What is up with Burbank Sportscards?

MrVintage · April 7, 2009 8:32AM

I have been looking for a 99 Bowman Best atomic refractor Ken Griffey Jr. for quite some time and I finally found one on ebay from Burbank Sportscards. The card list for 15.00-40.00 and they have their BIN set at $246.00!!! I emailed them to see if it was some type of mistake on the price because the card only lists for 40.00 on the high side and they told me that their price was "firm". Are you kidding me? They want to sell a 40 dollar card for 200 dollars over book price? Does anyone else see a problem with this?

VitoCo1972 · April 7, 2009 8:34AM

They don't need to cut deals. I go there frequently when I have money b/c they have a big selection of stuff to rip. They make a fortune selling $0.40 commons. They have tens of milions of cards. I've seen their stockroom - it's more like a warehouse.

MrVintage · April 7, 2009 8:36AM

Yeah but where do they come up with 246.00 on a cards that lists for 40.00? That seems a little outrageous!!! Its not just that card either.

itzagoner · April 7, 2009 8:37AM

they learned from Levi & P.T. Barnum.

fattymacs · April 7, 2009 8:41AM

I've purchased commons from them, they usually have the goods. Like any of the big dealers, they set their price and so be it. I have no problem with someone asking way too much, I only pay what I want or I keep looking.

pandrews · April 7, 2009 9:07AM

we all know that book value doesnt really mean much..

i dont know anything about the card, but you said you've been looking for the card awhile, have there been others on ebay? how rare is it? what do they usually sell for?..

otwcards · April 7, 2009 9:09AM

At least they didn't raise the price after you inquired about it...

MrVintage · April 7, 2009 9:10AM

It sells for 40-50 when it comes across ebay. They don't come up very often though. I can promise you that nobody will pay 246.00 for that card.

DavidPuddy · April 7, 2009 9:14AM

The fact that you are upset about their price, tells me that someone, someday will pay $246 for the card.

storm888 · April 7, 2009 9:17AM

<< It sells for 40-50 when it comes across ebay. They don't come up very often though. I can promise you that nobody will pay 246.00 for that card. >>

//////////////////

Actually, I guess, it's prolly safer to say, "Nobody has paid that much for that card, yet."

Of the hundreds of lessons I've learned on EBAY, the most important one might be:

"Eventually, there will be a buyer for my item at my price."

lawnmowerman · April 7, 2009 9:24AM

Burbank sucks!

All they do is clog up my searches with 100's of auctions with either no pic or just a stock Beckett pic.

zep33 · April 7, 2009 9:35AM

<< Burbank sucks!

All they do is clog up my searches with 100's of auctions with either no pic or just a stock Beckett pic. >>

yeah, and I bet you couldn't even look at the card they would like to rape you on

MrVintage · April 7, 2009 9:37AM

I have been tracking that set for about 3 years now and I personally sold a BGS 9.5 Matt Holliday from that set(when he was hot 2 years ago) for $130.00. They currently have a raw Holliday with no picture of it for $202.00. Take my word for it, they have all of their atomic refractors priced at about 4-5X what they actually sell for. If they stick to what they told me and their prices are "firm" I can guarantee you that those cards will continue to be in their inventory. Over the last 3 years I have put together over 25% of that set and I've never bought a single card from them. I was simply wondering if anyone had dealt with them before and it sounds like their are other people that feel the same way that I do about them.

GoDodgersFan · April 7, 2009 9:58AM

I'd wait until one comes up on ebay or you get lucky at a show.

I have no problem paying $20.00 or even 2x book for something I want, but I do
have a limit.

pandrews · April 7, 2009 10:04AM

<< It sells for 40-50 when it comes across ebay. They don't come up very often though. I can promise you that nobody will pay 246.00 for that card. >>

if i were you, i'd grab the next one that comes up on ebay for $40-$50 then..

stown · April 7, 2009 10:10AM

<< 

<< It sells for 40-50 when it comes across ebay. They don't come up very often though. I can promise you that nobody will pay 246.00 for that card. >>

if i were you, i'd grab the next one that comes up on ebay for $40-$50 then.. >>

Well that would be just too darn easy and where's the fun in that?!?

ElToroLoco · April 7, 2009 10:16AM

It's a strange thing with Burbank, in a sense they are great for collectors because they offer such a large selection of cards. They are also great for collectors because of what their BIN prices affect the "book price". Your example is a little extreme but I have seen players, such as Juan Gonzalez, 90's inserts sell for $10-$30 each. It does suck to have to sift through no picture BIN's but I've learned to use the search function a bit better.

jackstraw · April 7, 2009 10:26AM

They have some first day Griffeys for dumb money that have sat there for at least 3 years.

