IS Levi's pricey stuff clogging up your ebay searches?

RipublicaninMass · October 25, 2006 7:48AM

My GOD! I have never seen such over priced stuff, was it 10 cent listing day or something??? CLogging up my searches for everything!!! UGH!

lostdart58 · October 25, 2006 7:54AM

.20 listing day.....

TheCARDKid · October 25, 2006 8:12AM

Here's something scary...

Levi's got 10,000 cards for sale, and there's less than 60,000 cards in total on ebay, pre 1980!! LOL. Man...

Overrated · October 25, 2006 8:21AM

Way over priced, he charges over smr! buys under smr? does anybody get a fair deal?

McKinnly · October 25, 2006 8:30AM

<< does anybody get a fair deal? >>

He does.

Griffins · October 25, 2006 8:51AM

He pays very fairly when you sell to him, and offers impeccable service when buying. He's also got cards that no one else does. Need a '58 Topps Herrer error? Either wait for Mastro to offer one, or go to Levi and pick out one of the 6 he has.
Mike Wheat dumps his listings on cheap listing day, Levi does, and just about anyone else. The good thing is I often find cards on days like this I usually don't see, so there are opportunities.

tedh111 · October 25, 2006 8:53AM

Anyone who tries to Rip on Levi has never done business with him....

JackWESQ · October 25, 2006 10:09AM

Henry Ford once said, that he is not in the business of making cars; but that he is in the business of making money. With that said, has anyone ever wondered how much Mr. Bleam would take in if he liquidated everything with $0.01 starting bids and no reserves? Would $1,000,000.00 be out of the question? And with that $1,000,000.00, it wouldn't be that difficult to make a 5% or even 10% return ($50,000.00 or $100,000.00).

For those sellers with truly high end cards, e.g. $10,000.00+ or more, is there a point where holding onto a card to wait for the right time to maximize profit is outweighed by lost interest and/or alternative investment for that money?

For example, Mr. Bleam has a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle PSA 8 OC with a BIN price of $37,500.00 and Mr. Novella has a 1916 M101-5 The Sporting News Babe Ruth PSA 7 with a starting bid of $75,000.00. I don't think either card will see those prices. How long do you hold onto those cards before you say to yourself that it's time to let them go? 6 months? 1 year? 2 years? 5 years? What could you have done with that money in the interim? Of course, if holding onto to a large inventory and not making any money/losing money affects your life all of 0%, then the answer would be forever, e.g. people like Charles Merkel and Marshall Fogel and perhaps even Mr. Bleam and Mr. Novella.

I just looked at Mr. Bleam's registered sets. While there is some overlap, that is still truly an amazing collection. Maybe I should revise my estimate to $5 million. Or even $10 million.

/s/ JackWESQ

jmbkb4 · October 25, 2006 10:11AM

<< Anyone who tries to Rip on Levi has never done business with him.... >>

I bought my PSA 8 1990 Frank Thomas NNOF for $450 delivered from him. He shipped Priority Mail w/ Signature Confirmation in a box the very next day.

Last one sold on Bay for double that.

'nuff said.

julen23 · October 25, 2006 10:13AM

caveat emptor.....

levi's selection is obviously for the more upscale side of collecting. newbies can/are taken advantage of b/c they don't know the difference bet/ quality psa 8 versus minimal psa 8 card, both which he would probably price at premiums.

i bought a loop from him, but nothing else, so i can't complain.

Julen

jmbkb4 · October 25, 2006 10:30AM

And so begins the obligatory SEMI-ANNUAL "LEVI'S PRICES ARE TOO HIGH" WHINE THREAD.

RipublicaninMass · October 25, 2006 11:20AM

<< And so begins the obligatory SEMI-ANNUAL "LEVI'S PRICES ARE TOO HIGH" WHINE THREAD. >>

At least we KNOW his cards aren't "trimmed"

I wasnt complaining about his prices, just that it is silly and it is clogging up my searches. If he was a bit more reasonable on his prices, they would sell. The cards I was looking at were a GOOD 50% over the last closing auction price, but then again these cards dont some up too often. Sorry JMB I didn't see any refractors, so at least your ur whining will be minimum.

grote15 · October 25, 2006 11:25AM

I also dislike the listing day specials. From a buyer's perspective, there's way too much overpriced auctions to wade through. Some of these items have been relisted since the day of the flood.

stevek · October 25, 2006 12:13PM

I hate that crap. Makes searching a pain in the neck.

Stone193 · October 25, 2006 12:18PM

I just think he has a cool name.

pandrews · October 25, 2006 12:32PM

i was very happy in my dealing with Levi..

tkd7 · October 25, 2006 1:23PM

I've also been happy dealing with Levi through the mail and in person.

