Sets that aren't worth completing

[wdwfan]

I started my first vintage set in 2012. Traded for a single 1958 Topps card at the LCS, and then I decided I wanted to build that set. Slowly traded for some, bought here and there when I found good deals and started putting it together.

Over a year later, I finally finished it. A year. I said never again. There's no sense in something taking so long. But once I finished, I was proud of it. I wound up spending about $500 and put it together in Ex-Mt type condition.

I sold it a year or so later for $1,500, so I tripled my money. Probably could've gotten more, but I got 3x what I had into it. So I was satisfied. Plus, I used the money for my first trip to Disney World.

I know I said never again, but I guess that's why they say never say never. I've started a 1962 Topps set, a 1957 Topps and a 1975 Topps set. I also bought a complete NM 1974 Topps set for under $100 two years ago.

I guess I just enjoy the vintage aspect of collecting so much that it's making the chase as fun. Plus, I try to trade as much as possible so that keeps the cost down. I don't mind working on vintage sets so long as they don't take a year to complete.

[tonyo]

Originally Posted by wdwfan

I started my first vintage set in 2012. Traded for a single 1958 Topps card at the LCS, and then I decided I wanted to build that set. Slowly traded for some, bought here and there when I found good deals and started putting it together.

Over a year later, I finally finished it. A year. I said never again. There's no sense in something taking so long. But once I finished, I was proud of it. I wound up spending about $500 and put it together in Ex-Mt type condition.

I sold it a year or so later for $1,500, so I tripled my money. Probably could've gotten more, but I got 3x what I had into it. So I was satisfied. Plus, I used the money for my first trip to Disney World.

Wow, that's pretty awesome.... I would think putting together and exmint 58 set for $500 net would be way out of the norm that could be expected. -

My only basis for comparison is: my 73 topps set cost me $300 net and my 52 Bowman set cost me $1000 net.
Both starting from scratch, in VG/G condition, buying lots, selling the dupes etc.

My guess on a 58 set in exmt wouldve been maybe about $1000 - $1200 ? Good job!!

maybe your trades were for cards already in your collection from other sets, and their value wasn't included in the $500. ?

[wdwfan]

It was all cards I had in my collection over time or that I had pulled out of packs. I don't open hobby boxes. But I open a few packs each trip to the LCS and the occassional blaster from Walmart/Target.

I used those to trade for probably 80%-90% or more of the set. I know I had to buy the Aaron and Mays. But I was able to trade for most of the other big stars. I also traded with friends in the community who had nice vintage extras if I had stuff for their sets. They traded BV for BV and not 1/3 BV like the LCS does.

Originally Posted by tonyo

Maybe your trades were for cards already in your collection from other sets, and their value wasn't included in the $500. ?

[tonyo]

Originally Posted by wdwfan

It was all cards I had in my collection over time or that I had pulled out of packs. I don't open hobby boxes. But I open a few packs each trip to the LCS and the occassional blaster from Walmart/Target.

I used those to trade for probably 80%-90% or more of the set. I know I had to buy the Aaron and Mays. But I was able to trade for most of the other big stars. I also traded with friends in the community who had nice vintage extras if I had stuff for their sets. They traded BV for BV and not 1/3 BV like the LCS does.

Nice, so effectively you got 80-90% of a 58 topps sets by opening packs from you LCS or Walmart/Target!

[wdwfan]

I had probably 3k cards each of the Cowboys and Rangers as well as guys like Brady, Rodgers, some of the bigger baseball stars in my PC when I started the set. I traded a lot of my PC items.

I'd trade those plus stuff I broke, and I traded over the course of about 16 months (the length it took me to put the set together). Stuff I traded broke down to about 10% of stuff I pulled from packs/boxes and about 90% from my PC (Rangers, Cowboys, lots of other vintage, stars, RCs, etc).

Didn't mean to make it sound like I traded for 80-90% of the set with stuff I pulled out of boxes. It was a ton of PC stuff (lots of Rangers, Cowboys, vintage baseball and football and stars).

[tonyo]

I considered my 33 Goudey Set complete at 238. Missing Lajoie and #160 Gehrig.

for me personally, that set wouldn't be worth completing to 240 because my financial situation wouldn't justify me to have that much cash tied up in one card (the Lajoie).

The extra Gehrig wasn't really worth the cost since the two are identical (or practically identical). Now if the whole Lajoie issue didn't exist, I'd probably have sprung for the Gehrig so I'd have a complete set.

The "238 card set" was worth the time, cost and effort. I enjoyed the set, the artwork, most of the poses, the card stock, it's a classic set, etc. Plus I decided to break it up last year and have sold 200 of them, mostly (if not all) here on the BST, and ended up recouping what I had spent. I assume I'll at least break if I sell the remaining 40.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

A few years ago, I completed a '53 Topps set. Yes, I spent way too much on it, but I loved that set, and it was a fun journey. That set represents about the only time in my collecting life when I was really zeroed in on completing something without going off in different directions. This past spring, I broke it up and sold off most of it. I did keep Mantle, Jackie, and Mays. I did pretty decent on what I sold off. Sometimes I find myself missing it, but in looking at the cost of many of the cards that I would have to re-purchase, I just can't make myself do it.

I also have considered completing something like a '62 Topps or a 70s set, but after having that '53 Topps, they just don't seem as exciting to me, and I end up not building another set. Not sure where to go from here...