Cards making the rounds

[cyseymour]

I'd just like to mention a couple possibilities other than the most cynical ones:

a) The high bidder failed to pay, and therefore the card needed to be relisted (Perhaps Goodwin, unlike Mastro, was wise enough not to send out the card before the bidder paid).

b) The other thing is that this is a hobby for many, and collectors, especially, don't always act rationally (i.e., a card of Jim Tyng sold for $20,000). A lot of collectors, I bet, buy an item and feel excited about getting it, enjoy it for some time, and then the thrill of owning the item wears off and they want to sell it. That might sound crazy to some, but it is the psychology of the collector.

c) When people buy cards, they usually purchase them thinking that they got a good deal. So they don't realize that they actually didn't get a good deal until they've sold it in auction.

One way to look at it is kind of like day-traders in the stock market. 90% or more lose money, many going almost broke. That's why you should never buy a card and try to flip it. If you didn't want it, don't buy it in the first place. Also, the best cards I buy, I find, are the ones I'm least excited about when they actually arrive in the mail. If I'm not excited about it, that means I didn't chase after the card. If I'm jumping up and down with excitement about "winning" the card, it probably means I chased after it at auction.

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by cyseymour

I'd just like to mention a couple possibilities other than the most cynical ones:

a) The high bidder failed to pay, and therefore the card needed to be relisted (Perhaps Goodwin, unlike Mastro, was wise enough not to send out the card before the bidder paid).

Actually at this point I'd assume that one would have to be cynical to assume there was no fraud going on with some of these sales. I'm sure Mastro legitimately sold the E300 three times in 17 months and each time the winner didn't pay. That's believable.

[B O'Brien]

This one isn't prewar, but this is one that I owned, so I kept an eye on it. I felt a little sad for the winner that resold after only a couple weeks. I was lucky enough to to clear a 74% profit from my buy price, without actually ever touching the card (2.5 months time). The seller shipped directly to the auction house for me.
1967 PSA 9 Carew
12/14/08 Memory Lane Image 5 $4,163.02
9/19/08 Goodwin Image 11 $6,407.27

After the selling fees, that was a BIG hit.
Take care,
Bob

[Peter_Spaeth]

As an aside, does anyone think the current configuration of the hobby favors card doctors? We have no way to know who submits cards. We have no way to know who consigns cards. I wonder, if these two things were transparent, if we would buy all the cards we buy. Just a thought. Now, back to the thread.

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

As an aside, does anyone think the current configuration of the hobby favors card doctors?

Has there ever been a configuration of the hobby that did not favor card doctors?

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by calvindog

Has there ever been a configuration of the hobby that did not favor card doctors?

Before auction houses became so predominant one could at least exercise some discretion where one bought but you are probably right. The irony is that third party grading was a response to card doctors. Laugh out loud.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Before auction houses became so predominant one could at least exercise some discretion where one bought but you are probably right. The irony is that third party grading was a response to card doctors. Laugh out loud.

I will go against the general sentiment and say that I still trust the grading companies overall. I am confident that they catch most of the problems especially in the condition categories I collect. I am naive though...