Done with collecting

[pewe]

I can't wait until they start using #d to imaginary numbers because they run out of natural numbers

[DynaEtch]

Originally Posted by chilly55

I've pretty much lost interest in sports card collecting myself. This year, I went the whole year without buying a single 2023 card, until Ginter X and the Heritage BF deal. Everything else I've passed on.

The biggest problem with the card industry, IMO, is the single licensed card maker. I started collecting in 1975, and have to say, the 90's, early 2000's were the best time to buy wax/singles and the best time for the hooby. By having multiple licenses, each company competed against each other to put out a quality product. The innovation in the 90's was amazing. The best inserts I've ever seen. Topps by themselves, has completely ruined inserts & game used cards. Even in the 90's when you only pulled maybe 6 inserts per box, there was value and because many of the inserts had great designs and some tough pull ratio's, they were highly sought after.

Now you see 10 parallels to collect, sometimes 2 to 3 inserts per pack, not box, but packs, it leaves no value to those inserts. Inserts are boring and game used cards have become laughable because they are no longer game used.

We are also back to the late 80's where cards are being over produced. Yawn. Here we go again.
I wasn't going to do Heritage, but cases dropped down to levels that make sense. But even Heritage is way over produced and the 1 chrome per box is long gone. Pulls odds across all products are worse than ever (over production). There simply is no value anymore.


I could go on, but the hobby itself is keeping me from collecting like I use to. I feel your pain OP.

Good post, and I agree with 90s-early 2000s era being best, if the sig didnt give it away. Pinnacle, Fleer/Skybox (actual Fleer/Skybox not UD), Donruss (actual Donruss not Panini), Topps and UD at their A game, heck Pacific. High tech, creative cards. It wasnt just about slapping a different color parallel, auto, or GU on a card. This was the era I collected baseball in. When I went away from it in the late 00's to early 2010's, all I remember was just how lazy regular Topps inserts became around that time. Almost cheapo extentions to the regular set, there was little to them, and no one was excited to get them in a pack. Im not sure if that's changed in modern times since I dont collect, but wow it got bad.

As for wax vs singles discussion in here....I look at it from the perspective of ordering one vs the other on ebay: that ebay package coming in the mail is always much more fun when it's a box of cards. I think a lot of people would agree to this. Something to look forward to, the unknown, the fun of ripping it. When the ebay mailday is a single, it's more like 'open the package, ok that's cool, then put it away'. The 'thrill' involved with the latter is almost entirely the process of hunting it/finding it on ebay, bidding at last second in an auction etc...but once it comes that thrill is all gone. Not so for boxes, and it's something else to do once it gets there. I collect marvel cards, and I bust old 90s boxes in search of rare misprint errors....it's a money pit, but fun. I also collect sketches from marvel cards, and while Im really into them....it's only so fun to get one in the mail from ebay, I have more fun busting open the old 90s box than even the most elaborate, pricey sketch coming in from the mail, which I just open and put away. If modern wax is too pricey, maybe older wax can give a cheaper fun rip as a break from all the singles buying.

There is a middle ground between singles and wax....buying large lots/collections which arent really known to you when at purchase (such as an ebay listing of an old collection- a few binders or monster box of cards etc, where maybe you can only see a few cards as examples- perhaps by someone who didnt look though everything and just wants to sell). The thrill of this is almost equivalent to wax, as in picturing this kind of lot coming in from ebay...something to look forward to and go through. But probably not as pricey as buying wax.

[jayjones82]

Originally Posted by pewe

I can't wait until they start using #d to imaginary numbers because they run out of natural numbers

I'm looking forward to chasing the 2024 Topps Mookie Betts Quadratic Formula! I also hear the Binary Numbers parallels might caught a stir..

[mikejones]

Originally Posted by dk988

Quick vent...I was really into collecting as a little kid and loved looking at all the player's stats and collecting binders full of base cards for players from every team, but for some reason lost interest around 12 years old.

