Ten reasons why I feel I have to get out.

[hextall27]

1. Ebay and Paypal Fees are outrageous.

2. Weak Canadian Dollar has increased wax prices above sensible prices.

3. Weak economy is killing singles sales and making it harder to justify buying and breaking wax.

4. Redemptions SUCK. Upperdeck produces more redemption cards than actual physical cards. I have had this personally happen to myself and I know others in the same boat.

5. Constantly getting lowballed.

6. Too many pointless Upperdeck products, same cards under a different name. SICK OF IT ALL.

7. Patch and Jersey cards are a scam, if they are going to tear a piece of memorabilia into a million little pieces, they should at least state what game it was used in or something. I won't even get into what companies have done to some memorabilia that belongs in the HHOF and not destroyed.

8. Crooked sellers and buyers on ebay.

9. Damaged cards inserted into fresh wax.

10. Its not fun anymore. This is a hobby, it's supposed to be fun, not a hassle. I understand brick and mortar shops trying to make a dollar but everyone think they are going to get rich and think that it is a business and an investment - get real. Buy some real estate or start a real small business. Busting wax is not much different than buying lottery tickets or playing poker.

The only thing I can find redeeming about the hobby right now is some of the great people out there who I have met and dealt with. You know who you are and I feel very privleged to have gotten to know some of you.

Can anyone please remind me why I fell in love with theis hobby in the first place or has it just changed too much.

 

[RGM81]

I must say that, at only a month into the season, I'm feeling bombarded with all of the releases. Already for 08-09 we've had Victory, Ovation, Black, OPC, Ultra, and Artifacts. In two weeks we'll be going after UD1 and McDonald's. Then . . . and then . . . and next . . . It's becoming a real hassle, and this is my first full season back in the hobby (I got started again last January), so I can only imagine the frustration that long-time hobbyists are feeling. What was hot two weeks ago is already forgotten in favour of the next product...people were breaking OPC left, right, and centre, then it was Ultra for a few days, now it's all Artifacts. They're pumping out stuff way too quickly for people to even catch their breath. When there's a money crunch going on, it's all the more frustrating, to say nothing of the fact that it's now Christmas shopping season. It's asking an awful lot of people to be pumping out new products every few days when there's other considerations. I'm not planning on getting out, but I've definitely had to slow down and take stock of what's really important to me as far as my priorities this year.

 

[odjickfan]

RGM81: there are many products out there, but we don't have an obligation to get into each of them. So far this year, I only collected Legends Masterpieces. For the other releases, I got no more than a couple of packs.

I will break some of the Montreal Canadiens Centennial Set, and maybe some Collector's Choice, and for the rest, it will be a pack here and there.

I have fun working on some 90's insert sets. Not expensive, I'm trading away stuff I accumulated over years.

 

[13paveldatsyuk13]

i have to agree with a few things, but if you felt you had to make this post your already done with the hobby

 

[The MESSIAH]

The only thing I can find redeeming about the hobby right now is some of the great people out there who I have met and dealt with. You know who you are and I feel very privleged to have gotten to know some of you.

You are right on every count, there are many reasons to leave, but you said it yourself sir, this is the reason to stay.. I have made some friends in this hobby who I think the world of and would not have met if not for the hobby.. It's like being a parent, your kids can drive you crazy all day and in a moment make you laugh harder then you thought possible.. I hope that helps.. Regardless, you at least know the value of the Hobby, which is usually lost on some.. Good luck.:beer:

 

[shams99]

I agree with all that you have said. A hobby is supposed to be something that you enjoy and look forward to. Take a break, that is what i am planning as i am tired of the same thing. Since the 05 06 season when sellers were making lots of money b/c of the quality of the rookie class the prices for prospects have skyrocketted. That year you got back some good returns! Today, we have more products, less quality and selection of players. Buying wax is like Roulette!!
It is frustrating paying 400 for a tin of the cup and getting a rookie that will never play more than one week in the NHL. I think b/c of the cost of wax we ( not referring to anyone in particular) have become buyers and sellers as opposed to collectors. You have to as trading is a lost art(for me) i have no patience to haggle back and forth about a trade.
My 2 cents.

 

[FrozenInferno]

As long as Sweet Shot comes back for another go Upper Deck can release whatever they want

 

[odjickfan]

As long as Sweet Shot comes back for another go Upper Deck can release whatever they want

I think Sweet Shot is out of the schedule for 08-09.

 

[RGM81]

RGM81: there are many products out there, but we don't have an obligation to get into each of them. So far this year, I only collected Legends Masterpieces. For the other releases, I got no more than a couple of packs.

I will break some of the Montreal Canadiens Centennial Set, and maybe some Collector's Choice, and for the rest, it will be a pack here and there.

I have fun working on some 90's insert sets. Not expensive, I'm trading away stuff I accumulated over years.

Certainly not obligated, but for player/team collectors, there's just so much out there to keep the complete run going. I've only got so much money available, others have more or less, but say somebody's got a full run going on Carey Price; after only a few weeks of the season there's dozens of cards to have to grab and given that his hobby love shows no signs of abating, it's a very expensive gambit. Is there really a need to have so much product out there? Absolutely not, and it does take away the fun of it all to be "missing out" on so much stuff because there's simply more than most people can afford to get.

