Either a mistake, or a world record

[ALR-bishop]

When I have bought from them the service has been very good. And since I like to collect variant cards to go with my sets, the fact they show both the front and backs of a lot of cards is a plus. If the price is too high I just pass. No big deal

[vintagesportscollector]

Trdcrdkid, I also assume Dean is making very good money with his business model, so I won't criticize his business. My only point is that money sitting around has a cost - it's called Opportunity Cost. What that $75 could have made if not tied up in inventory sitting for two years. It's what every business needs to consider, and I am sure Dean manages it well else he wouldn't be in business.

Simple example...you buy a house (tiny) for $100K and pay a monthly mortgage similar to the amount to rent another home. After ten years you sell the house for $150K and think you made a good investment because it made 50%...BUT if you had invested that $100K it probably would have doubled over the same ten year period.

Collectors need to consider this too when they think they are "investing" with their collection.

[darwinbulldog]

The general point is correct, but I don't like the example. If you're spending the same money on rent you're not really investing it. If you lived homeless for those ten years and played the stock market with the savings, then you're using your head.

[vintagesportscollector]

Originally Posted by darwinbulldog

The general point is correct, but I don't like the example. If you're spending the same money on rent you're not really investing it. If you lived homeless for those ten years and played the stock market with the savings, then you're using your head.

Fair point glenn, maybe not best example, but you get my point. In reality the different alternatives with opportunity cost are never as simple, since so many factors can come into play.

[ALR-bishop]

"I hope when I die people will be able to say of me, 'Boy, that guy owed me a lot of money' ".....Jack Handey

[Leon]

There is always a time value of money that is used. That being said I don't think Dean's is hurting by the looks of their operations. Most of the times, in the vintage space, if you buy right and hold for x yrs you will do ok. As to Deans they look like they go with the massive amount approach and only a tiny percentage of their items selling is still ok.....as a tiny percentage of a huge number might not be too bad.

Originally Posted by vintagesportscollector

Trdcrdkid, I also assume Dean is making very good money with his business model, so I won't criticize his business. My only point is that money sitting around has a cost - it's called Opportunity Cost. What that $75 could have made if not tied up in inventory sitting for two years. It's what every business needs to consider, and I am sure Dean manages it well else he wouldn't be in business.

Simple example...you buy a house (tiny) for $100K and pay a monthly mortgage similar to the amount to rent another home. After ten years you sell the house for $150K and think you made a good investment because it made 50%...BUT if you had invested that $100K it probably would have doubled over the same ten year period.

Collectors need to consider this too when they think they are "investing" with their collection.