MrVintage · April 7, 2009 10:28AM

I've only seen the card come across once in the past year and I missed it. I'd love to pay 40-50 if one comes across. If you guys know where I can find one please let me know because you guys think that would be so easy. The people that are frustrated with their ridiculous prices and no pictures when you try to search for something on Ebay know what I'm talking about.

stown · April 7, 2009 11:08AM

<< I've only seen the card come across once in the past year and I missed it. I'd love to pay 40-50 if one comes across. If you guys know where I can find one please let me know because you guys think that would be so easy. The people that are frustrated with their ridiculous prices and no pictures when you try to search for something on Ebay know what I'm talking about. >>

You do realize that you're preaching to the choir, right?

tunahead08 · April 7, 2009 11:16AM

I agree with you that their prices are crazy high. There's a few Ripken's that they list that I want, but they are all overpriced. I will be patient and wait and see if a better deal comes along

jackstraw · April 7, 2009 11:29AM

On most cards I will wait but on stuff I know doesn't come around often I am a sucker for the card and pay their prices.

tunahead08 · April 7, 2009 11:39AM

I guess the biggest thing for me is their lack of pictures, there's no way I'm going to pay $100+ for a card that I haven't seen!

MrVintage · April 7, 2009 11:51AM

There cards are way overpriced even if they were PSA 10's in most cases. I can't believe people pay their prices without even seeing a picture of the card. They must be way more trusting than I am.

Jeff85fan · April 7, 2009 11:56AM

<< There cards are way overpriced even if they were PSA 10's in most cases. I can't believe people pay their prices without even seeing a picture of the card. They must be way more trusting than I am. >>

People pay them because they always have the card...and there are people whose patience is never a match for their desire to have the card now. The huge selection of commons at big markups is where I presume they make a ton of their money, and the high end cards are more for advertising than anything else I feel.

It sucks to have a card in view that you want but to have the price so far out of wack you won't buy it...but like everyone else has said just wait for your time and save the $200.

jackstraw · April 7, 2009 11:59AM

As a player collector I can see why people pay for stuff. There is so many cards I am glad I pulled the trigger on and vice versa.
I wish I had pulled the trigger on a 93 Cooperstown Dufex promo a few years back.

VitoCo1972 · April 7, 2009 12:09PM

Well, I hate buying cards sight-unseen too...but Rob at Burbank Sportscards should work for a grading company - he is a very accurate grader. I wouldn't hesitate to trust his grading without seeing the card. My fiance bought a 75 Jim Rice rookie for her dad out of his EXMT 75 stack and it graded out as an 8 (she only was grading it to protect it for him).

And no i don't work for them or anything, but I find Rob and his dad to be nice guys. Knowledgable about cards and as long as you're fine with paying higher than eBay prices for stuff, they are reliable. If I can, I go to eBay. If I need something immediately, I go to them. It's their business model and it works for them.

tedh111 · April 7, 2009 12:43PM

According to terapeak, Burbank Sportscards has done $168,215 in the last 3 months just on ebay. With sales like that, why change your business model?

CDsNuts · April 7, 2009 12:53PM

I think their prices are fair.

joestalin · April 7, 2009 12:57PM

The funny thing with this post is, you are right, their cards are very overpriced, but the irony is that the Griffey probably isn't one of them! Late 90's cards
of Grif are VERY popluar. I wouldn't be surprised if the card was gone this time next year.

Kevin

BunchOBull · April 7, 2009 1:03PM

If I really want a card and can't find it anywhere else...Burbank has it for me. For that reason alone, they can charge what they want...now, if you start purchasing in the $1000-1500 range, their "firm" prices will become soft and they'll work with you a bit more.

MrVintage · April 7, 2009 1:41PM

As I've stated before I have been collecting this particular set for 3 years now and I have a pretty good idea of what the market price is for these cards. Burbank is ridiculously high on these cards and they will not sell at the prices that they have them at. If their prices are "firm" the cards will remain "firmly" in their hands....period.

VitoCo1972 · April 7, 2009 1:48PM

<< As I've stated before I have been collecting this particular set for 3 years now and I have a pretty good idea of what the market price is for these cards. Burbank is ridiculously high on these cards and they will not sell at the prices that they have them at. If their prices are "firm" the cards will remain "firmly" in their hands....period. >>

what you have to understand is simply that they don't care. Why should they? it's obviously eating you up...but rest assured they they aren't worried about you at all.

BunchOBull · April 7, 2009 2:00PM

Again, they've told me if I spend $1000 or so, they'll give me a price break...

diamondman · April 7, 2009 2:02PM

<< Yeah but where do they come up with 246.00 on a cards that lists for 40.00? That seems a little outrageous!!! Its not just that card either. >>

Maybe doctor beckett is wrong. if dealers didn't charge more than what the book says it is worth cards would never go up in value!
246.00 is a reach and half, but then I remember customers coming in with the beckett going why are you charging over beckett for card xyz and my response was hey I'm paying 150% of beckett you got any u want to sell duh no I was wanting to buy at 50 % of beckett so next month I could come and sell it back to you at 80 % of beckett. JMHO

Allen · April 7, 2009 2:21PM

I think some of the rare inserts that they have priced hi are from full sets. They list the whole set crazy I guess with hopes that someone building it will give in and buy the 10 they need.

