Witnessed one heck of a buy today...

Big80s

There's a small monthly card show in the Dallas area, that I like to frequent. Some weeks I set up a table, others I just drop by to support the show. At every show I've attended, there's been at least one person who walks in with a collection they'd like to sell. Most of the time it's either over-priced... or it's a book full of 1988 Donruss. Well, today there was a new dealer at the show. The guy was very friendly and he mentioned that he was selling some items from an estate. As he said this, many dealer's ears perked up. The first dealer to wonder over to his table, asked him how much he wanted for one of the boxes he had full of stuff. The gentleman looked at it and said - how about $20. So the dealer grabbed the box, gave him a $20 and walked back to his own table. I was finally finished setting up and wanted to see what all he had. Just as I got there - someone attending the show asked the gentleman how much he wanted for everything - and he said $300. SOLD I didn't even have a chance to make an offer. The new guy was extremely happy to have sold everything he brought, and got what he was hoping to get. To make a long story longer - the dealer who had been bought-out went on to explain that a collector friend of his had just passed away and apparently had an entire storage unit full of collectibles that his wife was unaware of. After his passing she found out about it and enlisted the gentleman that was at the show to sell everything, however he could. After the gentleman left, I made my way over to the dealer who made the initial $20 purchase, to see what he scored, since I didn't get there in time to buy anything myself.

For $20 he got a box full of a few random hockey items and four sealed hockey wax boxes. I'm not a hockey collector, but I could certainly appreciate these...













I wasn't able to identify the years, but we thought two were early 70's OPC and two were early 80's OPC. Does anyone have any idea what they'd go for? They were still sealed shut with the original (very yellow) factory tape. The collector had them wrapped in plastic for storage.

tsalems1

82/83 83/84 and I think 77/78 and 78/79
Very nice

Big80s

Wow, so he just missed the monster 79-80 box, that's probably stashed somewhere. Thanks for identifying those.

tsalems1

Yes, he missed the BIG one!

Toro

or someone bought that one for $10.....

tsalems1

Odd finding those 70's opc hockey in Texas

Big80s

<< <i>Odd finding those 70's opc hockey in Texas >>



Indeed. But who knows where the collector was from.

Toro

Honestly, this is exactly why I ensure my loved ones generally know what I have and what to do with it. I dont want my brother selling off my 20K+ collection for $300.....although the wife's friend got what they wanted for it...it still leaves me with a icky feeling.....all those dealers and not one tried to assist the guy in some way.....eeeackk...

sportscardtheory

It's a dog eat dog world. Do some damn research before selling collectibles. It would have taken 5 minutes to find out the true value of that stuff. Sheesh.

mlbfan2

Let's just hope there are packs in those boxes, and not something else.

Dboneesq

<< <i>82/83 83/84 and I think 77/78 and 78/79. Very nice >>


Here are Steve's BUY prices on those:
1977/78 OPC Hockey
Wax Box $500

1977/78 OPC WHA Hockey
Wax Box $500

1982/83 OPC Hockey
Wax Box $225

1983/84 OPC Hockey
Wax Box $160


Wow, so he just missed the monster 79-80 box, that's probably stashed somewhere.
Yes ... that year is a White Box.




although the wife's friend got what they wanted for it...it still leaves me with a icky feeling.....all those dealers and not one tried to assist the guy in some way.....eeeackk...
I agree 100%. You don't have to pay FMV, but be fair. They had to know that they had over $2,000.00 worth of stuff. Even if they gave the guy $500.00 - $750.00 they were STILL making a huge profit.

hockeycrazy

What a truly heartwarming story. Here's hoping for some bad karma to the buyer. Really bad karma.

itzagoner

you guys do of course realize that this kind of stuff used to happen all the time, in multiples.

it's nice to find people dealing off stuff they don't claim much knowledge about. that's how the more educated dealers, hobbyists, etc. stay on top of the game.

there should be no shame in finding a cheap score, only if you happen upon it too late and the quicker guy got it. so it goes.

the sad thing is, in the "old days" you could find several people just like that at almost any show. sometimes you didn't even need to get up out of your chair to find the sweet meat.

they would just bring right up to the table and plop it down and start taking offers.

nice score for the hockey hunter, hopefully what's inside is fresh and clean.

grote15

Sure, the seller should/could have done some research before selling this stuff, but it's still sad that he got took like that..

grote15

Honestly, this is exactly why I ensure my loved ones generally know what I have and what to do with it. I dont want my brother selling off my 20K+ collection for $300

+1


The other real possibility in this story is that the "estate" sale story was just that and this guy was basically selling off stolen goods for whatever he could get.

