Thoughts on final prices in Goldin/Ruth auction?

[glchen]

Originally Posted by rsst206

I can add that of the 3 variations known for Ruth. Type A and Type B and yellow stock. Type A is far less seen. I for one going after the master set is missing that Ruth. But think that is an awful strong price.
br,
Ron

It's possible it's a variation issue. Personally, I have always believed that the yellow stock variation was the most rare, much more than the others. The Type A is the no caption variation, and the Type B is the caption variation, I believe. I believe the no caption one is the one that is hand cut from a 3 card strip. I think the caption one is factory cut since I have never seen it in strip form. If you search the auction history for Legendary, you will see a number of R315 Ruth's including many of the Type A no caption variety, and a number of the uncut strips. The only thing that I can think of is that there are not many high grade varieties of the no caption version. Regardless, still an awfully high price, I think.

[JasonD08]

What goes up must come down, market softening a bit?

[kengoldin]

Originally Posted by glchen

It's possible it's a variation issue. Personally, I have always believed that the yellow stock variation was the most rare, much more than the others. The Type A is the no caption variation, and the Type B is the caption variation, I believe. I believe the no caption one is the one that is hand cut from a 3 card strip. I think the caption one is factory cut since I have never seen it in strip form. If you search the auction history for Legendary, you will see a number of R315 Ruth's including many of the Type A no caption variety, and a number of the uncut strips. The only thing that I can think of is that there are not many high grade varieties of the no caption version. Regardless, still an awfully high price, I think.

could also just be 2 businessmen with nothing to do with the hobby or net 54, wanting a great looking card to go along with the Babe Ruth Autographs they won in the auction, and both thinking this was the pick of the litter and not giving up. We will never know.

[HRBAKER]

.....or the firm belly.

[brian1961]

Originally Posted by HRBAKER

.....or the firm belly.

Yes Jeff, that "foim" belly must be emphasized!

The antithesis sure stands out in The Bambino's '33 Goudey premium, sad to say.

--Brian Powell

[KC Doughboy]

I had nine items listed with Goldin to test the waters and I was pleased with a few things, but very unhappy with others.

My Mantle brought what is probably a fair price, but I was hoping for more. My Goudeys were a wild card. My '41 Play Ball set went quite a bit less than I was hoping.

I listed my secondary sets of '41 Play Ball and 1960 Topps to see how they would do. I don't think I will auction my top grade sets with Goldin after this showing. My DiMaggio cards did okay I guess.

The last two items were given away... I sold the other '28 World Series ticket (that was torn and lower condition) for around $500 on eBay, so this should have bought a lot more. The "Dixie Premiums Spiral Notebook" was actually the salesman sample and it is the only one that I know of in existence.

I know of a lot of people who had computer issues with their auction once it went into extended bidding. I was chatting online with a large group of collectors who were trying to get in and bid, but could not. I emailed Ken Goldin during this extended bidding period to tell him about the issues and he said I was the only person. When I replied and told him about the group of us who were having trouble, Ken Goldin replied with this ALL CAPS zinger,

"ERIC
LEAVE ME ALONE
I have 5 people here answering phones
Not a single bidder has emailed saying he cannot bid
Not a single bidder has called saying he cannot place a bid
System is working perfectly"

I'm sure he was under a lot of pressure, but what classless reply!

Here were my final numbers. What do you think, good or bad returns?
Thanks,
Eric Matthews

Lot # Items Final Sales Price
130 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 SGC 55 VG-EX+ 4.5 $14,000.00

984 Lot of (15) Brooks Robinson Signed Baseball Cards $250.00

1067 1933 Goudey Baseball Collection of (78) Cards $650.00

1069 1941 Joe DiMaggio Play Ball Lot of (2) Wrong Backs With One Autographed $650.00

1070 1941 Play Ball "Complete" Set of 72 cards (Includes Wrong Backs and Signed Cards) $1,800.00

1072 1948 Leaf #1 Joe DiMaggio PSA 2 GOOD $325.00

1087 High Quality 1960 Topps Baseball Complete set of 572 With 38 Graded Cards $4,250.00

1144 1928 World Series New York Yankees vs St.Louis Cardinals Game 1 Ticket Stub $225.00

1334 Dixie Premiums Spiral Notebook $150.00

[oldjudge]

I don't have a dog in this fight, but I have to say that no one could have worked harder than Ken promoting the items in his auction. Also, if people have computer problems and want to bid they can always pick up the phone. Last time I checked that still works.

