Best hobby advice you've received.

[Rich Klein]

I've had several people ask me recently about going "full-time" in this business (all modern people)

My one piece of advice to them is: and it's something I've picked up over the years

"If you are going to be a dealer, then you should not be a collector. Otherwise, money spent on your Pete Alonso collection should be spent on items for you to re-sell. For now, your collecting days are done."

I will also state if you have other income coming in then you can keep your collection going.

Rich

[rjackson44]

Buy vintage hockey

[Frankish]

So true about not mixing business with pleasure. A number of times I've thought about becoming a small dealer because I enjoy buying and handling cards so much. But I'm not sure I'd be that great of a seller (too much of a softy, plus collecting would always be an anchor). If only the tax situation for hobbyists wasn't so brutal, I could just let the idea go....

Originally Posted by rjackson44

Buy vintage hockey

Oh, man, I wish I had listened when the little voice in my head was urging me to buy those early 50s Parkhurst cards for a song a few years ago. At least I bought a bunch of 70s hockey, so it's something. A small something, as I only got one Gretzky, but something nonetheless.

The time to buy it is when you see it. Buy the rare caramel Cobb when it comes up and fund it with something you can replace later

Everything is for sale at the right price

If you have to sell something, try to sell it to a fellow collector. There's many reasons for this but it comes in handy if you ever really want the card back!

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

I've had several people ask me recently about going "full-time" in this business (all modern people)

My one piece of advice to them is: and it's something I've picked up over the years

"If you are going to be a dealer, then you should not be a collector. Otherwise, money spent on your Pete Alonso collection should be spent on items for you to re-sell. For now, your collecting days are done."

I will also state if you have other income coming in then you can keep your collection going.

Rich

That is great advise Rich.


Listen when told do not buy from (insert name). Because if they will screw over others they will screw you over also.

One of my favorite times I just shook my head was when a member on here asked if anyone knew who a eBay ID belonged to. I told him who it was and the seller is a well known card doctor. So the moron said "I guess I will have to look at the card really good when I buy it".LOL

This hobby will remain a joke as long as we let it.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

I've had several people ask me recently about going "full-time" in this business (all modern people)

My one piece of advice to them is: and it's something I've picked up over the years

"If you are going to be a dealer, then you should not be a collector. Otherwise, money spent on your Pete Alonso collection should be spent on items for you to re-sell. For now, your collecting days are done."

I will also state if you have other income coming in then you can keep your collection going.

Rich

I found out that I have the perfect collector personality to be an auctioneer. It turns out I'm completely cool with getting to say "We had that" as opposed to saying "I have that." That started when I was a dealer but became more important as an auctioneer, and it made the transition fairly easy.

[Exhibitman]

Plastics...

[timzcardz]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Plastics...

This is SO funny in many ways!

[JollyElm]

Short rant:
I have to say with the number of people talking about the 'divisible by 9' binder page thing here...how in heck wasn't that always blatantly obvious?????????? I mean, c'mon!!!!!!!!!!!

[Exhibitman]

And some advice for the many, many people who take this stuff way too seriously

[jbsports33]

Have fun and enjoy! Buy at least one Ruth, Mantle, Jackie Robinson and Ted Williams card for your collection - oh wait Ty Cobb, Cy Young, Lou Gehrig and many more! do you have any more money? - how about a Joe DiMaggio

Do not get too involved and buy what you like!

Shows are the best and traveling to shows with friends and family is even better - soon we will have more shows. The stories in between are a lot of fun too!

Happy Collecting!


[Michael B]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Plastics...

Okay Sam Wainwright. (got the character name wrong at first)

[brianp-beme]

No one but myself gave me this advice, but I would like to share it.

The only slabs that collectors should care about are the slabs of gum that used to come in packs of Topps cards.

Brian

[mintacular]

Your best deal may be "no deal". Be willing to walk away more often than not my answer is "no". Time is $. What is the opportunity cost?

[MVSNYC]

Buy the best card, of the best player, in the best condition, you can.

-Scott Levy

[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

Originally Posted by mintacular

Your best deal may be "no deal". Be willing to walk away more often than not my answer is "no". Time is $. What is the opportunity cost?

Mine is similar - "You'll get better deals if the seller knows that you are willing to walk away."

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

[darwinbulldog]

Originally Posted by Michael B

Okay Sam Wainwright. (got the character name wrong at first)

Pop culture tip: whenever someone just says "Plastics" it's a Graduate reference, not It's a Wonderful Life.