 

[odjickfan]

Certainly not obligated, but for player/team collectors, there's just so much out there to keep the complete run going. I've only got so much money available, others have more or less, but say somebody's got a full run going on Carey Price; after only a few weeks of the season there's dozens of cards to have to grab and given that his hobby love shows no signs of abating, it's a very expensive gambit. Is there really a need to have so much product out there? Absolutely not, and it does take away the fun of it all to be "missing out" on so much stuff because there's simply more than most people can afford to get.

A player collector with a limited budget can collect all the base cards as an objective, and pick a few of the nicer stuff when possible.

Master collection of a star player is now impossible in hockey, like it is impossible in other sports since a few years.

 

[JoeyStorm]

Even though there are so many sets, you are not obligated to get into all of them.. as someone has said before.

So far the only thing I have "seriously" ripped is Artifacts. As for my PC.. there's just so much stuff out there now that I just go into the specifics.. I've given up trying to get every card of a player.. if you have a PC maybe you should think about refocusing also.

As for the CDN dollar.. maybe its a good time to take a break also.. and when you get back... maybe we'll be on par with the US.

 

[Triple B]

Brother, I was right where you are. Sick of a lot of crap that has infected the hobby. Redemptions, photo shoot jerseys, overproduced garbage repeated under different brand names, sticker autographs not to mention the general acceptance of these ridiculous practices by collectors.

I have stopped almost completely. I've sold off most of my sports cards and plan on moving the rest at the Expo. I haven't, however, stopped collecting. I have moved over to non sports and I can't tell you how re-energized I am in doing so. I have great autographs in my collection that are HARD SIGNED (except for my Brandon Routh/Superman and Charlie Sheen autographs) and are likely one shot signatures. No autographs that will be repeated 20 times each for the next 20 years. The chase is tough for a lot of these and when you get them, there isn't the chance that the signatures will be mass produced in the future (see: Bobby Orr).

Point is, you need to find a section of the hobby that DOES make you happy. I have supported the hockey side for years, and now I'm sick of it. Seems like you are too. For now, if UD remains the only licensed choice, I'm done. I'll buy ITG products to support them, but I'm not as neck deep into hockey cards as I once was. If you need to do the same to find what you like, you have to seek out options.

 

[FrozenInferno]

I think Sweet Shot is out of the schedule for 08-09.

Say it ain't so

 

[ToskalaTML]

I think having sets like Victory and Ovation are really useless.
But I've started to stop buying boxes and only picking up singles.
I learned that the hard way, I bought about 13-14 boxes of UD Series 2 in 05-06 but only pulled 1 Ovechkin RC, and it was damaged!
Thats another problem with buying boxes and Upper Deck, it's the damages!

 

[odjickfan]

I think having sets like Victory and Ovation are really useless.

For kids, these are fun and accessible.

 

[ToskalaTML]

For kids, these are fun and accessible.

Yeah, but they should add some jersey cards or autos in it.
It shouldnt be too expensive because most of the garbage jersey cards are photoshoots...

 

[odjickfan]

Yeah, but they should add some jersey cards or autos in it.
It shouldnt be too expensive because most of the garbage jersey cards are photoshoots...

There's OPC and MVP for that.

 

[ToskalaTML]

There's OPC and MVP for that.

Okay then its pointless having 2 products with the same idea.
Either get rid of Victory and keep Ovation or the other way around
And either get rid of MVP and keep OPC or the other way around.

It just makes player collectors waste more money on sticker autos or photoshoot jerseys.

 

[odjickfan]

Okay then its pointless having 2 products with the same idea.
Either get rid of Victory and keep Ovation or the other way around
And either get rid of MVP and keep OPC or the other way around.

It just makes player collectors waste more money on sticker autos or photoshoot jerseys.

It's not one more jersey or autograph that will cause bankrputcy to player collectors.

OPC has an old-school feel with its design and a large base set, while MPV joins another style of collectors.

There are many 100+$/pack products, why not a few products with packs at less than 5$?

 

[deankal]

I hear you loud and clear......I was there busting cases upon cases and just decided the return wasn't good at all!! So I stopped busting wax and got really sick of the peole saying "it's a gamble....yada yada yada" I know it's a gamble but when you're hitting 25% return on ALOT of their product I just stopped. The return was there a few years back and it's gone!! Not sure why people rip alot of these products but each to their own.
So I decided just to do these rookie patch auto sets from the The Cup and I'm loving it..... I just let the case breakers break!!! And I pick up the rookies I'm looking for slowly (till I patch comes up I'm interested pops up and I snag it). If you see the sets I've done so far you'd understand why!!

I'm not a fan of UD and their practices at all, so I figure this is the best I can do out of the situation I'm in and I'm luvin' it!!!

Dealing with Mark, Josh, Fawad,Bruce and a ton others on here are what keeps my hobby interest going!!!!