Any advice/info for a PSA Registry set "Rookie"?

[gt2590]

I've been wandering around the Collectors' world the last coupla years with no real "focus" on my PC. Picked up some nice low-end stuff but been under-employed for about 4 years. But with my fundage finally opening up some I was looking for something to really concetrate on.

I decided to try and work on the 1954 Topps set with PSA 6+ grades and was just going to sign up for the PSA Registry set to start. I have limited knowledge of Vintage but have access to some good Vintage shows, dealers and auction houses (Hunt is down the street, for instance).

I know there are alot of Members here who are active on there and since I am completely new to this, I was just looking for any advice, info or even ideas or things to watch for, etc.

Any help would be appreciated and thanks!

 

[gt2590]

Anybody after 9?

 

[George_Calfas]

PSA registry is free, I would sign up, upload cards, and start a registry set. The registry is addictive but a nice way to track your holdings. You can include the prices paid, buy and sell there as well.

 

[gt2590]

PSA registry is free, I would sign up, upload cards, and start a registry set. The registry is addictive but a nice way to track your holdings. You can include the prices paid, buy and sell there as well.

Yeah, I saw all that. I was more wondering if someone had some helpful tricks to accumulate faster or pitfalls to avoid, etc.

For example, is it better to buy most of 'em already graded and then try to find good "raw" copies of the "bigger" cards and submit 'em myself? That type of thing...

 

[George_Calfas]

Yeah, I saw all that. I was more wondering if someone had some helpful tricks to accumulate faster or pitfalls to avoid, etc.

For example, is it better to buy most of 'em already graded and then try to find good "raw" copies of the "bigger" cards and submit 'em myself? That type of thing...

It is cheaper to buy raw and grade......however, you must be careful regarding alterations. I built the 1909-1911 T205 set and bought 95% graded, I only bought raw that I saw in person.....no raw ebay buys.

 

[gt2590]

Anybody else on Sunday PM?

 

[hofmichael]

Anybody else on Sunday PM?

Buying raw and grading is very rewarding when you hit well but you have to look at cost efficiency. Many times you can get a card already graded for less than the cost of grading. Check out 4 sharp corners on Ebay. Another thing to keep in mind is what kind of cards your registry will consist of. If it is items that aren't frequently graded then submitting them yourself is probably the way to go. Use the pop reports for this.

Most importantly be patient and don't go ape XXXX and start over paying just to advance. It is a marathon not a sprint. If you have any specific questions feel free to pm me.

Sent from my portable **** viewing device!

 

[gt2590]

Buying raw and grading is very rewarding when you hit well but you have to look at cost efficiency. Many times you can get a card already graded for less than the cost of grading.

It is a marathon not a sprint.

Thanks for the ideas and the offer for help!

I was thinking buying already graded ones, especially in small lots, was the best way to get some of the "lesser" cards. As far as the "marathon" goes, I'm expecting it to take 8-10 years to complete since I'm still limited $$$-wise and just gonna knock 'em out a bit at a time.

 

[hofmichael]

Thanks for the ideas and the offer for help!

I was thinking buying already graded ones, especially in small lots, was the best way to get some of the "lesser" cards. As far as the "marathon" goes, I'm expecting it to take 8-10 years to complete since I'm still limited $$$-wise and just gonna knock 'em out a bit at a time.

Would you be willing to tell me what set you are attempting to tackle? I will be able to offer more assistance knowing what the target is.

Sent from my portable **** viewing device!

 

[gt2590]

Would you be willing to tell me what set you are attempting to tackle? I will be able to offer more assistance knowing what the target is.

I'm going to try and do the 1954 Topps set PSA 6+...we'll see. :lol:

BTW, I forgot to ask earlier, but does anyone know any good Vintage sites, maybe even just for the '54 set or some FB groups, that type of thing?

 

[hofmichael]

I'm going to try and do the 1954 Topps set PSA 6+...we'll see. :lol:

BTW, I forgot to ask earlier, but does anyone know any good Vintage sites, maybe even just for the '54 set or some FB groups, that type of thing?

