Conference school::sports_memorabilia

    For the most part I stayed away from it. From the deals that I got
    from Steve and Dan in here for sets  and  boxes I paid very little
    all total for  the  TSC,  Topps and Fleer Ultra Sets. I don't have
    any Shaq inserts,  but I'm not  losing  any  sleep over it since I
    didn't fork out 80-100$ for any wax boxes.
    
    There seem to be lots of Shaq's at shows and stores now and I also
    noticed at the show I went to yesterday  that many dealers had not
    one,  but two or more boxes of Upper Deck basketball series II wax
    pack boxes open  for  single pack sales.  If this doesn't tell you
    someone was doing some pack searching ...
    
    Mondo, I wouldn't worry about the price guides.  It's the probably
    the influx of Fleer Ultra retail product  that brought it down for
    now. You had to figure the sets would come down with all the packs
    being opened for inserts.
    
    Speaking of price guides, some _____ in the latest Beckett's base-
    ball sent in a letter  saying  he  always  prices his cards higher
    than what the price guide is on the survey.  He wanted to know why
    anyone would price them lower because it lowers the value of their
    cards.
    
    John

    
    The saint has it correct mondo, the ultra price drop is certainly
    directly reflecting the quantity of Fleer ultra pushed into the
    retail channels vs. Hoops and stadium club (at least so far).
    You can just tell by how many retail places you see (or don't see)
    a product.  BJs here in Nashua got 7 cases of fleer ultra basketball,
    that quite a bit for one store, usually they get 2 or 3 cases of
    an ultra or stadium type product.  Also with regards to Ultra is
    the excellant collation, this will eventually depress set prices.
    A whole lot of people broke at least one box, and you consistently
    get two close to 3 series 2 basketball sets per box.  Lots of sets
    out there, price comes down.  Same with the inserts because lots was
    broken for the inserts and they are not as tough to get as the Magic
    hoops rookies or the stadium beam team or even the UD rookie standouts.
    
    I think for once Dr Jim is accurately reflecting what's happening
    with regards to supply and prices.  Ultra was selling for less and
    less as the retail shipments approached and then happened.  Still a
    very nice basketball card/set, inserts included, great rookie crop,
    etc.
    
    jeff
    

    
    
    	I said "*NOOOO*" to Shaq-attack and Shaq-mania, I didn't buy
    	a single Shaq card, I was determined not to be taken in by
    	the HYPE, I learned my lesson long time ago.
    
    			Juan

    I jumped in early, bought lots of them and then sold them.
    It's the same as everything else.  The important questions to answer
    are:
    Is Shaq the one-I say no.
    Who is? There is some room left with Zo, but not much.
    Harold and Latrell and Robert Horey - great players -hard to sell.
    Jimmy J.'s second series UD low number is interesting but the winner
    is  ( in my opinion ) Christian L.  He is so much like #33
    it's worth the risk.  All the tools. Olympic Gold.  Hold Out
    (just like Larry).  Will get to the Right Team (like LB).
    Makes everyone upset, doesn't talk to the press, doesn't think
    much of riflemouth and is real cheap.... Real Cheap
    If your looking to make a profit-pick the guy from this crop that
    will wear the ring-
    

    Thanks for the inputs guys ! 
    
    I also picked some stuff up from Jeff and Steve,again thanks...
    
    John M.

    Mike, what are you saying, Zo, Latrell, LB, ect.,ect. ??  Who are these
    guys??  My son and his friends are hooked on Shaq, so why don't you
    guys put some in the #4 for sale area, and dump them before they go the 
    way of the Ripken Error Card.

    There are a lot of talented rookies overshadowed by Shaq hype:
    Some are:
    
    Alonzo Mourning - C - Charlotte
    Tom Gugliotta - F - Washington
    Richard Dumas - F - Phoenix
    Robert Horry - F - Houston
    Walt Williams - F/G - Sacramento
    Christian Laettner - F - Minnesota
    Harold Miner - G - Miami (slam dunk title helped him)
    Latrell Sprewell - G - Golden State
    Oliver Miller - C - Phoenix

    At shows in Charlotte and Columbia SC, Shaqs can be had for 40-50%
    below Beckett. One shop I was in had some in the 25% off box.  Shaq
    hype is over here.  
    
    Jon

    
    Here's my two cents:
    
    If you look at all the rookies that Walt listed in his reply (.-2), I
    think this years basketball's sets will, in the long term, at least
    retain there value, if not go up in value.
    
    Regardless of Shaq.  If he has a long and successful career, along with
    others of this year's "rookie crop", this year's set, could be a great.
    
    What do you all think?
    
