An introduction to "high-end" sketch card midnight madness.

[Rian Fike]

Originally Posted by dd316

At full value. Is the excitement for this all in the availability?

The excitement is the flood of new images, and the mad scramble to grab the best cards before another collector gets them. It was a bit stronger in the past, but there is a competitive vibe on Scoundrel amongst collectors who like to show off their strength and ability to get hold of the best cards from the best artists.

It really does feel like a treasure hunt, and half the eggs are available in one big burst at midnight.

Awesome fun.

[Igman7]

Originally Posted by monkeymcgee

Seems like a crazy business move to me considering the case incentives I've seen don't sell for *that* much, but I guess it works if they've done this previously.

Let's take a closer look at that...

108 case order @ $600/per $64,800
6 Archive Boxes @ $1,250/per -7,500
12 Glebe Incentives @ $375/per -4,500
18 Martineck Incentives @ $225/per -4,050

108 case cost now lowered to $48,750 or $451.38/case if all incentives sold.

Very high cost to buy in, but the ends can justify the means, especially if you can recoup your investment and get into profit within the first 48 hours.

The problem that I (and many other smaller dealers) is that it is impossible to be competetive without hitting an absolute monster card or two.

[monkeymcgee]

Originally Posted by Igman7

Let's take a closer look at that...

108 case order @ $600/per $64,800
6 Archive Boxes @ $1,250/per -7,500
12 Glebe Incentives @ $375/per -4,500
18 Martineck Incentives @ $225/per -4,050

108 case cost now lowered to $48,750 or $451.38/case if all incentives sold.

Very high cost to buy in, but the ends can justify the means, especially if you can recoup your investment and get into profit within the first 48 hours.

The problem that I (and many other smaller dealers) is that it is impossible to be competetive without hitting an absolute monster card or two.

Interesting--thanks for the breakdown.

[Rian Fike]

Originally Posted by Igman7

Let's take a closer look at that...

108 case order @ $600/per $64,800
6 Archive Boxes @ $1,250/per -7,500
12 Glebe Incentives @ $375/per -4,500
18 Martineck Incentives @ $225/per -4,050

108 case cost now lowered to $48,750 or $451.38/case if all incentives sold.

Very high cost to buy in, but the ends can justify the means, especially if you can recoup your investment and get into profit within the first 48 hours.

The problem that I (and many other smaller dealers) is that it is impossible to be competetive without hitting an absolute monster card or two.

I would guess that things have changed for the worse when it comes to making that kind of profit. The leftover Glebes from last time are down to around $100 now.

Gotta Have It looks like they are out of the game, still having gobs of sketches left from the last two Rittenhouse sets... even after selling hundreds of sketches for less than $20 each.

I don't think smaller dealers could ever "compete" with someone who opens 2400 boxes per release, and the lower market values of low end sketches have made it that much harder.

Either way, we are 12 hours away from midnight madness! Strap yourself in, this is a wild ride.

[Rian Fike]

30 minutes until showtime!!!

[Cujobyte]

Well, I've been looking at all the sketches hitting the market, and some are just awesome.

I MUST be out of my gdamn mind, lol, but I just picked up my first MELIKE ACAR.

[Tivo32]

There are some absolutely incredible sketches!

[101stLee]

Some are beautiful, loving Treece, Denver, and the odd-ball shaped drawings! But, Damn! Some cards are hella expensive lol...

[101stLee]

Originally Posted by Cujobyte

Well, I've been looking at all the sketches hitting the market, and some are just awesome.

I MUST be out of my gdamn mind, lol, but I just picked up my first MELIKE ACAR.

wow just saw what the rate is going for him.. 400+ minimum! One card is up in the 2grand??

[Cujobyte]

Originally Posted by 101stLee

wow just saw what the rate is going for him.. 400+ minimum! One card is up in the 2grand??

*HER* stuff does go for some crazy prices, others not so crazy. I've known her for sometime, and have been wanting one for ages. This is the one I picked up, just happened on it within 5 min's of it's listing. Doesn't hurt I know the dealer as well, so transaction will go easily enough.

Here's the one I got. I'm done buying cards till 2014 tho....lol Marvel Bronze Age Melike Acar Color Sketch Card Captain America | eBay

[101stLee]

Oops, sorry didn't know she was a *she* still new to the artists in this biz.. very nice though! I'm more low-mid end right now, since I'm still rather new.. however I'm digging Adam Cline's art, that's what I like!

[Cujobyte]

Originally Posted by 101stLee

Oops, sorry didn't know she was a *she* still new to the artists in this biz.. very nice though! I'm more low-mid end right now, since I'm still rather new.. however I'm digging Adam Cline's art, that's what I like!

Me too! Big fan of his!

[101stLee]

MAN! Babisu Kourtis has some beautiful stuff... do you think prices might go down?

