Exactly right! I wasn't able to not open boxes when I was younger, I didn't have the strength :). Now that I'm older I do buy the boxes and cases BUT don't open them. Its rare when you buy a box and hit the one you're looking for
My advice would be, don’t forget this is a hobby and collecting is fun. Don’t get so focused on the investor side of things and forget about the collecting side. It’s great to invest and make money but it’s also a lot of fun to have a personal collection.
I laugh (and cringe) when I watch videos of people trying to do this when they don't even watch sports. They can't even pronounce the players names correctly, they think every top ten draft pick is gonna be a superstar and they overvalue average players on good teams and undervalue good players on bad teams.
Agree. I will never understand why people invest from outside of a sport they know nothing about. What kind of logic is that? I just watched a video prior to this one where a guy "invested" in a box of UFC Panini Prizm debut edition boxes (Hobby and Blaster). He didn't know half the fighters names. UFC videos here on UA-cam are the most atrocious when it comes to outside "investors" who somehow feel they are about to make money off a sport they know very little about. Pure speculation.
This makes me sad! I remember collecting for the hobby, not to make money! It was so much fun, opening packs is just the most fun you can have, but now it's all about money and who can make the most!
Yea, I think if you are doing purely for the money, the hobby isnt fun because we the collectors have to overpay for basic retail boxes from Wally World. I like to resell but I use the money to buy more lol!
@@juliocs5483 split between reinvesting , and using the money you make for something else. Do a 50/50 I wont touch anything wally land , and ive seen idiot's just throwing unopened boxes in carts to resell them with no regard for condition .
FLASH! Our whole society is all about the money. The lottery, Casinos, Sportsbooks. The day Sports got involved in gambling ruined all the sports leagues. Very few people can watch a game and enjoy it without having some action on the game. They will even bet against their team they root for if there is a chance to make some dough.
Your videos always bring me joy. Congratulations on your passing, I'm already praying for your future customer service, you bless their lives with your knowledge and passion!
4 on the paraell list I do agree with team colors but to maximize overall value buying cards with low number ssp /5 /10/25 is the most profitable way to buy paraell cards by far
I know we are talking sports trading cards but a lot of what you said applies to everyday life. There are some life lessons to be learned watching this video!
@4:08 the data from Market Movers actually goes back more than 90 days. When a card is first added, it goes back 90 days. But there are several cards that go back over a year now and will build the data over time!
Just collect what you like & do it for "the fun of it."Chasing trends just will leave you chasing your tail. Build sets w/your kids. Remember why you collected as a kid? Yes. You can get caught up in it. ('80 & early '90s)Now I see hidden gems. Want an investment? Buy blue chip stocks that pay dividends. Contribute to your 401(k). Pay down debt. Finally. I contributed commons back then to schools & gave away cards & packs in past Holloweens. Kids loved 'em.
well done- as some have said below- love the hobby and love the players. I'm a bit fearful- seeing kids buying 20k cards that very well could be worth 5k or less in a year. Everyone should take some money off the table and put into something more stable every time they turn a profit
I ran a card shop from 1997-2002 & can tell u some horror stories of missed opportunities, I missed on pokemon cause I just didnt think it would be a long term thing, just another fad...I had chance to get 2 cases of 1st edition for under retail straight from distributor, passed...🥴 Also I had a chance to buy a 2003 topps chrome basketball case for literally nothing back in 2005..passed..😔 Had a chance to buy or trade for two 2001 Bowman Chrome Pujols RC autographs /500 back in 2002..passed. Do u see a reoccurring theme here??? Lol. Live and learn I guess. Just a couple of the many missed gold mines I passed on. Hope u enjoy the little bit of my misery in my sports card career. Happy Hunting!
In hind sight is easy to see the missed-opportunities. But during the time, it was purely a gamble. Don't kick yourself about it and nothing to learn from either. Otherwise, you would buy up everything and anything including 2-car garage filled with junk cards.
I agree but bit sad people are forgetting this should be for enjoyment and not just money i loved cards at school because everyone had favourite cards and not because they were worth the most, money is just a bonus,these days people open packs and they arent happy with what they get because they arent the thousand dollar card
Outstanding video for a newbie like me. I bought about 500 cards in lots. I was looking for rookies that that achieved HOF. This was my plan. Now I buy singles. First I had to learn how to judge centering on the front and obverse of the card and good corners. On line it's impossible to judge the surfaces, except magnifying to see color conditions such as snow or color spots. So far, not so bad, but not perfect. It's videos like these are treasures. Thanks so much.
Thank you so much for this information! It answers a lot of the questions that have been swirling around in my head, as well as things I didn't know before.
Just from being in the game for so long and already knowing all this. I could definitely see how a person with no knowledge coming in would get overwhelmed. However, the instagram community is awesome. They will answer questions and it's free advice
Finally someone who speaks the truth. I constantly tell people to collect who they like and not to waste money on ripping boxes. A pack here and there is fun but don’t do boxes. At it’s current incredibly inflated prices right now you will never get your money out of it.
When I got back in the hobby in 2018 I started back where I left off collecting mark mcgwire, it wasn't until 2019 gypsy queen came out and I bought my first modern retail is when I decided to learn about modern baseball and the player's that were popular, I ended up buying what I seen UA-camrs getting in their mail day videos finally after awhile I knew I was a white Sox fan and had acquired alot of yoan moncada and Eloy Jimenez cards. Eloy's prices were rising and more competition in auctions caused me to step away and started adding more moncada's to my PC. Now I have an amazing collection. 2020 changed me from an investor/collector to just collector. I'm not worried anymore about how much can I make from this or that. If retail wasn't a white whale anymore I would be a clearance pack and retail ripper again. I miss the 2019 days, I could always find retail until spring of 2020.
i got back in December 2019 and boom after buying Prizm and Donruss Base and luckily id find between Atlanta and Alabama id find packs every trip allnthe trip i took until around February March somewhere around there i waa getting Zion base prizm #1 248 for 40-50$ then around time he came back in January i paid 65or70 for one day of his return and also i paid 85 that evening for 1 last one and ThAT put me at 10 base and my goal was met luckily between buying what i wanted but at 1st buying alllll those packs well blasters mainly and spent about 5 thousand in a month on blasters who told me anything ??nobody for 1 i wasnt looking for assistance and plus market wasnt flooded so most these vids on the tube werent there like now and all but my gut got me in the money! i spent under a thousand and luckily returned 9 grand off my gut instinct which i used to play basketball so my bball IQ helps me a ton! but nit all investments i made are that big of a return whatsoever....but i also enjoy the hobby so it is what it is!!
