Of Recent Collectors Who Flip
 

We seem to have a small spate of people who start threads about their "amazing" recent purchases, which had everything to do with spending several thousand dollars on readily available cards, only to have them turn around and flip those cards within days of those posts.

I got no problem with card flipping, or quickly losing interest in areas of collecting. But to go out of your way to share your "great find" in a thread that explains how your purchase really defines you as a collector -- only to flip the cards or collection a day later -- is not only lame but it frankly makes you look like a wildly bipolar drama queen to your reading audience.

We pat each other on the backs for jobs well done in collecting -- big and small. You want the congratulations for making an easy purchase that has nothing to do with a long-term collection -- fine. But do us all a favor and don't use us like some kind of advertisement for your prospective flip. And keep your personal drama about how you hate the cards you loved yesterday to your psychologist.

Ut ohh, Somebody got outsniped ;)

There are:

Collectors that Collect
Collectors that Flip
Flippers that Collect
Flippers that Flip

As you slide down the scale you care less about the cards and more about the money. When the money becomes more important than the cards you don't really need to be here. IMHO

What does it matter if people flip cards? As long as the seller gets the price they want for their card, who cares what the buyer does with it. Flipping keeps cards in circulation. If everyone kept there cards forever, there would be no cards to buy. If you can make money at flipping, that's a bonus. It means you can buy more cards! All cards get 'flipped' eventually.

Ha -- no. Just think its amazing we have a "Mission Accomplished" thread running at the same time as that mission is for sale. And this is not the only example....

Agreed. But I want to add that I find no particular problem with any of those 4 categories. Everyone should just be honest about where they fit in.

Again, I like flipping cards as much as the next guy. But don't come on here telling me that your brand new Plank is going to be in your collection forever and isn't it wonderful -- only to sell it tomorrow and brag about how much of a profit you're looking to claim.

Pathetic.

Perfectly put.

I was clear in the BST about why im doing what im doing. Im no flipper...im a quitter. Im sick of the bullshit garbage and lying in these forums...and since its my sole outlet to discussing cards, why even bother anymore?

Bold statement, but I do tend to agree. I fall into the category of a collector who only sells mainly to fund other purchases or upgrade for a registry set. I would think that means I fall into category #1.

Chicago: I don't think this thread was directed only at you:

"We seem to have a small spate of people"

Rob

I agree to an extent. That Plank may have been the centrepiece to a collection one day, then change into the centrepiece of a new deal overnight. Who knows. Maybe something came up that the owner of the Plank wanted more than the Plank.

I may be a little odd,but I enjoy buying a T206 and thinking to myself "this bad boy won't be seeing the market for a long,long time":D

I'm in the collector who collects catagory-but to each their own..........

Regards,

Clayton

Did I read above that another collector is letting us know they're leaving for good? They're dropping like flies.

Thanks for the courtesy call, but whatever happened to bucking up.

So the dude changed his mind, what's the big deal?:confused::confused:

Upside inside out
 

Livin' the diva loca

No big deal. More great cards in circulation looking for new homes.

i love Net54baseball
 

...as much as the next guy. But if you are actually dumping your collection of pre-WWI baseball cards because of what people say on here you never belonged here in the first place.

This is where collectors come to discuss cards with like-minded collectors. People cannot really be collecting cards just in order to be part of this community, can they? Geesh. This might be the saddest story about humanity and card collecting I have ever heard. A total and complete downer.

Hey guys, at this point it's piling on...let him sell his cards and move on.

Not me!.. I waste my money on cards and hang out here just to cause friction in the marriage.

Now that made me laugh...well played. :)

Jim you're right and I don't find a problem with any as well. I being in sales don't think profit is a dirty word.

But if someones interest is more about making money than collecting cards I just don't think this is the right place for them.

OR....Livin the VIDA Loca....just saying....

I bought that T205 Johnson in hopes of flipping it. Then I became attached to it and decided to keep it. Then my 2 wonderful daughters created a senario that made me sell it. Since I don't like debt I think I jumped the gun on the sale. Should have kept it as the next month was great for business. Oh well now.

