I appreciate your values and that you are an ethical person!! We need more people like you in this hobby and in the world!!
@SammyThunder
3 ай бұрын
Thank you! I appreciate the kind words!
@craigs.t.3321
3 ай бұрын
This is not a matter of ethics - it’s simple economic supply and demand. If people are willing to pay a premium after someone passed then THAT IS the market value. Judging a seller who is in the business of making a profit is insane…. There’s nothing unethical about selling when demand is at its biggest peak. Buyers aren’t forced to buy the day willie mays passed away…. They choose to. Now Hoarding hand sanitizer and toilet paper during the pandemic and then selling it 100x the market price was unethical because you’re taking advantage of consumers who are desperate with no alternative options. Willie mays collectors do have the option to choose when to purchase and for how much. Big difference.
@K-xb2qz
3 ай бұрын
I bought a few Willie Mays cards before he passed. I saw a good price on a VG 1958 Willie Mays. I just love Willie Mays and vintage cards. Anyway I was looking for a 71 Mays and man it's like everybody jacked up the price. I just shook my head. I knew why people did it. I agree. It should go for what you was selling it for. I would. Thanks for video
@SammyThunder
3 ай бұрын
A 71 Mays went up significantly? It's a great card, but it's not an uncommon one to find. I'm sure you'll be able to find one at a good and fair price. As others have said, patience and time will get you one.
@WarriorKidd06
3 ай бұрын
The last show I went to, I got a steal on a Bill Walton auto card and it was the same week he had passed, the guy was disappointed that he missed the pricing of the card before the show and hadn’t raised it. Very thankful that he didn’t.
@EverydayCardCollector-Jason
3 ай бұрын
I agree 100 percent Sammy. It almost feels a little gross when people try to profit beyond market value when someone passes away.
@SammyThunder
3 ай бұрын
It's going to happen again and again, but yeah, it's low brow.
@stevemutzel5546
3 ай бұрын
Agree 💯. But this hobby has a lot of people in it that try to take advantage of collectors. Have a great day
@Dez9Nutz
3 ай бұрын
Like some of these flippers
@The_Cincinnati_Kid
3 ай бұрын
Hey Sammy- Good for you. I believe you will get repeat business for your honesty. I picked up a ‘67 topps series 3 checklist card with Mays’ head on it for $4 at my LCS on Thursday. I felt lucky. I’ve noticed prices are up on eBay for his earlier ‘50’s and ‘60’s cards. Hopefully they will go back down but they may not. I’m still looking for his ‘70 and ‘71 topps cards.
@Whaler87
3 ай бұрын
What a great question? I sell to collect as well and I have taken the same stance as you. However, in thinking about it, I don't think it's a question of ethics. As others have illustrated this is not selling toilet paper for 10x during a pandemic. People want Mays now, they don't need Mays now. For lack of a better description I think it's more a matter of "bad taste" to raise prices now, but not wrong.
@SammyThunder
3 ай бұрын
Yeah, it’s a good perspective. I probably chose the wrong word to use to describe it. Bad taste is probably better
@armourcoin
3 ай бұрын
Sammy, I am with you 100 percent with your thinking. I was saddened when I heard the news this week about Willie Mays. I thought of you and how proud you are of your Mays Hires cards. A legend has passed, please show some request.
@SammyThunder
3 ай бұрын
Thanks man. I'm glad that you share the same sentiment.
@vintagesportflips
3 ай бұрын
Great video Sammy - I agree with your sentiments. I am an ebay seller of memorabilia and I had a Willie Mays 1960 Book in my drafts on ebay for a while - Finally got it listed yesterday and felt icky doing it. I priced it very fairly though and it sold right away. I agree with hiking up prices to take advantage of the situation is where it becomes a bit unethical.
@SammyThunder
3 ай бұрын
Thanks man. I'm glad that you were able to move yours.
@jeffreypavlik629
3 ай бұрын
The card (vintage) is already printed. No more vintage Willie Mays are going to be printed. So, nothing has changed in the amount of vintage cards available. So, there should not be an increase in prices.
@fastbreaksbreakfast
3 ай бұрын
Thank you for sharing, Sammy. I think it’s complicated. If you sell the card below the current market price (the price prior to his passing) it may encourage some people who are not interested in the card for their PC to pick it up and flip it for a profit. Cheers!
