<< <i>Hopefully he is announcing that he will offer a consignment service or something similar and not that his warehouse burned down and he is moving to San Diego to focus on golf and selling Ken Griffey Jr memorabilia. Robb >>
HAHAHA Good one Robb. (Did someone try this before? LOL)
STAY HEALTHY!
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
<< <i>They are going to join the Rick and Brent Oligopoly! Nah! Retail Store - I don't think I was hallucinating that I saw it on their facebook page at one time.
Retail Store - Final Answer! >>
I think they should hire SNUFFY to do there website design and graphics by the way Snuffy likes his chicken spicy if you haven't heard
Interested in 60's and 70's psa and raw star and hof cards
Retail Brick & Mortar Store...with the news of lack of space in the warehouse, the only thing they are missing is a retail floor space. So they will likely move into a larger location and "open new doors".
Website sales ebay sales PSA authentication Box authentication (likely start to grade "from sealed case" like GAI used to do) Retail store-it's all they are missing.
It's still 2013, right? We haven't traveled back to 1989, have we? I can understand a larger warehouse but what does he gain from opening a brick and mortar store? So he can get all the local walk-in business?
If they already have a large warehouse, why not set aside some square footage for local customers? Get a few dealer licenses from Topps and Panini to expand into modern stuff. Now you have retail space and can do those cool case break/box break things as well. Heck, I just broke $2K in modern crap the last month. I wouldn't mind spending that at BBCE. Check YouTube, Chris of Cards Infinity...his store is as large as studio apartment. His income I'm sure is huge per square foot. It's how you use the space that counts.
Steve's on record as not stocking modern because of the volatility in price so I don't see him opening a store so he can do group breaks. Maybe he changed his mind, we'll see.
My guess is going into the modern market to go head to head with the other big guys. Old unopened is drying up so a business change needs to happen to continue. I don't see retail. No need for that. Maybe into gaming cards (seems to be the in thing right now).
My guess in order
1. Modern cards business 2. Taking a less active role and turning more over to Reed. 3. Buying out someone's inventory
Cory ---------------------- Working on: Football 1973 Topps PSA 8+ (99.81%) 1976 Topps PSA 9+ (36.36%) 1977 Topps PSA 9+ (100%)
<< <i>Maybe he was somehow able to lure Wes Spece away from Probstein >>
Rumors circulating it is Reed for Spece and a buyback case of 79 Topps. Steve couldn't sign Spece straight up so Probstein got him with lots of promises and worked in a trade clause. Reed really wanted to move to Jersey and Steve needed to cut payroll and wanted Spece's rookie salary for the next five years. This has to be an industry first if true.
<< <i>It's still 2013, right? We haven't traveled back to 1989, have we? I can understand a larger warehouse but what does he gain from opening a brick and mortar store? So he can get all the local walk-in business? >>
My thoughts exactly. I'll be shocked if he's opening a retail establishment. It doesn't make a bit of sense.
Yo I don't know what this is all about, but easy does it, BBCE. Darren Sproles literally cost me a fantasy W two nights ago when he fumbled near the goal line with two minutes left in the game, and I followed that up the next morning by dropping my one and only toothbrush on the ground, so I've clearly hit my quota with regards to devastation this week.
So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
Since PSA can't justify the costs, Steve is investing his own funds to build out a PSA approved rack pack holder. All racks will be sent directly to Steve for authentication and encapsulation, and he will keep 75% of all submission costs for rack packs!
<< <i>Since PSA can't justify the costs, Steve is investing his own funds to build out a PSA approved rack pack holder. All racks will be sent directly to Steve for authentication and encapsulation, and he will keep 75% of all submission costs for rack packs! >>
<< <i>Thats what happend to Mark Murphy the Baseball Card kid >>
He's probably still searching for his lost credibility after touting worthless penny stocks and Xmas rack packs. >>
Wow! That name brings me back to the 80s when I was a HS'er. Sorry I don't know the full story as I was out of the hobby for a while. Can you give me the cliff note version of what happened? He went full bore into Griffey during the UD mass printing?
<< <i>Thats what happend to Mark Murphy the Baseball Card kid >>
He's probably still searching for his lost credibility after touting worthless penny stocks and Xmas rack packs. >>
Wow! That name brings me back to the 80s when I was a HS'er. Sorry I don't know the full story as I was out of the hobby for a while. Can you give me the cliff note version of what happened? He went full bore into Griffey during the UD mass printing? >>
Cliffs Notes:
Murphy was the unopened king in the 90s and early 2000s. Even bigger than Steve Hart at the time.
He, along with Paul Wright, were the pack graders first hired by GAI.
