There's no need to pay full retail prices for most cards or sets these days. Whether at your local card shop or on Ebay, its a buyers market at the moment and you should have your pick on what you'd like to buy at a fair cost.

"New releases" are cards that may sell for close to book value. There is usually good demand for the new regular cards and inserts because collectors are trying to complete their sets. As time passes, collectors tend to move on to the next new releases. Some collectors even grow tired of their older cards and sell them at a loss to purchase new ones. A decrease in demand and increase in supply (as the cards hit Ebay) causes values to soften.

Its no secret that cards produced over the past 25 years can be affordable, but what about the vintage items made before 1980? It seems like collectors with deep pockets try to buy the best of the best, which means they like to buy their cards in the nicest condition possible. A 1961 Topps Roberto Clemente card has a Beckett Near Mint value of $125, which serious collectors will gladly pay in that scarce condition. But what if that same card is in EXMT condition, which is one step below Near Mint? Beckett says the card should have a value of $75 in EXMT shape, but you will only pay $25 to $35 on Ebay. The reason is because EXMT cards are much easier to find than NRMT ones. Once again, the big money collectors are concerned with nicer cards and are willing to pay full price -- or greater -- if need be.

You can find nice cards in EX to EXMT condition, especially if they made this grade because the corners are a little worn. I consistantly buy older cards with nice crease-free surfaces, nice color, and centered well, but with soft corners. That's the big difference between buying a 1961 Topps Jim Brown card for $40 rather than $100. The bottom line for me is to try and buy cards that are pleasing to the eye but still affordable.

As a final word of advice, make sure to keep an open mind while browsing your favorite internet auction. I did not have the intention of buying a Mint graded 1970 Don Sutton Kellogg's card when I entered my favorite auction site one evening... But when I noticed the auction was about to close with no bids on the card, I quickly decided my three dollars would be well spent.

I'm happy to report I have never missed the three dollars.