Selling a Friends Collection......Help!

Pigs · March 14, 2010 4:12AM

A old collector friend of mine died and the family wants me to help them sell their collection. Gulp! I've never done this before so I thought I'd give it a shot with you guys helping me if you can. The downfall to his collection is he has massive amounts of '80's and 90's cards, sets, unopened boxes, cases especially '89 Fleer for some reason. I really think he was chasing the Ripken error card back then. There were already 24 Billy's that I saw with 4 of them with the FF on the bat. What to do with all that stuff? On the plus side there are over 1,000 Kellogg's cards from '70 to '79 which are pretty clean, close to mint on the later '70's sets. Also a big plus were the 69 autographed baseballs. 6 very clean Mantles, 3 Aarons, 3 Williams, 2 Mays, Dimaggio and many more HOFers. A almost complete Deckle Edge set ex-mt and '68 game cards with Mantle, Aaron, Mays. I recommended getting the balls authenticated and they wonder why it cost so much. I tried explaining they need to do it to get the most money out of them. The main problem is, their Dad told them before he passed that it is all was worth $70K. That's what I'm dealing with. Any help would be appreciated. I have scans of other cards and balls that I'll put on later. Thanks. Doug

MantleMarisFordBerra · March 14, 2010 4:17AM

Hmmm. I'd be very careful if I were you. When someone close passes away, emotions can rule instead of logic. This family thinks these cards are worth 70K, and obviously they aren't even close to that amount. If you try to help them, they may think you're trying to rip them off and take advantage of a loved one's passing. Think about it; it's gonna be your word vs. the word of their dearly departed dad/grand dad. Might be best to say thanks but no thanks in regard to helping them sell, perhaps point out a few hobby shops in your area.

Pigs · March 14, 2010 4:24AM

<< Hmmm. I'd be very careful if I were you. When someone close passes away, emotions can rule instead of logic. This family thinks these cards are worth 70K, and obviously they aren't even close to that amount. If you try to help them, they may think you're trying to rip them off and take advantage of a loved one's passing. Think about it; it's gonna be your word vs. the word of their dearly departed dad/grand dad. Might be best to say thanks but no thanks in regard to helping them sell, perhaps point out a few hobby shops in your area. >>

Believe me, I thought about all of what you are saying. I never told them that it wasn't even close to $70K but I also said the '80s and '90s stuff is not worth much at all and that's mostly what they have. I guess I wanted to get the most out of the good stuff I saw, balls, Kelloggs, etc. w/o getting taken by a card shop. I hope they understand that.

Sportsamerica · March 14, 2010 4:29AM

On opinion on the unopen stuff is contact Steve a BBCE to see what he would pay for that stuff..

divecchia · March 14, 2010 4:29AM

I would have to agree with 100% with MantleMarisFordBerra and pass on selling this collection for the family. At best they will be dissapointed and worse they may think your ripping them off...

It may come down to how much they trust you, but again you are going up against the word of someone who meant a lot to these people.

Be careful...Donato

bziddy · March 14, 2010 4:30AM

Show them BBCE buy prices on the sealed 80s stuff. Consign all the valuable stuff.

itzagoner · March 14, 2010 4:34AM

lsutigers1973 + U-Haul = ???????

storm888 · March 14, 2010 4:51AM

For readability:

A old collector friend of mine died and the family wants me to help them sell their collection. Gulp! I've never done this before so

I thought I'd give it a shot with you guys helping me if you can. The downfall to his collection is he has massive amounts of '80's

and 90's cards, sets, unopened boxes, cases especially '89 Fleer for some reason. I really think he was chasing the Ripken error

card back then. There were already 24 Billy's that I saw with 4 of them with the FF on the bat. What to do with all that stuff?

On the plus side there are over 1,000 Kellogg's cards from '70 to '79 which are pretty clean, close to mint on the later '70's sets.

Also a big plus were the 69 autographed baseballs. 6 very clean Mantles, 3 Aarons, 3 Williams, 2 Mays, Dimaggio and many more

HOFers. A almost complete Deckle Edge set ex-mt and '68 game cards with Mantle, Aaron, Mays. I recommended getting the balls

authenticated and they wonder why it cost so much. I tried explaining they need to do it to get the most money out of them. The

main problem is, their Dad told them before he passed that it is all was worth $70K. That's what I'm dealing with. Any help would

be appreciated. I have scans of other cards and balls that I'll put on later. Thanks. Doug

/////////////////////////////////////////////////

I would prolly try to help the folks turn the stuff into cash,
if they could get the $70K nonsense out of their heads.

BBCE will buy the unopened junk at some price.

It's hard to get top-dollar for good auto-items w/o PSA/DNA docs.

The commodity and better stuff can go on EBAY.

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

If one of the "kids" is interested in learning about EBAY, maybe you
could help them set-up a store. Might be fun for them and they would
see first hand how tough selling stuff really is.

