What kind of strategy is this?

SOM

1957 high series common
This seller has hundreds just like this, too. Isn't this an expensive way to do business?

Very, very strange...

Boopotts

Hey- at least they insure the insurance.

Allen

It is the 707 cards strategy, list high and hope someone needs it bad or is uneducated and just buys the first one they see. Anytime I see something by or about them I think of this video and wonder what they paid for this group.

1952 Topps buy

Dboneesq

<< <i>It is the 707 cards strategy, list high and hope someone needs it bad or is uneducated and just buys the first one they see. Anytime I see something by or about them I think of this video and wonder what they paid for this group. 1952 Topps buy >>



Allen ... LINK does NOT work for me.

thehallmark

Looking at the scans of some of the cards I was hunting for, I'd say the seller has overgraded each card by about one number grade. I'd be curious to find out if buyers can confirm the seller's listed grades are close, slightly off, or way off.

dytch2220

<< <i>Hey- at least they insure the insurance. >>



Lol. That was the first thing I noticed as well.

otwcards

Such a nice price for an EX/MT to NM card.

dennis07

I've heard the seller in question referred to as Dean's Museum.

divecchia

<< <i>

<< <i>It is the 707 cards strategy, list high and hope someone needs it bad or is uneducated and just buys the first one they see. Anytime I see something by or about them I think of this video and wonder what they paid for this group. 1952 Topps buy >>



Allen ... LINK does NOT work for me. >>



Link to Dean's video

Donato

WalterSobchak

Somehow, he has 220 sales within the last month. Evidently there are plenty of collectors out there who are perfectly happy to buy cards at 3-10X the usual price.

I don't get it, and I never will get it- but hey, it's not my money. Go nuts, folks.

bbuckner22

Nothing to add here, just check out my tag line.

SOM

I agree, buckner.

707 has toned it down. They actually have reasonably priced cards for sale. And their raw grading is reasonable, certainly by ebay standards.

They seem to be joining the real world as of late.

itzagoner

<< <i>Somehow, he has 220 sales within the last month. >>



and until it strikes 0, he has a business model. and clientele paying Lamborghini money for Fiats.

mtcards

He can either sell 200 cards at his price or 5000 card at going price. Seems like there are enough "fish in the sea" to support his model.

Stingray

<< <i>I agree, buckner.

707 has toned it down. They actually have reasonably priced cards for sale. And their raw grading is reasonable, certainly by ebay standards.

They seem to be joining the real world as of late. >>



And I have noticed that they have added Best Offer on their actions. Wonder how that has worked out?

gemint

<< <i>

<< <i>Somehow, he has 220 sales within the last month. >>



and until it strikes 0, he has a business model. and clientele paying Lamborghini money for Fiats. >>



Case in point, you can buy this card for $30 already graded PSA 7.

1961 EX Common with Bid

Maybe I'll subscribe to his model. I've got thousands of EX to NM commons that I'd be happy to sell at his prices.

itzagoner

sure. why not. when you walk into a fine art store, if you do, is there a flurry of business going down? maybe not, but if one person walks in and plunks down 100K for a watercolor, that might make their year.

here's another thought: some folks are willing to go to a resort and pay a princely sum for a bottle of water, when they could go to a local store and pay less for a case of the same bottled water. why? because they discovered the water was available when they wanted it most and price comparison wasn't an option. at the precise moment they were most thirsty.

SidePocket

He also discontinued putting Dean's Cards in his listing titles so you no longer can put "-dean" in your search to avoid wasting your time viewing his stuff.

coachnip13

<< <i>

here's another thought: some folks are willing to go to a resort and pay a princely sum for a bottle of water, when they could go to a local store and pay less for a case of the same bottled water. why? because they discovered the water was available when they wanted it most and price comparison wasn't an option. at the precise moment they were most thirsty. >>



So price comparison isn't an option on eBay?

itzagoner

<< <i>

<< <i>

here's another thought: some folks are willing to go to a resort and pay a princely sum for a bottle of water, when they could go to a local store and pay less for a case of the same bottled water. why? because they discovered the water was available when they wanted it most and price comparison wasn't an option. at the precise moment they were most thirsty. >>



