I lost a complete beta set (minus power 9), three partially complete alpha sets (everything alphabetically starting at A-Animate Wall to E-Elvish Archers).

My collection was worth a ton of money, but I also got a nice insurance settlement and am trying to get it all back.

So here I am and trying to get it all back.

The first thing you do is find the highest price that you can buy them from retail. I suggest going on Troll and Toad and compiling a list of everything that was destroyed. Do not go on ebay. You're just doing their work for them. You pay insurance for a reason. I know you want to look for the cheapest price and just get your stuff back, but the insurance company doesn't give a **** about your stuff. Provide a detailed list from troll and toad and hand it over. They'll cut you a check. Then, go looking for the cheapest stuff you can. Anything you have left over is lagniappe. Maybe put it towards a fire proof safe for your A/B's.

quote:

---

Originally posted by twinkletwinkle:
So I lost a huge collection of alphas/betas and some legends in a fire. My arabians were spared due to being in a different location. When I say "lost" I mean completely incinerated.

I lost a complete beta set (minus power 9), three partially complete alpha sets (everything alphabetically starting at A-Animate Wall to E-Elvish Archers).

My collection was worth a ton of money, but I also got a nice insurance settlement and am trying to get it all back.

So here I am and trying to get it all back.

1. Does anyone have any suggestions as to good ways to get bulk alphas and betas at reasonable prices (want rare and uncommons)?
2. I noticed some alphas are crazy expensive on Ebay and with dealers. What's the deal?

---

Define reasonable---very hard to find alpha/beta cards these days. If you own these cards you should know as much.

1) The Cards are scarce due to lack of production and when they were produced.

That said, someone asked earlier and I am curious as well... do you have to provide some form of documentation or proof that you did indeed own these cards. They would have to be covered to get an insurance check for them, so how do they go about recording them for coverage?

I never ended up selling everything, but it always stuck out in my mind that the guy only wanted those cards. I insisted on selling it all as a lot, but he really only wanted those cards. I can't recall for sure, but I think he offered around $40 per card which was a lot at the time, but I really wanted to sell everything as a package.

Now I wish I had! Instead of losing most of my cards in the fire, I'd have gotten some cash for some of them at least.

Why in the world would someone collect a ton of just a few cards? That makes no sense.

quote:

---

Originally posted by coasterdude84:
I know for sure that Animate Wall, Deathlace, Fungusaur, and Zombie Master are collected. Dwarven Demo Team was, not sure if it's still active though. Pirate Ship was at one point as well, but I think the collector liquidated, as they seem to be pretty available. A number of people collect random commons from Alpha (such as Weakness), but I'm not aware of anyone having enough to make an impact on the price of those.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Timmyhill:
Who would collect Deathlaces its such a bad card.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Timmyhill:
Who would collect Deathlaces its such a bad card.

---

Same thing with Zombie Master, must be a couple of real morons.

quote:

---

Originally posted by MagixDK:
collecting is more about emotion/compulsion and less about logic

---

Hint: *look at the sig*

quote:

---

Originally posted by dragonstout83:
Hint: *look at the sig*

---

The hoarders likely started out hoarding the cards simply because they like the card, the picture, or just think the name is plain funny. At that time, those cards are probably $0.50, or even less. So the hoarders think it is pretty harmless to set aside a few bucks to start a collection.

After a few years, Alpha cards started to rise in value. A few more bucks but still affordable so they continue buying. After more years, they reaches the $10-20 range and you guys will start thinking "It is no longer cheap, so the hoarders should stop buying, right?".......

Sadly, you are wrong. When something is steadily increasing in value, the collector/hoarder will have strong interest in continuing buying it, as

quote:

---

Originally posted by Timmyhill:
So any one have any suggestions on fire proof safes?

---

Find a local locksmith/safe store. They should have what you need, at least to look over.