letsgocapitals
Member
I ran a search and came up with very little. I still remember, as a kid, riding my bike up to the card store next to the Duron paint store... was it Baseball Card Etc? Now, all we have in Southern MD is BC Sports Cards in White Plains. I've been in there a few times; and while the owner is a nice guy, he isn't in touch with today's sports card marketplace. For instance, there is a website called Ebay (feel the e-sarcasm) that offers very competitive pricing. There are also trading card forums where buyers sell and trade their cards online.
Well, since I have time this morning, I'll keep going for those interested in what today's sports card landscape is like.
- Autographed and jersey cards are very popular. You'll find just about any type of material inserted into cards... primarily jerseys of course. But baseball leather and stitching, hockey stick blades, football cut outs, etc. The more colorful the piece, the more value it holds.
- Remember getting 36 packs in a box? That doesn't happen much anymore. A "cheap" retail pack of baseball cards will run $3 on average and yield little to nothing in return. "Hobby packs" cost more but have better hits. Higher end products these days can run up to $400 - $500 for a single pack of cards. Cards are short-printed in different runs --- and those with smaller print runs are more valuable.
- Grading is very important to serious collectors. It isn't enough to own a 55 Mantle anymore. If it's high value, it has to be graded. Otherwise, you're inviting skepticism over it's authenticity. If a vintage card isn't in very good (or better condition), it's value isn't what you think it is. The higher quality the card, the more value. And if a card is genuinely mint, you'll get a premium. PSA for vintage. BGS for modern. SGC is also reputable. BVG is okay. Everything else is sketchy to say the least.
- Beckett is still around. But it isn't used very often. Ebay Completed Listings are used to determine the sale value of a card. A card is what a buyer will pay for it. Beckett doesn't give you that information. Ebay does.
- Oh yes, if you are looking to sell cards from the late 80s/early 90s, don't hold your breath. They were mass produced and hold little to no value. Yes, even your 1987 Barry Bonds RC is a dime a dozen --- for a cheap "vintage" thrill, you can buy a box of 87 Topps on Ebay for $10 and rip away. I've done it... it's fun! But seriously, I peruse Craigslist from time to time, and find sellers trying to rid their thousands of late 80s/early 90s cards for $100 plus.
And while I'm at it, if anyone is need of a serious grader, appraiser, trader/buyer, well, I still love sports cards and am active in today's marketplace. And I'm not looking to be paid for my services. It's a hobby to me... if I wanted to make money, I'd open up a brick and mortar or Ebay store.
Well, since I have time this morning, I'll keep going for those interested in what today's sports card landscape is like.
- Autographed and jersey cards are very popular. You'll find just about any type of material inserted into cards... primarily jerseys of course. But baseball leather and stitching, hockey stick blades, football cut outs, etc. The more colorful the piece, the more value it holds.
- Remember getting 36 packs in a box? That doesn't happen much anymore. A "cheap" retail pack of baseball cards will run $3 on average and yield little to nothing in return. "Hobby packs" cost more but have better hits. Higher end products these days can run up to $400 - $500 for a single pack of cards. Cards are short-printed in different runs --- and those with smaller print runs are more valuable.
- Grading is very important to serious collectors. It isn't enough to own a 55 Mantle anymore. If it's high value, it has to be graded. Otherwise, you're inviting skepticism over it's authenticity. If a vintage card isn't in very good (or better condition), it's value isn't what you think it is. The higher quality the card, the more value. And if a card is genuinely mint, you'll get a premium. PSA for vintage. BGS for modern. SGC is also reputable. BVG is okay. Everything else is sketchy to say the least.
- Beckett is still around. But it isn't used very often. Ebay Completed Listings are used to determine the sale value of a card. A card is what a buyer will pay for it. Beckett doesn't give you that information. Ebay does.
- Oh yes, if you are looking to sell cards from the late 80s/early 90s, don't hold your breath. They were mass produced and hold little to no value. Yes, even your 1987 Barry Bonds RC is a dime a dozen --- for a cheap "vintage" thrill, you can buy a box of 87 Topps on Ebay for $10 and rip away. I've done it... it's fun! But seriously, I peruse Craigslist from time to time, and find sellers trying to rid their thousands of late 80s/early 90s cards for $100 plus.
And while I'm at it, if anyone is need of a serious grader, appraiser, trader/buyer, well, I still love sports cards and am active in today's marketplace. And I'm not looking to be paid for my services. It's a hobby to me... if I wanted to make money, I'd open up a brick and mortar or Ebay store.
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Some of the higher grade cards are still worth quite a bit. That's why I asked.