Cards as an inflation hedge ?

[3-2-count]

Originally Posted by parkplace33

Having a few higher end cards in your portfolio is fine, but I don’t recommend investing heavily in vintage cards. Put money in a 401k or IRA and you will be fine.

I personally diversify into all 3 sectors that you mention - Vintage cards, 401K and an IRA.

Theres no right or wrong answer here. To each their own!

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by 3-2-count

I personally diversify into all 3 sectors that you mention - Vintage cards, 401K and an IRA.

Theres no right or wrong answer here. To each their own!

+1 or more agree

Vintage cards is another form of diverting on my asset portfolio

Like my stocks and 401k

However, for me it is primarily a hobby that I love that had long term growth potential and something I can pull out and show and share with family and friends and enjoy along the way.

The key like anything else is to not over invest/ spend in any one area with your funds and keep an eye on your investments and adjust strategically as necessary

And in the end enjoy your collection, your flipping, your purchases from your cards, your family.

[Republicaninmass]

I see an auction like Goldin and go through 500 lots of "modern " autos/patch cards etc. I fell the demand for people adding these types to their PC is minimal. They are quick flippers, or buying and holding hoping for it to go up. Much like the stock market, the greed steps in when prices fo down, and now your flip is already losing ground and this is when people panic sell. It causes a market crash.

I see lelands auction, and frankly I dont think I've seen anything more ridiculous. It appears these 25 "lots" are all "consignments " from the collectable app, try to find a greater fool. Aside from the t3 set, and its ridiculous estimate, I see very little upside on anything listed. I'd wager another "app" or fractional ownership company will be "winning " these lots with a spectacle being made of "sales" prices.


For vintage, I think there are a good mix of people who enjoy the cards, as well as enough people actively pursuing cards to flip. This keeps the market in balance. However, when people stockpile cards like 52 mantle, etc. I think it does inflate the price somewhat.

I dont ever remember seeing 3 or 4 vg 1952 May's listed in a major auction house until the last few years. It kind of silly, and my bet would be they are all from the same consignor. As a consignor, I'd be a little miffed if I sent a card, and there was already a few example in the same auction. There is only so much the market can bear.


Buy what you like, and ca afford, and you will never go wrong. If you end in the black, you held an amazing asset, and made a few bucks as well. After all, it's just cardboard

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by Republicaninmass

I see an auction like Goldin and go through 500 lots of "modern " autos/patch cards etc. I fell the demand for people adding these types to their PC is minimal. They are quick flippers, or buying and holding hoping for it to go up. Much like the stock market, the greed steps in when prices fo down, and now your flip is already losing ground and this is when people panic sell. It causes a market crash.

I see lelands auction, and frankly I dont think I've seen anything more ridiculous. It appears these 25 "lots" are all "consignments " from the collectable app, try to find a greater fool. Aside from the t3 set, and its ridiculous estimate, I see very little upside on anything listed. I'd wager another "app" or fractional ownership company will be "winning " these lots with a spectacle being made of "sales" prices.


For vintage, I think there are a good mix of people who enjoy the cards, as well as enough people actively pursuing cards to flip. This keeps the market in balance. However, when people stockpile cards like 52 mantle, etc. I think it does inflate the price somewhat.

I dont ever remember seeing 3 or 4 vg 1952 May's listed in a major auction house until the last few years. It kind of silly, and my bet would be they are all from the same consignor. As a consignor, I'd be a little miffed if I sent a card, and there was already a few example in the same auction. There is only so much the market can bear.


Buy what you like, and ca afford, and you will never go wrong. If you end in the black, you held an amazing asset, and made a few bucks as well. After all, it's just cardboard

Did you see in the Lealands auctions the 51 Bowman Mantle PSA 8 ? That was just in Memory Lane last July Selling for $498,000.
These cards can’t be purchased by collectors usually collectors keep them more than four months it’s like musical chairs with these so called investment pieces. They pushed it too high in the short term and they don’t have the balls to sit on it in the long term because they know they overinflated it.

[Republicaninmass]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

Did you see in the Lealands auctions the 51 Bowman Mantle PSA 8 ? That was just in Memory Lane last July Selling for $498,000.
These cards can’t be purchased by collectors usually collectors keep them more than four months it’s like musical chairs with these so called investment pieces. They pushed it too high in the short term and they don’t have the balls to sit on it in the long term because they know they overinflated it.

Thanks Johnny, I didnt see that sale, but it's very telling, and not surprising. It wont surprise me with a "new record" sale. As the reddit crew says "stonks go up" .

Maybe someone can make a better quote "fractional ownership is great, if you are selling to the fractional buyer"

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by Republicaninmass

Thanks Johnny, I didnt see that sale, but it's very telling, and not surprising. It wont surprise me with a "new record" sale. As the reddit crew says "stonks go up" .

Maybe someone can make a better quote "fractional ownership is great, if you are selling to the fractional buyer"

LOL that’s funny.

They know they pushed it too far too quickly certain cards and they can’t stomach the pain to hold onto it that’s not a good sign.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Republicaninmass

Thanks Johnny, I didnt see that sale, but it's very telling, and not surprising. It wont surprise me with a "new record" sale. As the reddit crew says "stonks go up" .

Maybe someone can make a better quote "fractional ownership is great, if you are selling to the fractional buyer"

I have long believed many auction sales prices are just for show, and since there's no transparency there's really no good way to know other than common sense.

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

I have long believed many auction sales prices are just for show, and since there's no transparency there's really no good way to know other than common sense.

Are you saying you think many of these record auction sale cards were never actually really paid for ?

[Republicaninmass]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

Are you saying you think many of these record auction sale cards were never actually really paid for ?

I wonder if "big spenders " are able to forgo the BUYERS premium on some items, as consignors often skip the sellers premium. It sure would shed some light on these...ahem. sales

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

Are you saying you think many of these record auction sale cards were never actually really paid for ?

My educated guess is that there are friends of friends bidding cards up...then if they win they work out a deal to make each other whole. But if smart (not really but..) they just jack the price up for the person who bought it.

As for diversification, before I sold my first collection I was card rich and cash poor. I took that money and invested it ...including some degrees for my daughter. I look at my resources as a pie chart. A 401k, a Roth, stocks in the market, home equity and rental property all go into the pie along with the cards. Diversification is good.,.,..
And the first card in my current collection (for Peter because he hasn't seen it enough)

[bbcard1]

I have ben in no rush to buy or sell over the last couple of years...howewever I did finish a couple of nice sets (52B and 57T). Here's what I dislike about cards as a financial vehicle. If there is a baseball stoppage, and there will very likely be, values across the board tanked. It there was overproduction (and there has been over the last couple of years which has been camouflaged by excessive flippers) it makes it worse.

Having collected through the 1994 interruption, if there is a prolonged strike, I would look for a downward adjustment of at least 35% across the board. What's more, some things become all but unsellable.

What happened then doesn't mean it will happen now, but I think there's no reason to think it will be different either.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

Are you saying you think many of these record auction sale cards were never actually really paid for ?

We know for a fact that was happening with some regularity in 2016 and I think it likely is happening again in some form.