More mama_bear** discussion...

[blazers091]

So here is a question for everyone.

When paying with paypal, how does it work when the seller's expected delivery date is a 30+ days away? How long do you have to file a claim or what not?

"You open the case no later than 45 calendar days from the date of your PayPal payment and – if you need to – escalate it to a claim no more than 20 calendar days after you open your case."

 

[wickedliquids]

Does anyone know the actual cost of Sterling coming out of Topps directly? Not from a Master Distributor or a dealer?

I only ask because from what I've read on both forums, I read a lot of speculation or "I know this person and that person," or "I know this seller and this distributor," etc, etc. which is all a load of crap.

In terms of money and sales, there's really only one way mamabear is making out okay in these transactions. I read a lot about how skeptical they are of this seller, but when I'm looking at the feedback, she's delivering on the product.

I feel buyers need to beware and be cautious just as you would buy any product from anybody. But until someone can VERIFY what the product is costing out of Topps, I think it's been highly speculative from both boards.

I need to mention, and I'm sure MANY of you are aware of this to some degree, but you DO realize what you are paying for something at retail (not talking about baseball cards, but everything in general) is NOT the cost for the store right?

Pack of retail:

Distributor - $0.50 cents ---> Target $0.75 ---> YOU $2.00

I only used Target because for about 4 years, I worked for a company that sold to Target, Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon, etc and it was a real eye opener in terms of mark up and how it's calculated and how it's negotiated. With retail, like Walmart, they use a formula in which they MUST make a certain % on every product. If they are not able to (and this is why Walmart is considered so tough to work with), then Walmart buyers BEAT DOWN THE DISTRIBUTOR OR MANUFACTURER to drop their cost to sell to Walmart - but Walmart ALWAYS retains their profit margin because they use that formula. Usually this information is a highly guarded secret.

So in reality, which I have not read anywhere yet, is what the exact cost coming out of Topps for a case of Sterling is.

If the cost of Sterling (just a hypothetical example) is $700 coming out of Topps, then the Master Distributor tacks on a couple of hundred and moves it at $900 to the dealers, the dealers in turn need to make their $200 so it goes on Ebay for $1100 - and you get the idea.

But suppose Mamabear is getting it direct from topps at $700. They're selling at $1100 all day long. This will only raise the eyebrows of the master distributors.

So in the end, Mamabear is doing this through two ways, IMO:

1. She's a master distributor and is buying from Topps direct
2. She's neither a distributor or dealer, just a seller, and she has contacts with the manufacturer

The second option is an entirely different post as I have had experience with manufacturers moving product that they weren't suppose to, but ended up on the market anyway and caused a serious ruckus.

 

[lisu]

I think with AMEX - you have 6 months to open up a claim.

 

[SeattleSports]

d

 

[rymflaherty]

Wickedliquids - Hopefully someone can say for sure.......because I was always under the impression the cost and markup with trading cards was not near what it is with typical retail (which is one of the many reasons LCS's struggle).

Because you're right - having worked retail and having seen the store "cost" for items, at most they'd pay 60% of the msrp, with most of it closer to 50-40% the msrp cost. I'm just not sure the same can be said for trading cards.

In terms of retail - I'm not sure about Wal-Mart and Target (maybe they deal directly with Topps and the companies?), but I know for a fact Sports Authority and a few other major chains don't buy retail trading cards.
They actually just sell the shelf-space to a distributor - In the case of Sports Authority - it is a distributor called "Legends" who is responsible for bringing in and stocking product.

 

[jbhofmann]

Someone contact Chris Hansen from Dateline NBC.

 

[wickedliquids]

@frzg - I understand that which is why I think collectors on both boards are highly cautious and skeptical as they should be - but I'm wanting to know what the actual cost from Topps is. I used those examples on my post as such - just hypothetical examples. The odds of finding actual cost from Topps is probably going to be tough as they may sell for more, or less, to certain Master Distributors.

Let's say Website "A" has a case of Sterling for sale at $1000.00 (again, all hypothetical) and you found out that actual cost from Topps was $200.00...wouldn't that upset you a bit? You're paying a $800 mark up - ouch!

Just because someone is selling it for $1500 doesn't mean they bought it at $1500. Just because 10 other people is selling at $1500 doesn't mean they bought at $1500. What it DOES mean is that they're watching what all the other players are selling it for and matching everyone's prices as they do not want to rock the boat, which makes sense. And it also means they paid less than the $1500...so what exactly IS their mark up? No one knows - well, I'm sure SOMEONE knows...but still....

