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

[Jel0221]

So...as the title suggests, I haven't collected in about 13 years, mainly due to not having any spare $ through high school and college to allocate towards it.

How the collecting bug came back and bit me...my Mom called me about a week ago and said that a lot of my cards got ruined when the basement sump pump backed up ( a TON of my sets ). Anyway, spent the past couple days going through to see what was ruined, what was salvageable...and then it hit me that I missed it,I can afford it...BAM, here I am.

What I collected before is probably what I will focus on now...I'm a 25 year old guy from Chicago so I grew up on Jordan and he was a big one, but also just big name players in general..Kobe, Byrd, Magic, Dr. J, Garnett, Duncan, etc. Not really into sets anymore, and have millions of base cards that are a waste of room...I just like stuff that can be cased

Now for my questions...sorry the landscape has changed since I've been collecting a bit, and tried researching similar threads on this forum but could find any...

1. What are the best ways to get good individuals - online? are card shops still good? If online what are the best sites to use?

2. If you were looking at getting good individual cards of some of the top players, with $100- $150 a month budget, what would your approach be? Buy individuals from a shop? Packs?

Well, I felt like I had a lot more questions...but thats all that I came up with for now...thanks for any help from you guys, I saw there's a trading section so may want to def get involved with it!

oh ya...PUMPED TO GET BACK INTO IT!!!!!!!!

p.s. I don't collect to flip or make $, my goal is to build a good collection over 40 years and pass it down.

[gt427]

I was in the same boat about a year ago. That's why I'm spending the time here to give you a little bit of advice. I collected cards throughout mid-late 90's and decided that I couldn't afford cards until I started working, so I quit. I remember the last box I opened was 99-00 SP authentic. Now I could afford cards but I have to put family first, so I'm selling old cards to buy new cards.

Tips...

1. Use Ebay and this site for buying cards. If you make enough money then you shouldn't waste your time waiting for "steals", as the money you saved wouldn't worth your time spent browsing. (e.g. save $10/$15 on a $100 card)

2. Always go for singles. Buying boxes/packs is like buying insurance. You know in the long term they will make money on you. Plus, you don't want to store base cards in your basement... for the next 40 years, right?

If you go for singles, I'd suggest only buy superstars that you like, e.g. only top 10 players. That way, if money is tight and you find a new player that you like, it would be easy to trade/sell your superstar cards to get the new cards. Think about how easy it would be for you to trade Lebron cards for equal value John Wall cards.

One lesson I learned is that if you don't like to lose money, you'd need to maintain your cards in a timely manner. I have tons of Grant Hill cards. But because I never traded them for newer cards and Grant's career went downhill since leaving Pistons, my cards are now worthless. Take Derrick Rose for example - MVP/superstar. If Rose doesn't recover from ACL well and if he can't dominate again, hold on to his cards for the next 10 years is probably not the best idea, unless you're a hardcore Bulls/Rose fan.

Also think about when you pass cards down; you probably want to pass down cards of players who have won MVP/Champ rings. Who would remember Darius Miles 40 years from now?

Hope that helps a little.

[jordan23]

What I collected before is probably what I will focus on now...I'm a 25 year old guy from Chicago so I grew up on Jordan and he was a big one, but also just big name players in general..Kobe, Byrd, Magic, Dr. J, Garnett, Duncan, etc. Not really into sets anymore, and have millions of base cards that are a waste of room...I just like stuff that can be cased

Hi, just wondering did you ever get to watch MJ live in a Bulls game?

Good luck with your card collecting as i know it'll bring back alot of memories that you'll cherish forever.

[Jel0221]

I was in the same boat about a year ago. That's why I'm spending the time here to give you a little bit of advice. I collected cards throughout mid-late 90's and decided that I couldn't afford cards until I started working, so I quit. I remember the last box I opened was 99-00 SP authentic. Now I could afford cards but I have to put family first, so I'm selling old cards to buy new cards.

Tips...

1. Use Ebay and this site for buying cards. If you make enough money then you shouldn't waste your time waiting for "steals", as the money you saved wouldn't worth your time spent browsing. (e.g. save $10/$15 on a $100 card)

2. Always go for singles. Buying boxes/packs is like buying insurance. You know in the long term they will make money on you. Plus, you don't want to store base cards in your basement... for the next 40 years, right?

If you go for singles, I'd suggest only buy superstars that you like, e.g. only top 10 players. That way, if money is tight and you find a new player that you like, it would be easy to trade/sell your superstar cards to get the new cards. Think about how easy it would be for you to trade Lebron cards for equal value John Wall cards.

