Bulk Large Collection of Vintage (1953-1985) Baseball Card Sets Found: Should I Buy or Not? Opinion
Meatloaf
Posts: 1,308
Background: I used to run a retail ebay business pushing mostly modern sports cards and autos; I did some shows as well (all in the midwest USA). I did well $$$ and enjoyed the action, but I am military and other priorities (work, family, etc.) caused me to sell out everything to one of my competitors (for a nice profit $$$). Anyway, I have slowly begun to get back into the resale game as my life begins to stabilize again. I have found some nice stuff to buy locally; I bought low and sold for decent margins, eveyrhting was general worked as single cards or items, with nothing in bulk. I now live in North Carolina and I recently came across a bulk collection of vintage baseball card sets with most years ranging from 1953-1985. The specific details are below, but I am trying to pin the right price on the collection for resale goals. The owner is in his early 70s. He was collecting hard core in the early 1980s and slowly reduced his collecting habits to zero in the late 1990s. During this period, he generally only collected 1950s-1970s baseball, but did dabble in some football and 1980s-1990s stuff. He apparently was asking $15k for everything about 2 years ago. He recently lowered the price to $10k 6 months ago. Now the price is at $6k firm. I have tried to get him to go slightly lower, but was told "no way."
Bottom Line: I am trying to determine if $6k is a price in which I could turn everything for a net profit (emphasis placed on NET) of 50% or greater on everything selling via ebay and shows in today's market. I have the money to invest, but don't want to find out later on that I made a huge mistake. I factor in ebay final value fees, ebay storefront/listing fees, costs to get some of the best cards graded, costs to get some of the autos authenticated, shipping costs, and federal income taxes. I am not concerned about the time it takes to sell list and everything. I value my time, but I know what I am getting into.
Would you do this deal for $6k? If so, what would you expect to both net and gross via your experiences, strategies, and what you know of the market?
General Collection Details:
-No unopened material.
-No graded cards.
-About 50 x autographed items of baseball HOFers with no COAs from PSA/DNA, JSA, or UDA. Most have tickets from cards shows in the 1980s...some names include Mickey Mantle, Al Kaline, Eddie Mathews, etc. Anyone who would have been signing at shows in the 1980s would be apart of this lot....mostly on 8x10s, old Beckett mags, and on some balls. Nothing from operation bullpen or other obvious fakes, but would need authentication for true resale.
-Partial sets for each year from 1953-1968 baseball (all Topps). Some sets are only missing less than 1-10 cards...others are missing 30-50. Most have the key rookies and stars, but not all. Condition of most cards would probably grade PSA 3-5. Most cards lack strong centering and most have soft corners, edge issues, and some creases. They are not abused, but they are not NM or M by any means (a few might be, but less than 3-5% of this collection's population)
-Complete, hand built sets for each year from 1969-1985 baseball (all Topps). In addition, there are duplicate sets for years 1976-1985. Condition generally increases a bit across these sets, probably PSA 4-6, with most being potential 5s. The late 1970s and early 1980s stuff generally is in the potential PSA 6-8 range on average.
-Complete, hand built sets for each year from 1986-1998 baseball (all Topps, with no chromes, autos, or serials). Basically junk sets.
-2 x boxes, each with two 1000 count rows of 1953-1963 Topps single star cards in top loaders. You would see the standard names for this era, think all stars, award winners, now HOFers, etc. Most of these are in PSA 3-5 condition.
Pros:
-Bulk, good for individual resale.
-Collection is well organized, easy to pick through and resell with little effort.
Cons:
-Condition is not stellar by any means across the collection; the vintage market is driven by condition, which makes resale more challenging (reduced margins per item).
