Returning to the hobby after 10+ years - need guidance!

[Chryghst]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

You really have to delegate how you want to approach the hobby.

Is this strictly a hobby for you or do you tie it at all to your future financial standing?

What's your budget?

Honestly, I'd throw the investment portion out the window unless you're willing to make research a part time job and have adequate funds to float the risk.

Clect what you like. People spend too much time listening to others on what they should gravitate towards and spend their hard earned money on.

Where's the joy in purchasing a 2.5x3.5 picture of a player/story/design you're completely indifferent to that may or may not appreciate in a few years?

It's like that old idiom: if you love what you do, it's no longer a job.

If you buy cards you actually love, it's never a 100% loss.

This type of wisdom could only be imparted by someone whose local team is the Sacramento Kangz.

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by Chryghst

This type of wisdom could only be imparted by someone whose local team is the Sacramento Kangz.

Toxic loyalty sees no region, ese.

https://www.blowoutforums.com/showthread.php?t=1343636

[cms11]

In other words, which boxes offer the best bang for my buck?

Haha.

[cms11]

Originally Posted by Macdime22

The last thing I want to do is gamble my money away, so if hobby boxes are no longer a great option, what are y'all doing to keep things fun and light?? I guess the hunt itself for the cards you know you want is always exciting, but i digress.

Singles on eBay or COMC.

[DP77]

Originally Posted by cms11

Singles on eBay or COMC.

Graded or raw


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[cms11]

Originally Posted by DP77

Graded or raw

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Newer cards I buy raw. Older ones I know I'm going to keep, I buy graded if I can. Don't pay a premium for PSA 10, PSA 9 is the sweet spot.

[HWCards]

I wouldn't buy hobby boxes at this point. Too much risk for little reward unless you want to view cards as a gambling vehicle for yourself.

I'd define your budget, search around to find what you want to collect, and buy what you like. There are so many avenues to obtaining cards these days - eBay, COMC, SportLots, Facebook groups/marketplace - that you won't want for a vast selection of stuff to look at and buy.

[Gary]

Originally Posted by MavsRChamps

General advice: Collect what you like. Avoid recent products where hype outlasts quality. Could go step farther and avoid most products last 3-5 years as the supply is much higher. Go after players you like and sets you like, ideally that have some rarity. I think 2nd tier superstars level guys overall are pretty solid buys right now depending on cards of course (past Kobe/Jordan/Lebron so guys like Giannis, Jokic, Durant, Westbrook, Garnett, Nash, Iverson, Dirk etc etc).

As others have said breaking boxes is a surefire way to lose money. If you have an itch to gamble essentially, I'd buy up singles and then grade them with PSA (the "gamble" being what grade you get). That is at least financially relatively sound.

Anything 2019 and up to present is way over printed (outside of the numbered stuff of course) this is junk era 2.watch this if you care to.

https://youtu.be/TU9rSiieMmQ?si=rt16x_pAHNO4MJNG

[RKH916]

Don't fall for the PSA 10 premium

If you're collecting and want a gem, buy a BGS 9.5