Sets that aren't worth completing

[darkhorse9]

Have you ever started a set only to realize that putting the effort and cost wasn't worth it?

I'm a set collector and have accumulated hundreds of them. I started working on a Salutation Exhibit set and got down to just right left including variations.

I realized that the eight I needed would take several thousand dollars to complete. That set isn't really bought and sold that way, so I bailed.

I did the same thing with 1960 Leaf. The low numbers were no problem, but spending $20 each for the 72 high numbers just didn't add up.

[bbcard1]

The last few years as my finances improved, I buy full sets or near full sets in collector grade. I usually pick up one or two a year and if they are missing a few cards, I fill them out. Works fine for me. I know I'll never spend a ton of money on grading fees, but on the other hand, I know I'll never spend a ton of money on grading fees.

For several years I have been in the process of finishing a 1961 Topps sets. The common high numbers are expensive and painful. I could have bought two complete sets for what I've spent putting together this one one card at a time.

[clydepepper]

The 'Poster-Child' for sets that aren't worth completing is the 1952 TOPPS set.

I am content to have the first 310 cards.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

The 'Poster-Child' for sets that aren't worth completing is the 1952 TOPPS set.

I am content to have the first 310 cards.

But the best 2 cards are high numbers, you have the rookie of Eddie Mathews and some scrub named Mickey.

I have debated the OPs question for decades.

At this moment I would say all of them. In the past I have really enjoyed putting a set together. Other times I have hated it. Usually both several times while putting together the same set.

[Rookiemonster]

Not a fan of completing any set really, but if I ever was to complete a set it would be 1951 Bowman .

[ALR-bishop]

Topps 1951 Current All Stars

[conor912]

Depends on what you mean by “worth”. If you mean worth more as a set than the parts, then the answer is all of them.

[Republicaninmass]

Originally Posted by clydepepper

The 'Poster-Child' for sets that aren't worth completing is the 1952 TOPPS set.

I am content to have the first 310 cards.

T206 would take the cake. Without the big four, it ain't done!

Do the 52 topps with a mantle reprint? Its about the challenge, the first 310 , meh

[buymycards]

It isn't always about what a set is worth. It is more about the enjoyment of putting the set together, one card at a time. In some cases, full sets are not available. In my case, I have been working on my T213-2 set for nearly 10 years, and I have 128 of the 185 cards. To the best of my knowledge, there aren't any full sets available to purchase, and if I do complete my set, there probably isn't anyone out there who would buy a full set of T213-2's. But, I don't care. I look for cards at shows, I look for cards on eBay and Net54, and I love the chase.

Financially, I look at it as if I am playing golf or going fishing. If I spend $10,000 over a 10 year period playing golf, I don't expect to sell anything to recoup my "investment", but if I enjoy playing golf, the cost is worthwhile. If I enjoy fishing, and I have an assortment of fishing poles and tackle, and I have an $8,000 boat, and travel expenses for travel to and from fishing, I don't expect to recoup my investment. I use the same "logic?" for my Louisiana cards. I enjoy collecting them because I love Louisiana, and I realize that I will never sell the cards for the amount of money that I have in them, but that is OK.

I take the complete opposite view when I am purchasing cards to resell on eBay or to sell at cards shows.

[mq711]

I agree with Rick 100%, to some/most of us this is a hobby which is supposed to be fun and allow a diversion from life. I spend thousands a year on my other hobbies with no expectation of any return on those "investments," much rather hand down golf clubs than sell them.

As far as set building its similar, the fun is looking for cards you need and working through the process. I feel its what true collecting is all about. For investment purposes it is different but I don't see any fun in buying a complete set and storing it away on a shelf just to say you have it.

[whitehse]

Originally Posted by buymycards

It isn't always about what a set is worth. It is more about the enjoyment of putting the set together, one card at a time. In some cases, full sets are not available. In my case, I have been working on my T213-2 set for nearly 10 years, and I have 128 of the 185 cards. To the best of my knowledge, there aren't any full sets available to purchase, and if I do complete my set, there probably isn't anyone out there who would buy a full set of T213-2's. But, I don't care. I look for cards at shows, I look for cards on eBay and Net54, and I love the chase.

Financially, I look at it as if I am playing golf or going fishing. If I spend $10,000 over a 10 year period playing golf, I don't expect to sell anything to recoup my "investment", but if I enjoy playing golf, the cost is worthwhile. If I enjoy fishing, and I have an assortment of fishing poles and tackle, and I have an $8,000 boat, and travel expenses for travel to and from fishing, I don't expect to recoup my investment. I use the same "logic?" for my Louisiana cards. I enjoy collecting them because I love Louisiana, and I realize that I will never sell the cards for the amount of money that I have in them, but that is OK.

I take the complete opposite view when I am purchasing cards to resell on eBay or to sell at cards shows.

I am a hopeless set builder and I think we all know that set building for profit is something that does not happen. I am in agreement with what Rick said above....building the set is about the experience and not the financial return. I have been building a '56 Topps baseball set for two years and have probably spent more on it so far than I would have buying a full set outright but I enjoy the hunt and knowingly realize I will likely never recoup my investment. But I cannot put a price on the enjoyment I received in building the set so there is that.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Republicaninmass

T206 would take the cake. Without the big four, it ain't done!

Do the 52 topps with a mantle reprint? Its about the challenge, the first 310 , meh

I would strongly disagree with this. It isn't complete with the Wagner and Plank, but the other two are variations with one or two different letters. Where do you stop with variations, then backs? Is 1952 Topps not complete with both Mantles, Jackies, Page and Sain variations, black and red backs, grey back 2nd series, etc.?

No set is worth completing. They are all worth less than what it takes to complete them. Why else would dealers buy sets from AHs and break them up? I spent the last 4 years completing a t205 set that I started 30 years ago. I will never do another set again. And I didn't bother doing all the variations, again because it would never end. If you enjoy putting together sets, then just consider your lost value the cost of entertainment. I guess after 50 years of chasing cards for sets, the work is no longer enjoyable for me.

[Republicaninmass]

Sorry, I didn't realize those were the big four.


Ain't complete without the big 2!

[rocuan]

Reqalizing you all are talking about baseball. I have been collector since i first started collecting 39 Play Balls ( gives my age awy.). But There was something else that has been on my mind all these years. Whilea young boy Iwould occaisionally see a card called Horrors Of War and G-Men. The art work fascinated me as a young boy. As I got older and more involved in baseball cards. I never forgot about those 2 sets. I would see a few at shows over the years but the condition was usually bad and expensive. I always wanted to have both of those sets but realized that to get a decent set the price would be way out of my range. Then one time at a local show some guy had a reprint set of the Horrors OF War set. I walked around a bit and thought " You'll never get that set, what are you waiting for". Went back and bought it, and have been pleased with it ever since. If I could ever find a reprintset of the G-men & Heroes Of The Law. even at my age. J'll do the same. Maybe the moral of this story is, if the set you like and want is too expensive and time consuming, and a reprint set is available ?????????
Roland

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by rocuan

Reqalizing you all are talking about baseball. I have been collector since i first started collecting 39 Play Balls ( gives my age awy.). But There was something else that has been on my mind all these years. Whilea young boy Iwould occaisionally see a card called Horrors Of War and G-Men. The art work fascinated me as a young boy. As I got older and more involved in baseball cards. I never forgot about those 2 sets. I would see a few at shows over the years but the condition was usually bad and expensive. I always wanted to have both of those sets but realized that to get a decent set the price would be way out of my range. Then one time at a local show some guy had a reprint set of the Horrors OF War set. I walked around a bit and thought " You'll never get that set, what are you waiting for". Went back and bought it, and have been pleased with it ever since. If I could ever find a reprintset of the G-men & Heroes Of The Law. even at my age. J'll do the same. Maybe the moral of this story is, if the set you like and want is too expensive and time consuming, and a reprint set is available ?????????
Roland

Great point, I have several reprint sets and love them.

[topcat61]

For me personally, putting together any English sporting set by hand is a true challenge. Worth the value, probably not, worth the time and effort and challenge -for sure! The 1910 T225 is much easier and and still affordable at 25 cards.

[KMayUSA6060]

Isn't this exact topic part of the appeal of set registries - not so much the generic annual sets, but the custom player/era sets? i.e. 1960 Decade HoF set (every card from the 1960s featuring a HoFer(s)).

It's a hobby. Collect what you love. I love T206s, but I'm not sure I'll ever complete The Monster due to my lack of interest in the commons.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

Still considering this topic. Have any of you guys rebuilt a set after breaking one up and selling?

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[jayshum]

Years ago, I sold off a run of Bowman sets (kept the 53 Color set) along with some pre-war sets (Play Balls, Diamond Stars, Delong) to raise money for work we were doing on the house. I then took a long break from collecting, but it always pained me to have sold the sets. About 5 years ago, as money became available again. I got back into collecting. I had always been a set builder so I decided to rebuild what I had sold. While I definitely spent more to rebuild them than I had sold them for, I had a great time doing it and was very happy to restore my collection to what it had once been. As others have said, if you aren't in it to make money as an investor, do what makes you happy. If you miss having the set you sold off, go ahead and build it again.

[jimmer77]

I am currently working on a 71 and 60 topps baseball. The71 is proving to be difficult, as I am down to 90 cards and it just doesn't seem worth it now like the enthusiasm I had when I started