uniquebaseballcards said:
I just wish they would sell casebreaker cases with base and base chrome sets sorted. Then have all the parallels and autos in one pack.
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Is there anyone here who has profited from this hobby?
- Thread starter numba1yankeefan
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I just wish they would sell casebreaker cases with base and base chrome sets sorted. Then have all the parallels and autos in one pack.
jeredweaverfan
Member
I started out spending around $1,000 when I entered this hobby 5 years ago and am at $6,000+ currently ($4,500 in cash plus whatever my current inventory is worth). I don't have a disposable income or put in external money often (still a teenager), so I just re-invest whatever I make or put it in the bank.
I have only busted around 2 boxes in my life, so I pretty much just stick with singles.
I have only busted around 2 boxes in my life, so I pretty much just stick with singles.
- Thread starter
- #43
numba1yankeefan
New member
timfsu2k said:
I know there are a bunch of people my age and younger on these boards that spend just as much or more than me
I have made over $12k working plus birthday and christmas money, etc. One investment went wrong, thats where I lost 1k
It happens...
bowmanchromeandorr
New member
Gonzaleznut said:
he is a yankees fan after all..
buying a non dominant relief pitcher is never gonna work for you. Buying that guy sounds like a collector type buy no for profit. You are young everyones gonna loose at one point or another.
As for me I dont keep spreadsheets on everything but anyone who has been around me in this hobby knows I usually make a profit. If I wasnt then i would get bored and do something else.
As for me I dont keep spreadsheets on everything but anyone who has been around me in this hobby knows I usually make a profit. If I wasnt then i would get bored and do something else.
numba1yankeefan said:
I think anyone would say they've lost money on the hobby if you consider
a) any money spent on any aspect of the hobby, from cards to supplies to shipping to ebay/paypal fees to show travel expenses, etc.
b) from the time you bought your first card
c) minus what you'd get back if you sold every card you have
d) without even putting any value on time spent doing so
I mean, back in 2000-2002 when I was saving for a house I was taking in a fair amount more than I spent, because I was spending very wisely and not really buying much I planned to keep. But going back to 1974 or 1975 when I spent my first 35 cents or whatever it was on a pack, that is money 'lost' because I doubt I even have those cards anymore, except maybe a few. When I got back into the hobby in 1991 and built several sets buying hundreds of packs (not even boxes), and those sets are now worth ~$10 each, that's money 'lost.' When I bought those 2 Hank Blalock BC rookies for $25 when they were going for $125 on ebay and waited too long to sell them, that's money lost (whether it's $40 or $240, however you figure it).
If you just got into the hobby in the past year or two and only did so as a speculinvestor and haven't made many costly mistakes, sure, you could have profited very nicely, especially this year. Maybe the first thing you did was buy a Stephen Strasburg superfractor for $16K and sold it a couple weeks later for $21K. After taxes, you made a couple grand. Not a bad profit/loss ratio on a per-transaction basis.
But I think virtually everyone is in the red from the hobby, taking in everything over a lifetime.
Yet, the fact that it can be a lifetime thing has value that can't be turned into dollars. To me at least.
a) any money spent on any aspect of the hobby, from cards to supplies to shipping to ebay/paypal fees to show travel expenses, etc.
b) from the time you bought your first card
c) minus what you'd get back if you sold every card you have
d) without even putting any value on time spent doing so
I mean, back in 2000-2002 when I was saving for a house I was taking in a fair amount more than I spent, because I was spending very wisely and not really buying much I planned to keep. But going back to 1974 or 1975 when I spent my first 35 cents or whatever it was on a pack, that is money 'lost' because I doubt I even have those cards anymore, except maybe a few. When I got back into the hobby in 1991 and built several sets buying hundreds of packs (not even boxes), and those sets are now worth ~$10 each, that's money 'lost.' When I bought those 2 Hank Blalock BC rookies for $25 when they were going for $125 on ebay and waited too long to sell them, that's money lost (whether it's $40 or $240, however you figure it).
If you just got into the hobby in the past year or two and only did so as a speculinvestor and haven't made many costly mistakes, sure, you could have profited very nicely, especially this year. Maybe the first thing you did was buy a Stephen Strasburg superfractor for $16K and sold it a couple weeks later for $21K. After taxes, you made a couple grand. Not a bad profit/loss ratio on a per-transaction basis.
But I think virtually everyone is in the red from the hobby, taking in everything over a lifetime.
