When to Sell ...

[jcmtiger]

Sell it little by little. This is what I did.

I had over 100 Bobbers 1960 versions, included Mantle, Mantle Mini and Maris, never got the Clemente, sold them

I had the complete set of original Hartlands and all the 1990 versions sold all of them except the Cobb.

I had 30-40 Hartland Westerns sold them too.

I had 50-60 Hartland Religious sold

I had complete sets of cards 1967 through 1985 sold them through auctions.

Sold a complete set of T207 Tigers.

Sold near set of Glendale Tigers including Houtteman

Sold a complete run of Detroit Tigers Yearbooks 1954 thru 1990.

Sold complete run of Detroit Tigers World Series programs 1934 thru 1984

Sold complete run of Detroit AS Game Programs.

Still have some nice pieces

I loved all the items that I solds and can tell you where most were purchased or traded for.

Main collectible interest is 19th Century Detroit Players.

I still have pictures of sold items

You will know when to sell.

Joe

[Cardboard Junkie]

.....I should add, sell when you can, not when you have to.

[Luke]

I've seen this question asked on here before. The best response I saw was something along the lines of:
-Sell the small stuff first, and hang onto the more valuable ones.
-Then print out clear instructions for what to do with the cards that you keep
-Have a list of the cards you have, as well as approximate values
-Include instructions on who to contact to help sell them (for example, "contact Xxxxxx at Yyyyyy Auction house, and tell him you want to consign these cards)
-Having the cards you keep graded, will make it easier for someone who is unfamiliar with the hobby to sell them

I also wonder about the future of the hobby. I'm 31, and I'm not sure how many collectors will be around 40 years from now. I'm ok with it either way. If prices collapse, then I can start working on a e107 set

[toledo_mudhen]

Been waitin 40 years for the bottom to drop out as I still need to put together a T206 Set. As for when I check out - they're goin into the box with me. That way we'll all be encapsulated.

[Bocabirdman]

There are a bunch of factors to consider. How extensive is your collection? Does it include more higher dollar items? Or is the value in quantity versus quality? Do you have the make-up to sell it for the best price, piece by piece? Do you have a spouse that understands the hobby at all? Will the profits realized (or not) change the lifestyle of the person who might inherit your collection? The list goes on. This is not a simple cookie cutter situation. One size DOES NOT fit all.

I am presently working on what amounts to my third collection. My first go-round, I sold my collection in one fell swoop. I did it to finance a marriage and a sailboat back at the start of the 1980's. (The sailboat is gone but I still have the wife). I sold in a single transaction because I worried about getting part way finished and having seller's remorse. I sacrificed total profit for ease of "gettin' it done".

In part, my first collection is why I took thirty years to get back in the hobby. I always feared the anguish of retracing my steps. When I finally started collection #2, I blew through the Bowman/Pre-1970 Topps world and amassed a 90%-plus pile in a couple years (Except for those damn '52 Topps). I originally joined this board while still working on Post-War. Being exposed to the crazy-good collections here, I made the decision to sell collection #2 for the sake of down-sizing and a new addiction to chasing the Monster (Damn you, Frank!) This time, after fielding offers for a single transaction, I decided to sell the collection right here on the BST, individually-ish. The return was substantially more than I was offered for a bulk sale, over 100% more. In the spring of 2013, I lost a fat month of my life PM-ing, negotiating, scanning, setting up BST threads, maintaining them, putting orders together, packaging them and getting on a first name basis with the folks at the local Post Office. It was a lot of work. I was lucky in that my wife jumped in to help. I HAVE been informed that she will not do that again.

My third (and final?) collection consists of less volume. I have maybe one-twentieth of the cards that I had at this time last year. I just turned 55 this past weekend, so I hope there is no rush, but it is my hope to splash around in the hobby for a few years until retirement and then start thinning the herd. My emergency plan, should "space junk" fall from the sky and take me out, involves an auction house. I just have to dodge the falling junk until I decide which one

So, as you can see, more than one avenue is open. Unless you are under the gun, think about it a bit. Good Collecting.

[Harliduck]

Originally Posted by Bocabirdman

I decided to sell the collection right here on the BST, individually-ish. The return was substantially more than I was offered for a bulk sale, over 100% more. In the spring of 2013, I lost a fat month of my life PM-ing, negotiating, scanning, setting up BST threads, maintaining them, putting orders together, packaging them and getting on a first name basis with the folks at the local Post Office. It was a lot of work. I was lucky in that my wife jumped in to help. I HAVE been informed that she will not do that again.

Boca...a good chunk of those are in a well loved good home!

[Bocabirdman]

Originally Posted by Harliduck

Boca...a good chunk of those are in a well loved good home!

I could tell that when I sold them to you, John. I am glad! You did buy one or two.. or eleventy two.

[rainier2004]

Originally Posted by Cardboard Junkie

.....I should add, sell when you can, not when you have to.

I like this attitude, fire selling your collection sucks. If I were to drop, Al at LOTG would get a rather consignment afterwards.

[joeadcock]

Originally Posted by rainier2004

I like this attitude, fire selling your collection sucks. If I were to drop, Al at LOTG would get a rather consignment afterwards.

I agree David and Steven.

David, hope your bout resolved and no further problems with that. My daughters dont have interest either though one now likes baseball.

My collection would also go to an auction house.

Like idea above of keeping everything set up and easy for the family in case something unexpected were to occur.

[keating3620]

good info!

When selling a set to get maximum value is it a good rule of thumb to sell the cards individually instead of the set as a whole?

[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

A lot of it probably depends on the size and value of the set.

[bigtrain]

Its fair to say that in a few years no one will be left in the collecting community who ever saw Walter Johnson pitch or Ty Cobb steal a base. I am nearly 60 and was fortunate enough to see Mays, Mantle, Koufax, Clemente et al. I collect them but the majority of my collection is of players who were active before my father was born. I BST with collectors of T206s who range in age from under 20 to over 80. While baseball is no longer the most "popular" sport in America, our population has nearly doubled since I was born and I would venture a guess that there are more baseball fans than ever. So, I can't agree with the premise that collectors are a diminishing group. That being said, I have always kept detailed notes on my collection including instructions to my family as to where the items can be sold. It doesn't hurt that I am just down the hill from REA.