Why is it getting so hard to find people to make trades with?

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bbcardzman

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I collect all Cardinals cards and many of them book very little, but when I find someone who has cards I need they want either HOF GU and Auto cards or rookie cards like Trout, Bryant, ect. If I ask for more of a deal when trading my Trout card for a bunch of Cardinals commons, it's either not worth their time or postage or I never hear back from them. I have even offered to give triple value for what they pull and I still can't get them to dig out cards I need. I guess trading lower value cards is going to be a thing of the past unless your willing to trade your '52 Mantle for a bunch of commons you need. Hey, if your a team collector or just a trader who really wants to trade PLMK.
Thanks - Eric
 
Eric... I'm sure we've traded before. How about I send you everything I have of the Cardinals and after you get it, look it over, then send me a box of ANYTHING Cubs. It won't be a load of Cardinals stuff, and no high dollar, but it would help me by divesting myself of stuff I don't collect or need in return for something I might be able to use. I could also send Blues and maybe a few football Cardinals, if you'd like. Blackhawks (because I have a couple of collectors I deal with who are into Hawks stuff) could also be thrown in if you have any.
 
I collect all Cardinals cards and many of them book very little, but when I find someone who has cards I need they want either HOF GU and Auto cards or rookie cards like Trout, Bryant, ect. If I ask for more of a deal when trading my Trout card for a bunch of Cardinals commons, it's either not worth their time or postage or I never hear back from them. I have even offered to give triple value for what they pull and I still can't get them to dig out cards I need. I guess trading lower value cards is going to be a thing of the past unless your willing to trade your '52 Mantle for a bunch of commons you need. Hey, if your a team collector or just a trader who really wants to trade PLMK.
Thanks - Eric

That's because it has gone from a hobby where everyone collects their favorite team or player to a business where everyone wants to get the hottest players so they can sell them for a profit. If someone doesn't think it is worth their time or effort they just ignore you. Happens to me all the time. I still need a lot of easy cards for my Brad Ziegler collection but I can't find them for trade anywhere, but I can find them all over for sale at ridiculous prices. Who in their right mind is going to pay $.99 plus $3 shipping for a card that books for $1 or less? It's getting way out of hand.
 
I think the horrendous economy has really put a damper on many people trading. I know I haven't done much with my collection in the past 6 or 7 years, due in large part to my financial situation during that time.

I used to be a set builder, and had well over 500,000 cards. I was always doing low dollar deals with other set builders, team collector's, player collector's, etc. I was always buying cases of new Topps and Topps Heritage cards, as well as larger lots on eBay, and the occasional blaster at Walmart and Target.

Due to my being out of work, we were forced to sell our old house, and bought a much smaller house. I've had to drastically downsize my collections and my interests.

I'm currently down to about 75,000 cards, and I plan to dump at least 60,000 of those really soon. Just sorting through them, and cherry picking the stars, etc. before I do so.

I've noticed since I've got back into this, now as a strictly Chicago Cubs collector, the trading boards do not have no where near the traffic they used to have. eBay prices have really gone down, other than the very desirable stuff. I think many collector's were affected similarly to how I was, maybe worse.

Even though I'm active again, I've been somewhat selective about what I'm trading away and for. Postage costs are a lot more than they used to be, even as recently as 5 years ago. It seems to me I was able to send a #00 bubble mailer with 10 cards in it for around $1.50 roughly, now it's nearly $3.00. That adds up in a hurry when doing many trades.

Tom
 
I hear you, man. Have a few things for you:

2014 Topps Opening Day 14, 24, 159
2015 Topps Update US338
2011 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Purple Refractors (BDPP) – 58

Have a bunch of 2014 & 2015 Topps Archives on my need list that you might be able to hit? Let me know.
 
I went through your want lists and found a few you are in search of, if you're interested?

