Buying 50K of Commons - what to pay?
mayo
Posts: 77
Hello -
I have a collector that has 50,000 "commons" for sale in the 80s & 90s. He claims there are some stars that will be tossed into the deal. Why would I want them? Because I enjoy going through them and pulling the HOFers that are usually in there and once in a while I pull a gem. The seller wants $500 but will go down to $400.
Is there a standard dealer buying price for a lot such as this?
I have a collector that has 50,000 "commons" for sale in the 80s & 90s. He claims there are some stars that will be tossed into the deal. Why would I want them? Because I enjoy going through them and pulling the HOFers that are usually in there and once in a while I pull a gem. The seller wants $500 but will go down to $400.
Is there a standard dealer buying price for a lot such as this?
0
Comments
<< <i>Hello -
I have a collector that has 50,000 "commons" for sale in the 80s & 90s. He claims there are some stars that will be tossed into the deal. Why would I want them? Because I enjoy going through them and pulling the HOFers that are usually in there and once in a while I pull a gem. The seller wants $500 but will go down to $400.
Is there a standard dealer buying price for a lot such as this? >>
A penny a piece??
It used to be 1/2 a penny each..way back in the day..or $500 per 100K...todays rates are like $350-$400 per 100K...
But then again if he's dropping them off....if they are in good shape...any high end stuff...or if there are stars...all these will add to the price. If they have these...$400 is ok..
If they are picked clean....$400 is way too much.
any possible good stuff. If he knows about
card grading, I would not expect too many
gems to be left in the boxes.
I doubt that a card-shop owner would pay
$400 for the cards as described. I would
not pay any where near that for the cards
as described.
If it is fun to play with them, maybe it is
worth it to you though.
storm
<< <i>Because I enjoy going through them and pulling the HOFers that are usually in there and once in a while I pull a gem. The seller wants $500 but will go down to $400. >>
I think that's very high. Since these cards are basically worthless, and you have no guarantee that you will pull any "gems", the price you should pay should reflect the amount of "entertainment value" you expect to derive from these cards. 1980s and 1990s common cards intrisincally have NO RESALE VALUE. If they were offered to me AND I was interested in them I wouldn't pay more than $50.
FYI I sold ~150,000 1987 Topps Baseball cards, including stars, rookies and 43 complete sets, for $120.00.
I sell my commons for considerably cheaper than that... with that said, I am NOT a dealer nor do I have any commons at this time for sale so I am not sales-pitching you. I typically sell a 3,200 count monster box full of commons (and I mean commons) for $10/ea. While that might be a little low on the norm, that's still about $160 for 50,000 commons. In my humble opinion $500 or even $4000 is a little too high expecially if you have to go get them. Just don't be surprised if the 'star' cards run out after the 3 Mark Mcgwires and 5 Roger Clemens cards found on top never come up again.
... oh, and btw, if you DO obtain some commons... I'll take whatever Chris Sabo's you find!!!!
ALWAYS Looking for Chris Sabo cards!
FYI I sold ~150,000 1987 Topps Baseball cards, including stars, rookies and 43 complete sets, for $120.00.
Where do I sign up!?!?!??? Where can I get 43 complete sets of '87 Topps for $120???
ALWAYS Looking for Chris Sabo cards!
1988 TOPPS ARE JUNK!!!!!!!!!!!!
$175 shipped.
I do too! give me a shout!
I have Topps, donruss, fleer, UD, etc etc etc ...............you can have em all
Steve
Rich
That's a lot of money.
If you see the boxes and randomly look thru them? Perhaps. But I agree with the half to a third penny guideline.
Good luck if you decide to move on it.
mike
<< <i>I can't imagine having 50,000 common cards. Sounds like a fire hazzard. >>
About three years ago I worked out a deal with someone that posted on the eBay discussion board that they didn't know what to do with their commons. I simply replied send them to me and he in turn asked if I was serious as he was willing to send them for the cost of shipping. So in the end I ended up with a little over 100,000 cards from all sports (1987 to 2003) for the cost of shipping. And it wasn't a deal were it was strictly garbage as well. There were cards with book values up to $10 and lots of cheap star cards. Also there was a couple thousand insert cards and a few near sets.
Now one might ask what would someone want with collections like this? Well for me, I can work on my team collections. And I wear glasses so I have a players with glasses collection. Put together sets. Also have used some in trades with some of my online buddies. Bottom line is it can be a cheap way to have fun which is what the hobby is supposed to be about.
Jeff
Miscut Museum
My Mess
<< <i>I just sold 250K for $1500....but he came and picked them up and lugged them away.
It used to be 1/2 a penny each..way back in the day..or $500 per 100K...todays rates are like $350-$400 per 100K...
But then again if he's dropping them off....if they are in good shape...any high end stuff...or if there are stars...all these will add to the price. If they have these...$400 is ok..
If they are picked clean....$400 is way too much. >>
Funny you mention back in the day the 1/2 a penny each. That was the same back in the day 1983 -1988 rate that I would sell my commons. Not knowing anything about the new age rate, I would definately assume it is less than 1/2 cent for real commons and probably more for the premium commons. It was so much simplier and more enjoyable when there was simply Topps, Fleer and Donruss.
Todays rates are back and fourth.....but not alot of people have 250K premium singles laying around. The sets are smaller and people tend to open less. Not like ripping vending cases from the 80's and early 90's.
