Buy/Sell/Trade Forum

I am trying to piece together the 1971 Topps set. This is my first adventure into set building. I was always a hit chaser in the past but I have to say, this by far is much more challenging.

If anyone else is trying to complete the set I have all of my needs and traders listed on the site. I would love any help I can get to complete this set by the end of the year.

Condition doesn't really matter, as long as its still in one piece and legible. The 71's are notorious for being extremely hard to find in good condition.

The only thing I ask is that if we trade lets try to make it lots, most of these cards have very little value and its not worth the shipping cost for just single cards.

Thank you, Billy

I'm starting to work on a lower grade 1975 topps baseball set. Question for those here who are set builders. Is it more cost effective to start by purchasing a few larger lots on something like ebay? Then selling my dupes in a lot on ebay? Then trying to trade for what I need when I get down to the last 5-10% of the set? I agree that the postage is a killer on buying a few cards at a time.

I guess it depends what you mean by very little value.  Common cards from the 5th Series (#524-643) and 6th Series (#644-720) will come at a premium even in Poor condition.  

I've bought pretty much exclusively lots, which means I have just as many doubles as I do keepers. If COMC wasn't so overpriced I would love to fill my set in.

I'm at 50.5% complete. I'm still buying lots but I'm paying more attention to what's in the lots now. The lot has to include 2/1 or 50% of cards I need.

it is the journey that matters when building a set, no right way or wrong way...just have fun either way

trading  a few at a time is most fun to me

mark

For what it’s worth, I build old sets by buying big lots, then selling or trading the doubles until I get to needing just a few. Then I’ll buy them one at a time, if necessary. 

I like doing it that way. It lets me gradually upgrade as I get doubles and I can buy lots of cards without even knowing what’s in them, then just sell or trade the doubles. It’s fairly cost-efficient and fun. 

I just finished ‘71 last year. Enjoy. It’ll be a challenge. 

V3

I buy lots to get the few I need if I think I can sell or trade the ones I don't need.  So far, I've recouped all my money in sales or trade from every lot I've bought.  One lot I bought I've already recouped my money four-fold and still have more than half the lot left.

I just bought a 30 card lot with an Aaron for less than I can buy just the AAron.

lots can be funny that way sometimes. I bought a Billy Williams / Ken Griffey JR. Lot including a Dual Auto card of the two  for less than what a Griffey auto even goes for let alone it had a decent conditioned 61' Williams RC. and a 89 UD Griffey JR. RC. among other cards of the two with some inserts. Wheeled and dealed but still have that Dual Auto Card in my PC. !

   Also I collect / am working on the 71's so when I get a chance will check my cards and see what we might have in commond trading wise.

Although I agree with the lot-buying tactic, they usually won't help you with Pre-1974 high-series cards, which tend to be pulled out of lots due to their premium value.  You'll usually have to piece these together one-by-one.