Not much to add as every new tool or information added for me is usually a "wow, this is great" reaction as I don't know what I don't know.  I do reference sportcardspro.com quite a bit for getting average raw and graded sale prices (source is eBay sales) before I list something.  I have sold a couple cards in the classifieds but they were fairly unique items.  Would love to see more ways to drive traffic there.  Lastly, having the ability to ask questions to the "experts" is awesome.  

I don't know if the collective set of members, or maybe more importantly the prospective members out there really know how much great content sits on this platform.  I read most of it and learn something every time.  

@bltofan1 This is the exact kind of feedback I'm looking for--thanks! I do think there is some "chicken or the egg" that I'm still trying to crack here : )

Strange: I just said to my wife that that there are so many card sites and Apps that each do something I like, but there is not one that does it all (or well). She just humored me, as she’s learned to do. 😉 A minute later, I looked at my phone and read your email on this subject.

Anyway, I’d love to have one ‘service’ that I can catalog all my cards with my pics of my favorites, and then have their approximate values. If the approximate values could be updated by the system, goldmine!

I use Google spreadsheets for much of the above now, and the value approximations obviously have to be entered manually, thus they’re never updated. There’s always something better to do  

Card Ladder gets close, but I’d love to keep the non-vintage card data and financial analysis on an App from cluttering up what I’m doing. I’m only vintage-literate. I know nothing about the new stuff on that side of the hobby, so anything not vintage is annoying.  E.g. I hate typing in T206 or 1973 and seeing some current cards that look like those original designs.

Brainstorming… it’d be great if a collaboration with Leo could be made to update Net54. That platform has so much incredibly great info, but it is tough to intuitively process.

I’m not sure the above hit your big target, but hope that it helped.  

Pat

@ibcardmaster Thanks for this. I'm testing the waters re: partnering with an upstart that aims to do exactly this. It's really hard to pull it all together, and there are some big boy players in this space (130point bought a brand called Magpie for example, but it is an expensive monthly subscription aimed more at sellers than collectors). I agree re: modern sort of getting in the way on the existing platforms. I would envision a simple collection management tool, but even simple isn't so simple . . . the easy ways to access eBay data aren't necessarily 100% legal, and it's hard to get permission to use sold data through their API. But I'm definitely kicking the tires on some ideas along these lines.

@chvadmin I have 130 point and a couple other free ones download.

i have CollX and Ludex download and thinking of listing off center junk wax there.

i have some cards that I got as a kid like the Fisk and Henderson rookies that are so off center it is probably comical 

I find the Vintage Card Prices (VCP) app to be the most accurate and user-friendly app for finding prices for sold items (since they source data from auction houses in addition to eBay). I use 130 Point for non-graded items and items that VCP doesn't seem to track.

While I like VCP for making educated buying and selling decisions, I don't find it user-friendly for cataloguing my collection.

I would love to have access to an affordable tool that makes cataloguing a collection easier, especially if you could import items by adding a graded card's certification number and having them pull in the information (VCP can pull this information via an API with the PSA website when looking up sales data, but I don't think it's integrated into the "My Collection" side of the tool). It would be great if the user could click a drop down box, choose the grading company, enter the cert number, and import their card's data. Add a few more optional fields, such as purchase price, date, etc. and call it good!).

A tool like this would be amazing for tracking personal collections, for insurance purposes, etc.

I hadn't heard of Magpie until you mentioned it. That looks like a great tool if you are selling at scale and on multiple platforms. But I'm a collector first, and a seller second. I mostly sell cards on FB and eBay to fund my hobby. I don’t sell on other platforms.

As far as turning a site into a hub, that's always been a challenge. I started blogging in 2007 and built two fairly large sites (that I have since sold). Times have changed and more and more people are migrating to social media (YouTube, FB, Instagram, TikTok, etc.). It's difficult to bring people back to websites unless you offer something very unique and give them a reason to regularly visit the site.

Email is probably the biggest traffic driver for most sites these days. (I came to this page from the email you sent a few days ago, for example).

@maildaycards this is fantastic feedback--thanks. I just shared it with a guy I spoke to today, who is launching a vintage collection management app / site very soon. I'll let the mailing list know when it is available. 

I hear you re: the challenges of competing with social media. The "chat" will likely stay there, as will most of the non-eBay transactions. So I'm trying to focus on some elements that are more conducive to a real Forum or blog or tool and less social-media friendly. The effort right now is to partner with some folks who can bring some value to the site in exchange for affiliate / referral deals, etc. Market trackers, collection tools. The curated RSS feed will also be a good daily check-in that saves time and effort. I'm also working on developing more educational tools and resources. We'll see how it goes!

@maildaycards also . . . ironically, much of my web site traffic comes from the FB groups! So I guess it can work both ways.

I use eBay and 130 point for pricing but need to check the VCP app out.  I’ve been doing some pregrading but tend to overscore by a bit compared to my returns.  I have tried a couple of the centering tools and they are helpful but the real-time pricing is my biggest gap.  I feel like when I’m buying cards that sellers are selling at much higher prices for singles than when I’m a seller and people want to pay 1.00 a common.  I’m still learning a bit when it comes to the market itself.

@rhippenstiel I think that feeling resonates with most! VCP is helpful for higher end stuff--but 130 is fine for typical collector grade cards that sell often. 

My #1 tip for grading is to really focus on the card's weakness, and see where that slots in on the scale. Adjust up no more than .5 from that number in most cases.

Posted by: @chvadmin

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the easy ways to access eBay data aren't necessarily 100% legal, and it's hard to get permission to use sold data through their API. 

I had used the eBay API years ago and thought that information was available, so I went to look and I see they've pretty much phased it out.  I guess that's why there aren't 100 competitors to 130point.  It does make you wonder how they still have access, though.

I do think they very recently discontinued it. They probably own 130 now lol. 

Posted by: @chvadmin

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I do think they very recently discontinued it. They probably own 130 now lol. 

First thing I looked up! Lol.  Maybe they're "in discussions".

My biggest struggle is finding vintage cards to buy.  I have purchased hundreds (thousands?) of cards on eBay over the years but as I focus more on Bowman and 1950's Topps cards, including graded versions of certain ones, I am finding it harder to find what I want there.  I also am not comfortable spending hundreds of dollars on a card and then hoping it is authentic and that it actually makes it to me in the mail.  I go to as many card shows as I can within a 2 1/2 hour drive but vintage selections there are usually limited unless it's the of the 500+ table variety.  Even at the National, I was disappointed by the lack of mid-grade cards, although I freely admit I did not make it to every table!  I have checked out a couple of the sellers advertised on this site but haven't made any purchases yet (maybe I just need to check back there more frequently).  Having reviews of card shows and/or a collector forum for good places to buy cards would be very helpful to me.