Great stuff as always David! I find that diversity is key to my collection, but after a few years back collecting, I am more focused on cards that carry more value to me, based on financial value and team/player value. To keep me focused on this newer goal (still a struggle at times) I need to be able to pass on new releases when they don't help towards my goals. To me that means less hobby boxes and more blasters to satisfy the joy of opening a product, but then more money goes toward the individual cards I want.
The other part for me is selling cards more often now. I love prospecting on a small scale ($5-$10) paper numbered cards for the most part. The goal was to see these guys grow and hit the big leagues and then sell for profit to help towards the goal above. The problem is it is hard to let go of those cards once they are in your collection. The question I usually remind myself of in that situation is "would you rather have a Cole Young /99 card or put that money you make towards Sidney Crosby card?"
The other factor in selling off some cards as mentioned is timing. Those 2025 Topps Heritage cards will sell more often for better price sooner rather than later with respect to the release date. Every other collector may be doing the same thing as you. The sports calendar also provided opportunity to sell. Kasperi Kapanen scores game winning goal in OT for the Oilers in playoffs: List what was probably a $3 YG card the next day and sell it for $8. Pay attention to what cards you own and what is happening with sports and you may have more luck selling, which will help with your ultimate collecting goals.
Thanks, Patrick, great comment! I love your Sidney Crosby Project, as you've inspired me to try to do the same for another card. For me, it's just the pain-in-the-butt of listing all the cards, as I'm usually dealing with creating content in different forms. Ebay has certainly made it much easier in recent years, but still... I'm also bad about waiting too long. I had that Mike Trout image variation card from Topps Heritage, and people were selling them for $70. By the time I listed mine a few days later for $60, no one was buying, and now, I'll have to list it for $30 and just "hope"!
Recently, I went through my older (2020+)) hockey cards to check the Young Guns, and I didn't have anyone worth too much. I gotta check with you to see if I'm missing anyone I can sell!
I hear you, anything not super rare or vintage can be hard to sell and get the amount you would like. Young Guns in particular see there value drop like crazy within a few weeks of release, just so many get added into the eBay population and every seller undercuts the others and prices tank. It's almost better to sell your card on release date knowing you can find it again a month later for cheaper meaning you still get the card but made some money off of it.
I always have a stack of 10-20 cards I would like to list, the ones that I hope to get $2-$3 for, so no rush. I have found the best way to list is find one already listed by a good seller (someone like COMC or Burbank Sports Cards) and I click on their link and use the "have one to sell - Sell Now" link below the picture. That means most of the listing work is already done, just need to add a few photos and select your price and shipping method, plus AI will generate the description. I can probably get one fully listed in under 5 mins if I am on my game, but it is still a hassle.
Excellent thoughts David, working on figuring out what I really want to focus on. Pretty easy with certain things like hockey and football, more difficult for baseball.
Thanks for commenting, Kelly! It's weird how baseball is a little trickier. Maybe because of the age of the sport, and how vintage in this sport is different than others?
Great stuff here. I think new collectors should allow themselves some patience when determining what they want to collect. It took me awhile to kinda find what i like. With all of the ways to collects and tons of different sets kinda giving your time to explore whats out there is perfectly fine to do! The 60 graded case man that’s nice i may have to grab me one thats super affordable for the size
Agreed, Josh -- be patient when you first start out. Unfortunately, you feel like you gotta catch up quick, and EVERY card out there is one you don't have! haha thanks for commenting!
Huh, I always thought a 'collector's grade' was the same as the decade (a SGC 5 for 1950's), and a grade above was the 'investor's grade'....but clearly this is not scientific :-)
Late to party, but great read, as usual. Wonderful article and advice about building a collection. Wish I woulda taken some of that to heart when I got back in, my collecting habits have become pretty darn eclectic, ha. Also, love the piece on the ‘80 Henderson, one of the best looking cards of the ‘80’s imo. I bet it would rocket straight to the top of my list with a rookie cup, wow. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Scott -- man, if they put the All-Star Rookie Cup on that '80 Rickey Henderson card, from then on, we'd have to rename it the Topps All-Star Rickey Cup! haha
Great stuff as always David! I find that diversity is key to my collection, but after a few years back collecting, I am more focused on cards that carry more value to me, based on financial value and team/player value. To keep me focused on this newer goal (still a struggle at times) I need to be able to pass on new releases when they don't help towards my goals. To me that means less hobby boxes and more blasters to satisfy the joy of opening a product, but then more money goes toward the individual cards I want.
