A huge dissappointment today

Porkchop · February 26, 2008 8:02AM

Today I went to my folks house to remove the 1,000's of cards they have stored for me. I took them to the local hobby store I spoke of before and was informed that just about everything I collected growing up is worthless. 1980's and 90's stuff. Needless to say, I am dissappointed. The store owner made me an offer, but I have decided to hold on to them for my future children.
I'm sure they won't be worth anything then either, but it will be nice to have around. He was explaining to me that the card industry almost bellied up because of the over production of these cards. I know that's not something you think about when you're a kid, but it is interesting.
I purchased a magazine called Beckett from there today. I remember my dad would get the big book for me every year when I was a kid. The guy said that the magazine was cool. Some neat articles are in there.
It was a fun day of looking at cards and what could have been bad actually turned out nice.

vtbub · February 26, 2008 8:06AM

I'd be curious on what he offered. Certainly the sentimental value is higher than the value of the cardboard. While it may seem as a shock, it has been nice paying less for sets than I would have then as a kid.

larryallen73 · February 26, 2008 8:07AM

Frankly, I am surprised he offered anything for 80's and 90's stuff. Good decision to keep them I think!

Porkchop · February 26, 2008 8:08AM

He offered me $100. He brought out some big white boxes that had five rows in them to see how many there were. We almost filled 3 of those boxes. I ended up buying the boxes, so maybe he was trying to sell those to me. I kinda thought they would look better in professional storage boxes then old shoe cardboard paper boxes.

fattymacs · February 26, 2008 8:08AM

I understand, I've got a crapload of 1980's stuff (sets, "stars", and unopened) that are laughably low dollar. Fortunately I also bought many star cards from 1951 through the the 80's. I'll post some scans of the "beaters", the better conditioned stuff is getting graded (a few days and some should be back and a few are posted in the sgc register).

mrbecker712 · February 26, 2008 8:50AM

Porkchop, I feel the same way. It wasn't until recently that I realized just how "crappy" those 80's-early 90's cards are in terms of value. Sort of sad, but it's the reality of the situation.

Sadder still is the fact that the only valuable cards these days are autos, game used, or vintage. Base cards and many other inserts are basically meaningless in terms of monetary value.

WinPitcher · February 26, 2008 8:57AM

Those 80's cards will have there day.

BUT, they must be in GEM MINT condition.

Get an 86 Ryan or Schmidt in PSA 10 and throw it up on ebay and you will be surprised.

Steve

DrJ · February 26, 2008 8:57AM

<< Porkchop, I feel the same way. It wasn't until recently that I realized just how "crappy" those 80's-early 90's cards are in terms of value. Sort of sad, but it's the reality of the situation.

Sadder still is the fact that the only valuable cards these days are autos, game used, or vintage. Base cards and many other inserts are basically meaningless in terms of monetary value. >>

Ain't that the truth. Same goes for today's cards. You can get last year's issues for about 1/3rd the cost of the new releases in many cases. As a collector it makes monetary sense to stay a year behind!

fattymacs · February 26, 2008 9:05AM

The late 80's killed my drive for new cards (chasing women also played a role), I did buy waxboxes (Topps and Donruss) that I've kept unopened, but that was it. Until a week ago, I hadn't bought a card since 1991 ( I overpayed for a Griffey Jr. Upper Deck Rookie)

perkdog · February 26, 2008 9:09AM

I think these Topps Heritage cards ( HOF'er SP's ) could potentially have some value down the road in PSA 9 and 10.

swartz1 · February 26, 2008 9:34AM

You shoulda took the $100

Stone193 · February 26, 2008 9:35AM

<< I think these Topps Heritage cards ( HOF'er SP's ) could potentially have some value down the road in PSA 9 and 10. >>

Heritage has held it's own compared with a lot of issues IMO. The first 5 years:

2001 - complete set - $275
2002 - complete set - $325
2003 - complete set - $350
2004 - complete set - $400
2005 - complete set - $400

They will sell - all and all - for less on ebay but if one had a quality set at a show and someone liked it - I think they would fork out a bit more than on ebay where ya expect to find some clunkers in the set.

mike

Stone193 · February 26, 2008 9:39AM

<< Today I went to my folks house to remove the 1,000's of cards they have stored for me. I took them to the local hobby store I spoke of before and was informed that just about everything I collected growing up is worthless. 1980's and 90's stuff. Needless to say, I am dissappointed. The store owner made me an offer, but I have decided to hold on to them for my future children.
I'm sure they won't be worth anything then either, but it will be nice to have around. He was explaining to me that the card industry almost bellied up because of the over production of these cards. I know that's not something you think about when you're a kid, but it is interesting.
I purchased a magazine called Beckett from there today. I remember my dad would get the big book for me every year when I was a kid. The guy said that the magazine was cool. Some neat articles are in there.
It was a fun day of looking at cards and what could have been bad actually turned out nice. >>

Trace

You're on your way.