I don't want to promote other forums in this site but if you pm me I can direct you.

One other piece of advice is look for a seller that has multiple cards you need to cut down on shipping costs. You will save a significant amount this way.

Sent from my portable **** viewing device!

 

[smapdi]

Join the PSA boards, and post on the Registry board your hopes and dreams. Lots of extremely knowledgeable people there, and people with tons of cards for sale/trade. Ask any questions and you'll usually get a straight and accurate answer. And you network with people who have similar goals.

Also, get to know the population report for your set. If you're aiming for 6s, you'll actually find it a little tougher than higher grades, although cheaper, since the majority of PSA grades are 7-8, I would be, since people that do lots of submissions will do only the nicest copies. But if you get to know the populations, you'll be able to prioritize what you see on offer on ebay and elsewhere and get the low pops first or as cheap as possible.

 

[matfanofold]

Back a couple years ago I was building the 1951 Bowman Baseball set with a expectation to get a PSA 7 registry going. Almost immediately I realized that I needed to use the registry as a tool and not a barometer for this collection, meaning I still was better off (for my own personal collection) buying the card and not the grade. I would frequently see PSA 5's and 6's that were better centered and what appeared to look better to me that 7's. Inevitably I wound up buying what looked best to me, and the grade was secondary in the process.

Point being, if you use the registry and set 'number' (in your case 6) to base your collection off of, you are going to be missing out on some/many cheaper & better looking cards otherwise. Good luck!

 

[Jeff D]

My advice...get out while you can.

I will echo the sentiment above to buy the card and not the holder. You will ultimately be more proud of your collection if you buy vibrant, well centered cards rather than some poor excuse for a PSA 6.

If I were building a set, I would probably focus on the key cards of stars and semi-stars first, and then decide if I really wanted to spend the time and money picking up 200 cards of players I know little to nothing about. I built the Hank Aaron basic set, and about 1/4 of the master set, and got burned out buying cards that had little appeal to me. And then there are the variations:


1956 TOPPS BRAVES TEAM WITH DATE
1956 TOPPS BRAVES TEAM NO DATE,NAME CENTERED
1956 TOPPS BRAVES TEAM NO DATE, NAME CENTER-GRAY BK.
1956 TOPPS BRAVES TEAM NO DATE, NAME LEFT
1956 TOPPS BRAVES TEAM NO DATE, NAME LEFT-GRAY BK.

But it can be really fun and satisfying (as well as addictive), and give focus to your aimless collecting.

 

[gt2590]

One more Bump before I get snowed in at work tomorrow nite...

And hof, PM coming!

 

[gt2590]

A little dismayed 'cuz I wanted to start with a Gus Zernial for personal reasons.

He was my Dad's favorite player and BY FAR the best A's player. But my Dad hated the "famous" 1952 Zernial card, and I thought the '54 would be a great card to begin this project with.

Anyway, there is one up now on the auction site. But the cheap guy in me doesn't want to pay twice what the last one went for...

Plus, my Dad is like Morty Seinfeld. He'll like it better if I got a great Deal on it, maybe even "hot". :lol:

 

[hofmichael]

A little dismayed 'cuz I wanted to start with a Gus Zernial for personal reasons.

He was my Dad's favorite player and BY FAR the best A's player. But my Dad hated the "famous" 1952 Zernial card, and I thought the '54 would be a great card to begin this project with.

Anyway, there is one up now on the auction site. But the cheap guy in me doesn't want to pay twice what the last one went for...

Plus, my Dad is like Morty Seinfeld. He'll like it better if I got a great Deal on it, maybe even "hot". :lol:

For the love off Christ don't start off by overpaying. You will end up burnt out and frustrated real quick. Don't overpay until you get down to handful of cards. Patience is key my friend.

I'm hofmichael and I approve this message.

 

[gt2590]

Nah, I'm too much of a cheap, coupon-clipping, Free site using, kinda guy to overpay for anything! :lol: