eTopps - Yu Darvish eBay Auctions...is the "gimmick" up?

[200lbhockeyplayer]

After forgetting that eTopps existed for a few years and then the recent posts about the eTopps WBC cards, I became curious to see what the Yu Darvish single would do on the eBay market.

Now granted there is a glut of Darvish singles on eBay right now (30 or so), but about 10 have closed already and none for more than $16. Obviously those who bought this single are doubling their $7 but is the hassle of the chase really worth it? Judging by some responses before, you basically have to log your order within the first 30 minutes on eTopps or get shut out.

Do these cards ever jump higher? Darvish is supposed to be the next great import from Asia, and he's had more publicity than Matsuzaka ever had in the US while he was still pitching in Japan...so to me this should be a bigger card.

I think it simply looks like a silly gimmick more than anything else.

How wrong am I?

 

[Jaypers]

If they fetch this type of price when his 09 BC comes out, I'll agree with this assessment.

 

[ChasHawk]

I think they would have gone much higher if:

1. He was already on a major league team (Fukudome was selling for $20+ last year)

2. If Japanese bidders could buy the inventoried cards.

Once somebody has one in hand, it could go for a lot higher to a Japanese bidder. But that is months away, so who knows?

 

[Johan Santana 57]

If they fetch this type of price when his 09 BC comes out, I'll agree with this assessment.

hes got an 09 BC card? Wow, didn't know that, just a base card?

How can they make the card if he is still in Japan for at least 6 more years I think.

 

[Jaypers]

If they fetch this type of price when his 09 BC comes out, I'll agree with this assessment.

hes got an 09 BC card? Wow, didn't know that, just a base card?

How can they make the card if he is still in Japan for at least 6 more years I think.

He's on the WBC roster, and Topps owns the rights to those.

 

[Johan Santana 57]

If they fetch this type of price when his 09 BC comes out, I'll agree with this assessment.

hes got an 09 BC card? Wow, didn't know that, just a base card?

How can they make the card if he is still in Japan for at least 6 more years I think.

He's on the WBC roster, and Topps owns the rights to those.

Oh right, exclusive. So is it a WBC insert type card or a true FY bowman chrome card?

 

[Jaypers]

[quote="Johan Santana #57":1u6y6i41]

If they fetch this type of price when his 09 BC comes out, I'll agree with this assessment.

hes got an 09 BC card? Wow, didn't know that, just a base card?

How can they make the card if he is still in Japan for at least 6 more years I think.

He's on the WBC roster, and Topps owns the rights to those.

Oh right, exclusive. So is it a WBC insert type card or a true FY bowman chrome card?[/quote:1u6y6i41]

He's part of the Bowman Chrome checklist with the other prospects, but will be featured in his WBC duds.

 

[carlitoson]

Darvish is also due to have a card in the Topps WBC set, due out on March 27th (originally due out last week).

As for the OP, I think the eTopps cards are very nice, but I personally wouldn't go through the hassle trying to flip them for a such a small profit.

 

[200lbhockeyplayer]

In regards to the "gimmick" - I was thinking more of eTopps than Darvish.

If we are to believe what Darvish is saying, his goal is to win 200 games in Japan...not play in the Major Leagues.

But I guess I can understand that if the Japanese bidders can't get these cards shipped to them...they really only have a small portion of their total value. It will be interesting to see when these cards start shipping and see what the results are then.

For me, I was just surprised that with all of the hype that Darvish has received, his first US (albeit bizarre cards) cards are generating such little interest. And like JP alluded to, I think the Bowman Chrome will blow up and there are a lot more than 1000 of those.

So again, is the etopps gimmick up?

 

[Tomlinson21RB]

Darvish is also due to have a card in the Topps WBC set, due out on March 27th (originally due out last week).

As for the OP, I think the eTopps cards are very nice, but I personally wouldn't go through the hassle trying to flip them for a such a small profit.

Is there really a hassle involved? Sign in at 1 pm EST if near a computer and place an order. Wait a week, find out you got the card and click list on ebay. Wait a week, receive payment and click transfer card. No trips to the post office, no printing mailing labels or packaging the card.

 

[200lbhockeyplayer]

Darvish is also due to have a card in the Topps WBC set, due out on March 27th (originally due out last week).

As for the OP, I think the eTopps cards are very nice, but I personally wouldn't go through the hassle trying to flip them for a such a small profit.