If you sell the stuff on EBAY yourself, you may wanna keep a little cash
in reserve until the PayPal SNAD-claim period (45-days) expires.

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

Gotta keep real good records, when you sell stuff for other folks.

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

Unless the folks were my relatives, I would charge for my service.

CubsFan41 · March 14, 2010 4:54AM

I echo storms thoughts. Try to give the the info and resources to ascertain the value for themselves. Then stay out of it unless they ask for more help.

Garabaldi · March 14, 2010 4:56AM

I would let them get a few buyers to give them a fair price on the whole lot and then go from there. They have to hear it from different people to believe the price that you can get.

lsutigers1973 · March 14, 2010 7:38AM

<< lsutigers1973 + U-Haul = ??????? >>

corvette1340 · March 14, 2010 8:01AM

where is this stuff located? If it's feasable I'll go and make an offer on it if they are open to that sort of thing.

perkdog · March 14, 2010 8:01AM

Is there anything in it for you? Im not trying to be cold towards the family but the bottom line your putting yourself in a position to have raised eyebrows from these people and your not gaining anything from it?

If it were me I would stay out of it.

gonzer · March 14, 2010 8:28AM

<< Hmmm. I'd be very careful if I were you. When someone close passes away, emotions can rule instead of logic. This family thinks these cards are worth 70K, and obviously they aren't even close to that amount. If you try to help them, they may think you're trying to rip them off and take advantage of a loved one's passing. Think about it; it's gonna be your word vs. the word of their dearly departed dad/grand dad. Might be best to say thanks but no thanks in regard to helping them sell, perhaps point out a few hobby shops in your area. >>

Couldn't be said any better.

Pigs · March 14, 2010 8:33AM

<< where is this stuff located? If it's feasable I'll go and make an offer on it if they are open to that sort of thing. >>

Oregon......... Perkdog, the son has said I will be compensated. I've kept gas receipts driving from Seattle and the time spent on helping.

corvette1340 · March 14, 2010 8:49AM

<< 

<< where is this stuff located? If it's feasable I'll go and make an offer on it if they are open to that sort of thing. >>

Oregon......... Perkdog the son has said I will be compensated. I've kept gas receipts driving from Seattle and the time spent on helping. >>

lol, couldn't be further from me.

Morgoth · March 14, 2010 8:50AM

I would also be very cautious about those auto'd baseballs. He has mulitples of the most faked balls in the world and he bought them at their height of being forged.

There are good scans of operatin bullpen fakes out there and I would look at those before I wasted money at PSA.

ElToroLoco · March 14, 2010 9:04AM

Do the BBCE thing, walk them through Steve's site. If they want more info on what they have inherited, have them join this board. I think they'll be ok overall. You'll find people on this board that'll pay some decent money for stuff as well.

MrG · March 14, 2010 9:11AM

I am very sorry your friend has passed, and am thankful his family has looked to you for comfort in so many ways!
God bless you and any comfort and consolation you can provide to console the family in their time of sorrow!
With warm regards,
MrG

Pigs · March 14, 2010 9:19AM

<< I would also be very cautious about those auto'd baseballs. He has mulitples of the most faked balls in the world and he bought them at their height of being forged.

There are good scans of operatin bullpen fakes out there and I would look at those before I wasted money at PSA. >>

Thanks for the info Jason. The good thing for me is, a local card/autograph store Mill Creek Sports is having PSA at their store next month to authenticate, and will not charge the fee if the ball is fake. Along with a 25% discount with bulk subs. That's a plus.

Morgoth · March 14, 2010 9:26AM

That is great, nothing worse than having to tell someone that their material is fake. At least with PSA its a third party telling them. The fakes are so good during this time that they fool lots of people even today.

gemmintrarities · March 14, 2010 11:59AM

Maybe it is the scan, but that Ryan looks a little off.

italianstallionyankees · March 14, 2010 1:31PM

Unfortunate of your friends passing and hate to hear that man

In my opinion I would get the family together and have them together while looking at the topic on here. I would actually ask if they would agree to try to sell some stuff on the Buy sell trade forum first becuase they might actually fetch more if they sell on here rather than to sell to Steve..... The signed baseball will be great if they are the real deal but I have looked at the Mantles and one looks off a bit, mho .... That is a great thing about psa being around your corner and a + for them doing grading . As for the Kelloggs many on here will be interested in these issues and many probably can be graded to increase the values tremendously...

Ryan

bking · March 14, 2010 1:36PM

Surely you can help them understand how much this economy has done to the prices of collectibles, and that their dad may not have been aware of that toward the end. That may help soften the emotional edge when it comes to "questioning" his $70K belief.

Then, like others said, get BBCE and PSA/DNA involved soon to give them a dispassionate 3rdparty voice to help you make your case.

IOW, help them move this stuff themselves - don't move it for them.

Nathaniel1960 · March 15, 2010 12:15AM

Don't give them a Beckett, they'll think their 80's and 90's junk are worth $700,000 !!!

Selling a Friends Collection......Help!

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