Robert Edward Auctins just signed up to be able to bid!!

[Peter_Spaeth]

Just as every generation throws a hero up the pop charts, every generation has a collector who rushes in gobbling up cards without regard to price. Anyone remember Charles Nisenbau? Rocketslover? etc. etc. If you're that well off that a few thousand here a few thousand there is immaterial, then go for it and enjoy, but if you are concerned about making wise expenditures, slow down, take a deep breath, do some research, and learn to negotiate. Good luck.

[MattyC]

For what it's worth, I've dealt with tonyetrade before and did not find him to be overpriced.

It is true that collectors will often happily pay a premium for the specific example that appeals to their eye. Whether one is a stickler for centering, registration, corners, etc., we all know that not all cards with the same label command the same price.

The PSA 4 pictured is a very clean image of Mantle. That said, you can definitely improve on that centering, if centering is your thing. This is only a 3 but the eye appeal is pretty strong...

[DaveW]

Let's take a look at some of "Adrian's" qualities and see if we can figure out who this really is:
- single, no kids
- likes to impress us with his high end cards and how much money he spends
- never shows scans of his cards (claims to not have a scanner)
- poor use of grammar and spelling but claims to have a high level of education
- seems to enjoy annoying us
- gets belligerent when challenged
- has a brother who also buys high end cards

Hey, are you really just one of the Bruces?

[Zone91]

DaveW

To be honest that is pathetic on your part I am never one to show off I simply buy rarer more expensive cards hence I show those cards off and for having bad grammar my 1st language is French NOT English. Try speaking French here so we can laugh at you for not been a French person...NOW that would make a whole lot of sens and would make us French people feel so much better about our selves. What are you a perfect judge are you a lawyer with 10 years of experience to judge someone in 5 minutes.

[Zone91]

CharleyBrown

Thanks at least you see it for what it truly is!!!

[joeadcock]

Agreed, the end price in REA will tend to be quite a bit higher for many of the lots. I have bid some already and will simply wait for the catalog.

The ongoing Heritage Auction has added a bit of competition in the similar time frame.

Adrian, good luck to you.

I do not want to judge what you do in terms of bidding or buying, but patience is not a bad thing. I bought(probably all of us have) some cards a few years ago(that if I had waited), I could have obtained cheaper. But it is your call. It is still a free country(at least for now).

[Zone91]

joeadcock

Good luck to you as well...I have only one card I want I am pretty sure I can win it it is not that expensive of a card...just a nice example.

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by Zone91

Try speaking French here

Been there, done that.

[tonyo]

Originally Posted by Zone91

......................... I am never one to show off I simply buy rarer more expensive cards hence I show those cards off ..................

Make up your mind, dude...............





also it seems that maybe it's an unwritten rule around here to not announce what price you paid for a card.

Maybe I've missed it all these (3) years but it seems the other big spenders normally humbly post their pickups (usually in the monthly pickup thread) without dollar signs attached and the compliments roll in anyway.

[Zone91]

tonyo

People who collect expensive cards show those cards off that does not make them a SHOW OFF you could not figure that out on your own really...that is from the book on life?

You are making me feel smarter by the minute continue writing what you write....now that's me been a SHOW OFF....hahahaha!!!

I post the prices because ANYONE can find them I simply save them time..any good writer puts references for what the write about...did you not know that!!!

[collectbaseball]

Originally Posted by DaveW

Let's take a look at some of "Adrian's" qualities and see if we can figure out who this really is:
- single, no kids
- likes to impress us with his high end cards and how much money he spends
- never shows scans of his cards (claims to not have a scanner)
- poor use of grammar and spelling but claims to have a high level of education
- seems to enjoy annoying us
- gets belligerent when challenged
- has a brother who also buys high end cards

Hey, are you really just one of the Bruces?

My prediction: autistic day trader.

Adrian, you should pick up a Hasselblad so you can show off your cards to us. It's really the only way to show them as they deserve to be shown.

[gnaz01]

Originally Posted by collectbaseball

My prediction: autistic day trader.

Adrian, you should pick up a Hasselblad

Or a Leica!! I have a $5000 Leica I would be willing to sell for $7000

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by DaveW

Hey, are you really just one of the Bruces?

Each of the Bruces refers to himself as the entire collective group of Bruces;i.e-"We"

Back when I had less self-restraint, I could never tell which Bruce I was talking with. Not knowing how many there were didn't help.

[kcohen]

Well, reading through this thread has taken me through my second cup of morning coffee. Mission accomplished. Don't understand why there are members of such low self-esteem that they feel compelled to rain on Adrian's party.