That's the point I agree with and simply don't get the hassle. After fees and everything, what is the profit? $5?

Now granted if you can make $5 on 1000 of them in one swoop...sure, we've got something going, but $5 isn't really the kind of excitement I expected after seeing how many people here seemed shut out of this and seemed bummed.

 

[Tomlinson21RB]

I think the "gimmick" on etopps in terms of turning a big profit is up, but you can say that about most ways to buy cards. The thing I noticed in my time on etopps is that it's more heavily based on collecting, and not profiting which is very different than most of the discussion on this site. The guys that know how to play the game over there can accumulate a ton of high quality cards are a low price and it doesn't have to take up room in their closet. They can buy, trade, and sell with a few clicks without paying shipping on every transactions. I really liked the couple years that I collected mostly etopps, but as a player collector I lost some interest in it after a while and went back to regular cards. I still think some of my etopps in hands are among the best looking cards that I own.

So, the gimmick is up for hitting it big with etopps. The gimmick is not up for an interesting twist on collecting.

 

[200lbhockeyplayer]

I think the "gimmick" on etopps in terms of turning a big profit is up, but you can say that about most ways to buy cards. The thing I noticed in my time on etopps is that it's more heavily based on collecting, and not profiting which is very different than most of the discussion on this site. The guys that know how to play the game over there can accumulate a ton of high quality cards are a low price and it doesn't have to take up room in their closet. They can buy, trade, and sell with a few clicks without paying shipping on every transactions. I really liked the couple years that I collected mostly etopps, but as a player collector I lost some interest in it after a while and went back to regular cards. I still think some of my etopps in hands are among the best looking cards that I own.

So, the gimmick is up for hitting it big with etopps. The gimmick is not up for an interesting twist on collecting.

Fair enough.

Well said.

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

Yeah, so what would Yu's WBC card be called if he eventually does play in the MLB - a first year/FY card? What if he never does play in the MLB? Maybe I'm the only one confused here.

[quote="Johan Santana #57":195r0m5x]

If they fetch this type of price when his 09 BC comes out, I'll agree with this assessment.

hes got an 09 BC card? Wow, didn't know that, just a base card?

How can they make the card if he is still in Japan for at least 6 more years I think.

He's on the WBC roster, and Topps owns the rights to those.

Oh right, exclusive. So is it a WBC insert type card or a true FY bowman chrome card?[/quote:195r0m5x]

 

[notjomommasclint]

i think this will be a case where the wbc set and bowman chrome cards bring the value of his etopps up. etopps isnt really the brand i would put the initial "rookie" card in. i think you will see the other releases drag this price up some.

 

[Leaf]

In regards to the "gimmick" - I was thinking more of eTopps than Darvish.

If we are to believe what Darvish is saying, his goal is to win 200 games in Japan...not play in the Major Leagues.

But I guess I can understand that if the Japanese bidders can't get these cards shipped to them...they really only have a small portion of their total value. It will be interesting to see when these cards start shipping and see what the results are then.

For me, I was just surprised that with all of the hype that Darvish has received, his first US (albeit bizarre cards) cards are generating such little interest. And like JP alluded to, I think the Bowman Chrome will blow up and there are a lot more than 1000 of those.

So again, is the etopps gimmick up?

YES!!!!!,... We finally agree.... We have been chasing/negotiating with Darvish for the last 6 months (to no avail)... word we are hearing is that he fully expects to RETIRE in Japan.... Just what we hear... BG

 

[200lbhockeyplayer]

YES!!!!!,... We finally agree.... We have been chasing/negotiating with Darvish for the last 6 months (to no avail)... word we are hearing is that he fully expects to RETIRE in Japan.... Just what we hear... BG

I'm fairly certain we've agreed on things before, but in this case with Darvish...he is most definitely giving the impression of staying in Japan.

 

[Wes]

The money will overwhelm him in about five years when he grows tired of his Japanese celebrity.

 

[Bruin7]

I think this is a testament to how strong the Bowman Chrome following really is. Besides any high-end cards from UD (2008 USA Box Set auto & memorabilia cards), the majority of buyers/collectors/prospectors are chromies and will wait for that card.

Allen

 

[Codasco07]

In 2007, the Justin Upton and Joba were both at around 25-30 after the initial offering. When both of them were introduced for autos, the price jumped to 40-50. Granted that took about a year, but there's still money to be made. I prefer flipping mine immediately though.