I've been in OBC since 1999, and its the one thing that really got me back into collecting. I remember Ralph when he was in OBC and I'm happy to have continued trading with him since he's left.
As Ralph says, OBC is not for everybody. Especially if the thought of sending out cards to someone unannounced with the possibility of getting nothing in return bothers you. Keep in mind that there is plenty of trading for higher grade cards, especially pre-war. But the bulk of what we do is RAOK (Randon Acts Of Kindness). To me it just simplifies things, every few days I get an envelope of 4-5 cards, usually in VG or less to some of my sets. Every so often I hit the wantlists and send out 8 or 9 similar packages to other OBCers. A lot easier than emailing back in forth to come up with an "even" trade. Some guys I've sent to have sent me very little (or nothing) back. Some guys have sent me more than I could ever send them in return. It kinda evens out in the end. After all its only cardboard. In that I think its great, add in the local meet ups with Boston ara OBCers at local shows and even better 25+ OBCers at the National, and its that friendship and camaraderie that really makes OBC special
Check it out!
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