What Deal Makes You Feel Sick?

[weimerskirch]

Re: What Deal Makes You Feel Sick?

In 1998 I saw an ad in the back of SCD listing a 1980 green game used Oakland A's rookie Henderson for 300.00. I had the seller send me photos and I passed on it bucause I had just picked up a McGwire and rookie Giambi. In 2004, I saw the same jersey at the "National" and it was being offered up by a major seller for $5,500.00!!!

You just can win them all!!!

[G1X]

Re: What Deal Makes You Feel Sick?

I was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. The city is and always will be a football town, but still there was a lot of excitement when John Bassett decided to move his WHA franchise from Toronto to Birmingham in 1976. The team kept the same colors and uniform style, but changed the nickname from Toros to Bulls. Initially, the team used the durene sweaters from the previous year and simply covered the Toros wording on the sleeve.

Early in the season, the team got new uniforms which were basically the same design except that the material was mesh with screened-on numbers and chest logo. A real disappointment in comparison to the durene style they had been wearing. The team took the old uniforms and sold them at the concession stands during games for $25 each. I had just graduated from UAB and started a new job only a few months before, so I did not have a lot of extra cash in my pocket at the time.

I decided that I was going to buy one home and one road jersey, and I would be patient until my favorite player, Mark Napier, became available. One Friday evening after I had cashed my pay check, I was attending a game and couldn't believe what I was seeing. It wasn't a Napier, but rather a beautiful blue #27 Frank Mahovlich!

Us Southern boys may not have known much about hockey, but we all knew who Frank Mahovlich was. I stammered as I asked if the Mahovlich was for sale. The vendor said yes, but that this one would cost a little more than the others. I asked how much, and he said $35. I couldn't get the bills out of my pocket fast enough!

Now, for the sad part of this story. I was and still am a huge fan and uniform collector of the defunct World Football League that existed for two seasons in 1974 and 1975. By the late 1970s, I had put together a large collection of WFL jerseys and was attempting to complete a set of home and road jerseys from every team from the league's two-year existence. I eventually ran into another collector who had a number of WFL jerseys that I needed for my collection. He was more into hockey than football, so we worked out a complicated trade where I ended up trading the Mahovlich and my white Bulls sweater for 8 WFL jerseys and cash.

Now don't get me wrong, I ended up with some nice WFL jerseys that I wanted, but I almost want to cry every time I think about that $35 Mahovlich. I wish that I still had it for no other reason than it was just a very sharp looking item.

Mark Hayne

[toddhead]

Re: What Deal Makes You Feel Sick?

Here's one that will turn all of your stomachs, especially you football collectors. Many years ago, I picked up an incredible jersey worn by Walter Payton during his final Pro Bowl. I sold it for what I thought was a ton of money at the time....

...$850.



Makes me want to hurl.

That makes me want to hurl!

[worldchamps]

Re: What Deal Makes You Feel Sick?

Wow..these are very insightful posts. No matter how bad you feel about owning all the Jordans and Walter Payton...you can at least say you had them for a day. I couldn't imagine having either of them. If i had a real Jordan I would be done, I would quit collecting...how can you top that!

My biggest regret is going to the Dallas Mavericks equipment sale about 4 years ago and not buying every single jersey they had...they were dirt cheap!!! I bought a whole lot, but should have been greedy and got them all.

I have had 2 major purchases in the last year that I got where the items were not legit. Luckily in both cases I was able to return and get all my money back. But those both left for a couple sleepless nights.

I guess I regret a year or so ago. On the Pujols site they had gloves and hats. I bought a hat and then got on this site and posted what they had for sale. So many of those got reposted on ebay for 2X-3X what people paid. Not hating on anyone for doing that, but I could have made some quick cash.

Bill

[bigtruck260]

Re: What Deal Makes You Feel Sick?

When my grandfather died in 1991, I was left with a cache of Indians game used items from the late 40's and early 50's and World Series items from 1948...he was friends with Mike Garcia (catcher). Included in the items was a Larry Doby bat, a pair of Feller's cleats and an Early Wynn hat/jersey. My Dad told me to donate them to the Indians...as the new Stadium was being built, and there would likely be a museum. I instead listed the items in the Plain Dealer and eventually sold them to a guy in Pittsburgh for $1200. I still have a few team signed balls and the WS items, but I would like to AT LEAST have the Doby bat in my hands.

Thank God I live in STL now and can put the ignorance of my youth behind me.

[bigtruck260]

Re: What Deal Makes You Feel Sick?

And about the PFF website selling Albert's signed batting gloves authenticated for $375 per dual autographed pair...I am suprised I did not see more of them on eBay. Was't sure if it was an ethical issue at first to re-sell them...but after all, the foundation got the money it wanted. I did notice that they increased the prices not long after they started selling out...and eventually let UD do the memorabilia selling for outrageous prices...

[TNTtoys]

Re: What Deal Makes You Feel Sick?

I know it's probably not in tune with the other posts in this thread, but here's a "deal" that was offered to me recently that made me feel a bit sick...

