What are mistakes you made starting out as a collector you are embarrassed by today?

Bowman1951 · 07-28-2020, 01:41 PM

I've been going through a bunch of boxes from 2017 recently and I'm absolutely embarrassed by how many vet base cards I sleeved up, thinking they will have future value (good now as I was seeking penny sleeves after running out so I can recycle them again). "Fourth year Opening Day Yelich card? This is going to be awesome!" Granted, I have learned over time to sleeve each and every Mike Trout I own.

Also, it took me awhile to realize how bad screw-down holders were. I had many of my more "valuable" cards from the 80's and 90's in them that are likely ruined. I'm just glad those didn't hold value in the long run.

It just shows how little I knew when I got back into the hobby a few years ago. I'm sure there are plenty of other stories talking about mistakes people made, what are some of yours?

chiefsncards275 · 07-28-2020, 01:44 PM

For me it was thinking jersey cards were the coolest thing ever. I would buy any jersey or patch card that looked nice not knowing most were not actually game used. If only young me would’ve put those into lower #’ed parallels or autos.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Lonewolf · 07-28-2020, 01:45 PM

I had a chance to buy a NNOF Frank Thomas in the early 90s for something like a $100...I didn't buy it...

hairysasquatch · 07-28-2020, 01:48 PM

Rubber bands.

Screw downs.

Saggy binder pages.

Smoke-filled card shops.

The 1990s.

TimChill · 07-28-2020, 01:48 PM

Buying a Henry Owens autograph. And selling stuff way to early.

oplum29 · 07-28-2020, 01:48 PM

buying retail box after retail box of UD baseball just to get one jersey card...i found all 15 of them the other day, i kept about five of them, got rid of everything else in a lot.

a waste of money when you look back at it.

Akphillips86 · 07-28-2020, 01:50 PM

Haha too many to count! I’ve learned a ton in a very short amount of time, but my mistakes have certainly taught me to be humble and not pretend to know everything.

I always find it entertaining how many people have these rock solid opinions that are dashed into pieces in a matter of weeks. You can definitely make strong conjectures, but there’s just so much about the hobby we can’t control.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

PKIPP · 07-28-2020, 01:51 PM

Buying 2016 flagship hobby boxes marked up at my LCS. The prices I paid for them would be excellent by today's standards though.

SleepyWill · 07-28-2020, 01:51 PM

Overpaying on certain cards due to FOMO, only to regret it later on.

Also, passing on a chance when I got back into it in 17' on splitting two cases of Prizm football with a RL buddy.

He still has over 24 boxes unopened . . . Nice house payment he's working on.

jlzinck · 07-28-2020, 01:53 PM

I was 10 and it was 1975 so I didn't care that I traded Pete Rose, Hank Aaron and all the other stars for Jim Rice and Fred Lynn rookies

pip · 07-28-2020, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lonewolf

I had a chance to buy a NNOF Frank Thomas in the early 90s for something like a $100...I didn't buy it...

I bought some boxes back in 1990 and ended up with a handful of these. I took them to card shows and tried to sell them to dealers for between $75 and $100 each. Had no takers. They all told me it was too much for an unconfirmed error and that there were probably tons of them. I later sold them for several hundred each.

LCM1223 · 07-28-2020, 01:56 PM

Taking Beckett BV as gospel

Oh how disappointing

discodanman45 · 07-28-2020, 02:00 PM

It will be tonight when I open my 5 White Sparkle Prizm packs.

EastonElite · 07-28-2020, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlzinck

I was 10 and it was 1975 so I didn't care that I traded Pete Rose, Hank Aaron and all the other stars for Jim Rice and Fred Lynn rookies

When all of this new money in the hobby realizes that the only true investment is vintage, the vintage market is going to go crazy.

calculusdork · 07-28-2020, 02:03 PM

Getting "back into it" (circa 2012):

(1) Going all-in on player collections. Turns out, players on your favorite team get traded. I still have an Alex Wood RC collection that rivals *almost* any other player collection here. I had a good opportunity to sell big chunks of it in 2017 and I didn't. Much regret. It's OK to player-collect for sure ... just wish I had diversified more.

(2) Being lazy when selling stuff. Took me a long time to realize how important good pictures are, and to put in the work when breaking cases.

Those are probably the biggest two. I've definitely sold too early, and there are plenty of products I could have held sealed and sold later, but that's not fun to me so I have no regrets there.