I got back into it a few months ago after my grandpa passed and I got some of his vintage cards. I tried to get back into it and got really excited about the Tom Brady Bowman Draft and some Ichiro cards I saw but after wasting a bunch of $ on Bowman Chrome and Bowman Draft with nothing to show for (literally not 1 card worth more than ~$15) and obviously not hitting that Brady Bowman Draft, I don't see how I can continue with the hobby. I enjoy the cards but it is depressing spending so much on cards and not getting anything good, hitting any of the cards I was chasing, and seeing these guys online that are basically sponsored by Fanatics hit these insane 1/1s. I am a little lost and not quite sure what to do.

Would love any advice if someone has encountered the same thing or if you have any advice on selling cards in bulk? I have tons of base cards that are likely worthless but a handful of valuable graded cards that I will likely look to sell soon. Is it even worth my time trying to sell base cards?

Sincerely, a depressed collector

Just by the cards you want you know. Problem solved. If buying wax, budget and go in thinking you're going to pull crap.

[MiamiMarlinsFan]

Originally Posted by theshowandme

Guesses on who's burner this is?

I’m not saying it’s hermano, but I’m not not saying it’s hermano…

[rngrdanny22]

Originally Posted by jayjones82

I'm looking forward to chasing the 2024 Topps Mookie Betts Quadratic Formula! I also hear the Binary Numbers parallels might caught a stir..

I've been using the simple slope formula (y=mx+b) to estimate my gains from busting wax. Let's just say "m" is highly negative.

[KhalDrogo]

Originally Posted by imbluestreak23

I almost get the sense that some humans work 40 hour a week jobs so that they can lose $1K-$2k month ripping wax/buying overpriced slots.

Fanatics owning a casino franchise w/o having to answer to any gaming commission (at least for their collectibles "business"). Brilliant

Which is why the crackdown needs to come. The wax industry has become blatant, in your face gambling.

[erock28]

I love to bust wax, like most of us on here. Whether your end result is to flip everything immediately, speculate and sell in the future, hold in your PC, or build sets - busting wax is flat out fun. It IS a rush to hit a high dollar card. All that said, you need to go into wax opening KNOWING you are going to lose. I'd guess less than 5% of cases - pick a product, any product - would yield a positive ROI. If you buy a case and lose, then sulk and complain about it - your mindset needs to change from the onset.

I still buy wax, but my way around the BS prices in todays market is simple - case purchases of more affordable products that I also enjoy. Heritage is awesome - not all like it, but I build the master set every year. It's cheap and you can hit some monsters. Bowman retail cases are another route to go. I got 4 chrome auto's, 2 paper, a TON of color and built a set for the cost of (at the time) a couple of jumbo boxes. Bowman Chrome and now Bowman Draft...they're dead to me. I'll buy a set and move on. The risk/reward isn't worth it - it's no longer an acceptable. known loss to me in buying a case. If I can't have fun opening a product - which is very difficult if the initial ante is stomach turning - I simply don't buy it.

[hermanotarjeta]

The market prices wax where you will always on average get back about 40-50% of your box cost. If certain singles go up in that product, the box price will go up accordingly.

As long as you understand that, opening wax is still the funnest part in the hobby. Just don’t ever spend more than you can afford to lose.

When you hit something that covers the cost of a box, consider yourself fortunate and savor the experience.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by MiamiMarlinsFan

I’m not saying it’s hermano, but I’m not not saying it’s hermano…

If I had a burner account, it would be about being upset I can’t make any money in the hobby, LOL!

[MiamiMarlinsFan]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

If I had a burner account, it would be about being upset I can’t make any money in the hobby, LOL!

[eastbayak]

Originally Posted by MiamiMarlinsFan

I’m not saying it’s hermano, but I’m not not saying it’s hermano…

If it writes like a hermano, stinks like a hermano, and cries like a hermano, then it probably is a hermano.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by eastbayak

If it writes like a hermano, stinks like a hermano, and cries like a hermano, then it probably is a hermano.

I like to troll the trolls, but I haven’t reached the OP’s level of sophistication yet. I am taking notes though.

[MiamiMarlinsFan]

Originally Posted by eastbayak

If it writes like a hermano, stinks like a hermano, and cries like a hermano, then it probably is a hermano.

Haha… who knows, but I was just joking. Hermano is good about taking a joke, so I tease him. If you read his post above, you see he really has the right mindset about ripping wax.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by MiamiMarlinsFan

Haha… who knows, but I was just joking. Hermano is good about taking a joke, so I tease him. If you read his post above, you see he really has the right mindset about ripping wax.

