I was recently asked what cards would be the best cards to invest in, with hopes that those cards would go up in value. I contend that card collecting is for enjoyment purposes and shouldn't be looked at as an investment. Buy cards of your favorite players from your favorite teams. Enjoy the cards, trade the cards, share them with friends and family. Don't expect to send your kids to college on them.

I suppose I could shout those words from the top of the empire state building but I wound't be heard or at least listened to. Face it, everyone is interested in the value of their cards. Open up a wax pack today and tell me you don't have the most recent copy of Beckett Football card magazine with you to check out the value of the inserts you hope to pull.

Because I concentrate my collecting on Cowboy cards, I consider myself somewhat of an expert when it comes to buying, selling, and trading cowboy cards. I can spot a good deal a mile away but I do sometimes have problems spotting bad ones. I've bought many Cowboy cards and paid too much for them, but then again, I have bought many cowboy cards and sold them for much more. I guess the secret is paying attention to detail. I recently bought a 1990 Score Supplemental Emmitt Smith Rookie card for $25.00, what a steal! Oh no, I forgot to read the fine print that said 'small stain on back of card'! Geez! Pay attention, pay attention, pay attention! I learned the hard way. By the way, anyone interested in picking up a 1990 Score Supp. Emmitt Smith Rookie card, cheap!

On the flip side, I bought 3 1972 Roger Staubach Rookie cards for $20.00. Yep, $20.00 for all 3! I kept waiting to get out bid on ebay. Never happened, then I sent out the $$$ expecting to get 3 of the worst Staubach rookies in history. What a surpise when they showed up. No creases, 3 different grades, EX, EXMT, and dare I say NRMT. The last of which is worthy of PSA but as of this date has not been submitted. Soon. I expect an 8 OC of course.

If you must buy cards with the hopes of striking it rich, buy low and sell high. Simple advise but not always easy to follow. Here are a couple of tips that I try to follow but you can ask my wife, I haven't struck it rich, yet.

1. Stay away from HOT inserts. Unless you pull these cards from a wax pack, don't deal with them! Inserts are great, I love them! Buy dozens of wax packs and pull as many as you can but don't go to a show and shell out big bucks for them, NO NO!

2. Always look at every table at a show before you buy your first card! How many times have you jumped at the first hot rookie card you saw only to see it half the price only a few tables down. Be Patient and pay attention!

3. Buy vintage cards, especially those cards in NM shape and get them graded by PSA, BGS, SGC, or USA. A common card from 1960 Topps can sell for $20.00 or more if it is graded a PSA 7. I have seen many top quality cards out there still ungraded that could easily fetch a 7 and you could probably pick it up for next to nothing.

4. Always try to bargain down the dealer. Just because the dealer is asking $10.00 doesn't mean he or she won't take $8.00 or less.

5. Come to the shows early and stay late. If you see a card you must have and the dealer is sticking to his price, wait him out. Come back to his or her table at closing time and maybe you can pick it up cheap. If not, you probably will be able to find some other cards cheap! Dealers hate packing their cards back up and taking 'em home.

6. Always buy cards from a dealer who is willing to trade with the kids. If you spot a dealer making trades to kids, buy his cards. We need more dealers like him or her!

7. Rookie cards. Say no more. But a bunch of Patrick Crayton rookie cards or someone at his level. Don't waste your money on the top notch rookies coming out, there cards are already over priced. Get a second tier rookie, remember, Joe Montana was a 4th round draft pick!

8. Never pay book price for NEW cards, NEVER! Always pay less, You can bet the dealer didn't pay book price but will try to sell it for the most profit he can get. Understandable but it is your job to get the card for a fair price and seldom is book price on a new card a fair price. Vintage cards are a different story, it all depends on the condition of the card. If the card is in GREAT (NM) condition, you can expect to pay more than book price.

9. Store your cards properly! I use BCW Trading card supplies for storage. If you going to spend top notch dollars on sports cards you had better spend a few extra for proper storage. BCW Trading card Supplies carries all the supplies from binders, 9 pocket pages, penny sleeves, top loaders, acrylic holders, boxes, plus much more!

10. Last but not least, have fun! If your not having fun with this hobbby, go get yourself another hobby!

Good luck and let me know of any great deals you run across.