Are you in the hobby for the enjoyment or the money?

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by premium1981

Again, why does it matter? Everyone here knows what I do. There is no secret about it. I make my living in the hobby and I also am a die hard Braves collector with my son. I have never hid that. Not that I owe you an explanation. I would still be in the hobby even if it crashed the lowest levels ever. I have been in since I was old enough to know what a baseball card was.

So please tell everyone else where why they owe you anything? And just to make sure you know, you aren't better than anyone else here. Much less better than everyone like you seem to think. You are also not the keeper of the hobby like you seem to think. People are free to do whatever makes them happy.

Relax.

Nobody owes anyone anything, and nobody is the keeper of anything except for the mods and host.

It’s just a message board.

We exchange thoughts here about a common interest, knowing that everyone has a different background in the hobby, and in life.

[boxbuster7]

both - but oddly this year my enjoyment has shot up. since I can't rip wax anymore I've tried to find different avenues (shows, grading, LCS) to still participate.

[seanrs1]

Originally Posted by boxbuster7

both - but oddly this year my enjoyment has shot up. since I can't rip wax anymore I've tried to find different avenues (shows, grading, LCS) to still participate.

There is something wrong with this hobby when the person know as boxbuster can't rip wax anymore

[boxbuster7]

Originally Posted by seanrs1

There is something wrong with this hobby when the person know as boxbuster can't rip wax anymore

lol. it's more of a personal decision...like I don't want to just light money on fire to rip some packs. it used to be more affordable and I think a lot of us actually felt like we could buy a hobby box and actually hit something big.

so now that the prices and the odds suck, whats the point?

[livfreely]

Both! Sell in order to move up to bigger cards of whom I collect


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by premium1981

While I understand the high prices suck, your anger should never be towards people spending their money on whatever they want to spend it on. I wish I could open bulk Flaghip and Heritage like years past. But I can't.

That blame belongs on the hobby in general, not on individuals or Fanatics. As the topic has been spoken about over and over, Fanatics cannot give you incredible products far under market value. They can't. The market consumes it because of the demand. So no matter how much you hate it, and who you blame it doesn't change anything. This market is large, hotter, and has more money flowing than ever before. It won't change any time soon, no matter how much people complain.

Maybe it's the fact that I used to teach HS economics, but to me there is no "hobby in general". Because any market, for any product, is a function of decisions made by individuals. So since the market price of wax is largely being determined by the price that breakers (and other gamblers) are willing to pay, from my perspective the individuals who are willing to pay those inflated prices are legitimate targets for criticism since their behavior creates negative externalities (i.e. higher wax prices) for the rest of us.

And Fanatics is certainly to blame for the decreasing quality of their products....

[Quake]

After reading through everything, I guess I'm located on the more extreme end of this poll.

In 10 years, I can count on one hand the number of cards I've sold, and while I will trade, that's still far more rare an occurrence than others' participation appears to be.

My overall operating philospohy is this:

When I buy a card, I assume that cash is 100% sunk. Gone. Forget about it. The card in my possession is worth $0 for all intents and purposes. By this metric, everything is funded by my job, and not by any net gains from sales to offset any bigger purchases, which is likely one of the reasons I feel that I've started being priced out of some of the rarer variation cards I'm looking for. Lots of other people are cashing out on their pre-2020 purchases in this recent market and using this cash to make upgrades to different cards. Unfortunately, their new targets are the same as mine . I could offset this by increasing my allotment to my collecting budget, but at the end of the day baseball cards are not a requirement for day-to-day life.

But, and here's the but: I only buy cards with money I put in the "hobby bucket" after all expenses are paid for (housing, food, bills, 401k, other stock plays, savings account, and so on), and even this card budget is percentage of the remaining "net" from each paycheck. The value of the cards I buy actually tanking to $0 will have no impact on my daily life. I'm not running on credit, or liquidity concerns, or any other big macro factors. If I have to save a bit longer to make a move on a card I'm looking for, then I'll do just that.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by dashcol

No, you are not a piece of garbage because of that.

I think if most people are honest, they strive to be the third choice. Be a mixture of both, sell cards to fund cards you like.

In my mind selling cards to be able to afford bigger cards you like is no different than trading, you just have an extra step in there.

I consider that the first choice, not the third choice.

Just because you sell cards doesn't mean you are in it for the money. You are still in it for the enjoyment. That's what people don't understand.

