What do you think about the Olympic GU prices??

[skinsfan0521]

Re: What do you think about the Olympic GU prices??

I'm not sure about the official Vancouver Olympics auctions, but I can tell you that the Hannah Teter stuff that I was interested in came with NO COA/LOA. Nothing at all. I tried to convince the seller (who was not Hannah herself) that I would bid more on an item if I could just get a simple LOA signed by Hannah, but never heard back.

The Teter stuff is definitely legit because she linked to the auctions from her Facebook page, mentioned it in interviews/news stories & Burton had a press release for it. But, as I told the seller of her stuff, I'd be much happier to spend more money on an item just to have the "insurance" of it having an LOA for the future. I completely believe 100% that the stuff was real, but an LOA is always nice.

[indyred]

Re: What do you think about the Olympic GU prices??

Has anyone won one of these auctions? If so what is COA like and is their some type of hologram serial # on the item. Just looking at the game used Mens hockey pucks. If you pay 5-6 grand for a puck from one of those games. I would hope it has some iron clad authentication to it. From looks of auction pictures. You get puck in a plastic bad with game info on it. And a little paper cert. Does puck itself have some hologram on it?

[gingi79]

Re: What do you think about the Olympic GU prices??

in my opinion the autographs are a horrible investment. in twenty years except for the male hockey players noone will remember who these athletes are. it is like buying reality tv star autographs although the olympics are obviously a much bigger achievement than being on jersey shore the end result is still the same they will fade from the memory. can anyone name five different gold medal winners from the 2002 games (not including hockey) without looking it up. and said male hockey players have enough signatures on the market to go around and will continue to add more and more throughout the course of their lives.

as for the event used stuff it is a novelty since this is the first time a large quantity of this stuff has hit the market in the same time period. when the novelty fades prices will level off. as for the crosby he is a great player when it is all said and done he will be top 10 alltime i predict and the pens are one of the few teams that do not have a contract with meigray so his stuff is relatively rare in any form.

I agree with everything but the last comment. Not having a MeiGray contract means there is no accountability. He could be wearing 82 jerseys a year. The very few jerseys I have seen pictures of showed no wear. Sid plays all out and gets his ass handed to him in his helmet every night. So why are his game worns so clean? Now Joe Tomon handles their game worns and he is a truly honest dealer. Anything from him is real in my experience and he does get a nominal 3 sets of homes and aways. But the Pens have a history of "back door" jerseys going out from their original Equipment manager to the more recent guy who was the prior's protege. So there are 6 to 10 Tomon's and who knows how many one game wonders?


On a similar note, Alex Daigle was a hot shot "can't miss" prospect when the Ottawa Senators drafted him in the early 90's. Along with Alexi Yashin, they were supposed to be the next Gretzky and Messier. Neither lived up to their hype (unlike Sid and Malkin) but Daigle has said he wore a ton of jerseys, sometimes more than one a night! These sold for thousands when he was hot. You could get one now for $150 because honestly, their may be over 500 of them in the hobby.

Pavel Bure in the early 90's used to wear a ton of jerseys as well. He told an interviewer once that everyone from owner Frank Griffiths to the equipment manager to his best friend Gino Odjick would ask him to wear a jersey for a game and he would give them away as gifts. Makes me glad to see my Bure with a sleeve insert to protect his broken wrist and 3 repairs. Some Bure's I have seen are literally brand new looking. Maybe a mark on a sleeve. And they still sell today for $2k! In 1994, Bure's sold for $5k easily. So while he retained a value, it's only 40%. Not saying Bure and Crosby are the same player but in his prime, Bure was a lot like Ovechkin. And in VanCity, he was the Beatles.

Bottom line, I can only hope people who get the opportunity to spend $34k on a barely used shirt garners them the same sense of joy I get whenever I see my Bure. Otherwise, if their motive is future financial gain I think a very sad and disappointing road lays before them. It is a great moment in Canada sports, Sid is a bonafide superstar but it was worn in one Olympic game in the first round. I guess of Reebok would pay $10k for Sid's stick and gloves and sticks are usually 1/5th the price of jerseys, Sid's jersey from that game would be $50 to $100k (but since he is keeping it, we will never know for sure)

[legaleagle92481]

Re: What do you think about the Olympic GU prices??

Basically, I've been watching some of the game/event used items on eBay being sold by the official Vancouver username and have been really surprised by how high some have gone. Some (most) seem completely insane to me, which is why I want your opinion.

Do you think they're crazy prices too, or is it just me? Do you think that these items will ever hold their value or is it just a hype factor that's driving the prices up this high right now?

Some examples:
Team Canada autographed souvenir stick. NOT game used -- $7k+

Game Used USA vs Canada Gold Medal game hockey puck -- $5,900+
**Many other game used pucks from that game ranging from $3,600 - $5,500

Tons of autographed REPLICA Canada hockey jerseys of various players for well over $1k

8x10 auto of Canadian Gold Medal mogul skier -- $700
** Many other auto'd 8x10s of various athletes for $300+++

REPLICA panel from skiing mogul competition - $200+
** There are several of these replica panels that have sold and some still listed

Game Used USA vs Canada Gold Medal game hockey puck (OT used) -- $8,500 +++ -- bidding still going
** This is NOT the puck used to score the winning goal, it says it in the auction description.

