Here is something that a lot of us experience as modern card collectors: This week, my sister handed me a stack of 5 cards that she wants to know the value of. I don’t remember them exactly but the details are as follows:

• Kobe floor relic, not protected
• Antawn Jamison jersey
• Brad Johnson autograph in a screw down
• a random Tim Salmon insert from the junk wax era
• and finally a random Nene numbered rookie card

I estimated the value at give or take $20 to $60. She was so disappointed that she asked me if I was sure and I showed her my sources, COMC & eBay sold listings. She was convinced that because the card was in a screw down that it was worth more. I hated having to explain to her that if she sold it in a screw down then that would make a lot of hardcore collectors run away. I also had to explain that with the exception of Kobe that a lot of the values on the cards peaked when they were playing because we are not talking about Hall of Famers.

With the Kobe card selling at $12, I told her to keep it because it is the only one that will age well. I told her that if she might as well sell the Brad Johnson card. My reasoning for that is that his value will probably stay the same. An $8 autograph now will sell for the same price later just adjusted for inflation. I said that she might as well give the other cards to her kids.

If you are reading this as someone new to the hobby then the first things that you need to realize is that those cards you are sitting on are probably not worth the cost of annual storage space.

Thanks for reading, expect a Random Review on one of the social media channels today. That will be posted here in the next day or two.