[Cujobyte]

Originally Posted by 101stLee

MAN! Babisu Kourtis has some beautiful stuff... do you think prices might go down?

Yes. Most Definitely. BUT if you see something you really like, as I did, then snap it up. Who knows how many will be gone into collections tomorrow, when most of the U.S. wakes up lol.

[Rian Fike]

Originally Posted by 101stLee

MAN! Babisu Kourtis has some beautiful stuff... do you think prices might go down?

The "Marvel Masters" seller on eBay will discount his prices in a month or two after the first wave of sales slows down. He does accept best offers there, but for the first wave he usually wants at least 75% of the asking price.

After four to six months, he will discount the remaining cards drastically. The last set went down to 70% off.

He is a great seller, highly recommended.

[Rian Fike]

Originally Posted by Cujobyte

*HER* stuff does go for some crazy prices, others not so crazy. I've known her for sometime, and have been wanting one for ages. This is the one I picked up, just happened on it within 5 min's of it's listing. Doesn't hurt I know the dealer as well, so transaction will go easily enough.

Here's the one I got. I'm done buying cards till 2014 tho....lol Marvel Bronze Age Melike Acar Color Sketch Card Captain America | eBay

That is a spectacular card, by a spectacular talent. Congratulations!!!

[monkeymcgee]

Originally Posted by Cujobyte

Yes. Most Definitely. BUT if you see something you really like, as I did, then snap it up. Who knows how many will be gone into collections tomorrow, when most of the U.S. wakes up lol.

Ah, there's the rub. Prices on the higher end stuff didn't seem that bad either. They've got it down just right where it's a bit of a stretch, but not enough that it's worth it to risk someone else getting it

So once I started seeing what was out there, I ended up picking up about 10 cards. But I'm seriously done now unless something amazing shows up

Highlights: 2 of the Tan incentives, a Glebe Ghost Rider, Sara Richard Black Cat (amazing), Rhi Ownens Punk Storm, and a Charles Hall Punisher. Plus several other very cool ones.

Cujo: Very nice pick up. If I didn't end up getting the Glebe, I was seriously thinking of one of the other Acars.

[Cujobyte]

Thanks guys, and thank you Monkey. I actually am working on a trade/sale for a Glebe Iron Man awaiting the sellers response, but he did take the auction down, so I'm sure we'll make a deal. Very excited, but yes I'm with you Monkey, no more buying for a long time lol.

[monkeymcgee]

Originally Posted by Cujobyte

Thanks guys, and thank you Monkey. I actually am working on a trade/sale for a Glebe Iron Man awaiting the sellers response, but he did take the auction down, so I'm sure we'll make a deal. Very excited, but yes I'm with you Monkey, no more buying for a long time lol.

I may have picked up a couple more today, but I'm really, really done now

[Tim]

I am sitting on multiple sealed incentive packs of Martineck and the Glebes.

Must not open.
Must no open.
Must n open.
Must open.

[monkeymcgee]

Originally Posted by Tim

I am sitting on multiple sealed incentive packs of Martineck and the Glebes.

Must not open.
Must no open.
Must n open.
Must open.

You are a strong person

Or were a strong person

[Artiodactyla]

Didn't really see anything too amazing from the artists I collect. Think I will just wait for a commission.

[nabzy28]

I snagged only one from the eBay midnight madness. Though, thanks for posting a reminder. I totally forgot about that release this week. I know I'm in the minority and catch hell for it every time I say it, but a vast majority of these sketches are quite poor. You can tell these artists are now so rushed to get stuff done for these companies that their quality suffers. You can even see it from just one artist, in some instances. One character sketch might be okay, at best, another one absolutely stunning. Probably drawn on different day, etc. I was in for boxes/cases a few years ago, but now will just pick up a single sketch here or there if I like it enough. I lean far more toward the value of tracking down these top artists and just getting on their lists for Artist Proofs. You get a character you want, on a larger surface in most cases, and you can get a pose/costume you really want.

These artists all do spectacular work, and each style is complimentary to the product. It just really gets discouraging seeing people break cases and get, perhaps, only one sketch that'd be lucky to pull $75 out of it. I do look forward to seeing all the goodies that everyone picked up from this one over the next few days!

[nabzy28]

Originally Posted by Artiodactyla

Didn't really see anything too amazing from the artists I collect. Think I will just wait for a commission.

+1. Exactly where I'm at with these products now. Waiting on the 'ok' from licensing for the Sara Richard Marvel Premiere AP I've got coming...

[monkeymcgee]

It's been great cherry picking some nice sketches, but I can see why this product could be challenging to rip and flip. There's a lot of okay sketches out there (don't mean that in a disrespectful way, just acknowledging the reality of churning these out as said above). I'm curious at what price point these will go for once the cherry picking is done and the character collectors have taken what they want.