Anyone win anything last night?

gaspipe26

I was second bidder on a few things, the vending was outta sight.

milbroco

I won $2.00 on the lottery.

Golfcollector

If you are talking Mastronet, then yes, but won this on Friday night!

I picked up a great lot of old golf card sets at a fabulous price considering what is all available.

Lot of 14 Vintage golf Card sets

flatfoot816

picked up the '69 baseball rack to add to my run. Now have '68-'82. Need a nice '67 rack if anyone has 1 to sell.

gaspipe26

I won one last night. I overpaid for the 1969 6th series vending box.

kennylow

I won the E95 partial set:

http://www.mastronet.com/index.cfm?action=DisplayContent&ContentName=Lot Information&LotIndex=58332&CurrentRow=1

I now have a bunch of dupes. If anyone is interested in E95 cards in the SGC 30 to SGC 70 range, email me at kenny98z11@yahoo.com

ChrisKK

I can say I lost. Lost bigger than I ever thought.

1970 PSA 9 set
1974 PSA 9 set

wow. I just about gave away the 1970 set. With the 74 set, I thought I was buying cards at bargan prices. But with this sale, I'm only getting 50 cents on my purchasing dollar.

Two people are getting GREAT DEALS.

don't get me wrong. I was not expecting to get rich or even break even, but I was not expecting them to end this low.

It's going to take some time to get this bitter taste out of my mouth.

ChrisKK
(edited to correct links)

interchanges

Chris KK~

I feel your pain. It seems the streets of Mastro are paved with gold, then when you consign something, you wait for heavy snipes and nothing happens, it just ends. Same thing happened to me with my best 1950 Bowman FB set. (years ago) I couldn't get over it.

bobsbbcards

Tough break on both the '70 and '74 sets. I think that partial sets tend to get short changed in the big auctions. If you had tossed in the remaining raw cards, you might have gotten significantly more action (IMHO).

Edited to add: They also gave you no descriptive paragraph at all. For all of the glowy words that the Mastro novelist-wannabees used in the other auction lots, you'd think they'd have some left over for your cards.

CollectorChris

ChrisKK,

I also feel for you. You spent so many dollars and so much time to build up these wonderful PSA 9 collections of 1970 and 1974 cards, and it all ends in heartbreak, not to mention a huge financial loss. As I've said before on these message boards (most recently with someone so disappointed over their 1972 complete set sale that they thought it was "stolen"), if collectors would take the time to sell these cards individually on Ebay, they would be much better off. By doing this, I roughly estimate that you could have netted $10,000 to $13,000 more. Wouldn't this have been worth your time?

There were three players in these transactions. Two players were winners: Mastro made lots of money on you (10%?) for the consignment fee as well as 17.5% for the buyer's fee. The winners of the lots got a bargain. One player, you, was unfortunately the loser in this deal: You actually paid Mastro to, in your own words, "just about give away" the lots. You "have a bitter taste" your mouth and a sizable financial loss.

bobsbbcards is right: Mastro gave you no glowing description like they typically do for other lots.

A painful and expensive lesson. Live and learn.

CollectorChris

Davalillo

I would be in disbelief if he paid Mastro a commission. Good win charges nothing across the board and most auction houses for meaningful lots will not charge either.


ChrisKK--you should advertise here-I would have paid you more for both of those sets.

I think in selling modern material Mastro is not your best choice--Mastro gets unbelievable prices for vintage but better off going to someone like Memory Lane or Drent.

Dav

Onlypsahockey

ChrisKK sorry for your unsatisfactory outcome. I think collectorchris is right on this one. Selling individually would have reaped greater rewards.


If anyone won or knows who won the 68 or 71 hockey vending or the 71 hockey wax please let me know. I couldn't swing a high enough bid but would be a major buyer of psa 9-10 material from these two products. Especially high grade 71's to add to my registry set.

If you won these items or know who won them and do not want to speak up here please contact me through email or forward my email to the winner as a good source for recouping some of your/their expenses.

