"Business" idea......
CDsNuts
Posts: 10,092 ✭
Let me preface by saying that any money I make off cards goes back into my collection, and then some. With said, every now and then I see some type of inconsistency in the market that makes me wonder whether there is a profit center in there somewhere. I was just wondering if anybody here feels this might be able to work (if you steal my idea, I'll hunt you down and feed you to my pet Liger):
- Every now and then, someone comes here and posts how some obscure but mainstream PSA 10 card goes for way too much, which is usually a result of two bidders not wanting to back down. This has happened recently with several PSA 10 Jeters that aren't hard to find in high grade (1997 Finest for $400+, etc...). Then next week, the same card might go up for auction and sell for $10. There's really no rhyme or reason, just luck in terms of who sees the auction when it's up. My feelings are that if you had the auction up for long enough at a fixed price (high, but not ridiculous), someone would pull the trigger.
Now, if you do a search for "PSA 10", there are literally hundreds of cards ending on any given night that sell for $5-$20, many low pops of wierd sets from 1986-2002. Just focusing on these cards, I think it's possible that if you have, say a 1990 Pro Set MVPs Terry Bradshaw (1 of 1) and you buy at $10, you can turn around and put it in your store at a BIN for $25 for three months straight, and some Bradshaw or Steelers collector will happen upon it and pull the trigger. Even if it doesn't sell after the three months, you can turn back around and sell it for the $10 and take a small loss. A lot of the PSA 10 dealers start these type auctions at 9.99, and they often don't go any higher. Even though I'm sure they're happy with the ten bucks, I think they're leaving money on the table.
Your thoughts?
Lee
Note- Please spare responses such as "this is a hobby and should be fun" and "you're in the wrong hobby if you're looking to make money." I understand it's very hard to turn a profit in cards, but with a little thought and creativity it's definitely possible. I have a ton of fun collecting cards, and a big part of that is the buying and selling aspect.
- Every now and then, someone comes here and posts how some obscure but mainstream PSA 10 card goes for way too much, which is usually a result of two bidders not wanting to back down. This has happened recently with several PSA 10 Jeters that aren't hard to find in high grade (1997 Finest for $400+, etc...). Then next week, the same card might go up for auction and sell for $10. There's really no rhyme or reason, just luck in terms of who sees the auction when it's up. My feelings are that if you had the auction up for long enough at a fixed price (high, but not ridiculous), someone would pull the trigger.
Now, if you do a search for "PSA 10", there are literally hundreds of cards ending on any given night that sell for $5-$20, many low pops of wierd sets from 1986-2002. Just focusing on these cards, I think it's possible that if you have, say a 1990 Pro Set MVPs Terry Bradshaw (1 of 1) and you buy at $10, you can turn around and put it in your store at a BIN for $25 for three months straight, and some Bradshaw or Steelers collector will happen upon it and pull the trigger. Even if it doesn't sell after the three months, you can turn back around and sell it for the $10 and take a small loss. A lot of the PSA 10 dealers start these type auctions at 9.99, and they often don't go any higher. Even though I'm sure they're happy with the ten bucks, I think they're leaving money on the table.
Your thoughts?
Lee
Note- Please spare responses such as "this is a hobby and should be fun" and "you're in the wrong hobby if you're looking to make money." I understand it's very hard to turn a profit in cards, but with a little thought and creativity it's definitely possible. I have a ton of fun collecting cards, and a big part of that is the buying and selling aspect.
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Comments
<< <i>
Note- Please spare responses such as "this is a hobby and should be fun" and "you're in the wrong hobby if you're looking to make money." I understand it's very hard to turn a profit in cards, but with a little thought and creativity it's definitely possible. I have a ton of fun collecting cards, and a big part of that is the buying and selling aspect.
>>
Lee, you are evil, immoral, and downright wicked for attempting to make a profit on modern cards. This is a hobby, and it should be fun. No need to dirty this forum up with your talk of "money and other things."
There are dozens of Yankee player cards I had been watching and for one reason or another didnt pull the trigger before the auction ended. Each card was a PSA 10 and all 1980's cards. Most ended up being won by this seller for the opening bid of $9.99 up to maybe $15 max.
Over the past couple of months I have seen each card resurface in the sellers ebay store with a BIN of $24.99 to $34.99.