2001 Topps Golden Anniversary #GA13 Mark McGwire $6.00
2003 Topps Heritage #25 Chris Duncan SP RC $12.00
2004 Topps 1st Edition #40 Albert Pujols $2.50
2004 Topps 1st Edition #324 Yadier Molina FY $25.00
2004 Topps Heritage Chrome #THC97 Blake Hawksworth $3.00
2005 Topps Heritage #426 Scott Rolen SP $8.00
2005 Topps Heritage Chrome Refractors #THC107 So Taguchi $6.00
2015 Topps Heritage #223 Adam Wainwright/Clayton Kershaw/Johnny Cueto $0.75
2015 Topps Heritage #273 Clayton Kershaw/Adam Wainwright $0.75

The 2004 Topps 1st Edition Yadier, I'd like to trade for a Bryant of similar BV. The rest I'd trade you for my Cubs wants. I have my Topps Cubs wants on my www., the rest I'd have to compare what you have to what I have right now. Working on a list like yours, but it's a long way from done.

Thanks,
Tom
 
Have the same problem trying to trade for set needs and lower-end Pujols stuff. Sure,I'm getting closer to finishing a few of these sets and the ones I need are harder to find but in no way am I desperate enough to trade higher-BV cards of hot players and autographs to get them unless the cards I'm getting are of similar value.

I see new people come here from other sites and their mindset on how to obtain cards is much different than ours. These people ridicule the use of Beckett's price guide yet swear by Beckett's grading service (ironic,isn't it?). For us lower end collectors,I feel Beckett is necessary and that's something only an actual collector would understand.

I do understand the shipping part of it though. I welcome PWE trades but when I'm trading for $6 worth of commons and having to pay $2.54 to ship them,it's not very cost-effective.

Brett
 
Eric... I'm sure we've traded before. How about I send you everything I have of the Cardinals and after you get it, look it over, then send me a box of ANYTHING Cubs. It won't be a load of Cardinals stuff, and no high dollar, but it would help me by divesting myself of stuff I don't collect or need in return for something I might be able to use. I could also send Blues and maybe a few football Cardinals, if you'd like. Blackhawks (because I have a couple of collectors I deal with who are into Hawks stuff) could also be thrown in if you have any.

Hi Tony,
Yes we have traded a few times before, and I have a few other guys I trade Cubs cards with so I'm sure I have little you can use. I only do baseball and don't have anything else. I also don't want any Cardinals cards I already have and bulk trading is not something I'd do anyway. I have a Cubs tradelist but it doesn't have base cards on it. If you have base wants send me a wantlist as I could probably help (unless it's Bryant).
Here's my Cubs tradelist, LMK if you can use anything.
Cubs-
2015 Topps Update Throwback Variation #406 Jon Lester
2015 Topps Heritage Rookie Performers RP9 Javier Baez
2014 Topps Wal Mart Blue Border #93 Ryan Sweeney
2014 Topps Wal Mart Blue Border #318 Luis Valbuena
2013 Topps Archives #48 Ryne Sandberg
2012 Bowman Platinum Prospects Purple Refractors BPP95 Trey McNutt
2010 Topps Update Attax Code Cards Alfonso Soriano
2010 Topps Update Attax Code Cards Starlin Castro
2008 Bowman Chrome Refractors #72 Alfonso Soriano
2008 SP Authentic Authentic Achievements AA15 Alfonso Soriano
2007 Bowman Signs of the Future Auto SOF-CR Chris Robinson
2007 Topps Opening Day Diamond Stars DS2 Alfonso Soriano
2007 Upper Deck Ticket to Stardom TS-FP Felix Pie
2003 Bowman Chrome Refractors #328 Andy Sisco
2003 Fleer Double Header #73 Hee Seop Choi
2002 Select Rookies & Prospects Auto #48 Jose Cueto
2001 Topps Before There Was Topps BT6 Rogers Hornsby
2001 Upper Deck Vintage All-Star Tributes AS10 Sammy Sosa
2000 Black Diamond Rookie Edition Might M5 Sammy Sosa
2000 Bowman Tool Time TT12 Corey Patterson
2000 Fleer Tradition Twizzlers #8 Sammy Sosa
1999 Bowman International #199 Chris Gissel
1999 Bowman's Best Rookie of the Year #ROY2 Kerry Wood
1998 Bowman International #392 Jeff Yoder
1998 Leaf Rookies and Stars True Blue #296 Marc Pisciotta 1of500
1997 Collector's Choice All-Star Connection #32 Sammy Sosa
1997 Denny's Holograms #16 Sammy Sosa
1996 SP Marquee Matchups MM16 Sammy Sosa
1995 Collector’s Choice SE Silver Edition #83 Mark Grace
1995 Topps Cyberstats #61 Mark Grace
1994 Kenner Starting Lineup Cards Mark Grace
1991 Stadium Club Charter Member Ryne Sandberg
1990 Leaf #98 Ryne Sandberg
1990 Topps Rookies #26 Dwight Smith
1988 Topps Glossy All-Stars #14 Ryne Sandberg
1987 Fleer Award Winners #35 Ryne Sandberg (Dirty back)
1987 Sportflics #98 Shawon Dunston
 
