Pardinuz: That's only logical if you have any intention of buying stuff on Steam. I have 100 usd stuck there from selling cards and in-game items and I have no intention of further supporting Steam.
Any ideas on how to convert that into real money? I guess buying TF2 keys and selling it for paypal money is a way. I've just been too lazy to do it.
HeDanny: oh wow! a Hundred Steambucks from cards? you sold... a
lot of cards. I really like cards. I'm totally into them right now. I'm not interested in their Steambucks profit. I like the cards. I have quite a few sets I would like to finish one day. You know, if I could do it with out spending
real money.
You are correct in your evaluation. That is why I used quotes on "Free". You are swapping actual money for Steambucks. This is true. It could still be pretty good value for some.
I'm not into cards much myself but I did investigate the phenomenon and how people handle them etc. One thing people who do collect the cards do that don't want to spend money is get on the trading card forums and post have/want offers where they trade at ratios other than 1:1, the idea being if they offer one card in return for 2 or more cards, they gain more from the transaction. On the surface that might sound unfair, but I think it is perfectly fair because nobody is forced to actually enter into such a trade - but if they do enter into it then ultimately they decide in their own mind that they are getting the one card they want at a cost of two or more and they find it an acceptable and beneficial trade or they would not do it of their own free will. As a result, both parties ultimately get what they want - the true collector gets the rare cards they want sooner than later and at a cost they consider reasonable or they wouldn't do it, and the person who wants to grow their cards that doesn't want to pay money or whatever, gets more out of the trade than they gave out. Win-win. Granted the number of people willing to trade 2:1 or 3:1 etc. is probably lower than 1:1, but if they exist, then a trade can likely complete.
Just an idea to throw around out there for people who might be into the cards but not want to spend money and can't see how to do it without spending money. It's all in the negotiating and finding people who have a need that is the mirror image of your own to then come to mutually beneficial terms.