Considering selling everything - Final Update/Tally

[drcy]

I agree with Tom to not compound a bad, hasty decision with another bad, hasty decision. Don't liquidate just to get it out of sight. Take your time and you'll get your best return.

And a key to remember is everyone on this board has made bad buys. Don't be too hard on yourself.

[Econteachert205]

Everyone should check out the lots Kevin has up on ebay. Like when do you see that many red mans up in one lot, and the auto one as well. Take a look and maybe leave a bid, I know I'll be watching the red man lot closely.

[buymycards]

ebay link?

[kailes2872]

Username is kailes2872

I am away from the house and on my mobile. I will edit in links when I get home tonight. Thanks for the support!

[drcy]

I don't think selling the autographed lot as one 600 group lot as you're doing is a good idea. With the star power and HOF signatures on vintage cards I see there (such as a Gaylor Perry signed rookie,a Frank Robinson signed 1967 Topps and Yaz 1970s Topps), you could at least consign it as one lot to a big auction house like REA or an autograph house like RR Auctions. You could also have it broken up and sold at places like Love of the Game Auctions. Some of those cards are worthy of being sold as singles. Call REA or send LOTG. I'm sure All would be happy to handle it for you.

People buy a group lot of 600 autographed cards to get a deep discount and, if you're fixed on selling it as one lot, you should consigned it to one of the above. People will pay more when it's offered by a place like REA, in part because they've been authenticated. People will be hesitant to buy from someone on eBay who says he's unfamiliar with autographs.

Most single collector in person autographed card collections like that are a mixture of stars and commons, vintage cards to modern cheapo and old timers on reprint/commorative cards. That's all standard for a big lot like that. If they were all got by a single collector who got them in person, that will be a good selling point. But there's no way I'd auction a collection whole like that on eBay, unless I was willing to sell for a deep discount. Those are the kinds of lots dealers buy to break down and resell for profit.

Just my 2 cents, as someone who's collected and sold autographed baseball cards.

And, for all your stuff, I'd be careful about doing a hasty firesale.

[kailes2872]

Thanks. There is 80-90% of The Brian McCrae's and Neil Walkers in the lot. I was just that the HOFers would get cherry picked and I would end up with the scraps. Since this was gathered card by card, it was his pride and joy.

I just don't know the value except that I know that a modern Tom Paciorek card autographed card doesn't have much demand

Maybe the better thing is to do lots of 10 or 20 with a HOFer per lot? Am I allowed to take it down after there is a bid?

If so, should I do the same thing with the Red Mans and sell them 5 at a time?

Thanks, Kevin

[jefferyepayne]

Originally Posted by kailes2872

Thanks. There is 80-90% of The Brian McCrae's and Neil Walkers in the lot. I was just that the HOFers would get cherry picked and I would end up with the scraps. Since this was gathered card by card, it was his pride and joy.

I just don't know the value except that I know that a modern Tom Paciorek card autographed card doesn't have much demand

Maybe the better thing is to do lots of 10 or 20 with a HOFer per lot? Am I allowed to take it down after there is a bid?

If so, should I do the same thing with the Red Mans and sell them 5 at a time?

Thanks, Kevin

I still think the best advice you've received is wait 3 months before doing anything. Watch ebay, learn about auctions and what each one specializes in, and create a strategy to maximize your return.

Otherwise you are just compounding your mistakes.

jeff

[Exhibitman]

The other posts here have covered it well but I thought this:

Earlier this year I needed to sell off some cards. I consigned the cards to an eBay auctioneer. I got slaughtered. I netted less than 50% of what I spent on acquiring the cards, many of which I purchased in the heady market of 2004-2008. I moped around for a while then thought about it and realized a few things:

1. I wasn't using the money anyway. It wasn't the rent money, just some excess cash I spent in cards. I'll earn more.

2. If I spent the money on any number of other things I'd have nothing to show for it anyway. The money I lost is roughly the cost of season tickets to the Dodgers over the last few years and if I'd had that I'd have nothing, not even a World Series to attend. So from that perspective I am no worse off. Probably even had a less frustrating time and definitely ate way less junk food.

3. As compared to what my wife and I have lost on stocks and real estate over the years, and even bad receivables in my practice, the card loss is a drop in the bucket. Heck, I'd be halfway to retired right now if we'd made a few decisions slightly differently. If that doesn't chew my guts out, some freakin' baseball cards won't either [see my tag line below].

It feels lousy but it will pass.

Your mistake, if you want to call it that, was getting emotional about a business transaction. If you are going to be a dealer you need to be detached about the dealing: "no deal is better than a bad deal" has to be your mantra. I went through a small collection at our show in May, made an offer, and got outbid by another dealer. So be it. The seller tried to get me to compete but I had my methodology for valuing the lot, my valuation dictated the offer I made, and that was the end of the story. If I upped my offer I'd have fallen out of my valuation range and been reacting with my heart not my head. Sounds like that is where you went astray. Chalk it up to inexperience and learn from it.