Are all base cards worth the same?

[cjb]

I'm going bonkers trying to finish my upper deck series one base set. I still have a ways to go (50-75 cards) and no matter how many packs i buy i keep pulling doubles, triples and quadruples. I'm going to eventually have to rely on some trades and when i do trade i'm going to need some tips from you guys (been out of the game for a while).

So do high profile player base cards have more value the low value player base cards (like they did during the junk wax era)? In other words is #1 Auston Matthews worth more than a #13Torey Krug?

[Trishlp]

I know the bv would be higher but what Matthews actually sells for I don't know because I have not been looking, bv for Matthews is $2.50 and Krug $.75. With that being said I have finished my series 1 and 2 base sets and have numerous extras so if you want to send me your list I will check it out and see if I can help. I am in the US so if you don't mind trading across borders then maybe we can work something out.

[waf]

I feel base are pretty much useless after I build my set and a couple extra. Very hard to trade so I usually put base into my packs when trading or selling to give the package more strength to prevent bending.
Shot me your list of base needs from series 1 along with your mailing address and I will send them to you. Happy to get them off my desk.
Wayne

[DaveS]

I'm going bonkers trying to finish my upper deck series one base set. I still have a ways to go (50-75 cards) and no matter how many packs i buy i keep pulling doubles, triples and quadruples. I'm going to eventually have to rely on some trades and when i do trade i'm going to need some tips from you guys (been out of the game for a while).

So do high profile player base cards have more value the low value player base cards (like they did during the junk wax era)? In other words is #1 Auston Matthews worth more than a #13Torey Krug?

@cjb if waf doesn't have all the ones you need, shoot me a pm. I've got loads too, as well as most from Series 2 if you want to get a good start on that.

[waf]

So looks like you will get your base set done. I do not do series 2 so have none of them.
Should have mentioned that they have started to put base variation photos into the packs. They are worth more than the regular base and are more desirable You are more likely able to trade or sell them than regular base if so desired.
Not sure if it is all packs or just hobby.
You can check the checklist of the base variants on this site. https://www.cardboardconnection.com/...nchor_1_310149

Enjoy collecting
Wayne

[cjb]

thanks guys. when i receive and open my series 2 box i'll be ready to trade.


back in the junk wax days. a wayne gretzky would be worth more than a joel otto card but these days when i watch box breaks on youtube it seems like everybody hates base cards.. Even if they are high profile players.

[DaveS]

thanks guys. when i receive and open my series 2 box i'll be ready to trade.


back in the junk wax days. a wayne gretzky would be worth more than a joel otto card but these days when i watch box breaks on youtube it seems like everybody hates base cards.. Even if they are high profile players.

The reason base cards catch so much hate these days is simply because there's so many of them out there. Back in the junk era we didn't have the internet to connect with other collectors so even base cards were less accessible so there was actually a market for them. Nowadays we can instantly contact hundreds or thousands of other people who have been opening boxes of the same product so it's infinitely simpler to get your hands on whatever base cards you're looking for. That being said, the superstars are technically worth more but it's easy to find people who just want to unload them so value isn't an issue.

[Savard18]

Well, I left the hobby around 1996-97 (back then I collected all four sports) and most brands/sets really focused on base cards and subsets - tho many sets did have inserts and parallels, like die-cuts, gold versions, first day productions, and on occasion #ed cards serial numbered to xx/25,000 (making you feel you got a rare card lol). But your basic pack would come with a "parallel" and if you were lucky an insert, and obviously the parallels and inserts were more sought after, hence more valuable than the base cards, but the base cards did hold value - at least the stars and rookies - and there was a demand for them (especially among set collectors and player collectors) and of course the base rookies of stars were always in demand. However over the last 20 years I was out of the hobby (I got back into the hobby in 2016 and I almost exclusively collect hockey now) - I was amazed and how much the hobby has changed since I left in 1997 - I mean there are 20x more product to choose from, and those products have 10-15 insert sets and those insert sets have parallels, and even the base sets has parallels if not multiple parallels - so these days the hobby is more focused on rare parallels, inserts (GU jerseys, auto's, SP's short print rookies and serial numbered cards) - and those are the cards the modern collectors are looking for and the "base cards" are really just filler or fodder for the cards the collectors are looking for.....But yes, base cards do have value, the problem is that these days as opposed to 20 years ago the hobby is more aimed towards adults, and adults have cash to spend on cards, so your typical collector will buy 2-3 boxes at a time looking for their "hits", and usually they will end up with enough base cards to make a complete set - so that makes the demand for your basic base cards extremely low, because most collectors already have them plenty of them, and the ones they don't have they can easily find in trade, and in many cases collectors will just give them away if you pay the postage.

