Beantown Find. the story...

[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.

[wonkaticket]

Guys come on...

As usual any simple discussion or point is taken to the extreme on here… with no middle ground.

Here is a simple readers digest points..I think some of us were trying to make…..if you see them or not no big deal..

• Hard to think lots were getting full potential when lots are up and gone in a matter of minutes in a very limited venue such as the BST.

• Some of us feel the BST for a card collection like this may not have been the best option, not our choice either nor do we ultimately care (speaking for myself) but we should not be vilified for voicing an opinion on this topic started by Steve on a public forum in a respectful manner.

• Why care about maximum value, Steve made a point as part of the sales pitch it was for Granny’s golden years and assisted living. Anyone who’s been thru that fun part of life with mom or dad can surely be sympathetic or might even respect the points/questions on sales prices & timelines made by Greg, Phil or I to be a good thing for both parties not an evil thing.

• Steve made it clear not really in this for the warm and fuzzies “I’m getting juice and cards I want at a discount”. Not that he cares but I respect him a lot for being up front on that hell of a lot more than most folks stand up in my book. Also nobody at least not me is painting him as villain for this, but also not sure he should be raised up as a hero for this either. I don’t see any of you guys praising any other auction houses or business for doing what they are being compensated for as something so special.

Finally I have no dog in this fight I’m not after any of these cards in a hardcore way in the T206 department I’m doing ok. Sure it would have been nice to be able to toss an offer in before the egg timer went off but no biggie.

If Steve wants to sell these for $1 card not my problem good on him…just with the whole story about assisted living. Having been thru that with my grandmother and seeing others go thru that ugly mess every penny can count. Shame on us for giving any advice that we found to be helpful, to the good cause and back story this was flown under.

In the end its no surprise the folks who are saying it’s great are the ones who are buying, and the others are folks who wish they could buy.

I also found it really funny that many of the folks here who jumped my case on using the “A” word (auction house) over the BST that the BST was the way to go…have had different views over the years. To me this was as much about the validity of the BST vs. auction houses and not so much about Steve and his beantown cards.

This forum is littered with folks who have come on here with less significant finds and the responses were quite different. These folks from the past were given a virtual laundry list of who’s who in the auction world..not too many BST recommendations.

Heck even our illustrious leader (Hi Leon, dont let the word illustrious go to your head ) had a falling out and monumental pissing match with a fellow past forum member when that member got mad at our moderator for recommending and standing by his recommendation to use a particular auction house for the Skydash collection….which by the way didn’t hit the BST in 3 hour lots. LOL

I found it humorous that folks would say "how can you assume he’s not getting good coin?" The flip side to that is "how can you assume he is?" or that other options wouldn’t be valid or worth tossing out in a discussion thread.

Remember he’s making money off this community and is happy doing so and that’s cool, but if the worst thing is a few community members offer up some advice or a complaint that’s part of the bag and doesn;t make you a victim.

After all it is a web community correct?

Cheers,

John

[Jaybird]

I'm going to bring up a point since it hasn't been made yet (I don't think).

There is a bit of a gamble here that is in play. The pictures aren't great, no closeups of the big lots, can't even make out the wording on the names of the cards. So, when people are tossing in their bids, they have a bit of a gambler aspect to them. The "hey, if there's one rarity in there..." feeling.

I don't think you get that with full disclosure, auction house listing and time.

So, just keep that in mind. I think the speed and way that these have been unfolded might seem haphazard but actually have a bit of finesse deeper than it appears at first sight.

This kind of find attracts its own attention and excitement beyond what an auction creates. People want a piece of a big find and hope to unearth a rarity. An auction house would clearly examine and define and bring that rarity to the forefront.

If every lot has the possibility of containing that rarity, wouldn't they sell higher than a defined and known entity? Wonka is right in that each lot would probably sell higher in an auction if you look at the surface, but if one card in every lot is a golden ticket, doesn't that change the game?

Steve's no dummy, though, so I'm sure these lots have been through examination and even he says that most of the money has been made "off-line" through local sales. He's a good salesman and knows what he has.

[wonkaticket]

"Steve's no dummy, though, so I'm sure these lots have been through examination and even he says that most of the money has been made "off-line" through local sales. He's a good salesman and knows what he has."

Jay I agree I don't think Steve's missing cards or getting burned. But now I'm even more confused, this is what makes me think Steve may be missing some cash. I’ve been on a tear as of late buying cards and pretty significant $ cards at that.

I missed the only really EX or so lot listed because it was up and gone in hours. Now I have been patiently waiting per Steve’s direction to hang in there if you will more to come. But from the sound of Steve’s statement above it sounds as the bulk of the bigger dollar stuff, the very stuff I would be interested in was sold offline?

Steve, will there be any significant dollar higher end lots EX+ or better lots for sale in the BST in the near future? Will there be any oddballs/obscurities or scarce cards Demmit, O’Hara in EX+ listed in the BST. Tougher backs BL, Brown Old Mill, Lenox any of these? Or has most of this been brokered offline.

