Beantown Find. the story...

[pgellis]

How do so many people know/assume the selling price was strong? He never posted what he was looking for in a lot and never posted what they sold for. So how can I make a competitive bid when my first bid was ignored and then the lot sold 3 or 4 hours later with no update?

When you bid, or make an offer on any item, do you come out with your "best price" or highest offer right away? You start low and negotiate your way up. But you need input from the seller. Without any input from the seller how can you gauge your offer?

I guess that is my biggest complaint. No update, or even price range, posted as for an acceptable bid. The first lot offered was sold in 4.5 hours. The original post never said that this will sell in the same day. How is anyone supposed to guess that it would sell that quickly?

Why not put these on GrandSlam Bids and let people bid on them against a clock? These were posted on here (for free) and there was no policy established in the beginning, for example, "Opening Bid of $X" or "Get your best offer in by 4:30pm today".

[Leon]

Originally Posted by pgellis

How do so many people know/assume the selling price was strong? He never posted what he was looking for in a lot and never posted what they sold for. So how can I make a competitive bid when my first bid was ignored and then the lot sold 3 or 4 hours later with no update?

I bought one lot and made offers on others...and Steve told me where those lots were at. The lot I bought I know I paid very strong for because I bought it. The ones I didn't buy, but Steve told me where they were at when I inquired, were very strong prices. That is how I know. (I inquired on 3-4 lots, not all of them). I probably won't post in this thread again but figured I would answer this question.

[basesareempty]

Originally Posted by Leon

I bought one lot and made offers on others...and Steve told me where those lots were at. The lot I bought I know I paid very strong for because I bought it. The ones I didn't buy, but Steve told me where they were at when I inquired, were very strong prices. That is how I know. (I inquired on 3-4 lots, not all of them). I probably won't post in this thread again but figured I would answer this question.

I too bought several lots this past weekend and felt I paid strong, but fair prices for the lots I bought. I put in an offer and Steve responded with a counter offer price it would take to buy the lots on 2 lots and agreed on my price on the other. I agreed on his counter offers and bought the 3 lots. Simple as that. My offers were within 10-20% of what he countered with. So I believe that the people who are not being responded to are offering low ball #'s and frankly Steve probably doesn't have the time or patience to play the back and forth offer game with people.Steve knows what these are worth and your not going to get $2000 worth of cards for $200...just saying.

Bob

[uniship]

i am starting to think Steve is an utter genius in how he is going about this.

[tonyo]

It's not surprising that this many raw previously uncirculated prewar cards from popular sets have stirred up emotions and differing opinions.

I hope it's still a blast for Steve....... based on the line he put on on the recent lots - "Sale will be determined when I say it is" - it probably is still a blast....Love it!

For those of you who have bought lots, What percentage would you say have been been trimmed?

[pgellis]

Originally Posted by tonyo

I hope it's still a blast for Steve....... based on the line he put on on the recent lots - "Sale will be determined when I say it is"

Sale will be determined when I say it is..................
How is that maximizing the money raised for the elderly woman that it is going to?

24 Homecare is very expensive where this woman lives. It is not cheap at all. Can that attitude really be maximizing her costs?

Also, people are saying that Steve can do whatever he wants with these cards. People are acting like they are Steve's cards and he can sell them any way he wants. That would be true if these were Steve's cards. These are not his cards. He is selling them (15%) for someone else.

[ChiefBenderForever]

..

[barrysloate]

I agree that Steve can sell these any way he wants, providing the consignor agrees with it, which she has. But Steve might consider putting a time down when he expects to close the lots, and perhaps stretch the bidding period on each lot to a couple of days. At least it would take care of all the complainers.

[ullmandds]

This is unbelievable to me...noone is ever satisfied! Prices are too high...prices are too low....gimme' a break people. Steve can do whatever the hell he wants here...it's his show...deal with it...it's only cardboard!

[pitchernut]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

This is unbelievable to me...noone is ever satisfied! Prices are too high...prices are too low....gimme' a break people. Steve can do whatever the hell he wants here...it's his show...deal with it...it's only cardboard!

exactly

[Kawika]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

This is unbelievable to me...noone is ever satisfied! Prices are too high...prices are too low....gimme' a break people. Steve can do whatever the hell he wants here...it's his show...deal with it...it's only cardboard!