Just a month or so ago, I replied to a posting on the for sale board. I was somewhat interested in the item, so I wrote the seller an email. He replied by telling me that the item was already sold and paid for, but I can have it if I want. I can simply pay him $100 more than the other guy already did, and he will refund that guy's money and sell the item to me. I could not believe what I was reading!!!
I politely declined, but quickly received a reply, where the seller applied more of a pressure sales tactic. Again, I told him I was not interested. At this point, the prospect of adding this piece to my collection weighed in far less than the feeling that I was party to someone else being duped. I did not know who "bought" the item, but really felt for this guy. How would he feel if he were to find out that the sale is off after he contractually bought & paid for an item? I wonder now if this deal was ever came to a conclusion -- who knows... was someone else offered the item later that day?

[worldchamps]

Re: What Deal Makes You Feel Sick?

Good for you TNT Toys. You are a better person for not dealing with those tactics.

[richpick]

Re: What Deal Makes You Feel Sick?

I sold a bunch of World Series and All-star game press pins to I believe California Sports Numismatics? I think? here in Southern California and the purchase price was $1600 and this was like at least 20+ years ago when I was around 18 years old maybe around 1985. It was a lot of money as I bought them for only $100 and the $1500 profit would buy a lot of beer Well as he was about to pay me he had some game worn uniforms so this was my first experience with game worn items and he had some real nice stuff. I ended up buying a California Angels home 1985 Rod Carew which was autographed by Rod for I think $300 or $400 bucks and took the rest in cash. Here is the sad part he had a 1982 Cal Ripken Jr Road Game Worn Jersey autographed by Cal with a ROY inscription for $700 and I was so close to buying it and turned it down because it was too expensive. Now the Carew did appreciate and I did sell it for a profit but the Cal could have been a GREAT PIECE to own. The nice thing is this started me on the path of collecting game used items so I owe them a big thank you. I can only hope that the Ripken was a fake (jk). It is nice to know that many of us make mistakes or have regrets in this hobby and that I am not alone in my would have should haves!!!

[33bird]

Re: What Deal Makes You Feel Sick?

For my high school graduation n 1987 my dad gave me a game used Michael Jordan home rookie jersey. 3 years later my mom was hard up for money so we sold it Smokies in Vegas (yes, that Smokie). I HATED to sell it, but you know, family goes first. Got 2,000.00, which even then, was too low. What would that go for now? I also had an Adrian Dantley game used Notre Dame 1974 jersey that I bought for 350.00 and sold for 1200.00. Thought I did well until it showed up in an AMI auction the next month and went for 4,500. Of course, I wish I never would have sold either. You live, you learn.
Greg

[Swoboda4]

Re: What Deal Makes You Feel Sick?

Greg,
With that M.Jordan rookie jersey story,now I'm sick,and it wasn't even mine.

[33bird]

Re: What Deal Makes You Feel Sick?

Yea, I know. My Mom needed it for bills. We begged her not to sale it, to find another way to get the money, but it was the only thing we could move quick. I remind her a lot what we could have gotten for it today if we could have hung on to it. It was a beautiful jersey. I use to wear it around sometimes-rookie collector-until my mom said NO WAY. I wish I had it, but I'd rather have Larry Bird's rookie jersey.
Greg

[33bird]

Re: What Deal Makes You Feel Sick?

Yea-that was the one Swoboda. Man!

[scottanservitz]

Re: What Deal Makes You Feel Sick?

Boy, the horror stories I've read so far....Mine was I bought an Eric Dickerson game worn SMU fishnet jersey from a Rainbow Collectibles auction back in about '96 or '97. I sent it out to a Tristar signing and got it autographed for $40. I had $440 into it total. I had the jersey for quite awhile. Then in I believe 2003 or 2004 I took it to the Atlantic City National to see if I could sell it. I don't know, I guess I wanted to just change up some stuff in my collection. Well, I went from table to table showing it off and really only one guy was semi interested, but he never made an offer. I finally showed it to Vintageauthentics. They were really interested. I can't remember, but I believe it was when they were first starting up. Well, they offered me $900 for it and I figured it was a good profit so I took it. Well, a few years pass and while browsing the internet I stumble upon their website and lo and behold, there is my Dickerson for sale for get this......$12,000. I yelled to my wife to come and check this out! I could not believe it. I totally fell into a deep depression for a few days. My wife and my mom kept telling me I made a good profit and not to let it bother me. But man.... Anyways, it never sold at that price and they soon thereafter put it up for auction. I tracked it throughout and it finally did sell for like $3,200 or so. Looking back at the whole ordeal I really came to understand the whole hobby much better. There are those items that are truly rare and when somebody gets a hold of them, be sure you really want to sell them before you let them go. I have since turned that money over from item to item and I think it is now my 2004 Marshall Faulk jersey that is Wetrack tagged. It is one of my best and most favorite pieces. So I guess all is good. Just thought I'd share my story. Thanks and happy collecting.
Scott