Hello, I'd like to share my secrets of the trade with all of you.  I feel that I've made a pretty nice profit from buying and selling sports cards and that it's time to give something back to the sports card collecting community.  I have put together a comprehensive guide for collectors to make money, and also keep some cards in your own personal collection at no expense to you!

FIRST THINGS FIRST:

DO NOT, I REPEAT DO NOT BUY BOXES OF CARDS!  Let others do the dirty work for you.  If you enjoy opening boxes/card packs and feel that it's worth the endless amount of money you must put into boxes and cases to sometimes see only one common autographed card, then by all means go ahead and dump your money into boxes and cases of cards.  In my experience learning the hard way, I figured out that buying single cards is ALOT more lucrative and collection pleasing than opening packs and leaving lady luck in charge of my collecting destiny. 

WHEN TO BUY & WHAT TO BUY:

First thing you will need to do is buy a card pricing magazine of the sport of your choice (EX: Beckett Monthly Magazines).  Read it over, especially the whats hot section, and the hot list.  If you know when to buy, you will know when to buy for less.  There are two types of collectors, one is the collector who is not in it for the money and collects his favorite players, and one who only buys cards for the simple fact that he feels he can make a profit by reselling them down the road.  I am a little bit of both, and I will teach you how to be the same.  You can collect your favorite player and STILL turn a profit on other cards if your favorite player is not doing so hot in the price guides. 

The first thing to consider when buying is who is hot in the league right now.  Watch the game, be a true fan and you will understand prices MUCH MORE.  If you know whos stats are going up from last year, then you know whos prices are surely to be going up in the price guides.  It's as simple as that!  Do not just buy ANY cards of these players who are doing well... buy the ROOKIE CARDS of these players.  Also, if you have the money buy autographed rookie cards!  I cannot emphasize this enough!  ALMOST ALWAYS the autographed cards will go up more in value than the regular cards of players.  We are entering into what I like to call the Autographed Card Era.  Autographed cards are going for rediculous prices and will continue to do so well into the future.  This is for the simple fact that..... IT'S A SPORTS PLAYERS AUTHENTIC AUTOGRAPH!  While paying attention to who is hot in the league, it is not time to check the prices of all of these players rookie cards and autographed rookie cards.  Make note (circle, write down, highlight) the cards in your price range that look like cards you may be interested in.  These are called your "best buys", you will keep your eye on them and hopefully snag a good one! 

WHERE TO GET THE CARDS THAT YOU HAVE NOTED AS "BEST BUYS":

After noting your "best buys" you must be asking yourself, "where do I find these cards!".  Well here is how you find these cards, but not only find them, get great deals on them!  Search on ebay for the cards noted as "best buys".  Make sure to watch these cards in your watched items.  Also, Make sure to watch at least 2-5 of the same cards!  Do not just watch one auction of one card!  Make sure to watch multiple auctions of the same card.  Follow these auctions closely. 

WHAT PRICE TO BUY THE "BEST BUYS" FOR:

NEVER, I REPEAT NEVER PAY FULL PRICE FOR A SPORTS CARD (high book value of the card)!  This is why you watch multiple auctions of the same card.  Watch at least two auctions of the same card end, see what they went for, then you'll get an idea of what price for the card your looking at.  Now that you know what price you are going for it's time to BUY THE CARD!  This is the most exciting part!  GO GET YOUR CARD!  You used to be able to check the prices of cards that sold in the last month in the sell your item section of ebay, but now you must pay for this option.  So watching auctions is the best thing to this.  

WHAT TO DO AFTER YOU BUY?  WHEN DO YOU SELL?

After you buy the card, hold the card for a few months.  Check the price guides, or watch the auctions of this card and see how it's doing price wise (ending auction price).  This now becomes your own personal decision.  When do you sell and where?  You sell on ebay when you feel you've made a modest to huge profit.  This decision becomes easier and easier as you get used to the way this system works. 

WHAT ABOUT MY FAVORITE PLAYERS?

Now that you've made a profit on the players who are hot, now you have ample money to buy regular and autographed cards of your favorite players!  Sound simple enough?  ABSOLUTELY!  Anyone can follow my system and enjoy card collecting with a bonus of profit on the side.  In only two years i've made a pretty handsome profit this way AND was able to buy my favorite players cards with the profit I made in the process!  With no cash out of pocket!

HELPFUL HINTS:

1) If you are looking to buy and make a profit right away look into Dwyane Wade cards!  He is the hottest thing out right now and since his Finals MVP performance and Finals championship win on the Miami Heat his cards are showing NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN!  Just think about Lebron James and how much all his collectibles and cards are going for...  Now think about Dwyane Wade and how he is being compared to the greatest player of all time...  I feel that his collectibles haven't even come close to peaking in prices.  Also look into Chris Bosh and Boris Diaw!!!!!  Keep your eyes open for these two stars to jump into superstardom VERY SOON! 

2) Watch the "BUY IT NOW" newly listed auctions on ebay.  Sometimes people list GREAT cards for outstandingly cheap prices!  KEEP THOSE EYES OPEN AND YOUR HEAD IN THE COLLECTING GAME AND YOU CAN'T LOSE! 

If you have found the information helpful in my guide, please rate it with a yes vote.

This has been another Madbidder777 Guide, Thanks for reading and HAPPY BIDDING!

-Madbidder777