Making a decent wage of sports cards.

[booky]

I understand the surge in prices has been good for some dealers, flippers and some online guys.

is it selling raw cards by volume that makes the most?

or is it grading raw cards and selling for $200-$300 profit assuming you buy the right players.

Or is it COMC that drives the income?

Just curious Thanks

[rwperu34]

I am still relatively new to "full time", but here's what I've observed so far;

1) The biggest driver of dollars for me is buying already graded high dollar cards and selling them for a huge profit. Buy a card for $500, sell it for $1000. The flip time on this is typically between 3 and 18 months.

2) The biggest driver of ROI% is buying lots and selling them as singles or smaller lots. This is most of the work. The flip time on this is 1-6 months, typically "getting back to even" within 1-3 months. For the insane version of this check out Blowout member beauspencer's Twitter (@onemillioncubs). He buys lots by the pallet and has over 12,000 items listed in his eBay store.

3) I have not had much success buying raw to grade, but that is just bad timing on my part. There are guys on Blowout that that's all they do for a six figure side hustle. I figure this division will pick up for me in 2023.

I only deal on eBay for buying and selling. Occasionally here on Blowout, but no COMC, Sportlots, shows....etc.

Another thing to consider with my business, it's baseball only. So I will have a huge lull in sales from September to January. Maybe count those months as 2 in terms of flip time instead of 5.

[Donkaylove]

capital $ and inventory is the only way you can possibly make it. Your only saving grace is all the chum selling their cards now, you may find a deal.

Cash flow and turnover has slowed considerably, so you may have chosen poorly.

[booky]

Originally Posted by rwperu34

I am still relatively new to "full time", but here's what I've observed so far;

1) The biggest driver of dollars for me is buying already graded high dollar cards and selling them for a huge profit. Buy a card for $500, sell it for $1000. The flip time on this is typically between 3 and 18 months.

2) The biggest driver of ROI% is buying lots and selling them as singles or smaller lots. This is most of the work. The flip time on this is 1-6 months, typically "getting back to even" within 1-3 months. For the insane version of this check out Blowout member beauspencer's Twitter (@onemillioncubs). He buys lots by the pallet and has over 12,000 items listed in his eBay store.

3) I have not had much success buying raw to grade, but that is just bad timing on my part. There are guys on Blowout that that's all they do for a six figure side hustle. I figure this division will pick up for me in 2023.

I only deal on eBay for buying and selling. Occasionally here on Blowout, but no COMC, Sportlots, shows....etc.

Another thing to consider with my business, it's baseball only. So I will have a huge lull in sales from September to January. Maybe count those months as 2 in terms of flip time instead of 5.

very interesting I made some nice gains in Hockey card grading. but then again .

have you ever earned over $2500 profit a month?

cheers

[booky]

Originally Posted by Donkaylove

capital $ and inventory is the only way you can possibly make it. Your only saving grace is all the chum selling their cards now, you may find a deal.

Cash flow and turnover has slowed considerably, so you may have chosen poorly.

Ya i can see some people stuck with a bunch of cards worth nothing compared to what they paid.

but also I find hockey has alot of undervalued cards.

but then again the market is the market.

My goal is to make some part time Cash on ebay $500ish monthly with small inventory and some decent PSA slabs it can be done.

[smanzari]

Originally Posted by booky

I understand the surge in prices has been good for some dealers, flippers and some online guys.

is it selling raw cards by volume that makes the most?

or is it grading raw cards and selling for $200-$300 profit assuming you buy the right players.

Or is it COMC that drives the income?

Just curious Thanks

In my experience, the low end drives the income - sure its more work but even in massive economic downturns or social turmoil, the sales remain consistent. The " Spec Cards" (Mid-High End / "Investments" / Major Flips / Etc.) drives the growth.

If I were to do this 100% full time, I'd want an inventory of $50-100K in low end (think $1-4 listed) as well as close to the same in "Spec Stock."

It also does help to have multiple avenues as options at least (sportlots, eBay, site, storefront, etc)

[booky]

Originally Posted by smanzari

In my experience, the low end drives the income - sure its more work but even in massive economic downturns or social turmoil, the sales remain consistent. The " Spec Cards" (Mid-High End / "Investments" / Major Flips / Etc.) drives the growth.

If I were to do this 100% full time, I'd want an inventory of $50-100K in low end (think $1-4 listed) as well as close to the same in "Spec Stock."

It also does help to have multiple avenues as options at least (sportlots, eBay, site, storefront, etc)

right on its really cool to see what works for each individual.

Since Covid I think most people made Crazy profits without expecting.

[rwperu34]

Originally Posted by booky

very interesting I made some nice gains in Hockey card grading. but then again .

have you ever earned over $2500 profit a month?

cheers

Yes overall, but not on grading raw.

Most of my problem with grading is the timing. My first sub (2019) was stellar, my second (Feb 2021) was solid, and my third (Mar 2021-just recently returned) was turrible. There has been no 4th because PSA has either been shut down or too expensive for the stuff I want to grade. I expect that to change in the very near future, but since I'm baseball only I don't want to be getting cards back three months from now, so I'll wait until December to send anything in.

[booky]

Originally Posted by rwperu34

Yes overall, but not on grading raw.

