Fun with 100 Minor League Sets

[swarmee]

I much prefer COMC because they do all the work, and you can buy and sell cards on site without taking delivery of them. I think they're much better for buyers than sportlots because their user interface is so much better, every submitted cards gets its own front and back scan (UD ePack cards could be stock photos however). Their cards are also mostly cross-posted to eBay so you get the advantage of eBay buyers without having to do any shipping.

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by swarmee

I much prefer COMC because they do all the work, and you can buy and sell cards on site without taking delivery of them. I think they're much better for buyers than sportlots because their user interface is so much better, every submitted cards gets its own front and back scan (UD ePack cards could be stock photos however). Their cards are also mostly cross-posted to eBay so you get the advantage of eBay buyers without having to do any shipping.

Looking at their site, can you make any money selling with them?

If I'm understanding, you send the cards and they change you 50 cents each to scan and list them. Then they charge 5% of the sale price, plus 1 cent per card per month for storage. Then they charge more if you want to get proceeds from your sale (instead of spending on their site)?

So, if I list one 30 card minor league set, the cost is $15 to get started? How does the math work for low-priced cards?

[swarmee]

It's playing the long game and "set it and forget it"; there is definitely money to be made, especially if your card is the only one listed on site. I sell some cards for $5-10-25 each when you could buy the same complete set for $10. Since they're crossposted to eBay, people searching ebay for their uncle or grandpa who used to play minor league ball don't care if the card is priced at $4.

I have submitted 10,000 cards on site over the 7 years I've been back in the field. I also have some strategies for buying cards where I can make $50 profit on some, which then allows me to submit 100 cards with the profit. I just sent in 600 cards from the 2020 Congress set, and will list all of them for $2.50 a card.

If you're going to go this route, you don't send every card. You check and see which cards are already for sale on site, and then only send ones that you can profit from ($2 minimum or so). I would send semi-stars, fan favorites, and then ones of guys who were born in the USA. Not a whole lot of demand for random players from the DR or Venezuela, from what I've seen.

Didn't mean to derail your thread, though. Just figured it was an alternate way to turn a larger profit. If you search Primer on these boards, I made a post about how to buy/sell on COMC that is probably worth reading.

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by swarmee

It's playing the long game and "set it and forget it"; there is definitely money to be made, especially if your card is the only one listed on site. I sell some cards for $5-10-25 each when you could buy the same complete set for $10. Since they're crossposted to eBay, people searching ebay for their uncle or grandpa who used to play minor league ball don't care if the card is priced at $4.

I have submitted 10,000 cards on site over the 7 years I've been back in the field. I also have some strategies for buying cards where I can make $50 profit on some, which then allows me to submit 100 cards with the profit. I just sent in 600 cards from the 2020 Congress set, and will list all of them for $2.50 a card.

If you're going to go this route, you don't send every card. You check and see which cards are already for sale on site, and then only send ones that you can profit from ($2 minimum or so). I would send semi-stars, fan favorites, and then ones of guys who were born in the USA. Not a whole lot of demand for random players from the DR or Venezuela, from what I've seen.

Didn't mean to derail your thread, though. Just figured it was an alternate way to turn a larger profit. If you search Primer on these boards, I made a post about how to buy/sell on COMC that is probably worth reading.

No derailing...good suggestion and thank you for sharing your thoughts on my follow up questions! If I can find a few "sweet spot" sets with cards that look like they may hold some value, I'll consider it for sure.

[Mike D.]

Another sale tonight:

1993 ProCards Cedar Rapids Kernels

$3.99 plus $3.99 shipping

This one cost $3.22 to ship to Iowa, leaving $2.81 profit according to the eBay Fee Calculator site. That's over 4 1/2 sets paid for right there!

100 sets
2 opened / singles to be listed
25 complete sets listed on eBay
73 to be reviewed
2 sets sold
$58.74 original purchase
$5.78 reclaimed (9.8%)

[Mike D.]

Listed:

1994 Fleer ProCards Louisville Redbirds

A few recognizable names, here, but not exactly "big" names - Omar Olivares, Scott Coolbaugh, John Mabry, and Gerald Young.

100 sets
2 opened / singles to be listed
26 complete sets listed on eBay
72 to be reviewed
2 sets sold
$58.74 original purchase
$5.78 reclaimed (9.8%)

[Mike D.]

Listed:

1994 ProCards Columbus RedStixx

1994 ProCards Toledo Mud Hens

The RedStixx team featured Richie Sexson and Alex Ramirez.

The Mud Hens feature a few familiar names - Wayne Edwards, Buddy Groom, Jose Lima, John Flaherty, Jeff Kunkel, Skeeter Barnes, and Bobby Higginson.

100 sets
2 opened / singles to be listed
28 complete sets listed on eBay
70 to be reviewed
2 sets sold
$58.74 original purchase
$5.78 reclaimed (9.8%)