Spartacus · 07-28-2020, 02:03 PM

Buying Optic baseball because at the time I thought it was cool and the price was in my wheelhouse... now I understand the no license talk lol

ThoseBackPages · 07-28-2020, 02:03 PM

opening any wax. should have saved it all

dmanrico · 07-28-2020, 02:04 PM

I thought Mike Trout was overpriced when I got back into collecting in 2017, so I avoided his cards completely.

Akphillips86 · 07-28-2020, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastonElite

When all of this new money in the hobby realizes that the only true investment is vintage, the vintage market is going to go crazy.

Two entirely different markets with different buyers. Both can be “true” investments.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Raleigh504 · 07-28-2020, 02:10 PM

Getting semi-back in 2010 and only buying a few retail packs of update.... Wish I bought a lot more.

Also wish I bought more 2018 Update, remember leaving a lot on the shelves.

mfw13 · 07-28-2020, 02:11 PM

I traded a nice 1965 Yaz for a Tim Raines RC....

Stech36 · 07-28-2020, 02:20 PM

Opening retail boxes. Yeah I’ve hit a couple nice cards here and there, but overall.. it’s throwing money away.

Opening any basketball this year and not just holding it.

dmanrico · 07-28-2020, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EastonElite

When all of this new money in the hobby realizes that the only true investment is vintage, the vintage market is going to go crazy.

It's funny as I've always thought the opposite will happen with vintage (outside of the select key vintage cards we all know), but what do I know (I passed on Mike Trout).

Glebe · 07-28-2020, 02:24 PM

I'm sure I had some awesome cards when I collected late 90s through mid 2k. When I moved to a new city as a teenager I was eager to try and find someone else share the hobby with. We lived in this apartment complex where someone was buying cards, he bought some from me, I have no idea what I sold and probably better that way.

patchgenie · 07-28-2020, 02:26 PM

investing in pitchers

opening wax that is a good one too. should have kept it sealed.

07-28-2020, 01:41 PM	#1
Bowman1951 Member Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Boston 'Burbs Posts: 4,719 djblitz Bowman1951	What are mistakes you made starting out as a collector you are embarrassed by today? I've been going through a bunch of boxes from 2017 recently and I'm absolutely embarrassed by how many vet base cards I sleeved up, thinking they will have future value (good now as I was seeking penny sleeves after running out so I can recycle them again). "Fourth year Opening Day Yelich card? This is going to be awesome!" Granted, I have learned over time to sleeve each and every Mike Trout I own. Also, it took me awhile to realize how bad screw-down holders were. I had many of my more "valuable" cards from the 80's and 90's in them that are likely ruined. I'm just glad those didn't hold value in the long run. It just shows how little I knew when I got back into the hobby a few years ago. I'm sure there are plenty of other stories talking about mistakes people made, what are some of yours? __________________ I am the head promoter of one of the most successful Saturday monthly card shows in New England. https://flippincardshow.com/

07-28-2020, 01:45 PM	#3
Lonewolf Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: California Posts: 4,563	I had a chance to buy a NNOF Frank Thomas in the early 90s for something like a $100...I didn't buy it... __________________ Apparently, Money and Computers *CAN* Buy Championships, LOL

07-28-2020, 01:48 PM	#4
hairysasquatch Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: In the Woods, Central NY Posts: 37,850	Rubber bands. Screw downs. Saggy binder pages. Smoke-filled card shops. The 1990s. __________________ I am going signature-free

07-28-2020, 01:48 PM	#5
TimChill Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: San Diego Posts: 677 timsgarageband7	Buying a Henry Owens autograph. And selling stuff way to early. __________________ I PC: Tim Lincecum, SF Giants, 49ers, Golden State Warriors, San Jose Sharks and Manchester United.

07-28-2020, 01:48 PM	#6
oplum29 Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 10,405	buying retail box after retail box of UD baseball just to get one jersey card...i found all 15 of them the other day, i kept about five of them, got rid of everything else in a lot. a waste of money when you look back at it. __________________ "got em, got em, need em, got em, got em, need em, got em" - Little Monsters

07-28-2020, 01:44 PM	#2
chiefsncards275 Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,522 chiefsncards275	For me it was thinking jersey cards were the coolest thing ever. I would buy any jersey or patch card that looked nice not knowing most were not actually game used. If only young me would’ve put those into lower #’ed parallels or autos. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

07-28-2020, 01:50 PM	#7
Akphillips86 Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Posts: 2,960	Haha too many to count! I’ve learned a ton in a very short amount of time, but my mistakes have certainly taught me to be humble and not pretend to know everything. I always find it entertaining how many people have these rock solid opinions that are dashed into pieces in a matter of weeks. You can definitely make strong conjectures, but there’s just so much about the hobby we can’t control. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