Is there a particular event that is behind all of retail disappearing? I used to buy freely in 2019, but stopped in the fall that year. Looking recently there's nothing lol.
I just started Recording My Personal Breaks just to share. Most the cards are up for sale also if folks want to reach out at any time. NOW... I’m torn on what to do with the 5 Packs of 2004-05 Topps Total NBA packs that came from a Box sale 15 years ago. I went through my stuff a month ago because card values have been going up and I realised I hadn’t opened 6 packs, LOL. Still factory Sealed. Welllllll... I have 5 Now... I Had to Open One. Not sure if I’m going to do a BUY IN format-Auction or Open them Myself. As a Disabled Vet a Close toRookie Card would be nice to auction or sell. I started collecting in 2003 when Lebron came into the NBA. Anyways... Thanks Again
I just collect my favorite players from different sports when I was a kid. Autos and rookies. I have 27 so far, and only 4 cards to go. Gonna be awhile though, cause 2 of them are gonna be pricey for me😬
As someone who started opening packs in the early 90's, I remember just doing it for fun. They had some awesome themed insert sets. awesome designs, the chrome/finest movement ushered in around 1993 and the fun of "Refractors". At that time If you got an autograph in a box it was really exciting. However, by the time 2003 came around it was simply about how many numbered autograph cards you could get in a box. Now I start this video and heard the term Sport's card "investor". It was used to be Sports Card "collector" but now people are just in it for the money. It's no longer possible to go in a card store and buy a few packs for $20. You're lucky if you find a set that has $20 packs. If you do there's probably 5 cards in it and a slim chance of an autograph.
Informative video. I just got back into the hobby myself about a month ago (haven't collected since the late 80's) and it seems like everyone else had the same idea I did about jumping in. But, I digress. But some of your "rules" are contingent on WHY you collect. Are you doing it for your own personal collection? Are you collecting to flip? A little of both? I am 95% for fun and maybe 5% to flip. For me, I am sticking with football only and buying what I like. Personally, I'm not a fan of the Prizm cards. I like the Donruss/Optic cards so I am going to stick with those. For the old school stuff, Topps, Upper Deck, Action Packed. I don't really care what's 'hot' or what sells better. At the end of the day, what's hot today may be cold tomorrow. But again, these "rules" only apply if you're in it for a PC.
Same boat, same timeline. The boom in card popularity had nothing to do with my renewed interest in collecting, instead it came from falling in love with baseball again. My timing couldn't have been worse, but I'm trying to stay positive. With all the different brands and the card variations and the prices, it's overwhelming. But I'm strictly chasing cards from my favorite team, rookies cards from players I like, and I have to like the look of the card. The last condition actually whittles it down a lot because I don't care for the look of most cards. Probably not a criteria for getting a great return investment, but the simplicity should hopefully keep it fun.
I like stuff that I actually like AND will hold value whether sealed or opened. Prizm, Optic, Select. I stay away from basic DR, Hoops. They're just going to release nicer versions of the same freakin cards anyway (I'm talkin to you Optic and Contenders Optic). Which is why I save my money for those products which, if buying retail, are only 10-20 more per blaster anyway...oh, and wear gloves when handling the cards you're going to send in for grading...wipe down your surfaces with microfiber.
I have been in and out of the hoody for many years. What has served me very well is a simple concept. Stay in your lane. If you want to invest? Accept with any investment there is risk. If you want to collect, have an idea what product and players, and chase singles. If you like to rip. Accept you will miss more often than you hit. It’s life. To me the hobby is just that. A hobby. I don’t get too emotionally invested, but it is a place I go to relax. Enjoy.
I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for the pack breakers, box crushers, and PSA submitters. Everything you said are 90% true for flippers and short-term guys. However for long-terms guys like me, I know what popular today won't be in 20 years.
havent been in the game long but its been very clear to me on a few things: Dont Chase. Stay away from Hobby, retail, and breaks. Buy Individual. Buy #/. Buy Auto And if you can find a good deal then combine the #/, Auto with graded PSA 9/10. Also diversify the portfolio. I dont get why people go all in on one guy and one brand. Thats an outlandish gamble....The best thing to do is search high end cards National Treasures / Flawless / Immaculate, search buy lowest priced and go for them. I bought an Antonio Brown /84 for $5. Someone out there is going to buy it for $10, I have 0 doubt about that. Why Break? I'm not spending $200 for a CHANCE to win something. I'd rather spend $200 on something I KNOW I am getting. I've opened 3 boxes so far. Disappointed every time. I've bought probably 30 cards individually. Happy every time....Theres a reason companies are able to keep doing breaks. The house wins every time... Looking at Layton Breaks....$200 for two tiered random teams Donruss Optic Basketball. Thats $3,000 they are making. They are taking that $3,000 and buying the card you are chasing and selling it for $5,000...So much chasing, so many pipe dreams out there.
I remember thinking why 2011 topps update Mike Trout walmart and target price difference based on red card had Trout's team color. The price has balanced out.
Helpful if you actually like the sports your dealing in. There's a ton of people who are into this like its the next big crypto and these are the people that will end up losing their shirts. Remember opening packs is like buying a lotto ticket - you may hit from time to time but the house will ALWAYS win in the end.