MrVintage · April 7, 2009 3:35PM

I wouldn't say that its eating me up. I've been working on this set patiently for 3 years and I have yet to buy one single card from Burbanks and I probably never will. Part of the fun of building a tough set like this is searching for the best deals that you can find. They are free to charge what they want, all I am saying is in this particular set they are way overpriced and I don't think that anyone is going to pay their prices. They have no idea who I am so I doubt they care what I think, but I am entitled to my opinion. Just because they have done X amount of sales in the past three months doesn't impress me enough that I am going to overpay for some of the cards they have. Just because they "always" have everything doesn't mean that I have to buy it. I would venture to say that I have more 99 atomic refractors than anyone other than them and I will complete this set without any of their cards.

DavidPuddy · April 7, 2009 11:02PM

First: Beckett prices are largely irrelevant, and very often don't even come close to "Market" price.

Second: MrVintage, as you have stated you are educated in the wold of Atomic Refractors, and as such YOU are not the type of buyer that would buy the Griffey for $246.80.
The type of buyer that buys that cards will probably be a huge Griffey collector that has deep pockets and no patience.
Or maybe a 23 year old that just got his first job out of college. He remembers trying to pull that Griffey back in 99' when he was 13. Boy, he really wants that card. He's been waiting for another one to become available on Ebay for months and he just can't wait anymore. He just got his IRS return and with the Microsoft discount by his side, he hits "Buy It Now"

Just sayin'. Someone will buy that card, for that price.

WinPitcher · April 7, 2009 11:08PM

Sooner or later someone will overpay that is for sure.

Steve

DavidPuddy · April 7, 2009 11:11PM

I should have mentioned,,,
Shame on Burbank for not putting a scan on a $246 card.
I understand that they have a HUGE inventory, but if a card is listed for over $50 you have got to take the time to put up a scan.
JMO.

jackstraw · April 7, 2009 11:25PM

<< I should have mentioned,,,
Shame on Burbank for not putting a scan on a $246 card.
I understand that they have a HUGE inventory, but if a card is listed for over $50 you have got to take the time to put up a scan.
JMO. >>

I agree but they probably don't care.

darkhorse9 · April 7, 2009 11:40PM

I will not do business with Burbank Sportcards again. Twice I have been "burned" by them and their customer service was so apathetic and unresponsive that I've given up.

Failure to post scans is a big thing, but when the cards they list are also improperly identified, that's another. Failing to mention writing on a card. Listing a card that had been trimmed but made no mention of the trimming. That's two strikes that happened to me. When I wrote to them about the issues it took several days before I got a "whatever....if you want to return it you can do that" response.

I'm done with them.

WinPitcher · April 7, 2009 11:44PM

That's the business plan, if you don't like it return it. I wonder how many people
don't just return it.

Steve

minnesotahusker · April 8, 2009 2:19AM

<< Burbank sucks!

All they do is clog up my searches with 100's of auctions with either no pic or just a stock Beckett pic. >>

IIRC, there is a way to exclude a seller on your searches. I usually do that for 4SC when I do searches.

pandrews · April 8, 2009 3:03AM

<< 

<< Burbank sucks!

All they do is clog up my searches with 100's of auctions with either no pic or just a stock Beckett pic. >>

IIRC, there is a way to exclude a seller on your searches. I usually do that for 4SC when I do searches. >>

if you recall correctly, you usually do that?..

MrVintage · April 8, 2009 3:36AM

This has been an interesting thread so far, I really didn't anticipate this many people voicing their opinions on this topic. I love to hear other peoples thoughts on sellers like Burbanks. Although I don't agree with everything that has been said so far, that is part of the fun of it. I'm just glad that we can discuss things like this on here without anyone getting too upset at one another because after all everyone is entitled to his or hers own opinion. Lets hear some more guys.

mtcards · April 8, 2009 5:13AM

I knew this would happen when Sergeant Murtaugh's cat went into the card business.

IchiroDeported · April 8, 2009 6:58AM

"I wouldn't say that its eating me up. I've been working on this set patiently for 3 years and I have yet to buy one single card from Burbanks and I probably never will."

you have 61 posts and i think half of them are in this thread saying the same thing lol.

thanks for the entertainment.

MrVintage · April 8, 2009 7:15AM

I started this post so it shouldn't be a surprise that I have been actively posting. This topic doesn't have anything to do with me. I was simply asking for some opinions on Burbanks. I think that their prices are too high....thats pretty much all i'm saying. I respect other peoples opinions on matters and I was wanting to see how others feel about them. It's nothing personal.

minnesotahusker · April 8, 2009 7:42AM

<< 
if you recall correctly, you usually do that?.. >>

If there's anything I've learned about these boards it's that there are a lot of smart arses on here

And/or many current or retired English teachers.

MrVintage · April 8, 2009 8:27AM

I don't let it bother me. I have posted alot the last two days because I am off work on Tues and Weds. I'm pretty sure that is what these boards are here for anyways.

What is up with Burbank Sportscards?

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