Murphy was based in CT (IIRC) but had a huge fire at one point in which much of his inventory was destroyed or damaged, including a number of packs that had been submitted to GAI for grading.
Murphy relocated to CA and continued selling unopened, but not to the extent as he did previously. He also returned to GAI (after having left the company) for a second stint as pack grader, IIRC.
Over time, he became less and less involved with unopened product, selling mainly pop culture memorabilai items from old television series and a lot of Griffey GU memorabilia. As I recall, he went all in on Griffey stuff in the late 90s and early 2000s, and there were a couple of pictures of him and Griffey together on his old web site.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
<< <i>I'd love if he ran an unopened auction house >>
This would be my guess, too..but not just for unopened.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
I know a lot of you think that a brick n mortar store doesn't make sense, but that's my guess. They could then venture more into modern directly with topps, panini and ud
They had a retail store at one time and closed it.
This is from their web site in 2003.
Welcome to the Baseball Card Exchange! We have just closed our retail store. Over the past 2 weeks we moved all of our inventory to a new warehouse/office complex in Munster, Indiana. It will take a few more weeks to get the transition period over with. At that point our website will have a new look with all of our PSA graded material, all our vintage unopened material along with new unopened material. You will be able to order on-line with a secure server using your credit card too! Please allow us time to make all the necessary changes, as this is a lot more work than I thought it would be. Thanks, Steve and Mike, Baseball Card Exchange.Text
I'd have to question the idea of opening a retail shop. He does so much business without one, and in his line of work a brick and mortar store would be much more a negative than a positive.
Pressed for a guess I'd have to say it seems to be along the lines of being an authentication expert for sealed material for PSA.
<< <i>Murphy was the unopened king in the 90s and early 2000s. Even bigger than Steve Hart at the time. >>
No disrespect meant towards Steve but he wasn't really even on the map when Murphy was king. >>
I meant he was bigger than Steve is now, though Steve had a pretty good business by the early 2000s.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
My guess, based on the fact that they chose to include the day they opened in the beginning of that blurb - it sounds like retirement or selling the business.
Opening a store is not logical for their type of business (they run the risk of jumping the shark). Steve has the best reputation in the business. I did a big deal with him yesterday and he remains such a class act. With that being said I hope his announcement is they open an auction house or they officially certify product in some fashion. It would make sense to send him unopened material to get the BBCE stamp of approval. After all, what's that worth? I'd pay a premium for his cert and so would any smart collector/investor.
I agree with the above, opening a store doesn't make sense. From my experience a retail store in this industry can be a full time job paying minimum wage (if that). Steve is smart enough, talented enough and reputable enough to make his time worth more than sitting in a store. I think he is retiring.
Comments
Buying Vintage, all sports.
Buying Woody Hayes, Les Horvath, Vic Janowicz, and Jesse Owens autographed items
<< <i>Hopefully he is announcing that he will offer a consignment service or something similar and not that his warehouse burned down and he is moving to San Diego to focus on golf and selling Ken Griffey Jr memorabilia. Robb >>
HAHAHA Good one Robb. (Did someone try this before? LOL)
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
<< <i>They are going to join the Rick and Brent Oligopoly! Nah! Retail Store - I don't think I was hallucinating that I saw it on their facebook page at one time.
Retail Store - Final Answer! >>
I think they should hire SNUFFY to do there website design and graphics
by the way Snuffy likes his chicken spicy if you haven't heard
Have those already been sold? I never even saw those for sale?
Website sales
ebay sales
PSA authentication
Box authentication (likely start to grade "from sealed case" like GAI used to do)
Retail store-it's all they are missing.
<< <i>Thats what happend to Mark Murphy the Baseball Card kid >>
He's probably still searching for his lost credibility after touting worthless penny stocks and Xmas rack packs.
Always looking for Topps Salesman Samples, pre '51 unopened packs, E90-2, E91a, N690 Kalamazoo Bats, and T204 Square Frame Ramly's
My guess in order
1. Modern cards business
2. Taking a less active role and turning more over to Reed.
3. Buying out someone's inventory
----------------------
Working on:
Football
1973 Topps PSA 8+ (99.81%)
1976 Topps PSA 9+ (36.36%)
1977 Topps PSA 9+ (100%)
Baseball
1938 Goudey (56.25%)
1951 Topps Redbacks PSA 8 (100%)
1952 Bowman PSA 7+ (63.10%)
1953 Topps PSA 5+ (91.24%)
1973 Topps PSA 8+ (70.76%)
1985 Fleer PSA 10 (54.85%)
<< <i>Maybe he was somehow able to lure Wes Spece away from Probstein >>
Rumors circulating it is Reed for Spece and a buyback case of 79 Topps. Steve couldn't sign Spece straight up so Probstein got him with lots of promises and worked in a trade clause. Reed really wanted to move to Jersey and Steve needed to cut payroll and wanted Spece's rookie salary for the next five years. This has to be an industry first if true.
