Recent price trends .... international market?

[Peter_Spaeth]

I think you have missed about a dozen posts on the subject, unless you are being sarcastic.

[Neal]

I must have missed them ....

[irv]

Originally Posted by Neal

Of course we have all seen the price of key, iconic players such as Mantles and RCs of others skyrocket in recent months/weeks, but unless I missed it, the posts regarding the reasoning for such increases is non-existent.

I had a talk with a friend of mine recently regarding these trends. Without going into detail about him, his background, hobby knowledge, and position would certainly qualify him as having an "expert opinion" .....

That said, one of the reasons he gave was that certain sellers on eBay ship internationally .... thus opening a whole new market to the hobby. Apparently there is a big demand for nice cards elsewhere.

Thoughts?

Originally Posted by Neal

I must have missed them ....

I believe I have read a few but I don't recall reading about what you stated above?

That is an interesting twist and very well could be one of the reasons?

I remember hearing/reading years ago that there is a large Japanese/Oriental contingent who like to collect old BB cards?
No idea if there is much truth to it, but considering the money they seem to be able to throw around, I tend to lean on the side it may be true?

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by irv

I believe I have read a few but I don't recall reading about what you stated above?

That is an interesting twist and very well could be one of the reasons?

I remember hearing/reading years ago that there is a large Japanese/Oriental contingent who like to collect old BB cards?
No idea if there is much truth to it, but considering the money they seem to be able to throw around, I tend to lean on the side it may be true?

i doubt it....people that can spend 15,000 on a card im sure go to the National and make purchases from people there....if the top 10 dealers dont notice an 'international' market, then i doubt there is one....but perhaps they do.....maybe someone will chime in

[egri]

Another member on here had an explanation that I thought also made a lot of sense: with interest rates on bonds, CDs and the like so low, everyone is pulling their money out of those and in to other assets, including coins, antique firearms and baseball cards.

[nat]

That makes sense, on the other hand, there's zero risk associated with T-bills, and more-or-less predictable risk associated with stocks (at least if you're properly diversified), whereas there are really only guesses as to the risk associated with baseball cards. (Notice, for example, the frequent speculation around here that this is all a bubble. I'm not saying that it is, but there are lots of serious collectors on Net54, and no consensus that this isn't a bubble.) Also, baseball cards don't pay dividends, you've got to hope that prices continue to increase.

[mattjc1983]

Originally Posted by egri

Another member on here had an explanation that I thought also made a lot of sense: with interest rates on bonds, CDs and the like so low, everyone is pulling their money out of those and in to other assets, including coins, antique firearms and baseball cards.

Interesting point but rates have been near record lows for many years. They wouldn't alone explain the most recent spikes.

[Steve D]

One thing I've noticed is that many of these current buyers seem to not be particularly discerning in regards to the card. By that, I mean they seem to be "buying the slab", and not the card. Many of the cards I've seen selling for these astronomical prices lately, are significantly off center (none have been designated OC, but to me, they are borderline), or have other quality issues.


Steve