The T206 Titus Bubble

SetBuilder · #1 06-18-2013, 08:35 PM

I'm only going off the information that I've gathered from this board. That information points to a collector with over a hundred Titus cards. Perhaps there is more information that we're not aware of, but based on the facts thus far, I just don't think this is normal, ethical, collecting behavior.

I don't think I'm the only one that feels this way.

Eric72 · #2 06-18-2013, 08:41 PM

Chris,

I agree:

The prospect of hoarding the examples of a card one has stashed is easy enough to envision. Doing this to cause a price increase is easy enough to envision. “Cornering the market” is a method employed by many who have come before us.

Typically, this is embarked upon to increase the value of one’s holdings. And I completely understand this investment strategy. What escapes my understanding is the rationale behind destroying one’s holdings for the sake of increasing the value of an investment portfolio. Simply put, you can’t sell them if you burned them.

Many early hoarders of Gregg Jefferies have likely gone down a similar path, tearing up his cards like so many losing lottery tickets or tossing them into the recycling bin with the rest of that late '80s crap.

Doing this solely with an eye towards increasing the value of said card, though; in my humble opinion, is paradoxical. After all, how could one realize a profit through such an act?

A case could possibly be made that destroying the lower grade examples would be similar to a farmer thinning the crop for a better yield. Having said this, I still do not see the economic gain to be had here.

My personal opinion is that the T206 Titus hoarder has a higher purpose.

Best Regards,

Eric

RCMcKenzie · #3 06-18-2013, 08:49 PM

Had you bought the T207 Red Cross Lowdermilk, then you could start to say that you were cornering the market on a card. I would guess that there are 5 to 10 thousand T206 Titus cards. I see them all of the time on ebay, at no reserve ,selling for under $200. If someone wants to collect that card, I see nothing wrong with that, morally, ethically, or otherwise. It's like a back run to me. He's not affecting the pricing one iota, imho.

SetBuilder · #4 06-18-2013, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RCMcKenzie

Had you bought the T207 Red Cross Lowdermilk, then you could start to say that you were cornering the market on a card. I would guess that there are 5 to 10 thousand T206 Titus cards. I see them all of the time on ebay, at no reserve ,selling for under $200. If someone wants to collect that card, I see nothing wrong with that, morally, ethically, or otherwise. It's like a back run to me. He's not affecting the pricing one iota, imho.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1909-11-T206...item51add510af

http://www.ebay.com/itm/T206-John-Ti...item43bc8fde94

http://www.ebay.com/itm/T206-John-Ti...item5d3faacf67

Look at those crazy prices for a common card that you and Chris say there are thousands and thousands of.

So because I'm collecting a T206 set like many on this board, I have to pay 200% premium to market value just so some hoarder(s) can work on a "special project"?

How can that price bubble be explained? That's right, there is no good explanation.

MVSNYC · #5 06-18-2013, 09:10 PM

I might have missed it, but who (besides the original poster) said this Titus collector might destroy the cards? seems ridiculous and fabricated.

Secondly, if someone has the desire to collect as many of one card as they can, why is that a bad thing and who is to try and stop them? it's a free country.

Isn't someone here collecting as many Shags as they can?

I see no issues.

ullmandds · #6 06-18-2013, 09:11 PM

I wouldnt recommend cornering the market on red cross lowdy...didnt work for me!

atx840 · #7 06-18-2013, 09:24 PM

I felt for you that night Pete...

SetBuilder · #8 06-18-2013, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atx840

I felt for you that night Pete...

Beaters. Those are mostly PSA/SGC 1's and 2's that should be closer to $30 selling for $100.

Collecting hundreds of specimens of the same card is a sign of a sick mind and we're paying a price for it. Could you imagine going to someone's house and seeing 100 of the same exact collectable car, or seeing 200 of the same exact board game lined up in a closet? How can you justify the utility of that many duplicates? This type of greedy "collecting" habit benefits no one in this hobby.

Now I have to shell out $300 for a Titus card that should be worth $80. When the hoarders feel like its time to cut the cards loose, I lose $220 when the price crashes back down which I could have used to buy 4-5 other cards. At this rate I'll buy the Plank before I buy the Titus under these circumstances. I can easily afford one, but this feels like a scam. I encourage others to do the same and leave the Titus for last until the "special projects" are finished.

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