Hey Buddy – Can You Cancel My $3.72M Winning Bid?
Back in February, you may recall that a full 16-box case of 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Hockey cards sold for $3.72 million at Heritage Auctions. The case may potentially have as many as 25 Wayne Gretzky rookie cards inside that presumably would get high grades.
Well, the winning bidder still has not paid in full for the case – and he no longer wants it.
And you thought it was bad when someone buys your card on eBay for $10 and then backs out and wants you to cancel their bid.
According to an article published on Sports Collectors Daily, the man who won the O-Pee-Chee case – a Toronto-area real estate agent – has paid $3 million but still owes Heritage Auctions a balance of $720,000.
Now, he’s trying to find someone else to purchase the case because he wants it to go to someone who is “more passionate” about hockey cards.
(And here I thought that anyone who spent over $3 million on hockey cards was very passionate about hockey cards.)
The buyer has reached out to Wayne Gretzky, rapper and card enthusiast Drake, and Edmonton Oilers owner Daryl Katz about purchasing the case off of him.
Or the buyer may end up giving the full case of 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Hockey cards to a girl that he had a crush on in grade school.
Seriously, you can’t make this stuff up! For the full story, check out this article on Sports Collectors Daily and this news video by CBC.
Note: This article is an updated version of an editorial that originally appeared in Volume 2 – Issue 16 of the Puck Junk Newsletter. For stories like these, plus news and updates about hockey cards and collectibles, subscribe to the newsletter here.
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Likely found out here are only two grade 10 Gretzky rookies in existence. Cards from back then were noT known to be well centered. Either that, or his wife said “YOU PAID HOW MUCH FOR WHAT?”