4:31 My bargain bins are organized at the beginning of a show. As the hours (or days) go by, though, the organization gets knocked into disarray. A tip for the buyers would be to make sure they're not making a mess out of other people's belongings.
As a former dealer, I understand what you're saying. I don't know how far you go with the organization, but I think to ensure that it stays organized, there needs to be indicators (markers to track where a buyer is looking, labels to show that they're in number order) placed for the buyer to know to not mess up the box.
@@SammyThunder Best laid plans, my friend. I get your point, though. My organization has typically been year/number order. For set builders, it's perfect. In my experience, set builders tend to maintain the organization. Not everyone is so nice, though...and the middle of a show is not the best time to re-organize boxes (undo the chaos caused by one nitwit.)
I went to Mt. Kisco show this Sunday and you weren't there! I totally wanted to shake your hand and thank you for getting me into producing my own youtube content on my channel and also thank you reignited my love for the hobby. Maybe next show!
I was there from about 10 to about 11:30 or so. It was a fairly quick visit for me. I hope you had a good time at the show. It was better than previous shows.
@SammyThunder oh no kidding! I was there same time. Then I must not have noticed you walking around. Honestly I was talking to dealers and looking at their great inventories. It was well attended and busy so I guess you're right, it was a great show!
Hey Sammy, thanks for sharing my comment in the video, I really do appreciate it, and hopefully that advice of the dollar bins as an entry point may also resonate with some of your other viewers as well.
I have absolutely no problem paying over comps if the card is tough to find. In fact, a lot of the times I do pay over comps for scare cards and I don’t lose any sleep about it. Comps are not the definitive answer of what a price should be for a card. It is just a starting point. If the card on the other hand is plentiful and you can find one anytime you search on eBay, I will review the card and what comps typically are. Most times I won’t pay over comps, because I know I will find one similar down the line. But again, comps should not determine the exact price. It should just be a tool. Great video Sammy.
I feel the same way Eric. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on it. When you do come across a tough to find card, it's hard to walk away. Especially when it's a desired card you want for your PC.
To answer your pay above the comps question. For me, a person's character matters. A lot. Business, and selling cards at a show. It's about the relationship. And relations are about trust. I am more likely to pay a bit more than a cards comp price, when I know I can feel good about the person am buying, the card from.
I think it has go to both ways in that case. Yes, buy it from a trusted source, but also buy it because you like the card and it meets your preference.
Great video, Sammy! I love hearing other collectors' thoughts! I think in both scenarios you presented, I'm willing to pay above comps. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to pay above comps, ever! If it's the right card that meets my eye appeal and it is "the card" I'll pay above comps. Especially if it's a hard card to find or has common issues that make it tougher to find with high eye appeal. Like centering issues with the 79 Ozzie Smith or print issues with the 60 Yastrzemski, for example. I could absolutely see paying 30% percent above for a hard to find card that has eye appeal.
Definitely! The Ozzie is a great example. Finding a really nicely centered one is tough to come by, so if that's something you passion for for your PC, I can understand paying a little extra for the premium quality!
Hey Sammy! I feel honored that you used my comment. It made sense in my head when I wrote it, but I was afraid it might sound rambling. You are also very kind to call out my channel, I really appreciate that. As far as your next question. I am willing and did pay about 15% above comps on my 48 Bowman Musial at the National. It’s hard to find one with the centering I wanted, so when I found this one, I pulled the trigger. The card just spoke to me. Thanks again!
Great video, Sammy. As always the answer is, it depends. In the scenario you laid out, as a collector sometimes you have to be willing to pay above comps for a card you want for your PC that you may not see pop up often at small local shows or online. The Shriners in Boston is coming up and I expect to have access to a lot more prewar than I normally see locally. I try to be disciplined when it comes to buying, but I suspect I will pay above comps for some of the cards I want at the show and I am budgeting for that. A lot of times, when you're at a show and actually holding the card you want it can be really hard to turn down the chance to buy it over a few bucks. For cards that can be found more commonly there is no good reason to pay above comps, and dealers should be willing to work with you if you express interest in such a card. At the end of the day, this is about yours or mine or anyone's PC, and it is hard to begrudge anyone spending whatever they see fit for a card that will stay in their PC for a lifetime.
I'll be at Shriner's on that Saturday. Looking forward to it. I think you hit the nail on the head perfectly. Tougher to find cards for a PC, when you have it in your hand and it's within budget, jump on it!
