REA 2013

Well, for those of you who don't know, REA is up, though bidding is not live yet. It is the annual extravaganza. Probably the last of its kind because after this, they are adding a fall auction, soaking up some of the April insanity.

Just a few observations:

The two best Lowdies in extant, the RCross and the PSA 7, are going, so if you have a major craving and lots of cash laying around, this is your opportunity. Good luck, Pete!

Not too many OJ's this year, but those are some cool Mickey Welch cabinets. The SGC 84 is incredible. But prices have been down and I think that's hurt OJ consignments.

Like good provenance? How about a Mickey Mantle RC owned by Mantle himself? Can't get much better provenance than that!

One note: if you have a few million dollars sitting around, then basically you could buy every important card in the hobby just in this one auction - Wagner, Baltimore Ruth, Lajoie, OM Jackson, Plank, etc.

Yes - already been drooling over some lots. Not as much fun Red Sox stuff this time...but I intend to take a shot at feeding some of my other interests

i'm viewing and had to stop after 152 lots, because up to that point i wanted like half of them already...can't torture myself like that.

cccc wrote:i'm viewing and had to stop after 152 lots, because up to that point i wanted like half of them already...can't torture myself like that.

Hope everyone is getting "marker" bids in today...it opened this AM!!!

As is often the case, I have left myself with only enough funds to either win something in REA or go to the National. I therefore have mixed feelings with my bids.

Well, the OJ Deacon White is already at 3k+... hot damn!!!

jbonie wrote:Well, the OJ Deacon White is already at 3k+... hot damn!!!

Could be a big year...some stuff is off to a roaring start

some bidders like the strategy of putting one big price on it at the beginning to knock out rival bidders...that never works for me tho.

cccc wrote:some bidders like the strategy of putting one big price on it at the beginning to knock out rival bidders...that never works for me tho.

I actually believe in the value of what I call a "blocking" strategy. Let's say I want to own the Delehanty at Lot #36, and I'm very sure the card will go for more than $1000. The card opens at $500. If I put in my opener and go away (and everyone else does), I have 5 other bidders who can chase the card in OT by the time the bid hits $1000.

On the other hand, if I bid first and then top anyone who tosses a bid in, I'll only have 3 competitors by the time the bid hits $1000.

(And if another guy is doing the same, I'll only have one competitor in OT.)

I like my odds a lot better that way.

I know others disagree, but I think it has worked for me on a few lots...can't prove it though...

I'm not sure I understand the way you do it Blair, but it does work (or I like to think it does) if you make a very strong straight bid right out of the shoot, as opposed to a proxy/max bid. If opening day I see a lot opening low that I think should end around $2000, let's say, I might make a straight bid of $1k early so that anyone wanting to play will have to start with a pretty % down. I think this pares down the bottom feeders that enter dozens of real low bids on lots with the intention of sorting out at the end what they really want. It should also reduce the number of potential competitors, since the next bid is only about 4-5 away from the projected final price. So if it opens at $200 and you immediately start it at $1000 straight, that eliminates a half dozen bidders who thought they'd get their foot in the door and play later--they;re forced to make a more committed decision. Just my two cents, and probably a more convoluted description of what you said.

nolemmings wrote:I'm not sure I understand the way you do it Blair, but it does work (or I like to think it does) if you make a very strong straight bid right out of the shoot, as opposed to a proxy/max bid. If opening day I see a lot opening low that I think should end around $2000, let's say, I might make a straight bid of $1k early so that anyone wanting to play will have to start with a pretty % down. I think this pares down the bottom feeders that enter dozens of real low bids on lots with the intention of sorting out at the end what they really want. It should also reduce the number of potential competitors, since the next bid is only about 4-5 away from the projected final price. So if it opens at $200 and you immediately start it at $1000 straight, that eliminates a half dozen bidders who thought they'd get their foot in the door and play later--they;re forced to make a more committed decision. Just my two cents, and probably a more convoluted description of what you said.

Cool - did not know you could straight bid past several increments...learned something there! Can you do this for all the AH online auctions?

yes, the big straight opening bid, kinda a kaboom to everyone else. i've tried this strat on and off, everytime someone sicker comes along (or i misjudged the market greatly).

Blair, sadly no, not all AH's have it set up that way.