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1953 Topps Lottery- is anyone buying this?

This auction is randomly auctioning a high grade 1953 Topps set for $165 per card.
Your $165 could buy you a high grade mantle or mays or a $30 common.
He says it's randomly assigned, but what happens if he stops only after a few sales because of lack of interest.
Would think this is very hard to run to completion. What's to stop his friends from getting the best cards.
would think the 1st dozen or so would be dumps, so as to increase the momentum to get more people to buy,
hoping their odds would be better.

Don't know the seller, but does anyone think this could be successful?
Nate

1953 set breakup

Comments

  • Is this legal?
  • schr1stschr1st Posts: 1,677 ✭✭
    Sounds like a scam to me. It is an idea that works very well in an actual storefront location (with a good reputation), but not on eBay (plus it's against their rules).
    Who is Rober Maris?
  • I remember this guy trying to sell it as a set on ebay. He even let the board members know that it was up for sale. I believe his author name on the boards is 1953toppscollector. I believe he is legit about it, but it does spell trouble for the guys who end up getting lower cards that they weren't anticipating. It's a gamble, and I too, wonder what happens if he sells only a handful.

    Dan
    "If the Army and the Navy ever look on Heaven's scene, they will find the streets are guarded by United States Marines!" - Marine Corps Hymn
  • stevekstevek Posts: 29,404 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Oh please...of course it's a scam. And of course on some feedback you'll probably windup seeing some positives on some of the key cards...and these positives will be from his own shill accounts or people he knows. Forget about it!
  • larryallen73larryallen73 Posts: 6,067 ✭✭✭
    Scram it's a scan in my opinion.
  • WinPitcherWinPitcher Posts: 27,726 ✭✭✭
    Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm....

    Not sure that it is a scam. Guy is a board member. Benefit of the doubt should be given here. Perhaps 53toppscollector is just being creative? The description points everything out. While I will not be buying I wish him luck. Not all on ebay are scammers, especially those that spell it out as he has done.

    give the guy a break, before we accuse and say that his auction is an absolute scam.


    as for it being against ebay policy..............I have no idea.

    Steve


    edited to add: I would suggest the seller scan every card in the registry that way potential buyers could see them.



    again, best of luck to a fellow registry collector.




    Good for you.
  • stevekstevek Posts: 29,404 ✭✭✭✭✭
    <<< Guy is a board member. >>>

    There are as of today 21,485 board members. Considering all the scams on ebay and that this person is a board member, actually makes me more suspicious. He should know better than to present an auction such as this in which I can't remember ever seeing one that turned out to be legitimate in the true sense of the word.

    The bottom line is that he and all other selling ebayers are selling for MONEY, and to make as much PROFIT as possible - don't ever forget that. A person with a legitimate set such as this would definitely realize more MONEY if each card was sold individually for what it is. However, setting up an auction like this which again in my opinion is a scam, the seller probably has calculated that he will make more PROFIT.

    It most probably is not a "pure" scam whereby nothing or something else will be shipped. I do believe that at least the common cards will be shipped. I don't believe though that anybody this seller doesn't know will receive the most expensive cards.

    The only way, and I do mean the only way to really legitimize an auction such as this would be to have an independent reputable third party of some sort validate that the cards are real, as well as also do the totally random shipping for the seller.

    Perhaps this auction will be the exception and
    "Guy" is presenting an honest auction exactly as the auction states - certainly anything is possible. But I for sure won't be bidding. Anybody else is free to do whatever they want to - it's their choice.

    Note that this is all my opinion based on a lot of experience on ebay and I am simply presenting my point of view. I don't know the seller in any way, shape or form - so don't kill the messenger!

  • WinPitcherWinPitcher Posts: 27,726 ✭✭✭
    Has anyone taken the time to look at this guys feedback yet?

    Some interesting possibilities have been presented. (above)

    I'd like to know how in the world all the cards can be sold withing 1 auction?

    My gut feeling here is that it is not a scam in any sense, but a creative way to sell a REGISTRY SET.

    Yes MONEY and PROFIT is a motive.

    Steve


    edited to add: I will not be buying either
    Good for you.
  • wow...flashback to the 90's..

