Is there anyone here who has profited from this hobby?

[aminors]

I mean right from the start to now. Has anyone actually made more than they spent?? You can also include what you spent on what is in your collection now and what it would be worth if you sold it.

I know since I am still young (19) I have made many mistakes and I'm sure I have lost a couple thousand and hoping I dont make the same mistakes in the future.

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.

Holy crap, I think we finally agree on something. Explain what you mean by long term blue chip cards though.

Great post though.

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

I mean right from the start to now. Has anyone actually made more than they spent?? You can also include what you spent on what is in your collection now and what it would be worth if you sold it.

I know since I am still young (19) I have made many mistakes and I'm sure I have lost a couple thousand and hoping I dont make the same mistakes in the future.

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.

Holy crap, I think we finally agree on something. Explain what you mean by long term blue chip cards though.

Great post though.

Blue chip:
A nationally recognized, well-established and financially sound company [card]. Blue chip companies [cards] are known to weather downturns and operate profitably in the face of adverse economic conditions, which helps to contribute to their long record of stable and reliable growth.

Blue chip stocks [cards] are seen as a less volatile investment than owning shares in companies [cards] without blue chip status because blue chips have an institutional status. Investors may buy blue chip companies [cards] to provide steady growth in their portfolios. ...

Blue chip cards have stable players *and* sets. People who invest in blue chips don't like tricks and like to know exactly what they're getting.

 

[cmnkb8]

I mean right from the start to now. Has anyone actually made more than they spent?? You can also include what you spent on what is in your collection now and what it would be worth if you sold it.

I know since I am still young (19) I have made many mistakes and I'm sure I have lost a couple thousand and hoping I dont make the same mistakes in the future.

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.

Holy crap, I think we finally agree on something. Explain what you mean by long term blue chip cards though.

Great post though.

Blue chip:
A nationally recognized, well-established and financially sound company [card]. Blue chip companies [cards] are known to weather downturns and operate profitably in the face of adverse economic conditions, which helps to contribute to their long record of stable and reliable growth.

Blue chip stocks [cards] are seen as a less volatile investment than owning shares in companies [cards] without blue chip status because blue chips have an institutional status. Investors may buy blue chip companies [cards] to provide steady growth in their portfolios. ...

Blue chip cards have stable players *and* sets. People who invest in blue chips don't like tricks and like to know exactly what they're getting.

Albert Pujols' cards fit that description, but his stock has a high buy-in price.

 

[chompsmcgee]

There is plenty of money to be made in this hobby, if that's your agenda. The ups and downs of the prospect market offer huge returns to those who are disciplined and savvy.

There aren't too many markets like this where you can consistently make a gaudy ROI, in terms of percentage, if you buy the right guys and sell at the appropriate time. How you determine those two factors, however, are what separates prospectors from profiteers.

And not just in terms of MiLB prospects, either. As recent weekly FCB Hot Lists indicate: money can made in the NFL market using those same principles.

 

[Krom]

I mean right from the start to now. Has anyone actually made more than they spent?? You can also include what you spent on what is in your collection now and what it would be worth if you sold it.

I know since I am still young (19) I have made many mistakes and I'm sure I have lost a couple thousand and hoping I dont make the same mistakes in the future.

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.

Holy crap, I think we finally agree on something. Explain what you mean by long term blue chip cards though.

Great post though.

I was thinking the same thing. I agree with Unique in that it seems most are into selling when hot as opposed to having faith in some of these guys (i have to say not everyone is worth hanging on to, but some are). I am not in this to make money, that would taint the fun of it. But with the money that can easily be put into this hobby i try to think of it as an investment in the cards i want in my pc. Some will never be sold no matter how much money and and i am sure i will be missing many "windows" to make a good amount of more profit from cards in my bowman chrome auto sets, but i enjoy putting them together. Back to Uniques point i think some guys like Mauer, Longo, Braun, Heyward could be pretty big stars and their most popular auto rc parallels will be very expensive down the road. If Heyward for one is the real deal the guy with the 08 auto super will be sitting on something near priceless like the Longo super could be if ever found or exposed.

 

[jcmint]

astros bullpen..... if that doesnt jump off the page and smack some sense into you you just cant see it.

