Enough Is Enough: Join the newly formed Facebook Group, The Etopps Watch Group

I posted the following on the etopps message board this evening:

In response to the first etopps telephone chat, Mark Sapir and I have worked together and reached agreement on the process to fight back against etopps sellers who continue to misrepresent the card's print runs.

We have also reached agreement on the wording of the email that will be sent to ebay to shut down their listing(s). The email will have contact information for several people in Topps, including their General Counsel.

I feel strongly that etoppers who are against these sellers should unite to show strength in numbers. You did this with me when I posted an ebay guide a few years back to warn ebayers about this. Though this guide hasn't done much and is not the first thing a potential buyer will go to if they want to purchase an etopps in-hand.

I've created a group in facebook called the Etopps Watch Group. Since ebay ids will be discussed, I don't think this MB is appropriate.

I'm not sure if this link will work because I'm still trying to get the hang of using facebook.

If you have trouble with the above link, email me through this message board and I will send you an invite to the facebook group.

Since I'm blocked from facebook at work, please be patient if I do not send you an invite until later in the day.

On facebook, I will provide more information about the group, the process of how etopps sellers will be stopped and together I hope we can find these listings/sellers to shut them down.

And yes, Mark has my support in this and I hope you will too.

Friday Marketwatch - December 25

Happy Holidays!

As of December 25th the following are stats covering the last 7 days on ebay for etopps in-hands:

Highest Single Card Sale: 2009 Barack Obama Basketball Card, $35
Highest Mult-Card Sale: 2008 A&G Yankee Stadium Tribute Set, $71
Highest Graded Sale: 2008 DeSean Jackson, BGS 9.5, $30
Highest Non-Graded Autograph Sale: 2001 Jimmy Rollins, $63
Highest Graded Autograph Sale: None

Other best sellers:

* 2009 Matt Wieters
* 2004 Ben Roethlisberger
* 2009 Barack Obama All-Star Game Event Card
* 2003 LeBron James

In-hand listing (not including graded or autographed) that received most bids that sold well: 2003 LeBron James, 11 bids

Listings with false print-runs included in title: 2
Number of sellers listing false print-runs: 1 (ebay id: iverson775)

Autograph Offering: 2001 Reggie Wayne

After months of hibernation, the etopps autograph program has returned with an offering of 50 2001 Reggie Wayne cards at $29.99 each tomorrow, Christmas Eve, at 3pm EST.

Yes, it has been quite awhile since an autographed card was offered. More have been offered in the catalog this year than new ones and we all know why. With 10% nationwide unemployment, etopps ain't dumb, realizing that autographed cards just like other collectibles is all about disposable income that's one of the first and last things to be affected by the economy.

Nevertheless it's nice to see a 2001 card being offered and it's a rookie and it's for a player we are familiar with thanks to Peyton Manning. The Colts seem unstoppable so all of these factors help this card's current value.

At a penny shy of $30, it's nicely undervalued. You may be able to double your money if the card arrives in your mailbox if the Colts are in the Super Bowl or if they win the Super Bowl.

Looking at the sales of other autographed 2001 cards of Reggie Wayne, it looks like most of them are in the $60-$70 range except for the graded ones. They fetch a lot higher and you could probably score at least $100 if you wait it out and have BGS inspect the auto. The downside to any grading is the time it takes. Some have the patience for this while others do not.

For the collector, you couldn't ask for a better Christmas present from etopps if you like Reggie Wayne or if you're a Colts fan, a fan of the 2001 etopps Football set or just like etopps autographs. At $30, etopps deserves kudos for this price. They know there are potential buyers of this card who have already spent a lot of saved-up coin for holiday shopping.

What's also nice is how Mr. Wayne signed the card. While others may have just scribbled their initials and jersey number, it's easy to see he wrote his full name. What's also nice is he signed his name in the top left corner without touching the foreground image of his head or his body in the background picture.

Overall it's nice to see more autographs from etopps and nice to review them once again. For the collector, you couldn't ask for a better opportunity and for the seller, patience is the key to make a better profit on this.

Friday Marketwatch - December 18

As of December 18th the following are stats covering the last 7 days on ebay for etopps in-hands:

Highest Single Card Sale: 2009 World Baseball Classic Japan Patch Card, $42
Highest Mult-Card Sale: 2009 World Baseball Classic Set, $100
Highest Graded Sale: 2003 LeBron James, BGS 9.5, $75
Highest Non-Graded Autograph Sale: 2002 Albert Pujols, $255
Highest Graded Autograph Sale: 2006 Chris Paul McDonalds BGS 9.5/10, $79

Other best sellers:

* 2001 Matt Hasselbeck
* 2003 LeBron James
* 1953 Mickey Mantle Reprint
* 2000 Petyon Manning

In-hand listing (not including graded or autographed) that received most bids that sold well: 2003 LeBron James, 12 bids

Listings with false print-runs included in title: 10
Number of sellers listing false print-runs: 1 (ebay id: 1underseller)

Friday Marketwatch - December 11

As of December 11th the following are stats covering the last 7 days on ebay for etopps in-hands:

Highest Single Card Sale: 2009 Barack Obama Baseball Event, $49.99
Highest Mult-Card Sale: 2009 World Baseball Classic Set, $72
Highest Graded Sale: 2007 Adrian Peterson, BGS 9.5, $101.25
Highest Non-Graded Autograph Sale: 2006 Bill Russel Classic Basketball, $108.50
Highest Graded Autograph Sale: 2006 Chris Paul McDonalds BGS 9.5/10, $45

Other best sellers:

* 2007 Adrian Peterson
* 1967 Mickey Mantle reprint
* 2003 LeBron James
* 2003 Dwyane Wade

In-hand listing (not including graded or autographed) that received most bids that sold well: 2007 Adrian Peterson, 6 bids

Friday Marketwatch - December 4

As of December 4th the following are stats covering the last 7 days on ebay for etopps in-hands:

Highest Single Card Sale: 2008 Barack Obama, $53.55
Highest Mult-Card Sale: 2008 Allen & Ginter Yankee Stadium Tribute Set, $81
Highest Graded Sale: 2001 Albert Pujols, BGS 9.5, $96
Highest Non-Graded Autograph Sale: 2003 Allen Iverson, $199.99
Highest Graded Autograph Sale: 2003 Dwyane Wade, BGS 9.5/9, $99.99

Other best sellers:

* 2001 Albert Pujols
* 2007 John Elway SB Champs Allen & Ginter
* 2007 Joe Namath SB Champs Allen & Ginter
* 1959 Mickey Mantle reprint

In-hand listing (not including graded or autographed) that received most bids that sold well: 2001 Albert Pujols, 15 bids