I think I may be a collector that flips sometimes

or
 

my choice of words was intentional

I'm no flipper, but I'm DEFINITELY a collector who flips. My goal is a PSA 3 or better Plank, I guess I'm flipping my AUTH Plank because in the end I felt like I was settling when I won it (again, never thought my bid would win). I tried to convince myself that it was a great enough deal that I could be happy with it, and it is an intoxicatingly beautiful card, but it isn't what my heart was set on. Not sure I'll ever completel the monster, but I'll continue my slow go at the big end of it.

I rarely spend any money that I haven't already put into the hobby already, just turn out cards occasionally to fund new purchases. That looks like just a flipper to the outside world because no one gets to go to the bank with me to see what I've had for decades...

Take a look at the douchebag who posted in my BST thread....is it any wonder why im quitting? I've had enough of the idiots on these forums....I have better things to do with my time and money.

I agree that mintacular was inappropriate doing that....hang in there if you can, Phil.

Best of luck.

Signed,

Cy O'Nara

Many years ago on the old board, I started a thread to share my T206 Highlander team set with 20 something different backs. I collected it in a few months and it included Uzit, Lennox, Piedmont 42, Hindu on down. When the set was complete in my mind is when I posted the thread. Shortly afterwards I started to lose interest in them , the thrill of the hunt was over, there was nothing left to do. I decided to sell them soon afterwards on the b/s/t. I didnt plan it, its how it happened. Not saying that is what is going on here , just sharing my experience. (by the way, the only card I have ever regreted selling was the SGC 30 Uzit. Forgot what member I sold it too, but would love for it to come back home).

Orion's Highlanders
 

Orion,
I recall your Highlanders well. They were very impressive. I think I traded you a nice pink Chase EPDG. I also remember when you sold them. Bummer the thrill didn't last longer.

Best,
David R

Very well said, but I want to add one thing. If he wouldn't have boasted so much about his "deep pockets" and other things, he probably wouldn't have taken so much heat. The sad thing is that he really did have a nice collection.

Of Recent Collectors Who Flip
 

bipolar:mad:

a very serious illness that has nothing to do with baseball cards, but I do understand what you are saying. I just think people feel good about a sale and want to tell others about it. Yes, in some cases things get out of hand and maybe it belongs on a different forum

Jimmy

Slow and steady wins the race....It's been my perception that collectors who go at a breakneck pace in putting together sets are more likely to sell them almost as soon as the goal is accomplished. We see it here all the time...some times those collectors slow down and they usually stick around the forum and then there are those who just move on to something else.

Regading the four categories, I am most certainly in category #1. I find it hard to let anything nice go, although I think I am approaching that time (not by choice).

Just a few years ago, I couldn't have cared one lick about any of these cards, until I saw my son enjoying his own cards and reminded me of my own years ago. Go figure.

Thanks David R., I did get a lot of great help from net 54 members.

I don't look at myself as a flipper but, I have sold lots of cards and memorabilia that I lost interest in.

Complete sets 1967 thru 1990
150+ early Baseball, football bobbers.
Obaks That played for Detroit
D310/D311 that played for Detroit.
My 1952 thru 1959 Detroit players
and many more.
Of course not because of someone's comments, just decided to go another route.
I'm sure others do this too.

I only collect 19th Century Detroit right now:)

Joe

Hmmm, this thread reminds me of Seinfeld but I won't regress. After studying the chart very carefully, I'm a little of all four. I'm a CFCF.

Some cards I exclusively "collect,"
other cards I "flip" even though I would prefer not too,
sometimes I plan on flipping a card but end-up "collecting" it,
and finally, there are times I make a purchase with the sole purpose of "flipping!"

At least, I now know where I stand. When I'm flipping, I should ban myself from using this board and hookup with Peter Chaos and his merry men. When I'm collecting, I am the consummate Net54er, who brings nothing but honor and accolades to this brotherhood of prewar collecting knights!
I hereby decree, that Leon start a "Net54 Papal Orders of Chivalry." Which will be bestowed on a monthly basis upon the most noble of Net54er.

What do you say Leon??? What a "great way" to use all the money that you are saving by clunking the annual dinner.....

Lovely Day...

I almost never flip cards, however if someone offers me a nice high price for something, then why not, i can usually get another somewhere.

