5 Likes
I find (soon to be) sealed-product sales like this so amazing because unlike an illustrator, those boxes once sat on store shelves for around 100$ for everyone in the store to buy. 
Not even the need to get lucky and pull a specific card.
5 Likes
Closed at 50,000.00 I’m very surprised?
2 Likes
Any idea why the seller chose Huggins over more well known and modern auction sites like Heritage or Hakes?
1 Like
That plus I wonder if buyers are gun shy after the TCA fake video. They’d rather buy direct from a seller instead of through an auction house where the seller is unknown/anonymous.
2 Likes
great for the winner. lots of us missed out…
Other than the one Smpratte bought, the 2 other public auctions ended in the 40’s (one had a buyer premium) this year.
It probably ended where it should have, especially with people spooked.
2 Likes
Between using a no name auction house and the video TCA gaming just posted with the resealed box this auction was doomed from the start. Also notice what happens when its not on eBay therefore harder to shill for anyone who may have had a vested interest…
2 Likes
Didn’t one sell for $68k or am I misremembering?
People are definitely spooked about buying these boxes.
Also, I can’t help but wonder if this would have sold for more if it was on somewhere easier to find like on eBay. I strongly suspect it could have gone for much more if it was being listed by a highly trusted seller on eBay.
Just last year H&G got 67,000.00 for a 1st base box. I’ve done very well with them;)
1 Like
I don’t know why for a high end item you would stray from eBay. Sure there is a hassle with non-paying buyers, but eBay has the most exposure and buyers are the most comfortable with it. If I had something with a 6 figure value (like the PSA 9 Illustrator) I would list it for an insane fixed price for a month or so, but in the description state something like "if this doesn’t sell by X day, it will be listed as a 10 day auction starting on x day). That way you have more exposure than the typical auction window, and give potential bidders plenty of time to get lined up.
2 Likes
I think the tca video has spooked big buyers who are willing to drop $40-60k. No one wants to drop that money for a fake box! But who knows one off sale doesn’t reflect the boxes value imo. I still reckon 1st Ed Base box is $60-70k all day long
1 Like
That’s great Gary 
However, a site whose design copyright still says 2009 scares me lol
1 Like
With auctions, it all comes down to chance and luck. A chance that at least 2 people who really want an item saw the auction before it ends and have the money ready.
You can have it listed on anywhere for a long time and say it will be auctioned off starting on xxx date but it still comes down to luck. Luck that that wealthy collector still remembers Pokémon and luck that no one tempers with the auction. Exposure is very important hands down, but usually for very high end niche items like trophies and scarce booster boxes, when it is listed, news travels fast and usually gets to those who want one in time before the auction ends.
Higher end auction houses will definitely have a lot of qualified buyers for high end items but if these buyers are not interested in a specific niche, it doesn’t matter, a Pokémon Illustrator to a billionaire who doesn’t know Pokémon is just a piece of cardboard.
2 Likes
I agree with all that, and it actually seems to more or less validate the use of a platform like eBay for selling rather than an auction house?
Reverse market availability! While this box was clearly available, the big-money purchasers ready to have a bidding war to surpass the previous high over this item were not.
To clear up one misconception: Huggins & Scott is well-known in sports. It’s not a random, no-name auction house.
3 Likes
Give it a year or 2 and this box will be 100k plus easy
How many people here knew of this auction? It may be well known to sports collectors but how many people in pokemon are checking that site? Does it get enough exposure to see international buyers become interested? I’m not sure but I would say the answer to both would be no. I completely understand why people dont want to use ebay for high end stuff but I do feel that you are cutting out so many buyers not doing so.