Observations on the current state of the hobby from a show this weekend

[theshowandme]

Originally Posted by here2havefun

You hitting the Barnes Foundation Museum? :eyes: :eyes :eyes:

maybe Saturday on the way back, I have some Monet's to visit down the road.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by premium1981

I would believe you. I have no reason to doubt that its happening. I stay pretty tuned into what is going on. What I don't believe is Herman saying he has seen it. He likes to say a lot of things for dramatic affect. Just like his follow ups about rainbows and unicorns. No one said that either, but he has to throw that in there too for more drama. He thrives on it. Its the only reason he is here.

I’m just here to tell it like it is.

You can believe whomever or whatever you want to make your life less miserable.

Remember, I didn’t post in this thread looking for you.

I’m simply posting about my observations in the hobby, like anyone else would.

[espnfanco]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

Heck, there are excessive blasters sitting at target and Walmart - that’s a huge telltale sign!

These boxes have doubled and tripled since 5 years ago... thanks breakers!

The huge telltale sign is singles have not doubled and tripled and 95 percent of the hobby is only in it for investing.. not collecting.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by espnfanco

These boxes have doubled and tripled since 5 years ago... thanks breakers!

The huge telltale sign is singles have not doubled and tripled and 95 percent of the hobby is only in it for investing.. not collecting.

You forgot to thank the box flipper bois as well!

[espnfanco]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

You forgot to thank the box flipper bois as well!

...and 95 percent might be a low number!

[ThoseBackPages]

#ThanksTopps

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by espnfanco

...and 95 percent might be a low number!

Yeah, most hobbyists wouldn't be doing this if there was no money to be made.

The only reason any card show dealers would buy something from you is if they can make money off of it.

If they can't make money off the cards you bring them, they will not buy them.

If flippers can't sell their cards, they will buy less cards.

If collectors refuse to pay high prices for cards, prices will go down.

And the cycle continues.

The CEO of JP Morgan bank forsees a recession coming next year.

If you are in this hobby for the money, it won't be very fun next year, either.

Hobbyist numbers will continue to decline. That means less fools to buy your hot potato.

[ThoseBackPages]

the sky is falling!

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

the sky is falling!

Not for collectors - things are looking bright!

Excessive supply and a lack of demand equals - fun hunting!

[espnfanco]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

Not for collectors - things are looking bright!

Excessive supply and a lack of demand equals - fun hunting!

agreed!

[espnfanco]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

the sky is falling!

Quick! hide under the boxes at Target.. plenty of protection

[theshowandme]

I will keep buying and traveling to shows.

It gets me away from the madness of work and real life.

It is also great to see friends from different parts of the country.

[LVDan]

It’s almost the same atmosphere as 15/16/17 when the retail started piling so high they had no choice but to heavily discount stuff and get creative to move it all. Gotta love it I think. We’re almost back to a baseline organic market where performance is the the main engine in moving card’s prices or products in general rather than hype. There is plenty of fresh young talent and new aggressively rewarding incentive to push them through quickly. I’m fairly optimistic about the short term future of the league if they could just be more insistent and creative in marketing their young stars. Especially the Spanish speaking guys.

[KhalDrogo]

Originally Posted by LVDan

We’re almost back to a baseline organic market where performance is the the main engine in moving card’s prices or products in general rather than hype.

If Acuna had this year in 2019, how much do you think his Sapphire PSA 10 would have gone up?

[LVDan]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

If Acuna had this year in 2019, how much do you think his Sapphire PSA 10 would have gone up?

A mind boggling amount for sure. Maybe 4-5x?

[KhalDrogo]

Originally Posted by LVDan

A mind boggling amount for sure. Maybe 4-5x?

And it went from $3370 at the end of March to $3750 today. We’re nowhere near where we should be with regards to performance correlating to card prices.

Unless it’s scarce and a must have, you’re better off waiting to buy it. Because no matter how good the player is, it will almost certainly be cheaper in the future.

[PuddleMonkey]

I don't want to make a new thread for what is likely a silly question so I'll ask all the geniuses in here. I was out of the hobby for 25+ years, is there a connection between Leaf and Upper Deck? Why is this Upper Deck card in what looks like an official Leaf stickered one touch?

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by PuddleMonkey

I don't want to make a new thread for what is likely a silly question so I'll ask all the geniuses in here. I was out of the hobby for 25+ years, is there a connection between Leaf and Upper Deck? Why is this Upper Deck card in what looks like an official Leaf stickered one touch?

Probably out of a leaf “best of baseball” buyback product.

[jkampis]

Originally Posted by bustsomewax

Might want to check your bank account......

Hermano already did

[blackbears86]

I'm going to the big Bangor, Maine card show this Saturday. I'll report on the falling prices and $10 blasters for sale.



Seriously, it's a pretty good show with usually about 60 or so tables, with some nice esoteric stuff from a wide mix of dealers.

[hammerva]

Contrary to the rest of people on here, looking forward to driving to Philly for the weekend show. Only hitting two days but at least I can hit a Friday for once. The Philly show is one of the few places where I can find a decent (relative to others) amount of wrestling cards. From what I gather the shows are in a bigger building in the expo center than the one I went to last time which was desperately needed

[theshowandme]

Originally Posted by hammerva

Contrary to the rest of people on here, looking forward to driving to Philly for the weekend show. Only hitting two days but at least I can hit a Friday for once. The Philly show is one of the few places where I can find a decent (relative to others) amount of wrestling cards. From what I gather the shows are in a bigger building in the expo center than the one I went to last time which was desperately needed

Much better venue. It will remind you of Chantilly with a bit more space.

[solt0131]

I’ll tell you what, I’m going to give you guys first hand knowledge of what’s going on currently of how this are and what I hear. I’ll be there today thru Sunday and I’ll talk to a bunch of dealers and customers about a variety of different things and shoot you straight on what I hear. I have been attending that show 3 times a year for the last 10 years.

[JoinerCP]

I appreciate everyone chiming in. I'm a new-ish guy to the hobby so it's useful to hear how things are developing. I collect for fun, not looking to make money on flips. Just looking to offset some of the money required to be in the hobby and chase fun modern cards.

I'm hoping wax prices are driven into the dirt because my son likes to rip and it's an immediate bath on most products. Cheaper singles and wax mean we can afford to have fun. I'm incapable of having fun if it requires me to lose gobs of money in the process.

I hope you all have a great time at the shows and you find some great deals!

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by solt0131

I’ll tell you what, I’m going to give you guys first hand knowledge of what’s going on currently of how this are and what I hear. I’ll be there today thru Sunday and I’ll talk to a bunch of dealers and customers about a variety of different things and shoot you straight on what I hear. I have been attending that show 3 times a year for the last 10 years.

Thanks! Looking forward to your report.

And more importantly, I will believe you.