This hobby is not fun. Come here to vent or rant!

[AstrosFan17]

Originally Posted by codered

Buy singles with the money you planned on using to open boxes. Let the idiots that like to burn money open up boxes. You name the player you can find affordable cards for that player. Sure they might not be the cards that get you 1000’s of likes on instagram but who cares what other people think about your cards. The hobby is definitely fun and if you can’t enjoy it you shouldn’t be doing it.

- collect what you like (not what others tell you to like)
- collect what you can afford
- have fun, if you aren’t having fun you shouldn’t be doing it

If you work with those rules you’ll be okay

People always bring this in as a a way to 'have fun' in the current climate. I don't player collect... I set collect. Buying singles is pointless to me, I want to BUILD a complete set of Topps flagship, Bowman, Bowman Draft, Donruss, etc for every single season. Buying the complete set is not fun to me either.

So, how am I supposed to partake in my hobby???

[AstrosFan17]

Originally Posted by Dbacksbaseball

As the guy above me said- If you are miserable, walk away from it. Entitlement is so rampant in this industry.

People not understanding what the word entitlement means is rampant on these boards

[LVDan]

Likewise there are tons of good people both in this hobby and in this for business. Some of the biggest for profit dealers on this site also happen to be some of the best human beings too. I regularly have outstanding interactions with some of the biggest money makers on Blowout. This doesn’t jive with the easy assumption that card dealers are d-bags but successful people know how to do cards fairly and without deceptive tactics to survive.


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[JeremyNick]

Originally Posted by PSA2Pac

Having the time of my life.

Gotta evolve or adjust your perspective.

Absolutely.

Most people that hate the hobby right now hate most things in life.

[BBases31]

Originally Posted by LVDan

Likewise there are tons of good people both in this hobby and in this for business. Some of the biggest for profit dealers on this site also happen to be some of the best human beings too. I regularly have outstanding interactions with some of the biggest money makers on Blowout. This doesn’t jive with the easy assumption that card dealers are d-bags but successful people know how to do cards fairly and without deceptive tactics to survive.

This is true. Most on here seem like good people. It's that sizeable minority of bottom feeders that gets to me

[nowiamsad]

If you’re not having fun, then why the hell are you here?

[BigSeph]

I used to rip a lot of wax, buy a lot of retail, and it was fun while it lasted.

But it was almost always a financial LOSER in the end, because if I paid $20 for a blaster I'd struggle to get $10 worth of cards from it.

When the sports card market changed, I changed, and I started buying graded singles.

Best decision I ever made, it funded the down payment on the home I live in, and I'm currently sitting on hundreds of Bowman 1st Autos of certain guys, waiting for them to "pop" so I can sell them as well.

You have to zig when others zag, buy low sell high, and think about all of the absolute morons chasing after Austin Martin in 2021 Bowman and paying $500 for the Blue Jays in a case - they are more likely to get $10 worth of cards back rather than a base auto (which still doesn't cover the buy-in price). Or guys spending $1k+ on Flawless FB spots.

If you love Austin Martin then go buy a base auto for $480, it's cheaper than buying the Blue Jays in 1 case.

You will never beat out the most desperate degenerate gambler in the world to a buy-in, or the crustiest guy who rolls out of his trailer to be at Target at 4am.

Let them take the loss.

Buy the fruits of their misfortune - the singles you want.

I have over 60 Jeferson Espinal Bowman autos already, and it was just a little more than joining 1/2 of Houdini's 100-case player break. They didn't hit that many Espinals.

And if you want to join group breaks still for the thrill of the chase, go ahead, but I went from buying $200 teams to buying $60 teams and I only use "fun" money to chase stuff in breaks.

It's hard to change your approach to collecting when you got the joy of opening wax and hitting nice cards in the past. I remember hitting a Bryce Harper blue auto out of 2011 Bowman Chrome and it was one of the best feelings I've ever had in card collecting. But every time I get a Victor Mesa Jr PSA 10 in my hands now, I get that same positive vibe.

