Why is Bowman so relatively expensive?

Archimedes · 03-07-2019, 10:59 PM

Why do many of the Bowman products, particularly Draft, seem so expensive compared to Topps? I'm sure someone who thinks he's super clever will refer to the intersection of supply and demand curves, so let's assume that supply is sufficient. Why is demand so high?

ThoseBackPages · 03-07-2019, 11:00 PM

Hobby Only
Multiple Autos per box (for draft)

Soxfanguy · 03-07-2019, 11:01 PM

LCS by me charges 160 for regular Bowman . Doesn't have many hits so that price is nuts

Mrpokey · 03-07-2019, 11:01 PM

Cause Bowman is King. And until prospectors stop prospecting itll never not be popular. I for instance on buy Bowman, Bowman Chrome and my favorite Bowman Draft. Nothing else.

jppicks · 03-07-2019, 11:02 PM

Two Words.

Prospect Autos

Bowman is the product where generally speaking a players 1st autos will appear while they are still prospects in the minor leagues.

Mrpokey · 03-07-2019, 11:02 PM

Also Bowman is one of the few products where you can get a pack for around $5 and pull a $25,000 card

BumBum · 03-07-2019, 11:02 PM

People be prospecting, and that is built into the price.

glen87 · 03-07-2019, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrpokey

Also Bowman is one of the few products where you can get a pack for around $5 and pull a $25,000 card

this - gamblers

hxcmilkshake · 03-07-2019, 11:06 PM

The purity is much greater than anything you can get on the street.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Archimedes · 03-07-2019, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BumBum

People be prospecting, and that is built into the price.

Is there anything more to prospecting than buying Draft and waiting for a couple of years to see if anyone pans out? At first, I didn't think I knew enough to prospect, but it seems like it's just a waiting game. Invest some capital up front and hope it pays off... Is it as simple as that?

glen87 · 03-07-2019, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archimedes

Is there anything more to prospecting than buying Draft and waiting for a couple of years to see if anyone pans out? At first, I didn't think I knew enough to prospect, but it seems like it's just a waiting game. Invest some capital up front and hope it pays off... Is it as simple as that?

NO...

Archimedes · 03-07-2019, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glen87

NO...

It's not that simple? Can you please explain?

glen87 · 03-07-2019, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archimedes

It's not that simple? Can you please explain?

there are many threads dedicated to prospecting. there is simply too much to get into in a single post without derailing this thread. do a search and you will find a lot of useful information on the topic.

JrFinest · 03-07-2019, 11:18 PM

Bowman. Home of the rookie card.... well until Topps decided to make it prospects.

As the others have stated. Those shiny 1st bowman autos are a huge drawing point.

Archimedes · 03-07-2019, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glen87

there are many threads dedicated to prospecting. there is simply too much to get into in a single post without derailing this thread. do a search and you will find a lot of useful information on the topic.

Fair enough. And I get that if we're talking about singles, and you have your own scouting report, there's much more to it. It would seem from a wax perspective, though, that you're just waiting. Unless you're actively trading your pulls.

Archimedes · 03-07-2019, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JrFinest

Bowman. Home of the rookie card.... well until Topps decided to make it prospects.

As the others have stated. Those shiny 1st bowman autos are a huge drawing point.

It's interesting, though, because many seem to prefer the true RC stamp to a 1st card from Bowman... no?

blanning71 · 03-07-2019, 11:42 PM

I would think it would be the other way around when it comes to 1st Bowman vs. RC stamp. Many of the people I deal with would rather have that 1st Bowman because it can be a couple of years before the player gets an RC stamped card. The RC's still carry great value especially if the player absolutely lives up to their projected hype but from what I've seen, the 1st will sell for just as much if not more because...well....it was first!

13goyankees13 · 03-07-2019, 11:43 PM

Are you comparing it to flagship Topps or to all other Topps products?

Bowman only has rookie and prospect autos which is a huge advantage. 99% of autos are on card which is a huge advantage. The vast majority of auto cards have the same design which is a huge advantage. Players get Bowman cards years before RCs so there are more chances for their prices to peak.

Archimedes · 03-07-2019, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 13goyankees13

Are you comparing it to flagship Topps or to all other Topps products?

I'd say the standard Topps offerings... Flagship, Chrome, Heritage, etc. Not the high-end, specialty stuff.

