For what fun thing would you sell all/some of your cards?

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Posted By: Rob Fouch

Before West Virginia choked away a shot at the BCS title, I had decided that if they made the championship game in New Orleans, I would sell whatever I had to sell to be there in person. Well, Pitt took care of that. But I would have been willing to part with a good chunk of my T206 collection to fund the trip. (I have about 25 percent of the set, including a low-grade O'Hara, a nice psa 4 red Cobb, many other HOF'ers.)

Has anyone ever sold off a piece or all of his/her collection to pay for a big vacation, a car, a once-in-a-lifetime experience? Or hypothetically, what kind of thing would inspire you to sell, and how far would you go? I probably could have kept my big cards but would have had to sell a bunch of commons, and maybe a few HOF'ers. But it would have been worth it to me because opportunities like that don't come along very often for West Virginia fans.

How about you guys? For what would you be willing to part with your cards?

Rob

P.S. I'm not referring to selling off cards to pay for an emergency. Fun things/experiences only.

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Posted By: Matt

Collector's by nature tend to prefer the tangible physical item that lasts for ever over the fleeting experience. Even if you remembered the experience your entire life, you couldn't pass that to your children.

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Posted By: Jon Canfield

I think this is a great question. I would sell part of my collection to fund a trip to climb Everest (from the Tibet side). Besides the 45 days you need for it, cost ranges between $40,000-$60,000 with permits.

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Posted By: MVSNYC

"I had decided that if they made the championship game in New Orleans, I would sell whatever I had to sell to be there in person...I would have been willing to part with a good chunk of my T206 collection to fund the trip."

wow...are you serious?...

i'd say watch it on TV, and keep the cards, man.

now, if it were something more tangible, like a ferrari, or a house, or a valuable painting/sculpture, that's another conversation...

but i cannot see selling "a good chunk" on my T206 collection to go to one game?

sorry, don't understand.

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Posted By: Steve Murray

Can't think of a thing that I can't otherwise do without having to sell any of my cards. My needs are pretty simple BTJM

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Posted By: Rob Fouch

Um, yes. I'm serious. I'm a West Virginia native and have been a Mountaineer fan since I was a little boy. Long before I got interested in cards. West Virginia has no pro teams, so the Mountaineers are it. The state lives and dies with the team. If they made it to the national championship, that would be absolutely huge. I would sell in a heartbeat. Cards can be replaced down the road. The Mountaineers may never make it to a championship game in my lifetime. If they get there, I want to be there, too.

I'd probably say the same if the Cubs made it to the World Series. Been a fan since I was about 11 or 12. Again, West Virginia has no pro teams, so just had to pick a Major League team. We got WGN, the superstation, and Harry Caray was a pretty appealing guy to a 12-year-old, so I became a Cubs fan. If they make it to a World Series, I'd do everything I could to try to get to one of the games. Including selling cards if need be.

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Posted By: scgaynor

I can understand selling a collection for a once in a lifetime opportunity.

You only live once and you can't take the cards with you. However you can get more cards later, and the thrill of the chase is most of the fun anyway.

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Posted By: Jimmy

I sold a lot of my collection when I got married and bought my first house. Later more of it went towards my second house, now I have very little. I enjoy buying and selling now so I can still see many items within the hobby I cannot afford to keep.

Jimmy

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Posted By: Rob Dewolf

Rob,

For what it's worth, being married to an Ohio State alumnus, I totally understand where you're coming from. And being a Cleveland Indians fan, if I would have had to sell some cards or memorabilia to attend the 1995 World Series, I would have done it in a heartbeat. Like you said, cards can be replaced -- yes, even PSA 9s! -- but certain experiences during a lifetime are a one-shot deal. I think it depends on one's passion for material items vs. life experiences that dictate what's more important. There's certainly no right or wrong answer. (BTW, sorry about your 'Neers).

Rob

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Posted By: paulstratton

A trip to the Playboy mansion.

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Posted By: Dean H

Feb-March 2006 I sold off a few cards and a 2002 Roger Clemens game used jersey for a nice down payment on a 2006 Corvette. So far don't regret it at all.

