How to avoid being someone else's "nice find"?

[mrmopar]

That is one of two I still go to, Card Exchange in north Seattle being the other. However, I mostly just buy supplies at CE now. DJs is hands down the best shop I am aware of locally now and like you, think it is worth the drive. I work in Tukwila though, so I am close during the week if I need a fix.

I was not sure if maybe you were talking about that one in Marysville and knew something I didn't! Went in once and have never been back.

Originally Posted by Harliduck

I live north of Seattle, but the shop is south...DJ's Sportscards in Renton. Worth the drive for me...it's been around since the 80's, not too many survived.

It's literally the only shop I know of in Western Wa worth going into. Much like you I have given up...

[mrmopar]

I have thought about this subject more and more lately as I approach 50. My kids have no interest and although I still enjoy it, the more I see issues with counterfeiting, trimming and general fraud just to make a buck, the more discouraged I get with the whole mess. I would like to think that they would approach it smartly and try to learn and sell if necessary, but I do have a lot of stuff and not all of it is worth taking the time to go through. The thought of trying to go through it myself is overwhelming to me, so I can understand my wife and kids would not want to take the time.

I have been trying to organize a little bit here and there and ultimately would like to have the "good stuff" identified for easy sale. I have also started to stash away some business cards of larger eBay sellers and consignment sellers to give them some options w/o having to do research. If I can continue to organize and get everything the way I want it done before I kick it, then I will probably write up something along the way explaining where and what is worth spending time on.

[tulsaboy]

I am relatively young (40s) but have a wife and kids and have thought about this as well. I have a modest collection (sub 100k in value) but there is at least enough there that it is worth my wife's time to make sure that she doesn't get ripped off and that she maximizes what she and my kids get out of my collection, if for no other reason than to take a really nice vacation or get a new car out of the deal if I croak early. I have not only baseball cards, but some other collectibles that have only sentimental/collector value to me but have monetary value to others.

For my baseball cards, I have instructed my wife to talk to two of my friends who are also collectors, and who won't do anything to rip her off. They have agreed to help her dispose of the collection, and to help her achieve a fair market price for what is there. Much of my collection is unopened packs/boxes/cases, and so it is easy to move and will not pose a problem for disposal in fairly short order when I go.

For the collectibles, there are some items that are headed to a local museum. They are that rare, and need to be available for others to see. The rest of that body of assets have been viewed by another collector/former museum curator who knows their value and their rarity, and will be able to help my wife dispose of them in an appropriate way.

I think in this area, as in lots of other parts of life, it revolves around trust. You need to set up an appropriate outlet that will assist your heirs but one that you trust entirely to be fair not only due to their relationship with you, but out of respect for your heirs. No system is perfect, though, and undoubtedly someone will see their acquisition of your collection/items as a "find." That's not necessarily a bad thing. On the contrary, I would love to know that after I go, someone else would find as much happiness and amusement in the things I have enjoyed owning as I did.

kevin

[Harliduck]

Originally Posted by mrmopar

That is one of two I still go to, Card Exchange in north Seattle being the other. However, I mostly just buy supplies at CE now. DJs is hands down the best shop I am aware of locally now and like you, think it is worth the drive. I work in Tukwila though, so I am close during the week if I need a fix.

I was not sure if maybe you were talking about that one in Marysville and knew something I didn't! Went in once and have never been back.

I forgot about CE...haven't been in there in a couple of years...I have bought some vintage there in the past. I may have to stop for a visit.

Shop here in my town of Marysville is basically a "Magic" card shop or whatever...haha. We call it "stinkys" and at times I'll go there for supplies. They hold Magic (?) games during the day and the plays smells of serious BO...haha...gross. The owner is a super nice guy, but he certainly isn't interested in anything someone who visits this site would want.

[50sBaseball]

This issue hits home to those of us who are older (I am 72, closer to 73) or who have had or who have health issues. I had a stent put in 4 years ago, and since then have looked at many things differently, not the least of which is my sports card collecting.
I do not wish to burden my family with disposing of my modest collection (mostly 50s baseball), and have thought, as Ted (gawaintheknight) has of what I may do or my family may do. I am friendly with some dealers in the Albany NY area, and have already talked with one about buying some of my collection.
Unfortunately, this has also impacted my collecting. For example, does it make sense to buy a $100 card now only to have to sell it for $30-40 in the future?
This is a real issue for some of us.

[mrmopar]

It is a real issue for anyone who cares about what might become of the things they have accumulated and thoroughly enjoyed (or loved) and although the odds are in the favor of living a decent amount of time, you just never know. Over the years I have seen a few members of boards like this die much younger than you'd expect. Sometimes it is a disease or sickness, but sometimes it is just a major stroke of bad luck. I saw recently that one of those killed in the Aurora, IL shooting several weeks back was an active hobbyist and frequented at least one board like this, maybe more. He was in his early 30s if I recall correctly. You just never know and unless you are extremely organized or have others who share the same concern and are willing to help, many of us will probably not be ready to direct someone properly when that time comes.