GreatAlbert · 03-07-2019, 11:53 PM

Because everybody thinks they can prospect now and I would venture to say it is the most popular product among breakers that can really be filled all year long.

The other answer. Mike Trout. His 2009 chrome auto changed the prospecting game forever.

MoreToppsPlease · 03-08-2019, 12:30 AM

Jotting down some thoughts here in a prattling-like manner...without concrete evidence.

1. Prices of Bowman Chrome prospect autos are high partially because Topps manages the BC product to keep it that way. I think Topps architects the card market so that people sell prospect cards to buy non-prospect cards; I think Topps markets expensive prospect cards to the wealthiest buyers and to gamblers...I’m frequently reminded of this whenever I look at Beckett articles which seem to be paid for by Topps! I also bet the grading companies also subsidize the marketing push.

2. Topps only puts auto’d rookies and prospects in their primary baseTopps Chrome and Bowman Chrome lines. If most or many non-prospect players had autos, especially on-card autos in Topps/Bowman Chrome, the first prospect auto prices would drastically decline in value as the market would be flooded with autos, even first autos would decline as they’d be less special.

3. If Topps didn’t apply it’s MLB license to Bowman Chrome for some reason at any point in the future, it’s value would also drop precipitously for current — and past products.

The only semi-real evidence that may exist to back any of this up is that non-auto RCs outsell non-auto prospect cards in most cases, I believe.

Shadowsonic2004 · 03-08-2019, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrpokey

Also Bowman is one of the few products where you can get a pack for around $5 and pull a $25,000 card

This. Basically the same reason as why people buy into breaks. People love to gamble and they can do it right in their own home.

1stBowman · 03-08-2019, 04:26 AM

A hobby box of Topps Series 1(1st purchase) was pretty cool. A HTA box of Bowman Baseball hooked me. I thought the holy trinity of the hobby was Bowman baseball, Bowman Chrome, and Bowman Draft. Now I have to add Bowman’s Best to it. The holy quartet perhaps. Everything else plays second fiddle to those imo.

Stech36 · 03-08-2019, 07:21 AM

You buy bowman now, throw it in a box, and as the years go by you sell off base chromes when the player gets hot for $5. Or in the case of Vlad Guerrero, $50

Soxfanguy · 03-08-2019, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archimedes

It's interesting, though, because many seem to prefer the true RC stamp to a 1st card from Bowman... no?

The 1st bowman autos are always the most expensive card of a player

03-07-2019, 10:59 PM	#1
Archimedes Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 2,825	Why is Bowman so relatively expensive? Why do many of the Bowman products, particularly Draft, seem so expensive compared to Topps? I'm sure someone who thinks he's super clever will refer to the intersection of supply and demand curves, so let's assume that supply is sufficient. Why is demand so high?

03-07-2019, 11:00 PM	#2
ThoseBackPages Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 91,406 ThoseBackPages	Hobby Only Multiple Autos per box (for draft) __________________ Pumpers Paradise #YouCryIBuy Four things that we cannot change each others minds about: Politics, Religion, Third Party Grading, and 2021 Bowman's Best Rookie Cards

03-07-2019, 11:01 PM	#3
Soxfanguy Member Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: White Sox Posts: 15,579 Soxfanguy	LCS by me charges 160 for regular Bowman . Doesn't have many hits so that price is nuts __________________ ok

03-07-2019, 11:01 PM	#4
Mrpokey Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: East Coast Posts: 5,154 Mrpokey	Cause Bowman is King. And until prospectors stop prospecting itll never not be popular. I for instance on buy Bowman, Bowman Chrome and my favorite Bowman Draft. Nothing else. __________________ Currently looking for: 2018 Sage Sportkings Kevin VanDam Memorabilia and Autos. Buying over Ebay or Trading high for them

03-07-2019, 11:02 PM	#6
Mrpokey Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: East Coast Posts: 5,154 Mrpokey	Also Bowman is one of the few products where you can get a pack for around $5 and pull a $25,000 card __________________ Currently looking for: 2018 Sage Sportkings Kevin VanDam Memorabilia and Autos. Buying over Ebay or Trading high for them

03-07-2019, 11:02 PM	#5
jppicks Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: So Cal Posts: 165 mrrookieguy jppicks	Two Words. Prospect Autos Bowman is the product where generally speaking a players 1st autos will appear while they are still prospects in the minor leagues.

