WBC GU Items thru Highland Mint...

[Murph4Prez]

I was given the contact info for a gentleman at the Highland Mint in regards to GU WBC items. I wanted to pick up some Murph items from the WBC, and was surprised at the price for the nameplate and BP jersey.

The nameplate for Murph was a price of $500 and the BP jersey was $750.

Does this sound like a fair price for these items?

Thanks for any and all information/dialogue!

[rdeversole]

Re: WBC GU Items thru Highland Mint...

Does this sound like a fair price for these items?

No, unless you feel that they are worth that much to you.

[Murph4Prez]

Re: WBC GU Items thru Highland Mint...

Good point... Have you seen some of the WBC items hit MLB auctions? Or is there a very low supply that actually makes it to the auction?

I am looking to get a nameplate for a locker I am building for my sports room. A Murph nameplate would be perfect for my GU items.

And I'd love to get a jersey, but the price seems quite high. I could see paying $300ish... maybe a little more... but $750?!

Just wanted to get the opinions of the GUU community before I went forward.

[loanapprover]

Re: WBC GU Items thru Highland Mint...

Try to negotiate a lower price, it always ends up starting high with their quotes and they usually come down. In theory MLB is setting the prices but they can submit a lower price to MLB and see if they will accept it.

[Murph4Prez]

Re: WBC GU Items thru Highland Mint...

I am comparing prices on MLB auctions and none of the nameplates are nearly that high.

Is it a case of taking a chance of items never hitting MLB auctions because Highland Mint sells them off before they have a chance to go to auction?

I really want to pick up the Murph nameplate and a jersey but think that the prices are outrageous.

I guess I will counter next week... But may have to hope they hit MLB auctions and can get them at a lower price.

[rchimes13@yahoo.com]

Re: WBC GU Items thru Highland Mint...

I am comparing prices on MLB auctions and none of the nameplates are nearly that high.

Is it a case of taking a chance of items never hitting MLB auctions because Highland Mint sells them off before they have a chance to go to auction?

I really want to pick up the Murph nameplate and a jersey but think that the prices are outrageous.

I guess I will counter next week... But may have to hope they hit MLB auctions and can get them at a lower price.

The reason the nameplates are so high from Highland is because they frame them with commemorative coins etc....much like they do for ASG each year

[Murph4Prez]

Re: WBC GU Items thru Highland Mint...

I asked about the price for just the nameplate--I want to use it on lockers I'm building in my sports room. Was quoted $350 for just the nameplate.

If that's the going price then so be it... But I wanted to ask the opinion of the board members.

[trsent]

Re: WBC GU Items thru Highland Mint...

Wow - I have a bunch of WBC jerseys on eBay a few years ago and most sold $100 - $300 for common players and minor stars. Sounds like Highland Mint may have overpaid.

[xpress34]

Re: WBC GU Items thru Highland Mint...

Ever since HM took over getting the ASG jerseys, prices escalated, so no surprise they are that high for WBC through them.

Example:

Andrew Lang obtained Matt Holliday's 2006 ASG BP Jersey (The Game Used one) for me a few years back. That's from Matt's 1st ASG. I believe it was around $800.00 and Andrew sourced it directly from MLB.

A couple of years back when HM took over, the guy running the program wrote me and offered me Matt's GU BP jersey - for like $2200.00. He wrote me a few times eventually coming down to $1400.00 but I still passed.

Just an FYI.

- Smitty

[Klattsy]

Re: WBC GU Items thru Highland Mint...

I got quoted prices $299-$399 for Aussie players. As in worn 3 games then knocked out. Guys you've never heard of. Can't justify that much. Not when I just bought some 09's for $150. I'll have to wait for secondary market. Unfortunately these prices are way out of my league, as well as most Aussie collectors down here.

Strangely, I then got another email saying put in an offer, if it's accepted its yours...strange way of doing business from MLB/Highland. Makes it hard when you're trying to organise sales from about 4-5 different people down here. I'd rather they give me a price and then I can ask people yes or no.

[Murph4Prez]

Re: WBC GU Items thru Highland Mint...

That's what threw me a bit... The gentleman contacted me after I emailed him a while back about getting Murph GU stuff from the WBC. It was nice that he got back to me, customer service and communication nowadays is hard to get.

I told him I'd be interested in the Murph GU BP jersey, nameplate, and possibly a first base from a USA game since Murph is coaching 1st.

He said I could put in an offer for each. The BP jersey he suggested $750, nameplate $500, and he said the 1B would probably run $1000.

I wavered on the $500 for a nameplate and he replied that he could try and submit $350 and see if MLB would accept it.

Not asking for a steal of a deal, but I'm a school teacher so I just can't see those being reasonable prices.

I have noticed the Larkin Brazil jersey on the MLB WBC auctions for $360. So I ask the question: will the USA GU stuff make it to the auction?

Trying to be smart about it and not overpay by an exorbitant amount. But man would some of that WBC GU stuff be sweet to add to my collection!

[Murph4Prez]

Re: WBC GU Items thru Highland Mint...

Reason I said I'm a school teacher was because we don't make a lot of money haha! Gotta be smart about it.

[Murph4Prez]

Re: WBC GU Items thru Highland Mint...

bumping for anyone who wants to add their input.

[MarkakisMania]

Re: WBC GU Items thru Highland Mint...

bumping for anyone who wants to add their input.

In my experience with Highland they are great in terms of the service and Jim is fantastic to work with however as noted by several posters they are not cheap which does have to do with them needing to get prices approved by MLB before they can commit to a final sale price. In some cases when I have contacted them for the initial time to find out a price, the prices are just off the chart. You will have to try to negotiate with them and as mentioned Jim will try to get you the best price that he can.

I have found that they will actually hold onto items rather than blow them out at a lower price even if it is old stale inventory.

It really ends up being a bit of a gamble as you can hold off and hope that nobody else is all in to obtain the piece you want and sometimes you win that bet and sometimes you lose. I have waited hoping that the price would drop or they would go to auction on MLB and maybe I could snag it cheaper and someone else ended up buying what I was looking for.

Ultimately you have to decide what you are willing and able to spend and stick to that price.

Jeb

[godwulf]

Re: WBC GU Items thru Highland Mint...

I purchased one of Gerardo Parra's 2009 WBC Team Venezuela jerseys from Highland a couple of years ago for $350. Like to get one from this year, as well, but only if it's priced similarly. Of course I'd also be happy to pull down one of the Bloomquist, Bell or Hernandez Team USA jerseys, but suspect all the US items are going to be priced pretty high.

They were selling and auctioning some items here at Chase Field over the weekend, to benefit Diamondbacks Charities, including a GU base from the U.S.-Mexico game. (They started the bidding at $500 - not sure what the sale price was.) For the time being, I'm happy to have picked up a Ryan Vogelsong-pitched ball from the US-Italy game for fifty bucks.