So price comparison isn't an option on eBay? >>



of course it is. it's not an option to those who are not concerned about it, or just too lazy to make a better effort.

coachnip13

<< <i>and until it strikes 0, he has a business model. and clientele paying Lamborghini money for Fiats. >>




Every business with one sale has a "business model"?

coachnip13

<< <i>

of course it is. it's not an option to those who are not concerned about it, or just too lazy to make a better effort. >>



Right, but being stuck in a secluded resort or a professional stadium and having no choice but to pay their prices is about six galaxies away from finding a card on eBay and not searching for other examples of the same card. The analogy just doesn't work here.

itzagoner

<< <i>

<< <i>and until it strikes 0, he has a business model. and clientele paying Lamborghini money for Fiats. >>




Every business with one sale has a "business model"? >>



maybe some, so yeah. case in point. Frank McCourt sold the Dodgers. once. it could be the only time he'll ever sell a baseball team.

itzagoner

<< <i>

<< <i>

of course it is. it's not an option to those who are not concerned about it, or just too lazy to make a better effort. >>



Right, but being stuck in a secluded resort or a professional stadium and having no choice but to pay their prices is about six galaxies away from finding a card on eBay and not searching for other examples of the same card. The analogy just doesn't work here. >>



you might be overanalyzing. i'm trying to make a comparison. not to be extremes. ok, secluded resort or baseball stadium, sure good point.

my point is that there are a myriad number of ways to find a better solution than to just pay the max. but, for some people it doesn't matter. they're happy to pay the max. they don't care to know that a better option is available. it doesn't register to them. all they want is a quick solution. and then move on to the next thing.

coachnip13

<< <i>

maybe some, so yeah. case in point. Frank McCourt sold the Dodgers. once. it could be the only time he'll ever sell a baseball team. >>




In the list of worst internet analogies I've ever seen, you've managed to make it on the list twice in one thread.

coachnip13

<< <i>

you might be overanalyzing. i'm trying to make a comparison. not to be extremes. ok, secluded resort or baseball stadium, sure good point.

my point is that there are a myriad number of ways to find a better solution than to just pay the max. but, for some people it doesn't matter. they're happy to pay the max. they don't care to know that a better option is available. it doesn't register to them. all they want is a quick solution. and then move on to the next thing. >>



And that's great for the seller if you exist in a market or industry that has such clientele. But if you have 100,000 items for sale and manage to get rid of 300 <$25 items per month, then you're probably not understanding your buyers and you're leaving a whole lot of revenue on the table.

itzagoner

oh for Christonapieceoftoastsakes i winked. [insert picture of facepalming nun]

3BoyzTrading

220 sales in the last month with multiple values and I didn't see any $1 cards. Seems like a solid business to me.

itzagoner

you'll need to check with the analysis expert. i'm going for a swim.

coachnip13

<< <i>220 sales in the last month with multiple values and I didn't see any $1 cards. Seems like a solid business to me. >>



Try this: calculate the investment required in order to accumulate, manage, and list 100,000 cards, then tell me how it's a solid business to get rid of 300 cards a month. At that rate they will get rid of their cards in just under 28 years.

coachnip13

<< <i>you'll need to check with the analysis expert. i'm going for a swim. >>



It doesn't take an expert. It takes a modicum of business sense. If Wal-Mart buys 100,000 items and sells ten a day, they will go under.

mlbfan2

<< <i>And that's great for the seller if you exist in a market or industry that has such clientele. But if you have 100,000 items for sale and manage to get rid of 300 <$25 items per month, then you're probably not understanding your buyers and you're leaving a whole lot of revenue on the table. >>



All less than $25, eh? How about the prices of these cards/sets they've sold in the past 3 months?

$4,250.00
$2,873.00
$1,601.74
$1,315.74
$985.75
$897.60
$888.99

And, that's just on ebay. They also have a website.

mtcards

Plus, remember, maybe people who sell arent trying to get RID of their cards Thats the one argument I see on here all the time when it comes to BINS and Best Offers. Take a Ken Griffey UD Rookie. Someone has a price of $40 on it, yeah, thats a little high, but maybe they would rather KEEP the card than sell it at $39.99. Not everyone who sells on ebay is doing it to get rid of something. Sure, I think DC is a nut for the prices he asks, but seriously, so is paying $10 for a beer at a ball game, so is paying $100 to get good seats AT the ball game. Its all relevant. IF, and thats a big IF, DC was losing money doing it this way, they would stop doing it, but like I said earlier, if you have 100 of the same card, you could either sell ONE at a hundred or all 100 of them at a buck. Either way you end up with the same money, just less work.

