look very good for me this time around unless I get the itch and start over bidding and I am trying real hard to control my compulsion.

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Posted By: tbob

Robert- I know where you are coming from. I put in about 35 bids and think I have only about 4 lots where I am still leading. I know some of the lots had really low starting bids but geez, this is going to be an expensive one.
tbob

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Posted By: barrysloate

As I mentioned on an earlier post, look how many bids the N162 set already has. Crazy for so early in the process.

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Posted By: Charlie Barokas

My prices aren't looking that bad now are they? Maybe I need to revise them higher?

LOL

Charlie

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Posted By: Brian E.

Charlie:

You did see what the two E93 Cobbs (SGC 40, GAI 2.5) went for earlier this week correct?

Brian E.

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Posted By: Alan

A year ago or so, Mastro created a "Classics" auction, less valuable stuff -which was supposed to have lower minimum bids than the "Premier" auctions, to let collectors that do NOT have deep pockets win. I don't know, it doesn't seem to matter... their auctions still bring in record prices !!! Maybe they need to have an even lower end material auction....

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Posted By: Nick

They don't seem to be publicizing it well though, so it is resulting in very disappointing prices for some consignors. I picked up a T-205 George Mullin PSA 5 for 70% of common SMR AFTER adding in the buyer's premium, as well as some very cheap prices on memorabilia ($30 after b.p. for a game-worn signed cap of a past ROY, under $100 after b.p. for game-worn signed pants of Tony Gwynn, under $150 after b.p. for Pro Bowl worn jersey and spikes from a possible future NFL HOFer, under $200 after b.p. for 8 team-signed hockey sticks). Considering that Superior also had a lot of their lower opening bid items go off cheaply in their last auction, I'm not sure Mastro would be well served by focusing more on lower end merchandise.

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Posted By: Charlie Barokas

Yeah! Much more than you offered me. The SGC 40 went for $1800 and change. You were hesistating at $1400.


Charlie

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Posted By: Brian E.

Actually, Charlie what I said was that if I was in the market for one I would expect to pay 1500-2000 (absolute tops). But since I wasn't intested at the time, 1400 would be tops for me. I did pick a GAI 2.5 up a few days ago for $1250.

No worries Charile, I wouldn't hesitate to buy from you if the price was right and I was in the market for something you had.

Brian E.

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Posted By: MANONTHEROCK

Nice Pickup! And Thanks for the kind words. I also picked up a PSA 5.

Charlie

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Posted By: Brian E.

Believe me Charlie, I noticed the PSA 5 you picked up and you're offering...very nice! The E93 I picked up was a target of opportunity and I jumped on it in no large part because of the conversation we had and the direction I see E's continuing to head.

Sorry for diverting the thread.

Back on topic, 3 of 4 if not all 4 of my Masto bids have been topped. Essentially though they were competitive initial bids....if I want to bid for real, I will bid at the end.

Brian E.

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Posted By: Steve Dawson

Mastro's "Classic Collector Auctions" may be geared in their opinion, to collectors, but they're really not.

Case in point is Lot #979...79 E-cards, including 3 E92 Wagners, all graded SGC 20. This is not geared to "collectors".

As long as Mastro continues to "lot" groups of cards together, forcing anyone wanting one specific card to bid on a group of cards they don't want, just to get the one card they do want, their auctions aren't truly directed at collectors. They're just a clearing house for dealers to pick up cards for resale.

Steve

P.S. If any board members happen to bid on and win lot #979, I'm interested in obtaining one of the E-92 Wagners

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Posted By: barrysloate

I think the purpose of the auction is to offer lots that have a lower price per lot so that they are both accessible to collectors who have somewhat tighter budgets, and also to accept material that in the past they had to turn away because it didn't meet the high standards of their regular auctions. I'm not sure that in the end it matters whether collectors or dealers purchase the lots.

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Posted By: warshawlaw

These are by no means "collector" level lots. I mean, what collector really needs or wants 39 copies of the same 1962 Babe Ruth card (lot 513), 432 1971 Topps coins (lot 162), 6 sets of 1973 Topps (lot 169), piles of strip cards of different sets (lot 43), etc., etc., etc. The term "classic collector" really should be "cheaper than our usual but still for the very well heeled and the dealers out there who can carry and break up all this dreck on ebay and at shows" auction. Although classic collector auction is pithier.

I wish there was an approach somewhere between the Mastro approach and the CCA "don't throw away that garbage, we'll sell it" approach. A true collectors auction where quality material was offered in a format that didn't squash tons of stuff into unwieldy lot and also did not leave you wondering about who in their right mind would buy most of the stuff offered. And yes, I know, the CCA people are super-nice, etc., and this is not meant to slight them in any way, but come on, I look thru their catalog (got it today) and rarely see anything even remotely interesting to me. The few vintage cards they've got look like they went thru a blender.

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Posted By: barrysloate

If I may plug myself for a moment, my November auction will be comprised of vintage cards almost exclusively offered individually (with a few group lots sprinkled in too). Collectors can walk away with a few nice pieces and won't have to buy cards they don't want. Not a big auction, but it will be interesting. I'll give out more information at the end of the month.

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Posted By: DSGreen

I always enjoyed Jim Verrill's Baseball Vintage Auctions. It was my understanding that he was going to run a new one soon.

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Posted By: cmoking

I was shocked to see all those PSA 7 Goudeys in individual lots. In past auctions, Mastronet had lumped many of their PSA 7 Goudey offerings in 10-30 card lots. But now they are auctioning them off individually. It's good for the individual collectors, and maybe for the seller also, but it takes a ton more work for Mastronet.

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Posted By: Julie Vognar

single item lots. Go, Barry!