Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Making some sales on the ol' Jagr collection!

So after joining a couple more Facebook groups, I have been selling a handful of my Jagr cards. I think only 20 or so have been sold, but I am thankful for having some good Facebook Messenger conversations with a few collectors.

For the most part I have gotten what I have wanted out of them. Maybe I'll drop $5 off an auto or $15 because you are buying four or five cards, but it's pretty close. To be honest I am basing a lot of my asking prices on what I paid for them, but a lot of it is gut feelings.

But there is a growing sense sadness and regret. I guess because a hobby I have enjoyed for 25-years is leaving, bubble mailer by bubble mailer, magnetic one-touch by magnetic one-touch.

For now the rush is fun, seeing what people are interested in. But I realize that will die down. A couple of Jagr collectors are picking over my collection like a buzzard over a dead opossum, but at least they are respectful of my prices and I know the cards will "go to a good home".

But what I once held as a sort of bragging point is falling away. Coveted cards are only coveted because people want MINE. When I sell them off that no longer applies. I can no longer post those same cards in a "see what I have?" manner anymore.

So was all this just to get the largest collection? The best cards? I don't know. But I'm glad to sell off what I can.

Unfortunately many sales have fallen through because shipping costs are so high these days. For a $70 card does it make sense to spend $15 or more on shipping to get it to Europe? Nevermind that it is over $35 to some countries just to get a tracking number. I am fortunate, though, that some are utilizing US-based services like COMC Mailboxes or Get it Shipped International. Those may be my saving graces!