No good deed goes unpunished.

[Peter_Spaeth]

And in this hobby, no bad deed gets punished. (NOT a reference to Steve, but more general sarcasm.)

[wonkaticket]

You guys don’t’ need to rush to Steve’s defense nobody is attacking him.

You guys crack me up anytime somebody voices and presents a fair POV that is the slightest bit different from the current lemming march everybody jumps all over the person who dares to discuss something on a DISCUSSION board.

Phil isn’t attacking Steve that I can see nor did Greg or I. I think Phil’s just making a case as to why he feels as others said that perhaps these lots could be left up longer and since many were so short why folks may feel these aren’t hitting full potential. Is that so really bad to say????

Hell if anything it’s in Steve’s best interest, if anything it’s being helpful not hurtful. LOL

Perhaps a little armchair quarterback at most but not malicious.

I would also say that most if not all of you are guilty of being a bit armchair quarterback at one point or time on this board. Never stopped some of you guys from making points or assumptions against, Doug Allen, Mastro, GAI, Pat Chan, JSA, SGC countless eBay sellers, other members… and much much more.LOL

Case in point…..

“and as far as cash advance, yeah maybe on a Matty game ball or Ruth jersey but a bunch of midgrade T206 and Caramels ? Please.......”

Hey Johnny how many thousands of midgrade T206’s and Caramels you have lying around your house right now? I can say that without a shadow of doubt there is not one auction house out there that if put in the position to get this collection consigned wouldn’t pony up short term cash if the family needed it.

As for all of you guys who are so quick to say that the points mentioned by Phil, Greg or I are so off base and we can go away and are so mean or ungrateful, this includes folks who own auction houses. LOL

Feel free to liquidate your entire collections graded or ungraded via only our BST in 3+ hour increments, don’t let your one or two cards sit in the BST for weeks any longer, enough with your endless bumps or the reductions…take the highest offer given to you in 3 hours and stop cluttering up the BST already as it’s a clear consensus that what is offered in 3-12 hours is ample value period.

Auction houses also take note if you’re reading this no need for you guys to run auctions for 20+ days, send out mailing lists or even advertise. Put all of your lots in the BST and within hours you’re done and maximized time to move.

As for complaints or being labeled complainers I find it so funny we can make comments about the way REA or Legendary and others breakdown lots for sale and bust their balls publicly and complain on how they run their businesses or auctions on closing nights, or thier BP's that’s ok.

But make a similar simple comment about a board member who’s getting almost the same juice as an auction house and you’re the anti-christ. LOL

I really think if you looked up hypocrisy in the dictionary it would have web link to NET54 sometimes.

Cheers,

John

[ChiefBenderForever]

..

[teetwoohsix]

All I know is I would've LOVED to get my hands on some of those T206's- just didn't have the type of funds I "assumed" I would need to get one. I didn't want to put in a ridiculously low bid, and have it appear as if I were insulting anyones intelligence..........now I am just hoping some of the cards from this find will be offered in smaller lots, or even in singles

Great find with a great story !!!

Sincerely, Clayton

[t206hound]

I'll speak up as someone who has bid multiple times, and even won one of these lots.

Originally Posted by pgellis

How do so many people know/assume the selling price was strong?

Based on my on experience of being outbid and also winning, I KNOW that the bids have been strong.

Originally Posted by pgellis

When you bid, or make an offer on any item, do you come out with your "best price" or highest offer right away? You start low and negotiate your way up.

The first few lots I bid on, I didn't get responses back. Based on the prices that I know about, it is because I was WAY UNDER ($10/card or more) the top bid. I'd guess that Steve is fielding dozens of emails, and those that are well under don't get responses. There were three lots where I put in a stronger initial offer, and Steve let me know that there was a bid over mine and gave me the opportunity to counter.

[dstudeba]

Originally Posted by pgellis

.... So how can I make a competitive bid when my first bid was ignored and then the lot sold 3 or 4 hours later with no update?

When you bid, or make an offer on any item, do you come out with your "best price" or highest offer right away? You start low and negotiate your way up. But you need input from the seller. Without any input from the seller how can you gauge your offer?

