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Selling complete PSA graded sets

softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,269 ✭✭✭✭✭

Best practices? Obviously you would think that breaking everything up and selling individual higher valued cards, starter lots for most commons, etc brings the greatest return. But I’m looking for some insight from those who have sold a beast of a graded set before.

ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

Comments

  • Indy78Indy78 Posts: 802 ✭✭✭

    Everyone values their time differently, but here is what I did with a 660-card PSA 8-10 set. Cards that I reasonably believed I could get at least $15 apiece, I auctioned off individually. I then grouped the $3-$10 cards in one lot of 400 and netted about $5 per card. I group the remaining cards (about 175) worth between $10-$15 apiece in another lot and netted about $10 per card. Again, everyone is different, but I felt that trying to sell cards under about $15 apiece individually wasn't worth my time.

  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,269 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Indy78 said:
    Everyone values their time differently, but here is what I did with a 660-card PSA 8-10 set. Cards that I reasonably believed I could get at least $15 apiece, I auctioned off individually. I then grouped the $3-$10 cards in one lot of 400 and netted about $5 per card. I group the remaining cards (about 175) worth between $10-$15 apiece in another lot and netted about $10 per card. Again, everyone is different, but I felt that trying to sell cards under about $15 apiece individually wasn't worth my time.

    Excellent insight... and right along with what I’m generally thinking. Time vs dollars is a huge consideration. It’s not easy on the time/shipping end the more a large set is split up I imagine. Especially when you are anal about shipping the right way as I am.

    Maybe I should just knock on my neighbors door and see if he wants my 1978 Topps set in totality lol

    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • PROMETHIUS88PROMETHIUS88 Posts: 2,819 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Give the low $$ cards out at Halloween instead of candy!

    Promethius881969@yahoo.com
  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,269 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 29, 2019 4:46PM

    @PROMETHIUS88 said:
    Give the low $$ cards out at Halloween instead of candy!

    Hell no lol

    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • PROMETHIUS88PROMETHIUS88 Posts: 2,819 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 29, 2019 6:45PM

    @softparade said:

    @PROMETHIUS88 said:
    Give the low $$ cards out at Halloween instead of candy!

    Hell no lol

    "Get off my damn lawn, you little bastards!" - Softparade

    Promethius881969@yahoo.com
  • 81 Topps Guy81 Topps Guy Posts: 228 ✭✭✭

    This used to be a no brainer, just send the set to PWCC and have them set break it for better than VCP prices. Now....?

  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,269 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @81 Topps Guy said:
    This used to be a no brainer, just send the set to PWCC and have them set break it for better than VCP prices. Now....?

    Yeah that’s not an option

    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • 81 Topps Guy81 Topps Guy Posts: 228 ✭✭✭

    If you want someone to break it for you try Steve Novella

  • 70ToppsFanatic70ToppsFanatic Posts: 2,103 ✭✭✭✭
    edited July 29, 2019 5:37PM

    @81 Topps Guy said:
    If you want someone to break it for you try Steve Novella

    I’m sure Greg Morris would also do a great job.



    Dave
  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,269 ✭✭✭✭✭

    These are names I don’t know ATM but I’ll check into it! Thanks!

    I’m just kicking tires now. I’m in a much different place as a collector now and individual graded cards are not in my future.

    I think this type of discussion would interest many.

    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,480 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Wait a minute, Soft Parade is selling his 78 set?? I thought you'd be buried with that one!



    Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,269 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @grote15 said:
    Wait a minute, Soft Parade is selling his 78 set?? I thought you'd be buried with that one!

    haha just initial discussion. I still might be buried with it. I’m interested in others experiences selling a large complete set.

    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,480 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @softparade said:
    I’ve been putting together a Minty raw set and it’s much more enjoyable to go through and look at then stacks and stacks of acrylic. I dunno man....

    No rule you can't do both, buddy. I have both 2 graded and 2 raw 1975 mini sets.



    Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,269 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @grote15 said:

    @softparade said:
    I’ve been putting together a Minty raw set and it’s much more enjoyable to go through and look at then stacks and stacks of acrylic. I dunno man....

    No rule you can't do both, buddy. I have both 2 graded and 2 raw 1975 mini sets.

    WOW

    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • ahopkinsahopkins Posts: 1,094 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @grote15 said:
    I have both 2 graded and 2 raw 1975 mini sets.

    That's it?! Weak. 🤣 🤣 🤣

    Andy

  • lbcoach20lbcoach20 Posts: 868 ✭✭✭

    Well I was in your shoes at one time. I had a 73 set all graded 8-10. It sat in graded card boxes and sat under my son’s crib. The only time I looked at them was when I upgraded cards. I sold it all intact to Just Collect for about $7,200. I reinvested in a monster Banks RC PSA 8, a game used Schmidt bat and some other smaller priced graded rookies. My son is 16 now and the investments I made have done very well price wise. It was an easy transaction and I am happy how it turned out. I collected a sweet raw 73 set I am happy with. So good luck in what you decide to do. It’s a hard decision and you have to be happy in the end.

  • 81 Topps Guy81 Topps Guy Posts: 228 ✭✭✭
    edited July 29, 2019 6:27PM

    a> @70ToppsFanatic said:

    @81 Topps Guy said:
    If you want someone to break it for you try Steve Novella

    I’m sure Greg Morris would also do a great job.

    >

    Greg is great for selling raw cards and sets, but he does not like to sell graded sets

  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,269 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited July 29, 2019 6:43PM

    @lbcoach20 said:
    Well I was in your shoes at one time. I had a 73 set all graded 8-10. It sat in graded card boxes and sat under my son’s crib. The only time I looked at them was when I upgraded cards. I sold it all intact to Just Collect for about $7,200. I reinvested in a monster Banks RC PSA 8, a game used Schmidt bat and some other smaller priced graded rookies. My son is 16 now and the investments I made have done very well price wise. It was an easy transaction and I am happy how it turned out. I collected a sweet raw 73 set I am happy with. So good luck in what you decide to do. It’s a hard decision and you have to be happy in the end.

    Thank You for this. Exactly the type of feedback I was hoping for. I’m not going to upgrade it anymore. At least I think I won’t be. Once a month or so I force myself to go through a stack of 25 or so to keep the set alive in me.

    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • PROMETHIUS88PROMETHIUS88 Posts: 2,819 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I put together a complete 70 Topps basketball set all PSA 8 or better. After I finally completed it, it sat in a box in a corner for a couple of years. I realized the joy was in the hunt. I tried selling it complete but eventually pieced it out card by card and did very well. Obviously it's much smaller and easier than selling a 78 Topps BB set. All this being said, it's been about 7-8 years since I sold it off and I wish I still had it. I can still view it on the registry under the retired sets, but still not the same.

    Promethius881969@yahoo.com
  • detroitfan2detroitfan2 Posts: 3,311 ✭✭✭✭

    I am considering selling my 1955 Topps Baseball Set. Based on what I see on ebay (a few completely graded sets typically sell each year), I am convinced that the set sells for more complete than broken up. It may be a unique thing for the 1955 set because of its relatively low number of cards, I'm not sure.

    In any case, depending on how much of a hurry you are in, I would decide what the fair minimum "net amount" you would accept for the set, and list it on eBay with a Buy-it-Now that gets you that price. Your choice on whether you want to mark it up some and allow Best Offer or not. Of course you could also try an auction with the minimum bid set to your "reserve".

    I would never ever every list it with a 99 cent minimum bid, way too easy to get burned. Oh, and whatever you do, factor in the price of shipping to the overall price. Nothing says "classy" like a several thousand dollar item that charges $50 to ship.

    Another perhaps outside-the-box option is to take advantage of eBay's variation listings (I did this here and am happy with the results: https://www.ebay.com/itm/264385432505). I plan to lower each card a bit every month until they all sell. While I think there is a limit on the # of variations, this method does save time over listing each card individually, but you must use Buy-it-Now (obviously).

