The trading card market is hot right now, if not a little overheated – last week one collector pulled a gun against other collectors in a dispute over trading cards at a destinationand called on the company to pull cards off the shelves. While this is an extreme example of the intense demand for trading cards during the pandemic, the soaring prices suggest that you should take a second look at your own collection and look for hidden gems worth getting or selling.
The collector’s market has been good for some time
The trading card market was good even before the pandemic and even outperformed the stock market indices. The PWCC 500 index, which is similar to the S&P 500 for trading cards, reported a 12 year ROI of 175% compared to just 102% for the S&P, according to Axios.
Pokémon collectors have also fed frenzy. As reported by the BBC, a sealed box of early 2000s Pokémon cards that retail for around $ 100; The same box would cost up to $ 50,000 today. Vice also reports that the Pokémon market is so congested that there is one months long waiting list Just to have cards rated by professional card sorters.
Sports tickets are also popular with many high profile sales recently, including a Michael Jordan Rookie card We’re currently bidding at $ 1.4 millionand an “extremely rare” LeBron James rookie card that was sold for $ 5.2 millionand surpasses a Mickey Mantle card sold for the same price in early January.
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This is how you determine the value of your collection
There are many cards out there and only a small fraction of them are very valuable. You should do your own research first before paying for an appraiser’s services. The card collection point Cardboard connection suggests eBay as a first step, especially under “sold articles, ”As it tells you, how much your cards are worth without having to spend money (there is also price conduct Services these are useful).
If you’re like me, your dream is to use leftovers to fund a mortgage down payment Trash can kids cards will resolve quickly and you will be forced to move on (but I’ll try again in another 30 years).
If your trading cards have any value, you should have them authenticated and graded by card grading services like the Professional Sports Authenticator or PSA (although again they do). Expect delays). Whether or not you actually sell it is up to you.
What are the disadvantages of investing in trading cards?
The most important thing to remember about trading cards is that they are only worth what someone else is willing to pay. When the market suddenly dries up, the book value from a price leader means nothing. Traders will also tell you that lining up a buyer is not always easy, and some cards vary in how easy they are to sell.
You also need to know what to look for. The chances of finding one Honus Wagner card In your attic, the value is extremely low, so you need to identify undervalued cards by keeping up with new collections and trends (this is why most professional traders start out as hobbyists).
Just because trading cards have remained popular doesn’t mean they will last forever. will Gen Z collectors Accept niche cardboard rectangles with the same zeal as boomers and millennials twenty years from now? Is the market being influenced by NFTs or is it just a fad? Nobody knows for sure.