grote15

the dealer who had been bought-out went on to explain that a collector friend of his had just passed away and apparently had an entire storage unit full of collectibles that his wife was unaware of. After his passing she found out about it and enlisted the gentleman that was at the show to sell everything, however he could

After re-reading this part of the post, I'm even more skeptical about this "gentleman's" story...I wouldn't be surprised if someone's collection got stolen in the area..

eyebone

i wonder what the guy who paid 300 got?

eyebone

Foo3112

I remember reading in one of the Becketts from the late 80's that I have laying around somewhere here that a kid (the writer of the letter) was in a card shop and this older lady walked in with a bunch of mid/late 50's cards in really nice condition of players such as Mays, Williams, and all the other greats from the time and that she was looking to sell them for whatever she can get for them. The author of the letter went on to say how the card store owner grabbed a Beckett and took time to show the woman the actual value of the cards and he that he even placed many of them in card protectors and gave her a Beckett for no charge. The lady was extremely grateful and left with all her cards she walked in with.

Dpeck100

1982 Wrestling All Stars B


When miss priced items hit EBAY you hit the Buy It Now as fast as you can and pay. It should be no different in the show world. The seller came in with a price they wanted and they got it.

I see no reason a dealer should have to educate a seller when they have a number in mind. If you spend no time researching your item that is your fault.

The seller should have come in and shopped the items around and would have gotten a better price.

That is why EBAY has leveled the playing field because had this lot been listed in an auction the profit motive of buyers would have narrowed the spread of the purchase price and the fair market value.

stuckinMA

<< <i>
When miss priced items hit EBAY you hit the Buy It Now as fast as you can and pay. It should be no different in the show world. The seller came in with a price they wanted and they got it.

I see no reason a dealer should have to educate a seller when they have a number in mind. If you spend no time researching your item that is your fault.

>>



...and I can almost guarantee you are first in line at customer service after you purchased an item from a store and find out it's on sale the week later or cheaper somewhere else.

I understand people wanting to or needing to make money but there is also integrity involved in situations like this.

Dpeck100

StuckinMA,

You must not read the boards much.

Big80s

Sorry to mention this story on the boards. I was not trying to start some sort of moral debate.

Dpeck100

There is no need to apologize this was a great story to share.

People see things differently and it is no big deal.

Frozencaribou

The 78-79 OPC box would sell for $700-900. The 77-78 OPC for slightly less. The 82-83 OPC goes for $350 or so. The 83-84 OPC goes for slightly less.

OPC was available in the States through mail order companies, so it doesn't surprise me that some would show up in Texas or any other state.

I couldn't in good conscience pay $20 for all four of those boxes without a discussion with the seller. I don't judge those that would. We all are wired differently.

ShreveBo

Awesome that you would post this without even knowing how you could've bought this stuff instead of letting it get away.

You must suck at being a dealer, I need to visit your tables.

jimmyg

This type of ethics question comes up every now and again both here and on the coin boards (interestingly, never on the stamp boards) and it always comes down to where your personal morality line is crossed.

If the fact pattern were changed a bit, and it was a six-year-old selling his grandfather's collection for food money, most on this board would say it's morally repugnant to take advantage of his lack of knowledge. Likewise, if it were a savvy dealer who knew what he had and decided on what he felt was a fair price, most on this board would say it's morally defensible to buy the items and turn a profit.

It's somewhere between the six year-old and the savvy dealer that we draw our line.

Some here would say that if it's a 21 year-old looking for college money, it's ok to take advantage of him because he's an adult and should have done his own research.

Some (many) would say that they fully understand that they're taking advantage of someone's lack of knowledge, but it's not their job to inform the seller.

The question then (rhetorical as I'm not trying to further derail your thread), is where do you draw your line?

Unfortunately, I can never leave a rhetorical question unanswered: For my part, if any part of the transaction includes the thought that I'm 'taking advantage' of someone, then I'm on the wrong side of my morality line.

A majority of people will likely disagree with me and they may have bigger houses and nicer cars and even sleep better than me at night, but in the end, I would not be able to sleep well. And I'm the one who has to live with the consequences of my actions.

deaddead

<< <i>I remember reading in one of the Becketts from the late 80's that I have laying around somewhere here that a kid (the writer of the letter) was in a card shop and this older lady walked in with a bunch of mid/late 50's cards in really nice condition of players such as Mays, Williams, and all the other greats from the time and that she was looking to sell them for whatever she can get for them. The author of the letter went on to say how the card store owner grabbed a Beckett and took time to show the woman the actual value of the cards and he that he even placed many of them in card protectors and gave her a Beckett for no charge. The lady was extremely grateful and left with all her cards she walked in with. >>


sounds like an after school tv special!!!! if you can score a deal like that grab it while you can,and as quick as you can for as little as you can, b/c if not the next person will!!! peace

zep33

Toro

I think making a FAIR offer is key here. Knowing the background story that the cards are being sold on behalf of a widow and looking at the way the cards were taken care of......I would do the right thing.

