Making a decent wage of sports cards.

[backtothe50s]

Originally Posted by premium1981

How much cash outlay do you have available? In this market that makes a huge difference.

doing this to supplemental my upcoming pension, so I have a cashflow coming in. just looking to add an extra $500 or so per month to supplement.(pretty much just looking for extra hobby spending money to fund my pc)

[premium1981]

Originally Posted by backtothe50s

doing this to supplemental my upcoming pension, so I have a cashflow coming in. just looking to add an extra $500 or so per month to supplement.(pretty much just looking for extra hobby spending money to fund my pc)

That didn't answer my question. How much money are you wanting to spend to start the "cashflow" that you want to have as a return. You can't get $500 a month back if you don't spend something. Are you wanting a $500 montly return on a $500 investment? Or are you looking for a $500 monthly return on a $50,000 investment?

[backtothe50s]

Originally Posted by premium1981

That didn't answer my question. How much money are you wanting to spend to start the "cashflow" that you want to have as a return. You can't get $500 a month back if you don't spend something. Are you wanting a $500 montly return on a $500 investment? Or are you looking for a $500 monthly return on a $50,000 investment?

im sorry, I didnt understand your question , but I tried to answer the best I could at what I "thought" you were asking.

Never really thought about the exact cashflow needed every month as I usually just need funds for my PC (Ill have to figure that part out) Back to the drawing board for me!

[fungi2510]

Originally Posted by backtothe50s

im sorry, I didnt understand your question , but I tried to answer the best I could at what I "thought" you were asking.

Never really thought about the exact cashflow needed every month as I usually just need funds for my PC (Ill have to figure that part out) Back to the drawing board for me!

I think that it also has a basis in how much inventory you have. I am in the selling off part of my collection. My goal is to make around 1000 net each month. I need 0 cash flow as I have the cards to sell. I just need to make sure that I add cards on to eBay to keep it going. I should have enough to keep me hitting that goal for at least another year. After that, we will see what happens. If I was wanting to hit a $500 goal each month, I would be planning on putting in around that much for at least a year. I would expect to 2-3x my money, but know that there will be a few losses.

I still think that so much of this question revolves around what do you have to start with and what you plan on making each month.

[rwperu34]

Originally Posted by backtothe50s

after crunching some numbers, Ive come up with a new goal. my new goal for me, is Id like to make just an extra $500 net per month. nothing crazy, just $500 net would be great. with that in mind, whats the best way to go, or things you recommend to sell that will help me reach $500 a month? autographs, .99 cent cards, graded cards, lots, etc? thank you!

My suggestion would be to pick one thing and become an expert. Then expand to a seocond thing, a third thing...etc.

As for how much cash you need, I consider it a good month if I sell 15-20% of my listed inventory. To make $500 extra cash flow a month that would mean you'd only need $2500 of sales a month. That menas you'd need $12,500-$15,000 of listed inventory. Of course there will be a learning period as you figure out how to use in practice all of the information you've read about. And don't forget to account for ups and downs.

[paparoke]

Originally Posted by rwperu34

My suggestion would be to pick one thing and become an expert. Then expand to a seocond thing, a third thing...etc.

As for how much cash you need, I consider it a good month if I sell 15-20% of my listed inventory. To make $500 extra cash flow a month that would mean you'd only need $2500 of sales a month. That menas you'd need $12,500-$15,000 of listed inventory. Of course there will be a learning period as you figure out how to use in practice all of the information you've read about. And don't forget to account for ups and downs.

I agree with this right here. Focus on one thing, a player, a team, a certain set and find out what sells and for how much. Then you can start to acquire said items at a prices that support your margins. For example, say you're looking to sell Cal Raleigh Topps Chrome autos and let's say they range from $25-$30 on consistant sales. Well that's where you start to scour all platforms (Blowout, Ebay...etc) for the same autos in the $15-$20 range. That probably gives you enough margin to cover fees and walk away with 25-50% profit. If you're looking to make money, you can't buy these things in the $25-$30 range, you will lose, unless you're prospecting and think the upside is there.

[backtothe50s]

thank you for all of the above thoughts.

I also have a ton of my PC that I can sell as well, so if I use the extra from my PC, my cashflow to start would be zero as I already have a ton of inventory in my PC that I could part with if need be.

[Budler]

A business full time or not is making or selling a product or service. Your choice is cards as your product.

I figure you are not going to make the cards so you have to buy them to resell. Even making cards You have to put some money into it. Appears you have cards already, but you did buy them at one time. How many are you going to make money on? You always have to buy more to replace the ones you sold to keep going. That comes into play if you want to use some of your profits for other things. Keep in mind the IRS will want their share.

Goals are good but you really need a plan on getting to the goals. There are so many ways to do it and with every way there are things to look for. Some examples have been given. You and you alone have to decide on that, no matter how much information is given to you.

A lot of people can do things very different and still hit their goals. One way does not fit every one for many reasons.

Most of the advice is general information. Without knowing what your inventory is no one can really give you information that will help you meet your goals. The numbers you are throwing out appears you do have some good cards.

My PC is not for sale. I have over 100,000 other cards I would like to get rid of. Due to what they are I have fewer ways to go. Lot of them are 80s / 90s commons so they will not do good on several selling platforms. singles or lots.

Becoming an expert is not reading or knowing how. It is doing it.