I know this is an old video, but I'm just coming across it. I've never been so frustrated in trying to understand "modern" cards and their colorization. Is it gold? Yellow? Blue or purple? On and on it goes. That's why I like vintage. You know what it is. No need to make 20 versions of the same card ... except if you're Panini and want to make more money.
Nice video. I did most of the things in this list prior to getting back in. No ComC, No Subs (yet). If one researches and plans how to buy, one should do the same on how to sell. Boxes and Packs are good for Bluechips, hotrookies and variations, figuring out which box or pack gives you the best per card value. (currently topps 2021 fat pack is the best value). So you can pull top rookies for less than .10 a card. I have several running target lists, the HOF prospects list is always fun, (Cano out, Soto in). One thing to mention about the pop report; It doesnt account for casebreaks, people who are not happy with the grade and snap the case. Its not rampant but a variable I'm sure PSA is aware of and trying to reconsider. The Pop Report is the separator for the industry, because of PSAs longevity they have a huge leg up on competition. Which is coming. So #11 - Check out other graders than PSA, cheaper, faster and rising is hobby acceptance. Thanks for the insight. subs and thumbs
The last thing is camping. Knowing when and who to hold and when to sell. I.E. Buy low hype, sell high hype. For instance, spring training is the time to sell hyped MLB rookies, before their value is rocked by the shores of baseball reality and buy Arozarena in the valley, his bat cant talk while his off field scars has plateaued his value. Most homeruns in postseason is what collectors will remember and hes gonna crush again in 2021.
Topps Series 1 baseball cards are the only ones I've really gotten my hands on butttt i have hit some really good cards outta them and have 1 330 base set with another 1 about to be made
I'm not new to this hobby, but lately have had the fever to collect again. I've made so many mistakes. I WAY overpaid for a Lebron card, I WAY overpaid for Messi and Ronaldo cards, I blew money on a cooked 1986 Fleer basketball pack from eBay. Just those things, probably over 1 thousand bucks in mistakes. It hurts, but I still love the hobby and now I'm just chasing particular cards that I like.
I hedged on those 86 fleer ebay packs . Was tempted a couple times but never pulled the trigger . Spent money instead on a few nice high grade cards from that set that I will look to resell..
i say old cards buy certain ones because those players cant improve and not doing anything....get newer cards because any player can grow huge for whatever reason
Are the Topps 221 Lebron RC's that hard to hit a 10 on? Did the ones that you bought look like 10's once you received them? I sold my only raw one for $1,300 it looked very good imo but ive never had a card graded and I thought if it's a 10 then i guess I missed out on a chunk of $ but $1,300 was about double the asking price at the time I sold it. I stopped collecting in 2004. i was a big MJ and Kobe collector.
@@PowersSportsMemorabilia I sent my first PSA direct submission 2-3 weeks ago... so who knows when I’ll get those cards back 🙄. But anyway I will be checking out gem mint because I didn’t even know a 10day turnaround existed LOL. But I was looking for a PSA submission group but didn’t know who to trust! Thanks again!!!
@@PowersSportsMemorabilia yeah, they may never go down, but a pop 315 card would scare me if I was paying hundreds of thousands of dollars. Also not easy to tell how many are unopened as of now. I am heavily invested in the hobby, the current prices for 86 fleer are just shocking
I honestly like the look of the panini certified 20-21 over this years prizm. Can’t imagine spending thousands on such a bland looking card with no auto or serial # or nba hoops flimsy cards. Sometimes the card wave is not the wave I’m riding in basketball. I just chase autos, mems and serial #d basketball cards but if I was getting a base it wouldn’t be prizm bc they don’t pop. The panini revolutions etc just have that flair or the donruss laser parallels are super fire
Watching people shaking while they open a box hoping to make their money back is kinda sad. It still can be fun but buying over priced boxes and having a stroke while opening isn't as fun lol
@@PowersSportsMemorabilia I lost my mind over a Shaq rookie as a kid when the card shop owner offered me $100 for it lol. I couldn't imagine pulling a card over 10k in value.
Sometimes, the more PSA10's of a player, the better, if you have one. It means that card will be bought and sold many times and that makes the card go up in value. A great low print card, even a PSA 10, might not go up at all because nobody has any and its never sold, aka 2017 Rookie Hoggs Patrick Mahomes, an 11 card set, a One of One and 10 base cards, the 1/1 is graded 9 and there is only 1 of the 10 base that graded PSA 10, and it was never sold after being graded. They are all RPA's, the auto was on a piece of a football. Players about to brake all time records watch, Tom Brady- he will return next year just to brake the all time yards record and only needs 1200 yards to do it. Lebron James- now has another reason to play 3 plus more years, to catch Jordon and now Brady in chips and at least 3 all time records if he plays 2 more years. Not to mention Basketball is a global sport now. BTW, Brady and Lebron cards in their current teams jersey are the most sought after cards and cheaper because its at the end of their careers. even the RPA buying millionaires are chasing the PSA 10's of the Laker Lebron and Tampa Brady cards.
The card game will soon go back to normality gotta have the right buyer and have patience in this game. All cards are being overpriced right now its jus like comics some stay the same price or some go up or down it's a risk.
I usually focus on guys I like (mainly nfl/nba) and usually rpa or vet patch autos but it always seems like grading is a huge part of the hobby I do not partake in. Feels like I'm holding myself back.
It can be daunting at first. But as someone who hadn’t even graded a card a year ago it’s not hard at all. More submissions you do the better you get. Find a good submission group you like a pick out a few cards worth grading. You’ll make mistakes. You’ll hit some home runs. All part of the process.
Great video man. I think its silly that videos like this need to be made... but then I remember that not everyone has been balls deep in the hobby for 20 years lol. Some really good advice here for the new wave.
