When shipping a bobblehead, the last thing you want is to have a buyer tell you it arrived damaged. It’s the worse feeling in the world. I trust that all you Snipers package your bobbles very securely but often times the USPS worker throws and kicks the box you sent like a FIFA soccer player. There’s really nothing you can do to control it but unfortunately it happens. 

I recently shipped a bobblehead off of Ebay to a buyer in California. I packaged it super fucking tight and when he showed me the damage to the box I went ape shit. I knew god damn well the postal workers had a soccer game with the box as there was dents and rips all over it. So the next step to do is hold USPS accountable for their laziness. 

Go to USPS.com and click on the option to “File a Claim”. This is sort of a pain in the ass process and they do it on purpose because in the end they lose money which they don’t want. Next, there’s options to post pictures of the damage to both the bobblehead and the box. You need to have the pictures or you won’t get a refund! Describe what you sent, upload pictures of both the box and the damaged bobblehead. Next, you have to show the proof of the payment the buyer sent you. In my situation, the buyer paid through PayPal. I took a screen shot of the payment he sent ($115.00) and I uploaded that too. 

You eventually, click “Submit” and the claim is finished. I got a letter in the mail 4 days later stating that the value USPS determined was $100.00. The buyer paid me $115.00 so I’m assed out of $15.00. Oh well, it’s better than zero. I received a check from the United States Postal Services for $100.00 and end of story. 

Like I said, it really is a pain in the ass process but it’s worth it. Hold those fuckers accountable for treating your box you shipped like a rag doll. Here’s a picture of the letter I was sent after I filed the claim.

Many people have very different views on what they should pay for a brand new SGA bobblehead. I think there’s a big misconception that I have to address. I know the availability and rarity can factor into the price but there’s one thing MANY don’t realize. The person who goes to the game has to pay for the following 2 things. 

1. Ticket
2. Parking

I won’t even factor in food or drink because that’s on them on how they wanna spend their money. Also, calculating tolls that’s another thing on them. 

So if you take into a count that a ticket at least can cost $15.00 and parking varies but I’ll be generous and say $5.00, so that’s $20.00 bones right there. So, is it outrageous to think $25.00-$40.00 is fair? Yes, I know we all Snipe and get extras so a ticket and parking fee shouldn’t be accounted for. I am the first to say wait for a good price but if you factor in the ticket cost and parking, any bobble priced between $25.00 and $40.00 is reasonable. Now, for example, a CHEAP ticket for a Mets or Yankee game can run you $30.00 alone! And parking at Citi Field is $25.00 by itself. So now you have Joe Blow who went to a Mets game and spent $55.00 right off the bat and you expect to pay in the mid 20’s for a bobble? 

It’s a fucked up topic to discuss and there’s a shit ton of ways of looking at it. I’ll hit you with another one. The Tampa Bay Cy Zilla bobble of Blake Snell. A cheap ticket to that game at most can be $10.00 and I have no clue what parking is like. Let’s go and say they parked on the street and paid a meter $4.00 for 4 hours to park. So that’s $14.00 to get in the door and receive a bobble. That Cy Zilla is going for $23.00 on Ebay with free shipping. So if someone went to that game,  paid $14.00 for a ticket and a parking meter and is selling the bobble for $23.00 with free shipping and let’s say it ran them $8.00 to ship, that seller is profiting $1.00. 

Overall, the realization of what we think is a fair price to pay for a SGA is highly debatable. There’s your time and effort that factor’s into your selling price. But looking at it from a “buying” standpoint, prices are actually very accurate on Ebay right when an SGA comes out. The entire point of this blog is to basically show you that paying $25.00-$40.00 is not unrealistic. You have to factor in what the person had to do and what he or she paid. Always remember that. 

P.S.- I’ll save the theory of one who goes to a game and Snipes 18 bobbles and charges something totally different. That’s for another blog down the road as we all try and profit one way or another.