Bid Retractions - A Punk Move?

[MattyC]

Bill,

Of your three examples, I think the 8.5 and 9 are sharpest. I would probably buy the 8.5 if it was markedly lower than the 9. That represents value for the CARD. The grades look pretty accurate. I'd say the 8.5 is best, because I like his clean image (no cheek blemish), the centering, and whiter borders. But that I concede is a subjective call, as others may prefer the better edges and corners of the 9.

So the hair is very fine between the 8.5 and 9. How much is that hair worth? To me, not much. And I won't pay a big price difference for a small card difference. But to some guys, maybe the half grade up is worth much more, whether they need the 9 for their Registry GPA or just want to say they own the "better grade."

However it shakes out, what matters is that the winners are happy with their cards. If they are, all good.

When it comes to the bidding shenanigans, sniping is an amazing tool. It renders everything a best offer or card show scenario. You make you best offer and either it wins or it doesn't. I think retracting and shilling is bush league, but because I can't talk sense to those people, I won't be the dog barking at the bird. I will snipe and win what I want for my collection, namely undergraded classics, like THIS BAD BOY...

[MBMiller25]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Bill,

Of your three examples, I think the 8.5 and 9 are sharpest. I would probably buy the 8.5 if it was markedly lower than the 9. That represents value for the CARD. The grades look pretty accurate. I'd say the 8.5 is best, because I like his clean image (no cheek blemish), the centering, and whiter borders. But that I concede is a subjective call, as others may prefer the better edges and corners of the 9.

So the hair is very fine between the 8.5 and 9. How much is that hair worth? To me, not much. And I won't pay a big price difference for a small card difference. But to some guys, maybe the half grade up is worth much more, whether they need the 9 for their Registry GPA or just want to say they own the "better grade."

However it shakes out, what matters is that the winners are happy with their cards. If they are, all good.

When it comes to the bidding shenanigans, sniping is an amazing tool. It renders everything a best offer or card show scenario. You make you best offer and either it wins or it doesn't. I think retracting and shilling is bush league, but because I can't talk sense to those people, I won't be the dog barking at the bird. I will snipe and win what I want for my collection, namely undergraded classics, like THIS BAD BOY...

Did I just read that correctly? You were the winner of that card last night? I was watching that card. Hella Hard card! If you won it, Congrats to you. I am not sure most people realize how difficult that card is in any grade.

[MattyC]

Yup-- that was me with one bid: the last bid. Had to have it. Was spirited bidding at the end there. When I saw it listed my eyes bugged out, because the card NEVER surfaces in obtainable grade. The write up explained it, but eBay is not the optimum venue for the card as opposed to an REA or Goodwin, where the old school sharks patrol the waters. I think there are only around 30 in all grades. I've always loved the unique design of the piece and the write up on back. Joe D has three fresh and beasty hard early cards: the Zeenut, the v355, and this OPC. I love cards on VCP with next to no sales!

I think Joltin Joe's 56 would be impossible to break in today's media spotlight. It hasn't even been challenged, really. The man hardly ever struck out. I'm in awe of his baseball reference stats.

[MBMiller25]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Yup-- that was me with one bid: the last bid. Had to have it. Was spirited bidding at the end there. When I saw it listed my eyes bugged out, because the card NEVER surfaces in obtainable grade. The write up explained it, but eBay is not the optimum venue for the card as opposed to an REA or Goodwin, where the old school sharks patrol the waters. I think there are only around 30 in all grades. I've always loved the unique design of the piece and the write up on back. Joe D has three fresh and beasty hard early cards: the Zeenut, the v355, and this OPC. I love cards on VCP with next to no sales!

I think Joltin Joe's 56 would be impossible to break in today's media spotlight. It hasn't even been challenged, really. The man hardly ever struck out. I'm in awe of his baseball reference stats.

He also got horizontal with Marilyn Monroe!

Congrats on another great pickup. Great card.

[MattyC]

Yup, any man who strikes out 13 times in a full season, has one of sports' most hallowed, unbreakable, celebrated records, and married the then-hottest woman on the face of the Earth...I mean, if that is not a player who MUST be represented in a collection, I don't know who is!

Also: 3 MVPs, 2 second place finishes, and a third place.

And MISSED three PRIME years for the war, at ages 28, 29, 30!!! Those are an athlete's prime seasons. I think many forget that. And the toughness of his cards kind of keeps him from really busting out in the hobby-- compared to say Mantle's inclusion as a high number in such a widely collected set,

JOE D WAS THE MAN! STATS.

[bobbyw8469]

Of the three George Kell 1957 Topps cards that sold last night.

The PSA 8 sold for $60 ($9 above VCP average)
The PSA 8.5 (which in my opinion was the nicest of the bunch) sold for $117.50 ($95 BELOW VCP average)
The PSA 9 sold for $658.30 ($11.91 above VCP average).

Those results only fuel my speculation that some funny stuff sometimes goes on with PWCC auctions). How could the best looking card of the three wind up selling for almost $100 under VCP average? Maybe the bidders weren't looking at all three cards?

[MBMiller25]

Amazing that there is that much of a price difference between a 8.5 and 9. The registry lends itself to this practice, as I agree with you that the 8.5 was the best looking of the three cards. There are alot of people out there that will buy the holder and not the card.