Trading in 2023

[slightlyrounded]

Trading down, especially when you can value your big cards higher than cash seems like a win-win....Probably easier to sell several $1-3k cards than a $10k card for the average dealer. There are only so many whales in the hobby.

[AMPduppp]

I wonder if trading is used more by newer collectors. Given how crazy the market is for vintage now, it can be really tough to get into the bigger cards (especially if you don’t have the patience to save up). Much easier to make smaller purchases and combine them to trade up, even if it means overpaying a little.

[Exhibitman]

Trading is...fun! They were called trading cards after all.

[bnorth]

I am just a collector and I love trading. I have made way over 100 trades on here with some great members. I have traded everything from worthless junk wax cards to a T206 Cobb to HOFer game used/issued bats.

I find if you don't think your items are worth 100 times what they really are and don't try to extremely lowball the other persons trade items that trades are very easy and common on here.

[raulus]

Trades are a great way to get impossible to find stuff by giving up other impossible to find stuff. Sometimes money just won’t shake it loose, so you have to be willing to dangle something they really want.

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by raulus

Trades are a great way to get impossible to find stuff by giving up other impossible to find stuff. Sometimes money just won’t shake it loose, so you have to be willing to dangle something they really want.

Is there really a lot of impossible to find stuff at this point?

Now excuse me while I carry another 9 pounds of catalogs down to the recycling bin.

[trambo]

it seems like the $10k cash- $13k trade is done by many dealers as a way to "win" the trade. Not many cards I have to have that will make me want to pay a 30% premium in cards to do it so I usually don't work w/those people. While I appreciate the transparency, it makes no sense to me to give up more cards than cash when i can sell the cards for $13k anyway. To each their own.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Is there really a lot of impossible to find stuff at this point?

Now excuse me while I carry another 9 pounds of catalogs down to the recycling bin.

HA.

I suppose there are degrees of difficulty. You’re right that most stuff can be found with a little patience and work. But still plenty of stuff that’s maybe not impossible but nearly impossible, and you might have to wait a very long time for it to come onto the market.

Edited to add:

As an example: A recent 3-way (sounds a little dirty) trade completed, as brokered by Fred McKie. I traded the Jello Box, and got back the Canadian Post Panel. Arguably both pretty darn impossible to find.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Is there really a lot of impossible to find stuff at this point?

Now excuse me while I carry another 9 pounds of catalogs down to the recycling bin.

For me there is, I would love to see more rare stuff surface. Lots of rare cards that may not see the light of day for 5-15 years or are only available in the off market.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Is there really a lot of impossible to find stuff at this point?

It all depends on what you collect. I tend to go after some obscure stuff. The two most famous athletes in the world, Muhammad Ali and Pele, had cards issued all over the world and some of the really obscure issues have one or a few known examples. Want an Israeli Ali or Pele card? Good luck with that.



I also totally agree with Raulus. If I don't need the cash, there is simply no way that I will part with a rare card for money (unless the offer is obscene) but a trade, definitely worth consideration. For me, it is because I can tell myself a trade is a win-win. I swapped extreme rarities with a fellow collector fairly recently and it was perfect. He got the better player and I got the player I actually collect. Financially hard to say who got over, but I preferred his card and he preferred mine, so it worked.