    Good luck!

  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,269 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @detroitfan2

    Yeah the market for your 55 set is much more aggressive than my late 70’s beast. Awesome sales bullet points!

    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,480 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I'm the last of the old guard along with @MiniMaster here on CU actively collecting the 75 mini set. I can't say I can ever envision myself selling it but never say never, I suppose. I'm just glad I held onto as much unopened as I did, LOL..



    Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
  • ldfergldferg Posts: 6,739 ✭✭✭

    @detroitfan2, how long did it take you to list the 78 set with the variation option compared to the traditional single listing option? Do you feel you receive a good hit rate on searches when using the variation route?



    Thanks,

    David (LD_Ferg)



    1985 Topps Football (starting in psa 8) - #9 - started 05/21/06
  • flcardtraderflcardtrader Posts: 788 ✭✭✭

    @ldferg said:
    @detroitfan2, how long did it take you to list the 78 set with the variation option compared to the traditional single listing option? Do you feel you receive a good hit rate on searches when using the variation route?

    adding to this.....how do you list the images that go along with each variation?

    flcardtrader@yahoo.com
    Website
    Shopify Store
    Ebay Store
  • detroitfan2detroitfan2 Posts: 3,311 ✭✭✭✭
    edited July 30, 2019 8:53AM

    @ldferg said:
    @detroitfan2, how long did it take you to list the 78 set with the variation option compared to the traditional single listing option? Do you feel you receive a good hit rate on searches when using the variation route?

    adding to this.....how do you list the images that go along with each variation?

    Good questions, and while I am by no means an expert, I am becoming more and more comfortable with the variation feature the more I use it. Here's my feedback so far:

    Search "hit rate"

    I still haven't quite figured out their algorithm, but I am incredibly amazed with how eBay's search mechanism works with variation listings. They are by far the most viewed items I have. I always do test searches to see if how I have it listed will work, and it works every time exactly as I had hoped.

    On my first few attempts, I tried to break up everything into as many categories as needed figuring this was required for the search to work properly. Now, I create one category called "description" and list all attributes of the card there. You can see that in this listing: https://ebay.com/itm/1953-1954-1955-1956-Topps-Bowman-Singles-PSA-3-4-5-6-7-SGC-70-82-You-Choose/264399450813?hash=item3d8f6f72bd:m:m1FcxddpX4ERGcmHJFERtJw. At one point, I would have made a variation for year and one for brand and one for grade and one for card number and one for player. What this meant was that the buyer would have to make 5 "choices" to get to a certain card. And then they would have to clear all those choices to look at a different card. Now, as this listing shows, I just use the one variation category.

    I also like the fact that when someone is searching for a card (let's say a 1978 Topps Bombo Rivera PSA 9) and they "hit" the item, once they open the item, they have to "choose" the 1978 Topps Bombo Rivera from a list. In doing so, they may notice that there is also that 1978 Topps Larvell Blanks PSA 9 they needed for their Larvell Blanks master set and pick that up too.

    Set-up TIme / Photos

    The length of time spent on variation listings is completely dependent on how "detailed" you want to be, ESPECIALLY with regards to scans / photos. Ebay allows up to 12 different photos for EACH variation if you want to go that route. For example, in my 1978 basketball listing, I could have also provided a back scan for each card. I got lazy and didn't do that, not because of the time it takes to update the listing, but more so because of the time it takes to do the scanning.

    You have multiple options with regards to the photos. Let's say you have 48 cards to sell. You could create 12 scans of 4 cards, upload those, and be done. The buyer would then have to locate the card they wanted in your scans. Or, you could customize the photos per "variation", which I think makes for a much better look and avoids confusion. You do have to upload and potentially crop each photo, just as if you were listing each item individually. The one flaw in the feature is once you get to more than 20 or 25 items, the way you set up the photos causes you to do a lot of scrolling up and down, resulting in a nice bout of carpal tunnel once you're finished.