I like comc bcuz their prices r low. But they've been sending me my items 2 months after i paid. And to the cards that i bought that went UP in prices...they tell me they can't find it n put the same card for 500$+ more... Pretty shady. So i still buy from them but can't rely on them...
It sucks. With ungraded cards on eBay, I have to automatically assume that it’s been graded once. I don’t trust ungraded cards on eBay tbh. Been burned too many times lol
I cannot figure out what my card is worth , ive looked everywhere can you help? Its a 2016-17 Prestige Ben Simmons Rc Reminscent # /25 , the non numbered cards are easy to find , but i cant find anything on the numbered Ben Simmons /25 , any help i would appreciate, its in my video i just made as well for my cards im thinking of submitting to Psa if you wanna check it out. Im thinking it could be a 1k card or more graded ? but i really have no idea at this point
I would try and find other cards from that year or other years that are of a player similar to Ben Simmons and figure a rough price that way. But keep in mind, just because someone else sold a card for X doesn’t mean that’s what your card is worth. Sell it for what you think it’s worth.
@@PowersSportsMemorabilia any #d Rookie year Ben simmons i see is usually a grand or so, so thats how i based it but without seeing the #'d version of this card anywhere on any database it could be worth more? Simmons is easily the best from his draft class not sure if Ingram or Brown or Bubble Murray sells for near Simmons prices so hard to compare
NBA - Pros: Hits = high value, almost all cards/players quick flip for highest ROI Cons: Only Panini, almost all cards/players quick flip for highest ROI NFL - All about the QBs, Topps/Bowman college rookies UFC - only panini and low ROI MLB - Mostly Topps which is highest quality in card game, best scouting for quality hits and ROI, College and Pro rookies Always go for a Topps product when possible for highest ROI and best quality overall. Chrome and Finest are top of the list, Prizm for some Optic for others. I try to get a graded 10 base chrome-like rookie. If affordable, I go for the same but numbered/sp/ssp/parallel. Buying raw rookies, buy right after a release and the breaks are done. Shops will have tons of base rookies and others in raw form literally just pulled. Avoid buying boxes and never buy into a break. If you want to buy a box, try to save up and buy the higher end boxes that guarantees a hit. IMO, Panini is watered down and low quality. They worked with PSA to drive the market. Panini is a European company. Topps has Fanatics employees on their side. Topps has better photos and better scouting. More on card rookie autos. Panini is selling as much as possible to cover ground from the huge deal. Imagine being told you had a guaranteed auto and instead you get Panini points? The game isn't for collectors anymore.
For the guys who buy the 1k+ boxes and breaking them, thank you so much for you risking your money for me to buy the cards at a fraction of a price
So true
Gambling mentality
Fun content though
Exactly right! I wasn't able to not open boxes when I was younger, I didn't have the strength :). Now that I'm older I do buy the boxes and cases BUT don't open them. Its rare when you buy a box and hit the one you're looking for
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
My advice would be, don’t forget this is a hobby and collecting is fun. Don’t get so focused on the investor side of things and forget about the collecting side. It’s great to invest and make money but it’s also a lot of fun to have a personal collection.
Of course, but it’s cool 😎 having fun and making $$$ at the same time. Not many things provide that, it’s good the hobby does ❤️
Probably a good idea to be INTO the sports you're collecting so you just know who's good to invest in.
Never buy something you don’t understand.
This applies to everything in life, dont invest into something you know nothing about.
I laugh (and cringe) when I watch videos of people trying to do this when they don't even watch sports. They can't even pronounce the players names correctly, they think every top ten draft pick is gonna be a superstar and they overvalue average players on good teams and undervalue good players on bad teams.
Agree. I will never understand why people invest from outside of a sport they know nothing about. What kind of logic is that? I just watched a video prior to this one where a guy "invested" in a box of UFC Panini Prizm debut edition boxes (Hobby and Blaster). He didn't know half the fighters names. UFC videos here on UA-cam are the most atrocious when it comes to outside "investors" who somehow feel they are about to make money off a sport they know very little about. Pure speculation.
It's not even about the sport or hobby anymore it's only about the money. It's gambling and almost money laundering lol.
Just buy what you like 😊
agreed
Exactly. Thats how u pull that /5! 😉
This makes me sad! I remember collecting for the hobby, not to make money! It was so much fun, opening packs is just the most fun you can have, but now it's all about money and who can make the most!
Yea, I think if you are doing purely for the money, the hobby isnt fun because we the collectors have to overpay for basic retail boxes from Wally World. I like to resell but I use the money to buy more lol!
@@juliocs5483 split between reinvesting , and using the money you make for something else. Do a 50/50 I wont touch anything wally land , and ive seen idiot's just throwing unopened boxes in carts to resell them with no regard for condition .
FLASH! Our whole society is all about the money. The lottery, Casinos, Sportsbooks. The day Sports got involved in gambling ruined all the sports leagues. Very few people can watch a game and enjoy it without having some action on the game. They will even bet against their team they root for if there is a chance to make some dough.
Your videos always bring me joy. Congratulations on your passing, I'm already praying for your future customer service, you bless their lives with your knowledge and passion!
4 on the paraell list I do agree with team colors but to maximize overall value buying cards with low number ssp /5 /10/25 is the most profitable way to buy paraell cards by far
Hot take: wrestling cards are the easiest to sell and less stressful
I know we are talking sports trading cards but a lot of what you said applies to everyday life. There are some life lessons to be learned watching this video!
Dope video. Recently have gotten into sporting cards. Purchased a PSA 10 Ronald Acuña Jr rookie card and a PSA 10 rookie Fernando Tatis Jr.
@4:08 the data from Market Movers actually goes back more than 90 days. When a card is first added, it goes back 90 days. But there are several cards that go back over a year now and will build the data over time!
Good info appreciate it.
Market Movers is awesome.
