who are your "contacts"

[sox83cubs84]

Re: who are your "contacts"

Wow. Posts like some of these are the reason why the hobby has become a lot less enjoyable. I have never hidden a source from anyone; I don't believe we are entitled to things just by virtue of having an inside name. We should share our knowledge, because nobody really needs ten game-used jerseys or fifty bats of a single player.

Sadly, the hobby has become overtaken by certain greedy dealers who never learned how to share. What ends up happening is the average collector doesn't have access to things at fair prices because somebody has a special source that's all theirs and makes it miserable for those not in the know.

What's wrong with sharing? Are certain dealers/collectors so insecure that they have to have every item of a single player?

-Frik

Frik:

I neither need nor want 10 jerseys nor 50 bats of a player...1 or 2 apiece will do. However, after being betrayed by a woman I considered a friend...and then her having the gall to ask me to coach her on what items were worth and what she could sell them for, I figured enough was enough.

A similar situation is why I began asking for a fee for jersey authentications before anyone else. A local show had a man walk in with a Don Kessinger Cubs flannel. I made an offer, and he accepted, under one condition...that I pay cash, not check. A dealer strolling around the room overheard the conversation and, once I was on a pay phone calling a friend to bring cash, he bought the jersey out from under me, and bolted the show before I got back, unwilling to face me over his sneaky tactics.

In a perfect world, sharing sources would be ideal and proper...but, we are not in a perfect world, and for every person out there who would honor your confidence in sharing a source, there are probably just as many who would pounce on your contact behind your back the minute you weren't around.

Sad, but, oh, so very true.

Dave Miedema

[frikativ54]

Re: who are your "contacts"

Frik:

I neither need nor want 10 jerseys nor 50 bats of a player...1 or 2 apiece will do. However, after being betrayed by a woman I considered a friend...and then her having the gall to ask me to coach her on what items were worth and what she could sell them for, I figured enough was enough.

A similar situation is why I began asking for a fee for jersey authentications before anyone else. A local show had a man walk in with a Don Kessinger Cubs flannel. I made an offer, and he accepted, under one condition...that I pay cash, not check. A dealer strolling around the room overheard the conversation and, once I was on a pay phone calling a friend to bring cash, he bought the jersey out from under me, and bolted the show before I got back, unwilling to face me over his sneaky tactics.

In a perfect world, sharing sources would be ideal and proper...but, we are not in a perfect world, and for every person out there who would honor your confidence in sharing a source, there are probably just as many who would pounce on your contact behind your back the minute you weren't around.

Sad, but, oh, so very true.

Dave Miedema

So sorry this was your experience, Dave. Especially while you were in the hospital. I did not mean to imply that you wanted 10 jerseys or 50 bats, just that I have had experiences with those who do and that they have soured the hobby for me. I guess that's why the post struck a nerve.

And the issue about privacy, that is a fair one. If people don't want their names revealed, I understand that. It's just there are times where people are buying items secondhand from other collectors, and they won't give a collector's name just so they can hoard items. It is this that disgusts me.

-Frik

[platinum1]

Re: who are your "contacts"

30+ years of collecting bolstered by working in Sports Card shops and then at Coors Field, for Nike and then for Rawlings has availed me to some decent contacts as well as fellow collectors who I know personally whom I've shared some info with to help each other out.

I think keeping your 'sources' private is paramount to continue having a strong relationship with them and that includes collectors from here and other sites that I have helped move some items.

I won't reveal what items, what sources or what collectors because that would destroy my credibility with them to either get items or move items for them.

When I use the old standby - a clubhouse source - and with my background and history with those who know me, that should be enough. If it's not, then I'm sorry - good luck finding the same item from someone else.

Not trying to sound superior - I'm just fortunate that my job choices and such put me in position to meet these people.

As far as being greedy? Really? I'm sure - in fact I know - there are those people who feel entitled and they do sour the hobby.

For myself, if someone asks if I can get them something through a source, it depends on our history together and if I'm already trying to acquire something for my collection as well as a number of other factors.

If I have access to something that doesn't interest me or doesn't fit my collection, I will pass it on and try to get others the best deal I can on something. Sometimes sources might offer me a better deal on something than they would sell it to someone else. Does that make me obligated to ask them to sell it to my acquaintance for the same they would sell it me? In my opinion, no.

In a lot of cases, I am just the middle man trying to help out others who (as others stated) wish to remain anonymous and for reasons they don't need to explain.

