The 2013 CU Flip Challenge!
ChiSoxCardboard
Posts: 190 ✭✭
I recently read through Nate's quest to flip his way to a ’52 Mantle, and was astounded by his success (though he chose not to use the money as he originally intended). I try to flip to help pay for my personal collection, because my family’s budget really doesn’t allow for me to put new money into cards. But I have rarely enjoyed the kind of significant profit margins that Nate did. I think my limited time, limited expertise, and limited scope (just vintage baseball) makes it difficult. Anyway, I got to thinking: I would like to know who at CU is the most talented flipper. I know it’s not me, but to figure out who it is, I propose the 2013 CU Flip Challenge.
Here are the rules:
1) Each contestant will start with $100 of their own money on June 16th and use it for four months to flip their way to profit. The contestants may flip sports collectibles of any kind (not just cards), but cannot stray into other types of collectibles.
2) Each contestant must post a description of each transaction in this thread. Purchases should be described before the item is flipped, and then the sale should be described after it’s flipped. However, the contestants cannot use dollar figures to describe the transaction…they can only use qualitative descriptors, i.e., “got a great deal on…” or “made quite a profit on…”
3) With input from board members, I will arbitrate specific disputes/questions about the rules during the course of the Challenge.
4) On October 16th, each contestant will post the following information about each item flipped: a) date purchased, b) where purchased (eBay, online forum, show, etc), c) date sold, d) where it was sold, and e) any fees associated with the item (eBay, PayPal, entry to a show, PSA grading, etc). Every item should have already been described by each contestant in this thread, but without the quantitative specifics. Unsold items will not be counted; only cash in hand on October 16th.
5) Contestants and board members will have four days to challenge the veracity of any of the information posted by the contestants; unless there is a real dispute about the numbers, I will announce a winner on Sunday, October 20th.
6) As a prize, the two non-winning contestants agree in advance to send 25% of their profit to the winner via PayPal gift (assuming each has profit). So, for instance, if a non-winning contestant turned $100 into $200 over the course of four months, he/she would send $25 to the winner.
Here’s how the contestants will be chosen:
1) Any poster who joined the boards more than six months ago may nominate himself or herself to be a contestant.
2) Any poster may vote for up to three nominated persons. Posters can vote in one post or can put three single votes in three different posts. I will not vote, but will tally the votes one week from today.
3) The three nominees with the most votes will be the contestants. If the board enjoys the Challenge, we’ll do it again next year. We’ll choose two new contestants to compete against the reigning champion (if he/she wants to do it again).
One additional comment: I think it will be fun for board members if it’s not clear who’s winning throughout the contest. That’s why I don’t want contestants to describe the transactions quantitatively. That way board members can independently try to figure out who’s doing the best without dollar figures to back it up, and the contestants won’t feel that they’re either too far ahead or too far behind as the end nears. I’m aware that any transaction accomplished on eBay can be searched for once described by the contestant, but I’m thinking that enough transactions will be accomplished off eBay to obscure the standings even if anyone cares to try and track each eBay transaction. If people disagree that this method will be most enjoyable, speak up. I’m open to suggestions.
Seems like everyone enjoys flip threads like Nate's, so hopefully adding a little competition and prize money will make this all the more interesting. Let the nominations and votes begin! The contestants will be announced and the Challenge will begin one week from today on June 16th!
Brad
Here are the rules:
1) Each contestant will start with $100 of their own money on June 16th and use it for four months to flip their way to profit. The contestants may flip sports collectibles of any kind (not just cards), but cannot stray into other types of collectibles.
2) Each contestant must post a description of each transaction in this thread. Purchases should be described before the item is flipped, and then the sale should be described after it’s flipped. However, the contestants cannot use dollar figures to describe the transaction…they can only use qualitative descriptors, i.e., “got a great deal on…” or “made quite a profit on…”
3) With input from board members, I will arbitrate specific disputes/questions about the rules during the course of the Challenge.
4) On October 16th, each contestant will post the following information about each item flipped: a) date purchased, b) where purchased (eBay, online forum, show, etc), c) date sold, d) where it was sold, and e) any fees associated with the item (eBay, PayPal, entry to a show, PSA grading, etc). Every item should have already been described by each contestant in this thread, but without the quantitative specifics. Unsold items will not be counted; only cash in hand on October 16th.
5) Contestants and board members will have four days to challenge the veracity of any of the information posted by the contestants; unless there is a real dispute about the numbers, I will announce a winner on Sunday, October 20th.
6) As a prize, the two non-winning contestants agree in advance to send 25% of their profit to the winner via PayPal gift (assuming each has profit). So, for instance, if a non-winning contestant turned $100 into $200 over the course of four months, he/she would send $25 to the winner.
Here’s how the contestants will be chosen:
1) Any poster who joined the boards more than six months ago may nominate himself or herself to be a contestant.
2) Any poster may vote for up to three nominated persons. Posters can vote in one post or can put three single votes in three different posts. I will not vote, but will tally the votes one week from today.
3) The three nominees with the most votes will be the contestants. If the board enjoys the Challenge, we’ll do it again next year. We’ll choose two new contestants to compete against the reigning champion (if he/she wants to do it again).
One additional comment: I think it will be fun for board members if it’s not clear who’s winning throughout the contest. That’s why I don’t want contestants to describe the transactions quantitatively. That way board members can independently try to figure out who’s doing the best without dollar figures to back it up, and the contestants won’t feel that they’re either too far ahead or too far behind as the end nears. I’m aware that any transaction accomplished on eBay can be searched for once described by the contestant, but I’m thinking that enough transactions will be accomplished off eBay to obscure the standings even if anyone cares to try and track each eBay transaction. If people disagree that this method will be most enjoyable, speak up. I’m open to suggestions.
Seems like everyone enjoys flip threads like Nate's, so hopefully adding a little competition and prize money will make this all the more interesting. Let the nominations and votes begin! The contestants will be announced and the Challenge will begin one week from today on June 16th!
Brad
Always looking for vintage White Sox cards at reasonable prices.
0
Comments
LOL, I thought this was a cool idea. Not so much?