You've probably learned the first lesson in collecting: collect what you like and it doesn't matter what the future value may bring?

Of course, we all want our collectibles to be worth something in case we have to liquidate but I guess I just don't worry about it.

BTW - you were given some good advice before - please come here if you plan to buy a graded card on ebay - in general, if it's not in a PSA, SGC or Beckett holder? Think twice before bidding. I think GAI graded cards are now up in the air - and I don't think I can trust them anymore - but that's just my opinion.

mike

brianwintersfan · February 26, 2008 10:24AM

Throw them in the garbage and move on with your life is my advice. The PSA 10 thing is a nice thought but the odds of finding anything grade worthy is slim at best.

TJMAC · February 26, 2008 10:43AM

Hang on to them since they are part of your childhood. I have a relatively small collection (size wise) compared to most, but I like to collect all eras. Monetary value is nice and has its place in the hobby, but collecting for the sheer joy is what it is all about.

Bottom9th · February 26, 2008 11:04AM

I certainly wouldn't throw them out, especially if you had an offer of $100. Hold on to them. You may have the joy of going through them with your kids some day and it will be worth a lot more.

11235813 · February 26, 2008 11:07AM

Most everything after 1981 was so overproduced that demand can never hope to catch up with supply. That's why most regular issue cards from the 80's, 90's and 00's are worthless.

mrbecker712 · February 26, 2008 11:10AM

Everyone is bringing up a great point often lost in today's collecting: the JOY of it. I've got several 1988 Topps cards with more creases and rounded edges than many vintage cards would have, but that's because I would sort them and look at them all the time when I was a kid. I'll never get rid of those cards, no matter how meaningless they are. Certainly the dollar part of the hobby has it's place, but when you focus on that alone, then it's not a hobby anymore.

RipublicaninMass · February 26, 2008 11:13AM

Pork-

Welcome to the club, I think ALOT of us hoarded late 80's stuff thinkin we would be rich one day. The funny part is if we threw it all out, we would have been right! I just founds hoards of 1990 score, even griifey rookies and frank Thomas are hardly worth anything, and it is dam near impossible to grade those and get a 10. I have been trading off teams sets from my childhood collection for red sox cards. At least they are something I enjoy.

2dueces · February 26, 2008 12:21PM

I ran an ad that I was buying cards and got many inquires. You should have seen the look on some people faces when I told them that the cards they were saving for their childrens college funds were worthless. It was not a good feeling to be the bearer of that bad new. I revised the ad and stated, "Please nothing after 1973!!!" The inquires almost came to a complete halt although I did have a chance at some old Bowman sets that the guy wante full book for VG sets. So much for my great finds.

bigdcards · February 26, 2008 2:36PM

<< Pork-

Welcome to the club... >>

Exactly. This happend to everyone that left the hobby and came back. It sucks, but at least your done with that. Maybe in a week you can step back from the disappointment and go back through the cards. There are many there that will spring various memories from sporting events to ridiculous card trade discussions. Take all those cards and put them in top loaders or something and you're really collecting.

BTW, that Beckett is nearly completely useless. Look at E-bay to see what cards are worth...and get ready for another disappointment. You might especially want to look at that great patch card you pulled. It was most likely the only card you can actually turn and sell. Is it worth what the box cost?

Carew29 · February 26, 2008 2:51PM

And if you don't want them, i know some people in Chicago looking for kindling right now!!!

stevek · February 26, 2008 2:58PM

The folks who took a couple thousand dollars in the late 80's, bought new baseball cards, and salted them away thinking it would some day pay for their children's college education, had the right idea, just the wrong direction. If they would have taken the couple thousand dollars and bought high grade vintage cards, then their idea could have come to fruition. Certianly, a lot of people, most people, made this same mistake, choosing quantity of modern cards over quality of vintage cards.

bigdcards · February 26, 2008 3:06PM

<< The folks who took a couple thousand dollars in the late 80's, bought new baseball cards, and salted them away thinking it would some day pay for their children's college education, had the right idea, just the wrong direction. If they would have taken the couple thousand dollars and bought high grade vintage cards, then their idea could have come to fruition. Certianly, a lot of people, most people, made this same mistake, choosing quantity of modern cards over quality of vintage cards. >>

The connection between rare and valuable was completely lost. I remember in '87 when everyone was stocking up on the topps wax at Costco. They would bring out pallet after pallet. If you think about it, it's hysterical. Anything purchased in the quantities that costco buys at will never be rare. How did we not see that?

