The National vs Strongsville, Junk Slabs, and Misleading Ebay Listings- MidLife's Midweek Q & A
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- Опубліковано 13 вер 2024
- Some terrific questions in this week's Q and A video, with topics including: Misleading Ebay listings, Junk Slabs from PSA and SGC, Strongsville versus the National, and more. I always welcome everyone to post a question in the comments of this video and I'll add it to the list of topics that I'll cover in the coming weeks. Mickey Mantle and Joe Jackson cards are discussed this week, and as always, I share my opinion on a wide variety of topics.
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#vintagecards #baseballcards #sportscards #thehobby
All statements and opinions shared in this video (and all of my videos) are for entertainment purposes only, and are not investment advice. I consider Sports Cards to be a hobby, and not an investment. If you're interested in investment advice, I recommend connecting with a certified financial planner.
Fun stuff Graig. I don’t mind if you’re long winded, that just means you are carefully trying to answer the question. I respect that and take the time to listen to it all.
Thanks my friend.
Your explanation about 10's vs 9's is excellent. I'm surprised how few people understand this. For 1980's and later , 9's (and definitely 8 & below) often sell for below the grading cost. But it doesn't mean the submitter is losing money. They are literally economic byproducts. It's like buttermilk. You wouldn't churn butter just for the purpose of producing buttermilk--because you would lose money, but you get buttermilk (8's,9's)"for free" when you churn butter (10's), which is where you make your money. The buttermilk is just gravy.
As for set break, I'm a big customer of Greg Morris, and also a set collector. As far as I know many of the cards do actually come from sets. You can tell because sometimes all of the cards will have the exact same damage (like a hole punch or somebody's initials). Harder to tell for higher grade. Some cards are surely not from set breaks, but I do think the vast majority of the cards (esp 1950's & later) are actually from set breaks. Remember around 98% of the cards they auction are commons, and the average selling price is only around $10. They churn through multiple copies of many complete sets, selling 30,000 cards every week. On any given day they will be selling almost literally every single card from a dozen of more different sets. Breaking up complete sets (or at least large lots and partial sets) would be by far the most cost effective method to acquire all of that inventory. I think they keep "set break" just to have everything uniform and I don't find it particularly deceptive.
Now one thing which I think is funny and probably contributes to proliferation of "set break" in the title. A LOT of sellers just copy Greg Morris listings, often including the "GMCARDS" in the title. I think the reason is people search for the card when they want to list it, find a Greg Morris listing (because there are so many) and click on "Sell Similar Item" and it copies the Greg Morris listing including the "set break" in the title.
No doubt that a lot of the listing title is marketing.
I'm with you, Graig. The 10 bump is insane. I'll usually buy a 9 in newer cards and pay 10 percent of the 10 cost. They're both supposed to be mint cards! The only 10s I have are ones that happened to grade as a 10 or cards that were cheap enough to go ahead and pay for a 10. I loved your idea of teachers using those kinds of cards as incentives.
I do that as well. I give cards to teachers for incentives and for research purposes. About the player, country, era they were and historical events of the era. With the internet nowadays, there's so much information for the student to learn about. Do a report about the player, about the sport, the team etc... Great tool for learning.
@@williampotts7205 Love it!
Thanks bud!
"set break" is pretty innocuous. I actually don't find it misleading and your point about people being aware that there may be other cards available from that set is a pretty good theory as to why someone might create a listing that way. what I don't like is when someone lists a raw card as "near mint," for example, and you click on the listing only to find that the condition of the card is far from it. I have bought and sold a lot of physical media on eBay (Blu-rays and DVDs) and what I think is unethical is when someone lists something as "OOP" (out of print,) when it is not. imo, it damages that seller's reputation in my mind. I'd have a really hard time listing a card as "near mint" if I felt that it was not. describing something as "rare" when it clearly is not is another one that grinds my gears.
I feel your pain.
Midlife Messiah
As one of your disciples I am glad you are telling us how to think. You should set up a table at the National so that you can answer more of our questions. I am sure that people would pay at least $20 for the privilege. In these times, we need your wisdom.
Lol. Thanks.
Man, Graig, you were on fire in that rant on PSA 10s. Loved it! Thanks for your take!
Glad you liked it!
As you pointed out, those who are not part of the inner circle of UA-camrs are not going to dig the "hangout" aspect of Strongsville that is so important for you. That is, almost everyone watching this video. The 98% vintage at Strongsville is important, as is the convenience of the hotel., which is "not so great." I guess I'd like to know which show offers the best deals, vendors willing to haggle.
I think both are a needle in a haystack for both if I had to guess?
A lot of truth in that.
Hi Graig, This is why the Midlife community likes watching you every week. Out side the box thinking at its finest with donating slabs to schools! I think a lot of us should/will think about that at card shows in those bargain slab bins! Pay it forward and just maybe get some great collectors started in this amazing hobby! Great show and thank you!
