Making money while in the hobby

[jaderock]

The honest truth is you can't make an honest living off sportscards without alot of LUCK, but also alot of hard work! It's not easy nor is it cheap and at times the "wait to flip MAY NEVER COME".
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Cute thread that in Football, people say Basketball is easier to make money. People in Basketball often say the opposite. Funny.
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Examples like Andres Biedrins turn out good and might even be better or may NEVER TOP the current level EVER again. But timing and luck (New Coach Don Nelson) along with maturity and performances on the court plays into the success or failure of potential. Heck, most teams have smarten up on defending Biedrins a lot better in Dec and his stats are now steady vs rising. What's to follow?
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A fellow collector said "I bought 40k in boxes and cases last year and made only 50% back...it was hella fun, but the worst ROI year" Do you have $40,000 to play with?!?
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My advise is simply...Enjoy the hobby by collecting what makes you happy regardless of percieved worth...you'll end up staying in the hobby a lifetime.

[jeremy17]

The honest truth is you can't make an honest living off sportscards without alot of LUCK, but also alot of hard work! It's not easy nor is it cheap and at times the "wait to flip MAY NEVER COME".
---
Cute thread that in Football, people say Basketball is easier to make money. People in Basketball often say the opposite. Funny.
---
Examples like Andres Biedrins turn out good and might even be better or may NEVER TOP the current level EVER again. But timing and luck (New Coach Don Nelson) along with maturity and performances on the court plays into the success or failure of potential. Heck, most teams have smarten up on defending Biedrins a lot better in Dec and his stats are now steady vs rising. What's to follow?
---
A fellow collector said "I bought 40k in boxes and cases last year and made only 50% back...it was hella fun, but the worst ROI year" Do you have $40,000 to play with?!?
---
My advise is simply...Enjoy the hobby by collecting what makes you happy regardless of percieved worth...you'll end up staying in the hobby a lifetime.

very good post but I don't think he wanted to make a living of cards but rather make profit to use the money to buy other things.What you said about biedrins is exactly right and I know a guy that is a big time collector of him and is upset hes not doing as much as he can and If were to say advice to somone who is looking to make profit in cards i'd say the very last sentence you said.Ia gree 100% of what you just said very good post!

[Buschmaster]

Yeah, the idea isn't to make a living but just to profit in general.

Perhaps I poorly outlined that in my post.

[halekulani]

save up money
buy exquisite
sit on it
sell it

it's the most boring way to make money, but it's definitely the lowest effort and highest reward.

[Buschmaster]

I'm thinking after my friend and I get our tax rebates we're going to buy a case of football on ebay. Perhaps Fleer or Fleer Ultra and then sell them as boxes.

We'll check it out a bit more to make sure we're getting the best we can. But it looks like we could make some money off of that.

[paul06901]

Unless you have a consistant extremely cheap connection, you will NEVER make profit off of selling boxes, especially on ebay. Theres just too many big dealers now that get the stuff and can sell it at barely any profit and gross bigger profit due to other sales, yet these box/case sales draw attention and is a great marketing strategy.

I paid for my entire college tuition last year just from flipping singles. It takes an extreme amount of time, and knowledge. You cant hesitate, you have to know the market, and have funds available constantly. You also have to be able to sustain a loss here and there. Since november, I have spent according to ebay, over $6000. But what have I sold out of that? Surely over 6K. Seems like a lot lot LOT of money, but when you buy a card and re sell the next week and make 20-100 off it if not more, it adds up after a while, and its not like your literally spending $6000 since the profit goes back into your funds for your next purchase(s)

hopefully I havent given anyone any ideas because I only know 2, maybe 3 people who are more successfull at this than me, and I dont want that number rising ;)

[jaybiddyforeal]

ive taken 4000$ and turned it into an 11K collection from flipping singles over the year and a half. took about 1500 of that profit to invest in randy foye and kyle lowry and even if they lose big time (esp lowry), ill still be ahead. takes time and research to figure out the right guys to buy at the right time.

james

[golfermatt91]

get a loan and open up a card shop i think thats what you need.... and then if/once you get that going then the profits will start

[Buschmaster]

Unless you have a consistant extremely cheap connection, you will NEVER make profit off of selling boxes, especially on ebay. Theres just too many big dealers now that get the stuff and can sell it at barely any profit and gross bigger profit due to other sales, yet these box/case sales draw attention and is a great marketing strategy.

I paid for my entire college tuition last year just from flipping singles. It takes an extreme amount of time, and knowledge. You cant hesitate, you have to know the market, and have funds available constantly. You also have to be able to sustain a loss here and there. Since november, I have spent according to ebay, over $6000. But what have I sold out of that? Surely over 6K. Seems like a lot lot LOT of money, but when you buy a card and re sell the next week and make 20-100 off it if not more, it adds up after a while, and its not like your literally spending $6000 since the profit goes back into your funds for your next purchase(s)

hopefully I havent given anyone any ideas because I only know 2, maybe 3 people who are more successfull at this than me, and I dont want that number rising ;)

I was strictly looking at the prices. Look at the 12 box cases of Fleer Ultra on ebay and then look at what one box can sell for...

[corys763]

my thoughts are that if you flip singles...and you know when to buy and sell you could probably do ok....but boxes and packs after opened can be a pain because then you have all these singles which some may be worthless or hard to get rid of...but if you sell the packs or boxes then you may be able to make some money depending on what brand you have!! Now if you have lots of resources like a card shop then it is probably a different story!!!