What would the value be for this collection?

[gawaintheknight]

No. It's possible that was an autocorrect situation. He spelled "Piersall" correctly. :-)

He lives near me, so I'd be able to see the collection firsthand, but I haven't yet.

If we assume that it's on the level, what kind of price range are we looking at?

[mintacular]

Don't even let any kinda book number enter your mind as even a percent of that let's say 15 percent could cloud your thinking but if you did a thorough set by set breakdown that final salesnumber could be substantially less... I know you know a lot but caution you to even let consider that number float in your mind for even a second. I would take a few hours to break each item down by value (worse case scenario with condition) then subtract your fees, then figure out your time and how much that is worth and go in with a basement level # you know is a winner for you. Then, if condition is better slow yourself to bump that price if applicable

[gawaintheknight]

Patrick - thank you. So this is why I'm reaching out to this group, because most of you are further along as collectors than I am and would have a better sense than I would of what a price would be - I'm guessing low five figures? Apparently the potential seller has contacted some craigslist buyers and so I'm pretty sure I'm not going to win a bidding war since I assume there's going to be other interest. Usually the stuff I end up with when I get contacted to buy things is from the '70s since no one else really seems to want it. (Well, usually it's from the '80s and '90s, but I mean the stuff I actually buy).

So, please: ballpark value?

Ted

[todeen]

Is the guy trying to sell all at once, or simply asking you if you will buy parts of the collection?

I would say if he is wanting to dump the collection all at once, he has to understand that no one will be able to pay book value, or even 50% of book value. A dump is a DUMP because he wants to move on. I think that reasoning stands since he is reaching out to Craigslist rather than reaching out to an auction house. If he wanted as much as possible, he would take the time to sell accordingly.

I would do as suggested by another member, take your time to look over the collections, and then make an offer that you are comfortable with. If you are buying to flip the collection and make money, you need to leave room to make a profit. Are you going to send this to an AH? Are you going to incur fees on ebay? All of these fees add on to what you originally pay. It's a lot of work to turn around a collection and get it to the proper retailers...if that's the route you're going. Or if you are selling individually on ebay, you have to take photos, you have to catalog, and you have to do the work. Right now, the seller doesn't want to do that. So the seller knows they are ready to pass on "book value."

If you are buying for a personal collection, maybe you are going to make a different offer.

But offer what you are comfortable with.

[gawaintheknight]

Thank you for all the advice - he is promising to send me photos, which I can share here if they arrive. Still wondering what range you all think I should be thinking about. I'm going to be careful, believe me - I almost didn't pursue it at all, thinking it would be over my head, which it probably will still be......

[gawaintheknight]

Also, if he was telling me he only had Mantle and Mays, and the other top guys, then that would be huge alarm bells for me and I wouldn't even be posting it here because I'd be 95% sure something was up. But entire sets - I guess I could imagine buying complete sets, pulling out the stars and replacing them with fakes....

Ted

[todeen]

It's hard to put a number on a collection like this without seeing the condition of the cards. That's why no one has offered a monetary value. Are these binder sets where all of the cards grade between Authentic-3? Are the cards even worth grading? If they need to be graded, that also costs money and is a fee you will incur. I'm assuming that's what most of them will be since, as you said, "a kid put these together."

Maybe the newer sets are in nice condition, but I'm not expecting much from the early '50s sets.

Look at the sets, and offer what you are comfortable. If you are flipping the collection it will take a lot of work, and possibly time if you have seen the latest PSA turn around times on submissions.

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by gawaintheknight

...I'd be able to see the collection firsthand...

You’ll want to do this before even thinking about numbers. Imagine the 1951 Bowman Mantle and Mays. Just those two cards. Valuation, even “ballpark” numbers, sight unseen? Utterly useless.

Tread carefully. This is an auction house worthy list of sets/cards. The seller attempting to Craigslist the collection seems sketchy.