....

He asked for people to submit their best offer. Why should he assume that you didn't submit your best offer? I submitted my best offer, and it was $200 short. I couldn't do anything about it, it was my best offer. What input from the seller do you need? You can figure out the value of the cards to you.

[Gradedcardman]

Totally agree. This is not a negotiating type situation. There is no auction sniper and no time for 100's of replies. Let the man sell them and hopefully everyone who can will get a great lot. I have thrown in bids on 15 lots. I won 3. Happy to of won them and looking forward to bidding on more !! I will break them up and sell in smaller lots later on in the spring.

[pgellis]

Originally Posted by dstudeba

He asked for people to submit their best offer. Why should he assume that you didn't submit your best offer? I submitted my best offer, and it was $200 short. I couldn't do anything about it, it was my best offer. What input from the seller do you need? You can figure out the value of the cards to you.

Yes he did, but he didn't say submit it by 4:30pm today or you are #)#@ out of luck. He never spelled out "his" rules in the beginning.

When you are going in to buy a car do you say, "Hello, I will take the sticker price please!" No, you start out low and negotiate. Come up a little on your offer or we can't help you.

People are forgetting that Steve has admitted he is getting 15% for this sale. Let's not make it like he is put out for taking a picture of 50 cards and posting it on this site for NO COST and then deciding on his own when he is going to hammer the final price.

Communication........just let us know how you are going to run this sale from the beginning.

[pgellis]

Why couldn't he have taken the 10 seconds it would have taken on his listings to say, "It's 6:00pm and the high bid is $1500.00", then others could have decided to be in or not. He could have told us that this listing will end at 8:00am tomorrow morning, etc., etc.

NO COMMUNICATION!

[Ladder7]

To the guys giving out very valuable free advice., You may be leaving good money on the table.

Incidentally, there have been several high value purchases made off line. (About half of total sales), In spite of the poor service, the family continues to be ecstatic with their rapid payments.

A special Thankyou to the several, local, repeat buyers.

New stock arriving next week. Save youre pennies,

My best,
Steve F
fdnyladder7@comcast.net

[pgellis]

Why wouldn't they be estatic, they were about to give these items away for free before someone else became involved. So, if they got $100 for the collection, that was more than they expected last week.

You cannot convince me that you have maximized this family's take on this collection by how you have sold this collection.

You could have sold this collection with no information of where these cards came from, but once you said that you were trying to sell cards for an elderly woman's care, then all bet's are off. If these were your cards, then you could sell them any way you want, but you have not maximized price for someone else by selling them on here without updating bid prices and or updating when the "auction" is going to end.

Are you kidding me that a lot of vintage cards that sells in 4.5 hours on a Friday afternoon has maximized price for the "consignor". If you think that that method of selling is maximizing price, then you must have skipped "Business 101" in college.



Almost everyone here has no idea how much 24 hour care in the area that "Mrs. M" lives costs......it is not cheap. Minus 15%.

[Anthony S.]

Originally Posted by pgellis

Why wouldn't they be estatic, they were about to give these items away for free before someone else became involved. So, if they got $100 for the collection, that was more than they expected last week.

I think Steve's initial post said the niece wanted to donate the cards after original owner died back in the 1970's, so the decision not to give them away was made over 30 years ago.

[asphaltman]

Originally Posted by pgellis

Yes he did, but he didn't say submit it by 4:30pm today or you are #)#@ out of luck. He never spelled out "his" rules in the beginning.

When you are going in to buy a car do you say, "Hello, I will take the sticker price please!" No, you start out low and negotiate. Come up a little on your offer or we can't help you.

People are forgetting that Steve has admitted he is getting 15% for this sale. Let's not make it like he is put out for taking a picture of 50 cards and posting it on this site for NO COST and then deciding on his own when he is going to hammer the final price.

Communication........just let us know how you are going to run this sale from the beginning.

Phil -

Just my opinion but if you disagree that much with the way Steve is handling things just don't participate.


I'm also not sure why you're mentioning again about his 15%? Personally, it doesn't matter to me if Steve's getting 15% or 30%....same as I don't care if Rob Lifson is getting 15% or 30%....what I "bid" is what I bid....I just don't get the connection you're trying to make with the percentage he's getting compared to how he's not handling this correctly and not communicating?