JoeBanzai

Here's a news flash for all those confused by sellers like this. They aren't desperate to sell their items, and they want the most they can get for them. It's SMART to sell this way as opposed to dropping the price to "get rid" of them.

When MOST of us offer items for sale/auction we want to move them right away and price them to generate the most bids or a quick sale, this is NOT the way to maximize profits.

WalterSobchak

I'm not the slightest bit confused by sellers like this. It's the BUYERS who baffle me.

SOM

<< <i>He also discontinued putting Dean's Cards in his listing titles so you no longer can put "-dean" in your search to avoid wasting your time viewing his stuff. >>


Absolutely, side. Jesus, is it aggravating searching for cards now that he quit putting his name in the titles.

handyman

I think its a way to get people to offer them items for sale. They think hey this guy is asking a crazy price. I wonder what he will pay me for my 1988 donruss set? Kind of thing.
I think it works for 707 in that area.
But he will offer you 15-20 of his asking prices.

60sfan

<< <i>Plus, remember, maybe people who sell arent trying to get RID of their cards Thats the one argument I see on here all the time when it comes to BINS and Best Offers. Take a Ken Griffey UD Rookie. Someone has a price of $40 on it, yeah, thats a little high, but maybe they would rather KEEP the card than sell it at $39.99. Not everyone who sells on ebay is doing it to get rid of something. Sure, I think DC is a nut for the prices he asks, but seriously, so is paying $10 for a beer at a ball game, so is paying $100 to get good seats AT the ball game. Its all relevant. IF, and thats a big IF, DC was losing money doing it this way, they would stop doing it, but like I said earlier, if you have 100 of the same card, you could either sell ONE at a hundred or all 100 of them at a buck. Either way you end up with the same money, just less work. >>



If they would "rather KEEP the card than sell it" why did they list it on ebay?

coachnip13

<< <i>

All less than $25, eh? How about the prices of these cards/sets they've sold in the past 3 months?

$4,250.00
$2,873.00
$1,601.74
$1,315.74
$985.75
$897.60
$888.99

And, that's just on ebay. They also have a website. >>



Again, how about if someone adds up the investment it takes to acquire, manage, and list 100,000 items.

mlbfan2

<< <i>

<< <i>

All less than $25, eh? How about the prices of these cards/sets they've sold in the past 3 months?

$4,250.00
$2,873.00
$1,601.74
$1,315.74
$985.75
$897.60
$888.99

And, that's just on ebay. They also have a website. >>



Again, how about if someone adds up the investment it takes to acquire, manage, and list 100,000 items. >>



Since none of us know how much they sell on their website, the answer to that wouldn't mean anything. They've been in business for over a decade, so they're probably doing OK.

mtcards

<< <i>

If they would "rather KEEP the card than sell it" why did they list it on ebay? >>




I didnt say that they would rather keep the card as opposed to selling it. I meant they would rather KEEP the card if the best they could get was $39.99, but would sell it at $40. I have a lot of cards I would sell if the price was right, but would also KEEP them if the price wasnt. Most sellers are like that. If they wanted to sell the card and didnt care what it sold for, they would start it at 99 cents.

Mickey71

With a store subscription and listing 100,000 items all the time.....I'm thinking EBAY is like advertising for Dean. Selling is whatever to guys like that. I would think he already has a bunch of money. Although, I never understood something about this....someone said that it would take 28 years to sell at the rate they're going- It's often been said that you can't take it with you when you die. This applies for sure with cards. Most families could care less about cards. Most of his cards he will not sell in 28 thousand years. He can charge what he wants; but his prices are downright crazy. If I absolutely did not want to sell....I would not even waste the time to list $10 cards at $110. I think there comes a point when this is not worth your time. His profit on EBAY I would think is minimal at best. Like I said...."ADVERTISING".