Just collect what you like & do it for "the fun of it."Chasing trends just will leave you chasing your tail. Build sets w/your kids. Remember why you collected as a kid? Yes. You can get caught up in it. ('80 & early '90s)Now I see hidden gems. Want an investment? Buy blue chip stocks that pay dividends. Contribute to your 401(k). Pay down debt. Finally. I contributed commons back then to schools & gave away cards & packs in past Holloweens. Kids loved 'em.
well done- as some have said below- love the hobby and love the players. I'm a bit fearful- seeing kids buying 20k cards that very well could be worth 5k or less in a year. Everyone should take some money off the table and put into something more stable every time they turn a profit
I like ripping packs with my son, but its gotten expensive 😂
This may have been produced a few years ago but it's easily one of the best guides I've seen on UA-cam so far.
I appreciate the transparency‼️
Oh, snap! That’s awesome to hear.
@@PowersSportsMemorabilia except the Zion investment ooofff
I ran a card shop from 1997-2002 & can tell u some horror stories of missed opportunities, I missed on pokemon cause I just didnt think it would be a long term thing, just another fad...I had chance to get 2 cases of 1st edition for under retail straight from distributor, passed...🥴 Also I had a chance to buy a 2003 topps chrome basketball case for literally nothing back in 2005..passed..😔 Had a chance to buy or trade for two 2001 Bowman Chrome Pujols RC autographs /500 back in 2002..passed. Do u see a reoccurring theme here??? Lol. Live and learn I guess. Just a couple of the many missed gold mines I passed on. Hope u enjoy the little bit of my misery in my sports card career. Happy Hunting!
In hind sight is easy to see the missed-opportunities. But during the time, it was purely a gamble. Don't kick yourself about it and nothing to learn from either. Otherwise, you would buy up everything and anything including 2-car garage filled with junk cards.
I agree but bit sad people are forgetting this should be for enjoyment and not just money i loved cards at school because everyone had favourite cards and not because they were worth the most, money is just a bonus,these days people open packs and they arent happy with what they get because they arent the thousand dollar card
Yes but it can be both. Fun and profitable.
Outstanding video for a newbie like me. I bought about 500 cards in lots. I was looking for rookies that that achieved HOF. This was my plan. Now I buy singles. First I had to learn how to judge centering on the front and obverse of the card and good corners. On line it's impossible to judge the surfaces, except magnifying to see color conditions such as snow or color spots. So far, not so bad, but not perfect. It's videos like these are treasures. Thanks so much.
Thank you so much for this information! It answers a lot of the questions that have been swirling around in my head, as well as things I didn't know before.
Just from being in the game for so long and already knowing all this. I could definitely see how a person with no knowledge coming in would get overwhelmed. However, the instagram community is awesome. They will answer questions and it's free advice
Excellent video like always! Short and sweet. Thanks Matt!
The Title said "Collecting", the video is about "Investing". That is two very different things.
I wanted to learn about collecting.
I would suggest re watching the video. All 10 apply to anyone in the card industry regardless of what your end goal is.
Finally someone who speaks the truth. I constantly tell people to collect who they like and not to waste money on ripping boxes. A pack here and there is fun but don’t do boxes. At it’s current incredibly inflated prices right now you will never get your money out of it.
I collect Marvel, but I agree many of these principles apply
Thanks, definitely helpful
When I got back in the hobby in 2018 I started back where I left off collecting mark mcgwire, it wasn't until 2019 gypsy queen came out and I bought my first modern retail is when I decided to learn about modern baseball and the player's that were popular, I ended up buying what I seen UA-camrs getting in their mail day videos finally after awhile I knew I was a white Sox fan and had acquired alot of yoan moncada and Eloy Jimenez cards. Eloy's prices were rising and more competition in auctions caused me to step away and started adding more moncada's to my PC. Now I have an amazing collection. 2020 changed me from an investor/collector to just collector. I'm not worried anymore about how much can I make from this or that. If retail wasn't a white whale anymore I would be a clearance pack and retail ripper again. I miss the 2019 days, I could always find retail until spring of 2020.
Good stuff.
i got back in December 2019 and boom after buying Prizm and Donruss Base and luckily id find between Atlanta and Alabama id find packs every trip allnthe trip i took until around February March somewhere around there i waa getting Zion base prizm #1 248 for 40-50$ then around time he came back in January i paid 65or70 for one day of his return and also i paid 85 that evening for 1 last one and ThAT put me at 10 base and my goal was met luckily between buying what i wanted but at 1st buying alllll those packs well blasters mainly and spent about 5 thousand in a month on blasters who told me anything ??nobody for 1 i wasnt looking for assistance and plus market wasnt flooded so most these vids on the tube werent there like now and all but my gut got me in the money! i spent under a thousand and luckily returned 9 grand off my gut instinct which i used to play basketball so my bball IQ helps me a ton! but nit all investments i made are that big of a return whatsoever....but i also enjoy the hobby so it is what it is!!
Is there a particular event that is behind all of retail disappearing? I used to buy freely in 2019, but stopped in the fall that year. Looking recently there's nothing lol.
Love getting the text messages that my sub has moved to the next step.
when is the best time of the year to buy panini prizm cards for basketball?
Nice comprehensive and informative piece. Thanks dude
This Was SUPER DUPER Helpful. Thanks man. Most of it I already Knew, it just help solidify what I was doing Good and what to avoid.
Thanks Man.
I just started Recording My Personal Breaks just to share. Most the cards are up for sale also if folks want to reach out at any time.
NOW...
I’m torn on what to do with the 5 Packs of 2004-05 Topps Total NBA packs that came from a Box sale 15 years ago.
I went through my stuff a month ago because card values have been going up and I realised I hadn’t opened 6 packs, LOL.
Still factory Sealed.
Welllllll... I have 5 Now... I Had to Open One.
Not sure if I’m going to do a BUY IN format-Auction or Open them Myself.
