After 13 years, getting back into it - Questions...

[gt427]

Thanks for taking the time for your response...I feel your grant Hill story, for some reason I was heavy into Keith Van Horn back in the day which I just remembered when I was looking through them haha also as far as them being stored in the basement, unbeknownst to me they were moved there and I was never told

I think I will be focusing on Singles, and maybe a box here and there...I do like the gamble of seeing what you can get, but like you said definitely sticking to the top players, continuing Jordan, and will have to start collecting some drose (played against him in high school...gotta)

BTW, if I am looking at messing with a box here and there, based on what I am aiming for, what brand would you recommend buying?

rockchalk made a lot of good points in this thread.

Sometimes I forget that hobby is hobby, lol. You really have to collect players/team players that you really like.

My other suggestion is if you wanted to buy a box, look at how well some of the cards are designed on ebay first. Some people don't like the design or value of Panini products (available 09-10 to now with exclusive contract with NBA). I think if I were to bust a $200/box product with $50 resale value I'd be mad too.

Since you plan to collect D-rose, I'd suggest you consider a box from his RC year, 08-09. Depending on your budget, you could get SP authentic for a little over $300, Topps signature for around $170, Topps Chrome for around $60. On the other end, you could get a single low end D-Rose on card auto for around $100 or $50 for sticker auto. So the choice is up to you.

Good luck and enjoy!

[Jel0221]

rockchalk made a lot of good points in this thread.

Sometimes I forget that hobby is hobby, lol. You really have to collect players/team players that you really like.

My other suggestion is if you wanted to buy a box, look at how well some of the cards are designed on ebay first. Some people don't like the design or value of Panini products (available 09-10 to now with exclusive contract with NBA). I think if I were to bust a $200/box product with $50 resale value I'd be mad too.

Since you plan to collect D-rose, I'd suggest you consider a box from his RC year, 08-09. Depending on your budget, you could get SP authentic for a little over $300, Topps signature for around $170, Topps Chrome for around $60. On the other end, you could get a single low end D-Rose on card auto for around $100 or $50 for sticker auto. So the choice is up to you.

Good luck and enjoy!

I honestly have never even heard of Panini but it looks like it's the go to thing for cards now...pretty crazy.

Ya with my $100-$150 a month budget, if I spot a card I really like...I have no problem spending it all on one card. If I don't, then I can gamble on a box or something.

One of the things I want to get...and have never had...is Jordan Autos. What would be the best boxes to purchase within $150 that I might be able to pull one?

I am a little nervous of trying to get a Jordan auto on ebay...I just feel uneasy forking over a bunch of money to someone and having to trust them to hold up their end. Also, I could imagine there are a ton of fakes out there...and having no experience with autos before I trust I could be easily duped.

What would be your suggestions for ebay? Are there certain sellers that are known/trustworthy or just a crap shoot?

[jordan23]

I was fortunate to have some extended family that had season tickets in a lower level suite in the UC, so all throughout growing up I watched him live throughout the season/playoffs/some finals games.

By far the most memorable was when myself and a cousin swapped tickets with a family friend midway through the game of the '97 finals, and the 3rd and 4th quarter we sat 1st row behind the bench and Jordan's shiny head...unbelievable

THat is SICK!!! Any pictures you have of the "great one" then and from the game. That must of been a once in a life time experiece to even get near "His Airness" and be at the game as well.

[Jel0221]

Ya it was awesome...I actually had a friend caddy for him at one of the local country clubs around here a few years ago, instead of getting $ he got a signed golf ball (picture of Jordan signing the golf ball with him along with it) and sold it for 1k+.

[gt427]

I honestly have never even heard of Panini but it looks like it's the go to thing for cards now...pretty crazy.

Ya with my $100-$150 a month budget, if I spot a card I really like...I have no problem spending it all on one card. If I don't, then I can gamble on a box or something.

One of the things I want to get...and have never had...is Jordan Autos. What would be the best boxes to purchase within $150 that I might be able to pull one?

I am a little nervous of trying to get a Jordan auto on ebay...I just feel uneasy forking over a bunch of money to someone and having to trust them to hold up their end. Also, I could imagine there are a ton of fakes out there...and having no experience with autos before I trust I could be easily duped.

What would be your suggestions for ebay? Are there certain sellers that are known/trustworthy or just a crap shoot?

The problem with boxes is that you rarely get your money back these days. I remember back in Vince Carter RC year I got a Finest box, pulled 2 Carter RCs, sold them on ebay and got my money back. This year 11-12 Panini Preferred boxes are $200 a piece, and if you happen to pull a Kobe base auto (#'d 49), it's like worth $150, so you won't even make your money back on a superstar auto. I think someone on this board pulled 2 $2 autos, 1 $15 auto, and a $20 card from that $200 box product. 1 box, 4 cards.

As for best box to buy to pull a Jordan Auto, you'll need to ask experts around here. :)

I believe buying boxes online is probably just a crap shoot.

[rockchalk]

Yeah, I hate to say it, but I doubt I would ever buy anymore boxes except on VERY rare occasions. Especially on stuff like Preferred

[KrispyManie]

The local card shop here is the same deal when it comes with NBA cards. Not many of them and they are asking at least full BV which might make a buck or two if you dont have a computer. I have been buying all my cards online over the last 5 years because you can save mad money rather then diving in to the card shops. I usually go in there to see if they have any new product and to check it out. I am excited that you are rejoining the hobby and hope to hear of your collection soon.

[Kadamscards]

I love buying singles here and at Checkoutmycards.com... as for boxes.. I like to buy the older boxes...auto's are more rare and not guaranteed in all of them so when you pull an auto when the chances are 1;373..or something like that.. it's a great feeling!!!

In recent boxes I have never come close to pulling cards worth the value of the box.. but sometimes it's good to buy recent boxes because people are looking to trade or buy cards/inserts/ auto's for the set.. I had real good luck buying boxes of Bowman 48 for some reason.. Wade GU/ auto, another wade auto, Bill Russell auto..and a bunch of others in the three boxes I bought over time...

Personally, I'd buy a box of 09-10 studio.. If you do not want the hits.. usually 3 GU/ 1 auto and some proofs.. I'll buy them from ya.... LOL... jk I'm just on the hunt to complete the GU/PRoofs set and grab 1 auto of each player

[Jel0221]

Ya I actually just went by a card shop last week, bought like 3 packs of SPx ('10 I think..) and 3 packs of SP Authentic '09 I think just to give it a run, packs were only like $5 a piece, and ended up pulling 2 autos...an Allen Ray patch RC auto (AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA) that I saw went for like $5 on ebay, and a Bill Laimbeer Auto that looked like was going for about $50 on ebay which wasn't a bad pull.

Honestly never have had any autographed cards before so I might just focus on autos as its kind of new to me

[rockchalk]

Yeah, it really weird how many damn auto and jersey cards there are. I have been working on getting more of Cole Aldrich's stuff and that guy must of spent a month just singing autos for cards.