New to the game, where to start?

[Guest]

[tasha092]

Hi Guys.

I don't know if I'm posting in the right place,but here goes.....

After the books and movies, I've decided to collect the HP cards to match, but with so many fab cards I don't quite know where to start.

Are base sets worth a look, and go from there? I have no idea....

Which set should I start with? I have no idea....

As you can see I need help, so please hhhhheeelllllllllppp me

Any advice will be HUGELY appreciated

Cheers, Tash

[rns91294]

I like to have a base set from each set, but the really nice cards are the autos, costumes, props and filmcards.  You can find loads on eBay, or maybe even buy some off of other forum members

Take a look in the priceguide on this forum.  You can select a set and view the special inserts cards from each set.  See what you like and go from there

And just a word of warning...this can get VERY addicting

[padge77]

Collecting these cards can be very daunting as there are so many available, we are new to these cards too and all we do is buy what we like and can afford at the time. The rarr cards are obviously going to be a lot of money but you can find bargins on  if you have patience and dont expect to get the cards overnight!.
We started with PoAU set base first then costume cards that were going quite cheap,then a chase set,don't do what we did and buy boxes on this particular release as the inserts(costume,autocards etc)are all over the place,buying singles off other forum members or on  is a lot easier we find.
The main thing we was told and I will say to you is buy the cards you like and love and dont buy for what they may be worth in the future,we all want to have sets that are worth money but if you buy purly for that the love of the hobby goes,so just buy for pleasure thats what we do.

IT'S VERY ADDICTIVE THIS HOBBY! but very rewarding when you do buy your 1st case or box as when you have some decent pulls its like winning the lottery!!

Cheers

Paul

[tasha092]

Thanx for the advice guys, like I said muchly appreciated.

I've taken your advice Paul and decided not to bother with buying POAu boxes and have just bought my first cards (yay!!!) a POA and POAu base set. Now to start on the fab auto, costume, prop and film cells.

Oohh I can see this sending me broke, I can't wait to buy my first box.Is it unheard of to be addicted so early?

Better start stuffing my mattress now

[padge77]

No dont be worried its the most addictive hooby on this planet and it hooked us from day 1 it gets more addictive when you have bought a case or a box and start pulling the costume,auto cards etc... as you just want more and more.

Limit yourself to a film at a time as if you start collecting too many sets from films all at once you will find you have spent most of your annual salary in just a few months if thats ever possible 


Cheers

Paul

[grecopa]

Here's my 2 cents Tasha. 
I've vowed to buy no more than 1 box of each Harry Potter release.  I can get the thrill of opening that one box and then get busy on finding the rest of the cards I want on ebay.  Buying multiple boxes IMHO is a crapshoot.  You might get something really great like a Sirius Black auto, but you might get something worth $10 like a Male Hogwarts uniform.  There's no guarantee that you'll make back the money spent on the box with the inserts you pull.
What I would do is check out all the cards available in the set and figure out what you want.  Add up the approximate cost of those cards and pick them off on ebay.  You can even get a mini master set (base set, foils, boxtoppers) for less than the cost of a single box.
That also saves you the hassle of selling off the cards you don't want. 
Just my opinion after buying 3 cases myself.  One case was worth it, one was OK, the other was definately not.  I guess I'm just not that much of a gambler. 

[padge77]

Good sound advice there Kelly always a big gamble whatever you buy and sometimes easier to buy on  as you can get some good deals on cards.

Cheers

Paul

[kbmum]

I agree with Kelly.  For quite a while, I've been considering a case of OOTP (to be released in June 2007).  Since I'm used to opening only a couple of boxes per release, a case seems like a lot of fun.  Now I'm not so sure.

Over the past few weeks, I've won the following pack-pulled cards on eBay: Parvati auto; Hermione, Cho, 2 Fleur Yule Ball (one for my daughter, one for me), Maxime, and Fleur third task costumes; green Irish flag; solid orange Weasley tent; multi-colored Weasley tent; Dumbledore's office books; CFC8 Hermione and Harry filmcard; and second task case topper.  The total for those 13 cards,including shipping, is $146.60.    The cards are the equivalent of 8 boxes, which would have cost around $420 pre-ordered with shipping in the US.

Had I bought 8 boxes or a case, sure, I might have pulled more autos or one of the rare cards.  But, I'm not one to chase after many variants or high-priced inserts, so I'm perfectly satisfied with the collection I've been able to build.

Maybe GOFU is an anomaly, due to the late release, shipping problem with the UK cases, and competition from other sets, but I know I've been able to get real bargains for most of the sets by being patient for the right card and right price to pop up on eBay.  I don't expect to be lucky for MM, considering the limited print run, but there will still be occasional deals.

[tasha092]

oooh great advice guys, cheers.
I dont think I would of ever bought a case (bank manager wouldnt like it A.K.A my hubby).
Ive started with a few SS boxes and I'll take it from there. Guess it depends on how much I enjoy opening them

Thanks
Tash

[Anna]

Good luck with your pulls Tash!  I hope you get the cards you really want from the set.  My favorite cards in the SS set are the Wizard Candy prop cards because they had so many variations.  Overall, the SS set was the most fun to collect of all the HP sets IMHO.

[kbmum]

Guess it depends on how much I enjoy opening them

Oh, I don't think there will be any question about how much you'll enjoy opening them!   Don't forget to let us know what you pull.

[Jason]

I buy cases, and as the advice has been given I shall agree to an extent. If you are collecting only it's not worth it. Several of my GOF cases really didn't produce in the way I would have liked, now don't get me wrong I am making my money back but it takes time selling all the basic sets is slow work, and eBay is a wast of time for that because they sell for next to nothing The common cards are all over so don't expect to sell your extras for much, and if you are a collector then you will want to keep the odd rare and valuable card you pull. As a dealer it's worth my time because I get to own all these cool cards for a while, (yes there are still some I keep because I like them) and eventual they sell. I don't lose money but I don't make a lot. If I kept all my very rare and valuable cards I would lose my shirt. Your better off focusing on one set at a time and picking up the bits you like on the secondary market. Sure grab a box or two, but cases don't pay if you collect. What do you want with 46 basic sets?

I still have stacks of GOF costumes case cards and props, (I don't mind really because they are some of the nicest cards made) so think a lot about it before you invest in a case, often you will be disappointed.