Just my .02 on it.

- Smitty

P.S. - I forgot the 'feel good' or 'cool stories' part... a few of my sources had made it so I can sometimes acquire tougher to get GU pieces (belts, stirrups, etc) or let me know where to catch up with certain people or access to hang out IN the out of town scoreboard during games, etc.

Smitty Can you please send me an email. I have a quick question for you
Thanks
Edgar
edgar@platinummemorabilia.net

[metsbats]

Re: who are your "contacts"

The reason you don't disclose contacts is because those sources could get into trouble if it becomes public knowledge that they're flipping items. I'm not necessarily talking about the clubbies or grounds crew guys who pilfer stuff from the teams and sell it for extra cash -- that's typically against team policy and could get them fired. I'm talking about the employees who receive legit gifts from players, and then sell those items, either because they need the money or simply because they're not collectors. There also are team employees who acquire items through legit means at reduced prices and resell them... for example, the souvenir shop worker who gets an employee discount and first crack at items before the public. There also are friends and family members who flip items, sometimes without the blessing of the player who gave them the items. Whatever the circumstances, these people typically don't want it known that they're selling what they acquire because it could have professional and/or personal repercussions. Not to mention they have a right to privacy. So, if you ask me for a source and I refuse to share, it's not because I'm greedy -- though there's a good chance I'd lose that source if I disclosed his/her name. It's because my sources prefer to remain anonymous.

Very well put Jeff.

This has always been kind of a unwritten code of conduct or protocol as far as I remember.

Newbies to the hobby need to realize this.

Of course nowadays with teams selling their own stuff you can always get a contact (ie Tyrel with the Mets or Marc with the Tigers,etc).

However the old school way of acquiring stuff is still alive and kicking.

[Chris78]

Re: who are your "contacts"

Most of my stuff I buy directly from the team at fanfests or at the games themselves. Anybody else could do the same thing assuming your team does this.

As far as beyond this, many years of collecting might give you an added bonus to obtain stuff, or if you buy a lot of stuff they might give you a discount even if you are new to the hobby.

Chris

[perlman9]

Re: who are your "contacts"

I agree with Jeff as well. I recently stating buying from someone with MLB contact, and that is where I got the Mauer and Cano. Someone asked me for his contact info and I felt like a jerk for saying no, but for the same reasons Jeff commented on. However, he has a lot of items and has taken requests for me so am happy to help collectors get what they want but don't want to burn bridges by passing his info out. I am getting a few more items in, but he has stuff like AROD issued bat, Johan Santana issued bat, Manny Sox bat, Miguel Cabrera game used and all-star issued bats and other nice items that I am not interested in so will be happy to try to help where I can... Thanks for saying what I couldn't figure out how to say, Jeff!

[UGA016]

Re: who are your "contacts"

Funny!! People are always asking me how I aquire most of my UGA stuff. I will say I have built relationships with some very Trustworthy Private collectors as well as People within the UGA Athletic Program. But it has always been a rule of mine not to speak or utter a name of who I deal with. Strictly Confidential. It is the only way to protect my investments as well as their jobs. Why mess up a good thing.

[sox83cubs84]

Re: who are your "contacts"

So sorry this was your experience, Dave. Especially while you were in the hospital. I did not mean to imply that you wanted 10 jerseys or 50 bats, just that I have had experiences with those who do and that they have soured the hobby for me. I guess that's why the post struck a nerve.

And the issue about privacy, that is a fair one. If people don't want their names revealed, I understand that. It's just there are times where people are buying items secondhand from other collectors, and they won't give a collector's name just so they can hoard items. It is this that disgusts me.

-Frik

I have encountered that, as well, Frik...we have one guy locally, 30-something, who throuh working at the Sun-Times Shows' autograph lines, has made friends with several Cubs players. This guy goes on power trips when he's working at the show autograph tables, and acts similarly when he sees someone else trying to obtain items from "his" players. He went almost hysterical in the 1990s when I asked Steve Trachsel about an item...Trax and I knew each other, as well, but, since he had already gotten a glove from Trax, he decided he had to have it all.

Dave Miedema

[xpress34]

Re: who are your "contacts"

Smitty Can you please send me an email. I have a quick question for you
Thanks
Edgar
edgar@platinummemorabilia.net

Edgar -

I'm out of town until Monday night / Tuesday morning. I'll get back to you when I'm back in Denver!

- Smitty