Bottom Line: I am trying to determine if $6k is a price in which I could turn everything for a net profit (emphasis placed on NET) of 50% or greater on everything selling via ebay and shows in today's market. I have the money to invest, but don't want to find out later on that I made a huge mistake. I factor in ebay final value fees, ebay storefront/listing fees, costs to get some of the best cards graded, costs to get some of the autos authenticated, shipping costs, and federal income taxes. I am not concerned about the time it takes to sell list and everything. I value my time, but I know what I am getting into.
Would you do this deal for $6k? If so, what would you expect to both net and gross via your experiences, strategies, and what you know of the market?
General Collection Details:
-No unopened material.
-No graded cards.
-About 50 x autographed items of baseball HOFers with no COAs from PSA/DNA, JSA, or UDA. Most have tickets from cards shows in the 1980s...some names include Mickey Mantle, Al Kaline, Eddie Mathews, etc. Anyone who would have been signing at shows in the 1980s would be apart of this lot....mostly on 8x10s, old Beckett mags, and on some balls. Nothing from operation bullpen or other obvious fakes, but would need authentication for true resale.
-Partial sets for each year from 1953-1968 baseball (all Topps). Some sets are only missing less than 1-10 cards...others are missing 30-50. Most have the key rookies and stars, but not all. Condition of most cards would probably grade PSA 3-5. Most cards lack strong centering and most have soft corners, edge issues, and some creases. They are not abused, but they are not NM or M by any means (a few might be, but less than 3-5% of this collection's population)
-Complete, hand built sets for each year from 1969-1985 baseball (all Topps). In addition, there are duplicate sets for years 1976-1985. Condition generally increases a bit across these sets, probably PSA 4-6, with most being potential 5s. The late 1970s and early 1980s stuff generally is in the potential PSA 6-8 range on average.
-Complete, hand built sets for each year from 1986-1998 baseball (all Topps, with no chromes, autos, or serials). Basically junk sets.
-2 x boxes, each with two 1000 count rows of 1953-1963 Topps single star cards in top loaders. You would see the standard names for this era, think all stars, award winners, now HOFers, etc. Most of these are in PSA 3-5 condition.
Pros:
-Bulk, good for individual resale.
-Collection is well organized, easy to pick through and resell with little effort.
Cons:
-Condition is not stellar by any means across the collection; the vintage market is driven by condition, which makes resale more challenging (reduced margins per item).
0
Comments
<< <i>Where in NC are you at now? I'm a NC fellow myself >>
New Bern
<< <i>New Bern >>
Where PEPSI was invented!!!
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
<< <i>
<< <i>New Bern >>
Where PEPSI was invented!!! >>
Brad's Drink for some.
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>New Bern >>
Where PEPSI was invented!!! >>
Brad's Drink for some. >>
I just looked that up ... yup, Brad's Drink was the name for the first 5 years!
Doug
Liquidating my collection for the 3rd and final time. Time for others to enjoy what I have enjoyed over the last several decades. Money could be put to better use.
<< <i>
<< <i>New Bern >>
Where PEPSI was invented!!! >>
Correct...I live a few blocks away from that location.
<< <i> New Bern >>
What key cards are missing from the sets? The autographs will be tough sells unless you get them authenticated. As mentioned, you won't lose money at $6k. Have you been to The Batters Box in Greenville?
James
Just my two cents. Then again what do I know. I spray hundreds on beater boxes like I'm peeing out a fire.
I bought a big lot once of various stuff. A few vintage, a bunch of 70's, but mostly junk era sports. It has taken me over a year to sort out most of it. What I sold I dont even think I brought half back yet. Its just a lot of work. And unless they are gradeable or will sell fast, I dont think its worth it. Not to mention, I think you would be disappointed in the prices realized for low quality stuff. Even stars, HOF'ers and rookies. The Mantles will obviously do well, but comparatively to the amount of the collection, not that great.
For $6k there are better investments out there or possibly better garage finds.
<< <i>
<< <i> New Bern >>
Have you been to The Batters Box in Greenville?
James >>
No, is it a good shop? Should I make the trip?
James