For those selling late 1970 and early 1980s ... not the junk wax era

[darin2200]

Originally Posted by wdwfan

Just curious on everyone's thoughts on what's a good price for 1974-1985 Topps, Fleer and Donruss cards? Obviously Topps are 74-85, while Donruss and Fleer are early 1980s.

Condition is probably mid-grade on average if I had to guess. I've gone through and thrown out anything with creases, bends, wrinkles, writing, paper loss, etc. So nothing like that. But nothing that's going to be minty mint if you know what I mean.

So I was just curious what your thoughts were. I know on eBay, the lowest you can sell something is $1. But hard to ask $1 on places like here, Facebook, etc for a 1985 Topps common. I tried to list them at 10 cents apiece on Facebook (listed 1k for $100 plus shipping).

But I didn't get any takers. I figured 10 cents apiece would be good, but I didn't garner any interest. So I guess it kind of confuses me a bit. Am I off thinking some of these should be worth 25-50 cents, especially the mid 1970s stuff?

What are your thoughts?

Sounds like a lot that you could throw out there for $20 - $30 cash on Facebook marketplace locally and perhaps get a taker

[raulus]

How long did you wait for takers?

Keep in mind that for any given card, the number of people looking for a mid-grade common on any given day will be low. It might take weeks or months (years?) for someone to come along who wants the specific piece that you're selling, and in that condition, even when the price is low.

Chances are you're not the only one selling. So even when someone does come along who wants that specific card, they might end up buying it from another seller. When selling pieces like this, shipping is also a factor in these sales, since shipping can take a 50 cent card and make it $2-$5 (or more) once you factor in shipping.

Sometimes bundling larger lots together can be a strategy, although when it comes to large lots (i.e. 50-100 cards) of midgrade commons from the 70s and 80s, my experience is that there are even fewer buyers, even if the price is low. For most buyers, unless we have a need for those pieces, or unless we think there's some hidden treasure in there that you've overlooked, we're probably not going to be all that interested.

As an alternative, you might think about maybe trying to bundle a group of commons with a couple of stars, with the stars featured prominently in your listing. You might find more takers that way, although the price might still be a lot less than you're hoping to get. But you might get lucky and have it take off if you list a decent lot with a few stars at auction on eBay.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by raulus

As an alternative, you might think about maybe trying to bundle a group of commons with a couple of stars, with the stars featured prominently in your listing. You might find more takers that way, although the price might still be a lot less than you're hoping to get. But you might get lucky and have it take off if you list a decent lot with a few stars at auction on eBay.

That's how I do it. I have several partial FB sets for sale that way. I find they will move at $0.05-$0.10 a card if there are lots of stars and HOFers showing. I shoot to get at least 10% HOFers, RCs and stars per lot. The big names I hold out to sell as singles, but if you want to mix in some superstars, it will improve the likelihood of the lots moving.

[wdwfan]

Originally Posted by raulus

As an alternative, you might think about maybe trying to bundle a group of commons with a couple of stars, with the stars featured prominently in your listing. You might find more takers that way, although the price might still be a lot less than you're hoping to get. But you might get lucky and have it take off if you list a decent lot with a few stars at auction on eBay.

This is what I did. I posted a picture with 1k cards from 1974-1985 with some HOFers and stars showing. So I did exactly what you said. And I put 10 cents apiece on them. And nothing.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by wdwfan

This is what I did. I posted a picture with 1k cards from 1974-1985 with some HOFers and stars showing. So I did exactly what you said. And I put 10 cents apiece on them. And nothing.

That’s too bad.

Maybe try an auction starting at $1, or if you go with BIN then you might have to be patient until someone comes along and wants to bite.

Of course, if you go the auction route, then the final auction price might not be much more than $1 in some cases, so you’re taking a risk.

[wdwfan]

Yea, I don't do the Facebook Marketplace thing. Heard too many horror stories of people going to meet up then getting robbed, kidnapped, killed and lots of other bad things. So I stay away from that.

Originally Posted by darin2200

Sounds like a lot that you could throw out there for $20 - $30 cash on Facebook marketplace locally and perhaps get a taker

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by wdwfan

Yea, I don't do the Facebook Marketplace thing. Heard too many horror stories of people going to meet up then getting robbed, kidnapped, killed and lots of other bad things. So I stay away from that.

Many police stations have a "Craig's List" room so buyers/sellers can meet in public in a safe place. I would certainly suggest that as an option to meet people.

Rich

[ALBB]

80 cents per card..for late 70s stuff... that might be a bit high

[wdwfan]

The guy just a few posts earlier said he gets $1.75-$2.50 per late 70s common. So I didn't think 80 cents each was bad.

Originally Posted by ALBB

80 cents per card..for late 70s stuff... that might be a bit high

[savedfrommyspokes]

Originally Posted by wdwfan

The guy just a few posts earlier said he gets $1.75-$2.50 per late 70s common. So I didn't think 80 cents each was bad.

Over the years, through ebay using the variation listings, I have broken multiple late 1970s mid to higher grade Topps sets. The commons sell for, on average, 75-80 cents per card. Typically, it takes 2-3 YEARS to sell the majority of the cards from these drop-down listings. Even during the peak of the market in 2020 and 2021, these cards were tough sells.

As it takes me about an hour total to scan each card and create the listings, I spend a small amount of time up front to create the listings, but in the long run I will quite patiently double/triple my money.

So, if as a seller, I can very slowly sell late 70s commons as singles for 75-80 per card, I am not seeing many (if any) buyers for these types of cards offered in random bulk lots for 80 cents per card.

[wdwfan]

I thought about the variations listing, but it takes about 4-5 minutes per card to scan, edit and upload. So I can't do that for 600 cards. It'd take almost all day. So that's why I just decided to try and do it in lots of 12 (for $10 shipped) figuring some set builders would need help. Figured selling singles this way for about 50 cents each would be good.

However, you kind of contradict yourself. You say you've been selling for 80 cents, but it takes a year or years. Then you say buyers aren't going to pay 80 cents apiece for these cards. Yet, you had just said that's what you sell them for. It's all good. I might just break down and sell the starter lot for like $50 or something. Then it's about 5 cents apiece. Surely someone, even a reseller, would take them for that cheap.

Originally Posted by savedfrommyspokes

Over the years, through ebay using the variation listings, I have broken multiple late 1970s mid to higher grade Topps sets. The commons sell for, on average, 75-80 cents per card. Typically, it takes 2-3 YEARS to sell the majority of the cards from these drop-down listings. Even during the peak of the market in 2020 and 2021, these cards were tough sells.

As it takes me about an hour total to scan each card and create the listings, I spend a small amount of time up front to create the listings, but in the long run I will quite patiently double/triple my money.

So, if as a seller, I can very slowly sell late 70s commons as singles for 75-80 per card, I am not seeing many (if any) buyers for these types of cards offered in random bulk lots for 80 cents per card.