I hear you, man. Have a few things for you:

2014 Topps Opening Day 14, 24, 159
2015 Topps Update US338
2011 Bowman Chrome Draft Prospects Purple Refractors (BDPP) – 58

Have a bunch of 2014 & 2015 Topps Archives on my need list that you might be able to hit? Let me know.

I traded off a lot of my 2014 Archives already, but I do have these 2015 Archives for you: 11,31,47,101,123,129,149,187,188,232,292
LMK or post it up.
Thanks - Eric
 
I went through your want lists and found a few you are in search of, if you're interested?

2001 Topps Golden Anniversary #GA13 Mark McGwire $6.00
2003 Topps Heritage #25 Chris Duncan SP RC $12.00
2004 Topps 1st Edition #40 Albert Pujols $2.50
2004 Topps 1st Edition #324 Yadier Molina FY $25.00
2004 Topps Heritage Chrome #THC97 Blake Hawksworth $3.00
2005 Topps Heritage #426 Scott Rolen SP $8.00
2005 Topps Heritage Chrome Refractors #THC107 So Taguchi $6.00
2015 Topps Heritage #223 Adam Wainwright/Clayton Kershaw/Johnny Cueto $0.75
2015 Topps Heritage #273 Clayton Kershaw/Adam Wainwright $0.75

The 2004 Topps 1st Edition Yadier, I'd like to trade for a Bryant of similar BV. The rest I'd trade you for my Cubs wants. I have my Topps Cubs wants on my www., the rest I'd have to compare what you have to what I have right now. Working on a list like yours, but it's a long way from done.

Thanks,
Tom

Hi Tom,
I am definitely interested. You found some great ones! Let me go through your lists and see what I can find. I know I have a really nice 1956 Topps #314 and can probably hit some 70's cards as long as you are not looking for NM copies most of mine are in the EX range with just some fuzzy corners. I will PM you a list of what I come up with later today. Thanks for looking.
Eric
 
That's because it has gone from a hobby where everyone collects their favorite team or player to a business where everyone wants to get the hottest players so they can sell them for a profit. If someone doesn't think it is worth their time or effort they just ignore you. Happens to me all the time. I still need a lot of easy cards for my Brad Ziegler collection but I can't find them for trade anywhere, but I can find them all over for sale at ridiculous prices. Who in their right mind is going to pay $.99 plus $3 shipping for a card that books for $1 or less? It's getting way out of hand.

I think you hit the nail right on the head. Maybe we need to start a site for people who just want to trade cards for pleasure and not investment.
 
