First Buzz: 2021 Topps Update baseball cards

[actionbryan]

Don’t a lot of the pick ‘em listings sell 1 at a time ?

$1 - eBay fee - .53 shipping leaves you with literal peanuts no ?

[vinnieb]

Originally Posted by JoeAdam

He means that there is plenty of money to be had if you know how to sell it. Build base sets, master sets, insert sets, sell parallels in large lots, game used large lots, build rookie lots, etc. Unlike other products, that feature 1 or 2 cards per box, you actually have to put in a little work to get the money back from Flagship. But people buy it.

Thanks. Appreciate the info. I'm new to case breaks and am really trying to understand how to best unload all of it, so this is all gold to me.

[vinnieb]

Originally Posted by rwperu34

Based on my experience here's how I would do a flagship case if I were to do another one.

For the base, I would throw it in a flat rate box and let someone else to the work of making the sets. When I did my case in 2018 I made about the same as someone doing sets. Even if there were a 5% or 10% discount, I'd take that.

When I did it, I pulled out all the RC, but decided even that wasn't worth the time. Maybe in 2020 or early 2021 it would have been worth it, but now I think we're back to not worth it.

For the inserts, relics, gold, rainbow foil....etc., I'd do a you pick listing with $1 flat rate shipping and let guys finish off their sets. This takes longer than selling them as sets or lots, but man the payoff is huge. Back then the 100 count insert set sold for $25. Going you pick would be well over $100 for not too much extra work.

The other key is the non RC hits need to be sold as quickly as possible. I still have a Bellinger SSP that was $80 at the time, maybe $50 if I ran it at 1¢ auction. I'd be lucky to get $20 for that card at any point a month after release, including during his MVP run in 2019.

Thanks.

When you say "as quickly as possible", are we talking within the first week of release? First month?

What's the typical drop in value of complete sets a month after release?

[vinnieb]

Originally Posted by vinnieb

Just pulled this out of box number eight of my case. 6/10

Attachment 515923

Wish it wasn't a sticker, but I'll certainly take it.

Just pulled this bad boy out of the first pack of box nine.



Not bad.

[rwperu34]

Originally Posted by Zauron

I don't understand the stance against building the sets. It's relatively quick and easy if you do it as you are breaking the box, and they sell really easy if you price it right.

I will say, either you do it like you say on the parallels(pick your option, which is time consuming setting up) or sell as a lot, and try to sell as quickly as possible to get maximum value.

It's simply a time vs reward calculation. I can sort about 500 cards an hour. So a 300 card set is about 36 minutes. For that I'd want to get at least $5 more per set ($50 overall), if not more. When I sold my flat rate box in 2018 I'm pretty sure I got more than if I had broken it into sets. I didn't sort them so I'm not 100% sure. That's based on what people on Blowout said and checking ebay for completed sales on sets and making some assumptions on fees, shipping...etc.

[rwperu34]

Originally Posted by actionbryan

Don’t a lot of the pick ‘em listings sell 1 at a time ?

$1 - eBay fee - .53 shipping leaves you with literal peanuts no ?

Yes. 99¢ plus $1 shipping nets me 92¢ after fees. You will have plenty where they buy 2-3-4-5...etc.

If I recall it takes me about 5 minutes to set up the listing, then I can list 50 cards in like 10 minutes. My number may be off there, but it's fast. 100 cards will go out in like 25-30 packages. Of course at the end you'll have some leftovers which go out in a lot or into a box to go out in a bigger lot.

It's better than 99¢ per card too because you'll go $1.49 on the stars, $1.99 on Trout/Soto/Acuna types, and the RC can go for even more. For example the 1986 insert of Kelenic looks like it's selling for $3-$4. Wander will probably go for $10 out of the gate next year. The key is having a big selection so the set builders can buy multiples and combine shipping.

So you're talking an extra hour and a half to boost sales by $50 or more. That's well worth it to me.

[rwperu34]

Originally Posted by vinnieb

Thanks.

When you say "as quickly as possible", are we talking within the first week of release? First month?

What's the typical drop in value of complete sets a month after release?

Legendary Blowout poster brentandbecca used to say he'd have two weeks to unload 100 cases worth of product. I think that's a pretty good target for us mere mortals. The decay rate is really fast after release.

[crownand]

Originally Posted by JoeAdam

I’ve opened 2 hobby cases and 1 jumbo case and several random boxes. Personally, I think the value is better in hobby than jumbo. No big chase cards, but you get about 10 sets per hobby case. It’s a lot of work but I’ve sold almost 20 base sets for $47-$50 on eBay (netting ~$33/set after fees and shipping). Not bad when the per box price of hobby is less than $70. The extra autos don’t make up for the 2-3 sets you’re giving up when you rip jumbo.

Debating getting a case for my son for Christmas. He’s a really good boy and loves to set build. So cases down to $825. If you can get $30 per set in a few weeks from now, we’d recoup $300. He might want to keep 1 set and some good hits. So it’d cost us $500-550 you think to buy a case? Thanks!

[mikejones]

Originally Posted by crownand

Debating getting a case for my son for Christmas. He’s a really good boy and loves to set build. So cases down to $825. If you can get $30 per set in a few weeks from now, we’d recoup $300. He might want to keep 1 set and some good hits. So it’d cost us $500-550 you think to buy a case? Thanks!