The other part for me is selling cards more often now. I love prospecting on a small scale ($5-$10) paper numbered cards for the most part. The goal was to see these guys grow and hit the big leagues and then sell for profit to help towards the goal above. The problem is it is hard to let go of those cards once they are in your collection. The question I usually remind myself of in that situation is "would you rather have a Cole Young /99 card or put that money you make towards Sidney Crosby card?"
The other factor in selling off some cards as mentioned is timing. Those 2025 Topps Heritage cards will sell more often for better price sooner rather than later with respect to the release date. Every other collector may be doing the same thing as you. The sports calendar also provided opportunity to sell. Kasperi Kapanen scores game winning goal in OT for the Oilers in playoffs: List what was probably a $3 YG card the next day and sell it for $8. Pay attention to what cards you own and what is happening with sports and you may have more luck selling, which will help with your ultimate collecting goals.
Thanks, Patrick, great comment! I love your Sidney Crosby Project, as you've inspired me to try to do the same for another card. For me, it's just the pain-in-the-butt of listing all the cards, as I'm usually dealing with creating content in different forms. Ebay has certainly made it much easier in recent years, but still... I'm also bad about waiting too long. I had that Mike Trout image variation card from Topps Heritage, and people were selling them for $70. By the time I listed mine a few days later for $60, no one was buying, and now, I'll have to list it for $30 and just "hope"!
Recently, I went through my older (2020+)) hockey cards to check the Young Guns, and I didn't have anyone worth too much. I gotta check with you to see if I'm missing anyone I can sell!
I hear you, anything not super rare or vintage can be hard to sell and get the amount you would like. Young Guns in particular see there value drop like crazy within a few weeks of release, just so many get added into the eBay population and every seller undercuts the others and prices tank. It's almost better to sell your card on release date knowing you can find it again a month later for cheaper meaning you still get the card but made some money off of it.
I always have a stack of 10-20 cards I would like to list, the ones that I hope to get $2-$3 for, so no rush. I have found the best way to list is find one already listed by a good seller (someone like COMC or Burbank Sports Cards) and I click on their link and use the "have one to sell - Sell Now" link below the picture. That means most of the listing work is already done, just need to add a few photos and select your price and shipping method, plus AI will generate the description. I can probably get one fully listed in under 5 mins if I am on my game, but it is still a hassle.
As always great ideas and information Patrick. Great food for thought!
Brilliant! I need to use that method, for sure! Thanks!
Excellent thoughts David, working on figuring out what I really want to focus on. Pretty easy with certain things like hockey and football, more difficult for baseball.
Thanks for commenting, Kelly! It's weird how baseball is a little trickier. Maybe because of the age of the sport, and how vintage in this sport is different than others?
Great stuff here. I think new collectors should allow themselves some patience when determining what they want to collect. It took me awhile to kinda find what i like. With all of the ways to collects and tons of different sets kinda giving your time to explore whats out there is perfectly fine to do! The 60 graded case man that’s nice i may have to grab me one thats super affordable for the size
Agreed, Josh -- be patient when you first start out. Unfortunately, you feel like you gotta catch up quick, and EVERY card out there is one you don't have! haha thanks for commenting!
This literally nails the exact feeling of a new collector!
Huh, I always thought a 'collector's grade' was the same as the decade (a SGC 5 for 1950's), and a grade above was the 'investor's grade'....but clearly this is not scientific :-)
That makes good sense, too! I like your way better!
Late to party, but great read, as usual. Wonderful article and advice about building a collection. Wish I woulda taken some of that to heart when I got back in, my collecting habits have become pretty darn eclectic, ha. Also, love the piece on the ‘80 Henderson, one of the best looking cards of the ‘80’s imo. I bet it would rocket straight to the top of my list with a rookie cup, wow. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Scott -- man, if they put the All-Star Rookie Cup on that '80 Rickey Henderson card, from then on, we'd have to rename it the Topps All-Star Rickey Cup! haha