Save A Buck...Destroy A Hobby

[KingPokemon]

@smpratte

I know, I just had to figure out a way to weave in a Belichick reference.

Hey…I want 6 silver stars too:(

[null_user]

If my grandfather was on this forum (which would be amazing) he’d offer the following:

“Buy cheap, buy twice. Think on”

[Taigataipan]

For me this thing is like two-edged sword.

In the end I tend to pay fair price for well-known sellers who can provide great service&delivery times. Not because I’d like to give extra for some specific item, I just feel they’ve earned it by doing great job for whole Pokemon collecting hobby.

I still have to partially agree what @omahanime said, you should equally support the business of newcomers to keep market healthy.

[soulwind]

@guangjohto

If my grandfather was on this forum (which would be amazing) he’d offer the following:

“Buy cheap, buy twice. Think on”

I always said “buy once, cry once.”

[hisoka107]

I really like how Scott put it on page one. Here’s a story about why it sucks to be the reliable guy in pokemon cards. I’m sure many of you have browsed edmerlrs ebay store. He’s an older who’s been into collecting all his life. He tries his best to describe honestly the description. He charges a little more and does tracked shipping.

Now there’s a a guy on the reddit forums who used to sell bulk but then opened up his own store. He started out using tracked shipping and reasonable prices. now it’s free shipping and way undercutting the prices. He now opens 20 cases a month but his feedback has slowly gone down to meet the rush.

Cards are little different from the proper business you bought that gift from. the people on UPCCC are the unusual ones who pay the higher/fair prices to the reputable sellers. Occasionally taking a risk and buying from the unknown. Most people will buy from whoever is cheapest. Compare it to Ebirdman or gary and how they aren’t in a rush to sell their PSA cards. I’ve received cards from both and I’d happily pay the prices.

Either way Scott I wish more people would share the same sentiment you have versus going to the cheapest first everytime.

[KingPokemon]

Amazing job guys. Very insightful points. The U’s community is the absolute best;)

I received an email asking how the hobby could be destroyed.

I want Eddie B. to sell. I want Rusty to continue on with his sales and videos. I don’t want Scott to quit ebay or to cease his participation on the U. Glenn’s unique insight and help with Yahoo is invaluable. There’s a dozen terrific people right here who support the hobby and their collections by operating successful stores online.
Why?
Rusty has a new baby. Eddies a single dad trying to raise a daughter with health issues. Scott could go into just about any line of work and be successful. Glenn runs a business that he takes time away from to help the hobby. And the others have school expenses and the like.
All put a terrific amount of time into their ventures which help us all.

Now…Imagine they all disappeared. Or better yet, never existed. Would the hobby be the same? Where do you think your values would be today or 15 years down the road?

Well the buyers, and we’re all buyers too, have control of that. All I’m asking is to think about this post next time you buy. Giving Rusty an extra couple bucks for an item is helping to keep him in the game which benefits you in the long run.

[ljgenco12]

@KingPokemon

Amazing job guys. Very insightful points. The U’s community is the absolute best;)

I received an email asking how the hobby could be destroyed.

I want Eddie B. to sell. I want Rusty to continue on with his sales and videos. I don’t want Scott to quit ebay or to cease his participation on the U. Glenn’s unique insight and help with Yahoo is invaluable. There’s a dozen terrific people right here who support the hobby and their collections by operating successful stores online.
Why?
Rusty has a new baby. Eddies a single dad trying to raise a daughter with health issues. Scott could go into just about any line of work and be successful. Glenn runs a business that he takes time away from to help the hobby. And the others have school expenses and the like.
All put a terrific amount of time into their ventures which help us all.

Now…Imagine they all disappeared. Or better yet, never existed. Would the hobby be the same? Where do you think your values would be today or 15 years down the road?

Well the buyers, and we’re all buyers too, have control of that. All I’m asking is to think about this post next time you buy. Giving Rusty an extra couple bucks for an item is helping to keep him in the game which benefits you in the long run.

Great post and great topic, Gary.

[null_user]

@ljgenco12

@KingPokemon

Amazing job guys. Very insightful points. The U’s community is the absolute best;)

I received an email asking how the hobby could be destroyed.

I want Eddie B. to sell. I want Rusty to continue on with his sales and videos. I don’t want Scott to quit ebay or to cease his participation on the U. Glenn’s unique insight and help with Yahoo is invaluable. There’s a dozen terrific people right here who support the hobby and their collections by operating successful stores online.
Why?
Rusty has a new baby. Eddies a single dad trying to raise a daughter with health issues. Scott could go into just about any line of work and be successful. Glenn runs a business that he takes time away from to help the hobby. And the others have school expenses and the like.
All put a terrific amount of time into their ventures which help us all.

Now…Imagine they all disappeared. Or better yet, never existed. Would the hobby be the same? Where do you think your values would be today or 15 years down the road?

Well the buyers, and we’re all buyers too, have control of that. All I’m asking is to think about this post next time you buy. Giving Rusty an extra couple bucks for an item is helping to keep him in the game which benefits you in the long run.

Great post and great topic, Gary.

Well Spoken.

