Topps going for hockey cards

[mfw13]

Yes. Upper Deck owns Fleer, although they haven't used the brand lately.

From my perspective, the hockey market has three problems:

#1 - it's a relatively small market
#2 - already has too many products
#3 - not enough superstars (it's Crosby, McDavid, and that's about it right now)

There's a limit to how many people want Gretzky & Bobby Orr autographs.....

[hairysasquatch]

Originally Posted by mfw13

Yes. Upper Deck owns Fleer, although they haven't used the brand lately.

From my perspective, the hockey market has three problems:

#1 - it's a relatively small market
#2 - already has too many products
#3 - not enough superstars (it's Crosby, McDavid, and that's about it right now)

There's a limit to how many people want Gretzky & Bobby Orr autographs.....

Actual problem #1 is criminal USPS first class with d/c rates to Canada which renders an already tiny market virtually inaccessible. Canadian buyers just buy in-country and avoid insane shipping charges not to mention import duties on higher dollar items. Selling hockey cards stateside is over, baby.

[daxwills]

Originally Posted by hairysasquatch

Actual problem #1 is criminal USPS first class with d/c rates to Canada which renders an already tiny market virtually inaccessible. Canadian buyers just buy in-country and avoid insane shipping charges not to mention import duties on higher dollar items. Selling hockey cards stateside is over, baby.

Yep no one in the United States buys hockey cards... wait...

[dahabsfan]

If more US sellers would opt out of the GSP sales of hockey northward would increase. On low dollar items it makes no sense as we are exempt from the taxes and fees and on higher end there's many cases where I would be willing to pay THE SELLER for tracked shipping to Canada but not the GSP as it is a complete scam. Being charged taxes and import fees by Pitney Bowes which are supposed to be paid to Revenue Canada but aren't getting to them in many cases as I still get the same bill when item is delivered even though I had already paid those fees via GSP.

Darren

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by dahabsfan

If more US sellers would opt out of the GSP sales of hockey northward would increase. On low dollar items it makes no sense as we are exempt from the taxes and fees and on higher end there's many cases where I would be willing to pay THE SELLER for tracked shipping to Canada but not the GSP as it is a complete scam. Being charged taxes and import fees by Pitney Bowes which are supposed to be paid to Revenue Canada but aren't getting to them in many cases as I still get the same bill when item is delivered even though I had already paid those fees via GSP.

Darren

Conversely, if more Canadian sellers would opt out of shipping items over $50 via registered mail (costing $15-20) instead of regular post (costing about $4), sales of hockey southward would increase. I've long since lost count of the number of hockey cards from Canadian sellers I've decided not to bid on because of this...

[dahabsfan]

Originally Posted by mfw13

Conversely, if more Canadian sellers would opt out of shipping items over $50 via registered mail (costing $15-20) instead of regular post (costing about $4), sales of hockey southward would increase. I've long since lost count of the number of hockey cards from Canadian sellers I've decided not to bid on because of this...

You seem to have misinterpreted my post. I have no issue paying the required shipping rate for tracked shipping from the US to Canada...I take issue with paying a 3rd party to handle the transaction as described via ebay but they simply don't do it. Pitney Bowes is pocketing the cash that should be paid to the CRA for the taxes/import fees exactly as ebay specifies it should be.


I have no issue paying someone to have their ass protected from ebay/paypal and their complete protection of the buyer. I simply factor it in my bidding/offer and go from there and can't blame anyone from wanting to be protected on the transaction. The vast majority of users who both buy and sell via ebay seem to now understand how lopsided the chargeback system is.


The GSP is leading to being double charged for the same service and according to ebay "even though they advertise that is how it works, there is nothing they can do to Pitney Bowes if they choose not to fulfill the required fees being remitted". Also should be noted the last 3 items I did have items delivered through the GSP, the USPS tracking vanished after the first facility they were handled at and had no further updates for the rest of the transaction.

Darren

[chris_ac]

Originally Posted by daxwills

Yep no one in the United States buys hockey cards... wait...

I know we're in the offseason lull, but there is some truth. I'm liquidating my multi sport collection on consignment and I did have more hockey cards than the other 3 sports and my seller says hockey cards are at a crawl on eBay. I had some Crosby, but no Matthews or McDavid, so apparently the rest is worthless lol.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by chris_ac

I know we're in the offseason lull, but there is some truth. I'm liquidating my multi sport collection on consignment and I did have more hockey cards than the other 3 sports and my seller says hockey cards are at a crawl on eBay. I had some Crosby, but no Matthews or McDavid, so apparently the rest is worthless lol.

That's not all that far from the truth. Upper Deck has so over-saturated the market, that even autos of all-time greats like Gretzky and Orr don't even sell for that much any more.

There simply isn't enough demand to support all the products UD releases each year. and hockey simply isn't producing superstars like it used to. Outside of Crosby, there's almost nobody who even measures up to the likes of Messier, Lemieux, Yzerman, or Sakic. Heck, even Jonathan Toews & Patrick Kane don't get much hobby love even though they've won three Cups for a huge market US team.

[huskies3]

Originally Posted by hairysasquatch

Actual problem #1 is criminal USPS first class with d/c rates to Canada which renders an already tiny market virtually inaccessible. Canadian buyers just buy in-country and avoid insane shipping charges not to mention import duties on higher dollar items. Selling hockey cards stateside is over, baby.

I can ship a bubble mailer to Canada for $3. For anything under $750, that's all that matters. Shipped nearly 1000 cards and never had anything get lost. Import duties are avoidable for the most part too. But hey, you're an expert, so what am I telling you for?

[k13]

The dollar killed more of the action than anything probably. It bounced back recently so once season starts it might pick up a little.

[hairysasquatch]

Originally Posted by huskies3

I can ship a bubble mailer to Canada for $3. For anything under $750, that's all that matters. Shipped nearly 1000 cards and never had anything get lost. Import duties are avoidable for the most part too. But hey, you're an expert, so what am I telling you for?

I guess I prefer following the rules?

[ZappBrannigan]

Panini's inserts were a 1/4 inch thick keeping the exterior winds at bay, if you stacked up most of this worthless stuff in a closet you'd have a good barrier against external elements.

This is rarely reported as the "good" Panini gave to the hobby.