Trading in the shiny stuff to fund your post war addiction

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Posted By: Joe Drouillard

Hello Everyone,

I'm really hooked in trying to complete the monster (I'm nearing two hundred cards in my collection), but like many collectors I'm always short on funds. The only way I can buy a new T206 is to flip cards on eBay. I've been pretty successful buying large lots from the 50s, 60s and 70s, and reselling them in smaller lots or individual cards, but it is still slow going. I've been unsuccessful in flipping prewar cards because I've found that most issues sell in a consistant price range that doesn't allow for a reasonable markup. I can usually add two to five cards a month to my collection, but naturally I would like to complete the monster before I die.

Recently, I've purchased some mixed lots of cards that had some 2008 issues, and I was surprised that they sold at higher than expected prices. At least higher than other post-war issues. I imagine that the newest cards are always in demand. I remember in the 1980s that a co-worker was heavy into buying new issues directly from the manufacture, picking out rookie cards, and making up sets to sell at card shows. My question is are there any collectors out there who are buying directly from Topps and Upper Deck sorting and selling the cards on eBay to fund their collections? Can it be profitable? If so, how does one contact the manfacture to set up an account? Any other suggestions or advice?

Thanks,

Joe