Right now, where do you buy the majority of your cards?

[parkplace33]

Right now, where do you buy the majority of your cards?

Put the other option information in the comments.

[raulus]

Is this supposed to be a poll?

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by raulus

Is this supposed to be a poll?

Check now, it is up.

[iwantitiwinit]

Actually now I'd say a tie on the buy side between eBay, net 54, Facebook and auction houses.

[jingram058]

For the past couple of years, the overwhelming majority of the cards I have bought have been via net54. I have bought a few off eBay, but only a few. Frankly, I feel safe buying here from well-established and well-known sellers. And I believe you will get a better deal here than elsewhere.

[Johnny630]

Most of the cards I have in my pc have either been found or bought in person networking over the years with private collectors, it’s been a fun journey.

The next would be the occasional auction house or BST rarely eBay or Facebook.

[darwinbulldog]

I buy more cards from eBay but spend more money with auction houses.

[philliesfan]

I do not actively buy cards at the moment as I am trying to downsize. However, I choose the in-person network as a friend that has a card store will call me when something older walks in the door. If it is something I like, I make him an offer and from there he makes the walk-in an offer. This way he makes a little, I get some cards and the seller is happy.
Bob

[Rhotchkiss]

Hands down, overwhelming, Auction Houses. A distant 2nd is private sales through friends and dealers (including AHs who broker private deals).

I find it interesting that Ebay is leading the poll right now. I have bought maybe 4 cards over the past two years for my personal collection on Ebay; its much better for shiny stuff my son collects

[skelly423]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

Hands down, overwhelming, Auction Houses. A distant 2nd is private sales through friends and dealers (including AHs who broker private deals).

I find it interesting that Ebay is leading the poll right now. I have bought maybe 4 cards over the past two years for my personal collection on Ebay; its much better for shiny stuff my son collects

Respectfully, with the caliber of cards you buy, eBay is not meant for buyers like you. In my experience, it's the best spot to find $00, $1000, or even $10k cards, but dries up in a hurry when the numbers get any higher. I suspect the selling fees are the reason higher end material is scarce on eBay.

[rjackson44]

Net 54 hands down then ebay

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by skelly423

Respectfully, with the caliber of cards you buy, eBay is not meant for buyers like you. In my experience, it's the best spot to find $00, $1000, or even $10k cards, but dries up in a hurry when the numbers get any higher. I suspect the selling fees are the reason higher end material is scarce on eBay.

Agree, it depends at what level you are buying. Ebay is still very good for vintage that most collectors are buying, but not so good if your focus is on elite/expensive cards. I would expect ebay to win the poll. I do see a PSA 4 14 Cobb on there now, btw.

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by skelly423

Respectfully, with the caliber of cards you buy, eBay is not meant for buyers like you. In my experience, it's the best spot to find $00, $1000, or even $10k cards, but dries up in a hurry when the numbers get any higher. I suspect the selling fees are the reason higher end material is scarce on eBay.

This is a valid point, sort of. I remember when there used to be many Ruth, Wagner, Cobb and rarer-back t206 HOF cards on eBay, as well as T213-6, the occasional M131, T208s, and rare E backs. Now if you search for Ruth, it’s almost all 1933 Goudey. If you search for Cobb, it’s almost all t206. There are a few non-commodity examples, but they are completely overpriced. Maybe it is because the rarer stuff has gotten more expensive, but I feel like EBay is a mover of commodity cards, where it used to have more diversity and depth. Search for T3 and there are few viable examples aside from a bunch of crap from Deans. Same with 1914 CJ (I fully acknowledge the Probstein auction but this is an exception).

From what I hear, ebay has become very unfriendly to sellers. I bet this has deterred the collector and casual seller from using ebay to sell and steered them more to AHs, where you don’t have to deal with all the headaches and potential fraud in ebay. And, since PWCC was booted, there are almost no larger sellers of prewar; Probstein sometime and Tony A (although just buy direct from website), and I ignore Deans as a viable option.

Yes, I collect some advanced stuff, and that is certainly part of it. But I just don’t think eBay is the same venue as it was 3-4 years ago, let alone 10 years ago, which is also part of it

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

Hands down, overwhelming, Auction Houses. A distant 2nd is private sales through friends and dealers (including AHs who broker private deals).

I find it interesting that Ebay is leading the poll right now. I have bought maybe 4 cards over the past two years for my personal collection on Ebay; its much better for shiny stuff my son collects

Exactly. Stopped looking long ago. Have a watch list set up and have spent very little on only a few purchases each year.

[Bcwcardz]

95% EBay. 5% NeT54. Once every blue moon I might find something on blowout someone is selling. It’s mostly a money thing is why I use EBay. Some of the auctions I have won there is no way I could have got the cards cheaper anywhere else. It’s usually mid week auctions ending at odd times. I know a lot of people don’t like EBay but it serves its purpose when you are looking for specific cards.


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[babraham]

1 - Auction Houses
2 - ebay
3 - Net54

[Exhibitman]

mostly eBay, some whatnot and some AH.

[Bobbycee]

For the purpose of this poll, I chose Auction Houses. My collection is focused exclusively on T206. Within the last 2 years, I have purchased more from REA. I still check in on, and win the occasional card from eBay. 4 Sharp Corners & Probstein have both had more T206 offerings within the past year. There is clearly more variety with the auction houses, and you end up paying more for that.

I check B/S/T, here every day in hope of finding an upgrade for my collection, and have come away with some great additions and have had the best interactions with Net 54 members. I also buy from a local dealer, who specializes in T206.

[Peter_Spaeth]

14 CJ Jackson, Wagner and Cobb in ebay auctions as we speak, exceptions to the trend perhaps.