The hobby changed. Change your approach or join the guys who will eventually burn out of cash gambling on overpriced wax.

[BGeezy]

I'm still having fun. I collected as a kid and have always been on/off as an adult and then I got back into it more seriously around the end of 2018. I lost most of my childhood collection in a hurricane in 2017 and once I got through rebuilding my home and the important things in life, by late 2018 I was ready to rebuild my collection again. I re-started my David Justice collection from scratch at that point. I also had recent cards from 2010-2014 or so that I had pulled from boxes here and there, so I got back into ultra modern again as well since I never really stopped following the actual sport of baseball.

In terms of the current state of things, prices were creeping up prior to the pandemic, but they obviously took off and everything's changed. That doesn't mean you can't find a new way to enjoy it. I can't buy packs or boxes anymore, but that's fine, I buy singles instead.

I echo the sentiment about entitled gatekeepers. They are all over, but I don't let them ruin it for me.

I also agree it's not a hobby. If you sell anything at all, it's not a hobby. If you just buy, rip, and collect... sure you can call that a hobby. A lot of people don't, however, many at the very least subsidize our costs with sales and that removes the hobby tag from the equation.

Overall, like others said... it's changed, but you just readjust and change with it. I don't think this will last forever, it'll change again... you just have to find a way to keep it enjoyable.

[jthomas541]

Originally Posted by BlowoutBuzz

(The hobby is about more than opening current-year wax.)

Opening packs is one of the most fun parts about the hobby to me. Current year, past years, whatever. The excitement of not knowing what you're going to find (not of how much it's "worth") is what I find enjoyable.

What's not fun to me is paying $180 for a box of cards that could have been purchased for $20 in a store if you were lucky enough to beat the flippers.

I get that everyone has their own motivation, reason for being here, and what they consider "fun". I just wanted to share my experience and hoped there would be some frustrated people on here to commiserate with.

[SupermanBrandon]

Im having the time of my life! My only "complaint"...there aren't enough shows to attend.

[creasecollector]

Try buying singles. It's defintely a lto cheaper than ripping wax.

[banosd]

Having a job and working on the west coast is not conducive to collecting Bowman!

I start work at 8am so I'm screwed. I have tried waking up for 5am restocks and the bots still beat me to them and then lunchtime there will be nothing good left. I'm ok giving up basketball and football card collecting but its disappointing that I will have no chance Bowman at MSRP this year

[KhalDrogo]

The hobby is amazing. This board is devolving into a cesspool.

[Wade Mulroy]

Originally Posted by AstrosFan17

People always bring this in as a a way to 'have fun' in the current climate. I don't player collect... I set collect. Buying singles is pointless to me, I want to BUILD a complete set of Topps flagship, Bowman, Bowman Draft, Donruss, etc for every single season. Buying the complete set is not fun to me either.

So, how am I supposed to partake in my hobby???

Why not use some extras that you have on hand from previously busting boxes/packs and trade them for people's bulk base or whatever? Still have the thrill of the hunt for cards you need, more cost affordable, and allows you to potentially make friends and build relationships with others in the hobby.

Do you have an LCS that you go to? Busting packs or buying the complete set isn't the only way to build sets, if that's what you're into.

If busting packs/boxes to build sets is the one and only way you truly enjoy the hobby, then unfortunately you may just simply need to adjust expectations and/or your budget in the current climate.

[beaverman3001]

This 100%. If you want to buy products you are screwed, but if you have a player PC, especially someone from 80s/90s/2000s this has been an amazing past few months. I've gotten so many Big Units I never thought anyone would bother to list.

Originally Posted by Fizroy

I have enjoyed buying singles. Always have. With all the increased popularity, people have been digging through their old shoeboxes and listing cards I have not seen in years trying to make a few bucks. Specifically cards of players I PC.

[johnashleyjacob]

Originally Posted by SupermanBrandon

Im having the time of my life! My only "complaint"...there aren't enough shows to attend.

Me too!