[blastoiserules1]

I HATE the Sellers who “CLAIM” that there cards are MINT! When they aren’t. So many Ebay sellers won’t even post a picture of the back of the card for me to check out the condition on…

[omahanime]

@soulwind

I don’t mind buying from new people as long as they describe their item accurately. In fact, most of the cards I need are purchased from unknown sellers as I can’t easily access these cards anywhere else. I get burned a lot, but I am also incredibly picky and I understand that going into a purchase. I do not enjoy purchasing from people who list their items inaccurately to bump up the price.

Of course I prefer to purchase and sell to people I am familiar with, and people who wholeheartedly promote the hobby. For example, I am a frequent customer of Jimmy and likely will be for a long time. His prices are usually reasonable, but even when they aren’t the best, he gets a large portion of my business. It is because he has earned my trust as a customer and I know supporting him helps to keep his website up for other collectors of Japanese cards. His website is undoubtedly one of the most accessible websites for that aspect of the hobby.

Which Jimmy are you talking about?

[fourthstartcg]

@japanime

Gary,

Yeah, I think I misunderstood your original point. But the points Scott made (and those you’ve made in your follow-up) definitely are solid and make lots of sense.

In any case, it’s a very interesting question you raised, and this has turned into a nice little thread

Gary, Scott, Glenn…who are these people? I’m assuming it’s some combination of @smpratte, @garyis2000, @japanime…but maybe we could use usernames/tags for those who aren’t on a first name basis with some collectors? It’s just a little confusing for me as I’m trying to figure out who is replying to who, etc.

[ljgenco12]

Scott = smpratte
Gary = NZG
Glenn = japanime

[null_user]

@ljgenco12

Scott = smpratte
Gary = NZG
Glenn = japanime

Scott = smpratte aka pokemon card collector God
Gary = NZG aka pokemon card collector God
Glenn = japanime aka pokemon card collector God

Sorry Joey, Had to edit you’re post, you did them no justice. Don’t let it happen again k? LOL

[soulwind]

@omahanime

@soulwind

I don’t mind buying from new people as long as they describe their item accurately. In fact, most of the cards I need are purchased from unknown sellers as I can’t easily access these cards anywhere else. I get burned a lot, but I am also incredibly picky and I understand that going into a purchase. I do not enjoy purchasing from people who list their items inaccurately to bump up the price.

Of course I prefer to purchase and sell to people I am familiar with, and people who wholeheartedly promote the hobby. For example, I am a frequent customer of Jimmy and likely will be for a long time. His prices are usually reasonable, but even when they aren’t the best, he gets a large portion of my business. It is because he has earned my trust as a customer and I know supporting him helps to keep his website up for other collectors of Japanese cards. His website is undoubtedly one of the most accessible websites for that aspect of the hobby.

Which Jimmy are you talking about?

Oops! I was referring to Cardcollector-Uk.

[richiel1991]

@KingPokemon

Amazing job guys. Very insightful points. The U’s community is the absolute best;)

I received an email asking how the hobby could be destroyed.

I want Eddie B. to sell. I want Rusty to continue on with his sales and videos. I don’t want Scott to quit ebay or to cease his participation on the U. Glenn’s unique insight and help with Yahoo is invaluable. There’s a dozen terrific people right here who support the hobby and their collections by operating successful stores online.
Why?
Rusty has a new baby. Eddies a single dad trying to raise a daughter with health issues. Scott could go into just about any line of work and be successful. Glenn runs a business that he takes time away from to help the hobby. And the others have school expenses and the like.
All put a terrific amount of time into their ventures which help us all.

Now…Imagine they all disappeared. Or better yet, never existed. Would the hobby be the same? Where do you think your values would be today or 15 years down the road?

Well the buyers, and we’re all buyers too, have control of that. All I’m asking is to think about this post next time you buy. Giving Rusty an extra couple bucks for an item is helping to keep him in the game which benefits you in the long run.

This times a million.

Friends online always ask me why I buy from TCA’s store since his prices are so high. I explain to them because he’s done so much to improve the hobby with his ebay guides and videos. Plus he wants to be as open as possible about his business/life which goes to show his integrity. I don’t even think his prices are that bad really, especially how he helps out with his 20% discount. I don’t have a LCS (local card shop) that sells Pokemon, so I just pretend that a few sellers I deal with on eBay are. Plus I hope that one day Rusty actually opens a store one day, then I’ll bug my gf to visit her family in NC so I can take a quick peek at it on the way

[binx345]

Weird thing is TCA aka Rusty is located in my state. I have bought from him online multiple times…but I can’t place a face to a name. I wonder if he ever did/does TCG events because surely I would know him in real life…

[Taigataipan]

@blastoiserules1

I HATE the Sellers who “CLAIM” that there cards are MINT! When they aren’t. So many Ebay sellers won’t even post a picture of the back of the card for me to check out the condition on…

This will remain as problem for very long time because not every collector has same standards for condition.

Another thing that’s becoming more of a rule instead of exception is sellers using psa scale for ungraded cards. Funny enough often people behind this have very less or zero interest for actual psa grading/collecting.

Oh the irony.