Gave a video like. Thanks for sharing my comment, Sammy! Fun share my friend. I'm going to be looking for a '53 Topps Mantle at the Strongsville show in a 1 or Authentic grade. I would be willing to pay over comps for it if it was the right one for my collection. I'm going into my search with this already baked into the price I will be willing to pay. As I will be looking for one with nice eye appeal for the given grade that is within my price range.
That's definitely what I was getting it at with the Mantle demonstration. The nice thing about the 53 is that you have a lot of opportunities to find the one you want.
Great stuff as always, Sammy! I agree, comps are the basis for the price we aim to pay (preferably below of course). The rare and scarce items are sometimes without measure. I just picked up a card that literally has never sold with public record. Crazy to try and value a card based on a similar player in the set that sold years ago, or maybe a similar set that may have a sale to compare. Very tough, but that's also the fun of it!
Thanks Aaron. What you're saying is very true. Sometimes it can be very challenging to put a price on a card because of how few have been sold in the past. Then you sometimes have to compare it against another player like you said.
Great question. I think probably yes on both your examples. You mentioned 10% more on the '56 Mantle example. At a big regional show there likely will be a few others at a similar price point, but if the card is "speaking" to me and I don't have to deal with tax and shipping, and the dealer conversation is pleasant enough, I think 10% above comp is not unreasonable.
The 56 Mantle example was to demonstrate that there are plenty of them out there to find. The 10% above comps was meant to make it a bit enticing if the card fit your preference. That can be tricky and I think different collectors will have opinions on that. Some would just go for it because it's there and it may not be there if you wait while others may continue to look and see if they could find a similar one for less.
Absolutely, no brainer. The use of the brain goes out the window when it comes a matter of the heart. I recently got a 1955 Rawlings Stan Musial hand cut card in SGC 1.5
For many of us, there are two hurdles to jump... Marketplace scarcity and Condition scarcity. For your two examples, and for me, it would probably go down like this. The Stahl-Meyer Mays has both marketplace scarcity given the limited issuance, and condition scarcity given they way they were packaged and the ephemeral nature of a baseball card of that era. If you run across the Mays at a show, you have already crossed the first hurdle. In that instant, for you alone, it no longer has marketplace scarcity, as you have a specimen right in front of you. Now the condition scarcity kicks in and it is a value proposition. Is the card in a condition you are willing to accept for the price. If not, move on, and your hunt for that card is not over. But maybe its a yes, and you pop on it, knowing full well that it will be a long while before you see another... and it might just be worse looking. The Mantle card does not have marketplace scarcity. A quick look on eBay and I quit counting at 100. This card, for me, would be a wait it out scenario. Given the number in the market at any given time, you will eventually meet both your condition and price point.
You hit it perfectly. That was the reason why I chose both those cards. They were merely just examples as you can make the case with other cards in the hobby, but super well done explanation. Marketplace Scarcity and Condition Scarcity go hand in glove in a lot situations. The 56 Mantle doesn't have a marketplace scarcity, but it can have a condition scarcity. That, however, is a case by case basis based on the buyer.
Eye appeal matters in paying over comps for me. I will do it occasionally because even common vintage cards to find perfectly centered with great eye appeal are not easy to find. Specific cards you can search for a long time to find one that looks almost perfect.
Good stuff here Sammy. I would overpay slightly for a player I really like if the card has fantastic eye appeal! Bargain bins. I like looking for low serial numbered cards in bargain bins.
I would not buy the '56 Mantle above comp in the opening minutes of a show, or at all, because it's not a card that's hard to find in low grade. (The possible thing to consider is you avoid shipping and tax at the show.) But that Stahl-Meyer Mays card, if you've been looking for that card in vain, you don't dare walk away. If I were to find that card later in the show for cheaper, or in better condition, hell, buy that one too! It will be easy to sell the less desirable one. In short, I'd rather regret paying too much than to regret losing out because I went for a walk.
Throwing out comps on rare stuff is very true. I keep thinking back to the Pinkerton Mathewson. I'm glad I called you over on that one. I don't regret paying what I paid.
I think the availability of the card dictates what I am going to pay. If it’s a rare/scarce card I am willing to pay over comps just on the chance that I may not see it again. If it’s a more ready available card that you typically see at most shows I almost would never pay over comps because the supply of the card allows me to be more patient.