Yet, the fact that it can be a lifetime thing has value that can't be turned into dollars. To me at least.
I have only profited twice. Of course, I am not in this hobby to profit.
#1 - bought a 2006 Topps Update blaster for $20. Pulled a HRH Barry Bonds autograph /5, which I later sold for $550.
#2 - bought a 2006 Topps Finest box for $75. Dealer threw in a free pack of 2009 SPx; it gave a Francisco Cervelli RC AU /99 redemption; I sold the actual card for $85.
I don't bust much, and I rarely sell.
#1 - bought a 2006 Topps Update blaster for $20. Pulled a HRH Barry Bonds autograph /5, which I later sold for $550.
#2 - bought a 2006 Topps Finest box for $75. Dealer threw in a free pack of 2009 SPx; it gave a Francisco Cervelli RC AU /99 redemption; I sold the actual card for $85.
I don't bust much, and I rarely sell.
- Thread starter
- #49
numba1yankeefan
New member
bowmanchromeandorr said:
1. You are a huge *********
2. I wasnt expecting to make money I am just asking if anyone has.
Jeez...
aminors
New member
jcmint said:
The buy-low-sell-high investors never seem to do well. I'm not sure what the OP's stance was on the Melancon collection and whether or not it was purely an investment or a collection, but Melancon was a gamble, and I'm glad I didn't partake in that gamble. I have made my money buy buying the more "sure to be good" type of guys, guys where all of the hype is. Trout, Myers, Sanchez, and only on occasion will I buy guys who are the buy low sell high type, like Randal Grichuk. Just taking a shot in the dark on that one, and I'm already up on him..my ref 9.5 is nothing but profit now.
The risky investments, although the payout can be large, are not ones with which you should entirely fill a portfolio. I'd say 80/20 safe/risky, although no investment is ever really "safe".
That's how I've profited from this hobby.
- Thread starter
- #52
numba1yankeefan
New member
js0000001 said:
yea I think I have no choice but to hold until the season starts.
he is supposed to be a late inning guy in the astros bullpen.
All I need is for the astros to be a contender and for melancon to be dominant
numba1yankeefan said:js0000001 said:
yea I think I have no choice but to hold until the season starts.
he is supposed to be a late inning guy in the astros bullpen.
All I need is for the astros to be a contender and for melancon to be dominant
If 2011 is anything like 2010 he could throw a perfect game in the World Series
:?: :?: :?: :lol: :lol: :lol:js0000001 said:numba1yankeefan said:js0000001 said:
yea I think I have no choice but to hold until the season starts.
he is supposed to be a late inning guy in the astros bullpen.
All I need is for the astros to be a contender and for melancon to be dominant
If 2011 is anything like 2010 he could throw a perfect game in the World Series
Oh, humor, I get it
miguelcabrera said:
I have changed my collecting focus a few times over the years. I did well moving things which were once PC. Had a Rivera player collection of nearly 700 different cards which I sold this year and tripled my original investment (and still have the card in my sig!). I had a decent Yankees RC collection which I also moved for a similar profit. I do just a handful of searches on eBay daily for Yankees/ONeill stuff and try to find good deals when buying PC cards. During my regular searches I may stumble across a real steal which is too good to pass up but that rare, maybe once or twice a year.
uniquebaseballcards said:
Unfortunately I know all too well that vending cases still needed to be sorted. I have been sorting since I was about 7 years old in the early 80's for my dad who bought about 12 vending cases each year,as a result I now find sorting to be therapeutic.
uniquebaseballcards
New member
- Nov 12, 2008
- 6,783
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numba1yankeefan said:
Its interesting in that it seems *almost* everyone here trying to profit is trying to profit in the short-term, meaning either they're impatient or they don't think there's any real possibility for long-term growth for the cards they're trying to sell.
People who want to invest should think more about long-term, blue-chip cards if they want to seriously invest and help the hobby for the long-term.
Chevronfuel
New member
- Sep 11, 2010
- 101
- 0
I have profited greatly over the last 30 plus years of collecting. The joy of completing a set, finding an autograph I have been looking for, getting a real steal on the bay. The point of pursuing a hobby is for the enjoyment. Does a bowler, a skier, or a rock collector care if they profit financially? Yes, I have lost thousands collecting cards, but have come out way ahead with all the friends, fellow collectors, shops and great cards I have come to know over the years. Thats what I consider profit.
schillingfan
New member
Chevronfuel said:
You have been thanked my friend. Great post.
numba1yankeefan said:
