Is it worth the trouble to build vintage sets?

[CobbSpikedMe]

I can totally understand collecting sets in nicer condition. And many of my key cards are actually nicer examples. But for the hundreds and hundreds of commons...I could care less if they are mint or not. I respect someone putting together a nice high grade set of course, and think they look great. But just not for me.

[tonyo]

Back in aught-9 I put together the 73 topps set from scratch in Raw G-VG condition. it took me about 3 or 4 months if I remember correctly. Not exactly a marathon, but I had a great time doing it !


Started from scratch. Took me 38 auction wins on ebay to do it. Nine of those were single cards, the rest were lots ranging from 2 to 346. Four of them were lots of greater than 300 cards and 3 more were greater than 100 cards.

I waited till I had completed the set, then sold 1381 duplicates in one ebay auction.

Spent $599.86, cleared $279.53 on the duplicates, so net I paid $320.33 to build the set and had a lot of fun doing it!

I prolly won't try that again though because I don't think there is another set that meets the same criteria of: a set I love, plenty of lots on ebay, relative inexpensive. That being said, it was definitely worth the trouble!

[crose]

I’m hopelessly addicted to set building. Started about 4 years ago, built a nice mid grade 54 topps set. Started on a 63 topps set about half way through the 54. Only three cards from finishing the 63 but I’m constantly upgrading. I have roughly 400 of the 576 in a second set. I doubt I stop upgrading it for awhile.

[wdwfan]

Did you do it through buying lots and then trading/selling off extras? Seems that's the way to go about doing it. I've been trading modern for singles and trying to build it slowly instead of just buying a big lot or lots.

So, I've been able to get close to 200 different '62s and have spent a whopping $2 on it. I bought one lot for $42 from Northviewcats and then paid $50 for the Maris. But I traded the Maris for a Baugh RC (which I sold this week for $90) and a Brown 2nd year card.

But just curious if it's better to buy various lots and go through it picking and choosing singles and selling off extras.

Originally Posted by crose

I’m hopelessly addicted to set building. Started about 4 years ago, built a nice mid grade 54 topps set. Started on a 63 topps set about half way through the 54. Only three cards from finishing the 63 but I’m constantly upgrading. I have roughly 400 of the 576 in a second set. I doubt I stop upgrading it for awhile.

[crose]

Originally Posted by wdwfan

Did you do it through buying lots and then trading/selling off extras? Seems that's the way to go about doing it. I've been trading modern for singles and trying to build it slowly instead of just buying a big lot or lots.

So, I've been able to get close to 200 different '62s and have spent a whopping $10 on it. I bought one lot for $50 from Northviewcats and then paid $50 for the Maris. But I traded it for a Baugh RC (which I sold this week for $90) and a Brown 2nd year card.

But just curious if it's better to buy various lots and go through and go through picking and choosing and selling off extras.

I started off with lots on the 63 set, but I’ve been steadily upgrading most of those. I haven’t sold any off yet. That 62 set is gorgeous, I hope you finish it and show it off on here someday.

[Baseballcrazy62]

I have both built and bought complete sets. I remember as a kid the thrill of breaking a wax box and putting together sets that way. Those days of the early 70's are long gone. In today's environment I thinks it's more financially viable to buy complete sets rather than build them. Just my 2 cents.