3rd Party Selling Game Used

[jbean023]

Hi,


Just wanted to get a few collectors thoughts and didn't want to hijack Russell's thread. He's a good guy, I'm happy for him getting his position and have exchanged a few emails in past years so this is in no way directed at him. I think 3rd party sellers are going to have tough time with game used in the upcoming years(economic predictions of inflation starting to increase and 35% unemployment by the end of 2016) and I'm not sure if the owners are trying to make a quick fortune or if the teams get aggressive in contact negotiations. For instance the Orioles were a team that didn't sell much game used and when they did it was super cheap, now with 3rd party prices were through the roof at the beginning of last season and you now you see the dropping in prices. Mlb auctions was showing that so when another 50 machado or markakis jerseys hit mlb auctions I wonder if they will all be saying reserve not met at auction end. After seeing the Padres and Rangers list I'm hoping this company doesn't go heels up like the 3rd party that tried with the Dallas Cowboys did before the season even started realizing that you weren't going to get 1,000 minimum for each jersey.

Just wondering collectors thoughts?

[Phil316]

As someone stated in another thread this game used collecting if it keeps going the way it is it could very well end up like the sports card market.

I hope collectors realize that their Harper gamers, Macho gamers ect will be so plentiful that it will severely alter the prices/value. If you are in it to invest you will most likely be taking a loss. Especially if the teams and mlb keep up this crazy pace of pumping out gamer after gamer.

It stinks in my opinion but that's the reality. I hope that we see these reserves not being met as it will be a rude awakening for some of these clubs.

[paul457]

As someone stated in another thread this game used collecting if it keeps going the way it is it could very well end up like the sports card market.

I've been saying this for a few years now, which is why my collection is getting smaller, and focusing on key pieces (quality vs quantity). If you need a true indicator look at Peyton Manning and the fact that he wears like 3 jerseys per quarter

These are fantastic collectibles, but you can see how the hobby is trending up, which means prices will spike, level off, the drop like a rock.

[Roady]

Maybe it will effect those who are buying from the sale list that are sent out from the teams and then re-selling on Ebay for triple price.
You know the flippers who gobble up the good deals before the true collectors get a chance to buy them.
You know who you are.

[jbean023]

I'll kind of get off track and touch on my opinion with teams as well as 3rd party.

Steiner and Meigray both will work with you if you are repeat customers. Also, I have had nothing but top notch service from both sides.

The thing is I don't mind paying $1K for a jersey that was worn at home games for 2 months rather than $600 for one series or game.

Thing to look for is players do have they favorite jerseys and are superstitious, a chris johnson sold on ebay last night and congrats to the owner jersey looked worn for half the season. There are heavy use jerseys still out there with one game jerseys wore in between. Off sport but I seen many big name football players last year during the national anthem with thrashed jerseys so obviously multiple game use.

There are teams out there that still that I hope don't join in the flood mix at least from what I see-Dodgers, Angels, Cards, Rockies, Indians, Marlins, white sox, padres (looks to change this season) Rays (i like how the rays program works), maybe a couple others. From my expierence unless you are at the game you aren't getting dodgers,cards,or angels items and an occasional mlb auctions siting.

Tigers - out of control with flooding but I respect they start all there auctions at .99 no reserve usually besides miggy and fair customer service

Orioles- crazy prices, andruw has great customer service but 500$ for a markakis and still hasn't hit reserve. If you hit the right time you can get a longo for that

red sox- I believe they didn't have many reserves either but a lot of items from last year still don't seem to surface once purchased

Cubs- flood central last season on jerseys, unrealistic prices for one game jerseys,
decent customer service

Anyone else want to add their team and thoughts?

[lakeerie92]

jbean023- I don't take offense to anything you said and I tend to agree with you. The initial offering is trying to get a feel for the prices. The value of an item is only what someone is willing to pay for it. I am actively working on adjusting the prices to real world value and we will see where it goes from there. I have gotten really good reception to my feedback from everyone in the program and I am hoping with my touch it can be a third party program that is run similar to a direct from the team program. There is a lot of interest in getting this right and expanding to other teams. I am a collector first and always will be. I make plenty of money through the Navy so this job isn't about money for me. I have the hopes of buying an item or two through the program too.

[Chess2899]

I am just happy that I started collecting game used stuff 30 plus years ago.
It was so much easier to make a deal with a clubhouse attendant in the 80s or 90s or beg one off a player. Players had 2 road and 2 home uniforms per year while they now appear to have an endless supply of game used jerseys. Yes, one of the teams is giving players 3 jerseys to wear each day on a 3 day weekend just to raise enough money for game worn status. Then, on Monday, the player goes back to his comfortable jersey that he may wear for a few months and keep.