Not busting your chops just would love to be able to offer coin too but it’s hard to do so not knowing what is available and when it may come, and for these reasons is why I think you may be missing out just a bit.

That’s all I’m saying.

John

[Leon]

Originally Posted by wonkaticket

"Steve's no dummy, though, so I'm sure these lots have been through examination and even he says that most of the money has been made "off-line" through local sales. He's a good salesman and knows what he has."

Jay I agree I don't think Steve's missing cards or getting burned. But now I'm even more confused, this is what makes me think Steve may be missing some cash. I’ve been on a tear as of late buying cards and pretty significant $ cards at that.

I missed the only really EX or so lot listed because it was up and gone in hours. Now I have been patiently waiting per Steve’s direction to hang in there if you will more to come. But from the sound of Steve’s statement above it sounds as the bulk of the bigger dollar stuff, the very stuff I would be interested in was sold offline?

Steve, will there be any significant dollar higher end lots EX+ or better lots for sale in the BST in the near future? Will there be any oddballs/obscurities or scarce cards Demmit, O’Hara in EX+ listed in the BST. Tougher backs BL, Brown Old Mill, Lenox any of these? Or has most of this been brokered offline.

Not busting your chops just would love to be able to offer coin too but it’s hard to do so not knowing what is available and when it may come, and for these reasons is why I think you may be missing out just a bit.

That’s all I’m saying.

John

Now that part I agree with. It would be nice if the better stuff was also posted, not just what has been picked through and sold before we see the lots. But that is just the collector in me and Steve can do what he wants. I think any collector would feel the same way. I doubt the brokered lots were steals but it would be nice to see the lots BEFORE someone else grabbed the best stuff. See John, we can agree on some things

[wonkaticket]

Leon,

We agree on more than you know, now if we can agree on a place to eat in Oaks and bet on how long it will take Dan McKee to order something healthy and then eat my fried plate of food over drinks will have even more in common. You owe me fried fish McKee!

I'm not looking for deals either I want Steve and the old lady to bank here if they can I love capitalism!


If it's good stuff I will pay good cash there are many folks on here that can back me up on this statement.

We normally don’t discuss or ever type this type of info on here...but this past month alone we dropped 20k or more on about 5-7 cards all T206s. I also am following Steve's lead which was to hang in there stuff is coming, don’t chase me wait your turn and offer I respect that.

So I hang back, my first concern which I and Greg raised was something we would bid on hits the BST and is gone while I'm taking a guy like you to lunch Leon.

Now my second concern or confusion is I keep hitting the BST waiting for that higher end lot and it may not be coming, and I and others who the only way we can follow this sale is via the BST never even got a chance to offer. Never going to claim I will beat all prices or win everything but I can 100% guarantee that I would make that much more expensive for the next guy if given the chance and I’m sure I’m not alone.

Hope this makes sense. On separate note kudos and congrats to Steve having had a big find as a kid of around 1500+ T206’s it’s really something to pour over them when they are like that. It really is something I wish happens to everyone on here at least once in their lives. I also hope Steve does do really well out of this not just the elderly lady. No sour grapes or anything and any of you reading that into any of my posts here just don’t know me very well. Both parties here can win, my only hope is that all lots are being seen by folks who can help make the winning situation better for both.

To quote Charlie Sheen…I want Steve to continue to be bi-winning a win here and win there.

Cheers,

John

P.S. Leon you need a pickup from the airport just let me know.

[botn]

Originally Posted by Leon

Now that part I agree with. It would be nice if the better stuff was also posted, not just what has been picked through and sold before we see the lots. But that is just the collector in me and Steve can do what he wants. I think any collector would feel the same way. I doubt the brokered lots were steals but it would be nice to see the lots BEFORE someone else grabbed the best stuff. See John, we can agree on some things

I have no problem if Steve is only using the BST for the leftovers (leftovers were nice lots!). It is the way in which they had been offered which I suggested could have been done differently whereby assuring himself the most money for the consignor through the BST venue. That he may have sold the premium or better condition material privately is his prerogative. The material which was being made available to us red headed step-children was available for a very limited time and made unavailable in a very unconventional and unpredictable fashion.

The BST is a convenient, flexible and economical choice to move material but it is not as widely viewed as other venues are so it would reason that someone selling would want to leave up “open offer” type lots for as long as possible to ensure they have gotten the most from the limited collector base viewing the offering. Steve must have had minimum prices in mind he would take otherwise how would he know to sell the lots? As John pointed out, it is not like we all flock to the BST to move our goods or suggest it to others as a first choice in liquidating.

I would have liked a chance to make offers on some of the stuff he had up but I do not get bent out of shape over stuff like this. Just means I have that cash for other items being offered. Not like material is in short supply right now. But with that said, many of you have come here to defend Steve (totally unnecessary) and corroborate that lots were sold for top dollar. Why not share what you paid for your lots or what you know lots sold for? Steve obviously had prices in mind he would take for the lots, but chose not to post that and now lots have sold for good money but nobody will state what they paid.