frankhardy · February 26, 2008 10:19PM

I am all for sentimental value. I have a few cards that my parents got me for Christmas when I was a kid in the 1980's that I will NEVER get rid of. However, I have bought many collections in the past few years, and, of course, all collections come with a little junk in it. Well, that junk started piling up in my garage. A few months ago, I got sick of it and decided to make some room in my garage. What I did was very liberating! I let the garbage man haul them off! It felt good. I know I probably could have gotten a little money for them or I could have donated them. I have donated many cards in the past, but I my personal opinion is that I don't think too many kids would know anything about those common players. All semi stars and Cardinals cards were pulled. These were mostly late 1980's and early 1990's. So, without further delay, here are the pictures! All of these cards are now buried in a landfill somewhere in KY.

(By the way, the trash can is full from the bottom to the top. It had nothing but cards in it).

perkdog · February 26, 2008 10:26PM

Wow Shane! Thats alot of recycable paper there! I had just one of those boxes in my cellar collecting mold for about 10 years, this past summer I finally burnt them, maybe someday these 80's and 90's "junk" cards might be hard to come buy if everyone gets rid of them!

frankhardy · February 26, 2008 10:29PM

You should have tried to pick up that trash can. When the garbage men dumped it in their truck, the plastic handle broke! It weighed a ton!

TNTonPMS · February 26, 2008 10:31PM

<< I ran an ad that I was buying cards and got many inquires. You should have seen the look on some people faces when I told them that the cards they were saving for their childrens college funds were worthless. It was not a good feeling to be the bearer of that bad new. I revised the ad and stated, "Please nothing after 1973!!!" The inquires almost came to a complete halt although I did have a chance at some old Bowman sets that the guy wante full book for VG sets. So much for my great finds. >>

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I like that idea , even though so far it has not produced anything great yet, you never know what can be coming down the road .

I would keep the add running .

BobaFett72 · February 26, 2008 10:50PM

ive run an ad offering to buy cards, collections off an on for a while in local circulars, newspapers, online etc. barely a nibble. one very serious gentleman, but he wanted full becket (a 1998 beckett lol) for his 1953's 55's and 56's, they all had creases and stains. i offered him a few hundred bucks, he wanted $10,000

i told him good luck chuck ! The general public is still clueless about condition, alas.

carew4me · February 26, 2008 10:52PM

Let the picture below serve as a lesson to anyone collecting modern cards for investment purposes.
If you are not perfectly happy that your horde may be worthless, you need to try something else.

I can hear the 9 out of 10 now, "you jerk, we collect for the love of it!".

7 of them are lying.

frankhardy · February 26, 2008 11:04PM

<< Let the picture below serve as a lesson to anyone collecting modern cards for investment purposes.
If you are not perfectly happy that your horde may be worthless, you need to try something else.

I can hear the 9 out of 10 now, "you jerk, we collect for the love of it!".

7 of them are lying. >>

You are exactly right. I do collect for the love of it. I have often said that I would collect even if the cards were worthless. The catch is that I collect what I want. I did not want what I threw away. I have hoards of worthless Cardinals cards. They are worth a thing, but I pulled them out and will keep them.

clydecoolidge · February 26, 2008 11:32PM

I feel your pain man!!! The last set I collected (before getting back into the hobby recently, concentrating on vintage) was the mother of all worthless crap loads, 1991 Topps. Boooooo!!! Although I didn't collect for the money, so it's only half bad, lol.

rube26105 · February 27, 2008 2:59AM

all i ever get on calls for the most past is 80- 90s junk- even when i put 50's-60s only , people call with 91 donruss

they do out out inclredible heat thought in my drum stove,ive have toasted tens of thousands so far this winter, about 100,000 or so id say, from the 500,000, long way to go , good old stuff in em too , so i gotta sort thru all the 88-91 donruss,these precious score cards,topps,i just sit and pitch em in the fire hatch,its kind liike throwing cards in a hat back in the old days

mrbecker712 · February 27, 2008 5:44AM

Part of my issue is that collecting vintage cards or autos (and yes, even graded) gets very expensive. As a married man that just bought a house and is on a budget, blowing money on vintage isn't an option.

Stone193 · February 27, 2008 5:47AM

<< Let the picture below serve as a lesson to anyone collecting modern cards for investment purposes.
If you are not perfectly happy that your horde may be worthless, you need to try something else.

I can hear the 9 out of 10 now, "you jerk, we collect for the love of it!".

7 of them are lying.

>>

Gee, I hope that will at least go to the recycler.

bigdcards · February 27, 2008 8:01AM

<< So, without further delay, here are the pictures! >>

Fantastic pics! Thanks for sharing.

A huge dissappointment today

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