I'd go with either topps update or heritage high. Only difference is heritage high is kind of a boring break. Update has more inserts and parallels but the chance for a big hit is not that great. With heritage high, you'll have a better shot at a big hit. I've opened about 4 cases of update and 3 of heritage high. Can't go wrong with either. Good luck.

[Zauron]

Originally Posted by crownand

Debating getting a case for my son for Christmas. He’s a really good boy and loves to set build. So cases down to $825. If you can get $30 per set in a few weeks from now, we’d recoup $300. He might want to keep 1 set and some good hits. So it’d cost us $500-550 you think to buy a case? Thanks!

I'm not sure what it is like now, but most likely you can say net $30 for 8 sets, which would be $240. I do not know if you can build a master set in 1 case of Hobby this year, but at least have a good chunk and profit possibly $100 or more easily on that. Basically half your money is easily back by selling sets, and you can keep 1 set for yourself.

You'll probably pull a couple cards to bring it up more, maybe you pull a fire card and really make your money back.

[Davidellias]

I'm at the point where I'm now insert hunting, I think I'm doin ok.....



I'm also trying to collect the full 210 card "70 years of Topps" set by mostly pack pulling, doin ok so far.....

[vinnieb]

Originally Posted by Zauron

I'm not sure what it is like now, but most likely you can say net $30 for 8 sets, which would be $240. I do not know if you can build a master set in 1 case of Hobby this year, but at least have a good chunk and profit possibly $100 or more easily on that. Basically half your money is easily back by selling sets, and you can keep 1 set for yourself.

You'll probably pull a couple cards to bring it up more, maybe you pull a fire card and really make your money back.

If it helps, I’ve sold 9 sets for an average of $44 per set, or about $30.25 net, over the past 2 weeks. I managed to put together 10 complete sets from my case with an 11th that is missing only 10 cards. This was a decently fun break of a set that seems to have been generally ignored.

[Zauron]

Originally Posted by vinnieb

If it helps, I’ve sold 9 sets for an average of $44 per set, or about $30.25 net, over the past 2 weeks. I managed to put together 10 complete sets from my case with an 11th that is missing only 10 cards. This was a decently fun break of a set that seems to have been generally ignored.

Were you able to get a master set? Or are there too many insert sets now to have a hobby master set?

[JoeAdam]

Originally Posted by Zauron

Were you able to get a master set? Or are there too many insert sets now to have a hobby master set?

Took me a little over 2 cases to do a master set.

[vinnieb]

Originally Posted by Zauron

Were you able to get a master set? Or are there too many insert sets now to have a hobby master set?

No, it wasn’t really that close. I got all the 1986 and All-Star inserts, but leas than half of the rest.

[premium1981]

Originally Posted by vinnieb

No, it wasn’t really that close. I got all the 1986 and All-Star inserts, but leas than half of the rest.

I opened several cases, and to be safe, if someone was going for a master set you will need 3 cases to have a good shot. Might get lucky with 2, but I seriously doubt it.

[JWBlue]

Doesn't a master set include SSP? How can someone get all of the SSP from a few cases?

[Zauron]

Originally Posted by JWBlue

Doesn't a master set include SSP? How can someone get all of the SSP from a few cases?

A Master set is typically just the regular set and the main inserts, not any short prints.

[waytoomanycards]

Originally Posted by premium1981

I opened several cases, and to be safe, if someone was going for a master set you will need 3 cases to have a good shot. Might get lucky with 2, but I seriously doubt it.

I'm curious - at that volume with a flagship paper product, did you pull much that was a good candidate for grading at PSA's higher rates (ie. $100-$150)?

[Zauron]

Originally Posted by waytoomanycards

I'm curious - at that volume with a flagship paper product, did you pull much that was a good candidate for grading at PSA's higher rates (ie. $100-$150)?

I would think only do that if it's a low numbered parallel of like Kelenic(Black, Mother's Day, Father's day).

Are we really past the days where you could sub just a handful of base hoping to get 10's to make the card worth $50/$60?

[premium1981]

Originally Posted by waytoomanycards

I'm curious - at that volume with a flagship paper product, did you pull much that was a good candidate for grading at PSA's higher rates (ie. $100-$150)?

I didn't inspect a single card. Not interested in grading under the current conditions. And I am not a big believer in any of the current rookies.

[waytoomanycards]

Originally Posted by Zauron

I would think only do that if it's a low numbered parallel of like Kelenic(Black, Mother's Day, Father's day).

Are we really past the days where you could sub just a handful of base hoping to get 10's to make the card worth $50/$60?

Well, for most of the hobby's existence even just getting $40 for a newer base card was a heckuva sale. IIRC, even the earliest gems of Acuna's US250 were under $30. Judge's flagship/TC base gems were around $20-$25 by the end of 2017. When grading is truly back to normal, I think it will be tough to get $50+ on base cards of newer cards unless the hype is really strong.

[ewokpelts]

Originally Posted by Davidellias

I'm at the point where I'm now insert hunting, I think I'm doin ok.....



I'm also trying to collect the full 210 card "70 years of Topps" set by mostly pack pulling, doin ok so far.....

If you like inserts, retail is the way to go.

[ChefCurry312]

Saw a few update hangers at Walgreens but they didn't have the yellow parallels. Wondering if they aren't going to have them this year.

[ElGuapo34]

Originally Posted by ChefCurry312

Saw a few update hangers at Walgreens but they didn't have the yellow parallels. Wondering if they aren't going to have them this year.

I was wondering the same and not just for these but also the Meijer purples. Has there been any word on either?