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Posted By: Anthony

Paul, I can call in a few favors. What cards do you have to send me

I'd sell off mine for something that would give my entire family enjoyment instead of just myself. A house on the beach in Byron Bay would do just fine.

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Posted By: Rob Fouch

Thanks, Rob. Yeah, that one still stings. And to Pitt, of all teams. Ugh.

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Posted By: steve

Funny you ask. I have been debating selling a large portion of my collection.

FOR.....More cards, just fewer of them but more valuable

Tossing the idea of going for a some T206 major HOF'ers in PSA 7.

steve

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Posted By: dstudeba

A fellow collector I know sold off a large chunk of his collection to pay for a golf club membership so he and his wife could play 3 times a week. I would sell my entire collection in a heartbeat for that.

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Posted By: Brian

I'd consider that too Dan -- it just depends who's wife we are talking about....

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Posted By: Jason L

not sure about this one, as I wouldn't think about selling it unless it were for an emergency-type of need.

But, to play along, I think I would agree with an earlier poster (Anthony?) that it would probably be to benefit the family and not just me...

the type of thing that might qualify would be if I had to fly the family around the world to see one of my kids compete in the Olympics.

or buy a house in Hawaii

but my collection is so far away from that kind of value that it is a fairly silly thought...more likely that it would net me a couple of tickets to the Circus...-and I'm afraid of clowns!

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Posted By: MVSNYC

you guys are actually coming up with some cool ideas (cars, houses, more cards, golf club memberships, etc...)

but it is the "one time" game thing, i can't understand.

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Posted By: Sean BH

I would sell my whole collection to attend the 2010 World Cup in South Africa...if I get tickets I will do just that.

sdbh

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Posted By: paulstratton

Anthony,

How does a Cobb sound? It'll be great for us.

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Posted By: leon

Scott Gaynor- you said "However you can get more cards later, and the thrill of the chase is most of the fun anyway."

I agree that you can get more cards later but many of us do have cards that are irreplacable. I have thought about selling my collection for the last few years to pay off my mortgage and put a chunk in the bank. I can't bring myself to do it though. I love collecting and don't know if it would be the same if I tried to do it over again (forget about the fact I couldn't afford much of the stuff I have anymore).....great question though. I also agree that, for the most part, collectors want tangible stuff. My wife is opposite though. She loves traveling and entertainment. I like sitting at home and hanging out...and collecting....regards

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Posted By: Chris

I sold some cards off last year and bought a cabin cruiser. The kids love being on the water and while I miss the cards it was well worth it and I wouldn't think twice about doing it again.

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Posted By: barrysloate

I've sold good parts of my collection to pay for my house on eastern Long Island. I've never regretted the decision.

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Posted By: sagard

When I'm 75 and assuming I'm still capable, I'm going to Vegas!!!!

I'll have a lot of cards by then.

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Posted By: T206Collector

...but when I saw that there were 4 Planks available, two in Mastro and two in REA last April, I thought it was appropriate to strike when supply might be able to bring price down a bit. So, I sold nearly all of my T206 set to buy Lionel Carter's Plank -- about 400 cards. (I sold 5-10 cards earlier this year in order to purchase my Magie as well.)



Visit http://www.t206collector.com for card galleries, articles and more!

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Posted By: Marty Ogelvie

Stuff vs memories.

When your on your death bed, your not gonna be thinking about your stuff, your gonna be thinking about all the great times you had with your friends and family.

I would sell my collection in a heart beat if my family needed the $$$ for something. I don't think I would sell it for a ball game.. but perhaps if my son were the starting pitcher in game 7 of the World Series.. - Shouldn't he be getting me tickets for this game instead of me having to sell my collection to buy tickets...

Which reminds me, my son got to pitch for the first time this past summer. He constantly asked the coach to let him pitch so he did in one of the last games. He pitched for 1 one inning. He beaned the first kid up then struck out the next kid. < Memories.. this is what I will be thinking about on my death bed.. not my favorite piece of card board.

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Posted By: boxingcardman

in NYC on the park.