Am I willing to pay above comps for a big card at card shows? -Depends on what it is. For most things, no. You can find more of them (think '56T Mays or something like that). If it was a Perez Steele Guarantee Registration Auto from a HOFer (which are all essentially 1 of 1s)- I AM the comps haha. So then it depends on how much higher they are. If it's a little bit higher, I'll probably buy it. They are 1/1s, and I'm obsessed with collecting them ha. If it was triple over what I think it's worth, I wouldn't like it- but I'd pass on it. Your examples (ironic that I had already typed the '56T Mays in my prior text ha) I'd consider buying the Stahl Meyer on the spot, again- depending on how far we are talking above comps. It would also depend on (as the cards get more expensive) on what budget I currently had left, what else I was looking for. I tend to try to be opportunistic 99% of the time. There are literal THOUSANDS of things on my wantlists, so while I may be drawn to one item or the other as what I may be looking at at a show or online- but I tend to buy the deals that I find, from a wide range of things that I'm looking for. Granted, with the exception of some of those rare things I would like to have when I see them, pending price, budget, opportunity, and level of scarcity.
It was really awesome to see you implementing this at The National. I also really enjoyed helping in the process. I think you and I share a similar outlook when it comes to buying for our PC's. For some of the tougher, harder to acquire cards, we're more inclined to stretch our hobby dollars a bit more. But for a 56T, we'll do our due diligence and carefully purchase for the right price.
We are definitely similar in that aspect Sammy! I’m biased, but I think it’s the best way to go about it! It’s economics, supply and demand, opportunity, opportunity cost, etc- simplified 🤪
I know for a fact I probably paid about $50-60 more for a Bell Brand card at the National but I did it because those cards are just so hard to come across at shows and I needed it for my collection. And often it’s so hard to check comps at shows because the cell / WiFi service can be so bad. I just go with it and if they can come down some on the price that’s great, if not I’ll try my best to work with it or pass and move on
4:31
My bargain bins are organized at the beginning of a show. As the hours (or days) go by, though, the organization gets knocked into disarray.
A tip for the buyers would be to make sure they're not making a mess out of other people's belongings.
As a former dealer, I understand what you're saying. I don't know how far you go with the organization, but I think to ensure that it stays organized, there needs to be indicators (markers to track where a buyer is looking, labels to show that they're in number order) placed for the buyer to know to not mess up the box.
@@SammyThunder
Best laid plans, my friend. I get your point, though.
My organization has typically been year/number order. For set builders, it's perfect.
In my experience, set builders tend to maintain the organization. Not everyone is so nice, though...and the middle of a show is not the best time to re-organize boxes (undo the chaos caused by one nitwit.)
I went to Mt. Kisco show this Sunday and you weren't there! I totally wanted to shake your hand and thank you for getting me into producing my own youtube content on my channel and also thank you reignited my love for the hobby. Maybe next show!
I was there from about 10 to about 11:30 or so. It was a fairly quick visit for me. I hope you had a good time at the show. It was better than previous shows.
@SammyThunder oh no kidding! I was there same time. Then I must not have noticed you walking around. Honestly I was talking to dealers and looking at their great inventories. It was well attended and busy so I guess you're right, it was a great show!
Hey Sammy, thanks for sharing my comment in the video, I really do appreciate it, and hopefully that advice of the dollar bins as an entry point may also resonate with some of your other viewers as well.
Thanks Andrew.
I have absolutely no problem paying over comps if the card is tough to find. In fact, a lot of the times I do pay over comps for scare cards and I don’t lose any sleep about it. Comps are not the definitive answer of what a price should be for a card. It is just a starting point.
If the card on the other hand is plentiful and you can find one anytime you search on eBay, I will review the card and what comps typically are. Most times I won’t pay over comps, because I know I will find one similar down the line. But again, comps should not determine the exact price. It should just be a tool. Great video Sammy.
I feel the same way Eric. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on it. When you do come across a tough to find card, it's hard to walk away. Especially when it's a desired card you want for your PC.
To answer your pay above the comps question. For me, a person's character matters. A lot. Business, and selling cards at a show. It's about the relationship. And relations are about trust. I am more likely to pay a bit more than a cards comp price, when I know I can feel good about the person am buying, the card from.
I think it has go to both ways in that case. Yes, buy it from a trusted source, but also buy it because you like the card and it meets your preference.
@@SammyThunder Yeah, that's true as well.
You always bring quality content in your videos Sammy!! Thank you for all you do for the card hobby!!
Thank you so much!
Great video, Sammy! I love hearing other collectors' thoughts! I think in both scenarios you presented, I'm willing to pay above comps. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to pay above comps, ever! If it's the right card that meets my eye appeal and it is "the card" I'll pay above comps. Especially if it's a hard card to find or has common issues that make it tougher to find with high eye appeal. Like centering issues with the 79 Ozzie Smith or print issues with the 60 Yastrzemski, for example. I could absolutely see paying 30% percent above for a hard to find card that has eye appeal.