I think "to each their own" do what you want...

Chicago, don't let others get you down, you can only control your own actions, if you are happy with your actions, then you have nothing to worry about.

My grandpa used to tell me : Opinions are like assholes, everyone's got one and some of them really stink!

I think there are a lot more collectors who are also flippers here than you might think. Most of my cards which I bought on ebay, auctions on-line, shows and bst stay in my collection but when you spot a great lot and can break it down and sell it card by card and then plow the profits in to more cards you collect and keep, what's wrong with that? If I spot a very underpriced highly desirable card I might buy it, even though I have one in my collection, knowing that down the road it can be trade bait or sold to get a card I really need. I think a lot of us do that and we can still retain the mantle of "collector." I don't think a collector is someone who just keeps 100% of what he buys forever. Not all of us are independently wealthy and making money by selling some cards in order to buy other cards helps level the old playing field sometime. :D

I totally agree with FUBAR, "to each thier own." What is bipolar to one person is setting a goal, achieving it, and moving on to the next challenge to another. Some people believe "the early bird gets the worm", others "good things come to those that wait."

sorry folks
 

I agree with the original poster, it's not about flipping per se:

Bingo. As I posted earlier, diva loca.

Um.... No one said flipping is wrong or bad. Or that you can't change your mind or collecting focus. There's a lot of enjoyment in great sales and changing priorities.

But when someone comes on here, purportedly to share their collection and hobby accomplishments, only to turn around essentially the same day and jump ship, it sells all of us a bit short: "Congratulate me on achieving my goal -- I accept paypal."

It's all just a bit yuck for me...

I'm with Paul on this one, it comes off as shameless advertising at best sometimes worse.

We all sell something sooner or later we all flip something some more than others but I totally see Paul’s point.

I have quite limited funds, so when I find a higher end card that I want to add to my collection, sometimes I am forced to liquidate my other cards to fund it. I dont have a huge collection, nor are the cards I have anything that would excite a "seasoned" collector, but as time goes by, I hope that by collecting entry grade cards, I will be able to use them to fund a larger, more impressive collection. Thats just me though so its just one mans' take on the subject!

Brandon

I'm usually happy to pick up "scraps" from the folks upgrading here. The well healed collectors here sniff out the crap on the BST and make it a safe place to buy, and I am thankful. The internet has opened an opportunity for me to collect cards I would only see once or twice a year otherwise. And in many instances I would have been ripped-off if it weren't for the board police. My knowledge is very limited on many issues, but the good people here give me a sense of security. I don't post hardly at all, but I read alot and have made very sound purchases here and the peripheral entertainment is a nice bonus.

There have been a lot of times in my collecting that I have come across a card I had absolutely no interest in but found at a good price so I've bought it, knowing that I was only buying it to sell later so that I could buy something I really wanted. I don't do it often because it's an annoying and circuitous route to collecting. But it does happen.

On the "flip" side, I recently won a Roberto Clemente signed ball on eBay that I really wanted. Then I saw a card on the BST that had I known would have been offered in the future I would have saved my money for. So I tried to sell my Clemente ball but was unable to. Still a win-win if you ask me.

GRock
 

Rob,
very well said and refreshingly humble with gratitude.
great to have you on board as you move away from 'lurking' status!!
best,
barry

You know, some people change their minds quite a bit, others are always looking to flip a card to make a buck. Although its kind of funny, collectors like these end up chasing their tails (and don't stick in the hobby very long), and don't really do any damage to the sterling reputation of this board...

i don't believe i could of said it any better............ :)
Mr. Iggy you are my Hero fir da Day!
i must add, that "Chivalry", usually involves a female. So, i propose, in honour of All the Babe's in Baseball, we Call ourselves "Da Knights of Ruth".
Those that have been Knighted Anyways............

"All in Favor",

Flip a card, Buy a Card, Collect a card or get taken one way or another,
Then And Only THEN, will Your vote will be counted :)

I don't think that posters who do this are doing so because they are bipolar or have just changed their minds; they are doing so solely to advertise a card they planned on flipping from the start. I find that often the people that do this eventually get caught up in other, petty frauds on the board, so this sort of disingenuous behavior is really just par for the course for them.