Robert Edwards Auction Shock

[ironmanfan]

Re: Robert Edwards Auction Shock

Is Mastro in business anymore? Nope I seem to recall them having some legal issues that just may have affected prices realized so not the best example. Plus a Jim Brown is a very rare item that one would expect to sell for a super high amount in any auction.

Basically, Mastro Auctions is now known as Legendary Auctions (via an assets purchase) and you are correct that there were some legal issues with them.

[skyliner59]

Re: Robert Edwards Auction Shock

Have any of you fellas ever considered that most of these "auction houses" are simply reformed baseball card dealers from the early 80's who started these live auctions as the internet came into play. And quite possibly, most items sold at their "auctions" are derived from their own inventory.
I know they all still run around the show circuit buying collections and other items from folks and sell in their own auction. Now whose items do you think they are going to "protect/goose" and whose are they looking to buy to maybe sell at a later date. Give it some thought, most if not all are simply dealers from the old show circuit. Maybe this is the cause of such price fluctuations.

[kellsox]

Re: Robert Edwards Auction Shock

While it's hard to explain the seemingly drastically low prince on the urlacher, could it be the supply of the modern (last 3 or so years) jersey has caught up with the demand? With teams being more aggressive in selling game used materials and companies like Jo in football pumping out jerseys game after game- there is going to be a point where those who want jerseys of a particular player have all they want- and there is plenty others on the market.

Example-
On the baseball side- there are 3 2012 starlin Castro cubs jerseys currently on eBay. The season isn't even 2 months old. These probably aren't the only jerseys worn by him this year as I'm sure there have been others on the market/put into personal collections. What's the over/under on Castro jerseys worn and sold this year? Stretch it out- how many the next 10 years. Everyone who wants one will have one with plenty of others avail- leading to lower prices.....basic economics

[legaleagle92481]

Re: Robert Edwards Auction Shock

While it's hard to explain the seemingly drastically low prince on the urlacher, could it be the supply of the modern (last 3 or so years) jersey has caught up with the demand? With teams being more aggressive in selling game used materials and companies like Jo in football pumping out jerseys game after game- there is going to be a point where those who want jerseys of a particular player have all they want- and there is plenty others on the market.

Example-
On the baseball side- there are 3 2012 starlin Castro cubs jerseys currently on eBay. The season isn't even 2 months old. These probably aren't the only jerseys worn by him this year as I'm sure there have been others on the market/put into personal collections. What's the over/under on Castro jerseys worn and sold this year? Stretch it out- how many the next 10 years. Everyone who wants one will have one with plenty of others avail- leading to lower prices.....basic economics

Your point is a valid one. Rob Lifson made the same point to me in a very nice letter he sent me with my check. I think that in alot of ways the game used hobby is becoming like baseball cards and autographs in that supply is starting to exceed demand. Football JO has flooded the market with jerseys of Bears, Vikings, Redskins and Chargers stuff. Baseball Steiner has flooded the Yankee jersey market and many of the teams such as the Braves and Tigers have also flooded the market with their stuff. Steiner is starting to flood the hockey market with Rangers stuff and Meigray has flooded the market with several teams' stuff (look how many Brodeur jerseys they have on their site its mind boogling). Even in basketball I have noticed the market starting to flood after years of nothing being available, NBAGameworn has five Durant jerseys, eight Dwight Howard jerseys, four Duncans and six Paul Pierces available.

[commando]

Re: Robert Edwards Auction Shock

The past couple of points are excellent. I always try to remember the most basic of all auction principles -- it takes TWO bidders to raise the price.

If the economy is good, a casual Bears fan might get a $3500 bonus check from work and decide to "invest" it in an Urlacher jersey. Well, he'll be bidding against the hard-core Urlacher collector(s) to try and win legal's consigned jersey. Others with bonus checks or money to burn may chime in. Lowballers will also enter the mix and drive the price to a modest level at the beginning of the auction.

In legal's case, the bidding never made it past the modest lowballer level! Were there no work bonus check bidders around? Were the casual and hard-core fans tapped out financially? Did the person who won the auction have a much higher ceiling bid, but there was no one else around to raise it?

[gorilla777]

Re: Robert Edwards Auction Shock

My first experience consigning to a major auction resulted in a nightmare. My Brian Uralcher jersey sold for only $1,300 in the REA Auction. Everyone always says how REA brings in the best prices but I guess it goes to show that such isn't always true. I am hoping that the Nicks playoff jersey and Von Miller 1st jersey i consigned to Grey Flannel do better or i will have lost my faith in auction houses. I traded a jersey I paid 4 grand for straight up for the Uralcher. the last time REA had one it went for over 3k and it was a beauty someone got a great deal. I would have gotten more on Ebay.

Your Urlacher jersey has reappeared, if you take a look at the upcoming Grey Flannel auction preview that is now up....

[gorilla777]

Re: Robert Edwards Auction Shock

http://catalog.greyflannelauctions.c...%2fDNA-Sticker)

[cohibasmoker]

Re: Robert Edwards Auction Shock

Have any of you fellas ever considered that most of these "auction houses" are simply reformed baseball card dealers from the early 80's who started these live auctions as the internet came into play. And quite possibly, most items sold at their "auctions" are derived from their own inventory.
I know they all still run around the show circuit buying collections and other items from folks and sell in their own auction. Now whose items do you think they are going to "protect/goose" and whose are they looking to buy to maybe sell at a later date. Give it some thought, most if not all are simply dealers from the old show circuit. Maybe this is the cause of such price fluctuations.

Terrific points and something to consider. I don't understand why people don't use eBay more often - I guess what a person does with their stuff is their decision.

Jim