Definitely! The Ozzie is a great example. Finding a really nicely centered one is tough to come by, so if that's something you passion for for your PC, I can understand paying a little extra for the premium quality!
Hey Sammy! I feel honored that you used my comment. It made sense in my head when I wrote it, but I was afraid it might sound rambling. You are also very kind to call out my channel, I really appreciate that.
As far as your next question. I am willing and did pay about 15% above comps on my 48 Bowman Musial at the National. It’s hard to find one with the centering I wanted, so when I found this one, I pulled the trigger. The card just spoke to me. Thanks again!
Thanks for commenting! When you find that right card for your collection, sometimes it's definitely worth paying up for it.
Great video, Sammy. As always the answer is, it depends. In the scenario you laid out, as a collector sometimes you have to be willing to pay above comps for a card you want for your PC that you may not see pop up often at small local shows or online. The Shriners in Boston is coming up and I expect to have access to a lot more prewar than I normally see locally. I try to be disciplined when it comes to buying, but I suspect I will pay above comps for some of the cards I want at the show and I am budgeting for that. A lot of times, when you're at a show and actually holding the card you want it can be really hard to turn down the chance to buy it over a few bucks. For cards that can be found more commonly there is no good reason to pay above comps, and dealers should be willing to work with you if you express interest in such a card. At the end of the day, this is about yours or mine or anyone's PC, and it is hard to begrudge anyone spending whatever they see fit for a card that will stay in their PC for a lifetime.
I'll be at Shriner's on that Saturday. Looking forward to it. I think you hit the nail on the head perfectly. Tougher to find cards for a PC, when you have it in your hand and it's within budget, jump on it!
@@SammyThunder Hope to see you there man!
I have a tough time buying the big card if it is a tad above comps. Usually, I end up passing because I can wait until the right card comes around.
Does it depend on the card though?
Gave a video like. Thanks for sharing my comment, Sammy! Fun share my friend. I'm going to be looking for a '53 Topps Mantle at the Strongsville show in a 1 or Authentic grade. I would be willing to pay over comps for it if it was the right one for my collection. I'm going into my search with this already baked into the price I will be willing to pay. As I will be looking for one with nice eye appeal for the given grade that is within my price range.
That's definitely what I was getting it at with the Mantle demonstration. The nice thing about the 53 is that you have a lot of opportunities to find the one you want.
Great stuff as always, Sammy! I agree, comps are the basis for the price we aim to pay (preferably below of course). The rare and scarce items are sometimes without measure. I just picked up a card that literally has never sold with public record. Crazy to try and value a card based on a similar player in the set that sold years ago, or maybe a similar set that may have a sale to compare. Very tough, but that's also the fun of it!
Thanks Aaron. What you're saying is very true. Sometimes it can be very challenging to put a price on a card because of how few have been sold in the past. Then you sometimes have to compare it against another player like you said.
Great question. I think probably yes on both your examples. You mentioned 10% more on the '56 Mantle example. At a big regional show there likely will be a few others at a similar price point, but if the card is "speaking" to me and I don't have to deal with tax and shipping, and the dealer conversation is pleasant enough, I think 10% above comp is not unreasonable.
The 56 Mantle example was to demonstrate that there are plenty of them out there to find. The 10% above comps was meant to make it a bit enticing if the card fit your preference. That can be tricky and I think different collectors will have opinions on that. Some would just go for it because it's there and it may not be there if you wait while others may continue to look and see if they could find a similar one for less.
Absolutely, no brainer. The use of the brain goes out the window when it comes a matter of the heart. I recently got a 1955 Rawlings Stan Musial hand cut card in SGC 1.5
That's pretty awesome. You don't really see those too often.
For many of us, there are two hurdles to jump... Marketplace scarcity and Condition scarcity. For your two examples, and for me, it would probably go down like this.
The Stahl-Meyer Mays has both marketplace scarcity given the limited issuance, and condition scarcity given they way they were packaged and the ephemeral nature of a baseball card of that era. If you run across the Mays at a show, you have already crossed the first hurdle. In that instant, for you alone, it no longer has marketplace scarcity, as you have a specimen right in front of you. Now the condition scarcity kicks in and it is a value proposition. Is the card in a condition you are willing to accept for the price. If not, move on, and your hunt for that card is not over. But maybe its a yes, and you pop on it, knowing full well that it will be a long while before you see another... and it might just be worse looking.