Bosox1976
<< <i>It's still 2013, right? We haven't traveled back to 1989, have we? I can understand a larger warehouse but what does he gain from opening a brick and mortar store? So he can get all the local walk-in business? >>
My thoughts exactly. I'll be shocked if he's opening a retail establishment. It doesn't make a bit of sense.
ebay id Duffs_Dugout
My Ebay Auctions
you'll never be able to outrun a bad diet
<< <i>Steve is actually Felicia? >>
<< <i>Since PSA can't justify the costs, Steve is investing his own funds to build out a PSA approved rack pack holder. All racks will be sent directly to Steve for authentication and encapsulation, and he will keep 75% of all submission costs for rack packs! >>
+1
<< <i>
<< <i>Thats what happend to Mark Murphy the Baseball Card kid >>
He's probably still searching for his lost credibility after touting worthless penny stocks and Xmas rack packs. >>
Wow! That name brings me back to the 80s when I was a HS'er. Sorry I don't know the full story as I was out of the hobby for a while. Can you give me the cliff note version of what happened? He went full bore into Griffey during the UD mass printing?
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>Thats what happend to Mark Murphy the Baseball Card kid >>
He's probably still searching for his lost credibility after touting worthless penny stocks and Xmas rack packs. >>
Wow! That name brings me back to the 80s when I was a HS'er. Sorry I don't know the full story as I was out of the hobby for a while. Can you give me the cliff note version of what happened? He went full bore into Griffey during the UD mass printing? >>
Cliffs Notes:
Murphy was the unopened king in the 90s and early 2000s. Even bigger than Steve Hart at the time.
He, along with Paul Wright, were the pack graders first hired by GAI.
Murphy was based in CT (IIRC) but had a huge fire at one point in which much of his inventory was destroyed or damaged, including a number of packs that had been submitted to GAI for grading.
Murphy relocated to CA and continued selling unopened, but not to the extent as he did previously. He also returned to GAI (after having left the company) for a second stint as pack grader, IIRC.
Over time, he became less and less involved with unopened product, selling mainly pop culture memorabilai items from old television series and a lot of Griffey GU memorabilia. As I recall, he went all in on Griffey stuff in the late 90s and early 2000s, and there were a couple of pictures of him and Griffey together on his old web site.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
Shane
<< <i>Just got off the phone with Steve. He is getting ready to announce a partnership with WIWAG. >>
MY GOLD TYPE SET https://pcgs.com/setregistry/type-sets/complete-type-sets/gold-type-set-12-piece-circulation-strikes-1839-1933/publishedset/321940
I am guessing Steve is going to introduce a BBCE pack/box grading/authentication service.
<< <i>I'd love if he ran an unopened auction house >>
This would be my guess, too..but not just for unopened.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
<< <i>Murphy was the unopened king in the 90s and early 2000s. Even bigger than Steve Hart at the time. >>
No disrespect meant towards Steve but he wasn't really even on the map when Murphy was king.
<< <i>
<< <i>Murphy was the unopened king in the 90s and early 2000s. Even bigger than Steve Hart at the time. >>
No disrespect meant towards Steve but he wasn't really even on the map when Murphy was king. >>
Is this a Jack Handey type Deep Thought ?
Bowman Baseball -1948-1955
Fleer Baseball-1923, 1959-2007
Al
This is from their web site in 2003.
Welcome to the Baseball Card Exchange! We have just closed our retail store. Over the past 2 weeks we moved all of our inventory to a new warehouse/office complex in Munster, Indiana. It will take a few more weeks to get the transition period over with. At that point our website will have a new look with all of our PSA graded material, all our vintage unopened material along with new unopened material. You will be able to order on-line with a secure server using your credit card too! Please allow us time to make all the necessary changes, as this is a lot more work than I thought it would be. Thanks, Steve and Mike, Baseball Card Exchange.Text
Pressed for a guess I'd have to say it seems to be along the lines of being an authentication expert for sealed material for PSA.
<< <i>
<< <i>Murphy was the unopened king in the 90s and early 2000s. Even bigger than Steve Hart at the time. >>
No disrespect meant towards Steve but he wasn't really even on the map when Murphy was king. >>
I meant he was bigger than Steve is now, though Steve had a pretty good business by the early 2000s.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
ON ITS WAY TO NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92658
ON ITS WAY TO NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92658
He's taking over for Bud Selig as Commissioner of MLB.
wpkoughan@yahoo.com
Collecting 1970-1979 PSA 9 & 10 Baseball Cards
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." Dr. Seuss