Something I hate about ballcard collecting

[Brianruns10]

So this past Monday I was bidding on a '52 Ramazotti gray back. The PSA card wasn't labeled as a grayback but it was obvious it was one. A PSA 5 broke 1K, and so I bid accordingly, putting in a final bid of $1500. I got outbid and it sold for $1600. Fair enough.

FOUR days later, the card turns up on ebay again, being sold by the new owner for $5500! It's barely been out of the mailer, and he/she is flipping it for an absurd markup.

I don't begrudge someone making a profit from baseball cards. It's one reason this hobby is so fun, to speculate and buy wisely and hope the value goes up. But to take a card you've owned less than a week and to just try and flip it for a 300% markup? I hate sellers like this. There is no love of the card, no appreciation. Just a desire for profit. And meanwhile, I or someone else who would've treasured this card and savored having it as part of the set, is deprived of the chance thanks to one persons avarice.

I hope whoever is selling that card is reading this. If so, shame on you.

[mrmopar]

You never know how any single item will sell on a given day. It requires that "perfect storm" or the right bidders and the right time to maximize the return. To think no bidders were willing to go past $1600 on one day and a week later, someone will go $5500…not likely, but it could happen.

It will probably sit unsold for a while and either disappear eventually or slowly drop in price.

[Republicaninmass]

Not having gray back in the title hurt the price no doubt. With a PSA 5 selling last week for 2500, he is probably dreaming at 5500, but still could make a good profit if he knows the right buyer(s).

[RollieFingers]

ballcard? thats a new one for me

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Brianruns10

So this past Monday I was bidding on a '52 Ramazotti gray back. The PSA card wasn't labeled as a grayback but it was obvious it was one. A PSA 5 broke 1K, and so I bid accordingly, putting in a final bid of $1500. I got outbid and it sold for $1600. Fair enough.

FOUR days later, the card turns up on ebay again, being sold by the new owner for $5500! It's barely been out of the mailer, and he/she is flipping it for an absurd markup.

I don't begrudge someone making a profit from baseball cards. It's one reason this hobby is so fun, to speculate and buy wisely and hope the value goes up. But to take a card you've owned less than a week and to just try and flip it for a 300% markup? I hate sellers like this. There is no love of the card, no appreciation. Just a desire for profit. And meanwhile, I or someone else who would've treasured this card and savored having it as part of the set, is deprived of the chance thanks to one persons avarice.

I hope whoever is selling that card is reading this. If so, shame on you.

It is only a part of the hobby. I don't begrudge anyone from asking what they want to for something they own. The exponential profit quick-flip has happened to all of us when we wanted something we didn't get. That is why when I really want something I sometimes bid way too much instead of thinking about what it will take to win it. I go a few times that. it almost always works until the time you need to sell it.

[glynparson]

Do not tell me i do not love baseball cards. You do not know how others feel about things. Why do you get to decide what is appropriate. Maybe you should have bid higher for the card instead of losing out on it then coming hear and complaining. You had more info than the flip gave you so you had the opportunity to go strong. So tired of people whining and complaining about people making money. People have been making nice livings selling cards for decades now. Because you may choose to not go after much profit does not mean others shouldn't. Heck i have made that much in the past by buying a card and selling it as i was walking back to my table. What a person pays for an incorrectly labeled and/or priced item is irrelevant in my honest opinion. For the record i did not buy the gray back nor did i see it but i would have no problem paying 1600 for something and marking it 5500 just days later. A seller is not required to sell something cheaper because he got a good deal on it. I think you thinking you were entitled to the card for less than retail, because you would "cherish it" is far more annoying then someone trying to make a big score.

[Neal]

Part of the fun of the hobby is reading posts like this one ....

I agree with Glynn, btw. All of it.

[Exhibitman]

Gynn, Neal:

Ditto. The flip is sometimes the most rewarding part of the game. I love picking a card from a commons pile or junk box or eBay sale knowing it has a value far in excess of what I paid for it. If I know what it is I have to assume someone else does too and if I miss it because I underbid, that's my problem. It isn't like the seller cancelled the sale because he wanted more money.

[Republicaninmass]

It isn't like the seller cancelled the sale because he wanted more money"

Or a 'pricing error'!

If it wasn't for the flips and trades in the hobby, I wouldn't have 50% of the cards I have today.

[flkersn]

Originally Posted by glynparson

Do not tell me i do not love baseball cards. You do not know how others feel about things. Why do you get to decide what is appropriate. Maybe you should have bid higher for the card instead of losing out on it then coming hear and complaining. You had more info than the flip gave you so you had the opportunity to go strong. So tired of people whining and complaining about people making money. People have been making nice livings selling cards for decades now. Because you may choose to not go after much profit does not mean others shouldn't. Heck i have made that much in the past by buying a card and selling it as i was walking back to my table. What a person pays for an incorrectly labeled and/or priced item is irrelevant in my honest opinion. For the record i did not buy the gray back nor did i see it but i would have no problem paying 1600 for something and marking it 5500 just days later. A seller is not required to sell something cheaper because he got a good deal on it. I think you thinking you were entitled to the card for less than retail, because you would "cherish it" is far more annoying then someone trying to make a big score.

I agree, in general, with your comments. But please don't confuse "market price" with "asking price". The former is $1600, the latter is currently $5500. As you know there are several examples of gray backs currently on EBay with high asking prices--the market price is yet to be determined.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by flkersn

I agree, in general, with your comments. But please don't confuse "market price" with "asking price". The former is $1600, the latter is currently $5500. As you know there are several examples of gray backs currently on EBay with high asking prices--the market price is yet to be determined.

also whoever buys the card loves the hobby most likely...

[DBesse27]

Originally Posted by 1952boyntoncollector

also whoever buys the card loves the hobby most likely...

Who cares?

[RollieFingers]

It's ok to make as much as you want.

But if they are willing to go that extreme, they probably can't be trusted on smaller transactions or trading or what ever?

[OlderTheBetter]

Originally Posted by RollieFingers

It's ok to make as much as you want.

Of course it is. I'll go so far as to say that this is the major thing that that keeps the hobby healthy. It's certainly not younger collectors. Without the influx of new investors and buyers/sellers since the Internet, this hobby would probably be in recession mode like antiquarian books, stamps and coins.

How many of us would ignore the opportunity to flip a $1600 card for $3000? Certainly not me. I wouldn't have most of my current collection without flipping.