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1972 topps: when to get really aggressive?

highendhighend Posts: 534 ✭
in PSA Set Registry Forum
i'm working on 72 topps bb set in 8 or better with a focus on 9's.
i have submitted a large amount of cards from my horde of raw cards with good success (only a few misses). i have another 100 on the way to newport beach and about 50 more PSA 8 or better candidates on deck. after that my raw material will be depleted of psa 8 nq material. i will soon be at a crossroad in regards to my strategy. after my raw subs are done i'll most likely be at 50% with all the stars (except stargell ia and maybe aaron ia) i have been "bottom feeding" on ebay for the 8's and 9's that i lack in raw candidates. my question is , do i continue the hunt and peck method or get aggressive for the tough cards? i've bid up to 8x's SMR for some low pop 8's and 9's and didn't even come close to winning .i have a modest budget and have been using alot of it to grade my raw material, at this time should i direct those funds towards aquiring lower pop 9's ?

Comments

  • EOMINTEOMINT Posts: 349 ✭
    Hello,

    I am putting the set together all in 9 and 10 and in the process bought some unopened material that I got graded and I have a # of PSA 8s that are collecting dust right now that I'd be happy to offer to you if you are interested. Please email me at eolander@yahoo.com and I'll give you the #s I have.

    Good luck with your set.

    Eric
  • KING KELLOGGKING KELLOGG Posts: 1,158 ✭✭✭
    highend...

    Here's what you need to do...

    *** Call Frank Bakka, Neil Downey, Mike Castaldi, Eric Olander, (here on the boards) and all the rest of the 72 Registry guys.....get as many cards as you can...A great source for their dup's and information.

    *** Put 1972 Topps on your "Favorite" search button...eBay...

    *** Actively persue larger shows, maybe even a little farther away from home that you would normally go...Sounds like you know how to grade '72's.

    *** Seek out Joe at Setbuilders (norty on this board)...

    *** Crank up your "cold calling" to National dealers. Sometimes if a dealer gets enough "calls" on a certain year, they just look in their inventory for possible sales...Bob (gaspipe) comes to mind...

    *** call Jay at Quality Cards (also a board member here..) I's amazing what this guy can come up with....


    And last of all..... When you hit "THE WALL"....get down on your knees and beg, beg, beg, the '72 guys for maybe ..one more card.....


    Yep...That just about covers it......


    Good Luck!!!


    Larry



    I LOVE FANCY CURRENCY, pretty girls, Disney Dollars, pretty girls, MPC's, ..did I mention pretty girls???

    email....emards4457@msn.com


    CHEERS!!
  • mcastaldimcastaldi Posts: 1,202 ✭✭✭
    highend> Maybe I can give you some ideas.

    I started a graded 1972 set in early 2001. I got to 94% by summer of 2002. My GPA was about 7.95 or so and then I decided to sell it off. I wanted to pursue some other sets and use the money for a couple other things.

    Then in February 2003, I decided to make another run at the 72 set. I saw that prices were way down from what I paid before and I still loved the set. Because I'd climbed the mountain once, I felt like I could apply the lessons I learned from the first set and put together a nicer set for less money than before. In both cases, buying the card and not the holder. When my recent orders come in, I'll be at about 96% or so @ about 8.16.

    Here's the way I approached the set the second time around. . .
    * Don't overpay for the easy stuff and the HOFers - these will almost always be around so why sweat them?
    * Submit your own stuff when it makes sense, but look to eBay as well.
    * Make friends with the other 72 guys. All of them are great to deal with. These guys will be your trading partners and your moral support when you get frustrated - and you WILL get frustrated.
    * Be aggressive on the low-pop/tough cards. By obtaining as many tough cards as early as possible, it makes what's left seem easier. When you have 5 cards left would you rather those cards have pops of 5 or of 20???
    * Look at dealer's web sites as well. Too many people think eBay is the only way to buy cards. I think it's ONE way, but certainly not the only way.

    If you have other questions, please feel free to e-mail me. I also have a few duplicates if you're interested.

    Hope this helps.
    Mike
    So full of action, my name should be a verb.
  • BasiloneBasilone Posts: 2,492 ✭✭


    << <i>When you have 5 cards left would you rather those cards have pops of 5 or of 20??? >>



    Depends on how long of a time frame you have established to complete set. In 5 years those POP 5s could very well be POP 20s.
  • mcastaldimcastaldi Posts: 1,202 ✭✭✭
    John> That's why it's important to know the issue well enough to differentiate between the low-pop cards and the truly tough ones. Also. . .just as the population numbers are not static, neither is the definition of "low-pop". I mean you could have a card with a population of say 18, but if there are 20 people actively pursuing the set I'd consider that to be a "low-pop" card.

    Mike
    So full of action, my name should be a verb.
  • BasiloneBasilone Posts: 2,492 ✭✭

    Mike-

    I agree with you. I have found from my own experience...I become pretty comfortable about a set after tracking it for 3-6 months.

