General Question about Set Buying on Ebay

[savedfrommyspokes]

From the description section of Dean's ebay listing: "we have a staff of 14 employees and a 5000 sq. ft. office space"

With about 2500 annual transactions through ebay, my question is where does the income come from in order to cover the cost of 14 employees and the expense of a 5000 sf office? Do his sales come from his website, shows, etc?

[rsdill2]

Every card you buy features a QR Code QR that you can scan to see your ACTUAL CARD (not a representation) on your Smart Phone or Tablet.
The QR Code will bring even more "value added" technological benefits in the future. We are planning to add statistical data about each card's condition, and even card collecting software to easily access your collection online.



You just can't put a price on the QR code feature. Makes that G/VG 75 Vida Blue worth 9 bucks.

[JollyElm]

For those of you unfamiliar with Dean's Cards overpricing, here's the way it goes every time.

I'll use a favorite Mets player from my youth as my example--Ken Singleton. This is a low priced, common card. Nothing scarce about it whatsoever. When you search ebay for "Topps 1972 425," here's what you get. Pretty low prices (with a bit of an anomaly here and there) on cards in nice shape:

singleton.jpg

Then keep scrolling down and Dean, as he always does, appears and gives you a very hearty laugh:

dean.jpg

Abso-freaking-lutely a joke!!!

[hangman62]

I dont know how he sells anything on ebay, the prices are so out of whack... unless he thinks its a cute joke....but I dont think so

[darkhorse9]

The way I've always done my set building is by attending a larger show (usually the Sun-Times in Chicago) and loading up on the commons there. Uncle Dick is by far the best as his cards are priced to sell. That way I avoid having to deal with multiple lots, shipping costs, and I can see first hand the condition of each card so I know they're graded consistently.

Then I hit e-bay to fill the holes and pick up the stars. Battersbox is a first choice, but Sirius is an excellent value as well. I agree with joesvintage, tripleplay and mantlerulz. I haven't been disappointed with any of them.

[kailes2872]

I met Uncle Dick at the Robert Morris show in Pittsburgh last year. I loved the way his cards were laid out - by year in the binders with the pricing/condition layered in the sheet. I ended up spending the better part of Friday updating sets year by year. I am looking forward to attending my first National this year as I have been told that it is the Pgh show multiplied by about 10.

[autograf]

I've also gotten some good deals from Joesvintage auctions at http://www.jvscauctions.com/catalog.aspx as well on bigger $ cards. He does a couple hundred items every two weeks.....usually 100 graded, 100 ungraded although he's been doing more graded lately. Anyway, I've picked up some decent stars there for at or less than they'd be on ebay for similar grades. Plus, ZERO commision on the buyer side for the auction.

John (Harliduck). I have some nice 1963's that I'm going to list as a lot. Probably 200+/- in EX to EXMT condition. Just sold a 1963 lot a while back on the B/S/T along with 1964. Just dupes from lots I've bought.

A great friend of mine is J.D. Heckathorn....he does those Pittsburgh shows and always has tons of midgrade cards in binders and stars in the case at reasonable prices. Look him up when you're in Chicago at Sun Times or Pittsburgh as well as the National. You won't meet a better guy.

[Gr8Beldini]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

Attachment 133715

Then keep scrolling down and Dean, as he always does, appears and gives you a very hearty laugh:

Attachment 133716

Abso-freaking-lutely a joke!!!

Yeah, but he's got free shipping.

[m.wright58926]

I nominate this thread for post of the year...I had no idea you could eliminate the Dean's results by doing "-(Deans)". Now I won't have to sort through pages of meaningless search results...however, the time savings is partially offset by losing the comedy of someone wasting their time listing items with an opening bid 4-5X what the card usually sells for.

Seriously, why list it as an auction? This is why there's BIN.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

For those of you unfamiliar with Dean's Cards overpricing, here's the way it goes every time.

I'll use a favorite Mets player from my youth as my example--Ken Singleton. This is a low priced, common card. Nothing scarce about it whatsoever. When you search ebay for "Topps 1972 425," here's what you get. Pretty low prices (with a bit of an anomaly here and there) on cards in nice shape:

Attachment 133715

Love that last one in the first pic. I didn't know 425 was a high number.

