How do you guys find all the GOOD STUFF?

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by Bumpus Jones

All valid points. I would also try to attend as many of the big shows you can. Especially, The National. My collection / knowledge has grown exponentially since I started doing so about 8-10 years ago. Also, ask lots of questions. They are free!

I did enjoy the one National I was able to drive to....many years ago in Anaheim. If you guys see any good, oddball Giants stuff, let me know!

[GoCubsGo32]

If collecting was easy, then the fun is kinda lost. The most rewarding part of collecting is when you finally find that holy grail piece or even common pieces.

Collecting HOF snapshot photos for me is very much a challenge. As pointed out, you have to be so creative in your treasure hunting. Besides monitoring small/large auction houses,I often look on eBay. One thing I do is search for players for people who often misspell stuff on eBay (ie. Jim Fox, Jimmy Fox, Jimmie Fox, Bob Door).

I've only collected (on a more serious scale) for about 2-3 years. My network is not as big as others, but I'm finding how important is it network.

[slidekellyslide]

Some of my best finds recently have come locally at auctions. Usually I'm the only one there with enough knowledge about antique baseball stuff to know what it's actually worth. Of course there are always idiots out there too. Two guys ran up a pillow case made out of B18 Blankets with Cobb and Chance on it with 20 "commons" to $1400. It was worth $500-700 tops.

[Butch7999]

Rob, we've wondered the same thing for years. In-person auctions, internet auctions and sales, memorabilia shows, antique shops,
flea markets, and yard sales combine to offer only a few items a year that fit both our collecting niche and our tiny budget.
We do see, just a bit more often, items that should fit our budget, but are tagged with asking prices twice to ten times
their vaguely established market value.

One big-time collector told us he got people to contact him offering him stuff he wanted by placing continuously-running want ads
in every newspaper in the country. A three-line want-ad in a 1 1/2-inch column in our local rag costs $25. to $50. bucks
for a three-day run. Multiply....

[Republicaninmass]

I've said it for years

Your best source of new material, is your competition


Make friends with your ebay 'enemies' and nemesi (sp?)

Always do your best to try to make it a two way street, and although it can be frustrating, it usually works out in the long run for both parties. This is of utmost importance!

Unfortunately two members I have used this mentality with have taken it upon themselves to 'forget' deals go both ways and they are no longer buyers or traders for my items. It might sound petty, but I have made many more contacts and vastly enlarged my circles using my aforentiomed mentality since they went awry. It was a blessing in disguise to have them out of my circle.

[D. Broughman]

Get to know auctioneers they will give you heads up on great items in advance and you can research them.

[eastonfalcon19]

I wouldn't say my stuff is "Good Stuff" but I find most of my items at flea markets and yard sales. Most of the time though it's a lot of junk but if you look hard enough you will find some nice items.

[Jewish-collector]

Networking is not really applicable anymore. Since everyone in competing, collectors don't tell other collectors, even their friends, anymore.

Honestly, you need to have a lot of disposable income and need to be aware of the large antique sports auction houses like Morphys, Hakes, Jullians, etc,... and/or go to a lot of the major sports collectibles shows. Plus, going to antique shops and antique shows doesn't hurt.

Unfortunately, I'm a poor slob, so I can't get anything good.

[vintagesportscollector]

Originally Posted by Republicaninmass

I've said it for years

Your best source of new material, is your competition


Make friends with your ebay 'enemies' and nemesi (sp?)

Always do your best to try to make it a two way street, and although it can be frustrating, it usually works out in the long run for both parties. This is of utmost importance!

My collecting focus these days is rather narrow and there are is only a small handful of 'competitors' I see frequently bidding on the same stuff I do on ebay. Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose..about 50/50. Often I actually don't mind losing because it makes me feel good to see others interested in the same items I am. I try to imagine how they are displaying their items and if my collecting 'doppelgänger' is out there. Problem is I know them by their ebay 'encrypted' ** ID, but I don't know who they are.

I would like to contact them to discuss our common interest, but I don't think I have any means through ebay. Any suggestion on how I can find out who they are?

[Jewish-collector]

If you know for sure they consigned something or won something in an auction house, you could ask the auction house to send your letter/email to them. Then it's up to them to respond or not. Works only for an auction house, not ebay.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

Some of my best finds recently have come locally at auctions.

I am envious of those of you who have the diligence to attend local auctions, scour flea-markets and garage sales and travel around hitting antique stores. I have the time to do it, but not the patience. (@Dan and Carlton)

Nate - I must be the 'third Scott' (or perhaps lower?)

But I do grab a gem every now and then. Most of the 'average' gems come from ebay (see below), but the huge finds are generally in antique stores - on average one a year. Last year was particularly good - I made two really great finds (huge by my standards) but no baseball.

I used to get my best stuff from auction houses, but you pay market for most of those.

[CarltonHendricks]

Originally Posted by Runscott

I am envious of those of you who have the diligence to attend local auctions, scour flea-markets and garage sales and travel around hitting antique stores. I have the time to do it, but not the patience. (@Dan and Carlton)

Nate - I must be the 'third Scott' (or perhaps lower?)

But I do grab a gem every now and then. Most of the 'average' gems come from ebay (see below), but the huge finds are generally in antique stores - on average one a year. Last year was particularly good - I made two really great finds (huge by my standards) but no baseball.

I used to get my best stuff from auction houses, but you pay market for most of those.

For me antiques stores are tough...although you never know....you just have to turn over every rock...I did get that basketball arcade game I posted recently at a mall...BTW what were the two really great finds you made last year?

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by CarltonHendricks

For me antiques stores are tough...although you never know....you just have to turn over every rock...I did get that basketball arcade game I posted recently at a mall...BTW what were the two really great finds you made last year?

Antique stores ARE tough, but I only go to them when I am really in the mood and I am close by Even then, I would say it's a 1-50 chance that I will buy anything, and 1-1000 that it will be a real score.

The two in the last year: Minty Titlist-blank Palmer pool cue and a group of four 1930-45 fedoras including a mint 1930's Stetson that was one-of-a-kind (so far). These two items really were minty, but would have been huge finds anyway.

My best recent baseball find was a 1940-41 Ted Williams-signed Burke photo, but it was not in great shape and I paid close to market value - baseball items are tough to find in this area.

[UnVme7]

I was about to say. Surely you couldn't be talking about me(Nate). I haven't posted any goodies in a while!

[CarltonHendricks]

Originally Posted by Runscott

Antique stores ARE tough, but I only go to them when I am really in the mood and I am close by Even then, I would say it's a 1-50 chance that I will buy anything, and 1-1000 that it will be a real score.

The two in the last year: Minty Titlist-blank Palmer pool cue and a group of four 1930-45 fedoras including a mint 1930's Stetson that was one-of-a-kind (so far). These two items really were minty, but would have been huge finds anyway.

My best recent baseball find was a 1940-41 Ted Williams-signed Burke photo, but it was not in great shape and I paid close to market value - baseball items are tough to find in this area.

Fedoras and pool cues...whoa that's great...good to see someone collecting outside the box...So you collect other billiard items?....if so please post some