Sic Gorgiamus Allos Subjectatos Nunc

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Posted By: joe

I sold quite a few of my Detroit cards in the last few months. The plan was/is to buy Detroit N172/N173 Cabinets and any other 19th Century Detroit material. Unfortunately, this stuff does not come up that often, so the sold card cash is in the bank.

Joe

Ty Cobb, Spikes flying!

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Posted By: Glen V

Jon C., let me know when you want to do Everest. That would be something worth selling cards for. Then again, I'd just take out a 60K loan to pay for the trip. That way I'd never have to pay it back, 'cause I wouldn't be coming back (probably freeze to death out there.)

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Posted By: JimB

I periodically consider selling it all and giving the money to charity.
JimB

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Posted By: leon

That scares me...

Jim B- I am needy if you are so inclined (jk....I know your heart is in the right place, which precludes me)

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Posted By: Jon Canfield

Glen - you and I must think alike...

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Posted By: Dan

Back in the early 90's I sold off around 75 or so 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookies to buy a new car (Dodge Stealth) that I wanted. Seemed like a good move at the time but I do wish I still had all of those Jordan's.

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Posted By: boxingcardman

"I also agree that, for the most part, collectors want tangible stuff. My wife is opposite though. She loves traveling and entertainment. I like sitting at home and hanging out...and collecting"

My wife was discussing sending our kid to a public middle school if we can get her into one of the gifted programs in our local school, which is supposedly really good. I said great, we can bank the extra cash saved on private school; her response was no we can spend it on travel, entertainment, etc. None of which I enjoy, of course. What is it about wives that compels them to spend like drunken sailors on "improving" their homes and then squander every remaining dime on going away from those homes?

Sic Gorgiamus Allos Subjectatos Nunc

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Posted By: David Smith

I would have liked to have gone to the Led Zeppelin reunion concert in England and taken my Nephew. I have been to many concerts in my life and saw Plant and Page when they toured together about 10 years ago while my Nephew has NEVER been to a concert. I thought taking him to see one of the best rock bands ever would be a GREAT concert to start him off with. But if it came to selling my collection, I wouldn't do it. So, probably nothing. I tend to like rare items, so if I sold them, I would have a very difficult, if not impossible, time trying to find the items and buying them back.

David

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Posted By: peter ullman

In high school I sold my bb cards to buy a 77' camaro...I would sell any/all of my cards to back an extended sabatical travelling any day of the week!

pete ullman

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Posted By: leon

Just so you know...>Led Zeppelin is coming to the US to tour next year. They already have 1 venue scheduled, is my understanding.....regards

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Posted By: Andrew

Most would probably remember an experience more than a tangible object. So if liquidating my possessions is the only way I could experience something deeply desired like a trip or adventure, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Yes, I can pass on cards to my kids, but I could also pass on stories.
It's being, doing, then having, in that order.

"Take your life in your own hands and what happens? A terrible thing: no one to blame." -- Erica Jong

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Posted By: David Smith

Leon,

Thanks for the info, I didn't know that. The last I heard, Robert Plant was saying the Ahmet Ertegun concert might be the only one.

David

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Posted By: Joe D.

I would probably trade them all in....




and my other stuff
if somehow it helped me get a.....

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Posted By: pas

Jessica Alba.

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Posted By: Bill

Something that will help my son realize whatever dream he will have someday. Then I'll start all over again..........

Change your socks, drink water, and drive on.

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Posted By: Bob Pomilla

Nothing less than world domination.

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Posted By: James Gallo

A trip to space and maybe a moon wall too. I would sell it all for that.


James G

Looking for 1915 Cracker Jacks and 1909-11 American Caramel E90-1.

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Posted By: DMcD

Hookers and blow.

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Posted By: DMcD

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Posted By: Joe D.

barry's new venture....

Deep Sloate
"topps-less vintage"

is just what you are looking for.

we can invite you down for opening night.... just bring the T210 Stengel.

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Posted By: MVSNYC

"Hookers and blow"...

no we're startin' to get somewhere here.

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Posted By: paulstratton

Shouldn't David bring his Johnson instead of his Stengel Joe?

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Posted By: judson hamlin

two words...

Salma
Hayek

that is all