So HOW LOW are the Five Star boxes going to fall?

[ChasHawk]

Not mentioning cost is shady?? My target doesn't tell me what my deodorant costs.. My gas station doesn't tell me what root beer costs.. Game stop doesn't tell me what nfs costs.. Its not now and never should be for public consumption. Look what hat knowledge did to the car business.

All of those numbers are out there if you look.

This is ​a shady XXXXing hobby...period.

 

[cgilmo]

All of those numbers are out there if you look.

This is ​a shady XXXXing hobby...period.

What does target pay for a 20 oz bottle of coke

What does it cost coke to make the bottle?

 

[Bob Loblaw]

While you are at it, why not ask topps how much it cost them to make it?


You can't have 100% transparency. And btw, if you eliminate the hobby shops the industry would crumble. Interest would dive even lower.

When did I say anything in this thread about eliminating hobby shops?

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Not mentioning cost is shady?? My target doesn't tell me what my deodorant costs.. My gas station doesn't tell me what root beer costs.. Game stop doesn't tell me what nfs costs.. Its not now and never should be for public consumption. Look what hat knowledge did to the car business.

The difference between everything you mentioned is that these are things you consume. Video games, deodorant, root beer - you consume it.

Ironically, with enough math, you can find out how much your gas costs, but that's besides the point.

This is, for 99% of us out there, an investment. Very different than a consumable.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

No, it really isn't any of your business.

In fact, it's not even close to being your business.


You don't get to know what businesses pay for their product unless you are on the inside of that business. Do you ask walmart how much they pay for the things you buy?

The boxer briefs I buy from wal-mart are a consumable, and aren't purchased for investment and resale.

At least, not anymore. Not since they shut down my website.

 

[ChasHawk]

What does target pay for a 20 oz bottle of coke

What does it cost coke to make the bottle?

Costs them about .06¢ to make the bottle, label, and cap. The soda itself adds another half cent.

I'll find out from my sister-in-law what Target pays boss.

 

[cgilmo]

Costs them about .06¢ to make the bottle, label, and cap. The soda itself adds another half cent.

I'll find out from my sister-in-law what Target pays boss.

ok, but that is VERY different from a company publishing their numbers

VERY VERY different.

 

[cgilmo]

When did I say anything in this thread about eliminating hobby shops?

It's been your mantra of late. And disclosing this information would be one more step to eliminating hobby shops.

 

[cgilmo]

The difference between everything you mentioned is that these are things you consume. Video games, deodorant, root beer - you consume it.

Ironically, with enough math, you can find out how much your gas costs, but that's besides the point.

This is, for 99% of us out there, an investment. Very different than a consumable.

First off, that 99% number is bullXXXX

Yes there are investors here, but they aren't even the majority. No one buying five star is doing so because of the return on investment. It's entertainment plain and simple.

Second off, you can't use math to determine the cost of something unless you have more facts about the supply chain and the markup policy of the retail outlet.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

It's been your mantra of late. And disclosing this information would be one more step to eliminating hobby shops.

The info is out there. Bowman Chrome direct cost is common knowledge. I can get the info; I didn't care all that much and didn't want to work for it... Don't care enough to work for it.

While I know my belief that the baseball card hobby shop, like a newspaper or travel agent, serves little purpose is not something that you want to hear, you have to be realistic. While your shop may be doing well, and for your sake, I hope it is, the majority of the shops don't have the finger on the pulse of the hobby as you do, and deserve their respective, inevitable, fates.

I don't WANT to see them going out of business; however, it wouldn't sadden me if they did. They're antiquities, relics of an age long ago, bypassed by modern technology.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

First off, that 99% number is bullXXXX

Yes there are investors here, but they aren't even the majority. No one buying five star is doing so because of the return on investment. It's entertainment plain and simple.

Second off, you can't use math to determine the cost of something unless you have more facts about the supply chain and the markup policy of the retail outlet.

To quote Zack Ryder, "Are you serious bro?"

Sorry, you cannot tell me that every single sucker who plunks down $500 is doing it for entertainment, and isn't Ahab, gambling, in search of the white whale to triple their money. While certain folks may be doing it for entertainment, you have to be blind to think that no one is ripping this with the intent to flip and hopefully make money.

 

[cgilmo]

Gambling isn't investing. In fact, gambling is closer to entertainment. What you speak of is something different entirely.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

In baseball cards, investing = gambling.

Gambling that the "sure thing" doesn't get caught with a 16 year old girl, tear an ACL, or test positive for HGH.

Every dollar invested is a dollar gambled.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

Furthermore, the 99% investment generalization I utilized was for baseball cards across the board, not just 5*.

 

[cgilmo]

In baseball cards, investing = gambling.

Gambling that the "sure thing" doesn't get caught with a 16 year old girl, tear an ACL, or test positive for HGH.

Every dollar invested is a dollar gambled.

It's not the same thing at all.

Speculating isn't investing either.

 

[aarne13]

It is gambling. To be an investor there has to be a reasonable expectation of seeing a decent ROI. Based on all of the high end products over the years how many exceeded expectations? Many spend big and lose big. It doesn't matter the price point or the markup, some people will bust whatever product hits the market.

 

[cgilmo]

Brb I'm gonna go invest in some lottery tickets.

 

[notjomommasclint]

The difference between everything you mentioned is that these are things you consume. Video games, deodorant, root beer - you consume it.

Ironically, with enough math, you can find out how much your gas costs, but that's besides the point.

This is, for 99% of us out there, an investment. Very different than a consumable.

Dude go to your nightstand look at the picture of your wife.. Glance at the photos of your kids.. Then tell me if your investment in deodorant didnt pay greater dividends than cardboard.

The fact of the matter is this is gambling. Not an investment. You are dabbling in athletic prowess and the muscle commodities. Do you get to know what farmer brown paid for his orange seeds? No you get to speculate on the cost. You can make an educated decision based upon the information available but you'll never actually know and You shouldn't.

I'm sure if someone asked you what your cost for lawyering was based upon actual monies invested per case you'd still tell them your hourly rate. But in the long run only an ******* would ask you that.

 

[jimmyjam1973]

Brb I'm gonna go invest in some lottery tickets.

Please do....gotta keep my companies presses rolling.

 

[jbhofmann]

Dude go to your nightstand look at the picture of your wife.. Glance at the photos of your kids.. Then tell me if your investment in deodorant didnt pay greater dividends than cardboard.