Dave

[pgellis]

Originally Posted by asphaltman

Phil -

Just my opinion but if you disagree that much with the way Steve is handling things just don't participate.


I'm also not sure why you're mentioning again about his 15%? Personally, it doesn't matter to me if Steve's getting 15% or 30%....same as I don't care if Rob Lifson is getting 15% or 30%....what I "bid" is what I bid....I just don't get the connection you're trying to make with the percentage he's getting compared to how he's not handling this correctly and not communicating?


Dave

Come on, are we comparing this "sale" with Rob Lifson. I really don't want to bash Steve, but people are patting him on the back and congratulating him. The reason I am bringing up the 15% is that, according to most people on here he is getting top dollar, so, then he is getting a lot of money for selling cards on here at no cost to him.

Rob Lifson, or any other major auction house would have major expenses in catalogs, photos, marketing, etc. to sell a collection like this. They would also have the collection up for probably 3 weeks with a price to top by bidding more.

This sale has been very blind......to most.

[ChiefBenderForever]

Originally Posted by pgellis

Come on, are we comparing this "sale" with Rob Lifson. I really don't want to bash Steve, but people are patting him on the back and congratulating him. The reason I am bringing up the 15% is that, according to most people on here he is getting top dollar, so, then he is getting a lot of money for selling cards on here at no cost to him.

Rob Lifson, or any other major auction house would have major expenses in catalogs, photos, marketing, etc. to sell a collection like this. They would also have the collection up for probably 3 weeks with a price to top by bidding more.

This sale has been very blind......to most.

I heard he is cutting Leon 3.5% of the final sales numbers.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by JohnnyHarmonica

I heard he is cutting Leon 3.5% of the final sales numbers.

No that is not the case. Johnny is joking but if Steve or anyone really wants to send me money...I won't stop you .

[dstudeba]

Removed.

[Gradedcardman]

Here we go again...

Steve, thanks for the lots !! Great stuff and the best is yet to come...

[pgellis]

Originally Posted by dstudeba

Please stop comparing this sale to the sale of a car. There are so many differences between the two. Depending on the rules of each auction house I bid differently. I read the rules, mix in my knowledge of game theory and probability and figure out my bidding strategy. You assumed or expected somethings that didn't turn out that way and you lost.

The unknown and the absense of rules could have caused more excitement and "auction mania" than if they had been consigned to REA in their huge catalog.

I thought we were all about full name disclosure if you are posting and taking a stand in a discussion that has become a little warm over the past few days.

Second, I will compare it to buying a car because if there were no rules stated in the beginning, my comparison is that you never offer your top price right out of the gate. There is usually a negotiation back and forth and an agreed upon price reached when both sides communicate.

[Leon]

If we are going to have spirited debates then full names should be out there....It's only fair I think...

[asphaltman]

edited

[pgellis]

Originally Posted by asphaltman

I think the bottom line Phil, is you've already admitted your original price was a low number...with the intent there would be some negotiations back and forth. The problem with that is Steve asked for your best offer...and this is only a guess, but say Steve got even 20 offers for LOT A. Should Steve really go back and counter all 20 people? Or should he just let the top 3-4 know they aren't quite at his high bid (which I believe is what he did), and give just those few people the chance to raise their bids.

You wanted to negotiate...and Steve didn't....and since Steve is the seller, end of story.

If Steve wants to maximize the $$, then yes he should go back and counter all 20 offers. He is getting paid to handle this sale. Even if you think that is too much to ask for 15%, then why can't he update the original post with something like, "Top Bid - $2000 - Will end tonight".

When I made my initial inquiry, I didn't hear back for a while. I assumed he was busy with other things and I would eventually hear back. But no word and then sold 4.5 hours later. Didn't get a chance to bid at all actually.

AGAIN, I thought if people were getting in on this debate we needed full name disclosure. Easy to take a stand in a spirited debate and hide.

[dstudeba]

Originally Posted by pgellis

I thought we were all about full name disclosure if you are posting and taking a stand in a discussion that has become a little warm over the past few days.

If you would like my name please PM me.

I have removed the post.