[glynparson]

But If this did not come from the Kutztown PA area originally sold by Mike Kush to Bill Miller it is not the only one.

[bobfreedman]

[/QUOTE] I know of a lot of people who had computer issues with their auction once it went into extended bidding. I was chatting online with a large group of collectors who were trying to get in and bid, but could not. [/QUOTE]

Eric, I run Goldin's software and was aware of no issues, I am not saying you did not have any but, if you can PM me and tell me what the issues were and on which particular lots you were having problems with I will do some research and get back with you, thanks

[ZachS]

Originally Posted by KC Doughboy

Ken Goldin replied with this ALL CAPS zinger,

"ERIC
LEAVE ME ALONE
I have 5 people here answering phones
Not a single bidder has emailed saying he cannot bid
Not a single bidder has called saying he cannot place a bid
System is working perfectly"

I'm sure he was under a lot of pressure, but what classless reply!

Pressure or no pressure, software problems or not... that is a piss poor way to reply to one of your customers. I'd be pretty upset if I consigned multiple auctions with someone and they told me to leave them alone.

[kengoldin]

Eric
First off, the prices you quotes are all incorrect, and lower then final realized price
final realized price for each of those can be seen at

http://www.goldinauctions.com/catalog.aspx

if you are going to quote me, please do it fully


Keep in mind, these emails were coming in during EXTENDED BIDDING
It was obvious despite the extended bidding process listed in the rules, and the multiple emails we send out stating that entire auction closes at the same time, he didn't seem to understand.
you can say what you will, but 3 emails in a 5 minute time period on same question I answered 3 times, in the middle of a hectic extended bidding...anyone would get frustrated.
I apologize if 'leave me alone' was so offensive

email 1

Sent: Friday, July 18, 2014 10:26 PM
To: Eric Matthews [kansasbaseball1957@yahoo.com]
Attachments:



You are not following correctly

We are getting 50 bids a minute here

The entire auction closes at same time, not lot by lot

Meaning, just because you are watching one lot and it hasn’t gotten a bid, it will be open if ANY lot gets a bid



From: Eric Matthews [mailto:kansasbaseball1957@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, July 18, 2014 10:28 PM
To: Ken Goldin
Subject: Auction not running properly



I assume you know, but from the users end, no auctions are updating. Every single item still shows in the extended bidding phase. Every time I refresh my browser, it resets the 15 min clock.

It doesn't look like any items in the auction have received a bid yet in extended time.

No need to reply to this... wanted to make sure you knew.

Eric

email 2...he sends 3 minute later, look how quickly I reply

Sent: Friday, July 18, 2014 10:29 PM
To: Eric Matthews [kansasbaseball1957@yahoo.com]
Attachments:



Eric

We are receiving oer 50 bids a minute here

I don’t know what to tell you




From: Eric Matthews [mailto:kansasbaseball1957@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, July 18, 2014 10:32 PM
To: Ken Goldin
Subject: Re: Auction not running properly



I'm chatting with 3 different bidders on my Facebook baseball card site and all 4 of us are having the same issue. I've gone through the lots one at a time starting with the first lot on the site... not just my listings.

Hmmmm



On Friday, July 18, 2014 9:29 PM, Ken Goldin wrote:

email three and NOT all in caps)
ERIC

LEAVE ME ALONE

I have 5 people here answering phones

Not a single bidder has emailed saying he cannot bid

Not a single bidder has called saying he cannot place a bid

System is working perfectly



From: Eric Matthews [mailto:kansasbaseball1957@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, July 18, 2014 11:08 PM
To: Ken Goldin
Subject: Re: Auction not running properly



We've now had more than 30 people try and no one can see any updates... not on Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and a bunch of others I've never heard of.

The I.T. savvy guys say it sounds like your servers are not keeping up.

Either way, there is certainly an issue on your end.

Hope your I.T. people can figure it out!

Eric

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by ZachS

Pressure or no pressure, software problems or not... that is a piss poor way to reply to one of your customers. I'd be pretty upset if I consigned multiple auctions with someone and they told me to leave them alone.

A better solution might be to answer the first email, then to ignore the customer. Or you could get a personal 'Bat phone' for each person who consigns a certain amount of stuff, hire additional employees to man each one, and train them to impersonate your voice.