Toro

As for the old lady with fifties stuff, you'd be surprised the interest an old lady may have. My late aunt found her childrens childhood collection containing 73 and 74 Topps baseball. She borrowed my Beckett and hand collated both sets. I still have them to this day, the same way she wrapped them in saran wrap. haha

Mickey71

Why didn't the dealer sell them for more? This story does not make sense to me. Person gives the boxes to a dealer to sell them and the dealer sells those 4 boxes for $20???????Doesn't make sense.

I know nothing about my Mantle collection so I bring them to Andy Madec and he sells them for $20.

Am I missing something to this story?

Big80s

<< <i>Why didn't the dealer sell them for more? This story does not make sense to me. Person gives the boxes to a dealer to sell them and the dealer sells those 4 boxes for $20???????Doesn't make sense.

I know nothing about my Mantle collection so I bring them to Andy Madec and he sells them for $20.

Am I missing something to this story? >>



The guy selling them was not a "dealer" - he just got a table at the show to sell these items.

The point of this entire post was to talk about seeing a couple of cool wax boxes that I'd never seen for sale before. Not to highlight someone paying less than they normally would have for some cards.

1954

Jeff,
Sorry that you have some people on here who don't want to contribute anything positive. I actually live in Dallas and wished I was there to make that find. Wished I knew where this coward ShreveBo is from. If anyone knows this POS, please PM me.

Thanks,
Shane

Mickey71

Jeff,
Sorry. I misread what you wrote....that's why I was questioning it. Thanks for clearing it up for me.

Mickey71

Maurice

<< <i>Wished I knew where this coward ShreveBo is from. >>



I would assume Shreveport-Bossier, LA.

Big80s

I take responsibility for this thread going weird - I shouldn't have mentioned the story behind it. I know I personally enjoy hearing the story behind any purchases that are out of the ordinary. I can see both sides' opinion on the ethics involved behind the purchase - and I won't get into my personal opinion on that. I should have just shared the pictures of the boxes and called it a day. THAT was the point of this thread.

Thank you to everyone who included the information on the items - that was all very helpful.

Toro

Wow, this got out of hand quickly. It went from sharing to a debate to "let's meet after school". Of course this would turn into a moral debate with the back story.....if this was the guys personal collection and that's what he wanted for it, fine. Otherwise, with the story, twenty to fifty percent of the perceived value, I would say it was a great deal and consider it fair factoring everything in. I'm also interested in what the $300 bought. We all do things differently in some way or another and live with it. Lastly, I just wanted to post to get to the next page to avoid the cat!

Toro

One more thing, OP, thanks for sharing. It's good to debate about things like this. I understand you really didn't have anything to do with it.

Toro

Should you want to post more pictures, please feel free to do so.

Big80s

If anybody is upset about anything - it should be about Zep's cat.

Those were all of the pictures I took. I love opening old wax, so that was the material I was most interested in seeing. I don't know what all was bought for $300, because the buyer boxed it all up immediately after paying. Keep in mind - I also had my own table to tend to, and this was the very beginning of the show.

Toro

Yeah, Zep's cat is ridiculous. I've seen your videos and I understand your joy in the old stuff. I've actually busted some fifties cellos myself and numerous 70's wax and cello packs. Anyhow, if you get a chance to talk to that dealer next time, let us know what he got. Curiousity is getting the best of me. It would be terrible if it was all late eighties early nineties stuff or would it?

Next page!

Big80s

Will do. And again - the person who bought the table out (after the initial $20 purchase) was just someone who showed up to the show early - not a dealer. But he's a regular face at these shows, so I'll ask him next time I see him.

sportscardtheory

How does the guy who paid $20 for these boxes not automatically buy everything else or even ask about it.

Stone193

Hiya Jeff

Thanx for sharing. Wish I wasn't so lazy and attend a show now and again.

Dboneesq

Jeff ... thanks for sharing. Always nice to see what is still out there.

itzagoner

<< <i>How does the guy who paid $20 for these boxes not automatically buy everything else or even ask about it. >>



because he was running away too fast.

telephoto1

<< <i>i wonder what the guy who paid 300 got?

eyebone >>



Probably a knock on his door from law enforcement, wanting the stolen cards back. The deal sounds fishy. They know enough to set up at a show but they don't know enough to do any research, especially given all the other dealers around them...where they could simply walk around and get a feel for what similar items were bringing?