30 Day Baseball Card Challenge

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Flea Market Flops #3: Factory Sets and Bobble Heads

I've made some key changes in the way I collect the past few months.  Lately, I've been targeting mostly vintage cards and hard signed autographs for my collection.  Who knows how long this trend will last, but that's currently what I've been craving.  Most of the vintage cards I've purchased have been pretty good deals.  However the autographs have definitely sucked up a big part of my cardboard budget.

In fact, not only have I used up my hobby budget three months in a row... I've actually been going over it by a few dollars each month.

Unfortunately... this month is no exception.  With a few days still left in the month, I'm already $8.57 over my budget and there are several auctions I've targeted on my sniper program that end this week.  That's why I knew in advance that I would need to keep my wallet in my pocket this past weekend, when I walked around the Capitol Flea Market.

Some of you might be wondering... what's the point of going to the flea market if you're not going to buy anything?  Well... believe it or not... shopping is only one of the reasons I go to the flea market every weekend.  I also go out there to walk around, interact with people, and get some fresh air.  Plus... it's also entertaining to see what people are hoping to get for their stuff.  I took a bunch of pictures of overpriced items this past Sunday, but ended up narrowing things down to three items.

First up...

1989 Topps Baseball (Incomplete) Set $10


I actually bought this set twenty-five years ago and probably paid $20 to $30 for it.  These days, I wouldn't pay $10 for it even if it was factory sealed.  This particular set had about 100 cards missing from it.  I'd be surprised if someone is willing to give the guy $5... let alone $10.


More Topps Sets $50


Another vendor had the same exact set, plus a 1987 Topps Baseball set.  According to the guy, both sets are complete.  He even mentioned that these were a steal, because I'd end up owning a Barry Bonds rookie card.  I guess he doesn't realize that you can buy an 87T Bonds off of COMC for 35¢.


2001 Carl's Jr Barry Bonds Bobble Head $25


Believe it or not, I actually was interested in this Bonds bobble.  I've seen them at Capitol in the past, but this is the first time I've seen someone ask this much.  Usually vendors want $5 to $10 for them and since I still don't own one, you can probably figure out how much I want to spend.

Here's a hint... not $25.  Instead, I'd rather save my money and buy this...

Purchase #1:  2011 Willie Mays SGA Statue $10


There's definitely an aftermarket when it comes to San Francisco Giants stadium giveaways.  I have seen these for sale a few times and people usually want $20 to $40 for them.  I offered the guy $10, because the box is wrapped in tape, has water damage, and doesn't come with the styrofoam padding.  He countered with $15, but I told him $10 was the most I was willing to spend and he accepted.

On my last leg of the flea market, I ran into one of my former students.  His family was selling a bunch of stuff... ranging from clothes to furniture to toys.  I ended up buying from him...

Purchase #2:  Ronald Reagan Figure and Die Cast Cars $8


I've never been into Hot Wheels or die cast vehicles in general, but a few years ago my buddy told me to buy Johnny Lightning cars if I ever found them at reasonable prices.  My former student offered them to me for a buck each.  Or I could take all seven cars for five dollars.

He also had this 2003 President Ronald Reagan 12" talking action figure:


He threw it in for three bucks, since I was going to purchase all of the cars.  If I didn't know the guy, I probably wouldn't have purchased this stuff.  But I figured it was going to a good cause.  And maybe... just maybe I'll be able to flip them when I set up at the De Anza Flea Market in two weeks.

That's all I've got for today.  Happy Wednesday and sayonara!

17 comments:

JediJeff said...

That Mays statue is sweet. I am working on getting all the statue giveaways from the Sox. Pierce and Minosa down. I need Fisk and Big Hurt to finish what has been released so far.

Dawgbones said...

Digging the Reagan, but no room for much of anything anymore. Maybe when I get a man-cave of my own sometime down the road!!

Mark Hoyle said...

Ya I think I originally picked up my 89 set for around twenty bucks. I should have waited 25 years

Tony L. said...

The Reagan doll is actually pretty cool, to be honest, though a Nixon doll saying "I am not a crook" on repeat would be much more entertaining.

BobWalkthePlank said...

I want a Howard Taft doll. The Reagan doll is pretty neat.

Greg Zakwin said...

Nice gets on the Mays and Reagan.

Ana Lu said...

I've watched some factory complete sets but then I think..what do I do with those cards from the set I already got from buying packs?..Some I'd keep none the same but then the others I might trade. That's an option. What do you say?

Hackenbush said...

I think I still have 3 of the 87 Topps sets that I bought new at the grocery store. Might as well open one. If any of you are old enough, and I know some of you are, do you recall where you were when you heard Reagan had been shot? I was crossing Broadway and Devon in Chicago.

Fuji said...

I'll have to check out the Fisk and Thomas statues. I really enjoyed watching both of those guys play growing up.

Fuji said...

My parents were big Reagan fans... so he's a big part of my childhood. But I'm in the same boat as you. I have no place to store it.

Fuji said...

Lol... I could probably start a new blog with the number of cards I should have waited 25 years to buy.

Fuji said...

Not sure why... but Nixon always gave me the heebie-jeebies. It has nothing to do with him as a person or politician... but more of the way he's portrayed in paintings and masks.

Fuji said...

What's your fascination with Taft?

Fuji said...

Thanks. The Mays looks sweet on my bookshelf.

Fuji said...

I will buy a factory set every now and then in order to save money. It definitely takes the fun away from building sets, but I already have plenty of unfinished projects on my plate. As for extras... yeah I'd use them as care package fillers or just give them away to a student who'd be interested in collecting them.

Fuji said...

I don't remember where I was... but after a quick Wiki search, it looks like I was at school either in class or eating lunch. I do remember my teacher, parents, and people on the news talking about it.

Jafronius said...

Wow, missing 100 cards and they still wanted 10 bucks for it. And what's with all those vendors having stadium giveaways almost all the time? Yes, Reagan & Mays, nice pickups, yadda, yadda, yadda...