Thanks for that
That last discussion on the grip which PSA 10s have on part of the hobby was some of the most honest, raw, and awesome advice I’ve heard. Thanks for another great video!
Thanks for that.
You give us so much to think about your video are so thought provoking. You and I have lot in common. We both have been collecting since we were kids, we are both educators, and we both live in Northern Ca. However, we collect completely differently. My father was a stamp collector and always loved sports but mostly looked down on the hobby. If I collected sports cards he preached condition, condition, condition. I was always willing to pay more for condition and even thought it prohibited me from many cards it has worked out very well in the long run. According to you am I part the people that is hurting the hobby? You got really heated today on your video about a 10 tax and it seemed you judge others who want the highest quality they can get. Usually you come off as very tolerant of others collecting interest but this seem to hit a different cord.
I am personally less than 10 cards from completing a 30 year quest for a PSA 8 or better set. I am proud that I will be in the top 5 on the PSA registry.
I do also want to say it has been great seeing you over the last two years at cards shows and growing your channel to what it has become today.
Sorry if I came across as heated. My Biggest issue is with the grading companies and how they have us over a barrel. They don't want to give 10s because they want us to resubmit cards. The difference between a 9 and a 10 is usually not something that can be seen by the naked eye. I respect all ways of collecting.
I have really grown to like the post and exhibits. I like them because they are different. Great job Graig, God bless my friend.
I love how our opinions and preferences are fluid.
I appreciate you taking the time to answer my question Graig. I agree with you, I am not a huge fan of strip cards or Exhibit cards or oversized cards. The only Exhibit card that has caught my eye is the 1921 Exhibits Babe Ruth. Such a great image and I love that it is just black and white and not some tint of a color.
Thanks for asking!
Great stuff, thanks for sharing your thoughts
Thanks my friend.
“Set break” is used by set builders as a search to have a chance to purchase multiple cards from the same set from the same seller often to save on time and shipping. I’ve used “set break” as a search for more than a decade. An example where it is very beneficial would be say you are building the ‘64 Topps set which has 587 cards and you are missing 200 cards, some sellers run set break auctions of individual listings for every card in the set and you can bid on multiple cards and if you win you can get them all shipped together to save on shipping and time. I don’t think I would consider it misleading if there were 14 cards of the same set listed in the same auction. I do agree it is sometimes misused, but the real reason to put that in the title is to get set builders to look at their other listings. all the best, Ronnie
No one has a problem with the proper use of set breaks as you describe to help set builders. The problem I have is with deceitful use of the term, when the listed card is NOT part of a set break but they claim it is anyway, to give it the air of being new to the market after being stowed away in a set, as Graig opined.
Good point.
Great Q and O as always, lol. But seriously, one thing I will address. If people are getting offended by analysis etc., or throwing ‘hate’ because of numbers or opinions on hobby stuff, they really should examine themselves or why they are in the hobby. If they are having a bad day, ok, but no one has more going wrong in their life right now than me, but that should not be an excuse to how I treat others. This hobby should be the fun escape you talked about. It NEEDS to be for some. If you aren’t having fun in the hobby, or if you feel the need to be negative toward other collectors, I don’t know what good the hobby is for you or for those to whom your negativity is directed. Part of the reason I have yet to make videos. It needs to be FUN
Time for you to fire up the video camera, bro.
Great advice at the end. GIVE CARDS AWAY. GIVE. I see so much greed and selfishness in this hobby/industry. So many people are in this to gamble and see what they can gain from it financially. It’s sad. Find those kids that you know love these sports and give them cards that may not fit in your collection. You may be surprised when it actually feels 100 times better than the $6 profit you just made on your PSA 6 Olajuwon.
Exactly!!
Hi Graig, I just wanted to say I really enjoy your channel, it's one of my go-to channels for card content. Also, SABR did a pretty lengthy article on Shoeless Joe Jackson's 1925 back pay case in which he was convicted of perjury for lying about taking money from gamblers and throwing the Series. The only one in that group who got his 1921 back pay and successfully sued Charles Comiskey was Buck Weaver who I feel should be reinstated. A writer by the name Asamov wrote the 1960 book Eight Men Out got his information from news sources and never interviewed any of the people there! It's a fun and sad flick, but there's a lot of liberties that were taken. Oh and I'd go with the National.
That means a lot. Thanks so much.
A 2-part question for you.... 1) Do your students know about your love for the hobby, and how much of it (if any) have you shared with them? 2) Are they aware of your prominent UA-cam Video presence, and If so, what do they think/say about it?
