Buying vintage collections - tips, lessons learned and advice

[Belfast1933]

Hello all
Like most of us here, I am a collector first and foremost but do sell from time to time to help pay for my own collection.

I’ve learned a ton here and am back to ask about your collective experience, advice and lessons learned to buy large, vintage collections

Here are a few conversation starting questions, if you’d be willing to share:

How do you get started in buying large, vintage collections?

When you do have an opportunity to evaluate and purchase a vintage collection, what are your lessons learned to be sure you put a fair offer for both buyer and seller?

Thanks for sharing this your experiences - good, bad and in-between

Jeff

[Hxcmilkshake]

#1 for me, is to deal with people who have somewhat of a price in mind, so I know I'm not wasting my time and we have # to start with.

Otherwise its just too tedious for me.

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[bnorth]

It really depends on percentage of bigger cards to commons and percentage for sale/personal collection. So anywhere from 25-75% retail. The more lower end and for sale the lower the percentage of retail.

EDIT: On the funny side I live in a small rural area so several times a year I get contacted by someone with old cards in mint condition. Every single time it is junk wax era cards beat to hell. When I tell them they are completely worthless and I wouldn't even take them for free they are highly disappointed.

[mintacular]

Make sure you value your time, big collections take tons of time to break down and sell, could be multiple weekends of your time