@mickeyshea8013
3 ай бұрын
Ebay has lots of vultures whenever this happens to anybody
@SammyThunder
3 ай бұрын
It happens every time.
@jimmybacas8003
3 ай бұрын
I'm not a dealer, but going .99 Cent Auction style on Ebay is always an option. Let the free market dictate the price. I feel like that would take a huge chunk out of the ethical dilemma. If it goes higher? It goes higher
@SammyThunder
3 ай бұрын
Fair take!
@vintageonvintage817
3 ай бұрын
This is a really interesting question Sammy. I tend to believe that the market will set the value, people don’t have to buy the card. As you know a big part of this hobby is patience and waiting for the card you want in the range you are willing to pay. I do believe your approach is refreshing and shows that you are the type of dealer that treats people fairly. Ultimately that approach will lead to happier customers and probably more purchases in the long run.
@SammyThunder
3 ай бұрын
Thanks Steve, I aim to be fair and reasonable.
@DogAteMyCard
3 ай бұрын
Hi Sammy, Great video and thanks for raising this issue and discussing. I do not think charging a premium for Willie Mays cards at this time is gouging but I do not think sellers should do it regardless. in my opinion gouging is overcharging for an essential item (food, gas, electricity, medicine and such) by a seller who can control the market due to some unusual circumstance (selling gas after a hurricane, selling Lysol during a pandemic and such). The sad passing of the Say Hey kid is in the news now and the demand for his card is higher as a result. But this shall pass and at a point in the future the card prices will settle back down again (I believe). The reason I believe that sellers should not exact a premium at this point is that it is bad business to do so. Typically, a buyer will spend from a discretionary budget on cards, and this is often capped. A seller who wants to make a good deal to a seller will see more of that budget spent on their items (if one card cost 50% of the budget they will likely be far more careful with the remaining 50% - but if a buyer purchases five cards for 75% of the budget they feel they are getting a better deal and the seller gets more of the buyer's money) Buyers simply spend more if they feel they are getting a good deal. I need the 1962 Wilie Mays to finish my set (one of three cards) and I am holding off at this time due to the expected premium. I will survive without the card and the anticipation will only make the day I get the card more exciting. Anyway, great video and thanks for asking for our thoughts.
@SammyThunder
3 ай бұрын
Appreciate the thought out response and critique. Very well done! I also believe it is bad business because there are a lot of inexperienced collectors out there that may bite on that first card that they see. However, there are experienced collectors who will take notice of such actions.
@ArduinoDavid
3 ай бұрын
I think you might be wrong in one way …I think his passing alerts people about the player (people are sleeping) and causes a demand for the player…do you think this is what drives prices up
@royakard8536
3 ай бұрын
You even being concerned with such a topic is a sign of good character. Most would just see it as yet another way to manipulate a situation or market. I myself am kicking at my own lack of not owning more cards of him. We all have massive gaping holes in our collection i guess.
@SammyThunder
3 ай бұрын
There are plenty of his cards out there for a reasonable prices. I wouldn’t kick yourself over for that. There are plenty of opportunities.
@royakard8536
3 ай бұрын
@SammyThunder Eh no big deal really.. I haven't made a total wreck of collecting over the years anyhow. I still wished I had more of the 50s - 70s era iconic players. In the end, the Lord has blessed me with alot of cards.
@heatherwyse295
3 ай бұрын
I think someone should be able to sell their cards for whatever price they want to ask. If someone doesn't like the price then by golly don't buy it.... if they are asking too much they most likely wont sell the cards......
@victornegroncards
3 ай бұрын
I thought you’d have a different take as a seller but it was refreshing to hear what you said. I too think it’s a bit unethical to try to bump up profits & benefit from someone’s death but it’s something I’ve seen happen many times throughout my life in the hobby. The worst was when Kobe Bryant died tragically and immediately his card prices got ridiculous. I have many of his rookie cards that I pulled back in the day that I could’ve made some nice money on, but just didn’t want to do that. Some people might think that was foolish but that was just my personal choice. I think it’s one of those topics in the hobby that many of us will always be split on.
@SammyThunder
3 ай бұрын
I appreciate and admire your choice on doing that.
@cryptonite8495
3 ай бұрын
You said you would sell your consignment Mays cards for market price. What if, after his death, market price is now higher for awhile? Does your consigner want you to hold off until prices settle again? Assuming they do.