More than likely they had the same idea you had of leaving it in their store for 6 months and see if someone happens upon it and desides to pull the trigger. I almost bought one @ $24.99 that I passed up on a month before @ $9.99 because A- I forgot to bid the first time B-I had some extra $$ at the time and C- I forgot for a minute that it was the same card that was $9.99 a month or so earlier.
It was upon remembering it was the same card that I backed out but I can certainly see how this model may work on enough occasions to give it a try if you have the time and patience.
-- Yogi Berra
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.
Lee
Lee
Lee
The worst that could happen is you could end up with a lot of cards.
Good Luck if you decide to do it, Just remember me if you ever run across any Simms 1/1's
Lee
Shannon
shambo2000
My Steve Carlton Basic Registry Set
Lee
Edit- And thanks, by the way. I;m having fun already. The Ventura is a 1/1, so it has potential.
My Steve Carlton Basic Registry Set
What if you were to buy old baseball card wrappers, say from the 70's...and reseal them with crappy, off-centered commons. Then...
Oh wait, that's already been done...sorry
<< <i>Yeah, I think there are a lot of people who already do this. I currently have a few auctions for complete insert sets that I'm bidding on, and in the last few minutes I just know I'm going to be sniped by someone who will buy that set, break it up and sell it in their store for far more than the cards are worth and then make it impossible for people like myself to actually afford the sets. It wouldn't bother me if they would just keep the set intact and sell it, but to break it up just pisses me off.
Then bid higher.
One thing I would do, Lee, is hunt down and bookmark those sellers that don't take paypal. With a little time and dilligence I bet a guy could clear 1500$ a month just by buying cards from sellers who don't take Paypal and then turning around and relisting them.
But seriously, it actually is a good idea. Why dealers don't take paypal is beyond me. It's like a restaurant not excepting credit cards.
Lee
<< <i>Good idea Boo. In fact, I just did a search and found all kinds of really sharp raw Mantles and T206's from sellers that don't take paypal! I'm gonna make a killing!
But seriously, it actually is a good idea. Why dealers don't take paypal is beyond me. It's like a restaurant not excepting credit cards.
Lee >>
My guess would be 90% of sellers who do not take paypal do so for one simple reason... Paypal enables the buyer to have a leg to stand on after they have been burned.
-- Yogi Berra
It's the high dollar sketchy items where you have to look at what payment methods they accept. I'm not too worried that someone wants to rip me off for $20 on a graded 70s card.
Lee
The only time I will purchase from non paypal accepting sellers is on low $$ items too.
In fact the sellers I have had problems with more than anything else have been those from Canada. No matter how much I want a card there is no way I will go that route again. Seriously, 8 out of the last 10 times I purchased a card from a Canadian seller I either received the card damaged, totally misrepresented, or not at all.
Add in the fact of most not taking paypal and having to pay extra fees for the international money order and its just not worth it.
-- Yogi Berra
<< <i>
<< <i>Good idea Boo. In fact, I just did a search and found all kinds of really sharp raw Mantles and T206's from sellers that don't take paypal! I'm gonna make a killing!
But seriously, it actually is a good idea. Why dealers don't take paypal is beyond me. It's like a restaurant not excepting credit cards.
Lee >>
My guess would be 90% of sellers who do not take paypal do so for one simple reason... Paypal enables the buyer to have a leg to stand on after they have been burned. >>
Then bid on auctions from the other 10%. They're out there, and usually fairly easy to spot, and when you find them you can get some fantastic deals. I don't search like this as often as I should, but whenever I do I seem to invariably win something for about 70% of what it would sell for if the seller accepted paypal.
Nick
Reap the whirlwind.
Need to buy something for the wife or girlfriend? Check out Vintage Designer Clothing.
<< <i>Every now and then, someone comes here and posts how some obscure but mainstream PSA 10 card goes for way too much, which is usually a result of two bidders not wanting to back down. >>
I see this alot when it comes to psa 10 cards,
here is an example of this with this auction. Not sure of the POP on this card but the seller I am sure is very happy
1992 flleer bird psa 10
maybe in a % of such seller, but I think most people don't want to pay FeeBay twice
It seems to be that paypal gives the bidder too much "control" in any dispute that may arise. Am I wrong?
Eyebone