One lesson I learned is that if you don't like to lose money, you'd need to maintain your cards in a timely manner. I have tons of Grant Hill cards. But because I never traded them for newer cards and Grant's career went downhill since leaving Pistons, my cards are now worthless. Take Derrick Rose for example - MVP/superstar. If Rose doesn't recover from ACL well and if he can't dominate again, hold on to his cards for the next 10 years is probably not the best idea, unless you're a hardcore Bulls/Rose fan.

Also think about when you pass cards down; you probably want to pass down cards of players who have won MVP/Champ rings. Who would remember Darius Miles 40 years from now?

Hope that helps a little.

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?

[Jel0221]

Hi, just wondering did you ever get to watch MJ live in a Bulls game?

Good luck with your card collecting as i know it'll bring back alot of memories that you'll cherish forever.

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

[rockchalk]

I just got back in the hobby about two months ago. I collected when I was a kid back in early to mid 90's. I am a big KU college basketball fan and have followed several kids go to the pros, both KU and non-KU kids. I remember when Durant and Griffin first played ball in the Big 12. Collecting cards has just added to my basketball interest.

A couple of things I have noticed/learn is that buying packs and boxes is just okay and seems to lack the same appeal of when I was a kid. I think most of it is that for that $5 or $6 I am paying for a pack I can use that same money to buy a card of a guy I actually like. However, there are some sets I have bought or am trying to collect - Past and Present being the current one. Buy singles or a base set you like online - just stay away from backs and boxes unless you really want to - I am just mad it took me a month after getting back in the hobby to learn this lesson.

1) I have decided that online and card shows are some great places to get cards. I have bought a lot of stuff off of eBay and Checkoutmycards.com. I have also done some trades on here and have gotten some good deals. I also went to a card show and got a number of cards that were really reasonably priced.

2) I think with your budget of $100 - $150 a month you can get a nice collection. But, I think it depends on who you want to collect. Most of the KU alumni players in the NBA are not having stellar careers, hence their cards are pretty cheap. Trust me I am not doing this to make a fortune with all of my Kirk Hinrich, Julian Wright, or Wayne Simien cards.

Maybe just start with one or two guys, maybe Bulls, and grab their stuff. The major problem is if they go to another team.

Anyways, welcome back to the Hobby!!!

[Jel0221]

I just got back in the hobby about two months ago. I collected when I was a kid back in early to mid 90's. I am a big KU college basketball fan and have followed several kids go to the pros, both KU and non-KU kids. I remember when Durant and Griffin first played ball in the Big 12. Collecting cards has just added to my basketball interest.

A couple of things I have noticed/learn is that buying packs and boxes is just okay and seems to lack the same appeal of when I was a kid. I think most of it is that for that $5 or $6 I am paying for a pack I can use that same money to buy a card of a guy I actually like. However, there are some sets I have bought or am trying to collect - Past and Present being the current one. Buy singles or a base set you like online - just stay away from backs and boxes unless you really want to - I am just mad it took me a month after getting back in the hobby to learn this lesson.

1) I have decided that online and card shows are some great places to get cards. I have bought a lot of stuff off of eBay and Checkoutmycards.com. I have also done some trades on here and have gotten some good deals. I also went to a card show and got a number of cards that were really reasonably priced.

2) I think with your budget of $100 - $150 a month you can get a nice collection. But, I think it depends on who you want to collect. Most of the KU alumni players in the NBA are not having stellar careers, hence their cards are pretty cheap. Trust me I am not doing this to make a fortune with all of my Kirk Hinrich, Julian Wright, or Wayne Simien cards.

Maybe just start with one or two guys, maybe Bulls, and grab their stuff. The major problem is if they go to another teamU.

Anyways, welcome back to the Hobby!!!

Thanks! Ya I'm in the same boat, definitely not looking for profit, just focusing on the hobby.

For singles, will you get ok deals at card shops? (a lot in my area)

And if I were to get a hobby box online...where is the best place to go?

[rockchalk]

Most of the card shops in my area really do not focus on basketball, which kind of sucks. I recently went to a card shop when I was traveling and everything was 10% over book - I think you can get most of the cards you are interested in online or even look for card shows in your area.

The best place I have found to get boxes are http://www.blowoutcards.com/ and http://www.dacardworld.com/

Who are you thinking of collecting?

[Jel0221]

I'll continue my focus on MJ, but also the top players...Kobe, Lebron, Durant, etc

Definitely interested in some autographed cards...never had one before

[rockchalk]

There are a couple of people in the selling threads who have some items - just make sure you have paypal set up