Getting back into collecting

[Justin88]

Hey y'all,

getting back into collecting a bit, trying to make a personal collection of meaningful cards and players across the four major sports.

It's been about 15 years since I've collected. Any tips/tricks for getting back into the swing of things?

thanks Justin

[raulus]

Be prepared for prices to have risen since you were last in the game. And not by a little!

[NiceDocter]

It’s still a great hobby but a lot has changed. Don’t buy anything immediately but check eBay completed sales as well as major auction house completed sales for the things you are interested in to get a footing on what’s going on. Buy what makes you happy and be a little patient….. measure twice cut once…. unless you are certain . Prices have gone way up on many things but have also come way down in the last year on some stuff too. Have fun and Net54 is a great forum for buying , selling , sometimes trading and just to learn. There’s a lot of very experienced collectors here who are generous with sharing knowledge and information so don’t hesitate to reach out for help. We all HATE to see anyone get scammed or taken advantage of so be careful. And NEVER list you eMail in a post looking to buy …. and be careful with payment methods that don’t allow you any protection unless it’s someone you’re very comfortable with (Leon will always give you his feedback on anyone on the board). Enjoy again this great and fun hobby!! Rocky in Jacksonville Florida

[The Detroit Collector]

Welcome back!
As mentioned, prices will be a lot higher than you remember.
HOF players are still highly demanded and the most sought after.
Check out ebay, auction houses, local card shows/stores, online for any cards.
ebay auctions will have a better deal than buy it nows usually.
Be careful with ebay. Make sure if your buying raw cards you thoroughly look at it.
If you expect to grade cards, expect much stricter grading scale, with a turnaround of around 3 months.
Check out ebay sold and PSA website to get an idea of how much a card is selling for.
PSA, SGC and Beckett are the main grading companies.

[kcohen]

Originally Posted by Justin88

Hey y'all,

getting back into collecting a bit, trying to make a personal collection of meaningful cards and players across the four major sports.

It's been about 15 years since I've collected. Any tips/tricks for getting back into the swing of things?

thanks Justin

In reply to your question, best tip - DON’T!

Just kiddin’. Welcome back

[BobbyStrawberry]

Welcome back, Justin.

My tip: collect what you like, even if you hear people telling you to "🔥INVEST🔥" in this or that.

[JollyElm]

Welcome aboard.
The best advice for card collecting? Whatever you've decided to do at any given moment, stop and do the exact opposite. You'll end up a helluva lot happier.

[RL]

buy to collect not invest

[mrreality68]

Welcome back

A lot has changed as other mentioned.

But you have a good source with this forum