Making money from cards

[max91ess]

I work to make money, I collect hockey cards because it's fun. It just seems to me to be too much trouble and too many headaches to make it worth my while to try and make money on.



So, just over $2000 a year profit. Sounds like a lot, but think of how much time you spent to get there. Just not worth it to me. There are much better ways to make a quick buck.

yes but..like for me i'm a student dont have time for a regular job...this is FUN and profitable, i make around 3500-4000$ so while i dont work and study this pays my bills:)

and pays my nice LArs eller PC:P

[cygnusx1]

I work to make money, I collect hockey cards because it's fun. It just seems to me to be too much trouble and too many headaches to make it worth my while to try and make money on.



So, just over $2000 a year profit. Sounds like a lot, but think of how much time you spent to get there. Just not worth it to me. There are much better ways to make a quick buck.

I work to make money too. I collect hockey cards because it's fun too. If I can make money at work, and make money with cards while having fun, then why not? And it's not a matter of making a quick buck, if it were then I would just go get a second job and probably hate it.

I estimate I spend less time online than the majority of users on this board. It's too much trouble and too many headaches if you don't know what you're doing or if you're only in it for the money.

[PUMArick]

Gambling. It's all I think it is when you buy a card, a pack, a box or a case.

[Care4Card]

Gambling. It's all I think it is when you buy a card, a pack, a box or a case.

And like in Gambling, you can edge off your lost in many many ways.

[mr ozzie]

I find it's not worthwhile to worry about profits from cards.

I look at the time I'm putting in to finding cheaper deals and flipping them, and I just don't see it being worth it. Unless I'm going to be making $50+ an hour through cards, I'm better off just devoting that time to other means of making money. If I make anything, great, but it's just a hobby.

This is the sole reason why I stay away from flipping cards as a side-business. Too much hassle for very little gain. Yes, you can make a profit, but the amount of time you spend just to earn that profit is not worth it for me.

If you truly want to do something like this, factor in these costs:

- Bubble mailer costs
- Penny sleeve and toploader costs
- Shipping fees
- Gas driving to the post office to deliver the mail.
- eBay/Paypal fees
- Accounting software to keep track of your expenses, sales, income, fees paid, etc. Also a software to keep track of your inventory.
- Quite possibly a printer/ink to print shipping labels and invoices.
- Internet connection -> yes, this is now an expense since you're using it to deal online.
- If you're using a snipe program, you'd want to factor their fees as well.

Now factor in your time:

- Time to find deals, lots, singles to stock up your own inventory. Possibly having to drive down to your LCS and buy boxes/cases of product.
- Time to post an auction and/or sales thread -> include the time to scan every card you want to sell
- Time to negotiate with a buyer to make a sale
- Time to tear down an auction and/or sales thread once a sale has been made.
- Time to package the card (including printing a shipping label, invoice receipt, etc).
- Time to drive to the post office.
- Time to wait in line at the post office to deliver the mail.
- Time to wait in line at the post office to receive any incoming mail.
- Time to organize your accounting and inventory.

I'm sure I'm missing more points. Also, don't forget about the willingness to accept losses -> ie. Lost in the mail, fraudulent claims, card did not sell OR card sold lower than what you bought it for, etc.

[Craig2]

I think Mr. Ozzie has captured it nicely. I think it's cool for someone like Max, a student doing this as an alternative for a part-time job. But given my salary and the work involved to make money from cards, I'm better off just putting in more time at work and taking a loss on the cards.

[max91ess]

to respond to you, by my experience..



If you truly want to do something like this, factor in these costs:

- Bubble mailer costs 0.20$
- Penny sleeve and toploader costs ( pretty much 0.25$ max)
- Shipping fees ( paid by the buyer)
actually last 3 are paid by ther buyer..

- Gas driving to the post office to deliver the mail. ( i drop it in the mail thingy near my house..while walking to school)

- eBay/Paypal fees ( included in the prices)
- Accounting software to keep track of your expenses, sales, income, fees paid, etc. Also a software to keep track of your inventory. ( Excel ( free if you smart enought)
- Quite possibly a printer/ink to print shipping labels and invoices. ( not a big deal, had a printer b4...and is more or less 0.05$ the invoice printed)

- Internet connection -> yes, this is now an expense since you're using it to deal online ( use my parents) haha.
- If you're using a snipe program, you'd want to factor their fees as well. ( nope)

Now factor in your time:

- Time to find deals, lots, singles to stock up your own inventory. Possibly having to drive down to your LCS and buy boxes/cases of product. ( no inventory..as funny as it sounds..i got 400 cards..on ebay right now most are lower end in bulk deal..some higher end..i either go in won to see how much i paid or i remeber how much i did pay)
- Time to post an auction and/or sales thread -> include the time to scan every card you want to sell ( of course, but its fun)
- Time to negotiate with a buyer to make a sale ( not that much, i jsut accept or counter offers on ebay, and on here well i say the price and thats it)
- Time to tear down an auction and/or sales thread once a sale has been made. ( i mostly sell on ebay so they dissapear by themselves)
- Time to package the card (including printing a shipping label, invoice receipt, etc). ( again, more you do faster you get, i can now do 15 in 30-45 min)[/B][/B]
- Time to drive to the post office. ( its on my way)
- Time to wait in line at the post office to deliver the mail. ( i dont wait its pre paid so i give them and leave..they know e enought)
- Time to wait in line at the post office to receive any incoming mail. ( i get y mail anyways)
- Time to organize your accounting and inventory. ( dont do that)

I'm sure I'm missing more points. Also, don't forget about the willingness to accept losses -> ie. Lost in the mail, fraudulent claims, card did not sell OR card sold lower than what you bought it for, etc. ( happened 2 times total, as for card values dropping happens sometimes..but that up to you instinct and hockey knowledge)

[Phoenix]

I think it comes down to doing what you like best. I have a full time job that earns me more than enough money to keep going, but I also keep a part time job on the weekends. It only makes me an extra $10,000-$11,000 a year, but I do it more for the activity (it's a physical job) and the social aspect (developed a lot of close friendships).

I'm sure I could take the time spent there and apply it to flipping cards, but it's just not me to spend that amount of time scanning, listing auctions/threads, packaging, mailing, and doing inventory management. I spend enough time on the computer as it is (and I hate the damn things), any more and I'd probably put my fist through the screen and there goes some of my profits.

One key thing that I don't think anyone has touched on yet is that you have to have the disposable income in the first place to buy lots, bust boxes, and build up inventory. You're not going to get far buying a few $2 autos and trying to sell them for $5. Most of the easy flipping comes in high-end ($100+) and it takes a bit to built up that kind collection.

[kayo198]

thank you guys, those are really good points...really helped me clarify a lot of things:

max91ess: Seems like you are doing exactly what i wanna be doing under very similar circumstances...ill contact you via PM on the weekend (got an exam tomorrow) to drag some more advice out of you if i may:)

[hossa18sens]

Great topic and discussion.

I would like to thank everyone for keeping it on topic and not trashing each other. Great points all around.