03-07-2019, 11:02 PM	#7
BumBum Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: San Gabriel Valley, CA Posts: 219 brcreel brcreel	People be prospecting, and that is built into the price.

03-07-2019, 11:06 PM	#9
hxcmilkshake Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Apopka FL Posts: 11,705 hxcmilkshake	The purity is much greater than anything you can get on the street. Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

03-07-2019, 11:18 PM	#14
JrFinest Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,117 jrfinest_cards	Bowman. Home of the rookie card.... well until Topps decided to make it prospects. As the others have stated. Those shiny 1st bowman autos are a huge drawing point.

03-07-2019, 11:42 PM	#17
blanning71 Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Eastern NC Posts: 702	I would think it would be the other way around when it comes to 1st Bowman vs. RC stamp. Many of the people I deal with would rather have that 1st Bowman because it can be a couple of years before the player gets an RC stamped card. The RC's still carry great value especially if the player absolutely lives up to their projected hype but from what I've seen, the 1st will sell for just as much if not more because...well....it was first! __________________ I collect Ryan Zimmerman, Ken Griffey Jr, Derek Jeter, and nice patches or whatever catches my eye! Hobby trusted, collector approved. If you need me, I'm here for you!

03-07-2019, 11:43 PM	#18
13goyankees13 Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 1,525 13goyankees13	Are you comparing it to flagship Topps or to all other Topps products? Bowman only has rookie and prospect autos which is a huge advantage. 99% of autos are on card which is a huge advantage. The vast majority of auto cards have the same design which is a huge advantage. Players get Bowman cards years before RCs so there are more chances for their prices to peak. __________________ Currently collecting TTM/IP autos and Minnesota Golden Gophers alumni of all sports.

03-07-2019, 11:53 PM	#20
GreatAlbert Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 5,452 greatalbert2013	Because everybody thinks they can prospect now and I would venture to say it is the most popular product among breakers that can really be filled all year long. The other answer. Mike Trout. His 2009 chrome auto changed the prospecting game forever. __________________ IG: md_sportscards Set Collector, Bowman Prospector

03-08-2019, 12:30 AM	#21
MoreToppsPlease Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 8,676	Why is Bowman so relatively expensive? Jotting down some thoughts here in a prattling-like manner...without concrete evidence. 1. Prices of Bowman Chrome prospect autos are high partially because Topps manages the BC product to keep it that way. I think Topps architects the card market so that people sell prospect cards to buy non-prospect cards; I think Topps markets expensive prospect cards to the wealthiest buyers and to gamblers...I’m frequently reminded of this whenever I look at Beckett articles which seem to be paid for by Topps! I also bet the grading companies also subsidize the marketing push. 2. Topps only puts auto’d rookies and prospects in their primary baseTopps Chrome and Bowman Chrome lines. If most or many non-prospect players had autos, especially on-card autos in Topps/Bowman Chrome, the first prospect auto prices would drastically decline in value as the market would be flooded with autos, even first autos would decline as they’d be less special. 3. If Topps didn’t apply it’s MLB license to Bowman Chrome for some reason at any point in the future, it’s value would also drop precipitously for current — and past products. The only semi-real evidence that may exist to back any of this up is that non-auto RCs outsell non-auto prospect cards in most cases, I believe. __________________ IRS Tax Tip 2022-57 A hobby is any activity that a person pursues because they enjoy it and with no intention of making a profit. People operate a business with the intention of making a profit. Last edited by MoreToppsPlease; 03-08-2019 at 01:29 AM.

03-08-2019, 04:26 AM	#23
1stBowman Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Australia Posts: 945 1stBowman	A hobby box of Topps Series 1(1st purchase) was pretty cool. A HTA box of Bowman Baseball hooked me. I thought the holy trinity of the hobby was Bowman baseball, Bowman Chrome, and Bowman Draft. Now I have to add Bowman’s Best to it. The holy quartet perhaps. Everything else plays second fiddle to those imo. Last edited by 1stBowman; 03-08-2019 at 04:29 AM.

03-08-2019, 07:21 AM	#24
Stech36 Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Westminster, MD Posts: 9,654 Stech36	You buy bowman now, throw it in a box, and as the years go by you sell off base chromes when the player gets hot for $5. Or in the case of Vlad Guerrero, $50