It's true that we send things out, not knowing what you will ever get in return. If anything. But I can tell you, you will be surprised by something, someday. I got a starter set of like fifty 1953s in Ex or better from one guy a long time ago. He also sent me some C46 cards out of the blue. I could never approach his list, not sure I ever sent him anything. A bunch of us teamed up once to buy one of our old-timers a T206 Magie for his Phillies collection. Yep...just gave it away, here you go! One of the highlights of the year is the Christmas Exchange, where we all get somebody to send to. The limit is $10...I've never seen anybody that could say they spent $10, it's always more. Maybe not in money sometimes, but in thought. I still have a cool scrapbook made up from one guy, filled with T-card beaters that I just love. Anyway, I was deployed to the Middle East one year for Christmas and ended up getting not one, but a ton of Xmas Exchange packages!
The best part is just hooking up with guys in your travels, and catching a beer or a game. When we were trying to sell our house in Florida, we heard we were supposed to bury a St Joseph in our yard. Instead, we had an OBCer over for dinner, a Catholic priest from New Orleans, who would get the kids King cakes each year. He slept over, and we sold the house two days later...so don't bury a saint, just have grub and beers with a priest. I have probably met over 50 OBCers, and it's always like meeting a college friend, even though you don't know them. I would never hesitate to offer up my guest room to any of them...ever.
So it's not about a fair trade. What VCP says this card is worth. Sure, some guys collect "good stuff" and they are welcome, but they get it. I actually have one of the hardest lists to hit in OBC and send out "more" than I "get." But what I "get" isn't measured in cards. Who cares? I like friends better than cards. And that's what you get in OBC. You get friends...
Take Care,
Geno
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Originally Posted by hangman62
I too was OBC member for a while
great club, great people..but not for everyone
I could never get over the RAOK thing....to send off a 61T hi#..and get nothing back ... just not right to me
I went along for a while..but it just never evened out over time
I always felt ,Topps and Bowman call them " trading cards" for a reason
However, there are a few more internet card trading/collecting sites that do it the " normal way " .... these are better for the collector that wants to use - card condition/ value/price guide to line up a " fair " card swap .
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