707 Sportscards and Scans

[insidethewrapper]

Some of these guys would have Millions of $$$$ if they just sold their great inventory. They will die with it and their wives will sell it for pennies on the dollar. Seems better to enjoy the money now. The most successful business people turn over inventory as fast as possible for cash flow so they have the money when the next great offer rolls around. Never made much sense (cents) to me to have a large inventory.

[philliesphan]

Originally Posted by insidethewrapper

Some of these guys would have Millions of $$$$ if they just sold their great inventory. They will die with it and their wives will sell it for pennies on the dollar. Seems better to enjoy the money now. The most successful business people turn over inventory as fast as possible for cash flow so they have the money when the next great offer rolls around. Never made much sense (cents) to me to have a large inventory.

A) Levi's wife will not sell his collection for pennies on the dollar. At worst, it would go to an auction house for 0% consignment fee.

B) Levi is not hurting for cash flow. You seem to think that there is always trade-offs between inventory and cash flow. You can have both -- as Levi does.

C) A smaller inventory may maximize working capital and cash flow -- but a large inventory makes you a popular seller. Many hear demoan Levi's business model. The reality is that it has been very successful for Mr. Bleam, and that he turns over a lot of inventory on a regular basis (just check closed sales on Ebay). All those sales are a small dent in a formidable inventory.

Not sure why all the vitriol against Mr. Bleam, insidethewrapper. It is not a traditional dealer sales model, but it nonetheless works quite well for Levi & Co.

M

[Jim VB]

Originally Posted by philliesphan

Many hear demoan Levi's business model.

Marc,

As you well know, many here complain about Levi's business model simply because he has cards they want at prices higher than they want to pay. The easy solution would be for them (me included, sometimes) to go buy those cards elsewhere. If only his inventory wasn't so damn deep!

[autograf]

As someone else said, apparently he'll take less than his BIN's. I've never bought anything from him because he's primarily 1950's/1960's Topps. I know people who know him well and he is CLEARLY not hurting for cash flow.

[mark evans]

I've bought two cards from Levi (I think) -- '52 Topps Minoso and Pitler. Both transactions went smoothly although I may have paid more than 'market value,' at least as reflected by eBay auctions.

I don't see how anyone can criticize a seller for the price he asks for his product. After all, they're Levi's cards. Good friend Dan McKee is asking very serious money for his unique Guy Zinn, and all I know is that I keep buying lottery tickets.

Mark

[Doug]

Originally Posted by autograf

As someone else said, apparently he'll take less than his BIN's. I've never bought anything from him because he's primarily 1950's/1960's Topps. I know people who know him well and he is CLEARLY not hurting for cash flow.

I'm not even sure why they have the best offer option on the BINs. Obviously they are his cards and he can ask whatever he wants, but any time I've made a best offer I get a counter offer that's under 2% less than the BIN price when the card is usually priced about 30% higher than what it would actually sell for.

[jbbama]

+1

[bobbyw8469]

I'm not even sure why they have the best offer option on the BINs. Obviously they are his cards and he can ask whatever he wants, but any time I've made a best offer I get a counter offer that's under 2% less than the BIN price when the card is usually priced about 30% higher than what it would actually sell for.

+2

[dstudeba]

Originally Posted by insidethewrapper

The most successful business people turn over inventory as fast as possible for cash flow so they have the money when the next great offer rolls around. Never made much sense (cents) to me to have a large inventory.

I am sure Levi does not have a capital or cash flow problem, and remember inventory cannot be replaced by a call to a warehouse so it does not fit easily into a traditional business model.

[4815162342]

Originally Posted by philliesphan

A) Levi's wife will not sell his collection for pennies on the dollar. At worst, it would go to an auction house for 0% consignment fee.

B) Levi is not hurting for cash flow. You seem to think that there is always trade-offs between inventory and cash flow. You can have both -- as Levi does.

C) A smaller inventory may maximize working capital and cash flow -- but a large inventory makes you a popular seller. Many hear demoan Levi's business model. The reality is that it has been very successful for Mr. Bleam, and that he turns over a lot of inventory on a regular basis (just check closed sales on Ebay). All those sales are a small dent in a formidable inventory.

Not sure why all the vitriol against Mr. Bleam, insidethewrapper. It is not a traditional dealer sales model, but it nonetheless works quite well for Levi & Co.

M

Originally Posted by dstudeba

I am sure Levi does not have a capital or cash flow problem, and remember inventory cannot be replaced by a call to a warehouse so it does not fit easily into a traditional business model.

+1