Is Champs n Bums selling off a 1953 Bowman set?

RedHeart54 · January 26, 2003 12:06AM

They have a large number of some of the best 8s I've ever seen. These are CENTERED. I just wonder if these are from a set someone put together.

example

CDC4 · January 26, 2003 1:47AM

I think Peter either bought or was cosigned a collection...because I haven't seen any of those cards on his website. Whatever the case may be...Peter is one of the best dealers out there. I would check out his other auctions he has many top quality cards from the 50's and 60's right now.

SUPERPUNK813 · January 26, 2003 2:20AM

Id say i spend more with Champs & Bums that any other dealer every year. Peter always has a ton of high grade PSA cards for sale in all sports. He is a class act all the way.

Bingo33 · January 26, 2003 4:58AM

He is selling a lot of cards on ebay at this time. Very unusual for him. He always has some nice 7's on ebay. Never any 8's or 9's.

Has a great selection of cards on his web site. I wish more dealers had as nice a selection as Champs and Bums.

theBobs · January 26, 2003 5:02AM

I spoke with Peter last week, and believe these to be part of a consignment deal...

wolfbear · January 26, 2003 5:53AM

Got their catalog in the mail about a week ago.
Very nice selection.
Called right in to buy a half dozen cards, and they were all sold already.

alohaet · January 26, 2003 8:00AM

I called Peter about a card in his inventory that I needed and asked if his price was firm and he replied that it was. The card has a SMR of $325 and Peter wanted $795. This card is difficult to get and I expect to pay a premium. The card sold recently on ebay for just under $500. I just can't bring myself to pay $475 over guide or $295 over what has sold for on ebay. I am not that desparate for the card at this point. I can bide my time and will check out the Pro Bowl Card Show this coming weekend.

Ed

Virtualizard · January 26, 2003 8:08AM

Ed,

I agree. He has a great inventory - many cards I'd like to have. But the prices are outrageous. I'll just wait for the next ones to show up on ebay as well.

JEB.

Basilone · January 26, 2003 11:07PM

<< <i>He has a great inventory - many cards I'd like to have. But the prices are outrageous. I'll just wait for the next ones to show up on ebay as well. >>

Maybe that is why he has a great "inventory".

John

theBobs · January 26, 2003 11:19PM

<< <i>But the prices are outrageous. I'll just wait for the next ones to show up on ebay as well. >>

C&B = retail
ebay = wholesale

We are lucky to have the options...

Vargha · January 26, 2003 11:28PM

I have dealt with Peter and have found him to be an excellent person to deal with. He is very firm on most of his prices, but I completely respect that as it is how he pays his bills. I have in the past not bought cards from him on occasion because I felt the price was too high. Sometimes the price later dropped when the card hadn't sold and other times it sold for his asking price. In fact, there were a few high number 1949 Bowman PSA 8 cards that he sold at a "high price" that I later regretted not getting from him. All in all, he's very trustworthy and a great guy to deal with.

Bingo33 · January 26, 2003 11:40PM

I've bought from him and feel as though I paid fair prices. I got to think that he sells cards to other people too. He is a full-time dealer and has been so for a number of years. This has been discussed in the past, dealers prices (retail vs. wholesale/ebay). I think there is a difference. I don't think that any of these dealers (Champs and Bums, 707, MileHigh, Quality Cards...) would stay in business very long if their card prices were set at unsellable prices. And that could be said for any company involved in any business for that matter.

I think it lies more with the consumer and what he wants to spend and what he can afford to spend. And not much is said about customer service that you receive. I have only bought from Peter a couple of times and he seems like a nice guy. 707 and Quality Cards have received much of business and it goes beyond buying a card. Both of those companies have fantastic customer service. Jimmy and Levi at 707 are the best. And Craig and his wife do a great job.

Peter also sends out a very nice monthly catalog chuck full of cards that are not on his web site.

carew4me · January 27, 2003 12:12AM

Same argument could be made for Mint State Inc.
Great cards - High prices.

Davalillo · January 27, 2003 12:38AM

I have bought from Peter Lalos and will undoubtedly buy again. I do not believe I have bought from Mint State. I am sure both are very reputable dealers but wow--the prices they charge. I buy from a lot of dealers who sell high quality stuff at reasonable prices. Both these guys in my opinion really push the envelope at prices and thus limit their usefulness to me despite the fact they have a lot of stuff I could use.

