Need advice

[BMetts]

I'm in need of some older cards (1957-58 Topps and 1961-62 Fleer), and I'm wondering if instead of buying the cards individually, I should buy an entire set and sell off the ones I don't need one by one. Does anyone know anyone who has had luck with that? Knowing the price involved in purchasing an entire set, is it too risky?

[dpeezy415]

I am buying these also and it is TOUGH!!! In the last four months of collecting I've seen one 57-58 set at the national but quite a few singles on the bay.

The 61 fleer set is easier to come by, but I have also only seen one set for sale on the bay that was averaging MAYBE PSA 3-4 range...

61 fleer is challenging though... the majority of them are off centered and distract from the appeal of the cards (same for the 57-58 set). The collector's of these know this and the sellers are grading them and the buyers are willing to pay bigger money for the centered versions in near-mint and better.

I did manage to snag a Robertson in PSA 8 (oc), an Elgin Baylor in a PSA 7 (OC) and a Chamberlain in a GAI 7.5 (centered).

The lower grade stuff from these sets really lose value, so you can actually get these relatively cheaper. However, they will be harder to sell. It's your call...

You have some decisions to make. Are you more focused on the collecting part of it or the $$$ part of it? This will gauge the condition of cards you are willing to get. Of course, the higher grade stuff is more valuable and retain its value, but will cost you more. The lower end stuff is cheaper, but may be tougher to get top dollar when it comes time to sell. And of course it will take more time to complete if you buy the better quality stuff.

Totally up to you. Whether you decide on very good or mint stuff, pick one that you will be satisfied with.

Right now on the bay are quite a few premium 1961 fleer cards (NM+++) that were listed today. Watch what these go for...

[dpeezy415]

I'm in need of some older cards (1957-58 Topps and 1961-62 Fleer), and I'm wondering if instead of buying the cards individually, I should buy an entire set and sell off the ones I don't need one by one. Does anyone know anyone who has had luck with that? Knowing the price involved in purchasing an entire set, is it too risky?

It depends on the condition of the set IMO. If it is an excellent mint set or better, you may be able to do this. But, if it is not, you would have a tough time selling the lower end ones that would just eat into your profit.

In the end, is it really worth the time and effort to do this? First, you have to FIND a quality set, which I have not seen one worth buying. Then, if you did, you would have to sell them probably via e-bay, having to scan all the cards and take the time to ship them out. And, you would still have to get top dollar for the individual cards, which is tough to do in non-graded raw form.

If it was ME, I would just buy the ones I need. And I would buy excellent mint or better.