I use this question this week.....(tomorrow)
Hi Graig. I have to comment on the Pete Rose gambling issue. I firmly believe that Rose should never be allowed in the HOF. He knew the rules and broke it anyway. I do not feel sorry for him one bit. Just my opinion. I enjoy your Q & A shows, keep these coming.
I totally respect that perspective.
Graig, it's wild, but you and I target the same baseball, football and basketball players. But I still have some big cards in my quest -- Josh Gibson, Cool Papa Bell, Shoeless Joe Jackson, a certain Gehrig, a certain Wilt the Stilt, and the usual football greats from the 1950s. :)
BTW -- maybe I missed my calling as baseball scout, the job of my grandfather, as I rarely buy modern or contemporary cards, except for rookie cards of players I feel will have big-time years. I picked these players before they made their debuts in the MLB -- Gunnar Henderson, Paul Skenes, Bobby Witt, but i missed on a few (Al Leiter's kid who was a pitching ace at Vandy) as he has had injury woes. I feel bad for the folks who invested in the phenom Wander Franco, who signed a 150 million plus contract with the Rays and now has been charged with sex with a minor (a 14 yr old) in the DR. Man, I don't get it -- so much talent and you land this life changing contract and throw it all away for such a horrible crime, if indeed it is all true -- and things don't look good for Wander,
Awesome!!
Thx for answering my question. I don’t normally break boxes, the 88 Fleer being the first *basketball* cards I remember opening as a kid. I submitted cards to do two things: Keep the best, and sell the others in hopes of recouping *some* of the cost of the activity.
But you’re right and I appreciate your bigger answer to the question.
Crazy that I hadn’t thought of your final answer. My fiance is a Jr high principal. ON IT
Awesome. The teachers will appreciate it.
Gave a video like. Enjoyed as always thanks for sharing
Thanks.
Thanks for answering my question! I think I’m going to try to attend both pending my coaching schedules!
Awesome!!
Based on research I have done over the years, pretty sure Jackson was at least complicit in the Black Sox scandal, though he certainly wasn't one of the ring leaders. While his stats were good, he performed poorly in some of the key losses/situations. Either way, his cards are awesome.
With the "set break" term, I believe at some point (perhaps still) putting that in the title would bypass eBay's authenticity guarantee, so some sellers may do it for that reason.
I totally agree.
I would not go within 100 miles of Chicago or Atlantic City--logistics, traffic, cost, crime, too many people. Strongsville 100% Two wrongs don't make a right--betting on the game compromises the game and Rose broke the rule that was posted; banned for life should mean what it says. Otherwise, what is the point?
I respect that.
You know… a wing of the HOF for cheaters and rule breakers could accept all the fellas we wish that we learn about when visiting. Bonds, Rose, Clemens etc. love to see their videos and memorabilia.
Haha! In my experience, SETBREAK means “This person won’t release this card when you try to add it to the registry”
Ugh. That sucks.
Nailed it!
Thanks!!
My 2 cents...First it is all about the people. No matter the show, I like to mee, talk to dealers, build relationships that will build friendships and grow the PC in the most organic way possible. My last thought, you make it what you put into it. Do not be afraid to walk up to people you follow online, that is why we are on UA-cam. Ok a few last things, SELL or TRADE those cards that do not fit your PC. No better time than a live show, no Ebay fees, no 20% juice on auction purchases, no flagged messages through Ebay where you try to negotiate a better deal, just in person up front deals! I love to see the cards in hand, so many upsides to a live show no matter the size. Tuna is great in sushi :-) See you in a week!
In sushi, I love tuna.
I prefer the T210 Jackson to the CJ, but you can’t go wrong with either!
True.
Graig, If there was a grail card at a 200 table card show a week before the National, would purchase it if it is at a good price and condition?
Yes!! I would. And, I basically did something similar this year.
100% agreement with you on strip cards, hand cut and exhibits cards. Not for you. Not for me. If others love those, that’s cool.
I never liked the crude printing of the Strip cards and missed the boat on the exhibits which have exploded in recent years, kinda like the "type" photos. I do like the Hand Cut these days. I started buying them when I didn't like them and now LIKE them🤣I do know I'm not entering the exhibits or Strip card areas anytime soon, probably never. Just too many things I "need" more. 😅
Totally agree.
I asked this very question about why "set break" is a thing in a Facebook group. Someone told me that most set builders are meticulous about putting together a set, so the card is somehow more likely to be better. That sort of made sense, but I still judge the card on its merit. And now, here I am coming to the defense of Greg Morris Cards, something I didn't think I'd ever do. I search for Tigers cards all the time on GMC to lump into one order for the $4.95 shipping. I notice his cards are always listed by set and numerically. It seems nearly every single card is available, so I'm thinking it has to have been a set break. Again, I look at the cards on their merit, but I'm sure those are actually from set breaks. (It actually makes my heart weep to see someone break up a set.)
