Keep Sets Dark Or Not?

Machodoc

I just finished loading my 1972 Topps baseball set, which current is 32% done and 8.05. I am trying to decided whether or not to let others see the specific card listings. Right now the set is dark. The biggest and most obvious advantage of allowing others to see the set of course is that others may have cards you need. On the other hand, there is reason be to concerned that other bidders, knowing what you need, may artifically run bids up just because they know you need the cards.

With the 1972 set being so large, and with my set barely 1/3 done, I think the better bet is to risk the latter for the benefits of the former. Opinions?

Basilone

Open it up!

You have a looonnnnggg way to go. I would say after 85-90% close it up if you are worried about getting run up.

JOhn

Wayne8348

Since you're only 32%, I don't think that there will be ebay bidders checking to see if you have the card or not to try and run you up in price. If you're 98% complete then maybe but I've had several folks approach me to sell me cards through the registry that I need for my set. Leave it open is my vote. That's what the registry is all about - sharing our thoughts and collections with others. Good luck finishing the set. That set is a monster.

Wayne

Stump

Steve

I usually darkin my set the last 3-5%. I dont think you have anything to worry about till then.

Dave

goodriddance189

keep it open till you get to the point where you need only the scarce graded cards, would be my advice. also, when you need to bid on low pop cards, maybe get another ebay id

Machodoc

Good advice, y'all. I turned the lights on so it should be public as soon as it gets verified. Anyone with the cards I need (8's and 9's only, please) just give me a jingle!

sellerman23

I love it when someone has only one card in a set and they leave it dark like it's some huge secret what that one cards is. One member on this board (you know who you are) had one card in the HOF registry for the longest time. But he would not let anyone see what it was.
Now the set has crept up to 9.71% so it makes a lot more sense to keep those gems a secret.

Dave
sellerman23

jerster

Why go dark if you snipe anyway?

Alfiewt

Open up the set! I think closing a set is really against the spirit of the registry. After all, isn't the registry a way to share your collection with others? I can't understand the mentality of someone who would bid someone up just to prevent them from getting a card. I think most people stop acting like that by the time they finish kindergarden.

I don't think PSA should eliminate the darkened sets, as there are some instances when it does make sence to darken the set. I just don't like how some will just arbitrarily darken all of there sets. There are even some all PSA 10 complete sets darkened!

Maybe PSA could add some incentives to open up the sets.

How about some awards for scans in sets, and not giving the free grades or allow use of the registry specials unless the set has been open for at least a total of 6 months out of the last 12, or 50% of the time that its been registered.

Vargha

Don't worry about it. I am already running up your bids as we speak. I have about 150-200 unique user names, including many that have huge feedback totals and some that are exact clones of people on this board.

Basilone

This most impressive display of a set being hidden is ACOWA'S 1965 Set:

#53 ACOWA - 1965 Topps 6.00 GPA 0.17% Complete 0.01 Set Rating




John

FB

machodoc,

leave it open and become friendly with the 72 folks (however vile that may seem...), especially Castaldi. He's the one working most aggresively on the set at the moment and has a real good feel as to whats available, for what price and what might become available shortly.

We've all closed down viewing at various times. I closed it down with about 5% to complete and then I closed it down again about 3 weeks this summer when a bunch of 9's showed up on eBay.