As a Disabled Vet a Close toRookie Card would be nice to auction or sell.
I started collecting in 2003 when Lebron came into the NBA.
Anyways...
Thanks Again
Thank you for the tips!!! It was very helpful! I learned a ton!
I just collect my favorite players from different sports when I was a kid. Autos and rookies. I have 27 so far, and only 4 cards to go. Gonna be awhile though, cause 2 of them are gonna be pricey for me😬
As someone who started opening packs in the early 90's, I remember just doing it for fun. They had some awesome themed insert sets. awesome designs, the chrome/finest movement ushered in around 1993 and the fun of "Refractors". At that time If you got an autograph in a box it was really exciting. However, by the time 2003 came around it was simply about how many numbered autograph cards you could get in a box. Now I start this video and heard the term Sport's card "investor". It was used to be Sports Card "collector" but now people are just in it for the money. It's no longer possible to go in a card store and buy a few packs for $20. You're lucky if you find a set that has $20 packs. If you do there's probably 5 cards in it and a slim chance of an autograph.
And Mostly sticker autographs, who wants that junk?
Very good video! Thanks.
Informative video. I just got back into the hobby myself about a month ago (haven't collected since the late 80's) and it seems like everyone else had the same idea I did about jumping in. But, I digress. But some of your "rules" are contingent on WHY you collect. Are you doing it for your own personal collection? Are you collecting to flip? A little of both? I am 95% for fun and maybe 5% to flip. For me, I am sticking with football only and buying what I like. Personally, I'm not a fan of the Prizm cards. I like the Donruss/Optic cards so I am going to stick with those. For the old school stuff, Topps, Upper Deck, Action Packed. I don't really care what's 'hot' or what sells better. At the end of the day, what's hot today may be cold tomorrow. But again, these "rules" only apply if you're in it for a PC.
Good stuff.
Same boat, same timeline. The boom in card popularity had nothing to do with my renewed interest in collecting, instead it came from falling in love with baseball again. My timing couldn't have been worse, but I'm trying to stay positive. With all the different brands and the card variations and the prices, it's overwhelming. But I'm strictly chasing cards from my favorite team, rookies cards from players I like, and I have to like the look of the card. The last condition actually whittles it down a lot because I don't care for the look of most cards. Probably not a criteria for getting a great return investment, but the simplicity should hopefully keep it fun.
I like stuff that I actually like AND will hold value whether sealed or opened. Prizm, Optic, Select. I stay away from basic DR, Hoops. They're just going to release nicer versions of the same freakin cards anyway (I'm talkin to you Optic and Contenders Optic). Which is why I save my money for those products which, if buying retail, are only 10-20 more per blaster anyway...oh, and wear gloves when handling the cards you're going to send in for grading...wipe down your surfaces with microfiber.
If I buy wax I just hold it and sell it later to buy singles.
I have been in and out of the hoody for many years. What has served me very well is a simple concept. Stay in your lane. If you want to invest? Accept with any investment there is risk. If you want to collect, have an idea what product and players, and chase singles. If you like to rip. Accept you will miss more often than you hit. It’s life. To me the hobby is just that. A hobby. I don’t get too emotionally invested, but it is a place I go to relax. Enjoy.
I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for the pack breakers, box crushers, and PSA submitters. Everything you said are 90% true for flippers and short-term guys. However for long-terms guys like me, I know what popular today won't be in 20 years.
Your video is super helpful! Thanks for sharing it.
Appreciate you watching.
I have crazy OCD, and I'd have to get rid of the extra cards from packs, ASAP. They don't belong with my 27 cards. They don't belong in my house.
havent been in the game long but its been very clear to me on a few things: Dont Chase. Stay away from Hobby, retail, and breaks. Buy Individual. Buy #/. Buy Auto And if you can find a good deal then combine the #/, Auto with graded PSA 9/10. Also diversify the portfolio. I dont get why people go all in on one guy and one brand. Thats an outlandish gamble....The best thing to do is search high end cards National Treasures / Flawless / Immaculate, search buy lowest priced and go for them. I bought an Antonio Brown /84 for $5. Someone out there is going to buy it for $10, I have 0 doubt about that.
Why Break? I'm not spending $200 for a CHANCE to win something. I'd rather spend $200 on something I KNOW I am getting. I've opened 3 boxes so far. Disappointed every time. I've bought probably 30 cards individually. Happy every time....Theres a reason companies are able to keep doing breaks. The house wins every time... Looking at Layton Breaks....$200 for two tiered random teams Donruss Optic Basketball. Thats $3,000 they are making. They are taking that $3,000 and buying the card you are chasing and selling it for $5,000...So much chasing, so many pipe dreams out there.
I remember thinking why 2011 topps update Mike Trout walmart and target price difference based on red card had Trout's team color. The price has balanced out.
Helpful if you actually like the sports your dealing in. There's a ton of people who are into this like its the next big crypto and these are the people that will end up losing their shirts. Remember opening packs is like buying a lotto ticket - you may hit from time to time but the house will ALWAYS win in the end.
Excellent tips thank you.
Appreciate you watching.
Very informative. Much appreciated!
Yes game plan I typically go for rookie cards some inserts
Thank You
Do you have any recommendations for magnifying lights?
The one I use in video is solid. I think I mention it. It’s like $30 or so. Cheap.
This boom has been great for my PC! Thank you to all the social influencers and big whales for buying great product and selling at an amazing price!
I know this is an old video, but I'm just coming across it. I've never been so frustrated in trying to understand "modern" cards and their colorization. Is it gold? Yellow? Blue or purple? On and on it goes. That's why I like vintage. You know what it is. No need to make 20 versions of the same card ... except if you're Panini and want to make more money.
Packs and boxes were the hobby in the past .. now it's a rookie mistake lmao how times have changed
Thank u for such great sharing.
What’s your opinion on epacks from upper deck
For basketball I like Select Courtside. New sub.