Good points.
I’ve been looking at only sgc 5 because it’s in my budget. I find shows overwhelming! Approaching a table with a budget it’s so easy to get confused when you’re trying to figure out what price to pay. Born in 1966… what 66 cards do you recommend?
I'd use an app of some sort to get a comp price. VCP is very popular. Or card ladder.
Hey Graig, Im an old guy but dont know much about business negotiations. At the National, if I see a card I want to use cards and cash to purchase it and the card is priced at $1000, how would you do this to try to get a decent outcome. My cards are worth about $400. Thanks for looking at my dilemma.
Good question, and I'll try to give my advice, despite the fact that the National is now behind us. Sorry I'm behind but I haven't been home in 10 days.
Joe Jackson could not read and could barely sign his name. If he signed anything related to the 1919 world series, he literally had no clue what he signed. Remember also that there was a trial involving the 1919 Black Sox, and Joe Jackson was acquitted in a court of law.
Exactly.
Great stuff
As far as Rose goes
Did he bet while a player or was it he bet as a manager,there is a different
As a player he was a HOF
MGR not
If by now Joe Jackson has not been a loud in, then I don't think Rose will ever get in either
Time will tell. But, yeah....good points.
Joe Jackson, Pete Rose, Bonds and Clemens should be in the Hall of Fame. to me its no question. The latter two are not in because of steroid use.. There are many steroid users in the Hall with an example of one who even tested positive, so to exclude two of the best players ever is just stupid IMHO.
Add Alex Rodriguez to that list too!
I agree.
Somebody will buy that PSA 5 card if the price is low enough. But the price must be so low that you might as well give it to someone. It might encourage that someone to desire better cards.
Price rules the day.
Question for next week:
What is your take on the partnership between Fanatics and PSA? What does it mean for the hobby?
Are we ready to become ill at the sight of a Fanatics slab?!
Good question!!
Hello Graig.. hope you can give some perspective? But is the National card show and Stongsville really that much of a big deal? I live on the west coast and my son and go to The Burbank Shop show in Anaheim CA. I’ve looked at a few videos of all the card shows mentioned and all the card shows sell the same stuff . Is the card communities different at those shows than the West coast card shows? Fan of your channel thank you for your time.
Fair question. I travel to those big shows because so many of my friends go to them and it's a chance to hang out. Between auction houses and the Burbank show, you should have a lot to choose from without needing to fly across the country.,
Hi Graig, Here's a question. I'm 47, single, no kids with a fairly decent Baseball card collection (mostly vintage/pre-war) that I've been collecting since being a kid. My sister passed a few years ago, and never had kids herself. I would've loved to have passed my collection on to either my kids or hers, but it's looking like that possibility is become less of a reality as the years keep passing. At this point, I feel like in a few years when I'm retired maybe going to cardshows and setting up as a dealer to sell them might be an option? I feel like that would keep me busy, and my cards would be going into other collections which would (hopefully) value them as much as I do. Is this something you have thought of? Or do you have any other/alternative future plans for your own collection?
Thanks my friend - Jimmy
GREAT question!!
Could not agree with you more! Strip cards are ugly over priced in some cases, and with most they do not even resemble the player! Good call!
I respect those that like them. They're just not for me.
Screw the cards, wtf you say about Tuna? 😂
Never commented but I enjoy your vids, keep up the mediocre work!
Kept watching and damn you had some fine thoughts about grading. Excellent watch bud.
Thanks so much.
Graig, your explanation for "Set Break" makes perfect sense. But if you put "Set Break" on every card, no matter the year or condition, some graded last year and some graded 20 years ago, how does the marketing term hold any value? It becomes meaningless, like the flame emojis that people put in their titles to indicate their Otis Nixon card is hot. "Set Break" on every card in my consignment without even asking me is absurd, laughable. Greg Morris should indeed know better.
I think those two words stop it from going through E-bay authenticity? No?
@@BringingTheHeat-VBC 🤔
@@BringingTheHeat-VBC Nope. I buy tons from Greg Morris and cards which sell for more than $250 do indeed go through ebay authentication. What doesn't go through authentication is if it's a multi-card lot or an actual set. But single cards still do even if they are a "set break"
LOL.
What? You hate strip cards? You hate modern cards? How dare you? Are you some sort of communist? 😂haha! Good episode.
LOL.
Don’t like tuna? Blasphemy.
LOL.
big fan of tuna fish sandwiches. thumbs down.. had to stop the video and leave. j/k of course! but only kidding about leaving and giving a thumbs down. tuna is awesome. 🤣
Fair enough.
I purchased a 2011 Topps traded mike trout last year in a PSA 9 perfectly centered. I saw many PSA 10s that weren't as nice as the 9 but twice the price
I think a PSA 9 is a steal compared to a 10.