Insights from someone coming back to the hobby!

[Reignman40]

Just wanted to post a couple of my thoughts after returning to the hobby from a couple year absence. Sure things have to change, but I had no idea. Obviously favorite players change also, but these things just stand out to me and I'd be happy to hear your thoughts.

Buying, selling cards - With more sites available for collectors to connect, buying and selling cards has taken wierd changes. For starters, it was there in the past I know, but you have to "prove" yourself to not be a bad guy. I guess this is just the nature of the game, but the one thing I have the biggest problem dealing with is the Paypal first 5 sale rule. Now from someone starting out and using paypal for th first time, this can be tricky, especially when you are using paypal as the one and only portal for your card expenses (Hey its a hard life with a wife you struggles sometimes to understand you're hobby). Things like ebay fees and postage have to come out of you're own pocket until they can clear in 21 days, or if you provide tracking, until the deal is confirmed as complete. As I stated, this is completely understandable, however it does make things hard for beginners.
Another is the way cards are being sold online. You can tell the different type of collectors out there just by dealing with them for a little while. Low ballers, no contact after initial offers, these things are a little hard to swallow. I still have a few of my old cards from back in the 90's, sure they ain't much, but back in the day, might have attracted decent trade offers. Now with my PC being Seattle Sonics players, placing a card like a Kobe 96/97 Ultra subset base card attracts a flurry of Kemp base from the early 90's, all of which my PC is mostly full of. Also with the "ebay era" I notice price guides become less and less useful to some and its "oh that $20 card just sold on ebay for like $3 + postage the other day". This is fine as it is pure basic economics (buyer will list a price, but its only what a buyer will pay).

May add to this from time to time, however this is just my initial thoughts!
Thanks for hearing me babble!

 

[mat2323]

was is the same boat mate, was out of collecting for near on 10 years, only started again over a year ago, and it a whole new game, I am only a collector, have trouble letting my babys go unless its an insane offer, as for price guides, as I always say, a cards worth what ever a person is willing to sell and buy it for, if both partys are happy then that's all that matters , am glad for this online community tho, because finding a pack or box of basketball cards in Tasmania is rare, so its good to find a lot of like minded people who have the same joy of trying to explain to the wife why collecting these little bits of cardboard is such a fun hobby lol, mine is starting to understand, I think lol

 

[drobfan8]

Only early days mate. You'll get up to speed and it will bring you plenty of smiles (hopefully no tears).

When I first got back in to collecting I was collecting some worthless stuff, I was buying low end boxes that weren't yielding anything valuable (totally fine as I was loving breaking the boxes and have always been in to base sets).

The I discovered Exquisite and dreamed of having more money

But once you get settled you'll be fine.

Not long ago I was having to wait for 21days for paypal to give me my money

These things pass.

I guess one of the best things is getting to see cards that you never would have without the internet, ebay, or these awesome card sites.

 

[mat2323]

yeah when I got out upper deck and fleer where the big dogs in the card world, loved fleer cards so was sad to hear they went under, so when I came back I was like god what are the good box's to go after, still learning but loving it, I love all the cards so finding the older box's on da cards and other sites is fun, just to try and complete the base sets of most years, just wish I was insane rich so then I could drop a couple of grand on a case of Panini gold and others lol, still dream of busting the big 20 grand card to pass on the my son, one day it will come lol,

 

[drobfan8]

yeah when I got out upper deck and fleer where the big dogs in the card world, loved fleer cards so was sad to hear they went under, so when I came back I was like god what are the good box's to go after, still learning but loving it, I love all the cards so finding the older box's on da cards and other sites is fun, just to try and complete the base sets of most years, just wish I was insane rich so then I could drop a couple of grand on a case of Panini gold and others lol, still dream of busting the big 20 grand card to pass on the my son, one day it will come lol,

Yeah well the good thing is you can still bust some of the earlier stuff for cheap

Don't worry, most people lose out when buying cases, unless they're doing it for fun first (then they always win).

I think this might be the set that I pass down to my son. Not too pricey now, but a classic set with some of the greats and future greats

 

[mat2323]

• Home
• Sports Cards
• Basketball Cards
• 2011/12 Basketball Cards

2011/12 Upper Deck Exquisite Basketball Hobby Box

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$459.95

shit a brick, that's a dear box, don't this even my sweet talking the wife could make her understand me getting one of these lol,

 

[90sRulz]

I understand your experiences.

Book values are a funny one - personally I use these religiously. Low price is a good deal, mid is fair if I really want the card, high is usually nowhere near worth it. Some people get offended by book prices if they have sold for more on eBay, others love them if sold for less on eBay. I just stay true to my own criteria (which I believe is fair). If people choose not to deal - that's fair enough (just HATE IT when accused of being a lowballer for a fair price - but not the INFLATED fair they are after). I trade by same value - will do better for friends or those who have done so for me.

Must admit, I'm still a sucker for a cheap 90s box as the fun in breaking is what it is about. Get excited by completing a set through breaks (even if I could have bought the set for less than 50% of the cost). Funny but true. If I paid $450 for a box I would be a GONER!

One thing I am guilty of: the days you get 10 PMs, all great traders who want to let you know they have some of your wantlist cards. After a big day, can't reply to all, then next day have 10 more - cant keep up. Then you have a PM you read on your phone in a meeting, 1min break, in car etc etc, now that you get them on phone, ipad etc etc. of course, you can't reply at that instant but it shows you have read it. It gets lost in all your other PMs and you don't reply. Back in the day you were sitting down on your PC in your down time so could reply to all. Now you get them anywhere, anytime (busy or not).

I SINCERLEY APOLOGISE TO ANYONE I HAVE DONE THIS TO. SORRY - DON'T MEAN TO BE RUDE.