For example - ever look at the flyer's for Ipods in your Sunday newspaper mailers? Ever notice that all the retail stores will sell them at the same price? So it doesn't matter to you where you go to get it - it's all the same $$$.

Then BAM - next week, as a retailer, someone is selling it at 10% off - no biggie.

The week after that, it's 40% off - now you're pissed, so you call your distributor, etc., etc.

And this is where I'm curious why the other dealers have not caused a scene to figure out who mamabear is, where they're getting their product, etc, to stop this. Maybe their in the process? Or maybe they know, but also know the supply for mamabear is almost out, so no need to adjust the price. Again, all speculation - I just want to know what the cost is out of Topps - and I would prefer it with an actual invoice, not someone telling me because they know someone that knows someone, you get the point.

@rymflaherty Yes, you are correct, the dealer's don't usually buy retail (I know some do, but I"m sure it's negligible). As you said, you know Walmart and some other stores mark up considerably and I think what I'm saying is that some sites mark up just as accordingly - and why shouldn't they; again, it helps if actual cost from Topps was known, then it's more clarified.

 

[hail2thevictors]

So here is a question for everyone.

When paying with paypal, how does it work when the seller's expected delivery date is a 30+ days away? How long do you have to file a claim or what not?

"You open the case no later than 45 calendar days from the date of your PayPal payment and – if you need to – escalate it to a claim no more than 20 calendar days after you open your case."

You've been thanked.

I bought a Sterling case on Dec 28th-so if I have 45 days after payment is sent to open a case, I will be fine.

 

[hail2thevictors]

@frzg - I understand that which is why I think collectors on both boards are highly cautious and skeptical as they should be - but I'm wanting to know what the actual cost from Topps is. I used those examples on my post as such - just hypothetical examples. The odds of finding actual cost from Topps is probably going to be tough as they may sell for more, or less, to certain Master Distributors.

Let's say Website "A" has a case of Sterling for sale at $1000.00 (again, all hypothetical) and you found out that actual cost from Topps was $200.00...wouldn't that upset you a bit? You're paying a $800 mark up - ouch!

Just because someone is selling it for $1500 doesn't mean they bought it at $1500. Just because 10 other people is selling at $1500 doesn't mean they bought at $1500. What it DOES mean is that they're watching what all the other players are selling it for and matching everyone's prices as they do not want to rock the boat, which makes sense. And it also means they paid less than the $1500...so what exactly IS their mark up? No one knows - well, I'm sure SOMEONE knows...but still....

For example - ever look at the flyer's for Ipods in your Sunday newspaper mailers? Ever notice that all the retail stores will sell them at the same price? So it doesn't matter to you where you go to get it - it's all the same $$$.

Then BAM - next week, as a retailer, someone is selling it at 10% off - no biggie.

The week after that, it's 40% off - now you're pissed, so you call your distributor, etc., etc.

And this is where I'm curious why the other dealers have not caused a scene to figure out who mamabear is, where they're getting their product, etc, to stop this. Maybe their in the process? Or maybe they know, but also know the supply for mamabear is almost out, so no need to adjust the price. Again, all speculation - I just want to know what the cost is out of Topps - and I would prefer it with an actual invoice, not someone telling me because they know someone that knows someone, you get the point.

@rymflaherty Yes, you are correct, the dealer's don't usually buy retail (I know some do, but I"m sure it's negligible). As you said, you know Walmart and some other stores mark up considerably and I think what I'm saying is that some sites mark up just as accordingly - and why shouldn't they; again, it helps if actual cost from Topps was known, then it's more clarified.

Considering the "secrecy" of prices when buying direct, I doubt the cost is $1600 or whatever others have hinted at. For a brick and mortar to buy cases direct from Topps, it has to be much better than that.

Otherwise, people wouldn't have a problem sharing what it actually costs to buy direct.

 

[wickedliquids]

Considering the "secrecy" of prices when buying direct, I doubt the cost is $1600 or whatever others have hinted at. For a brick and mortar to buy cases direct from Topps, it has to be much better than that.

Otherwise, people wouldn't have a problem sharing what it actually costs to buy direct.

Exactly.

Unless we know factory direct costs, Mamabear's pricing could be simply the best on the market and you could be a fool for not ordering from her.

Or she could be a hit and run monster who runs off with all your money....who knows....

 

[crowTrobot]

This has been going on for over 2 months now. If other dealers thought this was a slow motion ponzi scheme wouldn't the authorities be notified and asking questions at this point? How would mamma_bear expect to get away with anything?

