How has the recent hobby resurgence changed your collecting habits?

[weasel-king]

This was never a "business" to me, so the more it turns into one, the less I enjoy it.

This sums up exactly how I feel.

 

[Triple B]

Can’t afford/won’t waste money on boxes so I’ve been hoarding singles and flipping. I’ve never been this ahead in 30 years of collecting.

Will trade cards for cash.

 

[odjickfan]

I have found that I have shifted my focus completely on my Luongo collection and I am continuing my side project of goalie rc's of everyone since 90-91. I must say I am truly enjoying it. For a few reasons...

1) The money I have made selling everything is absolutely insane. I realized I was just picking up random cards of star players, but with no end in sight or any goal, what was the point? Once I gave up this up I felt like I had so much more time and money to invest in my collection

2) Surfacing of some rare items. I have found some very rare cards I have been searching for for years! I'm sure I may have overpaid at times, but this pandemic has brought out a ton of old cards I needed.



But having said all this I still feel this new change has an ugly side. Maybe I can afford a little more than the average joe, but I am now starting to feel priced out of the hobby. I was fortunate for years that Luongo was a decent buy, a few items with Roy, Brodeur, but for the most part, I could add what I wanted. Even over the past few years I have added approximately 60 1 of 1's at very reasonable pricing.

So with that you also see people trying to take advantage. Everyone has $$$ in their eyes, and don't get me wrong, fill your boots, as I have made out quite well over the past few months. But having a high end player collection, and people knowing this, well..... people think they can get whatever they want out of you. I have been more turned off with such negativity this past month than I have seen or experience in 25 years. The facebook avenue is great, as you can certainly view a high portion of cards, but the amount of idiots and ill informed people there certainly outweighs and pros.


So moving forward here is what I see. I am glad that Luongo has retired and I have a substantial amount of his high end from previous years. I will continue to add, but unlike before, I frequently walk away from high prices, and for the first time in my life..... I'm ok with that!!

I will never open a pack/box/group break again!!

I am currently selling everything non-luongo and the more I do it, the happier I am that I actually did it.

I'm closing in on 40, 3 kids, busy life. I feel like I've had my fun in the hobby, and I am spending more time just mastering what I have. Displaying the Luongo's and adding a webiste, master check list, etc. Long gone are the days of absolutely needing everything. I'm still chasing 100% up to 05-06, but after that? Someone else can knock themselves out.

The hobby has been fantastic for me over the past 20 years. Have met a lot of great people, done some amazing deals, and wouldn't change it for the world. But that community is dead. Just look at how our message boards have dwindled over the years. It used to be so easy to sell or trade on HI or SCF. Now its facebook or nothing it seems. I miss the old days of showing off your stuff, making small deals to fill a set or even sending along items to help out a friend. This was never a "business" to me, so the more it turns into one, the less I enjoy it.

Chris

I 110% agree with you on the bold part.

 

[Arkhive]

I 110% agree with you on the bold part.

As a newcomer to the hobby, I will say that a big reason why I've enjoyed the hobby so far are boards like this. The community is very solid and welcoming. I think that feeling can be lost in big Facebook groups but there are a couple smaller ones where I think the same forum-like feel still exists. I've had people help out with my collection several times, both here and on Facebook, and it's instilled a pass-it-forward mentality in me as well.

I do agree with the whole hobby-business aspect though. It's something that became rampant in my first card hobby (Pokemon). I understand there's always been a business aspect to card collecting but I think there's legitimate damage to the hobby when things lean too far into the business side of things. There's a healthy balance to these things and it can be dangerous when it leans too far in one direction.

As for how the hobby surge has affected me, I got back in during this surge so it's all I've ever known haha. I'll say that I managed to grab a bunch of stuff before prices went up even more so it's been a wild ride to say the least. With prices as wild as they are, it's been a thrill to just dive through pages upon pages of ebay listings and I've slowly mapped out areas that I'd like to explore and cards I hope to collect one day. It might not be financially feasible always but that's part of the journey.

 

[deepbluejacket]

- I used to bust some old wax now & then but that inventory is all but gone and what little is left is ridiculously priced.

I hadn't checked on this in awhile, but I am shocked - SHOCKED - at some of the prices! Even the junk wax is back at their original retail price. I used to buy cases of Pro Set for $100 - shipped! - and now it appears people have finally caught on that there's gold in that 1990 Series 1.

$400-600 for 1988 Topps! Amazing.

Mike