The Mantle card does not have marketplace scarcity. A quick look on eBay and I quit counting at 100. This card, for me, would be a wait it out scenario. Given the number in the market at any given time, you will eventually meet both your condition and price point.
You hit it perfectly. That was the reason why I chose both those cards. They were merely just examples as you can make the case with other cards in the hobby, but super well done explanation.
Marketplace Scarcity and Condition Scarcity go hand in glove in a lot situations. The 56 Mantle doesn't have a marketplace scarcity, but it can have a condition scarcity. That, however, is a case by case basis based on the buyer.
Eye appeal matters in paying over comps for me. I will do it occasionally because even common vintage cards to find perfectly centered with great eye appeal are not easy to find. Specific cards you can search for a long time to find one that looks almost perfect.
Very true. If you're a set builder looking for pristine conditioned cards, paying up for premium quality is worth it.
Never pay above comps.
If a card is really speaking to me and the dealer won’t budge and it’s a dealer I trust I’ll buy it unless it’s crazy over comps. 10% id be in.
I feel that. There are definitely a lot of variables to these decisions.
Good stuff here Sammy. I would overpay slightly for a player I really like if the card has fantastic eye appeal!
Bargain bins. I like looking for low serial numbered cards in bargain bins.
I would not buy the '56 Mantle above comp in the opening minutes of a show, or at all, because it's not a card that's hard to find in low grade. (The possible thing to consider is you avoid shipping and tax at the show.) But that Stahl-Meyer Mays card, if you've been looking for that card in vain, you don't dare walk away. If I were to find that card later in the show for cheaper, or in better condition, hell, buy that one too! It will be easy to sell the less desirable one. In short, I'd rather regret paying too much than to regret losing out because I went for a walk.
Great point about regrets.
I wore a "Paying Over Comps" shirt to the 2023 National for a reason. You throw out comps on rare cards. I pay 20% over comps all the time.
Throwing out comps on rare stuff is very true. I keep thinking back to the Pinkerton Mathewson. I'm glad I called you over on that one. I don't regret paying what I paid.
I think the availability of the card dictates what I am going to pay. If it’s a rare/scarce card I am willing to pay over comps just on the chance that I may not see it again. If it’s a more ready available card that you typically see at most shows I almost would never pay over comps because the supply of the card allows me to be more patient.
Completely understandable on both points!
Am I willing to pay above comps for a big card at card shows?
-Depends on what it is. For most things, no. You can find more of them (think '56T Mays or something like that). If it was a Perez Steele Guarantee Registration Auto from a HOFer (which are all essentially 1 of 1s)- I AM the comps haha. So then it depends on how much higher they are. If it's a little bit higher, I'll probably buy it. They are 1/1s, and I'm obsessed with collecting them ha. If it was triple over what I think it's worth, I wouldn't like it- but I'd pass on it.
Your examples (ironic that I had already typed the '56T Mays in my prior text ha) I'd consider buying the Stahl Meyer on the spot, again- depending on how far we are talking above comps. It would also depend on (as the cards get more expensive) on what budget I currently had left, what else I was looking for.
I tend to try to be opportunistic 99% of the time. There are literal THOUSANDS of things on my wantlists, so while I may be drawn to one item or the other as what I may be looking at at a show or online- but I tend to buy the deals that I find, from a wide range of things that I'm looking for. Granted, with the exception of some of those rare things I would like to have when I see them, pending price, budget, opportunity, and level of scarcity.
It was really awesome to see you implementing this at The National. I also really enjoyed helping in the process. I think you and I share a similar outlook when it comes to buying for our PC's. For some of the tougher, harder to acquire cards, we're more inclined to stretch our hobby dollars a bit more. But for a 56T, we'll do our due diligence and carefully purchase for the right price.
We are definitely similar in that aspect Sammy! I’m biased, but I think it’s the best way to go about it! It’s economics, supply and demand, opportunity, opportunity cost, etc- simplified 🤪
I know for a fact I probably paid about $50-60 more for a Bell Brand card at the National but I did it because those cards are just so hard to come across at shows and I needed it for my collection.
And often it’s so hard to check comps at shows because the cell / WiFi service can be so bad. I just go with it and if they can come down some on the price that’s great, if not I’ll try my best to work with it or pass and move on
Yeah, the cell/WiFi situation is always an issue. That can definitely work against making deals sometimes.
Rarer stuff I pay up.
I always overpay lol