Has Anyone Ever Acquired an Entire Inventory from a Baseball Card Store/Stand?

David W · #1 07-24-2010, 07:26 PM

I bought everything a guy had at a card show about 10 years ago for 100 bucks. It was hot, he was tired of spending weekends at shows losing money, and told me to make an offer. I wished I'd offered $50, he would have taken it.

He had about 3000 cards in holders, from 60's/70's beat up Hall of Famers to 80's and 90's rookies like Henderson/Will Clark/Frank Thomas/Boggs et al.

Even at that $100 I didn't clean house, as they were mostly VG/EX kind of cards.

magic1313 · #2 07-24-2010, 09:10 PM

Don't know much about the baseball card market but I do buy and sell records. What makes you think they would be an easy sell if he has been doing this for years and has been unable to unload them? From the record stores I have seen that have been for sale, most of the stuff they have are dollar records or the more common stuff. Usually the rarer stuff sells or there is not enough of it to warrant the purchase price. I can't imagine that the choice cards in the collection would take up that much space in his home. If you hadn't guessed, my advice from a business stand point is to steer clear.

IronHorse2130 · #3 07-24-2010, 10:25 PM

I purchased approximately 1.2 million cards (about 90% baseball) that were from the late 70's to the early 90's. Most were 80's. They sat in my garage for a few years and then we simply sold the entire collection as it was to someone else for a bit more than we paid. We realized it was not worth the time and effort it would have taken to break them down and resell individually or in small lots. Unless you can buy these cards for next to nothing I would pass. It's fun to have that many cards at your disposal but you get tired of looking at 500 copies of 1987 Topps Jesse Barfield cards.

cbcbcb · #4 07-24-2010, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IronHorse2130

I purchased approximately 1.2 million cards (about 90% baseball) that were from the late 70's to the early 90's. Most were 80's. They sat in my garage for a few years and then we simply sold the entire collection as it was to someone else for a bit more than we paid. We realized it was not worth the time and effort it would have taken to break them down and resell individually or in small lots. Unless you can buy these cards for next to nothing I would pass. It's fun to have that many cards at your disposal but you get tired of looking at 500 copies of 1987 Topps Jesse Barfield cards.

My plan was to wait a couple of months until this guy really has to sell them and is tired of trying to sell them and give a firm, take it or leave it offer that is really cheap. I would then probably break it down into maybe 10 or 20 more managable lots that I would resell.

toppcat · #5 07-24-2010, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbcbcb

My plan was to wait a couple of months until this guy really has to sell them and is tired of trying to sell them and give a firm, take it or leave it offer that is really cheap. I would then probably break it down into maybe 10 or 20 more managable lots that I would resell.

I know a guy who purchased a large collection just for the holders; there were thousands of 'em and he paid almost nothing and figured he could never buy them that cheap even in bulk at retail or wholesale. He just recycled them as he needed them for his "real" inventory.

FrankWakefield · #6 07-24-2010, 11:05 PM

Sounds like if you wait and wait, then buy cheap... then you'll be the one waiting and waiting, and one day you'll sell cheap to be rid of them. That's what these guys are saying.

mintacular · #7 07-24-2010, 11:51 PM

I would highly discourage it...80s/90s stuff is nearly impossible to move. Due to shipping, you will have almost no option to unload any of it on line...

For example, I found a guy to buy my baseball from this era for .001ea. cents = 10,000 cards = $10 and find myself very fortunate to get that (I had ot beg the guy to take 'em basically)...Even sets, unopened boxes, decent RCs literally sell for a $1-2 a piece at a flea market...

Unless the guy is absolutely desperate to just get rid of it AND 100% aware of their worthlessness, than the $ won't be right...

Also, a 2K might sound "reasonable" but when you sell your "best stuff" for $250 and then left with a large volume of the worst stuff, you will start scratching your head wondering how and the hell are you supposed to get the 1750 back..

tothrk · #8 07-25-2010, 12:49 AM

The most important items you need to pick up along with these cards is a box of matches and some lighter fluid. After struggling with these cards for some time, you will know what the matches and lighter fluid are for.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Japanese Baseball Card & Memorabilia Auction - ENDS TONIGHT APRIL 21	Archive	Ebay, Auction and other Venues Announcement- B/S/T	1	04-21-2009 10:02 AM
2008-09 Japanese Baseball Card Checklist & Price Guide	Archive	Baseball Memorabilia B/S/T	1	08-13-2008 12:04 PM
About.com: Let's Review Their Baseball Card Timeline	Archive	Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions	10	07-23-2007 01:36 PM
Book For Sale: Baseball Hall of Fame Rookie Card Collection	Archive	Baseball Memorabilia B/S/T	0	04-12-2007 04:23 PM
Are baseball card transactions taxable?	Archive	Net54baseball Vintage (WWII & Older) Baseball Cards & New Member Introductions	21	02-28-2007 11:38 AM