Fortunately, the thread was made complete with one of John's photoshop efforts. Sadly lacking lately. You must be busy my friend.

Lastly, I will given some advice to Adrian that is, exactly as most of the other advice given here, worth exactly what he is paying for it.

Adrian - just want you to know that some of my most prized cards, not necessarily the best deals, were obtained as a result of the combination of a late night on-line auction and a few glasses of bourbon. Tough to equal the jolt of an impulse buy.

Courage mon vieux. Amuse-toi bien. Il ne faut jamais oublier que le bons sens n'ont aucun rôle a jouer dans ce hobby. Autrement, personne n'y participerait.

[Zone91]

.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Zone91

kcohen

I am truly happy with my purchases and that will not change no matter what.

I am going to continue enjoying this hobby that is for sure!!! Thanks for ALL the positive comments and even the negative ones at least we are talking about cards are we not!!!

You guys are ABSOLUTELY right our favorite card does NOT have to be our most expensive one.....that is very very true!!! Personally I prefer the Old Judge (MUCH more history than modern cards) cards and the T206 cards over post war cards....any day of the week!!!

I always wanted a 1914 Baltimore news Babe Ruth or 52 Topps Mantle ''rookie'' since I was much younger BUT I can't afford the Ruth so I purchased the Mantle it is as simple as that. Sold some coins I owned and transferred the funds towards cards.

Adrian- I want to be clear, even though I checked up on one thing, I still believe you and think you are an asset to the board. It's just that the seller of some of those cards happens to be someone I am very hobby-friendly with. So I called him and we spoke for a while. Tony is one of my favorite guys to hang out with at the National, and we do so every year. In that respect, You also should understand that a lot of us go back decades with other board members and are very good and close friends. Some people have said we are a clique, which is sort of true and not a bad thing. We watch out for, and care about, each other. We (definitely me) have all overpaid for cards at one time or another. It comes with the territory. I will echo other sentiments though. You might consider taking your time in doing stuff. You don't have to, and it's your money, so bless you for being in the hobby and buying cards. Most of us have seen collectors burn out quickly by moving too fast. We don't want that to happen to you. But hey, if that is what you want to do, go for it. I have stuck up for you from day one and am still here for you. Please drink a bit less caffeine. It's all good my friend.

[Runscott]

Very entertaining thread.

I think zone's enthusiasm is very interesting - enough so that I've largely ignored his earlier off-color comments. I'm sure others have not and that has influenced their responses to his zealous posting, his minor insults of other forum members' cards and his unhidden pride in all aspects of himself.

I wouldn't call such responses to zone the result of "low self-esteem".

Lots of thread police lately.

[Zone91]

Runscott

I did not even know it was his Mantle card any 52 Topps Mantle owner should be proud of his card....I simply said I prefer the look of the PSA 4 I purchased but I am 100% sure that there is someone here with a 3,4,5,6,7,8 or a 9 and maybe even one of the 3 known 10's that looks better than mine and I am OK with that...maybe they even paid less than I did...but that is fine with me. No grudges here the guy should be happy with his Mantle as I am happy with mine.

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Originally Posted by Zone91

MattyC

You see that Mantle in a 3 does nothing for me (creased at the bottom...colors not vibrant (+ browning) as they should be on this blue beauty and the centering to me is not appealing)...beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say. I would not buy that card but that is me....I am sorry to say so but that is the truth in my situation.

Woah, pretty strong opionions there, but I guess everyone's entitled their's... right?

MattyC, that Mantle does plenty for me. Wish I had one like it. Great card, enjoy it!

(not sure if anyone else responded to this yet, but my eyes are getting tired 11 pages in)

[MattyC]

Ian,

Thanks. I am actually posting this from the roof of the Capitol Records building here in LA-- was just about to take a swan dive like the opening of Lethal Weapon because of how the OP dissed that PSA 3 Mantle (Was just trying to show him the range of centering on lower grade examples, in case he was not in the habit of perusing scans on VCP and wanted centering.)

Luckily I took a look at it and the colors are quite vibrant in hand; I blame my rather bootleg scanner for the lack of a crisp scan-- perhaps I should have borrowed my brother's camera? Alas he's in New York.

Everyone has their own tastes and opinions and I respect that. That said, I will take all these below plus that PSA 3 Mick for the cost of that PSA 4...

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Ian,

Thanks. I am actually posting this from the roof of the Capitol Records building here in LA-- was just about to take a swan dive like the opening of Lethal Weapon because of how the OP dissed that PSA 3 Mantle

It's a nice card. Don't be concerned - he is just missing his governor.

