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Greed Won Out

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Categories: Humor and sarcasm; Experiences and daily life; Human nature; Commerce and business

Word count/read time: 545 words; 2-1/2 minutes

It is difficult for many of us to comprehend the allure and perceived value of some collectibles, never mind the sheer magnitude of them. At my first in-person auction a set of Brady Bunch cards sold for around $10k. And a stuffed doll - granted, many centuries old - for $22k. There wasn't a $3.25M comic book but all over the world these items commands some serious coin.

Some of the recent sport cards' prices are mind-boggling. If they were old, that'd be expected and understandable, but these are freshly minted! Let me focus on the LeBron James' triple logoman card. It has the NBA (fabric) logo from each of his three championship teams from the supposed jerseys worn during the games. Everyone knew it was going to be a whopper of a card, worth at least a million, so the fervor was insane.

There were only so many boxes that could have had the card. Many people would live-stream the opening of their box, fingers crossed. At roughly $15k per box, it wasn't like your average kid would traipse to the corner store and buy one with pocket change, or their life savings.

As each of the special boxes was opened and the Holy Grail wasn't found, the remaining boxes would increase in value. Websites tracked these stats so everyone knew how many were left and whatnot. It was certain that whoever found "the" card would immediately announce it to the world, for that fame, for the payoff.

It's not a lottery ticket though it could act as one. A lottery ticket has one value if it wins and that's the end of it. Tomorrow it would be worth the same no matter how many additional tickets were sold. Not so with a card like the logoman and the situation surrounding its existence.

WAIT! This is about greed, the payday, as it was highly unlikely the finder would keep it. The finder let their immediate greed squander the opportunity for further riches because they didn't think ahead. Perhaps more riches than selling the card, who's to say? Why not harness greed to your advantage, right?

I don't understand people who can't fully embody their ideas, especially when it comes to vices. Greed: It's about money and opportunity. If I found this card there would be absolute radio silence. I would buy every remaining box at whatever price. And waited while everyone opened theirs. Naturally, they would think they had an increasing chance of finding it but that would be my dirty secret.

How much money could be made sitting on those boxes? As the virgin quantity dwindled, their value would climb exorbitantly. When there were only a few left I'd sell my stash, then make $2.4M on top of whatever profit from hoarding the losing boxes. It would almost demand a box opening online to appease everyone. Give 'em a show and make it Oscar-worthy!

Greed often doesn't include patience but it would have paid handsomely in this case. Greed battling greed, what irony and stupidity! At least it didn't result in people being tortured, dying, or other malicious acts as history has shown is almost a certainty. If the worst outcome siphoned money from gamblers and speculators...well, there would be crocodile tears aplenty.

Posted by M: March 30, 2023

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