[Volod]

Originally Posted by mrmopar

It is a real issue for anyone who cares about what might become of the things they have accumulated and thoroughly enjoyed (or loved) and although the odds are in the favor of living a decent amount of time, you just never know. Over the years I have seen a few members of boards like this die much younger than you'd expect. Sometimes it is a disease or sickness, but sometimes it is just a major stroke of bad luck. I saw recently that one of those killed in the Aurora, IL shooting several weeks back was an active hobbyist and frequented at least one board like this, maybe more. He was in his early 30s if I recall correctly. You just never know and unless you are extremely organized or have others who share the same concern and are willing to help, many of us will probably not be ready to direct someone properly when that time comes.

Reminded me of something that made an impression many years ago. In the 70's, I managed a retail electronics store that catered to hobbyists of many different stripes. One of my best customers was a guy in his late forties who was an avid model train enthusiast. As a fairly flush individual, he had probably tens of thousands invested in his hobby, and he was in the store placing an order for several hundred bucks worth of new supplies one day and spoke expansively of working with his young son on the new stuff. After his order arrived and had sat in will-call for a couple of weeks, I called his home and was told that he had died suddenly the week before. Massive coronary obstruction. It's hard to get that kind of thing out of your head when you're inclined to believe in your own immortality.

[50sBaseball]

First, a response to Tim's response to my hypothetical question as to whether or not it makes sense to buy a card for $100 now knowing it may only sell for $30-40 in the future. Maybe I should have said in the "probable near" future, not suggesting that I intend to pass on soon, but meaning that I am close to selling most of my collection. Knowing that, I do not think I would get much enjoyment with a card over the short term.
Second, the initial purpose of this thread was to brainstorm how we are thinking about divesting our collections ourselves or what steps we are taking to assist our families. Personally, I plan to start selling off my collection soon, and hopefully it will help to pay for one year of a granddaughter's college education. I will sell the most valuable first, and I will eventually keep maybe 50-100 cards to pass on to our sons, not necessarily based only on value, but based on memories. I also plan to scan and print out as many cards as possible so that one day I can enjoy looking at binders of paper copies of my cards and not worry about their value. I also agree with the comment about sorting out one's collection and getting rid of less valuable (or worthless) cards. All will help the family in the long run.
Good thread.

[Exhibitman]

The best way to avoid having your collection be a 'find' is to have friends in the hobby who are able and willing to help your family dispose of the collection. It may be as little as steering them to the right AH.

Also have to tout the benefits of TPG on the 'best' cards: it packages the information right with the card. No one is going to mistake a PSA 4 T206 Cobb for something else if it is in a PSA holder.

The best 'finds' are the products of ignorance on the part of the seller and on the part of the auctioneer. I love some AHs because I know they do not take the time to properly lot or index non-mainstream consignments. I've made really good money on that ignorance over the years. The only way to avoid that is to sell while you are alive. Otherwise, stuff will inevitably fall through the cracks. As I tell my wife, if I drop dead you will get a seven-figure life insurance payout, so don't worry about my crappy little card collection.

[Promethius88]

Originally Posted by 50sBaseball

First, a response to Tim's response to my hypothetical question as to whether or not it makes sense to buy a card for $100 now knowing it may only sell for $30-40 in the future. Maybe I should have said in the "probable near" future, not suggesting that I intend to pass on soon, but meaning that I am close to selling most of my collection. Knowing that, I do not think I would get much enjoyment with a card over the short term.
Second, the initial purpose of this thread was to brainstorm how we are thinking about divesting our collections ourselves or what steps we are taking to assist our families. Personally, I plan to start selling off my collection soon, and hopefully it will help to pay for one year of a granddaughter's college education. I will sell the most valuable first, and I will eventually keep maybe 50-100 cards to pass on to our sons, not necessarily based only on value, but based on memories. I also plan to scan and print out as many cards as possible so that one day I can enjoy looking at binders of paper copies of my cards and not worry about their value. I also agree with the comment about sorting out one's collection and getting rid of less valuable (or worthless) cards. All will help the family in the long run.
Good thread.

Love the idea about scanning the cards that you have/had so you can at least enjoy what you have now. I didn't realize that you were at the point of selling your cards now. It's a tough call but a good decision. When my father passed a year and a half ago, we had to go thru all of the stuff left from his shop that he closed a few years ago that he wouldn't part with. It was basically a lot of stuff that was valuable in bulk but would take forever to sell individually. I wish he would have gotten rid of it before but he didn't need the money and my mom doesn't now so it's not a huge deal.

