Sets that aren't worth completing

buymycards · #1 10-27-2019, 07:46 AM

It isn't always about what a set is worth. It is more about the enjoyment of putting the set together, one card at a time. In some cases, full sets are not available. In my case, I have been working on my T213-2 set for nearly 10 years, and I have 128 of the 185 cards. To the best of my knowledge, there aren't any full sets available to purchase, and if I do complete my set, there probably isn't anyone out there who would buy a full set of T213-2's. But, I don't care. I look for cards at shows, I look for cards on eBay and Net54, and I love the chase.

Financially, I look at it as if I am playing golf or going fishing. If I spend $10,000 over a 10 year period playing golf, I don't expect to sell anything to recoup my "investment", but if I enjoy playing golf, the cost is worthwhile. If I enjoy fishing, and I have an assortment of fishing poles and tackle, and I have an $8,000 boat, and travel expenses for travel to and from fishing, I don't expect to recoup my investment. I use the same "logic?" for my Louisiana cards. I enjoy collecting them because I love Louisiana, and I realize that I will never sell the cards for the amount of money that I have in them, but that is OK.

I take the complete opposite view when I am purchasing cards to resell on eBay or to sell at cards shows.

mq711 · #2 10-27-2019, 09:40 AM

I agree with Rick 100%, to some/most of us this is a hobby which is supposed to be fun and allow a diversion from life. I spend thousands a year on my other hobbies with no expectation of any return on those "investments," much rather hand down golf clubs than sell them.

As far as set building its similar, the fun is looking for cards you need and working through the process. I feel its what true collecting is all about. For investment purposes it is different but I don't see any fun in buying a complete set and storing it away on a shelf just to say you have it.

Econteachert205 · #3 10-27-2019, 09:47 AM

I would echo those who suggest buying a set with a few upgrades needed and then slowly upgrading it from a financial standpoint. The only set I ever built that made me money re selling after was my t205 set and that mostly had to do with timing. Generally speaking set building is a fun but losing proposition money wise. Still one of the best parts of the hobby though.

As far as from a set disappointment stand point the most disappointing set I built was probably 1971 topps baseball. It’s huge, there’s a lot of expensive high numbers of guys I don’t feel like paying for and at the end I found out I had like 50 sharpie retouches in a set I thought was exmt. That was pretty much a downer. I chose about 30 cards I really liked from the set, like the Munson and vida blue and dumped the rest and won’t ever consider rebuilding it, even though there was a great set that was just listed here a few days ago at a great price that was very tempting.

Johnny630 · #4 10-27-2019, 10:01 AM

For the past 10-15 years I�ve noticed the younger generation whom is Mostly re sellers for Profit or investors only want the stars. They do not put sets together....most are only interested in the stars and or high numbers in certain years, as they know that�s What usually sells well, or is more liquid.

Sadly I think set building in anything higher then Exmnt is a thing of the distant past. The high end common market hit the skids years ago. Off shape is another thing those set builders will always be there because the accomplishment of putting something together cheaply will always be attractive to cheap people. No shortage of cheap people who love cards.

Aquarian Sports Cards · #5 10-27-2019, 10:24 AM

I disagree about the expense of putting together a set. It all depends upon approach. As a reseller I actually still enjoy the process, but I buy "bulk" lots and sell off what I don't need. I completed a 1971 set for a net cost of under $100 that way once. Started with a 500 different lot and anytime I saw a good price on 50 or 100 or 200 cards I grabbed it as long as it had a few I needed. Took what I needed out and resold the rest.

whitehse · #6 10-27-2019, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buymycards

It isn't always about what a set is worth. It is more about the enjoyment of putting the set together, one card at a time. In some cases, full sets are not available. In my case, I have been working on my T213-2 set for nearly 10 years, and I have 128 of the 185 cards. To the best of my knowledge, there aren't any full sets available to purchase, and if I do complete my set, there probably isn't anyone out there who would buy a full set of T213-2's. But, I don't care. I look for cards at shows, I look for cards on eBay and Net54, and I love the chase.

Financially, I look at it as if I am playing golf or going fishing. If I spend $10,000 over a 10 year period playing golf, I don't expect to sell anything to recoup my "investment", but if I enjoy playing golf, the cost is worthwhile. If I enjoy fishing, and I have an assortment of fishing poles and tackle, and I have an $8,000 boat, and travel expenses for travel to and from fishing, I don't expect to recoup my investment. I use the same "logic?" for my Louisiana cards. I enjoy collecting them because I love Louisiana, and I realize that I will never sell the cards for the amount of money that I have in them, but that is OK.

I take the complete opposite view when I am purchasing cards to resell on eBay or to sell at cards shows.

I am a hopeless set builder and I think we all know that set building for profit is something that does not happen. I am in agreement with what Rick said above....building the set is about the experience and not the financial return. I have been building a '56 Topps baseball set for two years and have probably spent more on it so far than I would have buying a full set outright but I enjoy the hunt and knowingly realize I will likely never recoup my investment. But I cannot put a price on the enjoyment I received in building the set so there is that.

trambo · #7 10-27-2019, 08:12 PM

For me, I'd say 1960 Fleer ATG provided the comment with "worth" relates to value. I'd say that about any most sets, really, if you're referring to resale value if you're buying one card at a time,. Then again, if you're plan is to hold them for the long-term and you're buying most vintage or pre war stuff, then it may make some sense.

From a value perspective, if you're patient, I do think you can both build and sell as set and make a return on the investment, even in the short term. In the past two years, I've put together a 41 Play Ball and 48 Bowman set. In both cases, I've sold them as complete sets and returned more than I paid for the parts. Patience and a little good luck on both ends of it was what paid off. I didn't buy at full value on all the cards but did on a few. In both sales, they were purchased to either upgrade an existing set or break up. Not sure how either ended from the buyer's perspective but do know they got pretty good stuff (48 Bowman was an overall 7 and 41 PB was a low 5 overall grade).

seanofjapan · #8 10-27-2019, 09:21 PM

I'm a set builder, its just how I get enjoyment from this hobby. My vintage sets are all "mid grade" and raw. I can't be bothered to care much about condition, except for not wanting true beaters in my sets, which helps given my limited budget for cards.

My general rules before starting a set project are:

1) No sets with insanely high value cards in them (if I can't get, or at least aspire to one day getting, the key card in the set for under $300 in mid grade, the set is off my radar completely. If it has multiple key cards in that price range its also going to be off the list).

2) No sets with series that are scarce enough that mid grade commons are going to cost more than 10$ each, unless the overall number of cards in those series isn't too big, in which case I could go a bit higher.

3) No sets where the scarce series make up more than about 25% of the total.

4) No ugly sets.

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