Take a break from collecting? - Page 3

Tom Oates · 02-25-2026, 01:44 AM

Took a break when I started getting interested in girls when I was a teenager. Didn’t start collecting again until I was married, in the Marines, and had a son. Yeah, all of that took place at 18-19 years of age. I used to buy product by the cases. Stopped in 2011. I buy almost zero packs or cases since then. I look at the $hit show the “hobby” has become and I’m glad I tapped out. I sell mostly and follow the hobby but buy almost nothing.

daveyc1 · 02-25-2026, 09:06 AM

I started collecting around 1987-88. super into it by 1989. I really have never taken a break. I stopped buying packs/boxes around 1994 or so. been a singles guy ever since. when I was seeing packs of 1993 finest selling for around $25 bucks back then i knew my pack opening days were through.

I am a player collector. have been for over 35 years now. I love it. when one player gets a little stale, I just pick right up with one of my other guys. I have not "prospected" since the days of Kevin Maas, Brien Taylor and Todd Van Popple. I prefer lower risk players.

in fact, the last active player I collected was Tom Brady. all of my "players" are all old, retired or no longer with us!

I truly cannot imagine a time when I am not collecting. It has been a lifelong love for me.

eastbayak · 02-25-2026, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LVDan

Very nearly mirrors my situation. Full time job, full time dad/husband to a couple young boys so cards take a distant 3rd nowadays but I still dig it.

Haha, we live the same life!

Words from Frederick D: "If there is no struggle, there is no progress"

TheGZA · 02-25-2026, 04:52 PM

I didn't buy cards for years and years. I still can't remember why but I started buying again in 2018 and it honestly could have been that I noticed Target sold cards and I wanted that nostalgic buzz of ripping....and timing worked out great bc I accumulated tons of the 2018 rookie class greats. But I'm back on break because of absurd prices.

ChiSox93 · 02-25-2026, 07:10 PM

Baseball has always been a part of my life and collecting cards is an extension of that love of the game. Building sets and checking stats on the back of the cards is what I have done most of my life. But the past few years have been getting harder and harder to justify. A couple years ago I could almost build a complete set with a hobby box then fill in with packs or blasters. But now it’s almost impossible to build a set with overpriced jumbo boxes. So, I’ve been trying to find a new hobby niche, but nothing is giving me the same satisfaction of completing a set. My next step is going to be walking away for a bit and see if I miss it. I was thrilled when Fanatics said they were going to keep the iconic Topps name but in truth it has been a major disappointment to me. I always tried to stay away from the hobby negativity but I’m starting to see some truth in it. Oh well. Sorry for the rant but to answer your question, I am well on my way to my first planned hobby break.

hermanotarjeta · 02-25-2026, 07:15 PM

There is as little scalp money as there has ever been in the history of the hobby and as much gamble as there has ever been in the history of the hobby, in my opinion.

A great time to exit for some if not many folks right now if wagering is not your thing.

Raleigh504 · 02-25-2026, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eastbayak

I've recently contemplated taking a break from the hobby (while keeping my PC cards).

Main reason being that my time/energy to list singles/wax is decreasing by the day. Work + caretaking for 2 kids (1 & 3 y/o), chiefly the latter, is draining me of a lot of energy (1 y/o recently started waking up between 5:30-6:30am). Parenting is still incredibly fulfilling and worthwhile, I'm just not as young as I once was....and my body often aches now haha.

Not to mention, I generally package around 15-30 sales (mostly PWEs) each week and that whole process takes a few hours (locating the cards, preparing the packages and dropping off at a USPS office/dropbox [2 batches per week]). I'm only able to find time to do this at the end of the night after I've helped wash/change/play with/put the kids to sleep, taken care of household chores (cleaned up kitchen/living room/laundry), etc.

But I still really enjoy the whole hobby experience (selling singles/wax and buying singles [low-to-high-end for PC or future flips]) though. That's probably why I haven't taken a pause yet. As tired as I am, I'm still too addicted to the hobby to give it up and/or take a break....but it's crossed my mind!

Honestly sounds exactly like me. Hard to find any down time when listing and shipping after bedtime.

02-25-2026, 07:10 PM	#55
ChiSox93 Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Posts: 76	Baseball has always been a part of my life and collecting cards is an extension of that love of the game. Building sets and checking stats on the back of the cards is what I have done most of my life. But the past few years have been getting harder and harder to justify. A couple years ago I could almost build a complete set with a hobby box then fill in with packs or blasters. But now it’s almost impossible to build a set with overpriced jumbo boxes. So, I’ve been trying to find a new hobby niche, but nothing is giving me the same satisfaction of completing a set. My next step is going to be walking away for a bit and see if I miss it. I was thrilled when Fanatics said they were going to keep the iconic Topps name but in truth it has been a major disappointment to me. I always tried to stay away from the hobby negativity but I’m starting to see some truth in it. Oh well. Sorry for the rant but to answer your question, I am well on my way to my first planned hobby break. Last edited by ChiSox93; 02-25-2026 at 07:17 PM.

02-25-2026, 01:44 AM	#51
Tom Oates Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,020 OATES	Took a break when I started getting interested in girls when I was a teenager. Didn’t start collecting again until I was married, in the Marines, and had a son. Yeah, all of that took place at 18-19 years of age. I used to buy product by the cases. Stopped in 2011. I buy almost zero packs or cases since then. I look at the $hit show the “hobby” has become and I’m glad I tapped out. I sell mostly and follow the hobby but buy almost nothing.

02-25-2026, 09:06 AM	#52
daveyc1 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: maine Posts: 2,401	I started collecting around 1987-88. super into it by 1989. I really have never taken a break. I stopped buying packs/boxes around 1994 or so. been a singles guy ever since. when I was seeing packs of 1993 finest selling for around $25 bucks back then i knew my pack opening days were through. I am a player collector. have been for over 35 years now. I love it. when one player gets a little stale, I just pick right up with one of my other guys. I have not "prospected" since the days of Kevin Maas, Brien Taylor and Todd Van Popple. I prefer lower risk players. in fact, the last active player I collected was Tom Brady. all of my "players" are all old, retired or no longer with us! I truly cannot imagine a time when I am not collecting. It has been a lifelong love for me.

02-25-2026, 04:52 PM	#54
TheGZA Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Posts: 1,243	I didn't buy cards for years and years. I still can't remember why but I started buying again in 2018 and it honestly could have been that I noticed Target sold cards and I wanted that nostalgic buzz of ripping....and timing worked out great bc I accumulated tons of the 2018 rookie class greats. But I'm back on break because of absurd prices.

02-25-2026, 07:15 PM	#56
hermanotarjeta Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 24,449	There is as little scalp money as there has ever been in the history of the hobby and as much gamble as there has ever been in the history of the hobby, in my opinion. A great time to exit for some if not many folks right now if wagering is not your thing.