Any luck with wanted ads in local newspapers?

lightningboy · February 22, 2010 3:23AM

Has anyone had any luck in finding cards/collections by putting a wanted ad in the classifieds of their local newspaper? I'm thinking of giving it a chance, but the cost is $50 to run for 16 days.

Any past results/experiences are appreciated

OAKESY25 · February 22, 2010 3:26AM

do people still read the paper??

craigslist ad is free..

byronscott4ever · February 22, 2010 3:34AM

I think it's a long shot. Look for smaller papers that may offer free ads or much cheaper ones.

thedutymon · February 22, 2010 3:36AM

Good Day,
Back in the 80's and early 90's I built my Comic Book Business model around ads in the Penny saver and Thrifty Nickel. I started with about $40 bucks that my wife said I could spend, into a Business that was doing 250K per year in sales within 2 years.
And it All started with these two cheapo Want Ad rags. I was buying on average at the end 3-5 collections a week and spending $1-10K per transaction. Cash!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, those were the days..................................

Neil

itzagoner · February 22, 2010 4:36AM

you too, huh?

indeed, every day was a good day when the phone was ringing and we couldn't find enough time in a day to respond to all of them, while carrying ads in the local papers and PennySaver.

how many living rooms, bedroom closets or garages did you help to empty out, dutymon?

SDavid · February 22, 2010 4:48AM

Did you guys ever get any calls that made you hesitant about going to the person's home by yourself with a bunch of cash?

RipublicaninMass · February 22, 2010 5:03AM

<< do people still read the paper??

craigslist ad is free.. >>

my ads for buying cards keeping getting flagged by other jealous dealers!

leadoff4 · February 22, 2010 5:06AM

Tried an ad a couple of years ago... got a few calls but most calls were people who had 88 Topps cards even though my ad stated that I was interested in pre-1980 stuff. BTW, $50 for 16 days sounds reasonable. I think I paid $30-$40 for 7 days a couple of years ago.

Garabaldi · February 22, 2010 5:19AM

I ahve had really good luck with Craigslist.

corvette1340 · February 22, 2010 5:20AM

I just put an ad in the local paper to run for 10 issues and it was $92.50. I may actually put a big ad in once I see how it goes. Those are really expensive but I'm advertising buying anything of value (baseball cards, gold, silver, antiques, autos, etc...). Getting my website up and running before long too.

storm888 · February 22, 2010 5:31AM

The Penny Saver equivalents are still real good for buy ads in any merch category.

The ads need to run ALWAYS, to maximize biznez. Not everybody responds to the
first run of ads.

With the bad economy, new folks are needing to sell stuff everyday.

If the papers will sell "reverse-type" ads, they are usually the most effective.

Gotta use common sense when carrying cash to strange places.

The best bet for expensive buys is to know where the closest ATM is and when
you decide to buy, just have the seller follow you to the ATM. Most banks don't
mind if you sit in their waiting area for a few minutes to check the goods and
make sure none were removed/switched before you hand over the cash.

For little buys, you can carry enough cash to pay at the seller's house/office.

If you have a pernit to carry a pistola, use it.

It is best not to invite folks to your residential location. You should go to them.

.........................

I ran an ad last October in CL to buy "old horse tack." I could have opened
a BIG store, if I had bought all the stuff that was offered.

hammered · February 22, 2010 5:56AM

I tried a couple ads in our local "quik quarter"
I got replies, but as someone already said, it was mostly people with stuff from the 80s that they think is worth a ton.
One guy said he had a stack of valuable Pete Rose cards, which got my attention. I found out they were all from 85 to 87.
I made zero purchases and gave up after a couple months.

On a related note, I've always wondered about advertising on bulletin boards at nursing homes (we have a ton of those here). I bet there's more than one local resident with a stash of prewar cards lying around.

"Stuck in a pricey nursing home with no long term care insurance?
Worried about those pesky burial expenses?
Wish you had more pocket money to bribe the orderlies?
Let me help you out by buying your old unwanted sports cards.
I pay top dollar!"

SDavid · February 22, 2010 6:00AM

<< I tried a couple ads in our local "quik quarter"
I got replies, but as someone already said, it was mostly people with stuff from the 80s that they think is worth a ton.
One guy said he had a stack of valuable Pete Rose cards, which got my attention. I found out they were all from 85 to 87.
I made zero purchases and gave up after a couple months.

On a related note, I've always wondered about advertising on bulletin boards at nursing homes (we have a ton of those here). I bet there's more than one local resident with a stash of prewar cards lying around.