07-28-2020, 01:51 PM	#8
PKIPP Member Join Date: May 2018 Location: Michigan Posts: 5,074	Buying 2016 flagship hobby boxes marked up at my LCS. The prices I paid for them would be excellent by today's standards though. __________________ i collect Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers, Carmelo Anthony, Donovan Mitchell, Detroit Pistons Follow me on IG: Cardboard_vault

07-28-2020, 01:51 PM	#9
SleepyWill Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Boston Posts: 2,687	Overpaying on certain cards due to FOMO, only to regret it later on. Also, passing on a chance when I got back into it in 17' on splitting two cases of Prizm football with a RL buddy. He still has over 24 boxes unopened . . . Nice house payment he's working on. __________________ Shohei Variation Chaser @Forbidden Donut on IG

07-28-2020, 01:53 PM	#10
jlzinck Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Cape Cod, MA Posts: 36,544 jlzinck jl_zinck	I was 10 and it was 1975 so I didn't care that I traded Pete Rose, Hank Aaron and all the other stars for Jim Rice and Fred Lynn rookies __________________ https://www.youtube.com/user/jonzinck

07-28-2020, 01:56 PM	#12
LCM1223 Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 26,725 lucards1295	Taking Beckett BV as gospel Oh how disappointing __________________ Total Topps BUNT Profits: $1719.61 KICK: $3243.82 HUDDLE: $300.22 STAR WARS CARD TRADER: $3283.79 STAR WARS FORCE COLLECTION: $1318.14 TWD: $94.09 NBA/SKATE: $756.69

07-28-2020, 02:00 PM	#13
discodanman45 Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: CA Posts: 10,122 danch27	It will be tonight when I open my 5 White Sparkle Prizm packs.

07-28-2020, 02:03 PM	#15
calculusdork Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Nowheresville Posts: 26,682 calculusdork calculusdork	Getting "back into it" (circa 2012): (1) Going all-in on player collections. Turns out, players on your favorite team get traded. I still have an Alex Wood RC collection that rivals almost any other player collection here. I had a good opportunity to sell big chunks of it in 2017 and I didn't. Much regret. It's OK to player-collect for sure ... just wish I had diversified more. (2) Being lazy when selling stuff. Took me a long time to realize how important good pictures are, and to put in the work when breaking cases. Those are probably the biggest two. I've definitely sold too early, and there are plenty of products I could have held sealed and sold later, but that's not fun to me so I have no regrets there.

07-28-2020, 02:03 PM	#16
Spartacus Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Tx Posts: 497 justin8478tiger	Buying Optic baseball because at the time I thought it was cool and the price was in my wheelhouse... now I understand the no license talk lol

07-28-2020, 02:03 PM	#17
ThoseBackPages Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Long Island Posts: 91,410 ThoseBackPages	opening any wax. should have saved it all __________________ Pumpers Paradise #YouCryIBuy Four things that we cannot change each others minds about: Politics, Religion, Third Party Grading, and 2021 Bowman's Best Rookie Cards

07-28-2020, 02:04 PM	#18
dmanrico Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 2,469	I thought Mike Trout was overpriced when I got back into collecting in 2017, so I avoided his cards completely.

07-28-2020, 02:10 PM	#20
Raleigh504 Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: NC Posts: 2,724 ig_bljhsports	Getting semi-back in 2010 and only buying a few retail packs of update.... Wish I bought a lot more. Also wish I bought more 2018 Update, remember leaving a lot on the shelves.

07-28-2020, 02:11 PM	#21
mfw13 Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 18,292	I traded a nice 1965 Yaz for a Tim Raines RC....

07-28-2020, 02:20 PM	#22
Stech36 Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Westminster, MD Posts: 9,654 Stech36	Opening retail boxes. Yeah I’ve hit a couple nice cards here and there, but overall.. it’s throwing money away. Opening any basketball this year and not just holding it.

07-28-2020, 02:24 PM	#24
Glebe Member Join Date: Jun 2019 Posts: 974	I'm sure I had some awesome cards when I collected late 90s through mid 2k. When I moved to a new city as a teenager I was eager to try and find someone else share the hobby with. We lived in this apartment complex where someone was buying cards, he bought some from me, I have no idea what I sold and probably better that way.

07-28-2020, 02:26 PM	#25
patchgenie Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 7,143 americansportscards	investing in pitchers opening wax that is a good one too. should have kept it sealed.