I'm excited about REA, but suspect I will do just as well this Spring as I do every year. Which means I will have no problem paying my mortgage.

[MattyC]

REA Spring Auction is always a fun time of year. I love that feeling of reaching my max bid on Day Two, before the catalogs are even in the mail! Hey, who knows, a bid can hold for 30 days, right? Seriously though it's always a great time, from discussing the items to the thrill of chasing a great lot, just paging through the catalog, win or lose, lots of fun.

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Ian,

Thanks. I am actually posting this from the roof of the Capitol Records building here in LA-- was just about to take a swan dive like the opening of Lethal Weapon

[IMG]http://www.collectorfocus.com/images/show/mattianc/my
-collection/9815/1951-bowman-mickey-mantle[/IMG]

Glad I could help Matt. Gotta love it when a No Cal picks a So Cal up.. not that you need picking up with that stash! Sweet cards! I myself own very OC examples of the '51 Bowman and '56 Topps Mantles, but the beauty is, off centering never really bothered me (and I won't let 10,000 posts saying otherwise sway me)

Curious, had you jumped, would have left your shirt unbuttoned so it would flap open in the breeze while you lay atop a squished car? Also, you may not be out of the woods yet, I'm pretty sure they laced your powder

[MattyC]

I knew that blow smelled curiously of Clorox powder. Gotta get a new dealer.

[itjclarke]

I'd love it if Mr Joshua was running around as muscle in the memorabilia underworld... Why does a hobby like our's always have to lose those kick ass bad guys to drugs and weapons smuggling. All sports collectibles get left with are crooked white collar auctioneer types (very boring).

[Zone91]

Peter_Spaeth

I did negotiate on these cards most of them the dealer dropped a lot from the asking prices. For example the 1887 Old Judge was listed for 5500$ I got it for 4250$ and the Mike Mitchell was at 5000$ I believe and I got it for 2500$...I know the dealers price there stuff way high to make us think we are getting a great deal but at least I got a deal and did not pay full asking prices.

[Zone91]

MattyC

You see that Mantle in a 3 does nothing for me (creased at the bottom...colors not vibrant (+ browning) as they should be on this blue beauty and the centering to me is not appealing)...beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say. I would not buy that card but that is me....I am sorry to say so but that is the truth in my situation.

[MattyC]

No worries, all good. Wasn't trying to sell it to ya. Just making a centering comparison, as the 4 seemed pretty OC t/b, and rather its strength seems to me the cleanliness of the image and strong surface. But again it's all in the buyer's eye.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Zone91

Peter_Spaeth

I did negotiate on these cards most of them the dealer dropped a lot from the asking prices. For example the 1887 Old Judge was listed for 5500$ I got it for 4250$ and the Mike Mitchell was at 5000$ I believe and I got it for 2500$...I know the dealers price there stuff way high to make us think we are getting a great deal but at least I got a deal and did not pay full asking prices.

I am just saying that I have seen this act before and people end up giving up 20 percent to an auction house to sell the cards at 60-70 percent of what they paid. You have time, none of these overpriced cards are going anywhere, don't rush in.

[Zone91]

Peter_Spaeth

Will try my best to be more aware and calm.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Zone91

Peter_Spaeth

Will try my best to be more aware and calm.

C'est bon.

[Zone91]

Peter_Spaeth

You see that is good french!!!

[chaddurbin]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I am just saying that I have seen this act before and people end up giving up 20 percent to an auction house to sell the cards at 60-70 percent of what they paid. You have time, none of these overpriced cards are going anywhere, don't rush in.

this guy is no fun at all, impulse buys are the best!!!

edited out the jibber jabber.

[Zone91]

chaddurbin

I guess that card will be a live and learn card. Why is it so rare as people say? I was told that there are about 100 to 150 examples known compared to say the T206 Ray Demmitt with about 200 to 400 known.

[Matthew H]

You overpaid about 1500 on the Wright... Who cares though, right? Just enjoy it.

[Zone91]

Matthew H

That is what I plan on doing can't always do the right thing in life and always play safe we certainly can try to do better.

The Wright last sold for 4000$ a few years ago and I paid 4250$ so I paid 250$ to much for it not 1500$. Personally I do see cards as a investment probably never will.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Zone91

chaddurbin

I guess that card will be a live and learn card. Why is it so rare as people say? I was told that there are about 100 to 150 examples known compared to say the T206 Ray Demmitt with about 200 to 400 known.

As i recall nobody has a good explanation. That said, keep in mind itbis a common and only of value to set builders and the set while popular cant touch t206 and other sets where there will always be an influx of new buyers. So that is a recipe for declining value over time as there is less competition for each available copy.