Nice video. I did most of the things in this list prior to getting back in. No ComC, No Subs (yet). If one researches and plans how to buy, one should do the same on how to sell. Boxes and Packs are good for Bluechips, hotrookies and variations, figuring out which box or pack gives you the best per card value. (currently topps 2021 fat pack is the best value). So you can pull top rookies for less than .10 a card. I have several running target lists, the HOF prospects list is always fun, (Cano out, Soto in). One thing to mention about the pop report; It doesnt account for casebreaks, people who are not happy with the grade and snap the case. Its not rampant but a variable I'm sure PSA is aware of and trying to reconsider. The Pop Report is the separator for the industry, because of PSAs longevity they have a huge leg up on competition. Which is coming. So #11 - Check out other graders than PSA, cheaper, faster and rising is hobby acceptance. Thanks for the insight. subs and thumbs
Very true.
The last thing is camping. Knowing when and who to hold and when to sell. I.E. Buy low hype, sell high hype. For instance, spring training is the time to sell hyped MLB rookies, before their value is rocked by the shores of baseball reality and buy Arozarena in the valley, his bat cant talk while his off field scars has plateaued his value. Most homeruns in postseason is what collectors will remember and hes gonna crush again in 2021.
Those psa9 LeBron will be worth 5k easy watch
AMEN
BIG FACTS ! Bought mine for $600 a couple months ago :)
Higher and higher it seems.
Topps Series 1 baseball cards are the only ones I've really gotten my hands on butttt i have hit some really good cards outta them and have 1 330 base set with another 1 about to be made
Building sets is fun for me. But not everyone likes doing that.
Sorry, I did not understant about Comc, to use them or not?
Use them to sell your ungraded cards. Careful buying ungraded cards from them.
@@PowersSportsMemorabilia Thank you for answer.
I'm not new to this hobby, but lately have had the fever to collect again. I've made so many mistakes. I WAY overpaid for a Lebron card, I WAY overpaid for Messi and Ronaldo cards, I blew money on a cooked 1986 Fleer basketball pack from eBay. Just those things, probably over 1 thousand bucks in mistakes. It hurts, but I still love the hobby and now I'm just chasing particular cards that I like.
I hedged on those 86 fleer ebay packs . Was tempted a couple times but never pulled the trigger . Spent money instead on a few nice high grade cards from that set that I will look to resell..
Don't listen nobody Go with your budget You can buy everything Do you search yourself Then you can decide Focus to 10 players Buy the rookies
Great info! Thanks!
i say old cards buy certain ones because those players cant improve and not doing anything....get newer cards because any player can grow huge for whatever reason
Man what a fantastic watch! Appreciate the quality of this content. Liked and Sub for sure 👌✌️
Appreciate the watch. Hopefully helpful.
my sleeper you can get good price right now is Brandon boston jr clippers
No3 is the worst thing you can do. .but fun .like scratch offs. i refuse to buy scratch offs. Lol. Buy the player not the box.
Thank you for this video very helpful 👍🏼
Very new to this and thank you for your wise words!
Great video! Thanks for posting
Are the Topps 221 Lebron RC's that hard to hit a 10 on? Did the ones that you bought look like 10's once you received them? I sold my only raw one for $1,300 it looked very good imo but ive never had a card graded and I thought if it's a 10 then i guess I missed out on a chunk of $ but $1,300 was about double the asking price at the time I sold it. I stopped collecting in 2004. i was a big MJ and Kobe collector.
Yes only 22% psa 10. They are tough on them.
I love this video I done half the things on this list! Thank you sooo much for the tips!!!
Appreciate you watching.
@@PowersSportsMemorabilia I sent my first PSA direct submission 2-3 weeks ago... so who knows when I’ll get those cards back 🙄. But anyway I will be checking out gem mint because I didn’t even know a 10day turnaround existed LOL. But I was looking for a PSA submission group but didn’t know who to trust! Thanks again!!!
the pop report and the recent sales prices on that jordan are also an excellent source of comic relief
The 1986 fleer?
@@PowersSportsMemorabilia yeah, they may never go down, but a pop 315 card would scare me if I was paying hundreds of thousands of dollars. Also not easy to tell how many are unopened as of now. I am heavily invested in the hobby, the current prices for 86 fleer are just shocking
I honestly like the look of the panini certified 20-21 over this years prizm. Can’t imagine spending thousands on such a bland looking card with no auto or serial # or nba hoops flimsy cards. Sometimes the card wave is not the wave I’m riding in basketball. I just chase autos, mems and serial #d basketball cards but if I was getting a base it wouldn’t be prizm bc they don’t pop. The panini revolutions etc just have that flair or the donruss laser parallels are super fire
Love revolution
I agree with your points great vid 👍😎
So helpful man, thank you
im buying up ja lamelo ant edwards rare rookies to hold these guys are good players i watch alot of games
Watching people shaking while they open a box hoping to make their money back is kinda sad. It still can be fun but buying over priced boxes and having a stroke while opening isn't as fun lol
Ha. It is a little over the top for some cardboard.
@@PowersSportsMemorabilia I lost my mind over a Shaq rookie as a kid when the card shop owner offered me $100 for it lol. I couldn't imagine pulling a card over 10k in value.
You earned a subscriber with this very informative video. Keep up the great work! I appreciate it.
