help! collecting a psa set

yanyak5

I have been thinking about starting a PSA set, but need some advice. I have never collected PSA cards nor have I ever sent a card to PSA to be graded. Im still fairly young (mid 20's) and would like to start a PSA set for investment purposes. Where would be a good place to start? What Year? Brand? etc..I want something I can turn an investment on later on down the years. I Dont know what im getting myself into. Money doesnt always come easy, but I can afford $20-$30 here and there. Saving for a bigger card would be a little more trouble, but i know i could do it. What grade should i shoot for? Would it be wiser to purchase a card already slabbed? or Raw? Any advice, suggestions are appreciated.

WinPitcher

Investment? I don't think so.

For fun it depends on what era you prefer.

Don't get me wrong, turning a profit is possible but you need a set where

new blood comes into it when you want to get out.

IMO collect what fancy's you and let the chips fall where they may.


Steve

72skywalker

I agree. if you want investments stick to stocks and bonds. Collect what you like and see what happens. If inthe future you make money that is great but if you don't make money at least you still have cards that you enjoy and can pass down to the next generation with maybe a story of how you got them.

SDSportsFan

It seems to me that the problem with investing in graded cards, is that you really have to be careful about what you buy, and you must know your product. Reason being, as more of a particular card gets graded, the value of that card will inevitably decrease (more product / equal demand).

Hundreds, if not thousands of collectors can relate personal stories of buying a particular low-pop PSA 9/10, only to see the value plummet as soon as more of that card was graded.

Therefore, you must find a card or set well-before the demand reaches its peak. The real trick is that you must sell it before the supply outstrips demand.

Steve

Beck6

I second the advice to not picture it as an investment, but if you wanted the best chance at it atleast being worth something pick pre-1970 baseball. PSA 8's and above are probably your safest bet, in my opinion, but the price of PSA 8 commons have started to fall as fewer people are doing the complete set thing.

1970's Basketball is fairly inexpensive and has fewer cards, so that might be a place to start. Not sure about price appreciation, but even psa 10's of stars can be had at a reasonable price. You can even find some reasonable football sets. Baseball will always be king and therefore most expensive.

In your endeavor you might consider collecting the best looking raw set with only graded stars and key cards. This might take several years and then you can decide if the market dictates grading the commons after you know the set well.

drewsef

look through the registry or online at sets that appeal to you, and do extensive research on pricing, grades, etc... before you buy anything. If you are going to go through with this for investment purposes, which I would highly recommend you don't, then at least make sure you know where true rarity starts in a particular card and buy there or higher.

At the $20-30 level you probably can't buy many baseball cards at all for that. That would buy common cards from classic, appreciated sets in football like 1955 Topps All-American, and even some earlier Bowman and Leaf issues.

I think your much better off sticking the money into a savings bond, or if you can find an IRA with a low opening requirement.

digicat

I'd advise that instead of going for a company set (e.g. 1979 Topps, for instance) where you'd have to go spend $5+ for commons in slabs, go for key card sets, like one of the MVP or Cy Young Award winner sets. There's a Hall of Fame set too.

MeteoriteGuy

Investment, future HOF RC's in 9 and 10. For investment purpose, card need to flips the first couple months of being player being elected.

You could likely do alright if you chose a later 60s set and spent the first year or so only buying lots. (Investment wise).

Overall, just a choose a set you like, weigh the pros and cons for you on graded vs raw. Odds are if collecting a graded set, you do not want to start out raw...at least until you have a couple dozen graded cards from that set and can get a better ideal on grading. In you decide, I was a PSA 8+ 1962 set...I would try picking the first 10% up in PSA 9, if this makes sense. More I guess what I am saying, is you can kind of low ball the first 10-20%...if you need them all.

I pretty much collect a all the major Topps baseball and football sets of the 80s, a couple others like 1987 Donruss and a few players. When all is said I will likely loose a little money, but by collecting so many sets I can keep the price down a little.

You might also place an AD in the forum looking for a starter set. If you give a price range and 2-3 set options...who knows.

CollectorAtWork

strassberg and bryce harper refractors. buy early and often. probably should avoid those mania instance, however, like when the card nears 1mil.

MeteoriteGuy

<< <i>strassberg and bryce harper refractors. buy early and often. probably should avoid those mania instance, however, like when the card nears 1mil. >>




So OP should go back in time and buy cards that go to no set?

JHS5120

<< <i>

<< <i>strassberg and bryce harper refractors. buy early and often. probably should avoid those mania instance, however, like when the card nears 1mil. >>




So OP should go back in time and buy cards that go to no set? >>



yes. lol


Collect HoFer sets. Mantle/clemente/koufax cards will never go down in value. Starting a basic or master set might turn profitable. Just an opinion.

Jason

Brick

Cards are a hobby, not an investment unless you really know what you are doing. If you want to be profitable it is just as important to purchase at a good price as it is to sell at a good price. If I want to enjoy the hobby I purchase the cards I had as a kid. If I want to make money I go to work.