Using Clubs to Manipulate the Market

It’s important for collectors to understand some of the various market manipulation techniques in existence, not necessarily so collectors can use them, but more importantly to make sure they’re not used on the collector.

The art of market manipulation

One of the foremost experts in the field of market manipulation techniques is Harry Rinker. In his book, How to Make the Most of Your Investments in Antiques and Collectibles, he tells the importance of investors using clubs for their benefit.

Keep in mind, one of the most vital weapons in most investors’ arsenals is the knowledge of how to manipulate the various markets to their advantage. One of the favorite techniques of investors is the use of clubs.

Dos and don’ts

This approach is so popular since most collectors never entertain the thought of such a thing being done to them. This is exactly why it works so well.

The basics of this approach can best be told by taking excerpts from Harry Rinker’s masterpiece, How to Make the Most of Your Investments in Antiques and Collectibles:

Do not tell you are collecting as investment

“The one thing you must be very careful not to do is tell a collector you are collecting for investment purposes. You must disguise yourself as a fellow collector. While I do not like deceit, it is absolutely essential in this case. Collectors love objects; they resent anyone who views them primarily from a monetary point of view.”

Do build a portfolio

“Beginning in the third year of your investment plan and continuing until the final sale of your investment portfolio, your role divides into two parts: continuing to build the portfolio and manipulating the antiques and collectibles market to achieve maximum gain for your portfolio. 

“Both will remain equally important until the final sale, so you must force yourself to maintain a balance between the two.”

Don’t lose sight of developing potential buyers

“During the process of manipulating the market, never lose sight of the fact that your primary goal is to develop potential buyers among collectors, dealers, museum professionals, and others.

“First, try to find a collectors’ club.The real value of belonging to a collectors’ club is to gain access to its mailing list. In almost every instance it contains the names of the top private collectors in the country.”

Do join a collectors’ club

“If a collectors’ club exists for a category in your portfolio, and you have not already joined it, you should do so now. In the third and fourth year of your investment plan, attend all meetings and become politically active within the group. 

“During the entire time, continue to stress your collecting interest and not your financial interest.”

Do start a collectors’ club

“If no collectors’ club exists, consider starting one. A few advertisements in trade publications will attract the first dues-paying members. The club’s newsletter can be done quarterly. The dedicated collectors will join a club no matter how often the newsletter is published.

“Is it worth your time to start a club? The answer is a firm yes. Dedicated collectors will put their names and addresses on collectors’ club applications much quicker than they will hand this information out to an individual. You will use the club for only a few years. If the club is successful, you can turn over the leadership to someone else once divested of your portfolio.”

Read Rinker’s book and master the techniques

Investors using clubs to separate collectors from their hard earned money

is just one of the many manipulation techniques Harry Rinker reveals in

his book, How to Make the Most of Your Investments in Antiques and Collectibles, published by Arbor House. Harry’s book is one of the best friends a collector can make.

Copyright 1991, Greg Tunks

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Frequently asked questions

You can find out the value of old credit cards by checking how much similar cards sell for. There are several ways to do this.

The simplest way to determine the value of old credit cards is to ask an experienced collector. If you submit an inquiry via our contact form, we can connect you with an expert who can assist you and point out if there is anything rare or unusual in your collection.

Alternatively, you can become a member of the American Credit Card Collectors Society. Membership in our credit card collecting club provides access to resources and knowledgeable members who can help. Benefits of membership include access to a gallery containing thousands of cards with historical pricing information, and access to our entire collection of newsletters, from 1994 through the present day.

You can look at recent sales on auction sites, however, there are some considerations to keep in mind when doing this. Firstly, it’s important to look at selling prices, rather than asking prices. Selling prices are the prices people actually paid, while asking prices can be very different. Secondly, historical sales on some sites are only saved for 3 months, so you may not find something that exactly matches what you have. Thirdly, it is sometimes possible to see rare or unusual cards sell for lower prices than they should have because people do not understand their worth, the ads don't do justice to the card, they're listed in the wrong category, or any combination thereof.

There are always people in our club who are actively buying cards. Collectors tend to focus on a niche, like gas cards or retail cards, or they might focus on a slightly broader area, like bank cards or travel and entertainment cards. Many of the rarest or most unusual cards will exchange hands in private sales. Please contact us if you are thinking of selling your collection.

You can also sell your old credit cards on online marketplaces. You will get the highest price if you sell each of your cards individually, although this approach requires the most effort. At the opposite end of the effort scale would be selling all cards as a job lot, an approach which typically results in the lowest price on a per-card basis. Halfway between these two approaches would be to group cards into different categories and to sell these individual groups, e.g., BankAmericard, Master Charge, oil and gas, retail, and so on.

To join the club, visit the membership section and complete the registration form. You can pay by check or PayPal. We offer annual or lifetime memberships. If you have any questions please contact us via the form on our website.

Credit cards are more worthwhile collecting if they are rare, in good condition, have historical significance, or are associated with famous personalities or events. Valuable modern cards might include those that are difficult to obtain, such as American Express Centurion (a.k.a. ‘black’) cards, while older credit cards might include early independent bank cards, American Express, Diners Club, or BankAmericard (Visa) cards from the 50s/early 60s, or Master Charge (MasterCard) cards from the late 60s. Rare or unusual cards can also be sought after, such as those issued in small numbers, like small independent department stores or gas stations, or cards with appealing aesthetics.

Consulting with other collectors or experts in the club can provide valuable insights. Contact us for more information via the form on our website.

We do not offer an appraisal service in a traditional sense (such services are normally a paid service) but we can connect you with an expert who should be able to assist for free and point out anything rare or unusual in your collection. The simplest way to do this is to submit an inquiry via our contact form.

The American Credit Card Collectors Society accepts donations and is most grateful for any we receive. When donations happen, we strive to find good homes for cards where they will be looked after, matching cards with collectors who will appreciate them. The club may charge members a nominal fee for donated cards, and the proceeds are offset against the running costs of our club. We are a non-profit organization. Running costs include expenses like our convention and website hosting. Donations are most popular for people getting out of the hobby, or when someone has inherited a collection and doesn’t know what to do with it.

If you wish to donate your collection, please contact us via the contact form above.

American Credit Card Collectors Society