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There’s Always Money in the Banana Stand

For those of you who are in the know, the new season of Arrested Development is coming back tomorrow, after an 8 year haitus on Netflix, and I couldn't be more excited.  The title of this blog is an homage to a famous quote from the show, but it has a double meaning.  Keep reading for more ... A few weeks back, I mentioned I had purchased a 400,000 card collection.  I have since been able to climb into the black with the collection, and have a whole ton of good stuff left over!  Half the fun is sharing my

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When is a Topps Certified Autograph NOT a Certified Autograph?

Before I get to my story, I'd like to update you all on my 400,000 card collection haul.  I have gone through the majority of it, after hours of hard work (poor me, lol!)  I will be fulfilling an order very soon for someone, and the majority of the collection will be a part of it.  Thank goodness too ... we need the space!  A friend of mine will be loading me up with another 200,000 cards soon to fulfill the upcoming over.  Working through all this cardboard is time consuming, but sure is fun.  It is nice to be

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The Quest is Over!

A while back, I remembered seeing online that someone was selling/trading their Josh Hamilton 1999 Topps Traded autograph.  I contacted them, and didn't hear back.  I tried again, and they continued to ask me to make an offer.  I said I don't really do offers, and they said they would take $500.  I told them that was more than I could get one for on ebay, and said I was thinking less than half.  I never heard back. Flash forward to now - curiosity struck me, and I tried searching for it again.  The ad was a few weeks ago,

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The Quest Continues (and card / story pick ups along the way!)

Ok, so I'm going to hammer out the update for my question to go from a 1989 Fleer set to a 1999 Topps Traded Josh Hamilton autographed rookie card first and foremost. I had an ad online, selling a boat load of older complete sets for $150.  I didn't even think anything about my "boat anchor" (the 1989 Fleer complete set) as others have called it to be part of a deal.  Since I was selling for $150, I brought along the set, hoping he ws going to ask me to break a $20 (it seems like people bring along

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My Dream Come True … 20 Years in the Making

20 years ago, at 12 years of age, I sat eagerly in the passenger seat while my mom drove me to the Tri Star card show to meet my childhood hero Jose Canseco.  This was before all the steroid controversy (though, after various dui's, domestic abuse accusations, etc.) - my folks said over and over again that I sure could pick 'em as far as heroes go.  Mom and I got to the line and asked the following question: "Do you want to have your picture taken with Jose for $50?"  DO I EVER!!!!!  But, money was tight, so we

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The 12 MILLION Card Deal

Don'cha just love dealing with people onilne?  I have met plenty of fantastic people through Craig's List, various forums, the blogosphere, etc.  but man alive ... there are some real turds out there.  As a person who regularly partakes in the buying, selling and trading of items, I have come to find that most people are morons.  Ok, maybe that is taking it a bit far, but I'd estimate that 30% of all folks who say they will get something either stand you up, or their dog died for the 8th time, etc.  The others tend to be real tough

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Are people normally just idiots, or are they all liars?

Over the past several years, both professionally and from a hobby perspective, I have run into many, MANY interesting characters.  Delving into buying and selling sports cards, among other things have really shown me how different people can be.  I think you tend to find out how diverse we really are ... especially when it comes to making a deal. I run into many things that I try to make a buck off of.  If I post a barbie, you get all kinds of moms who want them for their little girls, so they hop in their $50,000 SUV, and

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I Traded my Autographs for a Car!

This past Friday, a few dealers flew in from Kansas and Colorado to inspect the autographs I had recently acquired.  We agreed to meet at the gas station down the road ... until my wife called in a panic: "BABE!!!  I was wrong - Cub Scouts is at 10, not 12!!!"  (it was 9:55 or so when she called).  So I had to (quickly) bring the party of out of towners home, and hastily throw everything in the garage, from the cardboard-mobile to setup shop and show them the goods there.  After a few hours of looking through them, and going

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Garage Sale Finds!

My wife is a life-long garagesaleaholic, and goes whenever she can.  I haven't gone in years, but this past weekend, I was bitten by the bug, and decided to go.  The night before, I noticed a mini storage place was having a sale, so I said OOOH!  Lets take a look-see.  Someone posted up saying there were going to be sports autographs.  Heck, it was down the street, so why not?  We loaded up the kiddos and drove down.  When we got there, and I first walked up, I saw a face I recognized.  As it turns out, the guy

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Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Huge Vintage Collection Find

HUGE Vintage Find Heartbreaker Sit down, grab a cup of coffee and kick back.  This is going to be a bit of a read.  I found someone online, in town here, who, had a "huge vintage collection".  That has my name written all over it, so I decided to contact him.  Finally, after a number of days passed by, he sent me about 26 emails of pictures overnight.  When I woke up, I reached for my phone as I do ritually, and look at my email.  Needless to say, what I saw aided me in waking up that much quicker. 

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