A question for those considering leaving the hobby.

[Leon]

You can make your own rules on the BST auction section. So if you want to try to move an expensive card just start out at a fair minimum. IF it doesn't sell you have wasted 5-10 minutes but it is free to try. No risk. No taxes either.
I can't buy almost anything online anymore without being taxed. I don't mind taxes but would prefer not to have to pay them.
Personally, I think our whole tax system sucks. On some items the repeated sales tax can equal more than the item is even worth.

I would look at a hybrid sale if I sell again. The first time was orchestrated and I got a nice auction catalog of all of my stuff for future reference.

Originally Posted by bobbyw8469

It is defintely somethign EVERY collector should consider. I may consider Lee Behrens and someone else said Steve Novella. Honesty is the most important aspect for me (along with quick pay). I'll probably do a hybird. Use someone for the pricier stuff (over $50) and maybe right here on the BST boards for the stuff over $50. The auction side here doesn't appear to get much activity, but there are a few sellers selling religiously there, and if I were to firesale stuff there, that might promote interest even more.

[glchen]

I'll give a few different answers here...

Scenario 1: I'm tired/not interested in the hobby anymore, and want to sell.

Don't sell. Put your collection in a closet, and wait a year or so, and see if this passes. Sometimes folks just need a break from the hobby for various reasons, and come back more energized afterwards. Those cards that you sell might be awfully hard to get back if you become interested in the hobby again.

Scenario 2:
A year has passed, and I really do want to sell and/or I need the money to spend on more "worthwhile" things for my family/me.

Still, try to keep your very favorite cards (if you have any), but then plan on selling the rest. Try to categorize your collection into "big ticket" items that would sell for more than $500 per card, and then smaller items that may need to be sold as part of a lot. Send emails to the various auction houses with the listing of what you have, whether they would be willing to sell it for you, and what seller's commission they will charge. Go with the auction house that gives you the lowest seller's commission (+ buyer's premium), has the best responses to you, and is willing to work with you to maximize the value of what you want to sell. For example, if you are a player collector, you may not want to dump all of your collection in one massive auction as it may flood the market. You may want to have the auction house sell your collection slowly over a few auctions. Also, if you need the money quickly, check into how quickly you will be paid after the auction completes. Finally, don't be afraid to split your collection over multiple auction houses/vendors.

Scenario 3: Estate planning for your family.

Preparing for the scenario where you get hit by a bus tomorrow, and your family has no idea the value of your collection, which auction houses are good/honest, etc. I would have 1-2 auction houses prepared beforehand in case a scenario like this happens, so that you can tell your family who to go to in this situation. For example, I like Heritage because it's a big auction house, and I've been grandfathered into 0% sellers commission. I've always gotten very good service from them, and they run many auctions per year, so there's flexibility. I think REA would also be good because of the peerless service that Brian Dwyer has always provided. You just don't want someone scamming your family saying that they'll buy your collection for $X dollars, and they are really doing a favor for your family by taking all this junk away.

Good luck in whatever you decide!

[perezfan]

Cards:
Most of my cards are desirable yet not graded. Mostly HOFers, and almost nothing that grades below "EX". But I'm not throwing one penny towards the corrupt TPGs. So I would use Greg Morris for most of the Cards.

Memorabilia:
I would consign my highest-end cards and memorabilia to both REA and LOTG. Maybe Lelands for a few select items, if they would loosen up their commission rate. Have had great results with all three, and REA/LOTG's Sellers' Commissions are more than reasonable. Plus, they are both a pleasure to work with.

[Johnny630]

If you need the most out of your collection and can't wait over 20 years for it to come back I'd sell it all now or within the next 12-16 months. If you don't but want some gains sell some and keep some. If you have time you might wanna ride it out. IDK so many theories.

[bobbyw8469]

Great advice everyone. Mortality is something we should ALL deal with, even as morbid as it is.

[Goudey77]

I hope all is well Robert. Enjoyed taking part in your group submission efforts. You are a valuable member of this Net54 community. Sell or not hope you stick around for the camaraderie here.

[Snapolit1]

Some of you guys have been talking about leaving the hobby longer than I've been in the hobby.

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Some of you guys have been talking about leaving the hobby longer than I've been in the hobby.

Good morning sunshine. Glad to see you made it.

[ALBB]

Most guys would love a scenario where a dealer comes in..pays you fairly for ALL..not just some of your stuff ..and you walk away fairly happy..knowing you could have gotten a bit more doing it the long/hard way..but you got it done quickly and was paid decently

In truth..most of the time its the old " cherry picking", low balling, painful process...and in the end you feel you could have done way better

[KCRfan1]

Originally Posted by bobbyw8469

Great advice everyone. Mortality is something we should ALL deal with, even as morbid as it is.

For me, the more important issue is to catalog what I have with a reasonable value of each item. This will let my wife know an approximate value of what the collection has.

Four years ago I dealt with stage 4 cancer. The night I went to the ER I was dying. My point is this: Anything can happen to us at any time. My health issue was not " discovered " in advance. There literally may not be time to plan to liquidate a collection. Be it health, car accident, etc, things happen.

If financial constraints required me to liquidate, I would keep a card or two just to have, thus never " leaving " the hobby.

But I would never leave over dishonesty in the industry. Nobody or nothing will rob me of this joy.