I am right there with you Eric only my issue has become quite different. I have been trading those RC's and higher end stuff to get the Mets cards on my wantlist. I really have no issue with doing that as long as the trade is even or in my favor.
I buy packs and I look at it as say buying a pack for $2 and getting 10 cards means that I paid $.20 a card for those cards in that pack. If I get a Auto Kris Bryant that books at $100 I still got it for $.20. So if I can turn that card over for $100 of wantlist help, it is well worth it for me because I didn't have to spend $3.00 in postage to mail the 1 card. All in all, it cost me $.20 plus $.54 (=$.74) to get $100 worth of cards for my wantlist. Of course this doesn't always work to THAT extent but hopefully you get where I am going with that.
My problem now is that I have a ton of cards for trade but my wantlist has become very hard to hit as all the easy cards have been taken care of but now just need sp's from past years. My biggest problem is getting collectors to dig through there old cards looking for that 1 odd Met I need.
Another way is to take advantage of COMC's free postage sales and save your cash for that time of year. You can get the cards you need at reasonable prices (you can make offers to the sellers) and not have to pay postage. I'll spend $500 around the holidays to get those cards I need. It ends up saving you money in "postage-spent" during the year on trying to get each one of those cards individually from other traders.
Anyway, that's the way I look at it. I end up turning down many trades because of it but end up saving $$$ in the long run. Mike
 
I am right there with you Eric only my issue has become quite different. I have been trading those RC's and higher end stuff to get the Mets cards on my wantlist. I really have no issue with doing that as long as the trade is even or in my favor.
I buy packs and I look at it as say buying a pack for $2 and getting 10 cards means that I paid $.20 a card for those cards in that pack. If I get a Auto Kris Bryant that books at $100 I still got it for $.20. So if I can turn that card over for $100 of wantlist help, it is well worth it for me because I didn't have to spend $3.00 in postage to mail the 1 card. All in all, it cost me $.20 plus $.54 (=$.74) to get $100 worth of cards for my wantlist. Of course this doesn't always work to THAT extent but hopefully you get where I am going with that.
My problem now is that I have a ton of cards for trade but my wantlist has become very hard to hit as all the easy cards have been taken care of but now just need sp's from past years. My biggest problem is getting collectors to dig through there old cards looking for that 1 odd Met I need.
Another way is to take advantage of COMC's free postage sales and save your cash for that time of year. You can get the cards you need at reasonable prices (you can make offers to the sellers) and not have to pay postage. I'll spend $500 around the holidays to get those cards I need. It ends up saving you money in "postage-spent" during the year on trying to get each one of those cards individually from other traders.
Anyway, that's the way I look at it. I end up turning down many trades because of it but end up saving $$$ in the long run. Mike

I haven't quite reached the point where I only have hard cards to find, except on my vintage wants, but that is because I collect all the sets and parallels. But you are right it is hard to get people to dig through their stuff. I guess maybe they should just throw away their old stuff they don't want to dig through. Maybe they just like large paper weights.
I never have tried that COMC place but everyone has a lot of good things to say about them. I didn't know they had a free shipping deal. When does that happen? I might be able to get some good stuff I need.
Thanks for the response - Eric
 
I haven't quite reached the point where I only have hard cards to find, except on my vintage wants, but that is because I collect all the sets and parallels. But you are right it is hard to get people to dig through their stuff. I guess maybe they should just throw away their old stuff they don't want to dig through. Maybe they just like large paper weights.
I never have tried that COMC place but everyone has a lot of good things to say about them. I didn't know they had a free shipping deal. When does that happen? I might be able to get some good stuff I need.
Thanks for the response - Eric
It usually runs on "Black Friday" weekend after Thanksgiving. Save your $$$, its addicting.
 
My local wal mart has had no new cards since late October early November. The do have a few packs of Topps Update, but nothing since. Newest box of 2015 Baseball they have is Topps Series 2. I run into the same problems trying to get Frank Thomas stuff, everyone wanting HOF or a nice Trout that I don't have. Anytime I get a Trout I have it gone quick.
 
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I agree that postage has gotten to the point where trading is prohibitive. I'm trying to complete Yankees team sets and run into the same problems...
 
I am running into the same problem but willing to make trades if any of you gentleman want to take a peek at my wants on my homepage and find something I will try and help you out the best i can
Thanks
Chief
 
I am running into the same problem but willing to make trades if any of you gentleman want to take a peek at my wants on my homepage and find something I will try and help you out the best i can
Thanks
Chief

Sorry Chief, but I have nothing from your wantlist. I only do baseball and your wants are pretty small there.

I am getting my 2005 rookies together for trade do you have a want list?

All my wants are at the link in my sig.
 
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