General Forum

Does anyone have any suggestions on what you should expect to pay for a large lot of mostly commons? Covering all major sports and racing. Someone local has 160,000 cards for sale from 1990-present and I'm getting tempted. I just wanted to get some thoughts on what others feel I should have to pay.

I should add it looks like everything is neatly stored in 5000 count boxes. I haven't seen the cards but the organization of the collection suggests these have been taken care of.

If in Canada, I just boght a collection las tweekend between 100,000 to 250,000 cards and paid 1200 cash. Big risk with potential reward. It all about what your comfortable with. C2C said do your own math on what your will ing to pay per card, be 1/4 cent or so on. Mine was 82-83 to 93-94 hockey, baseball, football and some wrestling. I may be off base but one or two big cards (if not alreasy pulled) and I'm doing ok. Full sets are a plus as well I am up over 30 full sets and I'm only on my second box. =)

Thanks. I'll assume this won't have hidden treasures but the seller was asking $350 last weekend is now asking $200. I would think the 5000 count boxes in good shape must be worth $50-$100?

If it's ALL commons and absolutely no stars, that could be tough to move, even at that fantastic price. 

I agree vrooomed. I would probably gain a lot of cards I don't have but with shipping costs commons unless sold locally really have no value.

I just wanted to get an idea what others exp experience was on what they have paid or received for say a 5000 count of commons. Maybe its $0?

I've paid $10 for five monster boxes,  and as much as $75 for about the same, but one of those was a lot of mid- to late-80s unopened insert sets and one great '86 Astros Police set and and '82 Portland Trailblazers Police set that I sold to a TCDB member. 

If I had 120,000 nicely organized cards nearby for $300 for sale, I'd jump on it.  It would more than double the amount of cards I have which are valued (on this site) at over $90k.  OK, sure Sportzcommish's card might be a tiny bit over valued (I'd put it closer to $50k, not $62k ).

Yes, I know my collection is not exactly worth that much, but to me it's priceless as it is a very enjoyable hobby.  I think even my wife would allow me to justify spending $300 on that many cards.  She just might get a little bummed when it would take up so much room in our basement.

I haven't looked locally recently, but I know a fellow TCDB member nearby bought a Craigslist lot that I had my eye on and it appeared to be a nice haul.  I won't kick myself over it, but I take it as a lesson learned.  As soon as I get a little more of my poop in a group, I'll be ready to buy in bulk and then start selling online.  Honestly, due to so many set builders out there, commons do have a market.  Maybe not so much the '86-'93 era, but even seasoned collectors like Sportzcommish just found a love for the All Star subsets and he just put many of those on his wantlist.  Commons have a market but no one wants to pay $0.50/card to fill their set.  They have to be in bulk.  I think the gentleman at Cardbarrel has found a successful way to move them.

Good luck and be sure to share your hits!

-Dan

Dan, you hit it right on spot saying that there's a market for commons. Commons is NOT a curse word. Most of my Astros wants other than Biggio, Bags, or Ryan, are commons. And if you have a lot of stars within that lot they're always on Want Lists. I keep discovering sets I've got zero of my beloved Astros PC. Can you believe I even have a few '90s Donruss on my Want List? And I just made an offer that included some going out.

Just be reasonable. I recall buying that $75 lot and it had about 2K '93 Topps and the guy at the shop said, "You may find a Jeter rookie. Look at what I found.