Most of my problem with grading is the timing. My first sub (2019) was stellar, my second (Feb 2021) was solid, and my third (Mar 2021-just recently returned) was turrible. There has been no 4th because PSA has either been shut down or too expensive for the stuff I want to grade. I expect that to change in the very near future, but since I'm baseball only I don't want to be getting cards back three months from now, so I'll wait until December to send anything in.

ya understand PSA prices have gotton bad.

I tried KSA and MNT i made some profit but nothing like a PSA or BGS would.

[Swipe79]

That's exactly what I am seeing right now - all of my $10 and under stuff is moving normally but anything over that is slowing down.

As in most things, differentiation is key - have enough of everything to make sure you are sustainable and keep growing it.

Originally Posted by smanzari

In my experience, the low end drives the income - sure its more work but even in massive economic downturns or social turmoil, the sales remain consistent. The " Spec Cards" (Mid-High End / "Investments" / Major Flips / Etc.) drives the growth.

If I were to do this 100% full time, I'd want an inventory of $50-100K in low end (think $1-4 listed) as well as close to the same in "Spec Stock."

It also does help to have multiple avenues as options at least (sportlots, eBay, site, storefront, etc)

[rwperu34]

Originally Posted by Swipe79

That's exactly what I am seeing right now - all of my $10 and under stuff is moving normally but anything over that is slowing down.

As in most things, differentiation is key - have enough of everything to make sure you are sustainable and keep growing it.

I've heard several people say this recently, but man. For me the low end stuff is NOT moving. My average package sent out so far in May is 60% higher than it was in April and double the offseason.

Today is my 3rd consecutive day without sending anything out (average of about 4 per day since early March).

It feels like the offseason.

[regionrat]

The card shows I have set up at are slower this May. COMC has been slower this May. My dollar box card sales have been slower in May. It is way different at shows now compared to May, 2021.

[boxbuster7]

Not trying to be negative, but now is not a good time to enter the card market or buy a bunch to flip. It is the hardest it has been to make a profit since before 2020.

Be patient. Wait for things to drop more in the next 6-9 months. And then get in.

[mc1]

Originally Posted by regionrat

The card shows I have set up at are slower this May. COMC has been slower this May. My dollar box card sales have been slower in May. It is way different at shows now compared to May, 2021.

First few months of this year were good, not as good as Jan/Feb of 21, but much better than May.

[booky]

Originally Posted by mc1

First few months of this year were good, not as good as Jan/Feb of 21, but much better than May.

do you find card shows profitable?

Whats average sale price would you say?

[hxcmilkshake]

You gotta rip people off

Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk

[jamcas997]

Originally Posted by rwperu34

I've heard several people say this recently, but man. For me the low end stuff is NOT moving. My average package sent out so far in May is 60% higher than it was in April and double the offseason.

Today is my 3rd consecutive day without sending anything out (average of about 4 per day since early March).

It feels like the offseason.

I had to look , but it has been since 28 Jan 21 that I had a day without a sale. Since the inception of EBAY SE that has made daily sales the norm again.

[jamcas997]

Originally Posted by booky

do you find card shows profitable?

Whats average sale price would you say?

Rule of thumb for shows used to be 10 times table as far as profit and replacement. Now if you do 5 times consider yourself lucky. Just making table is not enough.

[rwperu34]

Originally Posted by jamcas997

I had to look , but it has been since 28 Jan 21 that I had a day without a sale. Since the inception of EBAY SE that has made daily sales the norm again.

That's impressive! What is your average # of packages per day/week/month or whatever?

A couple of things hold me back. First, I'm baseball only. So it slows to a crawl in the 4th Quarter. 2nd, I don't have a ton of items listed...maybe 500. I think 4 a day is about what I should get, but I'm well below that in May.

[jamcas997]

My daily mail out ave of packages a day Mon-Sat
2020 : 6.5
2021 : 13.47
2022 : 13.56

[jamcas997]

Originally Posted by rwperu34

That's impressive! What is your average # of packages per day/week/month or whatever?

A couple of things hold me back. First, I'm baseball only. So it slows to a crawl in the 4th Quarter. 2nd, I don't have a ton of items listed...maybe 500. I think 4 a day is about what I should get, but I'm well below that in May.

I have 2000 Listings with a quantity of 32000 in those listings

[sjscout]

Originally Posted by booky

I understand the surge in prices has been good for some dealers, flippers and some online guys.

is it selling raw cards by volume that makes the most?

or is it grading raw cards and selling for $200-$300 profit assuming you buy the right players.

Or is it COMC that drives the income?

Just curious Thanks

without a doubt, using COMC caused me to waste more money and time than any other resource.

[rwperu34]

Originally Posted by jamcas997

My daily mail out ave of packages a day Mon-Sat
2020 : 6.5
2021 : 13.47
2022 : 13.56

Originally Posted by jamcas997

I have 2000 Listings with a quantity of 32000 in those listings

Thanks.

I've heard the average sell through rate for sports cards is 0.7% and yours is 0.68%, so spot on.

[jamcas997]

Originally Posted by rwperu34

Thanks.

I've heard the average sell through rate for sports cards is 0.7% and yours is 0.68%, so spot on.

Well that is packages not total items sold , because there are some packages that have multiple items sold so at 1356 packages out and an 18.74 average of cards sold a day. I have been trying to keep my cards boosted by adding at least 10 to 20 items a day.

[booky]

very impressive guys.

So how many of you do full time?