HOBBY versus INDUSTRY; what %? as it pertains to prewar

[RealToppsaholic]

what % of the buyers/sellers/collectors buy/trade/sell as a hobby only versus as a business only? of course most are a mix of both so whats the blend?

I see it as 20-25% strictly 'hobby' collectors and

5-10% as strictly 'industry' people with little or no love for the product

65-75% are in the gray

thoughts?

[drcy]

Sounds like a reasonable percentage. I assume most collectors do some selling.

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by drcy

Sounds like a reasonable percentage. I assume most collectors do some selling.

Because of the way the original question is worded, I disagree. Because it states what % buy/sell/trade as a hobby only...I believe it is more like 45 to 55%, as not only do a lot collectors not sell at all, but there is even greater amount that trade/sell only to further their collecting goals. I think there are about 30 to 35% that are more a hybrid of collector/flipper, and about 10 to 15% that are minimally interested in the cards themselves.

Brian - a man of discriminating percentages

[ls7plus]

Originally Posted by brianp-beme

Because of the way the original question is worded, I disagree. Because it states what % buy/sell/trade as a hobby only...I believe it is more like 45 to 55%, as not only do a lot collectors not sell at all, but there is even greater amount that trade/sell only to further their collecting goals. I think there are about 30 to 35% that are more a hybrid of collector/flipper, and about 10 to 15% that are minimally interested in the cards themselves.

Brian - a man of discriminating percentages

Well-respected dealer Tony Arnold once told me (after I purchased a not inexpensive '53-'54 Briggs Meat Willie Mays from him) that he was both a dealer and a collector, and I was quite surprised. I myself tried that for awhile in the late '90's, running ads in Sports Collector's Digest under the name, "Forever Summer Cards." The problem I ran into was that I was extremely inclined to keep the best stuff rather than flip it for a profit when I had the chance. Tony gave me an interesting analogy, stating it probably was a little like being both drug dealer and user (which Tony is most emphatically not--he has been nothing other than the epitome of honesty and straight dealing in all of our interactions--I can recommend him quite highly). On the other hand, I once asked Bill Goodwin, who is also an immensely honest and fair and square dealer/auctioneer, if he personally collected anything, and his response was "only my mistakes."

I guess my point is that lots of us really like having the history of the game right there in our hands, and the line between collecting and being a dealer in this context is often quite tough to draw and maintain. Bill obviously has passion for the hobby, but quite a bit of self-discipline.

May you collecting be joyful,

Larry

[SMPEP]

I meant to only be a collector ... BUT when there's a big lot that has something you need in it ... you grab it. Then you have stuff to get rid of. I tried the trading route for a while. But that was so much work. So selling it is just easier. Get the cash. You can use cash to buy whatever else is next.

As the collection become bigger ... the stuff to sell became bigger too.

Cheers,
Patrick

[Leon]

I started out as a collector only for quite a few years. Then I started flipping a few of my mistakes and dupes. Next thing I was collecting AND buying and selling. I don't know the percentages so will go with what has been stated. Flipping cards keeps it more fun for me too....To each their own. Keep it above board and Do what makes ya' happy.