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[thewild3]

Originally Posted by SupermanBrandon

Im having the time of my life! My only "complaint"...there aren't enough shows to attend.

back in the late 90's and early 2000's there were cards shows every damn weekend. It got to the point where people barely even went to shows. Thats why in this part of the country (Midwest) it only is held once a month now. I can see it changing back to every weekend pretty soon. The problem now is everyone and they momma got a table at shows trying to sell junk.

[byronscott4ever]

Originally Posted by SupermanBrandon

Im having the time of my life! My only "complaint"...there aren't enough shows to attend.

Yes, the days of the every-weekend hotel/mall shows and bigger regional ones were great.

[codered]

Originally Posted by AstrosFan17

People always bring this in as a a way to 'have fun' in the current climate. I don't player collect... I set collect. Buying singles is pointless to me, I want to BUILD a complete set of Topps flagship, Bowman, Bowman Draft, Donruss, etc for every single season. Buying the complete set is not fun to me either.

So, how am I supposed to partake in my hobby???

I get what you’re saying but you’re kind of twisting it. Is it easier to build a base set opening boxes? Sure but it’s not necessary. You can buy lots/singles to build the set. Half the fun is still organizing and looking for the best deals. I’ve been building the TC football refractor sets from 2007-2015. I didn’t move into football until 2009 so I opened zero boxes of 2007 and 2008. I still have enjoyed those sets just as much as the others. You can still partake just not the way you want to or are use to. You can adjust and collect or make an excuse and not.

[js0000001]

Even if a Hooker charges a lot there are ways to get your monies worth

[pac213up]

I still enjoy picking up singles for my PC but I have moved away from the rip and flip aspect of things. Picking up things here and there but probably will spend about 40K less this year. The risk reward of opening packs is just beyond my risk threshold, I have better places to put that money at this point.

[AstrosFan17]

Originally Posted by Wade Mulroy

Why not use some extras that you have on hand from previously busting boxes/packs and trade them for people's bulk base or whatever? Still have the thrill of the hunt for cards you need, more cost affordable, and allows you to potentially make friends and build relationships with others in the hobby.

Do you have an LCS that you go to? Busting packs or buying the complete set isn't the only way to build sets, if that's what you're into.

If busting packs/boxes to build sets is the one and only way you truly enjoy the hobby, then unfortunately you may just simply need to adjust expectations and/or your budget in the current climate.

Unfortunately the owner of the only LCS reasonably close to me passed away a couple of years ago. The new owner is a nice guy but unfortunately was not able to continue the Topps and Panini Direct deals that the previous owner had so his wax prices are higher than Blowout instead of close to MSRP (as the previous owner had). He also has sold off (or is in the process of doing so) all of the bulk base the previous owner kept on hand for collectors like me.
I have only found a couple of guys in my area willing to trade, and I do trade when I can.

[kyle1707]

I understand being angry about the price of wax ..

Wax is fun ...

The only glimmer of hope I see..

Is the value you receive or even breakers receive from opening wax is so awful

I watch 1600 select boxes and they get 200 in cards

I’m shocked it has sustained this long. But I have to believe sometime in next year or 2

Wax prices will come down

The amount of money people have lost opening and buying into breaks has to be staggering

I see Layton has opened like 30 cases of flawless football

150 thousand dollars. Was there 50 k in cards in there ?

There’s one person making money and everyone else is losing money

I’m sure guys like Layton thank you all very much

[AstrosFan17]

Originally Posted by codered

I get what you’re saying but you’re kind of twisting it. Is it easier to build a base set opening boxes? Sure but it’s not necessary. You can buy lots/singles to build the set. Half the fun is still organizing and looking for the best deals. I’ve been building the TC football refractor sets from 2007-2015. I didn’t move into football until 2009 so I opened zero boxes of 2007 and 2008. I still have enjoyed those sets just as much as the others. You can still partake just not the way you want to or are use to. You can adjust and collect or make an excuse and not.

Where can you get reasonably priced lots? I am always on the lookout for those, but it seems that people are always pricing base lots as if they still include the 'hot' cards even though everybody knows those have been cherry-picked.

[SmokeyJ]

The sales thread here in BO often have good priced lots.