Rising Pops on Vintage Sets...what is the source??

PaulMaul

I've become very interested in the 1972 baseball set lately. Over the last ten years, many commons that used to be low pop have seen populations increase markedly. It seems like 4SC still trots out another batch of PSA 9 and 10 commons from this (and other) sets every week.

My question is what the heck is the source of all this product? There's no way it is coming from unopened anymore, so what gives?

dennis07

Good question. I've always wondered the same thing with the 1970 commons 4sc continues to put out. Where the heck do they get them from?

travis t

Vending.

GoDodgersFan

I know they are aggressive in buying sets/collections. It is amazing the amount of inventory they can post on any given week.

DanBessette

They're always buying complete sets and then cherry picking singles to grade

ugaskidawg

For all intents and purposes, 4SCs model is pretty simple and sound. 2-3 high grade cards from a vending box or set pays for their whole purchase. Then everything else is just gravy. Then they have subsidiaries that unload some of their raw inventory or sell off in large lots to other sellers.

PaulMaul

I don't think the price on 1972 vending boxes makes this feasible with PSA 9 commons selling for $10 and 10s often going for $50 or less. I also don't know where they're getting raw sets loaded with 9/10 quality cards. Don't see how it adds up, but I guess it must.

baz518

I think 4SC is sitting on inventory they've had for quite a while, and it is vending, so they still have much upside to gain by opening.

grote15

I don't think they are buying vending boxes of 1972 Topps baseball (at present, anyway) as much as lots of high grade singles and sets. Look at the kind of high grade quality of OPC cards that Tom Salem is able to acquire on buying trips and multiply that by the wider availability of Topps vs OPC and all the connections and sources they must have and have established through the years. I also think Brad is correct in that they have quite a bit of stock, too.

travis t

I should clarify the vending angle, as it's my belief there are plenty of high grade singles and lots out there from the period. For early 70s, one name which immediately comes to mind is Joe Del Grippo, who was a large distributor at least as far back as late 80s/early 90s from my memory, and probably longer than that. Not sure if he still deals, but I did find a link to his association with SGC some 6 years ago. There are also others who maintain a stash of cards, no longer in the boxes, picked through a million times, and still bearing treasures depending on the mood of the marketplace.

BLUEJAYWAY

Senior collectors may be starting to liquidate due to age/health related reasons. Or have passed on and their heirs are unloading the collections. Or they saw the prices rising and want to get out before any bubbles that are forming, burst. For the ones "sitting on" high grade vintage, graded or otherwise, it would only stand to reason they would dole out their gems in a slow, methodical liquidation manner. To keep the price up by not flooding the market. I have a few friends who are getting on in years who have a plethora of vintage who will soon have their collections enter the market. All ungraded, but surely in grade condition. And once passing any grades criteria, these type of liquidations will surely impact the pop. totals, whether graded by them or whomever purchases the collections.

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bobmoat

Thank you, The Crisser, for bringing us back to Earth. We'd detach without you!

seebelow

from what I've heard and based on history ....theyll be among the first at the national buying up high grade sets etc....viola..theres their new inventory to submit from...repeat at other shows....and I'm sure they get a discounted submission rate based on volume so that makes their business model more feasible.

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DanBessette

Stan, your avatar is HOT.