Allen · October 25, 2006 6:31PM

<< . I don't think either card will see those prices. How long do you hold onto those cards before you say to yourself that it's time to let them go? 6 months? 1 year? 2 years? 5 years? What could you have done with that money in the interim? >>

They have much much less in those cards. It is worth it for them to hold until someone bites. There markup is huge, especially when everything is very overpriced. Some sellers should throw in some KY with their cards.

rbeaton · October 25, 2006 7:25PM

<< Way over priced, he charges over smr! buys under smr? >>

Isn't this how any business that makes money works?

Robert

Stingray · October 25, 2006 7:51PM

Levi likes his money, he makes a lot they say!

Oh wait that is Levon!!

GlynRParson · October 25, 2006 9:01PM

You are paying for his knowledge, professionalism, and selection. I dont know if he still does, but he used to guarantee that whatever you paid for a vintage card he would give you that back in trade for that card forever. so you really couldnt lose. this is a plus i have not heard of many other dealers offering.
Plus those who say he doesnt pay well were probably offering him something he has multiples of in the same grade. Try offering him something rarer like a 1958 Herrer error or a 1968 white letter MCCormick and see what he offers you. And i have never seen a dealer pay more for 1952 high numbers especially in collector grade.
Finally there are a number of dealers that buy cards from him at every show so i guess he must still have some bargains. Plus it shows he doesnt get any preferrential treatment like ive heard others on this board say.

bishop · October 25, 2006 9:11PM

He does not take paypal, but when I buy from him, on or off e-bay, he sends what I order before he even gets my payment. Great customer service and good product.

carew4me · October 25, 2006 9:28PM

I dont think the poin tof the thread was
a: What kind of person he?
b: Does he have good inventory?

I think the thread was IS Levi's pricey stuff clogging up your ebay searches?

The answer is yes. I see a lot of low grade cards at outrageous prices in my Carew searches
that have been listed by this dealer.

shagrotn77 · October 25, 2006 10:02PM

<< I dont think the poin tof the thread was
a: What kind of person he?
b: Does he have good inventory?

I think the thread was IS Levi's pricey stuff clogging up your ebay searches?

The answer is yes. I see a lot of low grade cards at outrageous prices in my Carew searches
that have been listed by this dealer. >>

Amen brother.

packman · October 25, 2006 10:24PM

Although Levi and Jim may have high prices and clog up the eBay search on .20 listing days, they do have the difficult cards to find and great customer service. They are very informative and have helped me in my collecting endeavors. In addition, they pay very strong prices for cards. They are one of my favorite dealers.

koby · October 25, 2006 10:26PM

Is Levi's pricey stuff clogging up your ebay searches?

YES

Does Levi charge outrageously high prices for his cards?

YES

Does Levi care what we think?

No. he has been overpricing his cards for a long time.

carew4me · October 25, 2006 10:33PM

Just because he has some Lamborghini's on the lot, doesn't mean
I am going to pay him $40,000 for a Kia.

ajw · October 26, 2006 12:35AM

Some may not like the volume of listings, but I really do. I love looking through them. It's like a musuem.

Check out this page.

He's got over 16000 cards listed. Wow.

Too bad he doesn't have any Will Clark cards...

stevek · October 26, 2006 12:50AM

So Levi is good to deal with? - that is all well and good, I really mean that. But him and others clogging up ebay is a pain in the neck. Makes searching for what I search for very tiring.

tkd7 · October 26, 2006 12:57AM

I understand the rant, but if he has the cards and puts them on ebay, its his business to set the selling price.

If he cut his prices in half, would his cards be clogging up ebay? Probably not, because people would jump at them. So aren't you really complaining about his prices?

packman · October 26, 2006 12:57AM

Levi and other dealers are just taking advantage of the eBay listing promotion. The problem is that eBay should either eliminate the $.20 listing day or limit the number of auctions one can have on $.20 listing day. However, that will probably never happen. I wonder if one can form a search for cards by sellers other then x. This way you could avoid dealers that dump their cards during that week.

downgoesfrazier · October 26, 2006 1:05AM

Feel the love. Levi charges outrageous prices--we all understand this. However, he's just tryin' to make a buck in a business he loves. You don't have to buy, of course. It's a little rough on .20 listing days, but harmless.

dgf

phreakydancin · October 26, 2006 1:41AM

<< So Levi is good to deal with? - that is all well and good, I really mean that. But him and others clogging up ebay is a pain in the neck. Makes searching for what I search for very tiring. >>

Use the Advanced Search page to exclude whatever sellers you want.