@SammyThunder
3 ай бұрын
If that becomes the case and there are consistent sales that show that increase, then yes. However, it can't be evaluated over a week's worth of sales. Great question.
@vintagesanctuary
3 ай бұрын
Great question, Sammy! I could see a seller increasing the prices of the Willie Mays cards in their inventory because they are anticipating increased demand and hence upward pressure on prices. If no one is buying their Mays cards at their new higher prices, then they missed out on some sales and can decide if they want to correct their Mays prices downward. Pricing is an interesting venture. Prices will never change unless a buyer or seller is willing to believe that the price should be higher or lower right now than what it has been in the recent past, and is willing to act on that belief. Plus, there are times when certain prices increase substantially in a short period of time! So, I have no problem with a seller raising (or lowering) their prices, within reason, to see if it creates the desired result. However, I must confess that when someone is holding a player's cards until the point that they pass on, in order to potentially maximize profit, that does feel sleazy to me, even though there is nothing illegal about it. Thanks for reading, my collecting brother! 😊👊
@SammyThunder
3 ай бұрын
Great points Adam. I only feel for the inexperienced collector who will make an impulse purchase on a card without really knowing what they're buying. That too, is a heavily debatable topic, so this video theme could expand in a direction of buyer vs. seller conflicts.
@markhoyle2275
3 ай бұрын
I agree with this take
@SammyThunder
3 ай бұрын
Thanks Mark
@mikethesportshistorycollec1947
3 ай бұрын
When a player dies, the demand or spike tends to go up, but there's no shortage of cards so I can't see them going up unless is real short term. Now autographs are a little different in that the player will never sign again, but in Mays's case, he hasn't been able to signed for a few years so that spike should have been back then not now.
@SammyThunder
3 ай бұрын
That's definitely a key part of it. There are no shortage of Topps Mays cards. You can generally find them at most shows. The autographs perspective is an interesting one.
@robertpomerhn4570
3 ай бұрын
How many “ collectors “ are historians of the game? How many “ flippers” can spell unethical much less respect an alltime great ? You love Mays Sammy and he is one of your go to guys for reasons far beyond dollar signs and price gouging I will continue to build my Mays collection to help educate my son on a luminary whose legend shines far brighter than a mere piece of cardboard.
@SammyThunder
3 ай бұрын
I think we have quite a bit of collectors here who I would consider historians of the game. There are some knowledgeable minds here. I appreciate Mays because his legacy was passed down to me through my grandfather and my Dad. I'm too young to have been able to experience Mays playing, but I can live vicariously through the stories my Grandfather and Dad have shared with me. It's awesome that you are passing on the stories, the cards and the history of Mays to educate your son on the game.
@robertpomerhn4570
3 ай бұрын
Unfortunately most of the followers of your channel including myself if you bless me with that title aren’t representative of the larger population of card moguls who pack the national and buy/ sell / trade commodities. Most folks under the age of 50 do not consider themselves collectors but wd rather hustle a card and flip it two stands down …. It’s not a negative vibe on my part just a stark realization why most guys who I grew up collecting with forsake the “ scene” and go about their goals quietly without any fanfare. Its terrific to see the hobby grow and prosper in avenues real and unimagined but lets not pretend that the improprieties of the industry care about integrity and economic balance and hobby health
@ACollectorsDream
3 ай бұрын
Thank you for sharing your thoughts
@SammyThunder
3 ай бұрын
Thanks Orlando.
@jimfalkler9361
3 ай бұрын
Hi Sammy. I think selling Willie's cards at the market price is fair. I hope you have a great show.
@SammyThunder
3 ай бұрын
Thanks Jim!
@thedrewavintagelegacy6455
3 ай бұрын
I agree with you. Nothing wrong with continuing a business as a business but absolutely no need to take advantage of people through possible higher prices just because of a passing. To me that show a lack of compassion towards the player’s legacy as well as your potential customers. How much short term mark up is your business integrity worth?
@SammyThunder
3 ай бұрын
_How much short term mark up is your business integrity worth?_ This is definitely the key question!
@kevincurtis6550
3 ай бұрын
Sammy, I do not like people jacking up prices to take advantage of a ball player’s passing. Not only unethical , but greedy. Wondering if they will do this with Orlando Cepeda, also. If people do sell cards or memorabilia of a deceased player, they should be based on fair market value.