"Stuck in a pricey nursing home with no long term care insurance?
Worried about those pesky burial expenses?
Wish you had more pocket money to bribe the orderlies?
Let me help you out by buying your old unwanted sports cards.
I pay top dollar!" >>

Can you advertise at funeral homes?

Maybe have the Funeral Director pass out your card?

itzagoner · February 22, 2010 6:23AM

wow.....you guys just struck a nerve.

i'm gonna hit the bingo parlor and then go to that park where they feed the ducks.

Bosox1976 · February 22, 2010 7:10AM

Sadly, nobody at any of the nursing homes I've been at has had much of a collection in my 20 years of experience. Hummels, coins, stamps, thimbles, spoons, postcards are pretty common though.

corvette1340 · February 22, 2010 7:13AM

one 98 year old lady I was talking to about buying her collection said she had wax boxes from the early 50's and ton of cards in albums from the 40's and 50's. Sadly, she couldn't remember where she put it.

otwcards · February 22, 2010 2:36PM

<< one 98 year old lady I was talking to about buying her collection said she had wax boxes from the early 50's and ton of cards in albums from the 40's and 50's. Sadly, she couldn't remember where she put it. >>

Find a Realtor and buy her house...

csmtampa · February 22, 2010 3:35PM

I met my wife through a classified ad. 6 years later I'm still trying to teach her to speak English.

bbcemporium · February 22, 2010 3:35PM

<< 

<< I tried a couple ads in our local "quik quarter"
I got replies, but as someone already said, it was mostly people with stuff from the 80s that they think is worth a ton.
One guy said he had a stack of valuable Pete Rose cards, which got my attention. I found out they were all from 85 to 87.
I made zero purchases and gave up after a couple months.

On a related note, I've always wondered about advertising on bulletin boards at nursing homes (we have a ton of those here). I bet there's more than one local resident with a stash of prewar cards lying around.

"Stuck in a pricey nursing home with no long term care insurance?
Worried about those pesky burial expenses?
Wish you had more pocket money to bribe the orderlies?
Let me help you out by buying your old unwanted sports cards.
I pay top dollar!" >>

Can you advertise at funeral homes?

I once had a guy call me from a funeral home to sell cards. His uncle had just passed away and he inherited his collection. Guy was a bit creepy..............but I still bought his cards

Maybe have the Funeral Director pass out your card? >>

PowderedH2O · February 22, 2010 3:42PM

I met my wife through a classified ad. 6 years later I'm still trying to teach her to speak English.

Can you unteach mine?

bobbyw8469 · February 22, 2010 8:19PM

I get friends all the time asking me to see if there cards are worth anything. I ask them what do they have - it has ALWAYS been Fleer, Score, Donruss from the mid 80's. I don't have the heart to tell them their stuff is worthless.....how come people with junk wax always want to sell and people with vintage never want to sell?

2cardguys · February 22, 2010 11:04PM

<< 

<< one 98 year old lady I was talking to about buying her collection said she had wax boxes from the early 50's and ton of cards in albums from the 40's and 50's. Sadly, she couldn't remember where she put it. >>

Find a Realtor and buy her house... >>

LMAO... thanks that was the best I've seen in a while...

italianstallionyankees · February 22, 2010 11:14PM

<< I get friends all the time asking me to see if there cards are worth anything. I ask them what do they have - it has ALWAYS been Fleer, Score, Donruss from the mid 80's. I don't have the heart to tell them their stuff is worthless.....how come people with junk wax always want to sell and people with vintage never want to sell? >>

That does seem odd. lol All craigslistings across the nation are Full of vintage 1986-1993 collections.... Huge money maker collections !

RonBurgundy · February 23, 2010 12:32AM

I just advertise that I buy cards when I'm broadcasting. Seems to work for me.

hammered · February 23, 2010 12:39AM

<< I get friends all the time asking me to see if there cards are worth anything. I ask them what do they have - it has ALWAYS been Fleer, Score, Donruss from the mid 80's. I don't have the heart to tell them their stuff is worthless.....how come people with junk wax always want to sell and people with vintage never want to sell? >>

Yeah, one of my best friends kept telling me he had lots of valuable cards in his safety deposit box. He finally pulled them out for me to look at. A small stack of 70's football cards (Lynn Swann, etc) and a beat-up Joe Montana Rookie. I did not tell him they were worth only a few bucks. I just said, "Wow, those are great!" He still thinks he's sitting on a fortune.

Any luck with wanted ads in local newspapers?

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