This hobby is not fun. Come here to vent or rant!

[boston12]

So many mixed feelings about current situation. I am not adding much at all. Kinda just sitting around thinking about what I should do. Once shows start popping up more I’ll be selling off some stuff.

[DrDamo]

I'm also always amazed at how so many people feel OK with selling things at super-inflated prices. It feels bad to take advantage of people making really poor decisions -- like, I don't understand how people can sell blasters for $60 and not feel even a little bit of moral squeamishness.

[VandyCards]

The mingling of collector/profit seeker has always been weird to me.

Speculating on individual cards seems different than flipping boxes.

I enjoy the parts I enjoy and ignore the rest. Bums me out that I can’t get retail and hobby is expensive. But that’ll pass.


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[AstrosFan17]

Originally Posted by salas1991

Sorry, but from a fellow set builder: huh??

I completely get the idea of wanting to start a set by buying some boxes of that release - I do it all the time and have for years and years. But unless you're buying boxes upon boxes of some things, you're not gonna complete the set that way: you have to buy some singles at some point.

Back when I couldn't really afford to buy boxes that way, and still now when I'm looking into picking up stuff from older sets or newer ones whose box costs have gone through the roof like 2011 Update, I check out lots. I'm not always thrilled about having to go that route, but even with somewhat of a price bump on some from the current bubble/whatever you want to call it, most lots are still not bad price-wise, esp if you're not looking into getting high-demand stuff.

I just bought a lot of commons at a good price, picked up a cheap set of 1981 Donruss to break for the NMMT one I'm working to build (and a lot of the cards in there are in that range), and I even just went to a live, in-person card show Saturday for the first time since the 2019 National, I think. Had a lot of fun doing it. Did I buy any boxes of 2021 Bowman from that show at $300 a pop for hobby? Hells no. That part of collecting has gotten to be not fun, for sure. But there are plenty of ways to collect, and plenty of things to collect, even if you're a set builder, and even if your budget is limited.

I like to buy and open wax until I get around 80-85% of the set then fill in the rest with singles. I sometimes will continue to buy wax after this point if its inexpensive enough or if I'm missing a card that has a significant price tag on the secondary market. Its never made sense to build 100% of the set from boxes unless the boxes are very cheap. My point is that building set ONLY from buying SINGLES or buying the already completed sets is not feasible or fun in most cases.

I do agree that buying bulk base lots to help build the set makes a lot of sense and can be fun in and of itself, where we differ is on your assertion that you can find those lots for a reasonable price in today's climate. What I find is that people want to sell off their extra base, after culling the cards with any value, for much more than I would be willing to pay for them. I would pay, AT THE MOST 50% of the box MSRP for all the UNCULLED base, most people are asking more than that for the culled base.

[LSUNatChamps]

I have the exact same feelings that you have and got burnt out on prospecting and collecting current players long ago. A few recommendations:

- Collect vintage signed Topps cards through the mail
- Collect graded (affordable) 1980s/1990s rookies
- Collect fun sets (inserts, autos) from when you were younger that you liked back in the day but couldn't necessarily afford

There are a lot of great opportunities out there!

[REGGIE206]

I can totally understand how miserable it is to look for packs & boxes. Like most people here, I grew up during the junk wax era and remember seeing 1987 & 1988 packs everywhere and being able to buy as many as you want to buy. I can’t imagine going to Target, seeing cards in stock, then being limited to buy one product. I see the frustration.

Luckily, I collect by buying singles of my favorite players. If I really like a player, I make it a goal of mine to try to buy their key cards as early as possible.

But again, I see the frustration for the collectors that love to open packs. This hobby sure has changed.

[Ray27Ray52]

Originally Posted by VandyCards

The mingling of collector/profit seeker has always been weird to me.

Speculating on individual cards seems different than flipping boxes.

I enjoy the parts I enjoy and ignore the rest. Bums me out that I can’t get retail and hobby is expensive. But that’ll pass.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don't collect anything anymore because I no longer get emotionally invested in cards. There were times when I dreamed of owning a Joe Montana auto or a Peyton Manning auto etc. but those times have passed. I've owned so many cards in my day that they are just commodities to me now. I'm jaded and occasionally that bothers me but it is what it is.

