Newspaper article on Mastro auctions

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Posted By: Alan

http://www.dailyherald.com/business/story.asp?id=303238

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Posted By: Zinn

"Our main customers are wealthy men who are willing to spend a lot of money,” Allen said."

WOW!!

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"Mastro Auctions uses a division of the California-based Collector’s Universe, called Professional Sports Authenticator, to grade its card conditions and authenticate autographs.

Professional Sports employees travel to Burr Ridge to provide a third-party opinion on the quality of items so that collectors have faith in their purchases."

REALLY?

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Posted By: Bryan Long

"Our main customers are wealthy men who are willing to spend a lot of money,” Allen said."

This is why I can longer collect pre-war cards! He runs a business and those are the people that you want buying your product. Good for him - bad for me.

.

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Posted By: leon

The truth hurts on that one.....There is no doubt their best customers (biggest) are wealthy. So much for us armpits .....and I do know Doug very well and don't feel it was a slap to the rest of us...It was him being brutally honest. If I win "a" lot in their current auction I will be happy...anymore more than 1, depending on what it is, and momma won't be happy....

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Posted By: martindl

Hmmmm, Doug Allen uses the term 'wealthy' in a non-hobby newspaper article and people feel slighted?

I think some folks have lost perspective to what most people would consider wealthy. Only 17% of all U.S. housholds made $100,000 or more in 2005 - is that the 'wealthy' cut off point. 75% of all households made $77k or less.

Surely you can see that to most people anyone who purchases any item in a Mastro Auction that has a $100 minimum would likely be considered wealthy.

I'm in the 17% and don't consider myself wealthy, but I'm quite sure that most of America would.

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Posted By: dstudeba

We are not surprised.

Like leon, we also would like to win one lot in Mastro.

we be po' folk.

(edited to correct grammar)

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Posted By: Steve f

We po, so what. We will survive 'cuz Sloate Auctions is our Robin Hood!

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Posted By: peter chao

That's right, Barry's our main man.

Peter

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Posted By: barrysloate

Somehow I end up in every thread. Are you guys stalking me?

The best way for a collector on a budget to get something from the big auction houses is to form a group and try to win a lot with multiple cards, then divvy them up. You're not going to buy Lionel Carter's 1938 Goudey set but there are plenty of other things that are attainable. You have to do your homework, though.

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Posted By: boxingcardman

is to troll ebay while all those shiny catalog auctions are under way and buy all the great stuff there that is under the radars of all the "wealthy men" who are bashing each others' brains out in the auctions. Or not.

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Posted By: barrysloate

That's another good way.

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Posted By: Dan Koteles

pick 2 lots that realistically you can afford and have a roundabout figure in which they will end up at. Then GOOD LUCK gettin one !

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Posted By: Jerry Hrechka

In addition to my card collecting, I also collect comic books. Just bought 2 Silver Age Sgt. Fury & His Howling Commandos books for dirt cheap. No. 16 for 99 cents & No. 48 for 89 cents. The books are in VG to FN condition. Bargains are out there if you are willing to be patient and not win 90 to 95% of the items you bid on.
I've had compareable buys on cards as well - HOW# 285 for $1.00 in G condition was my most recent card "Steal". All it takes is patience and diligence.

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Posted By: peter chao

Jerry,

I like your approach, patience is the key. Unfortunately, when I have money in my pocket, it is soon gone.

Peter