@SammyThunder
3 ай бұрын
It’s possible with Cepeda, but probably not as much as Mays.
@kevincurtis6550
3 ай бұрын
@@SammyThunder I would agree with you.
@senseidominoe15
3 ай бұрын
Personally, I think it is unethical to raise prices to make some extra money based on someones passing. But it is nothing new, unfortunately. However, it’s usually only a short term hike in prices. Eventually the price will go back to where they should be. Unless the player was undervalued to begin with.
@SammyThunder
3 ай бұрын
Sadly, it happens time and time again. You're right though, the price will eventually come back down to earth.
@NuthinFancyCollectibles
3 ай бұрын
Good luck at the show. I hope the weather is good. As for your question…..demand drives up prices with everything else. Gouging consumers, however, is wrong and unethical.
@SammyThunder
3 ай бұрын
Thank you. The show was a bit slow today, but had fun.
@ACD1994
3 ай бұрын
Mangini, said in one of his recent videos that we should remember Willie Mays, as a human being first. .I agree with that. I would say, along the lines, which you stated; it's okay to sell cards despite his passing, but gauging prices isn't really every cool in any situation. Especially someone passing away. I definitely think there will be some collectors who are going to be taken advantage of. You are one of the good dealers and people of our hobby though, for sure.
@SammyThunder
3 ай бұрын
Thanks Andrew. John's take on Mays' passing is a solid one. We definitely tend to get wrapped up in the aura that Mays was, but forget that beyond his legendary status, he was a human being and had a family like the rest of us.
@ACD1994
3 ай бұрын
@@SammyThunder Sadly, Mays' wasn't the first or will be the last. Sandy Koufax, is 88 years old, and hopefully will have more years of good health, too. But I could see his card prices see some upticks also. Maybe it's because his career was, cut short, or the dominance, and his cool and unique aura as well. I don't know. But yeah.
@oarancards4443
3 ай бұрын
Mays cards have always been overpriced
@s.macintosh-jc9rf
3 ай бұрын
Hi Sammy, Thanks for bringing up the topic of reselling Willie Mays cards. My position is that we live in a free market economy. While I might not appreciate some of the prices that result from the market, it’s caveat emptor. Have a great weekend, Peter
@SammyThunder
3 ай бұрын
Thanks Peter. It's just unfortunate that there are people out there that do such things, but you're right. There's no rules or laws against it.
@LouRokTV
3 ай бұрын
Bro, it’s your livelihood you gotta sell, there should be n issue…me personally I just don’t buy right after(it’s just me) but also it’s super expensive😂
@SammyThunder
3 ай бұрын
Do you not buy right after because it's too expensive?
@billyturbert7629
3 ай бұрын
Interesting topic - I agree with a few commenters, strike while the iron is hot, so to speak. Demand is high. EBay sellers are raising prices as you could/should as well
@SammyThunder
3 ай бұрын
I think that's where we differ. You can do it, but should you do it?
@stephenkraft609
3 ай бұрын
Profiting from re-selling baseball cards is always unethical, it doesn't matter if the player died 2 days ago, 80 years ago, or is still very much alive. People who profit from re-selling baseball cards are unnecessary middle men putting their hands in the cookie jar and driving up prices for collectors, and the hobby would be so much better if they all just went away.
@SammyThunder
3 ай бұрын
This sounds pretty harsh and a bit unfair. Who are these unnecessary middle men? Dealers who sell baseball cards have to make something on what they're selling, otherwise they can't stay in business. Are there some dealers who have prices that are way too high? Sure. However, there are plenty of dealers too who will sell you cards at market prices, that are fair. I've had plenty of great sales from dealers where I felt really good about the transaction and the experience. I appreciate your take on it.
@ACD1994
3 ай бұрын
I don't understand the last part of your comment, Stephen. Collectors who attend card shows go for the experience yes, but also to buy cards? Being a vendor doesn't make someone a middle man...neither does a store owner. It's the price gauging, that some people do, which ruins it for the rest of us well intentioned people. I agree with that part.
@cardboardandplastic9267
3 ай бұрын
If you have a 1952 Mantle StephenKraft for 5 cents please let me know. That was the original price of the card in the pack and it would be unfair for me to buy it at a higher price.
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