Brandon Steiner interview today about the DJ3K items for sale

[timzcardz]

Originally Posted by Mr. Zipper

It's interesting in that you can find Steiner items on ebay for half the Steiner retail price. I guess some people overextend their finances buying $500 baseballs and have to liquidate.

So, if it's marked $500 at Steiner and sells on ebay for $250, what is the true fair market value? Seems like the $500 is a somewhat artificial price point and the $250 is more representative of FMV.

Interesting guess and question.



It was back on '03 that I bought my first Steiner item, through ebay. I collect Ripken Jr., and besides being a fan of his am also a Yankees fan and collect Yankees stuff as well. In my normal ebay searches I came across a 16 x 20 of Ripken and Jeter shaking hands at Cal's last game at Yankee Stadium, autographed by the boht of them, plus it was matted and framed. Price was about $325 delivered with Buy It Now.

Checking Steiner's site at the time you could buy the autogrphed 16 x 20 for $699, but that was unframed. matting and framing added to the cost.

Of course I wondered, how could someone possibly be selling this for that price, and was it legitimate?

So I called Steiner and asked those questions. I was told that if it had their hologram and COA that it was good. (Note: To date I've not heard of their holgrams being counterfeited.) I was also told that for some of their dealers that place big orders they thrown in additional items for free, so it weas possible that a dealer could be selling the autographed photo and the price would in essence be completely profit for them.

It turns out the Steiner rep that I was talking to, besides being rather forthright, also had a sense of humor, because when I asked him if there was any reason that I shouldn't buy it through ebay rather than Steiner, his response was "Well then you wouldn't get to speak to me!"

So I am sure that some people get overextended and need to generate some cash by selling off items like these, but there are other explanations as well. And yes, when the items can't be resold for what they were purchased for, the original price is probably artificial because they are the sole supplier and initially have control over the market.





On another note, I realize that I must correct a statement that I made earlier in this thread about having never paid full price for a Steiner item. I have paid full price to Steiner for a couple of in-person Yogi Berra autographs. They probably cost more than they should, but were worth more than they cost. Meeting him in person can be hysterical and worth every penny. As long as he is healthy and happy, I hope that he is with us for a long time to come, and I will probably pay again for the opportunity to get his autograph, shake his hand and have a few words with him.

[Mr. Zipper]

Originally Posted by timzcardz

Of course I wondered, how could someone possibly be selling this for that price, and was it legitimate?

So I called Steiner and asked those questions. I was told that if it had their hologram and COA that it was good. (Note: To date I've not heard of their holgrams being counterfeited.) I was also told that for some of their dealers that place big orders they thrown in additional items for free, so it weas possible that a dealer could be selling the autographed photo and the price would in essence be completely profit for them.

There are probably dealers who get a discount for buying from Steiner in volume, plus people who need to liquidate.

Also, much of the Steiner items are on special balls, have special inscriptions, etc. After a year or two, these special inscriptions become dated and I think some collectors want to unload them. For instance, once Mariano Rivera gets his 600th save, who wants the ball inscribed with 500 saves?