[boxbuster7]

Originally Posted by livfreely

Both! Sell in order to move up to bigger cards of whom I collect


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

this is kind of my mentality as well and most people I would say - sell the junk, consolidate into nicer cards you can enjoy and if they eventually are valuable that is an added bonus.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by mfw13

Maybe it's the fact that I used to teach HS economics, but to me there is no "hobby in general". Because any market, for any product, is a function of decisions made by individuals. So since the market price of wax is largely being determined by the price that breakers (and other gamblers) are willing to pay, from my perspective the individuals who are willing to pay those inflated prices are legitimate targets for criticism since their behavior creates negative externalities (i.e. higher wax prices) for the rest of us.

And Fanatics is certainly to blame for the decreasing quality of their products....

Maybe it's good you no longer teach our children. Because when someone is willing to pay something for someone, they are not to be blamed for your unwillingness to pay what they are willing to pay. Who are you to tell others what they should be willing to pay for something they want? Be mad at yourself for being too cheap to enjoy something you claim to enjoy.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

Maybe it's good you no longer teach our children. Because when someone is willing to pay something for someone, they are not to be blamed for your unwillingness to pay what they are willing to pay. Who are you to tell others what they should be willing to pay for something they want? Be mad at yourself for being too cheap to enjoy something you claim to enjoy.

Not everyone makes an attorney’s salary and is able to buy anything at any price.

Some people have discretion.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

Not everyone makes an attorney’s salary and is able to buy anything at any price.

Some people have discretion.

And not everyone gets upset by that fact.

There are lots of cards I would love to have but am not willing to pay what they cost. I don't whine and complain about it every day. I accept that others have more than me and are willing to spend more than me, and I move on. I certainly don't get mad at them for my shortcomings.

[KhalDrogo]

This thread was the perfect honeypot for BO’s finest.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by boxbuster7

this is kind of my mentality as well and most people I would say - sell the junk, consolidate into nicer cards you can enjoy and if they eventually are valuable that is an added bonus.

But it just sounds like people are justifying their grifting to acquire more cards for their investment collection, to eventually flip for profit down the road.

Most grifters care about making money with their collections, they care if their cards go to zero. Perhaps that’s what separates them from “true” collectors who buy with the train of thought that their cards are worthless for resale to someone else in the future.

It’s the intent that distinguishes the two. I’m not judging, just classifying.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

This thread was the perfect honeypot for BO’s finest.

Come on, the title is as polarizing as it gets.

OP is just begging for bum fights.

Must be the pre-holiday doldrums.

[hermanotarjeta]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

And not everyone gets upset by that fact.

There are lots of cards I would love to have but am not willing to pay what they cost. I don't whine and complain about it every day. I accept that others have more than me and are willing to spend more than me, and I move on. I certainly don't get mad at them for my shortcomings.

I am glad you have accepted your shortcomings.

Besides, with the higher price of wax, it’s so entertaining to watch others give in to their gambling compulsions.

[OhioLawyerF5]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

This thread was the perfect honeypot for BO’s finest.

It certainly drew one troll out of the woodwork.

[blackbears86]

I'm here for both. I sell frequently, but it goes right back into upgrading my unopned collection.

But eventually, everything will go in about 4-6 years.

[mikejones]

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

Not everyone makes an attorney’s salary and is able to buy anything at any price.

Some people have discretion.

I take everyone's user name with a grain of salt.

[ThoseBackPages]

you guys expect honesty on a message board where
most users are nameless/faceless people? ha

[GabrielCards]

I am in it for the sex! Its fantastic!

[Chris P]

Originally Posted by dashcol

Simple question, are you clecting for fun or solely for profit?

Just curious, I am assuming BO is filled with profit only.

For collecting..that's why I get turned off by a lot of the threads here where everything is treated like an investment and everyone is a "bagholder". I collect for fun..I'm not saying I don't sell anything but I also don't buy stuff with the intention of selling later then rebuying at a later time. I buy what I like and keep what I like. Whether it goes up, down, or stays flat.

[JohnnyHatesJazz]

Originally Posted by GabrielCards

I am in it for the sex! Its fantastic!

Steve Sax was pretty good.

Oh you said sex, my bad.

[boxbuster7]

Originally Posted by OhioLawyerF5

Maybe it's good you no longer teach our children. Because when someone is willing to pay something for someone, they are not to be blamed for your unwillingness to pay what they are willing to pay. Who are you to tell others what they should be willing to pay for something they want? Be mad at yourself for being too cheap to enjoy something you claim to enjoy.

tell me you aren't judging somebody off one post on an internet forum about baseball cards

[JeffG1954]

Yes to both....I don't feel the two concepts are mutually exclusive.