Home› PSA Set Registry Forum

Cornering the market

CandyFactoryCandyFactory Posts: 121
in PSA Set Registry Forum
Hello folks

So, Goodriddance is the last to talk about "cornering the market". I am fully aware of what it is, but want to discuss advantages. What if you corner the market in a card that no one wants? Are there any people here who have successfully cornered the market and then sold out? Anyone have any examples of a great market corner?

BTW, Goodriddance I enjoy your posts on here. Keep up the good work.

Ryan
Collector of T cards and other pre war

Comments

  • thejamthejam Posts: 164 ✭
    i tried to corner on 1957T billy pierce in psa 1 and 2; but it hasn't worked out so far
  • dunerduner Posts: 625 ✭
    i started the effort with '88 emmitt smith BK cards last year when i saw there were only 150-200 graded....prices actually doubled a couple months after i started manipulating the market. unfortunately zardoz? went out and graded 50 or 75 psa 10s.....that let the air out of my bubble....and killed prices. taught me an important lesson.
    Duner a.k.a. THE LSUConnMan
    lsuconnman@yahoo.com

    image

  • goodriddance189goodriddance189 Posts: 2,388 ✭✭
    Ryan,

    haha nice post. i'm not actually trying to corner the graded market for that Howe; i'm trying to corner the raw market as well. i have about 75 of that card raw, and another dozen graded. it's one of my favorite cards, and some day i will have enough to fill one of those 48 card graded wall displays. just another one of my fun, dumb, and probably costly endevours.

    i've tried to corner the market on a few other cards as well- 2001 Topps Chrome Major Applewhite Black Refractor #/100, and the 2002 Bowman Chrome Kelly Johnson Gold Ref. #/50. both players are good friends of mine from back home.

    but i've learned a valuable lesson while trying to do this- don't bother cornering the market on a card no one gives a crap about
  • WabittwaxWabittwax Posts: 1,984 ✭✭✭
    I would only try to corner the market on modern serial numbered cards. That's the only way to know exactly how close you are. Also when you resell, the buyer knows that they will not get burned in the future like with the Emmitt Smiths. My friend is buying many 1997 Totally Certified Gold Baseball cards all numbered to 30. I believe he has 6 of a couple cards which would be 20%. He still has a long way to go to make any prices jump.

    Rare vintage cards could also work except many are already locked in sets and also there is always the possibility of a "find" somewhere. That doesn't seem like a profitable venture but then again, neither does the modern cards.
  • CandyFactoryCandyFactory Posts: 121
    Sure, but my thought on cornering the market is not that prices would jump. At least not in something like SMR.

    The Population report on a numbered card is let's say 100. If I have all 100 or 20 different people have 5, it doesn't really matter. There are still 100. What are you going to do? Sell 1 and lose the corner on the market that you have?

    I guess someone who owns all 100 has an advantage to someone who wants one (ie supply and demand), but that "corner the market" is only there if the person doesn't ever sell it.

    What I am trying to ask is that a person who tries to corner the market would do so for enjoyment and satisfaction purposes only? Otherwise, what's the point?
    Collector of T cards and other pre war
  • 67standup67standup Posts: 833 ✭
    It's a small obscure corner, but I have three of the three PSA and one SGC graded 1967 Yaz Venezuelans.

    I started another corner with eight 1964 Yaz Stand-ups, but then realized it was a fruitless and un-realistic effort.
    “Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.” - George Carlin
  • jrdolanjrdolan Posts: 2,549 ✭✭
    When I first re-entered the hobby after an absence of many years, I inadvertently cornered the market on Mantle CTA 8's. Invariably they turned into PSA 6's. At least I didn't dabble in PRO or GEM or buy from one of the outpatient card surgeries before learning what's what nowadays.

    How do you corner the market on a good card? If it's desirable, everybody else wants to corner the market, too. I guess the trick is to be the only one to know it will become desirable later. If you can do that, you want to be making predictions on bigger things than sports cards!
  • bobsbbcardsbobsbbcards Posts: 3,254 ✭✭✭
    I think that trying to corner the market on a card you love is perfectly understandable. The thrill sometimes is not owning a card, but finding it and making the acquisition (hunting and gathering is part of our heritage).

    I tried (unsuccessfully of course) to corner the market on 1987 Donruss Opening Day Barry Bonds Error cards in PSA 9. I currently have 10 of them, along with one lonely BGS 9, for a total of 11 (pop in PSA 9 is 20). When I purchased my last one, there were still no 10s--now there are 2 image
    bobsbbcards PSA Registry Sets
    bobsbbcards SGC Registry Sets
  • 67standup67standup Posts: 833 ✭


    << <i>I think that trying to corner the market on a card you love is perfectly understandable. ( >>



    Now I feel better about owning 14 1976 OPC Aaron #1s, and eight #550s.
    “Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.” - George Carlin
  • CandyFactoryCandyFactory Posts: 121
    This intrigues me because personally, I don't see the point in owning more than one of a card- but 14!
    Why? Is it a nice looking card??
    Collector of T cards and other pre war
  • kobykoby Posts: 1,699 ✭✭


    << <i>but i've learned a valuable lesson while trying to do this- don't bother cornering the market on a card no one gives a crap about >>



    Very well said
  • 67standup67standup Posts: 833 ✭


    << <i>This intrigues me because personally, I don't see the point in owning more than one of a card- but 14!
    Why? Is it a nice looking card?? >>



    Good question, but the "why" could be extended to everything we collect. My girlfriend wonders "why" I spend money on things that can someday easily be reproduced, "why" money is spent more on having than on doing, etc.

    To answer your question: the #1 is my favorite card and can be had for around $10, plus there aren't that many as compared to Topps. I used to have ~30 1980 OPC Yaz's. Similar philosophy with the 1964 Stand-Up Yaz, however, the opportuntiy cost is greater with those.

    In sum, it's a rather lame way to collect, but I've only spent about $100 on those Aarons, not a bad price to pay for something somewhat scarce and something that generates a conversation topic.
    “Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.” - George Carlin
  • bobsbbcardsbobsbbcards Posts: 3,254 ✭✭✭
    I think that (for me) there is also an element of boredom at work. If I search eBay for days at a time looking for something that is on my want list and come up with diddly, and I happen to bump in to a card I loved buying at one time, then why not take the plunge again. At $10 a pop for OPC Aarons, I would do it in a heartbeat if that was my favorite card. At the price for a 64 Standup Yaz card, it would have to be a much slower heartbeat.


    bobsbbcards PSA Registry Sets
    bobsbbcards SGC Registry Sets
  • 67standup67standup Posts: 833 ✭


    << <i>I think that (for me) there is also an element of boredom... >>



    This is the primary fuel that drives my pursuits, my wantlist and buy sell logs are meticulous...mmm, wonder why?
    “Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.” - George Carlin
  • 67standup67standup Posts: 833 ✭
    That corner is getting sharper...I just won another Aaron #1, that's 15. Lame, I know.
    “Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.” - George Carlin
Sign In or Register to comment.