A Player Passing Away & Selling Etiquette

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by mintacular

Was wondering if there was an unwritten hobby rule about how long to wait to sell a card of a player that has recently passed away (as I have such a card). I recall early this year that when Kobe passed many speculators started to quickly list cards with inflated prices to take advantage of the new interest in Kobe cards--and that bothered me as I thought it was a bit classless and greedy. Thanks for your opinion.

By definition doesn't selling a card involve a bit of greed?

The best time to sell is when interest is high, and interest is never higher than when somebody famous dies.

[iwantitiwinit]

When you sell a card aren't you trying to realize the most profit possible? I say unless you're related to the player the proper ediquette is immediately following the service and burial.

[Koufax32fan]

This is not an ethical issue. It is unethical to purchase the autograph of recently deceased individual? The goods involved in our transactions are, by definition, not necessities. As long as the buyer and seller are honest with each other and treat each other as expected and appropriate to the situation, then they are acting ethically.

If Kobe's death (or Seaver's or Brock's) prompts interest and you want to sell, then sell. Or, if you want to buy, then buy. The same goes for getting a 3,000 strikeout or hit or being elected to the hall of fame.

[Mike D.]

When a player passes, the interest spikes. Honestly, that’s how I knew Seaver had passed. Two low-cost lots of his cards I’d had listed for months sold within 30 min of each other. I was like “oh oh”. Sure enough I hit ESPN and there it was.

Reminds me of the day I flipped on the radio in the car and started working through the local FM channels. When I hit the 4th station playing “My Sweet Lord”, I knew George Harrison had passed away.

[Bpm0014]

“Mickey Mantle don’t care about you. Why should you care about him?” “We’ll see if your father can’t pay the rent, go ask Mickey Mantle. See what he tells you...”

[RL]

If someone buys cards as a "investment", makes perfect sense to sell cards when interest in the player picks up.

[Section103]

Do as you wish. The player has other things to worry about (or maybe not, who knows) and the family doesnt care. I think its possible to be a bit "splashy" or sensationalist in selling anything related to a recently passed athlete, but as long as you're doing so within your own comfort zone....go ahead.

[Steve D]

Personally, I've never understood why a retired player's cards (non-autographed) see a big spike when the player dies. Supply isn't affected at all, in fact, cards of them will continue to be made; so supply can still meet demand. Why anyone would pay an inflated price for the cards is beyond my comprehension.

Autographs, on the other hand, are completely different. Supply is abruptly cut off, so with the increased demand, and no corresponding increase in supply, prices will increase and stay at a higher level in the future.

That said, it is the "free enterprise" system, and a seller should "strike while the iron is hot" so to speak. If someone wants to pay your price, that's entirely up to them.

Steve

[mintacular]

I wasn't concerned about the player or family caring so much more so that you sell in a short window where the collectors heart strings are pulled and wham! there you are with "x" card with double the price sticker I'm surprised how nonchalant the reactions are so far, perhaps I'm naive

[1880nonsports]

Originally Posted by Bpm0014

“Mickey Mantle don’t care about you. Why should you care about him?” “We’ll see if your father can’t pay the rent, go ask Mickey Mantle. See what he tells you...”

[TUM301]

Kryptonite............ !!!!!

[Bram99]

Originally Posted by Koufax32fan

This is not an ethical issue. It is unethical to purchase the autograph of recently deceased individual? The goods involved in our transactions are, by definition, not necessities. As long as the buyer and seller are honest with each other and treat each other as expected and appropriate to the situation, then they are acting ethically.

If Kobe's death (or Seaver's or Brock's) prompts interest and you want to sell, then sell. Or, if you want to buy, then buy. The same goes for getting a 3,000 strikeout or hit or being elected to the hall of fame.

this is all true. However, it is unethical to sell an autographed item of a deceased player that is signed after the players' death.

[Snapolit1]

Don’t think the athlete cares much. And the family, to the extent they are aware of the secondary market on cards and paraphernalia, would prob be either completely indifferent or thrilled.