Davalillo

carew4me · January 27, 2003 12:51AM

I think the problem is that overall there are a few cards you could put your price on.
But when ALL of the cards listed are some variance over SMR, they I begin
to think that these guys are being greedy.

Thank God for Ebay!

waitilltheytrytosell · January 27, 2003 4:43AM

alohaet - I called Peter about a card in his inventory that I needed and asked if his price was firm and he replied that it was. The card has a SMR of $325 and Peter wanted $795. This card is difficult to get and I expect to pay a premium. The card sold recently on ebay for just under $500. I just can't bring myself to pay $475 over guide or $295 over what has sold for on ebay.

Why didn't you buy the one on Ebay then? You had a chance to possibly pay under $500 for the card. Was there something wrong with the card or seller that made you feel uncomfortable with going after the card. You say you just can't bring yourself to pay $475 over SMR. Well, you had a chance to pay only $175 over SMR. Why did the card sell for less than $500? Heck, maybe the Ebay card was a low feedback guy with no scan. Or maybe the Ebay guy was a guy who has high prices, so people stayed away. Maybe the guy charges $10 shipping so people concerned with that sort of thing didn't bid. Maybe the winner had a $700 top all in, and you saved him money by not bidding. "What it just sold for on Ebay" - yeah, you should have bought that one then, click.

theBobs · January 27, 2003 4:58AM

<< <i>I begin to think that these guys are being greedy. >>

Its not greed, its called capitalism -- its what makes America great.

carew4me, I would think a proud conservative like yourself would be in favor of a free market? Price controls so that these greedy sellers do make too big a profit? No way, in America we are allowed to put any price we want on something (no matter if it sells or not

)

If one doesn't like the prices, one is free to move on to the next seller. At the same time, the free market will dictate if these dealers stay in business. If their prices are too high, they will go away. Guess what, they are still here...

Bingo33 · January 27, 2003 5:10AM

Maybe Peter bought the one that sold on ebay that AHOLET did not buy.

I don't know if he buys on ebay, I looked at his feedback and did not see anything.

I have sold him cards to him in the past and have done quite well with him. He paid me 1.35 of SMR for a nice group of 1961 & 1965 Yankees in PSA 8. I've sold him other small groups of cards that he paid close to SMR for. If a dealer is paying those type of prices, close to or over SMR, I've got to think that the sell price will be an even greater % of the SMR.

There are not many dealers selling 1950's PSA 8 cards for less then SMR and fewer who are not paying close to or over SMR for many of those years. And I know that Peter falls into that group. I sold a small group of mid-pop 1954's to 707-Levi Bleam this past year and received close to 1.75 of SMR. Now do I think that his pricing of 2X or 2.5X for those cards to be out of line? NO.

alohaet · January 27, 2003 7:28AM

Waitill, I had every intention of bidding on the card, but sometimes personal matters keep a person from going on to ebay. Don't jump on me for missing my opportunity unless you know what my circumstances were at the time. I was involved in an auto accident during the period in question and needless to say ebay was not on my mind. Thankfully no one was seriously hurt (except the car) I now have a new car. This particular card will come along again and I will put my bid in and see what happens. Having this card or any other card is not life or death with me. I will be 60 years old next year and have learned that I should not get too excited over anything sports related. It is entertainment for me and I enjoy the hobby, I don't live for the hobby. As for dealers who charge high prices, that is their choice and they every right to do so and I have every right not to buy. If someone feels comfortable paying those prices so be it, I would not feel comfortable. As they say "to each their own".

Have a good day Waitill.

Ed

Wayne8348 · January 27, 2003 9:06AM

Ed,

I'm reallly glad you weren't hurt! You don't owe anyone an explanation as to why you didn't buy something on ebay - especially waittil. I hope you find that card again soon.

wayne

Basilone · January 27, 2003 10:40AM

Your right...anyone has the right to price their inventory so it is unlikely to sell. I hate getting these catalogs and seeing the same overpriced cards...month after month after month.

John

Is Champs n Bums selling off a 1953 Bowman set?

Comments