 

[wickedliquids]

This has been going on for over 2 months now. If other dealers thought this was a slow motion ponzi scheme wouldn't the authorities be notified and asking questions at this point? How would mamma_bear expect to get away with anything?

I agree...and if her cost vs sales was what so many have "speculated" about, then it would be theft at the end of the day in so much that the dollar amount alone would make a severe federal crime (as it crosses state lines) and a hefty prison sentence.

But again, she's been delivering......sooooooo........

 

[All In Cards]

2009 Bowman Sterling Baseball
Factory Cost:$201.00


2010 might be a few bucks more as Draft went up a few bucks this year also


so for a factory direct case you are looking at 201 x 8 = $1608(plus 5 to 10)

 

[wickedliquids]

2009 Bowman Sterling Baseball
Factory Cost:$201.00


2010 might be a few bucks more as Draft went up a few bucks this year also


so for a factory direct case you are looking at 201 x 8 = $1608(plus 5 to 10)

Where did you get that information at?

DA has it for $189 a box- so they're selling it at a loss? I doubt it. I'd like to see an actual invoice.

For 2010 Sterling, DA has it for $1925, which is a $300 difference from 2009. However, how often have you all seen a "presell" drop after release, sometimes in a matter of days. But makes me wonder how many they sold at that price? Then they drop it down to $1800 a few days after release - hey, that profit margin is super tidy if you ask me.

I've noticed, at least on Ebay, that no one, other than mamabear and a few other people, are not selling cases of Sterling (baseball at least) and I don't blame them - they can't touch mamabear's prices.

Edited to add: I wonder if Topps does tier pricing or if they're strict on pricing.

For example, if a master distributor purchases:

100 to 200 cases, then price X
201 to 300 cases, then price XX
etc, etc.

 

[SeattleSports]

2009 Bowman Sterling Baseball
Factory Cost:$201.00


2010 might be a few bucks more as Draft went up a few bucks this year also


so for a factory direct case you are looking at 201 x 8 = $1608(plus 5 to 10)

Where did you get that information at?

DA has it for $189 a box- so they're selling it at a loss? I doubt it. I'd like to see an actual invoice.

For 2010 Sterling, DA has it for $1925, which is a $300 difference from 2009. However, how often have you all seen a "presell" drop after release, sometimes in a matter of days. But makes me wonder how many they sold at that price? Then they drop it down to $1800 a few days after release - hey, that profit margin is super tidy if you ask me.

I've noticed, at least on Ebay, that no one, other than mamabear and a few other people, are not selling cases of Sterling (baseball at least) and I don't blame them - they can't touch mamabear's prices.

Edited to add: I wonder if Topps does tier pricing or if they're strict on pricing.

For example, if a master distributor purchases:

100 to 200 cases, then price X
201 to 300 cases, then price XX
etc, etc.

What are you talking about? DA is at $244.95. Cost DIRECT is over $200. It is $1600+ for a case that they are selling for $1000 via ebay.

 

[Fandruw25]

What are you talking about? DA is at $244.95. Cost DIRECT is over $200. It is $1600+ for a case that they are selling for $1000 via ebay.

He quoted the 2009 price
http://www.dacardworld.com/sports-cards ... -hobby-box

 

[All In Cards]

I get all my information from my distributors and dealernet. I am not direct with Topps.


If my word is not good enough for you then I dont know what is.


I would say 99.9% of the people on this board would take my word for it



As for pricing, yes I quoted the 2009 price, the 2010 is not listed. Everyone is selling 2009 for a lose now. As it sucked.

What I did say is that the price is a few bucks more then the 09 price. So lets say 2010 Bowman Sterling is $208 a box. Thats only $7 more then the 2009 price.

2009 Bowman Draft - Factory - $48.24
2010 Bowman Draft - Factory - $49.21

 

[jmc280zx]

I know this is way out there but maybe Topps found (or thought they found) a new way to "backdoor" there cases that didnt sell....

 

[Erich]

I know this is way out there but maybe Topps found (or thought they found) a new way to "backdoor" there cases that didnt sell....

This would not surprise me one bit.

 

[SeattleSports]

I know this is way out there but maybe Topps found (or thought they found) a new way to "backdoor" there cases that didnt sell....

Once again,

These are all dropships from dealers. mama_bear is buying them at dealernet prices after they sold them at a significant loss. This isnt backdoored or stolen merchandise, its all dropshipped.