Great video. Lots of good information
Thankfully I am not the one paying $1500 for a box of cards hoping to pull a valuable card
Sometimes, the more PSA10's of a player, the better, if you have one. It means that card will be bought and sold many times and that makes the card go up in value. A great low print card, even a PSA 10, might not go up at all because nobody has any and its never sold, aka 2017 Rookie Hoggs Patrick Mahomes, an 11 card set, a One of One and 10 base cards, the 1/1 is graded 9 and there is only 1 of the 10 base that graded PSA 10, and it was never sold after being graded. They are all RPA's, the auto was on a piece of a football. Players about to brake all time records watch, Tom Brady- he will return next year just to brake the all time yards record and only needs 1200 yards to do it. Lebron James- now has another reason to play 3 plus more years, to catch Jordon and now Brady in chips and at least 3 all time records if he plays 2 more years. Not to mention Basketball is a global sport now. BTW, Brady and Lebron cards in their current teams jersey are the most sought after cards and cheaper because its at the end of their careers. even the RPA buying millionaires are chasing the PSA 10's of the Laker Lebron and Tampa Brady cards.
True. Pop report only tells part of the story.
Great informative videos!!! Your views have been going up and I am happy about that for you!
The card game will soon go back to normality gotta have the right buyer and have patience in this game. All cards are being overpriced right now its jus like comics some stay the same price or some go up or down it's a risk.
I usually focus on guys I like (mainly nfl/nba) and usually rpa or vet patch autos but it always seems like grading is a huge part of the hobby I do not partake in. Feels like I'm holding myself back.
It can be daunting at first. But as someone who hadn’t even graded a card a year ago it’s not hard at all. More submissions you do the better you get. Find a good submission group you like a pick out a few cards worth grading. You’ll make mistakes. You’ll hit some home runs. All part of the process.
@@PowersSportsMemorabilia makes sense, guess ima sucker for patch autos and I have always heard they usually don't grade well and aren't worth sending
@@killamole2188 they def worth grading. Most send those to Beckett if have a change at a 9.5. Psa 10 tough on a thick card like that.
🤔
@@killamole2188 you would have to really trust someone with your cards to do that. Be careful of submission groups imo.
Best video I’ve seen yet!
After you break a box you mentioned there will be cars which you dont want. What do you do with yours.
Send to comc
Even all the commons ..?? Thousands . They still pay for them ??
@@chrisssharpcornerswilliams6381 yes
I would add picts but it turns out I'm smartphone illiterate.
Don’t even bother ripping wax anymore. The potential is there, but I like just searching for PC cards.
Do you do a submission service? Would love to send you stuff for review
I don’t. I use gemmint.com for psa submissions
Good stuff, and I dig the set.
Thank you for the good information
Great video man. I think its silly that videos like this need to be made... but then I remember that not everyone has been balls deep in the hobby for 20 years lol. Some really good advice here for the new wave.
appreciate you watching.
another person trash is another person treasure...even the non popular cards possibly can be worth something based on the situation
Thought on topps Definitive?
Don’t have any experience with that product. But looks like a sharp design. If you like it go for it.
I live on comc. Love buying 50 cards at a time for $75 tops lol
I like comc bcuz their prices r low.
But they've been sending me my items 2 months after i paid.
And to the cards that i bought that went UP in prices...they tell me they can't find it n put the same card for 500$+ more...
Pretty shady.
So i still buy from them but can't rely on them...
@@Steve-ls3lr the wait is brutal I’ll give you that. It does limit my spending because I’m not getting shipments every week.
It sucks. With ungraded cards on eBay, I have to automatically assume that it’s been graded once. I don’t trust ungraded cards on eBay tbh. Been burned too many times lol
Psa 10? 😬. Every time I see that in the item description I think PSA 8.
I'm more into Magic the Gathering than Sports but I agree 100%. I've yet to have a hope or an assumption on eBay pay off.
I cannot figure out what my card is worth , ive looked everywhere can you help? Its a 2016-17 Prestige Ben Simmons Rc Reminscent # /25 , the non numbered cards are easy to find , but i cant find anything on the numbered Ben Simmons /25 , any help i would appreciate, its in my video i just made as well for my cards im thinking of submitting to Psa if you wanna check it out. Im thinking it could be a 1k card or more graded ? but i really have no idea at this point
I would try and find other cards from that year or other years that are of a player similar to Ben Simmons and figure a rough price that way. But keep in mind, just because someone else sold a card for X doesn’t mean that’s what your card is worth. Sell it for what you think it’s worth.
@@PowersSportsMemorabilia any #d Rookie year Ben simmons i see is usually a grand or so, so thats how i based it but without seeing the #'d version of this card anywhere on any database it could be worth more? Simmons is easily the best from his draft class not sure if Ingram or Brown or Bubble Murray sells for near Simmons prices so hard to compare
@@philcapenmsgamingsports sell it for what you think it’s worth. I guarantee either way you will be wrong. Make a price you feel happy about.
@@PowersSportsMemorabilia Im thinking more of getting it graded and keeping it for awhile, as i dont think we have seen the best Ben Simmons yet
I used to buy only auto running backs .
Thank You for the shout out of Gem Mint by Waxpack Nation. Much appreciated.
You guys do a great job.
NBA - Pros: Hits = high value, almost all cards/players quick flip for highest ROI Cons: Only Panini, almost all cards/players quick flip for highest ROI
NFL - All about the QBs, Topps/Bowman college rookies
UFC - only panini and low ROI
MLB - Mostly Topps which is highest quality in card game, best scouting for quality hits and ROI, College and Pro rookies
Always go for a Topps product when possible for highest ROI and best quality overall. Chrome and Finest are top of the list, Prizm for some Optic for others. I try to get a graded 10 base chrome-like rookie. If affordable, I go for the same but numbered/sp/ssp/parallel. Buying raw rookies, buy right after a release and the breaks are done. Shops will have tons of base rookies and others in raw form literally just pulled.
Avoid buying boxes and never buy into a break. If you want to buy a box, try to save up and buy the higher end boxes that guarantees a hit. IMO, Panini is watered down and low quality. They worked with PSA to drive the market. Panini is a European company. Topps has Fanatics employees on their side. Topps has better photos and better scouting. More on card rookie autos. Panini is selling as much as possible to cover ground from the huge deal. Imagine being told you had a guaranteed auto and instead you get Panini points? The game isn't for collectors anymore.