So, anyway, just a few examples....

I'm wondering because I'm thinking of trying to pick up an Olympic competition used item, but I'm afraid that it will quickly get out of my range where I can justify the expense. (I have a specific item in mind, but won't mention it to try to keep exposure down. haha)

-Brian

in my opinion the autographs are a horrible investment. in twenty years except for the male hockey players noone will remember who these athletes are. it is like buying reality tv star autographs although the olympics are obviously a much bigger achievement than being on jersey shore the end result is still the same they will fade from the memory. can anyone name five different gold medal winners from the 2002 games (not including hockey) without looking it up. and said male hockey players have enough signatures on the market to go around and will continue to add more and more throughout the course of their lives.

as for the event used stuff it is a novelty since this is the first time a large quantity of this stuff has hit the market in the same time period. when the novelty fades prices will level off. as for the crosby he is a great player when it is all said and done he will be top 10 alltime i predict and the pens are one of the few teams that do not have a contract with meigray so his stuff is relatively rare in any form.

[skinsfan0521]

Re: What do you think about the Olympic GU prices??

Yeah, I didn't expect a female snowboarder's stuff to go for so much... especially since she "only" won the silver medal.

I think that part of the problem is that snowboarding just doesn't have any event used items out on the market. I'm sure there are a few things here and there, but I've never actually seen any others besides these things. That may have contributed to the prices, but who knows.

I was hoping that the bib at least wouldn't go for that much. I just couldn't see spending $900 on it.

[sugarpam]

Re: What do you think about the Olympic GU prices??

So, I was unsuccessful in my attempt to add an Olympic item to my collection. I was trying to win the competition worn bib from Hannah Teter's Silver medal snowboarding performance. My high bid was around $500 and it went for over $800. Was under $350 until 8 seconds left.... then, as usual, skyrocketed.

She had everything (ceremony worn stuff, shoes, clothes, jackets, socks, pins, etc) from the Olympics up for auction to raise money for her many charities. Her uniform (Jacket & snowpants) that she wore for the event went for over $2k, which was a bit surprising. I wasn't expecting that her stuff would go for quite so much, but I guess the whole Olympic thing pushed them up pretty high.

I would've really loved to get that bib, but I decided that if I paid more than $500 for it, every time I'd look at it on my wall, I'd say "why did I spend so much money for that? I shouldn't have."

Oh well...

Wow, another sign that these Olympic items are going for ridiculous prices! I can't believe a snowboarder's items went for so much, sorry you didn't get the bib you were looking for.

I was hoping the Olympics would be out of people's minds by now as VanOc eBay auctions listed a set of white Canadian Women's National Team jerseys. As I mentioned, I won Sarah Vaillancourt's red game worn jersey for $660, I just won her white game worn jersey for $950!!! I was hoping the white jerseys would sell for less this long after the games, not more.

But I didn't spend $34K, so I guess I got a good deal

-Pam

[skinsfan0521]

Re: What do you think about the Olympic GU prices??

So, I was unsuccessful in my attempt to add an Olympic item to my collection. I was trying to win the competition worn bib from Hannah Teter's Silver medal snowboarding performance. My high bid was around $500 and it went for over $800. Was under $350 until 8 seconds left.... then, as usual, skyrocketed.

She had everything (ceremony worn stuff, shoes, clothes, jackets, socks, pins, etc) from the Olympics up for auction to raise money for her many charities. Her uniform (Jacket & snowpants) that she wore for the event went for over $2k, which was a bit surprising. I wasn't expecting that her stuff would go for quite so much, but I guess the whole Olympic thing pushed them up pretty high.

I would've really loved to get that bib, but I decided that if I paid more than $500 for it, every time I'd look at it on my wall, I'd say "why did I spend so much money for that? I shouldn't have."

Oh well...

[skinsfan0521]

Re: What do you think about the Olympic GU prices??

Yeah, I expected to see some of the vintage/classic jerseys sell for that much, but I can't believe that anything "new" (within 10 years) has even come close.

Also, I completely agree that the hockey gold by Canada in Canada would drive up prices to crazy levels. The only difference is that I would expect to see that on the jersey he won the Gold medal in, a jersey he wore for several games, etc.... not just one game that has little meaning in the whole scheme of things. That's the part that I don't understand.

But, like you said, far be it for me to question another collector's purchase, because I'm sure many people would look at my collection and say "why??". haha But, again, I completely agree with your point about it being like 80's & 90's sports cards. Tons of jerseys out there and I don't see how this one is any more special than that 1989 Griffey RC -- looks great now, but in 10 years, you're going to be saying "wow... I overpaid by a LOT for this".

But as long as the collector is happy with what they paid, then that's all that matters.

[gingi79]

Re: What do you think about the Olympic GU prices??

I dont follow or collect hockey items but is there any hockey items that have gone close to these prices for game worn items?