    When all the store owners used to raffle off the 1992 Topps Gold Baseball singles. They would buy the sets at $150 (yes, they were that high once..lol)....and then put 792 numbers in a hat and charge $1 a number...some dealers went 2 numbers for a dollar. Great profit margin either way...and they used to stand in line to pick numbers...

    It was all the rage to hit the Gold Griffey, Ryan or Thomas...the big hit...Brian Taylor.....lol

    ahhhhhhhh, the good old days....
  • At $165 per card and 274 cards ... the seller will gross $45,210 --- I can only assume this is higher (or at least equal) to what he was trying to sell it as a set for ...

    If the whole thing is legit, I think it's a great idea.

    ... and, i'm even tempted to buy!

    -t
    - Building these sets:
    ------- 1960 Topps Baseball PSA 8+
    ------- 1985 Topps Hockey PSA 9+
  • Is that the SMR for the set? $165 x 274 = $45,210

    Maybe he'll get an offer on the whole set this way too?
    Sig: Looking for a recent smr magazine, Please pm if you have one to recycle. Thank You
  • jayhawkejayhawke Posts: 1,314 ✭✭✭
    Is it real or did someone highjack his account?
  • jradke4jradke4 Posts: 3,573 ✭✭✭
    well there are only 273 lots left. someone jumped in. the seller also seems to be answering questions.
    Packers Fan for Life
    Collecting:
    Brett Favre Master Set
    Favre Ticket Stubs
    Favre TD Reciever Autos
    Football HOF Player/etc. Auto Set
    Football HOF Rc's
  • stevekstevek Posts: 29,404 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I'm running an auction on ebay right now. In a hat are two cards - a 52 common VG and a 52 Mantle VG...for $100 you get a 50/50 chance at the Mantle. Oh bad luck so far with the first 69 buyers...every one got picked the 52 common...but keep trying.
  • tkd7tkd7 Posts: 1,799 ✭✭
    I live about an hour away from the seller. I sent a message to see if I can select my card(s) in person.

    Edited to add: Seller responded that he doesn't do local pickups.
  • I reported it for violating eBay's TOS, but it is still going.
  • Was looking at this. His feedback isnt bad and he has sold some 53's earlier. Two people have purchased thus far. Who will get the Mantle?
    "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum"
    (If you want peace, prepare for War).........Semper Fi
  • The more I look at this, the more I think it is legit.

    I've emailed him to find out exactly how his "random" process works. I want to know how he created the order for the cards going out and whether or not that order is "fixed" from the beginning (i.e. .. if Mantle is assigned to winner #18 initially, will that be maintained no matter what and, secondly, how was it determined that Mantle was assigned slot #18).

    I'll post his response.

    -t
    - Building these sets:
    ------- 1960 Topps Baseball PSA 8+
    ------- 1985 Topps Hockey PSA 9+
  • With listings fees at $2.40 per lot & with 274 lots available he paid $650 plus to list this item on ebay.
  • stevekstevek Posts: 29,404 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I remember my first experience with somebody both running the "drawing" and "handing out" the prizes. The company I worked for as a sales rep did a trade show and advertised a few nice prizes for placing your business card in a container - the winners were supposed to be drawn from the container at random. After the show ended and we were back at the office, my boss opened the container but only to give out the business cards to salespeople for leads. The prizes were automatically given out only to our largest customers whose cards were in the container - LOL.
  • tkd7tkd7 Posts: 1,799 ✭✭
    I once won a free trip to Puerto Rico (airfare + lodging for one week) for putting my business card in a fishbowl, so it happens sometimes.


  • << <i>The more I look at this, the more I think it is legit.

    I've emailed him to find out exactly how his "random" process works. I want to know how he created the order for the cards going out and whether or not that order is "fixed" from the beginning (i.e. .. if Mantle is assigned to winner #18 initially, will that be maintained no matter what and, secondly, how was it determined that Mantle was assigned slot #18).

    I'll post his response.