Bunker · October 26, 2006 2:36AM

I just bought a T206 from him today. I went to add it in my registry and the card was already registered. I called him on the phone and before we hung up he deleted the number so I could add it to my set.

I had some other questions and he was very courteous, helpful and polite. It was my first time dealing with him but it won't be my last

Now to answer the OP question...Yes

Stone193 · October 26, 2006 2:56AM

Well, if ya feel even slightly screwed dealing with Levi - at least ya got something in the end to show for it.

Often times I get slightly screwed and have nothing to show for it.

mike

packCollector · October 26, 2006 3:46AM

it is a pain for the searches but at least there is stuff out there . every time he does this , he sells cards that normally would not be available for collectors so someone is happy. there are pluses and minuses to 20 cent days , I enjoy the pluses because I usually find something I have benn looking for that I normally would not and I usually sell stuff that I normally would not list

rbdjr1 · October 26, 2006 9:54PM

Wow! 1978 Topps #60 Thurman Munson PSA 9

$ 30.00 .............................. SMR
$175.00 ............................. Levi's Price

Link to Levi's Munson Auction! Wow!

Maybe Levi priced this as a PSA 10 by mistake? (i.e., SMR for a PSA 10 is around 200 bucks or so!)

Now this is a bit pricey, don't u think?

rd

softparade · October 26, 2006 10:18PM

yep, that Munson is just outrageous. His pricing does not bother me though. If any one is stupid enough to pay alot of these prices then good for him! And I bet that there are enough dummies who do!

262Runner · October 26, 2006 11:02PM

I have purchased 10 cards or so for my sets. I did pay a bit more than I would have liked, however he had the cards in inventory so it was worth it to me to complete my sets for the extra money.

I imagine he will sell a small percentage of the cards he has listed. At these prices, I am sure he does quite well even after paying 16,000 listings fees @ .20..... About $3200 or so.

262

WinPitcher · October 26, 2006 11:22PM

Wow some of you guys seem to think that the SMR is the ultimate for pricing. I wonder how many of you have sold cards for 3 or 4 or even up to 10 times smr and then came here and boasted about it. next time you sell a card that perhaps fetches more then smr you should refund the buyer the difference?

Remm the old saying "buy it from the book" if you feel his (or anyones) prices are so hi, you can always buy it from the book.

Steve

koby · October 26, 2006 11:23PM

Levi probably enjoys the attention that he gets when he lists in this fashion, even though most of the responses are usually negative.

tedh111 · October 26, 2006 11:25PM

Well, i guess there are quite a few buyers who like his prices, since he has sold 125+ cards since the listing day started...

koby · October 26, 2006 11:27PM

Are you saying that Levi's prices are in line with usual ebay prices?

tedh111 · October 26, 2006 11:50PM

No, but what does that matter? He is selling cards, he is happy, buyers are happy.

sagard · October 27, 2006 12:28AM

707 prices their cards at what they believe they can sell them for. This doesn't mean you can't find some of the cards cheaper via and Ebay auction. They know that 95%-98% of Ebay auctions end at the lowest realistic price and they list BINs at their price. They are obviously extremely successful.

Witness $20K in sales yesterday.

benderbroeth · October 27, 2006 1:22AM

ty cobb

is this a reasonble price?

baird34 · October 27, 2006 1:28AM

Even if I did over pay on a few cards, all I know is that I purchased them yesterday and my doorbell just rang with a package waiting to be signed for from Levi. Not too many sellers you can say that about on ebay.

JrMacdaddy · October 27, 2006 2:20AM

<< ty cobb is this a reasonble price? >>

It is if someone buys it.

Griffins · October 27, 2006 2:28AM

The last Cobb 4 sold on ebay for 2024.
Levi's price is less than 25% higher- seems pretty typical for a direct sale from a dealer online, I've seen much worse at shows.

Stone193 · October 27, 2006 2:36AM

<< The last Cobb 4 sold on ebay for 2024.
Levi's price is less than 25% higher- seems pretty typical for a direct sale from a dealer online, I've seen much worse at shows. >>

Agree Anthony.

He's running a business - not a person who's occasionally flipping the castoff of an upgrade.

He's got plenty of expenses - his SCD budget alone is in the 40K range.

This was not the intent of the original thread but I have to concur.

mike

Axtell · October 27, 2006 5:12AM

So if you don't like his prices, it's pretty simple - don't buy from him.

But if you are in need of a rare card, you can either (a) pay the premium and get it from him, or (b) sit and need the card and spend more time and energy searching for it.

If people are buying the cards, they are obviously happy with the pricing.

I can't help but think this is rampant jealousy at work here.

IS Levi's pricey stuff clogging up your ebay searches?

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