Steve B

[JollyElm]

Holy crap, guys!! I thought I would bump this thread because I ran across one of the most ridiculous cases on 'Deanitis' I have ever seen.

I decided to check on a 1972 Wayne Garrett #518 and look what appeared!! You can't make this stuff up. His card has very similar centering and tilting as the 99 cent card above his...but he decided to have his opening bid start at $148.49!!!! $148.49 for a common!!!!!!!!!! Almost one hundred and fifty dollars for a card everyone else sells for a buck!!!!!!!!!!

I can't stop laughing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

garrett.jpg

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

Holy crap, guys!! I thought I would bump this thread because I ran across one of the most ridiculous cases on 'Deanitis' I have ever seen.

I decided to check on a 1972 Wayne Garrett #518 and look what appeared!! You can't make this stuff up. His card has very similar centering and tilting as the 99 cent card above his...but he decided to have his opening bid start at $148.49!!!! $148.49 for a common!!!!!!!!!! Almost one hundred and fifty dollars for a card everyone else sells for a buck!!!!!!!!!!

I can't stop laughing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Attachment 134627

You are looking at it all wrong. Dean's Cards only has to sell 1 card and they make more cash then someone else selling 200 of the same card. The problem is finding 1 sucker, I mean customer to buy it.

[JollyElm]

Apparently douch*bag Dean reads this forum, because he started eliminating his company name from his auction titles. Now we can't weed out his BS with a simple "-Dean" anymore. What a complete and utter d*ck!!!!!!!

(And yes, I realize I'm personifying the entire company with the use of "Dean" as a single person. But someone's in charge over there and he'll always be Dean to me.)

[Harliduck]

"Dean's Cards" took advantage of my wife a while back, that guy can go screw himself.

[brewing]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

Apparently douch*bag Dean reads this forum, because he started eliminating his company name from his auction titles. Now we can't weed out his BS with a simple "-Dean" anymore. What a complete and utter d*ck!!!!!!!

(And yes, I realize I'm personifying the entire company with the use of "Dean" as a single person. But someone's in charge over there and he'll always be Dean to me.)

+1

I'm Brent In gr@m and I approve this message.

[Samsdaddy]

Originally Posted by savedfrommyspokes

From the description section of Dean's ebay listing: "we have a staff of 14 employees and a 5000 sq. ft. office space"

With about 2500 annual transactions through ebay, my question is where does the income come from in order to cover the cost of 14 employees and the expense of a 5000 sf office? Do his sales come from his website, shows, etc?

I have the same question.

I don't get it. I used to purchase from Dean's years back and his prices were fair and his grading was spot on. Somewhere along the way his prices skyrocketed.

[NateMack]

I have done business with Battersbox in person and online. They are a fantastic group to do business with and their prices are usually the best of the lot for whatever I am looking for. A plus for free shipping usually!

I have also done business with Uncle Dick in person at the big card shows here in Houston and his table is usually the one I spend the most time at. His binders are usually stocked pretty nicely.

Down here in Texas there are not very many big card shows, you guys in the north and the northeast have it way too good!

[Samsdaddy]

Originally Posted by NateMack

I have done business with Battersbox in person and online. They are a fantastic group to do business with and their prices are usually the best of the lot for whatever I am looking for. A plus for free shipping usually!

I have also done business with Uncle Dick in person at the big card shows here in Houston and his table is usually the one I spend the most time at. His binders are usually stocked pretty nicely.

Down here in Texas there are not very many big card shows, you guys in the north and the northeast have it way too good!

I will also say Battersbox is great. Most of my recent purchases have been from Battersbox or Mantlerulz. You cannot go wrong with either seller.

[Gr8Beldini]

Originally Posted by savedfrommyspokes

From the description section of Dean's ebay listing: "we have a staff of 14 employees and a 5000 sq. ft. office space"

Scroll down a bit farther...

Dean’s Cards reduced prices on most items. Many up to 50%! We have recently acquired lots of great collections of vintage baseball cards -- and we are passing the savings on to you!