Conference school::sports_memorabilia

    I haven't run across this, but something along the same line happened
    to me just yesterday. A friend and I did the card shop tour for half
    a day, and after we covered 3 shops I was only out about 5 bucks. The
    last place we stopped had two high priced cards I needed for my
    collection; A 1962 Perry rookie and a 1965 Mays booking for $100.00 and
    $70.00 respectively in near mint. They were priced at $70.00 each, the
    Mays being in near mint condition and the Perry being somewhat less,
    say ex to ex-mnt. I wasn't seriously thinking of buying them, but I
    asked to see them anyway. I examined the Perry, and made an off-hand
    comment that the card wasn't in good enough condition to pay $70.00
    for (I thought it was a nice card, but I wasn't serious about buying it
    and I was looking to have some sport with the kid behind the counter).
    Anyway, he cracks open the Beckett's, looks it up and says "This card
    books for $100.00, but with this soft corner you can have it for low
    book" which was $50.00.  It was worth $50.00 (to me) so I took it.
    
    Next he shows me the 1965 Mays, and this card is just about perfect.
    Good gloss, color, corners, centering, the whole nine yards. He's got
    a price of $70.00 on it, which is book. So I say " how much do you
    really want for it?" and he does the same thing with the Becketts and
    sells it to me for $55.00. Now, I am 40 miles from where Willie Mays 
    played, and I just bought a beautiful '65 for $15.00 *less* than book.
    I was pleased. Very pleased.
    
    For those of you who are wondering "This is nice, but what does it have
    to do with phone solicitation?" I'll tell you.
    
    Now I'm home for about two hours, the cards are out of my mind, and
    I'm settled in the recliner getting ready to watch ol' George pop out
    the fist alien baby born on T.V. The phone rings, and it's the kid's
    (behind the counter) father. When he identifies himself, I think he's
    going to give me shit about taking advantage of his son. But what he 
    does is *thank* me for spending money in his shop! A dealer that I've
    called a viper in the past ( in the nicest possible way ) called me up
    to *thank* me for spending my money.
    
    Maybe the inventory isn't moving as fast as they would like us to
    believe. Maybe cynics like me are slowing these guys down. Maybe the
    error cards aren't paying all the bills. Maybe. 
    
    Well, it was a nice thought.
    
    John D.
    
    
    

    Is it possible for you to identify the shop and where it is?
    
    Thanks 
    
    Norm

    RE: .3
    
    The name of the shop is Talkin' Baseball. It's in Danville, California.
    
    He's got a *beautiful* 1956 Hank Aaron he wants $110.00 for, as well as
    about 6 1962 Yaz's in various conditions for various prices.
    
    Gary the owner, although a fairly nice guy, has been pretty hard-nosed
    about his prices in the past. His son sold me the cards while Gary was
    absent. I really don't know what to make of it.
    
    John D.
    

    Sounds like the father told the son to make a fast liquidation, as old
    baseball cards are becoming more popular and are coming out of the
    attic, the demand has cooled off, and inventory is starting to increase
    to the point where its scaring the old man.  Or the the son has told
    his dad he's planning to go to college next year, and its getting the
    old man jumpy, where's the tuition coming from.  I'm glad you got a
    good deal.  I think you have to continue to work on these dealers and
    eventually, they get soft and punchy, and you get the GOOD price. 
    Think the competition is starting to get to some of these dealers, with
    all the Dept. stores starting to carry cards, they no longer have a 
    monopoly on the business.  Its good for the Hobby.

    I wonder if the Rolex watches were real or knock-offs??  Mr. Mint was
    selling watches??  What show was this, the N.E. Watch Makers Assoc.?
    I also have seen ads for Mr. Mint selling autogragh memorabilia, which
    means older cards are probably getting harder to find.  I also have
    the same feeling about older cards, in less than Mint condition.  I'm
    not dealing, so they are acceptable to me in VG or better or worse,
    if I want the card bad enough.  Because of the limited number of old
    cards, I feel that they will always hold their price, and thats a good
    point, as more collectors save cards in their personnel collections,
    there will be less older cards in circulation, holding the prices
    stable.

    So, Mr. Mint also became Mr. Memorabilia.  I guess now he also gets to
    be called Mr. Reconditioned.  Looks like he's becoming a conglomerate.
    
    michael

    
    Re: .2
    
    I think you may also have benefitted from the "off-season" effect when
    baseball memorabilia hype cools off between seasons.  Remember how dead
    this file was a few months ago?   - Jim