Can anyone honestly say....

Tere1071 · #1 08-22-2020, 05:28 PM

I began piecing my 53 Bowman color set together from scratch last December. I know I have more into it than what it would sell for, but I enjoy looking at the cards over and over again.

My major stars are on the nicer side of vg/ex to ex, many commons are ex to ex/mint. My high numbers are where I have some weaknesses- many of the cards are vg to vg/ex. I'm not real fanatical over centering, either.

I am trying to replace those cards that have wrinkles with copies that are in excellent condition. After I get close to where I want the set to be I definitely would not get my money back, but I have a 53 Bowman color set that gives me joy to look at over and over again. Hopefully, I can move the extras to start another vintage set or pick up one in vg condition that I can equally enjoy.

Volod · #2 08-22-2020, 07:22 PM

"Can anyone honestly say that you've built a vintage set (70s and older) brick by brick, lot by lot, filling in singles here and there, etc. and were able to later resell a complete vintage set HIGHER than the dollars you put into it?"

I think it greatly depends on the timeframes involved in the transaction. All of my sets are early 1950's vintage in EX-MT condition, and were pieced together in the late 1970's to the early 1980's, so based on card prices in that period, I have to believe any sets sold at this time would bring more than the total cost piecemeal forty or more years ago. Or, did you mean to limit the consideration to more recent "vintage" sets, i.e., 1970's?

ALBB · #3 08-23-2020, 02:16 PM

I agree 100%, putting older sets together brick by brick..is more times then not a " money lose " in the end

Its like looking at the price guide of ..for ex- a 1980 set...add up the indv listed price of all the cards $1 or more....that total is way more then the listed price of the compl set

But, the fun is in the hunt, and its an enjoyable hobby

mintacular · #4 08-23-2020, 03:04 PM

The purpose of my post was not to discourage collectors from building sets, when I did it with 57 and 71 it was EXTREMELY satisfying and the hunt was fun, and lots of knowledge learned along the way.

However, I don't think I realized the financial downside to it and so if someone entering the hobby is considering "Should I build (insert set)...." I think this info would be useful to know.

wdwfan · #5 08-23-2020, 03:30 PM

I've been on both sides of it. I bought a complete 1974 Topps set maybe 2 years ago. Paid $100 for it and broke it apart. Sold it off and made money. Did the same with a 1975 Topps set about the same time. Paid $200 for it.

Around 2012-13, I built a 1958 Topps set. I started with one single card. I traded for a lot of them at the LCS, and I would buy some here and there. Finally by the time I was done, I had about 6 months in it and just over $500. I sold it to Sean for $1,500. So I tripled my efforts. That doesn't happen often.

Now I'm working on building a 1957 Topps set by hand just like I did then. However, it's a little different. The LCS has changed hands, and they don't trade as much (back then I'd trade modern inserts, parallels and RCs for store credit then use it to get cards I needed for the set).

Chase has been more fun (and frustrating because I can't get anyone over here to trade with me/sell to me), but it's been a long road. I've been working on it since about March, and I'm ready to get it done. In the end, I'll end up losing money if I try to sell it. But my goal is to keep it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mintacular

The purpose of my post was not to discourage collectors from building sets, when I did it with 57 and 71 it was EXTREMELY satisfying and the hunt was fun, and lots of knowledge learned along the way.

However, I don't think I realized the financial downside to it and so if someone entering the hobby is considering "Should I build (insert set)...." I think this info would be useful to know.

kailes2872 · #6 08-23-2020, 03:42 PM

I have been looking at that lately as I am considering pivoting off of my current collecting focus. For example, with my 54 set, I bought my PSA Aaron for $1650 in 2014. It is now approaching a $5,000 card. My Banks was purchased for right at $1000 and it is now well exceeding that amount. So, based upon what the stars were purchased for, there is some gain to be had.

Where I find the challenge is all of the fees and taxes. If I am paying 22% BP on the purchase and 10% commission on the sale then it is tough to clear anything inside of five years. If you add in 28% capital gains on collectibles, any gains are quickly wiped out and sent to Uncle Sam as well.

Therefore, I have to accept the fact that there is an "enjoyment tax" that I pay to collect and if it was about investment, I would just liquidate and put into my investment account with my financial advisor - which is a real possibility when you add the risk of theft and fire as the value of the asset grows and I don't want to have to go to a safe deposit box to visit them on occasion.

mortimer brewster · #7 08-23-2020, 05:14 PM

I collect purely for the enjoyment. I know completing sets by buying lots and individual cards is a losing proposition financially. I enjoy doing this and do not pay attention to profit and loss etc.

I have been collecting since 1971 and have always collected within my means. After I am gone my family can do what they want with the cards.

steve B · #8 08-23-2020, 09:26 PM

I put together a 48 Bowman set in mostly poor condition between 1978 and 1982-3. Sold it in 85? for a bit more than I'd paid. It probably couldn't be done today.
Most of the sets I collected when they were new would sell for more than I paid, but I didn't keep track of costs.

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