I think some of us are "collectors" due to our DNA :cool smiley: ...as I come from a family of collectors and find that I enjoy the hunt in putting together a collection...
I still have a house full of collectibles and that's after selling (and buying
) my
own collection for the past 20 + years. I actually inherited both my relatives collections as well as the gene that seems to make it all interesting.
As far as profitability, in my humble experience, it has been 75% luck and 25% knowledge...and I have made money on some things but I have also lost my a$$ on others....as others have aptly stated, the collectibles markets can be volatile
but then again so it the stock market. The collections
have allowed me to fund my ER after the 2008 debacle that was/is BAC (there are other threads that can fill you in on my narrow sightedness
)...by selling a little at a time, I have been able to avoid returning to the w*rkplace..so far.
The best advice I ever got regarding collecting was from my Uncle (more like a Dad) who offered to "collect something that you actually like...if you make some money great, if not, you have the enjoyment factor which can be more important than money."
With the friends that I have made thru my collecting, most of whom I have never met face to face, I can share and compare my latest find (as well as theirs)...discuss a possible purchase to be certain that I'm not buying the proverbial pig in a poke...and on the occasion that I might want/need to sell, I have an initial opportunity to sell to another enthusiastic party and a collector who will actually enjoy what I'm selling.
While I am certain there are other collectors who have been fortunate enough to make some quick money in collectibles, there are those that seem to have the ability to do the same with stocks, I would venture that most do not. If you have time on your side and can pick and choose
when to sell, your odds of making a few $$'s will improve....
Good luck Car-guy....and if you haven't already, check out the Collectors Universe message boards...a great place to trade information and they also have a BST board ~
Collectors Universe Forums - U.S. Coin Forum