BST Flippers

[Exhibitman]

I try hard not to personalize a transaction nor commoditize a relationship. I don't care if you want it for your collection, have a personal connection, etc.: that's very nice, but not a basis for a discount. On the buying side, I also don't care if you've had it for a long time, have more than my offer into it, etc. We reach a deal or we don't based on item value. And once the card changes hands the recipient is free to sell it for whatever he wants. No buyer or seller remorse allowed, except in the abstract (I sold a W530 Wagner some years ago for <10% of what one went for in Heritage this weekend. D'oh! But the deal was still fair and free when made).

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

What some are describing is why I don't care if you want it for your collection, have a personal connection, etc. On the buying side, I also don't care if you've had it for a long time, have more than my offer into it, etc. We reach a deal or we don't. Once the card changes hands the recipient is free to sell it for whatever he wants. No regrets allowed.

I try hard not to personalize a transaction nor commoditize a relationship.

Exactly. When someone tries to get an item for a lower price because it's needed for his collection, my thought is, okay, you're building a collection by buying things. So, why is that deserving of a discount from me?

If you're selling puppies, yes, you want them to go to good homes, and not end up in a laboratory to be experimented on. But collectibles - when you sell something, let it go.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Mark17

Exactly. When someone tries to get an item for a lower price because it's needed for his collection, my thought is, okay, you're building a collection by buying things. So, why is that deserving of a discount from me?

If you're selling puppies, yes, you want them to go to good homes, and not end up in a laboratory to be experimented on. But collectibles - when you sell something, let it go.

I've always thought that telling me how much you want the card for your PC is a good reason for me to hang tough or even raise the price there, Smeagol.

[G1911]

Personally, the only time I've sold cards that aren't dupes is when another hobbyist does the "I need it for my collection" angle (of course doing due diligence and be sure of its truth). If the card will mean more to them than me, I let them have it. As often as not, I don't even charge and just mail them the card for nothing. I'd like to think we reap what we sow, and I know I've been the beneficiary of this many times, securing cards not really on the market for a fair price (or sometimes even less than fair) because the seller knows I am passionate about that set and the card has great significance to me. Treating this hobby as a vehicle for money is, I think, not fun and ruins the magic. I prefer to try and enjoy it as a hobby and pay it forward and help fellow hobbyists when I can. It's been more than repaid in kind, and I think this type of approach to selling and trading and giving is much preferable to trying to shake loose every penny I could get from another collector. It's a much happier place when true collectors are helping each other and rooting for each other rather than trying to exploit every dollar. I'd rather leave bucks on the table and collect happy than take every scrap off the table and worry about how much my collection is worth.

But then again, I guess I'm old school and I haven't made a penny off this hobby (quite the opposite, in fact).

[GrewUpWithJunkWax]

Originally Posted by G1911

Personally, the only time I've sold cards that aren't dupes is when another hobbyist does the "I need it for my collection" angle (of course doing due diligence and be sure of its truth). If the card will mean more to them than me, I let them have it. As often as not, I don't even charge and just mail them the card for nothing. I'd like to think we reap what we sow, and I know I've been the beneficiary of this many times, securing cards not really on the market for a fair price (or sometimes even less than fair) because the seller knows I am passionate about that set and the card has great significance to me. Treating this hobby as a vehicle for money is, I think, not fun and ruins the magic. I prefer to try and enjoy it as a hobby and pay it forward and help fellow hobbyists when I can. It's been more than repaid in kind, and I think this type of approach to selling and trading and giving is much preferable to trying to shake loose every penny I could get from another collector. It's a much happier place when true collectors are helping each other and rooting for each other rather than trying to exploit every dollar. I'd rather leave bucks on the table and collect happy than take every scrap off the table and worry about how much my collection is worth.

But then again, I guess I'm old school and I haven't made a penny off this hobby (quite the opposite, in fact).

Great perspective

[Bestdj777]

I don’t see anything wrong with flipping and am sure I’ve sold one or two items I’ve purchased here on impulse and later realized I don’t really need. That said, I’m transparent in my transactions—if I express an interest in a piece because of a personal connection to it or because it fills a while in my collection I’ve been trying to fill for years, that piece is staying in my collection. Integrity matters.

That said, if someone lists something for a fair price and someone buys and flips it, I’d say that’s great for both the buyer and seller.