Would like some insight on my hobby direction

[mark14h]

Hi there everyone I've been involved in collecting now for well over 25 years. When I look at my collection I don't seem to enjoy it much anymore. I break boxes and packs when I can afford it, and sell what I don't keep online. I get into occasional group breaks with the proceeds but never see any real value.
I have an extensive Boston Bruins collection.
My concerns are I don't see any real value for a 25 year hobby. I enjoy it but feel I've gone the wrong direction. Anyone else feel this way.
I've been thinking of dumping everything and starting over or just getting out altogether.
I really only pursue Patrice Bergeron cards, but not exclusively enough ranting.

Just looking for some help or encouragement.
Thanks Mark

 

[M35Richter]

Hi Mark, Sorry to hear about you feeling like you have gone in the wrong direction with your collection. I know that over the years I have focused and narrowed down my collection many times…. and I still have a ton of stuff. I have decided to work on a few key projects that I know I enjoy the most and everything else gets sold, traded, etc.

If I were you, id figure out what I like the most and narrow down from there. Whatever you can live without can fund or get traded for things you really want. Maybe trade some bulk for a few bigger more valuable cards that are harder to find if you can.

I think most people's collections are constantly evolving, but don't let that ruin the hobby for you. All the best!

 

[MR.M's Cards]

I get this feeling every once and a while but know I would regret it if I ever moved my bobby ryan collection, and would never recoup half of what I have invested. I recently trimmed my entire collection down to 9000 cards from 25000......just to much stuff sitting in boxes that I never look at. My main focus is still on ryan, but I have 3 other little side projects on the go that offer me a nice change every once in a while.

What recently gave me a new sense of joy in the hobby was the Tim Hortons release....I actually hated this product, but in my small town it seemed like everyone was collecting it. I had a facebook group of 8 friends that I put together so they could trade with one and other. These were 8 guys who were all brand new to the hobby. 4 of them have moved on and starting series 1....one oft hem has already stated he wants to go to the expo next year. My biggest thrill from this was getting to share my knowledge of the hobby with new collectors.

I recommend trying something new for a while to see if it can revive your passion for the hobby.....something low end but fun.....something involving interaction with others. Pick a low end set to work on, with the goal being that you want to trade for a certain percentage of the cards instead of just buying box after box. This should create a dual enjoyment of both finishing your set while helping someone else finish theirs.

I guess no one can really answer this question for you but I hope that my ramblings offer some sort of idea that could set you on the right path.....ever wanna talk hockey cards shoot me a pm

 

[SNobles]

I know for me I was trying to collect anything and everything Patrick Roy. He was/is in every release (especially high end) and it was impossible to keep up. I also found that his GU cards were starting to devalue year to year and you could pick up GU for $5 where before they were $25 or more. So I also saw a real devalue in the collection.

I decided to narrow my focus to the BTP sets from ITG at that time. It allowed me to have an end goal in sight. I had a near complete collection of everything BTP Roy but started to also lose interest in that as the product was getting stale to me.

What I never stopped collecting all the way along was anything base/insert wise. I decided I would keep a few key items I really liked and move everything else. I was lucky to move it all before the whole ITG flood happened so I was able to recoup a lot of what I had in it.

I started to key in on RC for retired players, current stars and some new young players. I found that RC and some high end autos are all that seem to hold much resale value anymore. With that being said, collect what you want and never EVER look at this hobby as an investment tool. lol

Good luck with what you decide to do.

 

[Juular]

Mark, I feel the same though only been in the hobby since 07-08. Those waves of fun come in but as quickly, receed.

My issue was that when I collect a player, that same season at the end of it, mgt would trade them to another team:

Ryan Malone
Maxime Talbot
Jordan Staal
Brooks Orpik

Then I got it in my head the next player Id collect would be moved, so I had a small collection of Olli Maatta but freaked and unloaded.

Now, Im just dealing with the team. It was everything of the Penguins I could get but after a while, my interest faded and here I go again, unloading parts of this side or parts of that side.

My direction is a canvas with lines every which way.

I wanted to streamline as minimal as possible and I believe starting in 2016, I'll finally get to where I want to in the hobby.

Penguins cards I like (only multi colored GU/Au)
WBS Game Used Cards
Penguins YG & ICE RC
collection of 06-07 MVP for a master set
maybe favorite players RC and/or GU-Au

It might seem like a bit but its alot less then what Ive attempted.
Some people have it mapped out, some go with the gut. Some are just nuts.

