Has Anyone Else Noticed a Decline

[djsports]

i think less and less people post sale threads on sites because all you get is lowball offers. I see more listings on ebay with BIN/BO so people get what they want for the cards.

I think this coupled with the post about 5 cards for $500.00 compared to 50 cards for $500.00 is part of the reason why the forums may be slowing down.

Most of the sales threads I see are "Send me your offers" followed by "no-low ball offers are accepted". Help us out by giving us an idea of what you are looking for.

When I list cards on this site or others, I give my "Ebay" price and the forum price which is usually discounted by 20% off my ebay price. Most of the time I get no response so I then list it on Ebay and as soon as there is a bid on it I have people contacting me asking if they will sell it at the quote price from the original PM.

Plus you have to look at Ebays free listing promotions where are you going to put your time, energy and effort?

100 of collectors in a forum or all the Eyeballs that ebay generates?

 

[sdpdesign]

I have noticed in the last few years that the traffic on this site alone has dropped in the hockey threads by about half. We can blame the economy, costs of living or whatever makes us happy, but the fact is that a lot of people who have been a part of this site have moved on with their lives with families, girlfriends, and just plain living away from the hobby.

Personnally, I am going through a rough patch and still frequent this site to see breaks. I try to post what I break (like most...if it is worthy). I have had dry patches collecting in this hobby...my last being the years after I got married (01-05)...I didn't have much $$ to buy a lot of cards, but started up again after the strike. I went in pretty good and my funds dried up soon after. I set myself limits and have tried to stick with them (Artifacts & SPGU) but have wavered from that to relieve stress (yes I am a shopper that buys when stressed). And occasionally trying out new product after a while. For example, last year was the first time I bought a box of ITG Ultimate (great product), this year was the first year I bought reg UD in 5 or 6 yrs. I have tried Donruss, Score, Pinnacle, Certified, Contenders, Limited, and really like Crown Royale since Panini came rolling in.

I believe that the market is what it is in your area...With football season kicking off, that is the hot product now. Baseball's is in the Spring. Basketball...um...is there a good time for that? I haven't seen much interest where I'm at. Hockey and the strike isn't going to help the hobby. I see ITG has some nice products lined up (they will be fine, nice non-NHL liscensed product like every year) and UD has one and Panini too geared for the Strike Season market. The last strike season had such poor products for the "now" collectors (collectors that collect new rc's, players on new teams, etc)...most of the traffic may be theirs.


Then again...who knows...it could be the new trend.

 

[scramboni]

In my mind, it is very simple. Too much supply, and not enough demand. The market is over saturated with products, with most products being targeted for the upper-class demographic. Collectors have been split into two completely separate classes, which makes it difficult for most people to stay invested in what they really want to collect.

 

[newfiecomicguy1]

Seems activity is down in all the hockey sections, its obviously the lock out. Usually this time of year the hockey section is a buzz with the NHL preseason and camps starting and the new products coming out. It could be a longgggg year if there is no NHL hockey. Hopefully they show lots of AHL, JR or other hockey.....I need my fix.

 

[spooner9ball]

I have seen a lot of eBay beatings during this off-season, and thus committed to not selling during the off season and lock-out. That is, until Forever Rivals comes out....

 

[DCUnited96]

I would add the stateside attempts at 90 day pricing policies and distribution control have also resulted in less product being broken. There hasn't been a product made in the last eon that benefited from have less outlets for purchase at market determined rates, but that's the path Panini and, especially, Upper Deck have taken.

How does it help our industry to walk into a card shop or card show (not really applicable in Colorado, but other places have show wax dealers) and be unable to find a product? Not every card shop has the selling power (or focus) to be what Panini and Upper Deck are currently looking for, but it seems crazy to restrict their ability to obtain product.

One other thing, every retail blaster box should come with a listing of Hobby Shops pointing the gateway customers in the direction they can find product at.

 

[RAVMAN]

Well my thoughts on this is:

That's not forget why we are in this hobby.Here are a couple reasons for me:

1.The sheer enjoyment of things like the excitement of opening boxes for that lucky pull and now even more exciting with my kids enjoying the hobby and getting that cool pull...

2.The people that we meet with online,at shows,etc.......

3.Collecting players we love......

I don't want to go on and on but that's just try to enjoy the hobby for what it is and not the minus sides of it.Card companies will come and go but as true collectors we are always here!!!! One last plug...................can't wait for expo!!!! Peace everybody

Darcy

 

[sedinfan]

Nicely said, I second this!

Well my thoughts on this is:

That's not forget why we are in this hobby.Here are a couple reasons for me:

1.The sheer enjoyment of things like the excitement of opening boxes for that lucky pull and now even more exciting with my kids enjoying the hobby and getting that cool pull...

2.The people that we meet with online,at shows,etc.......

3.Collecting players we love......

I don't want to go on and on but that's just try to enjoy the hobby for what it is and not the minus sides of it.Card companies will come and go but as true collectors we are always here!!!! One last plug...................can't wait for expo!!!! Peace everybody

Darcy

 

[Beezer34]

Well my thoughts on this is:

That's not forget why we are in this hobby.Here are a couple reasons for me:

1.The sheer enjoyment of things like the excitement of opening boxes for that lucky pull and now even more exciting with my kids enjoying the hobby and getting that cool pull...

2.The people that we meet with online,at shows,etc.......

3.Collecting players we love......

I don't want to go on and on but that's just try to enjoy the hobby for what it is and not the minus sides of it.Card companies will come and go but as true collectors we are always here!!!! One last plug...................can't wait for expo!!!! Peace everybody

Darcy

+1 !

For the hobby lockout might be blessing in disguise, collectors have time to pickup older stuff, same sets year after year might feel special like they used to after one year without one. And if the whole season is cancelled amazing rookiegroup for season 13-14 will add fuel to the fire once the puck drops on ice once again.

 

[habscards]

One other thing that has not been mentioned as of yet is this:

Group breaks are all the craze right now in the hobby. I for one am not a fan myself but everyone has their own opinion. People who buy into group breaks may select their favorite team who they PC.

I just find less boxes are being broken on here and thus less cards being available for trade or sale.