General Forum

I have made the decision that 2019 is my last year of collecting sets.  A very tough decision...my initial goal was to get every Topps set since the year I was born.  I have '59, '60, and '68 to now.  My problem since I was a kid was to buy packs/boxes until I completed a set.  On the good side, this has given me bunches of good cards that others would like.  I slide in one or two here and there on trades on this site.

Starting January 1, 2020 I will only try to obtain cards to fill the sets that are not complete, and not purchase any more packs/boxes.  It's been a hell of a ride, but you can't take these to your grave.....

Sorry to read this......Maybe you could pursue the 2020 set through trades, while not buying any boxes, thus accumulating any extra cards ? Could be a challenge to keep you here / interested.

Not a fan of seeing anyone go, but I understand.

Hey Engine, I will never go.....but, I like your idea of obtaining a '20 set thru trades!!!!!

60 years of sets is a solid run.  Are you going to focus on filling in 61-67?  I'd be happy to contribute some lower grade 64s next time I run across them, and I've likely got a handful of the others.

Actually, my family has stated that my collection will be with me in the coffin. 

Kevin just enjoy what you can. I'm constantly adjusting my collecting. I just opened up a box of a mixture of Kelloggs, Hostess, and other minis, and it's difficult for me to trade them away and start adding to my want list instead of my trade list. 

I made a similar change this year. Instead of buying boxes and building a set, which I love to do, I've just bought the sets online and be done with it. In a sense it pains me to not build from a box, but it is so much more cost effective to just buy the set. Of course, I still have my 70-73 sets to finish building so there's that.

Kevin, we set builders are a dying breed, but I understand.  My family is wondering when I wiil quit, because they don't want to be bothered with over 2,000 sets and well over 2 million cards, along with several 3200 ct boxes of PC cards.  

On building 2020, or any year, it's possible to build it through trading.  There have been years that I was late to the party, and had to trade for a "starter set",  usually 50-100 cards, sometimes bigger, if I had enough to trade back.  Another way I've built a lot of sets is buying a flat rate box of assorted cards of a particular year on other trading sites.  Might also check people selling collections, or getting rid of dupes on Craigslist.  I found a guy about 45 miles from me that busted tons of stuff, all sports, and only chased autos, game-used, and numbered rookies.  I've bought from him 5 different times and it's a lot cheaper than buying boxes.  My last buy was in August, about 40,000, and I was able to start 13 sets.  Thanks to the 5 trading groups I am in, I've already completed 9 of  the sets.  

Just hope you continue to enjoy the hobby, whatever way you decide.  I've enjoyed our trades and appreciate you helping me with my sets!  Thanks.

BobbyL

Similar position here KMack. Born in 59, have complete sets 69 to now. 68 is very close with key cards already in hand. Now just filling the void (52-67),  trading dupes for cards I need. I do sometimes purchase monster boxes of mixed cards from a friend collector, adding more trading doubles and starting sets I wouldn't ordinarily buy. I often think about the end game though, have one son, who probably has no interest.....someones gonna have a mess to deal with, lol.

Bobby L, you are a good friend and appreciate your comments.  Kaline, thank you for your thoughts also. I addressed this with my wife and asked her what she was going to do with these cards the day I was gone and her reply was "I don't know".  I'm pushing a total of 1 million cards....the sets are easy---dump on ebay or let the brother in law deal with them.  The problem is the other 40 moster boxes and 100 800 count boxes.

I had a medical scare 2 weeks ago but things have lined out; cards are still here though, that won't change any time soon.

7 years ago I stopped building sets.  I had over 300 sets.   It take me almost 5 years to get down to approx 2,000 cards of stars and my PC.   Then I said OK to my brother to sell my nephew's cards.    Almost 2 years and I'm still at 180,000 cards.   My wife will burn them if I go before her.  One big wienie roast.

Health is good but at almost 72 it can change real fast.  I really need to get to work on getting rid of everything except my PC.  10,000 Nebraska cards would not be hard to give away in Nebraska.