Question about card collecting

[hallca5]

Hey guys,

I just recently got into collecting cards and had a few questions about when to sell certain cards. I'm not trying to make a side income off of this, but I would like to sell when I know the card is near it's peak value (or think I know).

1) Do rookie cards usually drop off in value after their first year? Would you hold on to Luck/RG3/Wilson patches or high numbered on-card rookies? Say /100 or /250 or higher?

2) Does being a Super Bowl MVP increase value of cards? If so, does it peak right after the Super Bowl or would it be worth more a decade or so later?

3) Is it better to sell cards individually or as a group set? For example, would a Ryan Broyles auto, patch and serial numbered card sell better together or separately?

4) Do any positions outside of QB/RB/WR hold their value well?

I know these are general and it's impossible to speculate on anything, but some advice to get me thinking in the right direction would help a lot. Any articles or blogs to look at would be appreciated too.

Thanks!

[ejiminee]

Welcome to CCW!

Good questions.

Unfortunately not questions I can answer. I simply collect & keep what I like. I trade the other cards I get from packs to get them, without regard to whether the card is in a high or low price frame.

I hope you get the answers you need.

[jsab4807]

All just my opinion, others might disagree...

1.) Typically they'll be at their peak value after a good game or two during their rookie season. Unless the player pans out to be one of the greatest of all time (Brady, Manning), their rookies will sell for more during that rookie year than at any other point. Risky gamble either way, haha.

2.) Yes. Prices will usually be the highest right after a Super Bowl win/Super Bowl MVP trophy.

3.) Individually is usually a better option, because some people might not want the GU or the #'d rookie...maybe they're only looking for the auto. Now you've lost a potential customer because they're grouped together.

4.) Not really. QB/RB/WR are generally the value spots. On rare occasions players of other positions will have nice value, but it's generally reserved for those three positions.

[sportscardrage]

Like the poster above said this is merely my opionion based on my experience with reselling cards.


1. With a lot of rookies yes the best way to get max out of them when reselling is right when they come out, and I mean say Topps Chrome comes out selling them those first two weeks are when you get the best money.

There have been a bunch of examples of players being worth much more outside of their rookie year the past few years. People like Rob Gronkowski, Victor Cruz, Aaron Hernandez and now Colin Kapaernick have been worth a substantial amount more than they were their rookie years.

Things that affect a rookie card outside of a players rookie season are things like Super Bowl appearance, a great second or third season, even just a hot game which, also the number of rookie autos they have such was the case with guys like Jimmy Graham and Victor Cruz.

2. And if they win a Super Bowl and/or also Super Bowl MVP the price is probably going to be the highest right after that Super Bowl unless they turn out to be one of the greatest players of their position.

3. There are good and bad sides to selling a card as a single or selling a bunch of cards of the same player together. With selling them as a group you most likely won't get as much for all the cards as you would if you sold them individually. However with not so popular players selling a bunch of that same person can generate more interest from more people and you have a better chance of selling all those cards.

4. Yes the skill positions are usually where you can make the most money. You can also include TE's into the group of three you listed. Of course there are exceptions it all depends on how many autos they have, just how great they are, the team they play on and super bowl appearances


Overall its tough on when to know to sell cards. Sometimes its best to get what you can right away and if it happens that the price goes up later down the road so be it at least you made a profit just might not be as great of a profit as you would have if you held off on selling it. But that's whatI try to do unless I'm thinking about getting cards graded.

[whitney777]

It looks like you've received some solid advice.

[hallca5]

Thank you very much for all the replies! This will give me some good ideas on what to do with my collection.