In this week's installment of Shop Talk, I'm going to talk about a ongoing and ever increasing back and forth with many of the customers that come through our door who are looking to sell their cards to us.The most recent example is one from late this week. An older gentleman who is a repeat customer in our store came in with a stack of cards. Now this particular customer … [Read more...] about Shop Talk: Comp Questions and Answers
buying and selling
Collection Management Source Cardbase Gets Funding Round
A card collecting management software startup has received a new round of funding to accelerate the development of its platform. Noted venture capitalist Peter Thiel is behind the effort to boost Cardbase, a website and app that enables users to track and manage their sports card collections. Also participating in the round is Investacard, backed by millionaire investor and … [Read more...] about Collection Management Source Cardbase Gets Funding Round
StarStock Raises $1.3 Million in Seed Money from Kevin Durant, Other Investors
One year-old StarStock, a trading card marketplace, is getting a big influx of cash courtesy of a group of investors that includes a couple of NBA players. The company announced Monday that it had raised $1.3 million in seed funding “to fuel the company’s growth plans.” Participants in the round include NBA all-star Kevin Durant and long-time veteran guard Matthew … [Read more...] about StarStock Raises $1.3 Million in Seed Money from Kevin Durant, Other Investors
Selling Your Sets, Part II: Picking the Right Auction Outlet
This is the second of a two-part series on getting the most money out of your better baseball and other sports card sets if you decide to sell. Part I covered putting a plan together and showcasing some of the best cards in your set. In part two, Mark Arzoumanian offers some insight on how to pick the right place to help you with the sale. If you’ve identified … [Read more...] about Selling Your Sets, Part II: Picking the Right Auction Outlet
How to Sell Your Trading Card Sets Part I: Have a Plan
I’m a glass half full guy. But lately I’ve been thinking about death. My own. It’s hard not to when every day the news is dominated by Covid-19 stories. Sad and disconcerting. But if I were to die from this virus next month, one thing I know for certain: An auction house of my own choosing will auction off my baseball card collection. My two younger brothers, neither of whom … [Read more...] about How to Sell Your Trading Card Sets Part I: Have a Plan
Major Sports Card Buyers Stuck at Home During COVID Crisis
Gas is cheap. There are plenty of seats on airplanes. They have plenty of time—and money—at their disposal. It may sound like a perfect scenario, but this spring has been a lonely time for those who are used to buying collections of sports cards. The Coronavirus has put a damper on deals. “It’s just nearly impossible to go out of the area to buy collections,” … [Read more...] about Major Sports Card Buyers Stuck at Home During COVID Crisis
Sports Card Buying Trips Yield Inventory
"Buying trips" have been a way of life for some dealers as far back as the 1970s and 80s where shoeboxes full of sports cards were carried into conference rooms at hotels across North America. Dealers built their show inventory by advertising their presence in local newspapers and on radio. Closets and attics emptied, dealers forked over a few bucks and … [Read more...] about Sports Card Buying Trips Yield Inventory
What’s Hot: Big Deals and Hot Cardboard
I'm sitting here at Casa De Fruitman just chilling out after sadly watching the Nuggets lose to the Jazz on the road. While winter may keep us all inside a little more, that means there is often some closet-cleaning going on and more proof that card shops aren’t just about new products. It was an interesting day at the shop as I shipped off my first pallet of cards … [Read more...] about What’s Hot: Big Deals and Hot Cardboard
Collectable Raises Over $500,000 for New Sports Collectible Marketplace
Collectable, a Boston-based technology company that brings together historical and real-time pricing data from sports memorabilia auctions, has acquired seed funding to launch a new peer-to-peer marketplace. Seed-round investors include Evan Mathis, a former Super Bowl champion NFL player and avid collector, Jason Epstein, co-founder of CastleRock REO, and Larry Richmond, … [Read more...] about Collectable Raises Over $500,000 for New Sports Collectible Marketplace
8 Collecting Tips To Help You Avoid Being Ripped Off
Other than losing a collection of cards or having a prized collection stolen, it may be a collector's worst nightmare. Each year, collectors are duped over and over by purchasing fake or altered cards. With improved printing capabilities and other technologies, it is easier than ever to create authentic-looking forged and altered vintage cards. While no 100% foolproof … [Read more...] about 8 Collecting Tips To Help You Avoid Being Ripped Off