Options
Mintonly let's talk about MBA
olb31
Posts: 4,269 ✭✭✭✭✭
I think you said you can submit cards for "Review" ($10 each) to see which ones have a chance at a sticker. They look at them and tell you to mail the cards that look like they warrant a sticker to them ($20 more). Do I have this correct?
Thanks for your time on this.
Work hard and you will succeed!!
0
Comments
Yes, you can submit for a digital review either immediately (~2 hours for $25) or regularly (2 days for $10). The payment ($10 or $25) is credited towards an in-hand review for a gold, silver or bronze diamond. I have $360 in credits currently at MBA. I can’t wait…so I always choose the quick turnaround. The final charge depends on the value of the card if stickered minus the credit. If not stickered, the charge is $100 minus the credit.
Nothing is guaranteed of course until they see the card in person.....great biz model!
Don’t understand your point. The online review is designed to expedite the process and eliminate cards that won’t pass, and this helps speed up the process when people take submissions in person since there’s no reason to submit a card if it won’t get a label. How many people send cards into PSA thinking they’re gonna get a PSA 8, and imagine if they submitted it online for a review and saw where it was only gonna get a 6 they would hold their submission. This would eliminate a lot of excessive submissions and speed up the process.
so $100 if you get turned down per card?
I had Mike review 6 cards at the National in 2023. 4 of those were sold in April and May HA auctions. HA sends cards out to Mike for review to increase prices realized. They pay for it.
4 of those same cards got stickers. 3 silver and a gold.
I had a question on the card that got a gold when he rejected it at the National. I came back to pick them up and was a bit disappointed…. And I asked about the one and Mike came out of his hut and gave me a detailed explanation.
The slabs looked more expensive with the stickers.
Yes, no sticker is $100 minus $10 or $25 credits per card.
thanks so much for the clarification
I have had the same experience and PSA could take a page out of MBA’s book. Having someone that can and more importantly is willing to engage customers and give explanations is a great value added benefit. Getting a grade you did not expect is one thing, but having them show you the flaw and explain it is a big deal and good business.
That’s fair. It was just odd to me that Mike explained that the card’s flaws were objective technically when I asked as an individual. But later when submitted by HA the same card received a gold. I appreciated the extra $12K realized but it sure seems fishy.
That seems right on brand, actually.
An amended 2025 filing with the Oregon Secretary of State, legally proves Brent Huigens is the Manager at MBA (aka MBA Ventures LLC).
Link to the Public Record: https://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordhtml/10870947
Furthermore, MBA's Primary Place of Business address is listed as 7632 SW Durham Road Tigard, OR.
PWCC's address was 7560 SW Durham Road Tigard, OR. Google maps shows the properties are adjacent.
“Bad company corrupts good character.” 1 Corinthians 15:33
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
Not even a minute do I buy the whole buh buh buh I'm a man-child japery - Me (2025)
Birds of a feather…
I love a redemption story!
Demian Werner was also the last guy in charge of pack authentication when GAI went under. Quite a roster.
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.
^ Yep, The All Flimflam Man Team
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
Not even a minute do I buy the whole buh buh buh I'm a man-child japery - Me (2025)
I've redacted the poster info but you can view it and more at https://net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=372169
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
Not even a minute do I buy the whole buh buh buh I'm a man-child japery - Me (2025)
i feel sorry for those collectors who will be left holding the bag when the MBA wagon eventually overturns. and it will. give this grift 10-15 years (or less) and we will be looking at MBA the same way we look at GAI and PWCC.
the thing is, when a company is headed by questionable/bad actors, the character of said people will always eventually rear its ugly head. they usually will put on a good show. and sometimes for quite awhile, but eventually their true character will shine through.
sadly, when this happens, the end users will be left holding the bag. right now the flipper-bois are pumping MBA prices. it is a big, scary game of hot potato.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
Why feel sorry? This is no different than any other play for pay since the dawn of time. The people who pass on the funds to acquire merchandise do so with presumably the tools necessary to perceive what they are buying. Same as with ANY other 3rd party grader or paid opinion. What’s preceded MBA is part of a cycle which will continue long after we are gone. The only way the shady people referenced here will eventually disappear is via old age or death.
because inevitably, there will be some actual hobbysts (not flippers) who do not know the backstory of either MBA or the founder/upper management and will get left holding the bag when it all goes bad.
and it will...
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
I don’t think “hobbyists” are the target audience. They actually know stuff, that’s why they/we are hobbyists. To hold the bag, first one needs to be able to afford the bag.
No one will be left holding the bag because no one cares. Look at the shilling of MBA here by a few long time posters, all to get some favours when submitting their own cards, or drive interest in the scheme.