Thanks, Bob C.
Bobocaf@aol.com

hench1

<< <i>Chris KK~

I feel your pain. It seems the streets of Mastro are paved with gold, then when you consign something, you wait for heavy snipes and nothing happens, it just ends. Same thing happened to me with my best 1950 Bowman FB set. (years ago) I couldn't get over it. >>





I sold my best set on Mastro two years ago and, after what I was told about some people getting inside information on bidding, will never consign to them again. They also refused to break it down into individual lots, opting instead for some very large lots where I got KILLED with low bidding. They talk a great game, but I would recommend ebay or private selling. If you were to auction again, try Goodwin, Robert Edwards or Mile High.

Just my opinion.

gemint

<< <i>I won one last night. I overpaid for the 1969 6th series vending box. >>



Bob, are you planning to open it? It would be interesting to see how you do. Did you try to make a play on either of the 1969 sets? I made early bids on the vending and sets but they all ended up higher than I was willing to go.

CollectorChris

gemint,

Sadly, Bob's vending box has very likely already been opened. Expecting to get some PSA 8 or 9 Ryans and Palmers? Not gonna happen. The box has a little writing on it, lots of wear and the tell-tale bowing effect in the lower panel (as pictured) that indicates someone's fingers have already lifted the top flap.

Looks like that box has already been handled/tossed around quite a bit. Even GAI only graded it a 7.

I hope Bob proves me wrong and gets some great cards, but I wouldn't take such a gamble for almost $5K.

Collector Chris

Davalillo

The bidding on true vintage material was exceptionally strong.

I lost nine of ten lots I bid on and thought I was bidding aggressively.

One lot that stood out to me was the 33 Goudey Lajoie at $140,000!!!!!

Mastro consistently brings the highest prices for true vintage material.

gaspipe26

Chris, technically the box shouldnt have been opened or it would not of been graded. Fritsch isnt going to let his reputation be ruined by offering bad stuff. Plus if the vending "stripe" isnt there upon opening GAI wouldnt of graded it. I have no issue with it being tampered. The issue I worry about is centering with 69 vending.

I do not know if I will open it. I have a 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th and now 6th vending box from 69. just need the 3rd and 5th for a complete run.

dakota

ChrisKK,
Im not so sure you got shorted on the 70 set. It is entirely possible somebody might be able to make a few bucks on it if they broke it up but not enough to put out 23k. Your 70 set is a lot I was very interested in and I broke down card by card with conservative prices attached to each one.(also considered population as well and team ie.Yanks/Mets) and lets just say I believe somebody paid right about what it went for. I know you probably paid more piece by piece but I dont think you should be real disappointed.
Hopefully a collector bought it cause I think if someones gonna break ,they overpaid.
Nice partial set with alot of tough ones!!

Wabittwax

When I hear of stuff going cheap in auction, my interest perks up for buying and flipping. Then I hear somebody say some crap about 17.5%? Screw that. Ebay fee is 0% for buyers. That's like nearly a $2,000 fee on a semi big lot. You sellers know that isn't coming out of the buyers pocket. They are factoring that into the bids. Ebay fees on a $10,000 lot would be way way less. I'll stick to ebay for buying.

gaspipe26

Wabbitt, I agree with you with 1 exception. Some of the items will never see Ebay. Like the vending for one. Oh you might get a box here or there but never like this, but yes I agree with you on most items.

Pittfan

Where do they get some of these people bidding? Look at the Clemente Rookie psa 9 went for $35K. Unreal if they were watching ebay they could have pick up one just as nice from kepplerenterprises for 24k. Man that was a bad move. I would have bid 40k for it but when I wiped my butt last night I accidentally used 1000 dollar bills instead of tens.

gaspipe26

gemint,
I believe I was underbidder on all 3 1969 sets. I did call Mastronet to see about the tough commons, all of them in all sets were OC, that probrably kept me from clicking 1 more bid.

gemint

<< <i>gemint,

Sadly, Bob's vending box has very likely already been opened. Expecting to get some PSA 8 or 9 Ryans and Palmers? Not gonna happen. The box has a little writing on it, lots of wear and the tell-tale bowing effect in the lower panel (as pictured) that indicates someone's fingers have already lifted the top flap.

Looks like that box has already been handled/tossed around quite a bit. Even GAI only graded it a 7.

