First Blog Post

For my first blog post, I figured I would talk about the basics in this industry. There are many important things to know when it comes to looking to purchase cards and other memorabilia. For starters, in order to ensure you are getting what you pay for it is important to know the reputable brands in the industry. For sports cards, the Topps company and Panini America company are both well-known manufacturers which produce cards that have potential to hold and gain value overtime. Other companies such as Leaf and Upper Deck create authentic cards, but due to licensing rights their cards do not hold much value over time. When it comes to memorabilia, there are two main companies other than the NBA, MLB, and other professional sports leagues that can authenticate autographed or game used items. The two companies Beckett and PSA are very well known as reliable authenticators, meaning that if you purchase something that has been certified by them, you know you are getting what you paid for. It is important to know this because a lot of forgeries will be sold with a COA (Certificate of Authenticity) that is nothing more than a piece of paper that has been printed by the owner themselves.

Another important thing to know is how to correctly value your items. In prior times, the way of pricing used to be by using Beckett’s Card Almanac, which provided a price guide for almost every card released in the year. However, as the hobby has evolved to an internet-dominated industry, it has become easier than ever to value your cards or items. Many people will search on eBay and price an item they own or are looking to buy by seeing what other sellers are attempting to sell their items for. This is the incorrect way because people can ask whatever price they want for their item, but it doesn’t mean someone will pay that much. The trick to get around this is by using eBays filters and selecting “Sold Listings” so that you can easily see what prices the cards and items have actually sold for. This is a trick that many new collectors and buyers are unaware of.