Are these auctions for real?

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Posted By: Steve Smith

I was going through the higher end ebay auctions and I ran across 2 auctions that made me scratch my head. The first is a Ty Cobb 1915 Cracker Jack Graded an SGC 88 -- http://cgi.ebay.com/1915-Cracker-Jack-30-Ty-Cobb-HOF-SGC-88-NM-MT-8_W0QQitemZ230134174120QQihZ013QQcategoryZ31718QQr dZ1QQcmdZViewItem

it sold with a buy it now $25,000. This same card ended in the Robert Edward Auction just a couple of months ago http://www.robertedwardauctions.com/site/bidplace.aspx?itemid=8173

The second is a 1914 Cracker Jack 88 Christy Mathewson SGC 20 http://cgi.ebay.com/1914-Cracker-Jack-88-Christy-Mathewson-HOF-SGC-20_W0QQitemZ230138804521QQihZ013QQcategoryZ31718QQ rdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

This card was in the Mastro auction last year.

Just wondering if anyone had ever delt with this seller and are these postings legit if not could a board member talk to ebay.

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Posted By: leon

Maybe I missed it but what is the problem? Someone paid about 20k for the Cobb (after vig) and got a good deal. They sold it on ebay and made 5k. Good for them and bless their heart. The Matty didn't sell but had a buy it now of 10.5k. That's a pretty low amount for that card historically. The fact that there have been several for sale in the last 3 yrs weighed in on the demand side thus keeping the price down somewhat. regards

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Posted By: Steve Smith

True they made money on the cobb but the Mathewson sold for almost $14,000 now it's but it now for quite a bit less. Plus the ebay pics are the exact same ones from the auction websites copy and pasted.

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Posted By: leon

I understand your pessimism. I would guarantee that some cards do not sell in auction even when they look like they do. There is no auction house in the world that can protect someone from bidding for a "friend" so something doesn't sell too low. If the friend ends up winning it, so it doesn't sell too low, then it's really not sold...and most likely the consignor will be out some fees and end up getting the card back. I am not saying that is the case with this Matty but I am sure you get my drift. I think the asking price is pretty low for this 1914 Matty.... regards

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Posted By: Jeffrey Lichtman

I agree with what Leon said. Just because a card "sold" does not mean that it sold. Sometimes sellers can create an appearance that a card has sold for a high number just to influence the market so that when the card is offered again by them it sells for that higher number. I'm not suggesting that is what is going on here but just be wary that it does occur.

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Posted By: Dave S

Seems a bit strange that a guy that wins "The Beer Can Collector's Guide" for $11 buys a $25k Cobb??

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Posted By: MVSNYC

Dave- i've purchased items on eBay ranging from $10 to $10,000.

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Posted By: barrysloate

The buyer had a feedback of 2, and while that by itself isn't condemning, it always raises questions.

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Especially since someone who pays that amount of money for a card usually has the brains to check out the recent sales for the same card - especially if the exact card changed hands just weeks before.

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Posted By: Greg Theberge

While the feedback of 2 looks awefully bad...the book he bought was actually a pretty good price. Having spent a dollar or two on a rare beer can myself, I can tell you some cans are worth the same as that card.

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

I think a way to determine if there is anything going on in auctions that is suspect is to look at the bidding history for the seller's higher priced cards. If you find that a number of the bidders have, say: a) made 50-100% of all their bids in the past 30 days just on auctions from that seller or b) have made just 1 bid in the past 30 days and it just happens to be on one of the seller's cards then you can assume that the seller is shilling and you should probably stay far away.

Of course, I am not specifically referring to this seller's cards.

Of course, I would suggest you check for yourself.

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Posted By: Matt Bojorquez

I consigned the 1915 Cracker Jack Cobb to REA and have received my payment. David Barkus posted on the Mastronet & REA pickups thread on April 29 that he had won the Cobb as well as the 1914 CJ Mathewson. As far as a guy with only 2 feedback paying $25000 for the Cobb, who knows? One thing is for sure, I have terrible luck when it comes to reselling cards, I just lost out on $8000!