However, many sets do have SP (short print) base cards that are worth something, they're usually towards the end of the set. For example: cards #200+ in 2019-20 Upper Deck MVP are SP's, as are all the rookies... ALL "base" rookies found in this era (like Young Guns) are short prints, and in most cases short prints are NOT considered part of the "base set" - they're considered more of a subset - and they do have value. So keep that in mind, don't mix your SP's with your typical base cards.

As far as base cards and their value and selling them - I mean there is just no value there... I mean sure, I could throw a 2017-18 Auston Matthews base card on ebay for .49 cents (that books for $2.50) w/ free shipping and it would probably sell on it's first listing.. But why would I pay $3 bucks to ship a card that I only made .49 cents on?? I mean sure, I could list the card on ebay for .49 cents and $3.00 shipping and I MAY sell it after a few months. Just because some collector needs one immediately........

However if you do ebay and do combined shipping selling base cards is pretty easy... Because if a buyer is interested in several of your cards and you're only asking $3.00 combined shipping - then shipping doesn't become an issue and people will buy your base cards - hence in theory those base cards do hold value, and you can get a buck or 2 for a base card....

I mean that's how I do ebay..... I will see a card I want, but the shipping doesn't make sense for me to buy it so I checkout their other cards and I will find 15-20 that I'm interested in and I can get them all shipped for $3.00 combined shipping which makes it worth it - and which is why I have managed to accumulate 750,000 cards over the last 3.5 years, lol.... I'm a sucker for buying lots and large quantities of hockey cards at one time for really good prices - because sometimes shipping can be an issue if you only want one card.

Also, base cards are excellent for card shows, you can take your Matthews, Marner, Tkachuk, Toews, Kane etc or whatever star base card you have, and put then in a 2,500 count .50 cent box or (3) for a dollar box or dollar box depending on the base card/insert/parallel that really have no ebay value or internet value other than traders and those cards sell really well... Not only do you get rid a bunch of your doubles. triples or quadruples++ and are going home with less cards than you came with, however you're going home with cash in your pocket.... And believe me - those 3 for a dollar or a dollar each bins/boxes are like magnets to collectors, and you can sell out fast..

So yea, that's why when I break boxes and packs I toss my star base cards and SP's off to the side - because I plan (hopefully) on doing some more card shows and they're good to have.

And even if you have "common" base cards, that aren't stars you can also toss those in a big 5,000 count box and sell the commons for a penny a or two a piece.... Sure it's not much, but it does add up pretty quick, and again you're going home with less cards than you came with - and again with cash in your pockets..

I mean even with those 1 to 5 cent boxes you can make $10-$50 bucks off those boxes alone, especially if you stock them with a nice variety of cards.....

Anyway, that's just my thought on base cards and their value and a few tips to sell them. Because their value really relies on certain circumstances.... So base cards aren't "junk" - they can be actually gold if you know how to sell them.... Not only that but, 5 cent boxes attract a lot of people to your table, and they may go over to your table to see what's in the boxes they may see some of your more higher end stuff and pick that up as well... They may want to buy a card you have marked at $50, offer you $45 and you come back with $47 and offer 20 free cards out of your (3) for a dollar box.. Done deal!!

Man do I miss card shows, they're such a great time. You're making money, having good conversations and getting rid of cards you really have no use for.

Oh, and I would recommend getting a Beckett - not to really place value on your cards (IMO, ebay is better for that) but for the information that's in Beckett, so you know your parallels, SP's, inserts and auto's etc - because if you're just getting back into the hobby this new era of collecting can be quite overwhelming and even now after 3.5 years, I'm still learning. So yea, having a Beckett on hand is an asset.... Unfortunately their values on most "lower end" cards are unrealistic - the "high end" values seems pretty accurate if not too low with some cards.

Sorry I got a little OT but I think these ideas are all related to the value of base cards.

- Nick

[Rraincock]

I put superstar cards in 2 card BCW screw down placks and sell em for $5 at shows


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[cjb]

how many hours did it take you to type that savard....lol

I guess the question i should have asked from the beginning is that if i need 20 base cards to complete my set, should it really matter to the person on the other end what 20 base cards he gives up? Should i or the person on the other end really care if i'm asking for first liners that are averaging 20+ goals per season and I'm giving up base card players who will probably never get to 20 goals per season..