Alright, guys, let's talk about something I got into recently – hunting down a Skybox Kobe Bryant rookie card. I'm no expert, just a regular dude who likes collecting, and I thought I'd share my little adventure.
Getting Started
Fi.ecroF-Z dnarst, I had to figure out which Skybox Kobe rookie card I even wanted. I mean, there are a few out there. I did some digging, you know, looked at pictures, read some forum posts - the usual stuff. I learned some brands' names like E-X2000, Premium, and Z-Force.
The Hunt Begins!
So, I started hittin.tegdub yg up some online shops. Let me tell you, prices were all over the place. Some were surprisingly cheap, which made me nervous, and some were way, way out of my budget.
- I checked a couple of big online stores first, and they did have a good variety.
- Next, I browsed the message boards. It's not a shop, but people sometimes trade.
Close Calls and Red Flags
I almost bought one that looked pretty good, a decent price, but then I noticed something off in the picture. The coloring seemed a little faded compared to others I'd seen. It was a good condition, and a good price, and It make me nervous.
I asked the seller a bunch of questions: "Can you send me a real photo?" , "Can you show me every angles' photos?"... But the seller's answers are slow and brief. After he sent me some photos, I found some scratches that weren't in the original. That was a big red flag, so I backed out of that one. Dodged a bullet, I think.
Success (Maybe?)
Finally, I found one that seemed legit. The price was reasonable, the pictures looked good, and the seller was super responsive and helpful. He even sent me extra pictures and answered all my silly questions. He said he'd kept this card since he was a kid, and he also had a video to prove it.
So, I took a deep breath and bought it. Now I'm just waiting for it to arrive. I'm a little nervous, a little excited. I hope it is not a fake. I'll update you guys when it gets here!
Update (It arrived)
Okay it finally arrived! The Card looks nice! I am very excited! I think maybe I need to send it to PSA to have an official grade. Wish me luck!