    To try to summarize: Assuming you already have the scans and the buy-it-now prices determined, you should be able to create a listing with 75 to 100 cards in about an hour. This assumes that you are cropping scans of 3-4 cards down to a single card. If no cropping is needed, it would go much faster, just like it would if you were listing them individually.

    The one thing you lose obviously with this format is the ability to individually "describe" your card (although you could do that in the generic description if you wanted).

    Another huge advantage of the format is it counts as one listing as far as free listings and / or listing fees go. So to list a 132 card set individually, it would use up 132 listings, but to do it in this format, it consumes ONE listing, if that makes sense.

    Hope this helps somewhat!

    By the way, not to pimp my listings, but you all gotta find something you need here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/1976-1977-1979-1980-Topps-Detroit-Lions-PSA-9-Mint-You-Choose-Amazing-Investment/264407822607?hash=item3d8fef310f:m:mgn_xr146SEPbQ1sJ3manvw

    __

  • balco758balco758 Posts: 1,303 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Softparade you were buying 78s before their time. Agree with Tim keep both raw and graded!

    I do not own any fully graded sets but it does seem to be logistically challenge to store and/or bulky to ever have out to view.

    I always thought the 64 Giants set would make a pretty nice graded display....but never have pulled the trigger.

    Good luck with the potential 78 sale.

    Steve

  • softparadesoftparade Posts: 9,269 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @balco758 said:
    Softparade you were buying 78s before their time. Agree with Tim keep both raw and graded!

    I do not own any fully graded sets but it does seem to be logistically challenge to store and/or bulky to ever have out to view.

    I always thought the 64 Giants set would make a pretty nice graded display....but never have pulled the trigger.

    Good luck with the potential 78 sale.

    Steve

    Well, once and if I ever get my dedicated hobby room (house full of kids ATM) I guess I could go around the room 36 times with them on the wall lol

    ISO 1978 Topps Baseball in NM-MT High Grade Raw 3, 100, 103, 302, 347, 376, 416, 466, 481, 487, 509, 534, 540, 554, 579, 580, 622, 642, 673, 724__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ISO 1978 O-Pee-Chee in NM-MT High Grade Raw12, 21, 29, 38, 49, 65, 69, 73, 74, 81, 95, 100, 104, 110, 115, 122, 132, 133, 135, 140, 142, 151, 153, 155, 160, 161, 167, 168, 172, 179, 181, 196, 200, 204, 210, 224, 231, 240

  • MeferMefer Posts: 1,156 ✭✭✭

    In 2009 I sold my ‘71 graded Topps baseball set in 7 to 8 through Robert Edwards Auctions. It was a decent price at the time albeit I think many of the cards were under graded. Like many, I finished the set and got tired of looking at boxes in my hobby room. I said never again would I do a graded set that large but, ironically, I’m slowly working on a 78 set as it is my all time favorite.

    The proceeds from the set went to two ‘33 Goudey Ruths, a ‘33 Goudey Gehrig and an experience meeting Gene Simmons and getting a signed bass (see icon for questions on the latter). I still have the Goudeys as they reside in the ‘33 set I’m slowly working on.

    I was very pleased with REA and would use them again for the right item. I had zero patience in trying to list cards individually, in lots, or small groups. There was something liberating in packaging the set up, getting it “out of my hair,” and getting an advance check. Easy peasy.

    Matt

  • perkdogperkdog Posts: 29,361 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @softparade said:
    I’ve been putting together a Minty raw set and it’s much more enjoyable to go through and look at then stacks and stacks of acrylic. I dunno man....

    Couldn’t agree more, I sold my graded cards as a whole on Ebay. The fees sucked and it cost me about $75 to ship so I would recommend a different course of action to sell however I did split the selling fees with the buyer so it wasn’t that bad actually. I would think a catalogued auction would be the best option for you Dan since you got such a nice set. Either way best of luck with the “No Spokes for these” 👍🍻

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