Be cautious with eastbay, he might try to flip your avatar for a dollar profit so he can pay for his starving puppy’s next meal.

I wish he would just get a job. He doesn’t realize he can make $20/hr at McDonald’s. That’s like flipping 8 boxes of logofractor a day through eternity!

[imbluestreak23]

The more that people take their ball and go home after losing at the slots, the sooner we will be to returning to something resembling normalcy.

But we need a lot of losers to tap out.

[eastbayak]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

I like to troll the trolls, but I haven’t reached the OP’s level of sophistication yet. I am taking notes though.

LOL!!

Originally Posted by MiamiMarlinsFan

Haha… who knows, but I was just joking. Hermano is good about taking a joke, so I tease him. If you read his post above, you see he really has the right mindset about ripping wax.

I know. I like to tease hermano as well (and he certainly enjoys teasing me) but it's all jokes. Maybe, once in a while, one of us takes it further than need be (probably me more than him). We operate differently within the hobby but we can co-exist, and I know he has good intentions and only wishes the best of most hobby participants (probably a lot more than I).

[eastbayak]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

Be cautious with eastbay, he might try to flip your avatar for a dollar profit so he can pay for his starving puppy’s next meal.

I wish he would just get a job. He doesn’t realize he can make $20/hr at McDonald’s. That’s like flipping 8 boxes of logofractor a day through eternity!

LOL, if I could, I most certainly would. I don't have a dog though (unless you're talking about yourself).

Why work when I can flip cards and wax?! You flip baby formula and make out quite good!

[awz50]

Not even one reply from the OP. Disappointed

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by eastbayak

LOL, if I could, I most certainly would. I don't have a dog though (unless you're talking about yourself).

Why work when I can flip cards and wax?! You flip baby formula and make out quite good!

I’m just trying to drive up your cost to feed your future infants, just so I can get my top loaders and penny sleeves for free and force you to go back to work so you can cover your daycare costs.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by awz50

Not even one reply from the OP. Disappointed

I’m really impressed that he has resisted the temptation to reply.

The sign of a professional.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by jayjones82

Chances are, your "mock" card will be better looking than whatever design Fanatics comes up with for flagship....

[oldgoldy97]

Originally Posted by discodanman45

If this is real, it shows how bad this problem is. This is an adult who is having unrealistic expectations of the hobby. Imagine what younger kids and young adults with no financial understanding will experience. The hobby is here to rip off people, plain and simple. Geoff Wilson may be extremely successful with his Cards HQ and this may be the new card shop. It is not really a card shop, but a card casino. Breaking, mystery packs, pack wars, grading $1 cards for $20, and investing huge money into prospects will put big money into the hands of the few and ruin many people financially.

If you want to buy a card, buy a card. Don't gamble unless you have the money to lose for entertainment. Putting cards into top loaders is also ok. Every card doesn't need to be graded.

I’d also say every card doesn’t need to be penny sleeved.

[saraceno21]

I didn't think I had anything when I pulled a Mike Trout card back in 2011 from Bowman draft either, but I knew what I was buying.

[Jaypers]

Originally Posted by dk988

Quick vent...I was really into collecting as a little kid and loved looking at all the player's stats and collecting binders full of base cards for players from every team, but for some reason lost interest around 12 years old.

I got back into it a few months ago after my grandpa passed and I got some of his vintage cards. I tried to get back into it and got really excited about the Tom Brady Bowman Draft and some Ichiro cards I saw but after wasting a bunch of $ on Bowman Chrome and Bowman Draft with nothing to show for (literally not 1 card worth more than ~$15) and obviously not hitting that Brady Bowman Draft, I don't see how I can continue with the hobby. I enjoy the cards but it is depressing spending so much on cards and not getting anything good, hitting any of the cards I was chasing, and seeing these guys online that are basically sponsored by Fanatics hit these insane 1/1s. I am a little lost and not quite sure what to do.

Would love any advice if someone has encountered the same thing or if you have any advice on selling cards in bulk? I have tons of base cards that are likely worthless but a handful of valuable graded cards that I will likely look to sell soon. Is it even worth my time trying to sell base cards?

Sincerely, a depressed collector

This isn't an airport. No need to announce your departure.