If this gives you any idea on how others feel about it, it should show you're not the only one, thats for sure haha.

Best of luck on whatever course of action you plan on taking hobby wise.

 

[joshpackham]

I have my 3 player collections and then I collect leaf cards. The leaf cards I just add to a list and if I get them great, and if not, its not a big deal

 

[Superdoup]

Hi there everyone I've been involved in collecting now for well over 25 years. When I look at my collection I don't seem to enjoy it much anymore. I break boxes and packs when I can afford it, and sell what I don't keep online. I get into occasional group breaks with the proceeds but never see any real value.
I have an extensive Boston Bruins collection.
My concerns are I don't see any real value for a 25 year hobby. I enjoy it but feel I've gone the wrong direction. Anyone else feel this way.
I've been thinking of dumping everything and starting over or just getting out altogether.
I really only pursue Patrice Bergeron cards, but not exclusively enough ranting.

Just looking for some help or encouragement.
Thanks Mark

Same here. after 20 years it's time for a rebuild. Selling everything and restart with my kid in a few years...

 

[thestickman1]

I only collect HOF's RC's & AUTO's (I feel they don't devalue as much). I also collect NY Rangers RC's & AUTO's, but only what I pull from breaking a case or box (this could be said for most of my collection). I also collect Rising Young Talent RC's & AUTO's (what's nice now as compared to when I started collecting in the 90's is that the RC's have AUTO's on them).
As I said with my Rangers cards, almost every card I collect is from a case break, my own case break or breaking boxes/packs. If I pull high end cards I sell them on eBay so I can keep breaking. For me, breaking product is the most fun (also watching the high-end cards that you break fetching a bucket of $$$ on the Bay). One thing that I really don't understand is the craze for GU, especially PATCHES. People will pay a ton of $ for a patch! Just my humble opinion. I wish you the best of luck with your decision and I leave you with this...I break hundreds of packs of cards and only have a PC of about 500 cards (I do put base sets together also and keep 1 of each case I break if it works out).

Take care,
Nick

 

[uvic99]

I've been collecting for the same amount of time roughly. I really focus on singles and special little projects I have. I do buy blasters and do the odd break (I lean towards hit drafts), but I find packs and boxes are a very inefficient way to use my hobby dollars in terms of getting cards I want. If by "value" you mean dollar value then modern hockey cards are just not a good value period (but you probably already know that). To me, it's just for fun and I have no expectation they will hold their current value. I buy with that in mind. My only advice (if you're looking for any) is just be very mindful about how you spend your hobby time and money; make sure whatever resources you spend it's towards making you happy. : )

 

[Whoop]

I'll throw in my two cents even though I'm a relatively new collector.

I have two PCs (Tavares, Tierney) and I collect only one set (UD S1 and S2).

I try to PC players I have connections to and S1/S2 goes back to the days when I was a kid and collected. With S1/S2 replacing the days of collecting O-Pee-Chee.

While I join group breaks here and there - like you I mainly go into randoms and flip whatever nice cards I get for PC items - I find with the more expensive cards, I'll just wait it out after the release and chase cards for my PC that I like. I break relatively few boxes. The only boxes I've bought outside of S1/S2 was 13-14 Contenders as I liked the product. But given my specific PC players I just find boxes of other products to be an inefficient use of my money.

Being a hockey fan I just like going through my sets every once in a while and remembering different players here and there.

But ultimately, it's whatever makes you happy.

 

[SimonJa]

Its pretty easy for me... I have 4 PC guys I collect bigtime...

Jonathan Toews- Spend big $$$ on this guy as he is one of my absolute favorite players in the league. This is probably the only guy that will hold his value for me so Im less hesitant to spend big cash on him. He will end up with 6 Cups.

Sean Monahan- love this kid, big, natural goal scorer. I have a large collection of him and would be lucky to get my money back if I did sell.

Nathan Mackinnon- This kid has a talent that hasnt been realized as of yet, or who knows, maybe it never will. But I like him nonetheless. Though he is having a good year this year, his values took a huge hit last year. I sold some very big ones while he was still hot to make what I have left basically value neutral, so though I wont lose money, but it wont be pretty should I sell either.

Brendan Gallagher- Probably the player I enjoy watching the most. Kid has heart like no other in the league!! He never gives up, takes an absolute shellacking every shift and always skates/ limps off the ice with a smile....just loves the game of hockey! I realize that every penny I spend on this guy is gone with the wind, but thats fine, I like the kid.

