selling my gartner collection, maybe..yes..no..opinions please

J

jackieg

Registered Trader
Joined
Aug 14, 2008
Messages
578
Reaction score
0
Location
Montréal, QC
So here is the story, I have been collecting Gartner, mike 708 goals for 15 years. Until this year I have been able to get at least one copy of every card made, excluding a few 1/1's . This year my finances have changed and I am struggling a bit and don't have the money to pick up some big cards I really want!! So I start to feel that if I can't have them all when they become available then maybe I should stop! It sounds a bit spoiled when I see it on paper but it is how I feel these days.
I also recognize that I have some cards that I can get good money and others I will never get what I paid so I am tempted to reduce my collection and refocus those resources towards other items or pay for my kids school:)

What do you guys and gals think. Do I cave and sell or just wait and get the card I can afford?
Thanks in advance!
 
Priorities...I've sold most of my collection in the last year or so (most of it since we found out we were having twins) and while I will continue to hit the boards to try to keep up with what's going on, I won't be buying as much as I have in the past. With two babies coming, I doubt that I'll have time to do even that...

When I initially set out to start selling my stuff, I thought I would miss the cards. Truthfully, I don't even remember the cards that I sold. That might show the true worth some of these cards have with me.

Keep the cards you like. The ones that mean the most (I have a few cards in my collection that are not worth much except that the people who I got them from mean the world to me) or the ones that have a good memory attached or the ones that were toughest to get (it doesn't have to be a 1/1 for it to be a tough card to find) and sell the rest so you can pay for your kids' school or make the struggle a little less. Trust me, the ones that you keep will become your PC, the rest you won't miss at all.

Just my own experience for you to look at.
 
Bang on. Priorities.

While collecting doesn't need to be approached as a race, it is (as much as I hate to say it) a luxury and not a necessity.
 
Jack,

I wish you the very best of luck.

I personally would sell. Would be very hard to do but I would sell my collection.
 
Flip through your collection and set a pile on the left that you feel you gotta keep and set a pile on the right that you know you can let go of. As you're flipping through your cards and you find yourself naturally stopping at a card and you're not sure then put it in the pile to the left (you may not know now, but you may regret selling that card later). Then flip through the pile on the left again to see if your initial instincts were true. Hopefully, you'll find personal reasons to keep many of the cards regardless of BV or how many colours a jersey or patch might have.

Now you'll have a personal collection based on sentimental value on your left and a collection of cards to your right that will be of value to your personal finances. Your lifestyle won't change because you'll have less cards. In fact, it may become enhanced because you'll have an easier financial situation while still maintaining a quality collection.

Good luck!
 
Definitely go with keeping your favourites. You may end up regretting selling them and not being able to get them back.

At the end of the day, collecting is a lifestyle choice and if you need the money to live etc...

Easier said than done though, I admit.
 
To keep it simple, if you can remember all the cards you consider your favorites, those are the ones to keep, the rest were not meant to be kept LOL..

The hobby will always exist, family comes first. I learned that a few years ago and have cut out anything that I considered excess baggage. No point in hanging onto things when bigger priorities come into your life.

Good luck with your decision.

ameet
 
Last summer I wanted a new guitar & didn't want to pay a cent out of pocket. So I flipped through my Clark & Fleury collections and pulled out a pile of stuff I just don't need. I used to think 100% would be nice but I simply don't have the time, $ or patience to get there. I don't regret it at all and still have a pretty sweet collection that is 99% cards I love rather than a few important cards mixed in with 15 color parallels that mean nothing. Plus it feels pretty good to be able to play a $1400 guitar that I basically traded cards for :)
 
Well this year is starting to become expensive. My plans were new fence for the house, fix my hot tub, go to one of my cousins wedding out of province and maybe get my car fixed. Now one of my best friends may also be getting married in September and I am the best man. Looks like it is time to move some of my Vanek and Sabres cards. Now to figure out if I want to keep most of the rookie year stuff and move everything else or keep the pieces that are the nicer ones from all years........
 
Fritz said:
Last summer I wanted a new guitar & didn't want to pay a cent out of pocket. So I flipped through my Clark & Fleury collections and pulled out a pile of stuff I just don't need. I used to think 100% would be nice but I simply don't have the time, $ or patience to get there. I don't regret it at all and still have a pretty sweet collection that is 99% cards I love rather than a few important cards mixed in with 15 color parallels that mean nothing. Plus it feels pretty good to be able to play a $1400 guitar that I basically traded cards for :)
Click to expand...

This is a great story of success... and something I would recommend after completing something similar :beer:

I used to try and get every card of Sakic and Forsberg but its practically impossible and not worth the time, money, and stress. From now on I keep my collection small and petite. I've been incredibly happen ever since I've done this. I used the money from the cards I sold to help buy a nice car... one of the best decisions I've ever made since I was able to get all of the bells and whistles (custom breaks, neon lights, etc)
 
Last edited:
I used to have a really extensive Vincent Lecavalier collection.... about 10 years worth. I sold almost all the high ends and half the mid end (don't really have the time, or desire to list the rest) and I don't miss any of them really. I thought I would... in fact I even set aside some at the start but ended up eventually turning around and selling those.

Start with selling a few, then you will see... you will probably start selling quite a few more. I don't regret it.
 
thank yo all for the advice and please keep it coming. i really wanted 1 of every card and feel so close to doing it. I have so many 1/1's and it woudl be those cards i would sell. I don't think i have any favorites, maybe the us black diamond 500 goal auto jersey because there on;y 25 and it took forever to get it and i over paid bv!! but that woudl be the first card i would sell. I don't think i woudl keep any once i start, just a few that he autographed for me.
if i sell it also mean the end of a way of life (as sad as that sounds) daily visit to ebay for ANYTHING gartner. I have so many magazines, pictures, odd ball items that nobody but a gartner collecter would want:)
i will take a bit more time to think it over but I guess i am leaning to sell. Just completed 2 rainbows also:)
thanks everybody I appreciate the comments, just a tough decision......
 
Make sure you put a little of that money into something else you'll enjoy... just for the odd day when you might have some regret of selling the collection you can pick the other item up & go "oooooh yeahhh!" :)
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
390,135
Messages
2,238,795
Members
4,169
Latest member
Misso
Back
Top