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autobilia

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Seems like an article is written everyday about it and its decline.

I believe the main reason is the amount of parallels and the cost vs. value. It never fails. If a card has a parallel, it devalue the base version of the card. That's why vintage holds its value. I know they are condition sensative, but they also have no parallels.
 
The cost vs. value is definitely a big issue (honestly, how many times can a person open a box of SP Authentic or SPX for $100 only to find $10 in "hits" and NOT be a bit disgusted :confused: ) but I'm not so sure about the parallels. It seems that their existence itself is not the issue; it's the sheer number of them that gets a bit tiresome (how many different parallels are in the recent Topps Finest releases... 10? 12?). I'd say something pushing double digits with print runs that don't vary much is definitely problematic, but a release such as Topps Heritage baseball, which has three parallels with distinct levels of rarity, actually benefits in terms of collecting value.
 
The thing with parallels is that, say for example, Dr. J's RC is worth something in the range of $225 (give or take). If he had 2 parallels of that RC, the rarest would be something like $600-$800, then middle one would be $250-$300, and the base RC would be about $50. Parallels kill the value of the base set.
 
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autobilia said:
Seems like an article is written everyday about it and its decline.

I believe the main reason is the amount of parallels and the cost vs. value. It never fails. If a card has a parallel, it devalue the base version of the card. That's why vintage holds its value. I know they are condition sensative, but they also have no parallels.
Click to expand...
a perfect example of this would be this year's 05 - 06 UD SPA Hockey. What with a plethora of no name RC's and with a perceived no value return from the box..

I spoke with a friend who went to the National in Anaheim and the boxes could be had for USD $68.00. This is less than half of the original price offering. :eek:

This is what happens when a company is given a monopoly within a sport.... They basically killed their 'Flag Ship Product!' with an attempt to become greedy by over production!

Brian
 
Auto, I think your argument would hold better if base rookies were not short-printed like they are in almost all popular sets... talk about killing the value of the base set, if half or more of the "base" cards are too difficult to find or expensive to buy ;) That said, a set where ALL the cards are rare (read: Exquisite) makes the high-end collectors go for the whole "base" set and pushes the value of all of the cards up (personal experience... I sold a 03-04 Iverson Exquisite base for $108 not that long ago :D ).
 
bjork73 said:
Auto, I think your argument would hold better if base rookies were not short-printed like they are in almost all popular sets... talk about killing the value of the base set, if half or more of the "base" cards are too difficult to find or expensive to buy ;) That said, a set where ALL the cards are rare (read: Exquisite) makes the high-end collectors go for the whole "base" set and pushes the value of all of the cards up (personal experience... I sold a 03-04 Iverson Exquisite base for $108 not that long ago :D ).
Click to expand...

I use to like sets like the 1990 Leaf baseball or 98-99 SP Authentic basketball. I doubt we see another set like them.
 
The decline is also the fact the the card companies haven't come up with stuff that's a hit to the masses...not talking about the ultra high end stuff that only the minority can afford.

The crazy in the 90s were parallels and #1/1s, then autographs and jerseys, then PATCHES and cut sigs. Unfortunately, quality control on the patch and cut sigs often have problems such as fake patches and wrong sigs - just look at UDs 1/1 cut Auto Quad that has been reported...if the jewel of the product is questioned - what can be said about the rest of the product.

As time goes by, year after year, for the most part, modern day cards continue to lose "value" as newer issues are released.
 
jaderock said:
The decline is also the fact the the card companies haven't come up with stuff that's a hit to the masses...not talking about the ultra high end stuff that only the minority can afford.

The crazy in the 90s were parallels and #1/1s, then autographs and jerseys, then PATCHES and cut sigs. Unfortunately, quality control on the patch and cut sigs often have problems such as fake patches and wrong sigs - just look at UDs 1/1 cut Auto Quad that has been reported...if the jewel of the product is questioned - what can be said about the rest of the product.

As time goes by, year after year, for the most part, modern day cards continue to lose "value" as newer issues are released.
Click to expand...

It's been like that for years. Cards are now like cars. It's nice until next years model comes out. And depreciate in value as soon as it leaves the lot (box).
 
I'm gonna vote game used and cost vs. value. Seems like since GU came into the market they were pounced upon by the mfr's and severely overproduced and have driven down value across the board.

A balance to satisfy set collector's with some issues geared to them needs to be found. This years parkie hockey had promise, but failed to deliver when it would take 3 boxes just to have any hope of finishing just a base set...

The return of hard signed autos is a glimmer of hope...
 

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