Moral of the story: As Scott said earlier... hockey cards as an "investment" is about as risky as it gets. BUT, your best chance to retain value is with the future HOF's. If you spend a pile of money on guys like I did Gallagher...just be prepared to kiss that cash goodbye, But some of those Gallagher cards are some of my favorite. Thats Collecting.

 

[Triple B]

I reached this exact point a few years ago. I've been collecting since 1987 (I'm talking about "top loader and penny sleeve" collecting) and back then, I collected players I liked. I didn't care what the card was, I wanted it. Then, I found out I had a card worth money and my hobby enjoyment went in another direction. I became an addict and I fell HARD for the BS that is "card value".

I think that the faster you can get the idea that you're "investing" in the cards you're buying out of your head, the faster you'll reach the ability to enjoy the hobby. My own PC is a recreation of the cards I had when I was younger and is made up of cards I have little to no investment in (meaning, I haven't spend $5,000 on a card to put in a box and sit on it...but I have admittedly done that in the past) and cards that I can look through and have memories come flooding back, which is where I find my enjoyment.

My 1990 Score Eric Lindros RCs, my 1992/93 Shaquille O'Neal RCs, my 1993 Marshall Faulk RCs...worthless to most, priceless to me.

Now, before anyone jumps down my throat, I DO buy cards to flip and I will spend any amount I can humanly afford if I can flip it for a profit BUT the big thing to keep in mind is that I do NOT keep those cards.

Read how many people are saying they'll "never get back the money they invested". Not knocking them, but that shouldn't have been money invested if you are just going to keep it (in my own silly opinion).

Find what you enjoy about cards and run to it.

 

[bamlinden]

I've been a player collector for almost 20 years and I've enjoyed the ride immensely.

The one thing that I absolutely do not take into account is "what are my cards worth" after I purchase them. I have no intention of ever getting rid of them.....so the only value they hold to me is purely the non-currency kind.

That's not to say that I don't pay attention to how much I'm spending on a card when I'm chasing it. In fact, I can be pretty frugal with some of my pickups. But once they are in hand.....I'm not worrying about if I can make money on it or if I'll lose money on it. It's irrelevant.

At the end of the day, if you are spending money and are left with more questions than just the sheer enjoyment of collecting......you need to re-assess what it is you're collecting. Ask yourself why you spend money on what you spend?

I think deciding what to collect is a huge decision and requires more than just a wave of the hand and a flash of the cash.

I hope you come to find something that truly gives you enjoyment.....this is the best hobby in the land.

 

[tiger tiger]

I've had a couple of collecting hobbies where I had a few reality checks.

I realize that it's for the short term enjoyment, my little escape. I'm not in it to make money, although I don't want to lose a ton either.

The issue for me is that my collection grows and grows and takes up space. I can display some nice stuff, but the majority is boxed away.

Then eventually I think about how it will be like when I eventually part ways with my collection and leave the hobby. It's going to be a royal pain. It's easy when the packages get sent to you, but when you're doing the sending, it's not so fun.

Plus by the time I get out, the majority of my collection will be "stale" and there will be little demand for it. Just look at the drop in demand for players like Sundin, Modano, Lidstrom, etc. And those are the star players that recently retired. The semi-stars will be forgotten. And the even older star players will fade even more. Look at how much a Luc Robitaille rookie sells for. That's the future of my Claude Giroux YG. For those who are outside the hobby, they'll think that our collections will break the bank because we have a bunch of rookies that played 25 years ago, and it must be super rare!!! Not!

So I've been slowly getting rid of the stuff that I don't really want. Or trade for stuff that I will keep, but within some limits. And I've moved away from anything really high end b/c in the long run, most of it won't hold it's value. I don't want to get into flipping or rushing to list a bunch of particular player's card just b/c they are currently hot. That's not why I enjoy the hobby.

So my cheap thrill is actually building base sets. Gives me a sense of accomplishment, and I actually spend time looking at the design of the base cards. So I've built a ton of base sets, and I really don't know what I'm going to do with them. I guess I could always sell them for a few bucks. But even if I don't, it keeps it simple and fun. Probably still is odd to the LCS owner that I frequent, when the first thing I do when I go to his store is dig through the free base boxes, and light up like a Christmas tree when I find a handful of base I've been looking for. My little gold nuggets that I find buried in the piles of base.

 

[Mauri]

For me there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel now that there is finally at least a couple of inserts made in addition to yearly O-Pee-Chee release to collect.