Retro question--am I mis-remembering this scenario?

[weasel-king]

So I grew up in the western part of North Carolina in the 80s and 90s. Not exactly the hotbed of hockey collecting. It was a mid-size town, and even back then I had two card shops to pick from, with another two within a 20-minute drive. I did spend my allowance on baseball cards back then--think cheap Donruss and Fleer boxes.

When UD came out with hockey cards, I grabbed a few packs but had no idea who anybody was. The only reason was that the shop had some Bure UD French rcs in screw-down holders. Maybe. They could have been Fedorov? Anyway, they looked flashy and I wanted one, though I had no idea who Bure or Fedorov were.

I *think* that they had a $75 price tag on them, but that's where I need the assist. Am I just bonkers, or were these cards that hot back then? I read the UD book years ago and vaguely remember something about the French version distribution being wonky.

I know, long thread for a silly question. But with all the experience on these boards, maybe some memories can be shared, too.

 

[Fritz]

A lot of people with more money than brains LOADED up on the french RCs. I remember seeing them upwards of $200 each here, I've heard stories of them being $500+ though. I believe at first they were only in Quebec, a friend of mine in grade 5 used to get packs from his dad who travelled through Quebec for work. Then the flood gates opened & everyone had french wax. Whether they printed more or just held back distribution for a bit I can't answer but you can still probably find a pallet of boxes for under $15 each if you look hard enough

 

[weasel-king]

Whether they printed more or just held back distribution for a bit I can't answer but you can still probably find a pallet of boxes for under $15 each if you look hard enough

I *think* the UD book mentions they held cases back. Again, some ancillary information I'm not quite certain about.

As I am thinking back, part of me thinks that those Bure rcs were in the display case for over $100 here, but I thought 'nah, it couldn't have been that much' so my brain says $75 was the more logical amount. Your numbers, though, leads me to believe the $100+ may have been accurate.

 

[30ranfordfan]

Either of those two could have been $100+ at the time. They were thought to be very rare, but weren't at all.

 

[jogesc2]

This is funny. I just started buying UD 90/91 ad 91/92 French boxes to do the sets.

I'll make sure to hold into the $100 rookies

 

[chadsexington]

One of the card shops in this area (keeping in mind though that I live in the Vancouver area) were selling French Bures for $700 at one point...and selling out. Fedorov was usually semi-out the door at $250 a pop.

90-91 French high was selling for $30 a pack at one point which was nuts to 7 year old me considering Pro Set was selling for 90 cents a pack next to it and had more cards :laugh:

I *think* the UD book mentions they held cases back. Again, some ancillary information I'm not quite certain about.

It's been a few years since I read Card Sharks, but I believe the whole thing with UD French was that MacW saw how much of a cash cow it was and started the presses on it again.

The biggest distinctive difference being that you could tell Wave 1 and Wave 2 apart from the number of french cards that were in each pack. The original wave had 4 French high cards per pack while Wave 2 had 6.

I don't recall reading that stock was held back though...I think I recall reading that he was giving out cases as thank you bonuses so people could resell them on the secondary market and cash in.

 

[Triple B]

I remember Ed Belfour selling for over $200 at one point. I pulled one out of the only box I splurged on and sold immediately.

It's been a few years since I read Card Sharks, but I believe the whole thing with UD French was that MacW saw how much of a cash cow it was and started the presses on it again.

Those cases were used as bonuses as well as buy outs for the guys McWilliam didn't want at UD any more. He pressed their bonuses and severance packages in lieu of paying cash. Brilliant! The man was a snake. but a bloody smart one.

 

[uvic99]

I remember Ed Belfour selling for over $200 at one point. I pulled one out of the only box I splurged on and sold immediately.

Man, I wish I had done that for every hot RC I pulled the past 25 years. Yeah, I remember the UD French craze around the same time as the OPC Premier craze. $75 would have been a good price for a Bure back then.

 

[deepbluejacket]

Yup, it was a crazy time back then. Fortunately I was a kid and couldn't afford to get sucked into the French Upper Deck trap. Although living close to Quebec, the cards were available. Some of my friends had some, but I made no trades for them.

It should be noted that the air went out of French Upper Deck very fast.

 

[weasel-king]

I appreciate the comments and corrections to my faulty memory. I may have to give Card Sharks another read.

Anyone have some of the older Becketts? I'm curious how 'in line with reality' the guide was for these cards?

And to further that, any other sets been so hyper-inflated for such a short amount of time?

 

[Fritz]

And to further that, any other sets been so hyper-inflated for such a short amount of time?

Every set that's ever been released (for a 10 day period @ launch)

 

[djsports]

Every set that's ever been released (for a 10 day period @ launch)

Truer words have never been spoken...uh...typed.

The cards with the 1990 Hockey Hologram seem to be the first printing and the 1991 Upper Deck Hologram design are most likely from subsequent printings.

Yes Card Shark does reference cases of 1990-91 UD French high series being displayed by the pallet load at Frank and Sons back in the day.

Bures were going for around $300.00 - $500.00 USD here in Colorado.

It is still a rare card by 1990's standards. In fact there are only 4 on COMC right now compared to 12 Gretzky Topps rookies.

 

[deepbluejacket]

Pull out the old Becketts, you ask? Gladly!

First pricing for French is June 1991. All it says is French version 4x, which would put Fedorov at 48 and Bure at 12.

In July, French jumps to 8X which puts Fedorov at $144 and Bure at $28.

No change to the multiplier in August, but Fedorov is now at $160 and Bure at $32 (so is Ken Hodge Jr, BTW).

Uh-oh, the air begins to go out in September as the multiplier drops to 6.

Down to 5X in October and Fedorov dips in value for the first time.

January 1992 sees a drop to 4X as Fedorov continues to drop in value.

Down to 3X in March. Fedorov at $36 and Bure at $30.

2-3X in April. 1.5-2.5x in June. The party's basically over.

 

[newfiecomicguy1]

I worked in a card shop and did card shows during my university years and the Bure and Fedorov French were easily selling for $100. As fast as we could get them in they sold. We had a wait list book and it was full of people waiting for those and Patrick Roy opc rookies.

 

[weasel-king]

Amazing. Thanks everyone for making me glad I was still a 14-year old when these came out and had no money to spend on these!

 

[Triple B]

LOL...Ken Hodge, Jr.!!!

I was hoarding his Pro Set RCs and I remember his hype being PARTIALLY based on the "Jr." in his name because baseball had a kid who was lighting it up at the same time that also had a "Jr." in his name.