    Regards,
    Denny
    

    Denny, I hope your right, but I've got happy feet when it comes to new
    stuff.  (BTW Mike G. "happy feet" means is jittery in the pocket-
    makes mistakes when rushed).  I can't sell UD basketball sets 
    Series 1 and 2 (with the real shaq) for 30 Bucks (60%) becketts.
    I fell for this with david robinson.  Anyone want the fleer set from
    his rookie year?
    Mike 

    re-.2
    
    I think that there is more than enough to go around for anyone who
    wants it.  It seems like each year there is a pretty good rookie crop
    coming in. In order for values to rise more new people will ned to
    enter the card collecting craze.  Or perhaps new markets to dump the
    stuff on.  For example Australia is hard up for anything NBA, products
    do very well there.  Each year card companies pour like a billion
    dollars worth of stuff on the market.  Do you think that it should all
    appreciate  and like an investment provide a return.  You must consider
    that it is like a cumulative effect, add up all the years of prodcution
    and their rise in value.  It is unrealistic to think it will go up and
    stay there.  IMHO.
    
    Jon

    I don't know about anyone else, but I have a certain limit that I'll
    spend on single cards,  especially new cards.  The last time I spent
    over 10$ on a single card  was  75$ for a 1967 Red Sox Team Card and
    30 or 40$ for a 1966 Twins Team card a couple years ago and I didn't
    think twice about buying them.  Now I know Shaq is good and he seems
    like a nice guy, but pay 75$ for one  of  his cards never crossed my
    mind.  If I got one in a pack, that's okay and I probably would have
    sold it.  If you pay  75$  for it, you're either one of those people
    who had to have it or you're investing.
    
    If Shaq breaks a leg  or  something,  your first thought is that you
    lost 75$.  Or if he does lousy, he's a bum because you wasted 75$ on
    him. Or you only check his stats to see if his card value will go up
    in the price guides.  What fun is that ?   Now I can look at my 1967
    Red Sox team card  and  think back to that wonderful summer. I don't
    look at it and say "I hope it didn't go down in the price guide".
    
    Buy to collect, not to invest  and  these things won't bother you as
    much.
    
    John

    
    Back for a moment to fleer ultra:  it's official now, I saw the 
    standup type magazine distributor series 2 boxes at the local Shaws
    tonight.  The two boxes were empty (somebody still thinks there a
    bargain at $2+/pack, hee, hee), but the fact that they showed up
    at all proves that Fleer really cranked up the production.  Even
    given all that, I still like Ultra as a card on its' own merits,
    regardless of production numbers and price guide values.  
    
    I don't necessarily agree that this is just another good year of
    rookies, some of these guys could fade, but you really have to go back
    to 1986 before you see something to compare to this year.
    
    jeff
    
    

    
    I found that I was immune to the Shaq hype.  I suppose it's because
    he's not a San Diego Charger and that's all I collect.  ;-)
    
    Live from Charger Central......Glenn
    

    It is interesting seeing all the notes related to the SHAQ hype.
    
    It seems that everyone feels that SHAQ cards are going to depreciate.
    If anyone wants to sell there fleer ultra SHAQ cards for $5 a-piece, 
    since you fell that he may break a leg or what-have-ya, and they are 
    going to decrease in value. Send me a note and I'll buy them. ;-)
    
    Steven

    I don't know if they'll go that far.  I'm just glad I bought my box
    through Steve for under $50.  Aren't they supposed to go for the
    $60-70/box range, tops?  I don't feel bad that this production's gonna
    drive the box down to the dealer.  I heard TSC is next.

    re .6 Send me a note I'll send you a SHAQ list.
    re . The saint.  There are Shaq cards priced higher than Mantle
         Cards.
    Amazing Mike Kelly @ OGO
    

    
    
    You people say that there are alot of Fleer Ultra Basketball out 
    there,I'v been doing alot of shopping this weekend and I haven't 
    seen them anywhere,and just for curiosity I asked if they would be
    getting more,and the answer was NO,that's it for Ultra II Basketball.
    
    If you have any unopened boxes my advice is to keep them and just put
    them away and forget that you ever have them,and someday,with all the
    great Rookies it will turn out to be a good investment for the kids.
    
    John M.
    

    John,  when you say shopping do you mean retail stores or shows ? Sam's
    Club in Westboro got some more in last Thursday. There still seem to be
    a lot at shows.  I think I'd hang onto them for now,  especially if you
    paid big bucks.
    
    John

    Saint,I was talking stores that usualy have them such as,
            B.J.'s, Pace, Osco, Newshops, I went to a couple of flea 
    Markets and their prices were very high even though the prices fell
    in Becketts price guide.
    
                                John M.