[Rrrlyons]

Hey John I remember driving you down to Lynnwood to pacific trading cards back when they were just a card shop before you could drive. Now that I’m old how about the next time you go to Renton you can drive me?
Rick

[mrmopar]

I have great memories of Cramer's shop, but I think they are built up in my mind more now then when I would actually get to visit. We lived on Bainbridge Island, then Poulsbo at the time and only went to the Seattle side of the water close enough to stop when we'd visit my sister in Mountlake Terrace. I would have to beg my parents to stop by Pacific Trading Cards, when they were in that Perrinville location. I probably only actually made it there a handful of times over the years, but it was a big deal each time I made it. I got to meet Bob Feller there once and was on their mailing list for a few years and really enjoyed those old catalogs when they arrived.

Originally Posted by Rrrlyons

Hey John I remember driving you down to Lynnwood to pacific trading cards back when they were just a card shop before you could drive. Now that I’m old how about the next time you go to Renton you can drive me?
Rick

[Harliduck]

Originally Posted by mrmopar

I have great memories of Cramer's shop, but I think they are built up in my mind more now then when I would actually get to visit. We lived on Bainbridge Island, then Poulsbo at the time and only went to the Seattle side of the water close enough to stop when we'd visit my sister in Mountlake Terrace. I would have to beg my parents to stop by Pacific Trading Cards, when they were in that Perrinville location. I probably only actually made it there a handful of times over the years, but it was a big deal each time I made it. I got to meet Bob Feller there once and was on their mailing list for a few years and really enjoyed those old catalogs when they arrived.

Yes Rick!!! I would love to go down there with you! I do owe you some trips... We should get together soon and do some trading...just like the old days.

I was recently down in Perrinville and those memories came flashing back. I used to save my coins and and any money I could and have them look up commons I picked out of the Becket (early 80's) and drive the counter people nuts...all I really wanted was cards from early years. I too met Bob Feller there and got a few things signed...and he hit on my mom, it was a pretty weird day and memory...I bet we were there the same day. Small world!

[mrmopar]

I think it was a one day, one off signing, so we likely were there same day. Would be weird of we were there at the same time too. I have a picture from the event, not that anyone would remember, but how funny would it be to see yourself in the photo too. There is another kid in the background.

Originally Posted by Harliduck

Yes Rick!!! I would love to go down there with you! I do owe you some trips... We should get together soon and do some trading...just like the old days.

I was recently down in Perrinville and those memories came flashing back. I used to save my coins and and any money I could and have them look up commons I picked out of the Becket (early 80's) and drive the counter people nuts...all I really wanted was cards from early years. I too met Bob Feller there and got a few things signed...and he hit on my mom, it was a pretty weird day and memory...I bet we were there the same day. Small world!

[Promethius88]

Originally Posted by 50sBaseball

This issue hits home to those of us who are older (I am 72, closer to 73) or who have had or who have health issues. I had a stent put in 4 years ago, and since then have looked at many things differently, not the least of which is my sports card collecting.
I do not wish to burden my family with disposing of my modest collection (mostly 50s baseball), and have thought, as Ted (gawaintheknight) has of what I may do or my family may do. I am friendly with some dealers in the Albany NY area, and have already talked with one about buying some of my collection.
Unfortunately, this has also impacted my collecting. For example, does it make sense to buy a $100 card now only to have to sell it for $30-40 in the future?
This is a real issue for some of us.

Reading thru all the responses this question stood out most to me. As long as your family is financially set if something happens to you, I don't think it matters. As long as we are buying cards for the enjoyment of it, it shouldn't matter if a card goes up in value or down in value as the true value is the enjoyment we get out of it.

It's interesting to see this post and how many of us are thinking the same way. After a 6-7 year hiatus, I just got back in last year and have basically started over from scratch. While I don't plan to kick the bucket tomorrow(I'm 49), we never really know and as my collection has grown over the last year, I have been contemplating these same issues. My wife and daughters don't really care about the cards. Some interest in a card from time to time and I know they are all tired of hearing me ramble on about 62 Jell-O. Only my youngest, who is 16 has actually wanted to listen for more than 5 minutes. But, I recognize that I need to create spreadsheets of what I have with approximate values and keep them updated from time to time. My wife knows where I keep the "good stuff" and I have told her were to take that in the event of my demise. I think we probably all have tons of random stuff that may or may not have a ton of value that would be more difficult to get rid of. That's where I have to start "cleaning up". I would rather have one or two graded cards I enjoy than a 3200 count box of random stuff that is worth $1k for example. So even if I think I'm not going to get full value for the "junk" stuff, I might as well take what I can get for it now, put it in something that consumes less space and have something I like and is easier to sell later, if need be. (Sorry, think that last bit was just me talking to/convincing myself).
Anyhow, good post and great seeing every ones responses!