I hope Bob proves me wrong and gets some great cards, but I wouldn't take such a gamble for almost $5K.

Collector Chris >>



I highly doubt those boxes were searched. Mastro may have opened the lid when they cracked the case for grading just to ensure there was no major damage evident on the cards (like the ungraded '70/'71 basketball vending box they pictured which had the lid raised for the photo).

I do have a feeling these won't be the last vending boxes we see from Fritsch/Mastro. It will be good in a sense that future closing prices may be more affordable but bad in a sense that it may eventually result in an increase of high grade material hitting the market. Well, bad for those of us with completed sets but good for buyers.

gemint

<< <i>gemint,
I believe I was underbidder on all 3 1969 sets. I did call Mastronet to see about the tough commons, all of them in all sets were OC, that probrably kept me from clicking 1 more bid. >>



Smart move. Without the low pops, there's not much value left in the remaining raw cards.

Griffins

Anyone get their invoice yet? I just got hit for 472. shipping for 8 cards and a poster!

Golfcollector

I just received my invoice. Only around $45 for shipping and insurance on 14 small size golf card sets. I thought that was VERY reasonable.

Treetop

Treetop

I received my invoice also and have gone to my bank (Sunday Branch in Vons markets), then to Kinko/FedEx and sent off an overnight to mastro. The fedex package actually won't be sent out until tomorrow, but they have my cashiers check on Tuesday

shipping for partially slabbed complete set and a vending box was 232.00

Wabittwax

<< <i>shipping for partially slabbed complete set and a vending box was 232.00 >>



This leaves me speechless. I think if there is one bump in the road on the collectibles market and these auction houses are gone. Fleecing the sh*t out of everyone involved is bad for business.

gaspipe26

$232, wow . Mine was $29 and change for the 1 vending box.

Ripken

The amateur psychologist in my says some deep pocket bidders who may be in the market for a very nice 1970 set but aren't necessarily registry people see the $20K and think 'that's a huge chunk of change for a '70 Topps set'. They're right, of course. You can buy a very nice one, albeit not 8-9 type quality throughout--for less than $2500k. I sold one such set about 6-7 weeks ago.

When you're putting a set together a card by card set it doesn't seem like much of an issue if you don't calculate what you've spent. But when you're buying a set--the one lump sum outlay can seem stifling. Some dealers who might be inclined to buy one to break up --graded or ungraded-- usually do so on eBay rather than mess with Mastro and it's fees.

My experience with Mastro was less than exciting..although less $ was involved. Got a bit less for my sets than I'd expect on eBay and the fees sucked away even more. The only thing it did was save me some of the hassle. And the wait to get your stuff into their catalogs can be interminable. If it's fairly pedestrian--you usually have to do it on their terms---and don't have any say in how the listing is written. When I have an item that merits it, I can write descriptive prose like they do (I'm a professional) and place a nice picture or three on eBay without forking over a significant portion of my profits.

What really disturbs me are these 'auction house account' and shill bidding type issues. If that's truly going on, how long can it go on before it backfires?

A761506

I do not mind the 17.5% buyers premium, it's a relatively standard figure throughout sports card auctions, and I simply factor it into my bidding. For everyone who is scared off by it, that's one less possible competitor to run up the price.

I do not think their shipping is excessive either. They are charging me $54 for 50 graded cards which will be insured for over $11K. I also know when I receive them, they will have been packaged well.

The reason these auction houses do so well is the same reason casino's do so well... they make enough money from their "whales" that they can sustain in nearly any economic conditions. The people who bought the 50 most expensive lots for example, which probably accounted for a large majority of all the sales dollar-wise, are generally unaffected by the overall economy.

I would not feel comfortable with a $11,500 transaction on eBay with over 99% of the sellers. I'm certain a lot of people share that same sentiment. When I buy from Mastro or REA or any other trusted auction house, I know I'm getting what I bought. And, as was already mentioned in a previous post, much of this stuff would never be sold on eBay.

dude

I had 7 or so lots that I was interested in and didn't win any. I did have a strong interest in Chris K's partial '70 set, but I agree with a previous comment that it wasn't that greatly undervalued - especially when you include the bidder's fee. As I've said before, selling sets that are worth $25K or more can be very risky. Anyone can scrape together $10,000 or $15,000 by using cash withdrawls on credit cards and so forth, but when you hope that there are people with $25,000 or more laying around to toss into a hobby venture, you are setting yourself up for a disaster. Sets like that need to be broken up and sold by the card. I also believe that MastroNet isn't the best auctionhouse for anything 1970 or newer. The vast majority of the bidders are looking for the really old stuff.