I was happy to get what I did..simply because I needed the room. I left everything other than rookies and inserts in it too ( I left every Bonds just in spite) ...and it was all collated in order.
But hey...1/2 a ton a weight gone....and a mortgage payment made...who can complain?? lol
Yes..I miss those simple days too....
I appreciate the advice because this will help put me in a good position to purchase correctly.
Check out some of my Ebay items for sale. Search seller - itprofess01
once those cards are stuck in boxes, few gems remain and you'll
possibly end up needing to resell them for less. I had tons of same
type of commons I donated to the Cancer Cure Foundation and
Children's Hospital....Buy stars, pass on the commons.
You might think im crazy but i collect commons to i have about 150 5,000 ct boxes of commons already. I never turn down a good deal on old commons.
<< <i>I am actually looking to buy large qty of 85 or older commons 86 and later maybe if price is right . and if it's somewhere in cali i'll even come pick em up. pm and let me know what you guys got and what you want ship included.
You might think im crazy but i collect commons to i have about 150 5,000 ct boxes of commons already. I never turn down a good deal on old commons. >>
Where are you storing that much stuff!
I'm working on my closet and I had to remove ALL my clothes for now while organizing - and I don't think I have room for that kind of stuff!
Wow.
mike
But theres still plenty of room in my common stash area. I am actually shooting for 50K commons of each year from 75-85 so crazy as i might be if you want to get rid of them let me know.
So all in all, that was 13,000 cards for $9. 400 is way, way too high.
1977 Topps Star Wars - "Space Swashbucklers"
Mayo...that's how I built my business and still do to this day. If you have room for storage...as long as it's bought and paid for....to me..it's FREE forever. Whatever I make this year..or next..or in five..turns out to be found money.
In the 250K lot that I just got rid of...there was a box of 86 Topps FB that I have ripped from racks. They were all nice..but I had done through them for grading. So away they went. Yestereday, the guy that I had originally bought them from came into my store with his 5000 count box and traded them for some GU'd cards.
Now his weren't picked for grading..so I still have to do that...BUT...you know how many sets and partials I could have made putting the 10K together?? MAN....
I like to keep the stuff kicking around too..but when bills call...lol
But at what point do you stop digging through and pulling stuff?? I have 2000 Alojuwon...2000 Birds...12000 Jordans.....hundreds and hundreds of Griffey..Bonds....and so on through most sports. Are they all piles and pilkes of stock...yes..but are they bought and paid for already....oh yah...
I guess it's about finding balance. Balancing room for storage...keeping money flowing....what's good now vs. what will be good in the future....
But, what does one do with all those commons and "junk" wax in this day - I've seen junk wax go for nothing - in fact the shipping is way higher than the sale price.
mike
I just bought a case of 1991 OPC Premeir baseball for $60..at a show.....and other wax for like $3.50-$4.00 a box..including some Leaf and boxes that have inserts.
My feeling...having a retail store...it gives me the oppurtunity to still be able to sell kids wax boxes for $5-$8 and still make some small $$$...
But the best part....RIPPING.....heck I can rip and entire case of cards for what ONE box of today's product goes.
Pull the stars....look for grading...make cheap sets.....and still have fun...it's like being back in 1989...and I get to grade!!!
- Jason Lee, "Mallrats"
If anyone feels like getting rid of some of their 1980's/90's/2000-2005 commons and also helping a fellow collector fill holes in their sets--please let me know. I'll pay shipping as well as "finder's fee" to anyone who can help. Just tell me the sport, set and year(s) and I can send wantlists.
James
<< <i>As my main focus this year has been working on my college alum sets in baseball, basketball, and football--I find that I am needing mostly commons (with a few stars and semi-stars) from most sets since 1980. Many of these aren't on eBay because they only have book values of 5-10 cents. I sometimes can find enough to buy (and justify shipping charge) by going to websites like SimsClassic.
If anyone feels like getting rid of some of their 1980's/90's/2000-2005 commons and also helping a fellow collector fill holes in their sets--please let me know. I'll pay shipping as well as "finder's fee" to anyone who can help. Just tell me the sport, set and year(s) and I can send wantlists.
James >>
hi james,
email me your basketball list.
i will be going through 100,000 basketball cards shortly. 97-01 are the yrs. plus a huge lot of 1978-79 topps basketball.
email me your list please at: jjd1979@hotmail.com
thanks
j
80'sJunkie: PM sent
jasonjames: my basketball lists aren't typed up yet. I'll start working on typing them tonight and try to have that email to you by Sunday.
Thanks again,
James
Thanks for looking at my lists!
James
I just bought this collection of "commons" and by luck I was the last to act. This deal was 80 miles from my home and I left at 6am this morning and arrived at the sellers home at 7:45 AM (pre-approved arrival of course).
I did not go after the seller; the seller came to me asking me if I was still interested. These are the best kind of deals for the seller is desperate to sell. I could tell this deal came down to a “feeling” from the seller....granted I paid the highest price ($250) but this seller liked the way I treated and spoke/responded with/to him. I was honest and told him what I wanted to pay and why. I paid 1/2 cent each card and on a brief visual, this deal included stars and about 15 complete football and baseball sets.
I did well. Now it is time to go through it all and really determine what I have and the hidden profit.
I thank everyone for the great advice.
Ya never know when ya gonna find a diamond up a goat's ass.
mike
funny stuff.....