$34,000 is not unheard of but it is high. Looking strictly at Classic Auctions, here are some of the higher end players and their recent sales:

A Bobby Orr Bruins jersey from 1969/70 sold for $82k+
Photomatched jersey Bobby Orr wore when he won the 1972 Cup sold for $120k+.
A 1954 Gordie Howe with missing Emblem sold for $23k+
Gretzky Kings game worn sold for $18K+
Photomatched Gretzky Rookie jersey sold for $126k+
83/84 Gretzky game worn sold for $39k+

To put things in perspective:
Wayne Gretzky's 1981 Canada Cup jersey sold recently for $16,000.
Rookie Sidney Crosby sold for $23K
Most other Crosby's sell for between 5 and 10K.
A Photomatched Crosby worn in the two Stocolm opening games last season sold for $7k+ (this is also a SCF winning season which helps prices)

I think the real measuring stick would be a 1972 Summit Series jersey worn by Paul Henderson or Bobby Orr or Miracle on Ice 1980 USA Olympic jerseys of Jim Craig or Mike Eruzione. I cannot find any recent sales of these however. (Craig has his Russia and Gold Medal jerseys I believe and the Henderson is part of the HHOF collection as I saw it at the last MeiGray expo.) Speaking of which, Barry Meisel's opinion would be valid on this topic as well.

Now, in my somewhat informed but incredibly fanatic sports collectible point of view, a jersey worn during one game selling for $34,000 is excessive. However, a hockey Gold for Canada, played in Canada is the epitome of a perfect storm. Hell, I'd have loved the throwback Ryan Kesler Team USA jersey they wore when they beat Canada but those prices are nuts as well, $2K already.

Far be it for me to ever question a collectors purchase but anyone collecting this generations superstars for monetary gain is fooling themselves. Unless you have a jersey that changes the sport forever, you have what will amount to the 1989 Upper Deck Baseball set. Hot for a few years until everyone figures out that anyone who wants it, has it, as they were overproduced by millions

[skinsfan0521]

Re: What do you think about the Olympic GU prices??

I dont follow or collect hockey items but is there any hockey items that have gone close to these prices for game worn items?

I don't know since I'm not a hockey collector either... but I've gotta imagine that if there are any hockey items that are sold for that much would be much older and most likely more "rare" (in the terms of mine and gingi79's definition).

Again, I'm just dumbfounded by the price for such a "common" item... but to each their own. I'm sure to whoever bought this, the $34k is like me spending $1k on something (decent amount, but not a crazy, ridiculous amount)

[ivo610]

Re: What do you think about the Olympic GU prices??

I dont follow or collect hockey items but is there any hockey items that have gone close to these prices for game worn items?

[skinsfan0521]

Re: What do you think about the Olympic GU prices??

gingi79 - Thanks for the input. I completely agree with what you're saying about the saturation. And I completely understand the Crosby jersey going for more than reasonable because it's an Olympics jersey and he was the olympic hero (even if it wasn't in this jersey), but to me, $34k is just out of this world for a jersey that barely has any more significance than any other jersey.

I don't know... it just astonishes me that somebody would pay $34k for that jersey. I could even almost see some deep pockets bidding up to that much for the Gold Medal winning jersey, but for a jersey that was just used in the 2nd game in the Olympics, I don't see it.

[gingi79]

Re: What do you think about the Olympic GU prices??

It's not just Canada. Sami Salo's one game worn jersey was at $1500 plus US as of yesterday. I could buy 3 full price jerseys worn for either every single home or away game for an entire NHL season plus any playoff games up to and including the Western Conference Finals for LESS than that. If I wait for the 50% off sale during the summer, I could own 7 shirts!

Also, the last time they were sold after the 2006 Olympics, it was $750 for a 2 game worn shirt. On the secondary market, it couldn't sell at $700 2 years ago.

The hobby of NHL shirts is just like the late 80's early 90's baseball card market. Part of the reason why Mickey Mantle's cards are worth so much is because everyone's mom threw them away. Sidney Crosby wears a conservative estimate of 15 shirts a season. If he plays 20 seasons, thats at least 300 jerseys. Add in All Star games, one game wonders, Olympics, WC, that's over 350 jerseys. How many Mario jerseys are there? They sell for $6,000. Sid's great but I'd take 6 MeiGray registered Lemieux's over a one game wonder Olympic Crosby every day.

[skinsfan0521]

Re: What do you think about the Olympic GU prices??

Sorry for the 2nd post, but the game used puck from the OT period in the Gold medal game vs USA (not the winning puck) went for $12k + (here)

I must just be underestimating Canada's insane love for hockey... or these people are crazy and have tons of money. One or the other...

[skinsfan0521]

Re: What do you think about the Olympic GU prices??

Obviously a ton of people aren't interested in this topic, but I just need to post the Crosby jersey auction. It ended yesterday and it ended for... ready for this.... $34,000!!! (crazy auction here)

This is NOT the gold medal jersey, it's the jersey from when Canada played Switzerland in the 2nd game!! He did score the winning goal in a shootout, but it was only the 2nd game.

I just don't see how this is even close to reasonable. You could probably pay for a meet and greet with him and have him give you a full uniform from the Stanley Cup for that price! haha

Anyway, just needed to post that because of how crazy the price ended up getting!!