New to the world of collecting

[RoostEA]

Evening all,
Sorry I’m sure you guys get this a lot!
I have a collection of over 400 match worn football shirts and now I’m getting into the world of Trading cards. It’s a mine field though and so many different types.

I would like to collect autographed cards I think, I just paid £200 on two boxes of Topps gold football cards and literally got 3 decent cards with a value of around £60 between them so technically lost £140.
What is the secret to buying good cards and buying boxes etc? Is it worth getting good cards graded by PSA to improve value?

Any help for this newby would be much appreciated.
Richard

 

[Burkina2008]

At the moment, dont but boxes or breaks, buy singles.
Boxes and Breaks to hit low numbered cards or good autos e basically gambling

 

[EdwardGuerra]

Hey Richard, welcome to the world of card collecting! It can definitely be a jungle out there, especially with all the different types of boxes and packs. Don't sweat the Topps Gold box results, that's kind of the gamble you take with hobby boxes sometimes you hit big, sometimes you whiff.

Here's some tips that might help you out on your autographed card quest:

Focus on singles: Instead of buying packs and hoping for an autograph, look for individual cards you want with autographs already on them. This is a much more surefire way to get the specific players you're interested in. There are reputable online marketplaces like eBay or COMC where you can find graded and ungraded singles.
Research rookies: Since you're new to the hobby, rookies are a smart place to start. Look for young players who are just entering the league and have a lot of potential. Their cards might be more affordable now but their value could skyrocket if they have a great career.
Grading can be worth it: Grading by a reputable company like PSA can definitely increase the value of a card, especially if it's a high-value autograph or rookie card. But there's a cost to grading, so make sure you do your research on the card's potential value before getting it graded.
Here are some other things to keep in mind:

Set a budget: It's easy to get carried away in this hobby, so decide how much you're comfortable spending upfront and stick to it.
Do your research: Before you buy any card, take some time to learn about the player, the card itself and its current market value. This will help you avoid overpaying.
Have fun!: At the end of the day, card collecting is a hobby. Don't get too discouraged if you don't hit a home run every time. The enjoyment of collecting the cards you like is what matters most.
Good luck with your collecting journey, Richard! And if you have any other questions feel free to ask.

 

[StickazMan]

Hi all. I am not exactly new to the world of collecting, but rather to the world of swapping via sites such as Last Sticker. I had also created an account on Sticker Manager added the stickers I could offer and those I needed, but I could not really see how to sort out a swap with German swappers as I live in Belgium. Not sure what i was doing wrong but I must be as I cannot believe the site would not cater for international swaps outside Germany. I am trying to complete the Bundesliga 2023-2024 album, have hundreds of stickers covering various collections (can be found on Last Sticker under StickerManBE). Any suggestions on what I might have done wrong?