    John
  • FBFB Posts: 1,684 ✭✭
    Highend,

    The 72 set - like most others seems to go in cycles. Right now, the low pop cards are commanding more of a premium than ever before because you have 3 or 4 guys who have been at it for a while and are starting to get more aggressive about either getting those last few cards or are worried that they'll never see them on eBay again.

    My advice to you - don't get caught up in that game.... at least not yet. You mentioned that you're currently around 50%. Keep bottom feeding.... Heck - knowing now what I wish I'd known the first time - I'd only bid on auctions where I could possibly win 8 to 10 to 15 different cards from the same dealer in order to save on shipping. 72's in PSA 8 are still very plentiful and can be had relatively cheaply - if you're patient.

    Mike Castaldi was able to catch a lot of collectors napping when he went against traditional strategy and decided to bid heavier on "tough" cards when he had a much lower completion percentage than most. He won quite a few cards before others who needed them knew just how tough they were. Because of his knowledge of the set - he was able to pick up much lower pop commons for $25, $35, $50 and sometimes as high as $75 for cards that are going for over $300 now. At the time he was winning them - very few of the other 72 guys who were building the set at the time knew why he was bidding that heavily when he still had 60% to go. Those of us who had already built the set knew that Mike was doing this because prices had dropped and he was picking them up cheaply.

    Well... the pendulum has swung back the other way now... There are a few 72 guys who have adopted Mike's strategy and are throwing outrageous money for those tough cards again. So, at the moment - they are NOT bargains. Give it some time and either A) they'll get those cards and the prices will drop, B) they'll sit at 92% and move on to other sets because they won't pay those prices and the prices will drop, C) they'll sell off their sets and move on to other projects because paying those prices wasn't what they had planned on, D) you'll keep buying cheap commons and you'll be at 75% and still need those cards but you MIGHT find them raw at a card show or on eBay.

    One last thought... Create a "Favorite Search" that looks something like this:

    1972 (SGC, BGS, BVG, GAI) (32, 50, 300, 693, 698, 708, 782)

    List the cards that you consider hard to find in the query or queries. If you find these cards already slabbed by another grading company - look at them online.... If you think that they'll cross over to a psa standard that you'd be happy with then buy it and take a chance on the crossover.

    Oh and GOOD LUCK!!! I have to admit that I like the view better having already done it rather than having to do it again!!!!
    Frank Bakka
    Sets - 1970, 1971 and 1972
    Always looking for 1972 O-PEE-CHEE Baseball in PSA 9 or 10!

    lynnfrank@earthlink.net
    outerbankyank on eBay!
  • highendhighend Posts: 534 ✭
    i would like to thank everyone for the great advice, some of it has already been taken and i'm quite pleased. i know it's going to be a long road but i'm certain, with the support of some of the great members on this board i will reach my goal. i've been collecting for a long time but the 72 set is my first attempt at a 100% complete PSA slabbed set. i know it will alot tougher than some of the raw 60's sets i've finished and probably more rewarding from an accomplishment standpoint. look on the registry for my HIGHEND 72 SET sometime in late april or early may (i hope to be at least 50% at that time). that will be followed by 74 and maybe 75 (i've lost some interest in the 75's) . over the next few years i will continue to work on my 71's in 7 and 8. the 71 set should be nicknamed the S&M set as i continue to take a beating on my sub's(too, too, many 7's) and i come back for more.
    image
  • highendhighend Posts: 534 ✭
    through this thread i was able to add 15 psa 9's and almost 50 psa 8's to my set. i made some great trades or purchases with the true giants of this set and would like to thank them all, eric olander, frank bakka, mike castaldi, and neil downey thanks guys! and good luck.

    i was also able to gain insight from the best regarding my stratetgy on completing this behemoth of a set.
  • FBFB Posts: 1,684 ✭✭
    Jim,

    If you make it to The Fort in March - stop by Setbuilders table and I'm sure that you'll meet a number of the bozos who've posted here!

    Continued good luck on the set!
    Frank Bakka
    Sets - 1970, 1971 and 1972
    Always looking for 1972 O-PEE-CHEE Baseball in PSA 9 or 10!

    lynnfrank@earthlink.net
    outerbankyank on eBay!
  • GoSoxBoSoxGoSoxBoSox Posts: 1,103


    << <i>Jim,

    If you make it to The Fort in March - stop by Setbuilders table and I'm sure that you'll meet a number of the bozos who've posted here!

    Continued good luck on the set! >>





    Bozo,

    it's been a while so I'll stop by to visit you at Setbuilders.

    Bozo
    There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness"
  • FBFB Posts: 1,684 ✭✭
    Bozo,

    Look forward to seein you again!

    Signed Bozo...
    Frank Bakka
    Sets - 1970, 1971 and 1972
    Always looking for 1972 O-PEE-CHEE Baseball in PSA 9 or 10!

    lynnfrank@earthlink.net
    outerbankyank on eBay!
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