Melancon ain't dead

there is still a chance for him to see a big spike (not a significant chance)

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

 

[theplasticman]

Started selling/flipping in August to pay off the Grad School loans. Spent around $6K and the bank shows a shade over $15K, so I am up near $9K.

Nice work! I started doing the same about 2 years ago to pay off some music business debts and I'm clear a pretty nice amount.

 

[hofmichael]

I have been very fornunate to make a profit in this hobby.For many years I have been selling modern cards at their release.I have been lucky with some big hits but it is really about knowing which products you can turn a profit from.For me it has been Topps,Heritage,Updates and Bowman Draft.I rarely venture outside of those products.I have used much of that profit to add to my vintage collection.I always take out the initial investment spent so that I can roll it in to the next product.The profit is mine to play with.

 

[numba1yankeefan]

astros bullpen..... if that doesnt jump off the page and smack some sense into you you just cant see it.

Melancon ain't dead

there is still a chance for him to see a big spike (not a significant chance)

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

base auto's are selling at $1 and orange ref autos at $15, i dont think it can get much lower than that

if he can have a good season regardless of where he plays, his value can really only go up

 

[Leaf]

I mean right from the start to now. Has anyone actually made more than they spent?? You can also include what you spent on what is in your collection now and what it would be worth if you sold it.

I know since I am still young (19) I have made many mistakes and I'm sure I have lost a couple thousand and hoping I dont make the same mistakes in the future.

I paid for my college, however that was during the hobby's glory years.... Speaking purely as a collector and weekend show dealer in 1987-1990 (while in HIgh School)... BG

 

[Mudcatsfan]

double post

 

[Mudcatsfan]

I mean right from the start to now. Has anyone actually made more than they spent?? You can also include what you spent on what is in your collection now and what it would be worth if you sold it.

I know since I am still young (19) I have made many mistakes and I'm sure I have lost a couple thousand and hoping I dont make the same mistakes in the future.

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.

.

People posting may be looking for short term profit, but those who actually pull it off tend to be long term guys.

Roy Halladay Bowman Rookies were a great example of that

 

[Wes]

I mean right from the start to now. Has anyone actually made more than they spent?? You can also include what you spent on what is in your collection now and what it would be worth if you sold it.

I know since I am still young (19) I have made many mistakes and I'm sure I have lost a couple thousand and hoping I dont make the same mistakes in the future.

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.

.

People posting may be looking for short term profit, but those who actually pull it off tend to be long term guys.

Roy Halladay Bowman Rookies were a great example of that

What constitutes long term? Plenty of year to year investments pay off - Heyward, Bruce, etc.

 

[All The Hype]

I mean right from the start to now. Has anyone actually made more than they spent?? You can also include what you spent on what is in your collection now and what it would be worth if you sold it.

I know since I am still young (19) I have made many mistakes and I'm sure I have lost a couple thousand and hoping I dont make the same mistakes in the future.

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.

.

People posting may be looking for short term profit, but those who actually pull it off tend to be long term guys.

Roy Halladay Bowman Rookies were a great example of that

I have found that there are rarely times when you can consistently turn profits after holding stuff short term (say, less than a month).

If you put together a solid portfolio with guys that are in different stages of development, you can eventually come to a point where you always have a guy that's close to a profitable sell point.

Of course, not all investments will pay off...I doubt there's a single person on here who has never bought a card that didn't pay off, but by making god decisions and buying the right players, it's very plausible to get to this point.

 

[Mudcatsfan]

I mean right from the start to now. Has anyone actually made more than they spent?? You can also include what you spent on what is in your collection now and what it would be worth if you sold it.

I know since I am still young (19) I have made many mistakes and I'm sure I have lost a couple thousand and hoping I dont make the same mistakes in the future.

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.

.

People posting may be looking for short term profit, but those who actually pull it off tend to be long term guys.

Roy Halladay Bowman Rookies were a great example of that

What constitutes long term? Plenty of year to year investments pay off - Heyward, Bruce, etc.

To me, long term means finding a guy who's an established player, perhaps overlooked, or coming off a bad year. For whatever reason if you can find a 'forgotten player' and there's tons of them out there, then identify an important card of theirs, you can have success buying low and selling high.

Knowing the price range the card has traditionally sold at will provide great value.

 

[Yankees1218]

Just filled in the last of my spreadsheet today, and i made a large $8.12 this year and i went to go get my self a haircut w/ it...