Getting back into collecting
 

Hey y'all,

getting back into collecting a bit, trying to make a personal collection of meaningful cards and players across the four major sports.

It's been about 15 years since I've collected. Any tips/tricks for getting back into the swing of things?

thanks Justin

Be prepared for prices to have risen since you were last in the game. And not by a little!

Welcome back!
 

It’s still a great hobby but a lot has changed. Don’t buy anything immediately but check eBay completed sales as well as major auction house completed sales for the things you are interested in to get a footing on what’s going on. Buy what makes you happy and be a little patient….. measure twice cut once…. unless you are certain . Prices have gone way up on many things but have also come way down in the last year on some stuff too. Have fun and Net54 is a great forum for buying , selling , sometimes trading and just to learn. There’s a lot of very experienced collectors here who are generous with sharing knowledge and information so don’t hesitate to reach out for help. We all HATE to see anyone get scammed or taken advantage of so be careful. And NEVER list you eMail in a post looking to buy …. and be careful with payment methods that don’t allow you any protection unless it’s someone you’re very comfortable with (Leon will always give you his feedback on anyone on the board). Enjoy again this great and fun hobby!! Rocky in Jacksonville Florida

welcome back
 

Welcome back!
As mentioned, prices will be a lot higher than you remember.
HOF players are still highly demanded and the most sought after.
Check out ebay, auction houses, local card shows/stores, online for any cards.
ebay auctions will have a better deal than buy it nows usually.
Be careful with ebay. Make sure if your buying raw cards you thoroughly look at it.
If you expect to grade cards, expect much stricter grading scale, with a turnaround of around 3 months.
Check out ebay sold and PSA website to get an idea of how much a card is selling for.
PSA, SGC and Beckett are the main grading companies.

In reply to your question, best tip - DON’T!

Just kiddin’. Welcome back

Welcome back, Justin.

My tip: collect what you like, even if you hear people telling you to "🔥INVEST🔥" in this or that.

Welcome aboard.
The best advice for card collecting? Whatever you've decided to do at any given moment, stop and do the exact opposite. You'll end up a helluva lot happier.

buy to collect not invest

Welcome back

A lot has changed as other mentioned.

But you have a good source with this forum

Build yourself a spreadsheet of the cards you want, be succinct and know why you want every card on that list to be part of your collection. Be prepared to sacrifice other things for your collection. Buy only cards that speak to you and don't settle, you will regret it.

IMO, the cards are a byproduct of the relationships you will form with other members here.

Given price increases since you were last involved, look hard at lower grade cards as I believe they indicate the best value around. If you look primarily at the card rather than the grade, you will still find some jewels around.

Agreed ;
 

THIS ,
http://imagehost.vendio.com/a/204295...KSMICK_NEW.JPG

Thanks for all the great advice.

I am very open to lower grades, so that is where I am looking primarily.

Any good tools or tips for winning eBay auctions?

I think there are sniper bots that you can use, but that's above my skillset. Personally I just place my max bid in the last 5-10 seconds and hope for the best.

Welcome back!

This is a good sniper service.

https://www.gixen.com/main/home

.

Don't go broke, take-out loans or money out of your 401K to try and impress others. If you can't buy it in cash, then you probably couldn't afford it. Try and buy the best-looking card you can but within your budget.

Welcome back!

The hobby looks a bit different these days; however, the best tip I can give is one I learned long ago:

Buy what you like.

Like what you buy.

Leave the rest for everyone else.

Collect for you. Get cards that speak to you. Don't do anything because someone else tells you it's the "right way" to collect.


In short...the more things change, the more they stay the same.


Happy collecting!