MLB will destroy the game used market just as card companies destroyed the card market by overproducing what was deemed "rare" at the time. When I called Topps on it in my Maddux Refractor lawsuit, they had overproduced the "rare card" times 6 which made it not so rare. Card companies then scrambled to number the cards. Is MLB going to number jerseys in the future? Gee, I have jersey #42 of 1,345 from M. Cabrera. That doesn't sound like an investment at $5000/jersey. But perhaps, you are just happy having a one day used jersey from your favorite player.

As far as the economy is concerned, the government can always print more money, continuing to devalue the dollar and jersey prices will incremently increase until they crash. I am talking about the game used jerseys from recent years.

Now if you want to play a waiting game, you will see cheap sell-offs over the next few years. Those $5000 jerseys may sell for $2000 on ebay because of financial woes causes by today's and tomorrows economy and unemployment which will cause providers for their families to forego collecting pleasure. You can't feed kids with a jersey.

I will still collect, but they will be vintage and maybe up to 2010 or 2011 of my favorite players. My Maddux collection ended in 2008 and Griffey in 2010 so I am pretty satisfied. I collect for my pleasure, not investment, but if the value does rise, I won't complain. I don't see investments rising for the new young players because MLB is looking for fast cash just like those card companies. I had a $million dollars worth of cards in 1998 that bottomed out to pennies on the dollar. I am not falling for that scam again.

Joe
sentefjoemd@aol.com
Maddux/Griffey/Brett/Schmidt/Carlton/Rose game used collector

[rufusandherschel]

MLB will destroy the game used market just as card companies destroyed the card market by overproducing what was deemed "rare" at the time.

Now if you want to play a waiting game, you will see cheap sell-offs over the next few years.

I don't see investments rising for the new young players because MLB is looking for fast cash just like those card companies.

Joe
sentefjoemd@aol.com
Maddux/Griffey/Brett/Schmidt/Carlton/Rose game used collector

Right on the mark!

[bravesfanjd]

Now if you want to play a waiting game, you will see cheap sell-offs over the next few years. Those $5000 jerseys may sell for $2000 on ebay because of financial woes causes by today's and tomorrows economy and unemployment which will cause providers for their families to forego collecting pleasure. You can't feed kids with a jersey.

I agree that you will always find items cheaper as time goes on as long as a new supply continues to show up in the market which I think mlb will continue to do but that is with any item in terms of initial excitement high prices and then as it becomes more normal the price will drop and then prices will go back up as milestones and hof consideration are met.

When I got involved in buying gu items I realized from the start that only people with money to spend on these types of items got involved so I had to realize that I would be outspent on certain items and that I wouldn't be able to buy everything I wanted because somebody would probably have more purchasing power then I would. So saying that I also feel that what drives up initial prices is that fact that you have wealthy people who both want the item and that once all of that demand is met you are going to get lower price points because now you are so to speak selling to a different group of people with lower financial power then the initial group who pushed prices to a point that were never accurate for that specific item to begin with it was more desire based on lots of financial power to fill that desire then actual worth and investment opportunity so I think when we see prices drop they are probably dropping to the price they should have always been valued at not the price they were selling for

[Masimen]

Hi,


Just wanted to get a few collectors thoughts and didn't want to hijack Russell's thread. He's a good guy, I'm happy for him getting his position and have exchanged a few emails in past years so this is in no way directed at him. I think 3rd party sellers are going to have tough time with game used in the upcoming years(economic predictions of inflation starting to increase and 35% unemployment by the end of 2016) and I'm not sure if the owners are trying to make a quick fortune or if the teams get aggressive in contact negotiations. For instance the Orioles were a team that didn't sell much game used and when they did it was super cheap, now with 3rd party prices were through the roof at the beginning of last season and you now you see the dropping in prices. Mlb auctions was showing that so when another 50 machado or markakis jerseys hit mlb auctions I wonder if they will all be saying reserve not met at auction end. After seeing the Padres and Rangers list I'm hoping this company doesn't go heels up like the 3rd party that tried with the Dallas Cowboys did before the season even started realizing that you weren't going to get 1,000 minimum for each jersey.

Just wondering collectors thoughts?

If unemployment in this country ever gets to 35% the last thing we will be worrying about is game used prices!!!!!!

You make a good point though. With some modern players stuff going for such crazy premiums, I just don't see it lasting aside from a very very few select players.