PART TWO: Dropping Dimes
Last time, we got our plan.
Purchase 2× raw Red Ice Buzelis Rookie Cards before season tip-off.
Inspect both under good light and choose the best candidate to submit for grading.
Flip the lesser copy if he starts trending up before the All-Star break.
Unless he’s making a legit MVP-type leap or the Bulls are shockingly top-seeded, we’ll look to sell both before or during the break (assuming we get the graded one back in time).
Today, we’ve put that plan into action and took the first step.
Hunting The Right Cards
We know from our research that raw Red Ice Buzelis rookies are hovering a little over $15. That means when we’re scrolling across platforms, we’ll know a deal when we see one.
Since one of these is getting sent for grading, we’re prioritizing condition over price. A clean PSA 10 could easily turn a small flip into a strong win. Spending a few extra bucks for a sharp copy? Worth it.
Chrome stock cards are usually easier to eyeball than paper — no creases to worry about, just clean corners and no edge peeling. Simple enough… in theory.
A Lesson for eBay Sellers Everywhere: Take. Better. Photos.
We saw so many listings that looked like potential steals but passed because the photos were fuzzy, dark, or shot from Mars.
Couldn’t tell if corners were round or sharp. Couldn’t see centering. Couldn’t risk it.
Eventually, we found Card #1
The photo wasn’t perfect, but we could see enough — sharp corners, good centering, and no foil issues. Asking price: $20.
After a couple rounds of offers starting at the $15 average, the seller met us at $18.
Above average, sure. But if this thing gems, we’ll be just fine.
Total after tax and shipping: $20.66.
Card #2
For the second copy, we switched things up and tried another platform. COMC had raws listed over $30 (pass). We’d been hearing solid things about CollX, so we gave it a shot.
Jackpot — tons of listings much closer to market comps.
We found a clean-looking copy and talked the seller down to $13.50.
Victory lap? Not quite. At checkout, we realized we got cooked on shipping for $4.71, plus tax.
Final total: $20.08.
The Damage
All in, we spent $40.74 for two Red Ice Buzelis rookies — an average of $20.37 per card.
What We Learned
We’re used to buying for the PC, not for profit — where the goal is snagging a deal, not chasing a quick return. But when you’re playing the short-term flip game, details like shipping costs matter. Sellers can pad their margins that way, and it adds up fast.
Also: CollX was our first new-platform purchase. There’s potential there, but we’ll need more reps before calling it a go-to.
Got a tip for finding fair prices or hidden gems online? Drop it in the comments — we’d love to feature some community advice in a future post.
We’ll be back once both cards land in hand.
Stay tuned.
Table of Contents
Need to catch up or refresh yourself on the series?
You can find all the installments below 👇
Part 1: The Plan
Part 2: Dropping Dimes (you’re here)
Part 3: Coming Soon…
Disclaimer: The content in The Hobby Wire is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Commentary, analysis, and opinions on sports cards, rookies, and the hobby are not financial, investment, or professional advice. Collectors should always do their own research before buying, selling, or trading cards. Market values are volatile and can change rapidly—past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Unless specified, all pricing references are based on the Prizm/Refractor parallels of an athlete’s Chrome rookie card, with prices from alt.xyz & 130pt.com.
Any odds mentioned were derived from DraftKings Sportsbook.
I've had some real good luck with Buzelis cards!
So many people ending auctions at bad times.