    -t >>



    The sellers reply to my question:

    The random process was me asking my wife to randomly pick #s out of the hat 274 of them. If Mantle goes 18 he goes 18. It is all a matter of luck. I cannot divulge details but I can tell you the big dollar cards are spread evenly and are not back loaded only. good luck
    - Building these sets:
    ------- 1960 Topps Baseball PSA 8+
    ------- 1985 Topps Hockey PSA 9+
  • stevekstevek Posts: 29,404 ✭✭✭✭✭
    <<< The random process was me asking my wife to randomly pick #s out of the hat 274 of them. >>>


    Man, that's one big hat. - LOL
  • WinPitcherWinPitcher Posts: 27,726 ✭✭✭
    A good way to do this would be to take each card and put one into a small brown lunch bag. tape each bag shut. then take every bag and number them. bag 1 could have card 77 in it and so on. then allow the buyer to choose a number. once a number is sold it is listed as such. The seller does not know what card is in what bag. it would then be left up to the buyers to divulge what they got.

    I have no idea (as i have not done the math) if 165.00 per card is a value or not.

    I have no idea what a 6.71 53 set is valued at either.

    I do think though that selling each card on its own would be better then this random auction.

    Steve
    Good for you.
  • WinPitcherWinPitcher Posts: 27,726 ✭✭✭
    3 people have bought 16 thus far. seems to be working. 1 guy bought a bunch.


    hope our fellow reg. participant does well.


    Steve
    Good for you.
  • I was about to buy a few lots myself ...

    However, after checking ebay prices it looks as though PSA 6's go for around $20 and PSA 8's go for around $80 ... making the $165 "gamble" a lot less attractive.

    I've had a few conversations with the seller however and believe it is 100% legit. He said he'd break it up and sell the cards individually if he doesn't get a big enough response to this auction.

    -t
    - Building these sets:
    ------- 1960 Topps Baseball PSA 8+
    ------- 1985 Topps Hockey PSA 9+
  • natetrooknatetrook Posts: 613 ✭✭✭
    I think it's legit. But there is a lot of wiggle room on what exactly is legit.

    Will all of the cards be mailed out..yes, will all of the money be collected at $165 per card...definite yes.
    But, what are your real chances of getting the Mantle or Mays, I think greater than a 1 in 274 chance.
    There may be some pre-arrangement, wink wink, from friends of the seller to pull a good card.

    How easy would it be to make a few changes, so a buyer of 10 cards would get something big enough so
    not to complain, and a buyer of 1 card, gets a " sorry, try again" card. I think the high dollar cards will go
    to pre-determined bidders, and will not be completely random.


    Nate
  • WinPitcherWinPitcher Posts: 27,726 ✭✭✭
    Stevek addressed how any probs could be eliminated by the use of an inpartial 3rd party doing the actual sending out of the cards.

    that wiggle room is what could possibly hurt this auction process.

    it would be a .... buying 10 lots for 1650.00 and getting 10 psa 6 commons valued at 300.00-400.00 dollars.

    Steve
    Good for you.
  • TabeTabe Posts: 6,151 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Choice and lottery auctions are against Ebay's rules, not sure why this hasn't been pulled yet...

    Tabe
  • stevekstevek Posts: 29,404 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Well he relisted it.



    One of your watched items has been relisted. Don't let it get away again. Bid or Buy It Now!

    1953 Topps Baseball PSA Complete Set Breakup HIGH END!!
    Current price: $169.99
    End date: Saturday, Sep 16, 2006 15:20:18 PDT
    Buy it Now for only: $169.99
    View item | Go to My eBay | View all watched items

    Don't let it get away


    Click to view item and bid or Buy It Now

  • WinPitcherWinPitcher Posts: 27,726 ✭✭✭
    So he basically raised the price?

    Steve


    funny thing is that if you click on the original link it brings you to the original auction and nowhere there does it say item has been relisted. is the guy running 2 auctions? only there does one see that seller has other items.

    SD
    Good for you.
  • WinPitcherWinPitcher Posts: 27,726 ✭✭✭
    Interesting. The 2 top cards are left standing and the price has been raised from 165.00 to 169.00
    that in and of itself would make me shy away.

    Steve
    Good for you.
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