Do you feel like you are the only one not selling?

[parkplace33]

Talked to two long time collector friends over the holiday weekend.

One has finally decided to sell about 75 percent of his prewar collection in the winter/spring timeframe (sending to auction). He told me the money will be used to supplement his retirement.

The other is considering selling most or all of his collection. Profits will go into investments or savings. He said the hobby has past him and would rather have value in other areas.

Am I the only one not selling? Some days it feels like it. What a strange time in the hobby these days.

[Snapolit1]

Everything that sells has a buyer.

[ullmandds]

Im not selling much… and when I do I usually roll it over into other cards.

[Casey2296]

Good post Drew,
I'm currently refining. As I travel further down the pre-war rabbit hole (thanks Leon) the cost of entry moves higher on rare cards, I have to give something up, and it's usually desirable post war cards. So, I'm a seller and a buyer.

[Popcorn]

probably 90% of any card I’ve ever sold was to buy more cards. wish I didn’t have to but the budget in this hobby only goes so far.

[raulus]

Well, as a matter of economic principle, if everyone but you was selling, then I would expect prices to come down, and not just a little.

But maybe just a lot of people you know are getting out while the opportunity is still here?

I will confess that when prices were crazy high for some of my items (like $350k for one in particular, albeit one of the key pieces in my collection), I was sorely tempted to consider selling at least that one.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Everything that sells has a buyer.

Channeling Yogi? Nobody's buying anything, they're all selling.

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Channeling Yogi? Nobody's buying anything, they're all selling.

75% of collecting is half selling.

[darwinbulldog]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

75% of collecting is half selling.

That goes double for me.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Neither a buyer nor a seller be.

[GeoPoto]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Channeling Yogi? Nobody's buying anything, they're all selling.

Very clever!

[chriskim]

Consider selling my t collection to buy the next biggest logoman!

[ClementeFanOh]

Hang in there! Plenty of collectors are buying and holding Trent King

[jcmtiger]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

Talked to two long time collector friends over the holiday weekend.

One has finally decided to sell about 75 percent of his prewar collection in the winter/spring timeframe (sending to auction). He told me the money will be used to supplement his retirement.

The other is considering selling most or all of his collection. Profits will go into investments or savings. He said the hobby has past him and would rather have value in other areas.

Am I the only one not selling? Some days it feels like it. What a strange time in the hobby these days.

Most of my collection has been sold, not for the money, but my age.

[HOF Auto Rookies]

My sales have slowed considerably the last calendar year and have had to consign to some AH's to help. And those prices haven't been the best. It's a tough sellers market right now.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by HOF Auto Rookies

My sales have slowed considerably the last calendar year and have had to consign to some AH's to help. And those prices haven't been the best. It's a tough sellers market right now.

Maybe I need to spend more time bidding on the auctions where you consign your pieces, because my experience is the exact opposite of what you described.

[JustinD]

I sold a good chunk of my high dollar items in the past 24 months as I do not trust in this market whatsoever. I believe I can take a nice profit and buy it back at less in a few years. This is personal opinion and I am positive that many people disagree, but it's the belief I have. I also have not added anything over 4 figures since pre-pandemic. I have zero FOMO with the current market and instead fear of regret.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by JustinD

I sold a good chunk of my high dollar items in the past 24 months as I do not trust in this market whatsoever. I believe I can take a nice profit and buy it back at less in a few years. This is personal opinion and I am positive that many people disagree, but it's the belief I have. I also have not added anything over 4 figures since pre-pandemic. I have zero FOMO with the current market and instead fear of regret.

Way to vote with your feet (and your wallet)! Many of us are far too craven to make that move.

As I mentioned above, I was tempted to sell one of my high priced items, when the market soared to about $350k for it. But based on my math, after taxes and auction fees (even if I could have negotiated for really low auction costs), I would've cleared about $200-250k. So I decided I was better off just letting it ride, rather than trying to sell high and then buy it back later for less.

[eliotdeutsch]

As others have noted. Every transaction has a buyer and a seller, so there is always an equal number of both.

Markets move depending on which party is more motivated to transact.

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Originally Posted by raulus

Maybe I need to spend more time bidding on the auctions where you consign your pieces, because my experience is the exact opposite of what you described.

Usually that's the case with me also, but this time around was not good. Then again, I consigned modern cards so that's a different beast. Have another consignment for vintage next month with a different house, so we'll see how that compares.

When was the last time you consigned?

[raulus]

Originally Posted by HOF Auto Rookies

Usually that's the case with me also, but this time around was not good. Then again, I consigned modern cards so that's a different beast. Have another consignment for vintage next month with a different house, so we'll see how that compares.

When was the last time you consigned?

June 2020, give or take? If I'm willing to sell an item these days, which is rare, I usually just go with a BIN on eBay. Not that I get many takers, since I've priced them at unattractive levels. But here and there a buyer will come along and be willing to pay my price.

Totally understand the modern cards situation, and agree that market is definitely down compared to last year, so not surprised to hear that it went poorly for you.