This is a hobby that I love but go to any card show and look around, half these guys can’t find time to shower, have never met a carrot, and can barely dress themselves. It has always been this way - I collected as a kid and adults were always try to rip us off.
Very few collectors care about bad actors, the sole focus for a material group of collectors is accumulating stuff and having the best cards. The hobby is full of losers, unfortunate but this has been true for the 40 years I’ve collected and is only getting worse.
TRUTH!
At local/smaller shows, The only thing worse than the stench of the crowd is the halitosis from the dealers. The higher over FMV the dealer prices are is lockstep with how putrid their breath is and how long it lingers in the air like a caustic cloud.
Still unbelievably it's somehow better than the lack of morality & ethics stank emitted by Brent, Demian, Baker, simply for good measure lets add in Probsteen.
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
Not even a minute do I buy the whole buh buh buh I'm a man-child japery - Me (2025)
FMV for collectibles. That idea is a stink you can’t wash off. People can sell their stuff for whatever they want. I’ve spent so much time waiting for a busy dealer who’s dealing with someone who believes they can set the price based on comps. Showing random comps. Fair market value…. So entitled.
There must be some news on MBA. I’m out of pocket but got a text from someone to checkout a tiger woods card. I searched Tiger Woods MBA and it wasn’t the first few links.
He said “at it again”
Keep railing against the term FMV perhaps your thoughts on it will one day gain traction? To spread your opinions on FMV you might be better served bringing them to forums with many more eyeballs like net54 or blowout. If you do please post links, i for own want to see how those conversations go
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
Not even a minute do I buy the whole buh buh buh I'm a man-child japery - Me (2025)
About how many alcoholic beverages would you say you’ve had today?
^ based on your FMV rant, prolly a tad less than you
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
Not even a minute do I buy the whole buh buh buh I'm a man-child japery - Me (2025)
Rant? Are you trolling?
are you?
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
Not even a minute do I buy the whole buh buh buh I'm a man-child japery - Me (2025)
I’m sensing that someone hurt you. Maybe they sold something for too high of a price. Whatever it was I don’t want to debate nothing.
If you have an issue with my theory that people who are selling items like these may set their own prices then let me hear it. I’m sure it’s good and reasonable and will be presented with the integrity you champion.
Please Review my posts in this thread, as Ive never said otherwise refarging seller prices. You made a strawman arg right fron getgo
My comment was that most Dealers at local shows I've attended have putrid halatosis -- and they do!
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
Not even a minute do I buy the whole buh buh buh I'm a man-child japery - Me (2025)
So then are you arguing in agreement? I did not respond to your post. Wouldn’t I need to know I’m debating something and what your position is to make a straw man?
You want to pick a fight it seems but you don’t know what to argue about with me. It’s adorable.
Friendly reminder—let's keep the discussion focused on MBA and avoid personal remarks toward other members. Healthy debate is welcome; personal exchanges tend to derail threads. Thanks.
This is the only thing I could find on the MBA thing.
Junk Wax Hero is his name and he has a lot of "I wear socks with sandals" energy, but does a good job overall.
@craig44
Good comments, as usual.
Part of what makes it all work is the consignors get huge returns and maintain plausible deniability.
It’s not my ethics it’s just my card. What they do and have done to generate these record prices is none of my business and as far as anyone can prove right now what they are doing is not illegal so I am going to make the money while I can. Consign card, get check. Repeat.
People who love the money more than cards are always going to support Mike Baker and Brent Huigens.
People who love the cards more than the money are never going to support Mike Baker and Brent Huigens.
That’s the way of the world. The more willing you are to sacrifice your ethics and morality, the more successful you will be.
This isn’t a fatalist view, I’m not at all bitter, and I don’t begrudge anybody doing what’s best for them.
This is just a very realistic view of the world around us. Look around and tell me I am wrong.
🤔
Curious about the rare, mysterious and beautiful 1951 Wheaties Premium Photos?
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/987963/1951-wheaties-premium-photos-set-registry#latest
"More successful" is subjective.
You are totally right.
Curious about the rare, mysterious and beautiful 1951 Wheaties Premium Photos?
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/987963/1951-wheaties-premium-photos-set-registry#latest
While I will not associate with Brent and therefore will not try and sticker my cards - I do not think it is anti collector to sticker a card. I have been doing some downgrading from 9s to 8s and putting the proceeds into my collection. If anyone else owned MBA I would definitely try to sticker to get more $ to buy more/better cards.
Anyone other then them or Probstein.
It's the singer not the song - Peter Townshend (1972)
Not even a minute do I buy the whole buh buh buh I'm a man-child japery - Me (2025)