[Raleigh504]

Originally Posted by rwperu34

My suggestion would be to pick one thing and become an expert. Then expand to a seocond thing, a third thing...etc.

As for how much cash you need, I consider it a good month if I sell 15-20% of my listed inventory. To make $500 extra cash flow a month that would mean you'd only need $2500 of sales a month. That menas you'd need $12,500-$15,000 of listed inventory. Of course there will be a learning period as you figure out how to use in practice all of the information you've read about. And don't forget to account for ups and downs.

The 12.5-15k is generous. Depending on how you buy collections/what you are able to buy may dictate what you can list/turnover. Some stuff will sit for a bit but eventually sell (how long can he wait on the slower stuff, unless you pay for ads on eBay). I switched up my campaigns from 9% to 5% and saw a drastic decrease in volume sold. 500-400 to under 300. I am listing the same and doing the same type of promos I usually do. Just not getting the views as I used to with the decrease.

[paparoke]

Originally Posted by Raleigh504

The 12.5-15k is generous. Depending on how you buy collections/what you are able to buy may dictate what you can list/turnover. Some stuff will sit for a bit but eventually sell (how long can he wait on the slower stuff, unless you pay for ads on eBay). I switched up my campaigns from 9% to 5% and saw a drastic decrease in volume sold. 500-400 to under 300. I am listing the same and doing the same type of promos I usually do. Just not getting the views as I used to with the decrease.

Man I just can't get behind throwing anything above 2% for ads. I can't stand that it has come to this with ebay. You have to pay just to have your listings seen. I've been stubborn over the years and probably why I'm not a much bigger seller than I am.

[rwperu34]

Originally Posted by Raleigh504

The 12.5-15k is generous. Depending on how you buy collections/what you are able to buy may dictate what you can list/turnover. Some stuff will sit for a bit but eventually sell (how long can he wait on the slower stuff, unless you pay for ads on eBay). I switched up my campaigns from 9% to 5% and saw a drastic decrease in volume sold. 500-400 to under 300. I am listing the same and doing the same type of promos I usually do. Just not getting the views as I used to with the decrease.

What % of your inventory are you going through each month? I've been at 15-20% for the last five months or so, which is pretty normal for in season. With $15,000 average daily inventory that would be $2,250 to $3,000 in sales. That should be an easy $500 profit.

[premium1981]

Originally Posted by paparoke

Man I just can't get behind throwing anything above 2% for ads. I can't stand that it has come to this with ebay. You have to pay just to have your listings seen. I've been stubborn over the years and probably why I'm not a much bigger seller than I am.

I understand the sentiment, but that costs you money. Don't let your stubbornness hold you back.

[premium1981]

Originally Posted by backtothe50s

Never really thought about the exact cashflow needed every month as I usually just need funds for my PC (Ill have to figure that part out) Back to the drawing board for me!

Business is all about cashflow. You can make money by starting out with $5 but it will be slow. If you are wanting $500 a month extra every month thats going to require cash upfront and a constant cycling of that money. When you get that built up enough its really easy, but its a grind that usually takes many years to get there. As the old saying goes, it takes money to make money.

[Raleigh504]

Originally Posted by rwperu34

What % of your inventory are you going through each month? I've been at 15-20% for the last five months or so, which is pretty normal for in season. With $15,000 average daily inventory that would be $2,250 to $3,000 in sales. That should be an easy $500 profit.

I want to throw a caveat for my store, early on I listed pretty much anything (All RCs, Stars, inserts, etc. Only commons were vintage). So my store is inflated and slowly going through the process to clean it up, especially once I finish my CDP listings that I paid for which will take a few more months.

I have $71k currently listed but has been over $60k listed in general. I am going through about 3% a month on average. I will admit I do have probably 5k out of 22k items listed that should be taken down and sold in bulk, but again slowly doing that throughout this year.

Originally Posted by paparoke

Man I just can't get behind throwing anything above 2% for ads. I can't stand that it has come to this with ebay. You have to pay just to have your listings seen. I've been stubborn over the years and probably why I'm not a much bigger seller than I am.

Yes, I have slowly moved it up from 1% over the years and have noticed a bump in sales (some with ads and some without, but mostly with). After I dropped it for a month I could really see the difference in volume. $ amount was about the same but volume did take a big hit.

[jamcas997]

Originally Posted by Raleigh504

I want to throw a caveat for my store, early on I listed pretty much anything (All RCs, Stars, inserts, etc. Only commons were vintage). So my store is inflated and slowly going through the process to clean it up, especially once I finish my CDP listings that I paid for which will take a few more months.

I have $71k currently listed but has been over $60k listed in general. I am going through about 3% a month on average. I will admit I do have probably 5k out of 22k items listed that should be taken down and sold in bulk, but again slowly doing that throughout this year.



Yes, I have slowly moved it up from 1% over the years and have noticed a bump in sales (some with ads and some without, but mostly with). After I dropped it for a month I could really see the difference in volume. $ amount was about the same but volume did take a big hit.

If you remove the 1200 Bowman Paper and 200 Heritage Minors listings I would have about 2400 Listings on ebay with out the large quantities making up about 77% of my inventory I would only have about 36k listed. I have so many more cards to list , but I do work full time.

[jamcas997]

Taking this one back to the top if anyone has anything new to add.