Another Bubble Burst

[sjw241]

I frequently get asked by friends and co-workers to have a look at their cards to see if anything is worth anything significant.
A co-worker approached me over the weekend and asked if I would want to buy his cards. I said I'd have a look but can't say if I'd buy them without seeing them.
So the next day he brings in a huge box full of cards in binders and in top loaders. He says he wants $3500 for the box. I again tell him that I will have to look at them first.
So I started looking and what do I find.........................

LOL the usual 90's collection that everyone has or had at one point. The pro sets, OPC premier, score, upper deck from early 90's. But wait, he also had the super rare Brett Hull rookie from Topps none the less. As well as a bunch of rookies of great players but aren't worth much.

I look at everything and try to figure out how to burst his bubble without making him feel like an idiot. Its pretty tough to do actually.
So I told him that I didn't want the stuff, and that he is better off keeping it. He said he would take $500 off the price. I said no, read between the lines here. He didn't get it. I told him he couldn't pay someone to take the stuff away. He got really offeneded and called me a few names. He said he would take them to the local card store and they would buy them. I wished him luck and that was that.

Its funny how people think their cards are worth lots of money because they paid a lot for them like 20 years ago.

Thanks for reading my pointless story, just wanted to give you all a chuckle.

[TheIronHorse4]

Yea, you handled that about as well as you could have. Bottom line is that everyone tried to cash in on the mass production of the late 80's early 90's, thinking that in 20 years it has to be worth a lot more than what they paid for it. So much was produced however that anything from that era is worth nothing more than fire starter and nostalgia. You really want anything of value you have to look pre 1970's generally to find some rare and decent stuff. I'm not a huge vintage collector, but every time I have a chance to scoop up a stray box of 50's or 60's baseball cards for a cheap price I grab them and put them away, as those are at least worth holding on to and are moderately scarce.

[Mnum]

I get that at card shows. Always there is 1 person who comes in with OPC, Score, Topps, UD. all from the 90's and I tell them I am not interested. They get really offended when you don't even offer them anything. They almost always say that the stuff is 20 years old so must be worth something. Just because its old does not mean its worth anything. I've got a 20 year old blender somewhere does not make it an antique or worth anything.

[87sluggo]

I still can't seem to part with my 90/91 Score Factory set, my 90/91 UD Hi factory set or my Pro Set I & II in binders. Seems a shame to just chuck 'em................

[jogesc2]

I still like a lot of the stuff from the late 80's and early 90's for nostalgia reasons, but I know it's worthless.

[Bayfin]

so with tis line of thinking why wont our cards from the 2000's be worth less 20 years from now ?!?

[Mnum]

Some cards with the 2000's are pretty much worthless. Unless they are SP's but then even some SP's are worthless. Some of the prices that cards sell at now are beyond insane and who knows if they will hold there value. Really the value in all our collectibles is dictated by what someone is willing to pay for it and what you want to part with it for.

[87sluggo]

so with tis line of thinking why wont our cards from the 2000's be worth less 20 years from now ?!?

Ummmmmm, guess what?? That's probably exactly what's gonna happen.......how much are all the $100+ Rick DiPietro RCs "worth" now??

[DeanCrandall]

Cards will be worthless, unless it is a HOF'er and expect even those values to drop.
Take a look at an average Bobby Orr auto 10 years ago vs today. Everyone wants at least one Orr, Gretzky, Howe auto but the prices still continue to drop as they are mass produced each year.

Now show me a second line player, and I will show you a worthless collection in 20 years. Who would buy it, family friend of the player ? hometown collector ? team nostalgia collector ?

As an investment advisor (24 years), my hope is everyone does it for the love of the hobby and not their grand childrens inheritance :)

[Crosby 87]

I frequently get asked by friends and co-workers to have a look at their cards to see if anything is worth anything significant.
A co-worker approached me over the weekend and asked if I would want to buy his cards. I said I'd have a look but can't say if I'd buy them without seeing them.
So the next day he brings in a huge box full of cards in binders and in top loaders. He says he wants $3500 for the box. I again tell him that I will have to look at them first.
So I started looking and what do I find.........................

LOL the usual 90's collection that everyone has or had at one point. The pro sets, OPC premier, score, upper deck from early 90's. But wait, he also had the super rare Brett Hull rookie from Topps none the less. As well as a bunch of rookies of great players but aren't worth much.

I look at everything and try to figure out how to burst his bubble without making him feel like an idiot. Its pretty tough to do actually.
So I told him that I didn't want the stuff, and that he is better off keeping it. He said he would take $500 off the price. I said no, read between the lines here. He didn't get it. I told him he couldn't pay someone to take the stuff away. He got really offeneded and called me a few names. He said he would take them to the local card store and they would buy them. I wished him luck and that was that.

Its funny how people think their cards are worth lots of money because they paid a lot for them like 20 years ago.

Thanks for reading my pointless story, just wanted to give you all a chuckle.

check craigslist for every diamond in the rough collection you find on there, theres 100s just like the one above