1954

a761506-
I don't know who you are but you are 100% right about Mastro's service, reputation and guarantee versus Ebay. Every time I buy something on Ebay I am always thinking to myself, "I wonder if this transaction is going to work?" When I buy something from Mastro I am always thinking, "I hope I have enough money in the bank for this." Mastro not only preaches what it says, but I have always been very pleased with their grading of raw cards. The accurate description of every lot that I have won has helped me with my collection and I can't say the same for Ebay.

Shane

ejguru

I was out bid on a couple of the signed ball lots. The lot I won in December was a bit overgraded as I had the best 40+ balls graded and not a single "10" signature! the balls were as described in the NM-NM/MT range. Just as well as wedding day is 5/7 and bills need to be paid.

tkd7

When Mastro describes something at NM to NM/MT range I assume PSA 7-8 range. Is that correct?
I figure anything above a PSA 8 would be a bonus. I've noticed that Mastro rarely describes items that aren't professionally graded as being "mint" (i.e. PSA 9).

mikeschmidt

<< <i>When Mastro describes something at NM to NM/MT range I assume PSA 7-8 range. Is that correct?
I figure anything above a PSA 8 would be a bonus. I've noticed that Mastro rarely describes items that aren't professionally graded as being "mint" (i.e. PSA 9). >>



Given that Derek Grady is Mastro's top grader, and that he used to be the head grader at SGC -- I think that Mastro has a financial incentive [both for itself and for its consignors] to basically send in anything that has a reasonably chance at a 9, especially if it is vintage. That said - I think a 0.5 grade bump from raw to graded is approximately what a typical Mastro lot may run - though it depends on a number of variables.

ejguru

As with card grading, I have found inconsistencies with ball and autograph grading. Don't let it seem as though that Mastro is the only one inflating projected grades--it is rampant. I don't know if Derek or anyone at Mastro has grading experience with autographs or balls, but based on writing and photos, I certainly expected more 9's and at least 1 GM 10 of over 60 balls. I don't think a single ball graded MINT.

Also got news that the preliminary PSA authentication is practically worthless. To get each ball individually tagged and stickered, one must pay for the upgrade. The letter that covers the lot is totally non-binding--upon resubmission, I was told a ball MAY be deemed as unauthentic. Thankfully, nothing like that happened. All in all, the phrase remains: CAVEAT EMPTOR!

tkd7

<< <i>Also got news that the preliminary PSA authentication is practically worthless. To get each ball individually tagged and stickered, one must pay for the upgrade. The letter that covers the lot is totally non-binding--upon resubmission, I was told a ball MAY be deemed as unauthentic. Thankfully, nothing like that happened. All in all, the phrase remains: CAVEAT EMPTOR! >>



That is absurd that the auction letter is not binding. I would be pretty upset with the auction house if something came back questionable.

HouseOfCards

<< <i>gemint,

Sadly, Bob's vending box has very likely already been opened. Expecting to get some PSA 8 or 9 Ryans and Palmers? Not gonna happen. The box has a little writing on it, lots of wear and the tell-tale bowing effect in the lower panel (as pictured) that indicates someone's fingers have already lifted the top flap.

Looks like that box has already been handled/tossed around quite a bit. Even GAI only graded it a 7.

I hope Bob proves me wrong and gets some great cards, but I wouldn't take such a gamble for almost $5K.

Collector Chris >>




Had to get off the bench on this one. GAI must open the flap for a visual before grading. My concern is that it must be possible to CAREFULLY open the lid, and then CAREFULLY take a peek for centering patterns of the card run. You can even check the top two corners for sharpness. If it's a box of O/C, CAREFULLY close it, re-grade it, and off it goes to the next poor sap. Is this not possible?