major auction houses a lesson to be learned

kylebicking · #1 10-07-2009, 07:51 PM

Someone really paid $41,000 for these:

http://www.robertedwardauctions.com/.../2009/842.html

Who ever bought these deserves a punch in the throat. Seriously... a bunch of late 60s test cards that have no historical value.

Why not spend your money on these:
http://www.robertedwardauctions.com/...n/2009/15.html
or
http://www.robertedwardauctions.com/.../2009/143.html
or
http://www.robertedwardauctions.com/.../2009/186.html

barrysloate · #2 10-07-2009, 07:58 PM

Al- I'm not sure I would judge the quality of an auction description by its length. A good write up should include all pertinent information, a detailed description of the condition, as well as a little puffery if it truly is a great item.

I would agree that two sentences is a bit short, but in the past I've been consigned, for example, T205 and T206 commons (generally in mid to high grade). How much can I say about them? Should I just keep rambling on to give the impression that I really do have a lot to say?

I would prefer some lots to have short write ups, while other significant ones to be more comprehensive. It really depends upon the item.

Peter_Spaeth · #3 10-07-2009, 08:00 PM

I wonder how the Shaolin monks would view spending so much wealth on the accumulation of baseball cards?

slidekellyslide · #4 10-08-2009, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I wonder how the Shaolin monks would view spending so much wealth on the accumulation of baseball cards?

Okay, the monks in this monastery are allowed to speak only two words once every ten years so this newbie monk has his first chance to speak in 10 years and he contemplates and comes out with "Food bad"....ten years pass and the same monk says "Bed hard".....another ten years go by and finally the monk says "I quit"....and the head monk says "I don't blame you, you've been complaining ever since you got here".

Leon · #5 10-08-2009, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

Okay, the monks in this monastery are allowed to speak only two words once every ten years so this newbie monk has his first chance to speak in 10 years and he contemplates and comes out with "Food bad"....ten years pass and the same monk says "Bed hard".....another ten years go by and finally the monk says "I quit"....and the head monk says "I don't blame you, you've been complaining ever since you got here".

Nice one Dan..

brickyardkennedy · #6 10-08-2009, 02:20 PM

Joke good

tbob · #7 10-08-2009, 02:44 PM

Big laugh

Al C.risafulli · #8 10-07-2009, 08:05 PM

I want the item described.

If you're describing a 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr in PSA 10, perhaps you don't need to say much more than describing any important characteristics in the card, and maybe a little bit about the significance of that card in the hobby.

But if you're describing a Henry Johnson Confectioners Ty Cobb, some information about how there are two graded copies and this one is the highest, and perhaps some background on how tough the cards truly are, how they were issued, and what their significance was, well, that may have helped the consignor get the price that card should have gotten.

I'd rather have too much copy than too little.

That said, useless crap like "A REAL GEM!" and "WHAT A GREAT DEAL!" is used car salesman copy that has no business in an auction of historically important sports memorabilia. That's Crazy Eddie stuff.

-Al

Al C.risafulli · #9 10-07-2009, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Al, that was cold, man, very cold.

What? I never told you how much I actually paid for the card?

I believe the hammer price was $425.

There was no description in the auction catalog. Just a title.

-Al

Rob D. · #10 10-07-2009, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al C.risafulli

That said, useless crap like "A REAL GEM!" and "WHAT A GREAT DEAL!" is used car salesman copy that has no business in an auction of historically important sports memorabilia.

Among my favorites is "Bid to win!"

Why else would someone bid?

Oops. Never mind.

Rich Klein · #11 10-07-2009, 08:23 PM

Appear to be within the correct range. Why are those the only outliers?

Rich

Peter_Spaeth · #12 10-07-2009, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

Appear to be within the correct range. Why are those the only outliers?

Rich

Rich there are of course two possibilities, one is that there really were two genuine bidders going against each other with an underbidder genuinely bidding an insane amount, and the other is that someone who didn't know better placed an outlying ceiling bid and was taken advantage of. I am not sure there is a third scenario, but perhaps there is. One has to draw one's own conclusions, of course.

murcerfan · #13 10-07-2009, 09:30 PM

I thought Larry's original theorem that started this thread was interesting.

any other thoughts regarding genres or specialties that certain auction outfits currently seem to outperform others on?

I've been kinda on the sidelines for a few years, so my question is sincere.

chiprop · #14 10-07-2009, 08:23 PM

Jeff- Choose your words very carefully when you decide to call me out! I really could care less about your obsession with Goodwin, but you need to chill. You’re becoming annoying and irrelevant.

calvindog · #15 10-07-2009, 08:26 PM

Dan, I chose those words very carefully. Really. And my obsession is 'retarded?' Maybe you want to choose another word?

chiprop · #16 10-07-2009, 08:27 PM

I chose that word carefully.

Chris-Counts · #17 10-07-2009, 08:08 PM

"Who ever bought these deserves a punch in the throat. Seriously... a bunch of late 60s test cards that have no historical value."

I agree. And I also can't stand cards that depict the decapitated heads of ballplayers. What's really amazing, though, is that another buyer paid the exact same price, $41,125, for 521 different T206s including the Magie error. Which would you rather have?

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