I had a conversation with my buddy the other day. He's a collector. He's been buying a bunch of JK Dobbins because he's a fan. Immediately my mind went to well that's money down the drain but I stopped myself because he doesn't worry about that. He just wants the cards. I want cards that are likely to be worth something some day. We're all different.

[salas1991]

Originally Posted by AstrosFan17

I like to buy and open wax until I get around 80-85% of the set then fill in the rest with singles. I sometimes will continue to buy wax after this point if its inexpensive enough or if I'm missing a card that has a significant price tag on the secondary market. Its never made sense to build 100% of the set from boxes unless the boxes are very cheap. My point is that building set ONLY from buying SINGLES or buying the already completed sets is not feasible or fun in most cases.

I do agree that buying bulk base lots to help build the set makes a lot of sense and can be fun in and of itself, where we differ is on your assertion that you can find those lots for a reasonable price in today's climate. What I find is that people want to sell off their extra base, after culling the cards with any value, for much more than I would be willing to pay for them. I would pay, AT THE MOST 50% of the box MSRP for all the UNCULLED base, most people are asking more than that for the culled base.

I suppose that's probably more true with recent products, where people who decided to pay the crazy prices to open a ton of boxes and land maybe 20% resale value are trying to make up for it any possible way now. But especially across older releases, there are still good deals out there - I just got some.

If you're looking for anything in particular, PM me and let me know what. I have tons and tons of commons, semistars, etc and I promise I won't gouge you!

[salas1991]

Originally Posted by DrDamo

I'm also always amazed at how so many people feel OK with selling things at super-inflated prices. It feels bad to take advantage of people making really poor decisions -- like, I don't understand how people can sell blasters for $60 and not feel even a little bit of moral squeamishness.

There were a ton of people who tried selling things at super-inflated prices even before the pandemic. They're just somewhat more successful now...

[AstrosFan17]

Originally Posted by salas1991

There were a ton of people who tried selling things at super-inflated prices even before the pandemic. They're just somewhat more successful now...

Agreed on this point... I'm not amazed that people are trying to sell at the super-inflated prices, I'm more amazed that people are buying!

[theshowandme]

I left for 15+ years and came back. As a kid I didn't have a lot of money, so it was a pack or box every few months (2000-2005). But it was mostly buying/trading singles. When I got back into it as a grown man I bought A LOT of wax but realized that is such a weird way to collect.

I honestly had a lot of fun flipping through the .50 cent bins and $2-5 bins at a card show last week. Saw a lot of crazy people buying retail wax at 400% markup. It's all about perspective.

[BradB44]

Originally Posted by DrDamo

I'm also always amazed at how so many people feel OK with selling things at super-inflated prices. It feels bad to take advantage of people making really poor decisions -- like, I don't understand how people can sell blasters for $60 and not feel even a little bit of moral squeamishness.

I mean, if you have a car worth $10k are you gonna sell it for $8k?

If you have a box of 2011 update worth 10k are you gonna sell it for 5k?

Sure it's only $20 and $60 but its the same concept - People don't go around giving money away lol

[JoeAdam]

It’s changed. I still think it’s fun. All of the graded cards that I don’t plan on selling soon are with PWCC. So on the one hand I can see my collection at anytime, but I do miss actually having my cards. It all has its tradeoffs.

[msl90]

I hear a lot of the frustration and echo the sentiment that many have replied with, that if you are not having fun, change your approach or find a different hobby.

I got back into the hobby during the pandemic after selling my collection ~10 years ago for a few hundred bucks.

Since returning, do I have very mild buyer's remorse on some purchases from the 6 months? Yes. Have I made some mistakes? Yes. But I have been having a blast with it. Some combo between hobby/business, buying/holding some, selling some.

I set a monthly budget for myself, buy some singles, and enter some breaks between Houdini/other members here. The vast majority of these breaks have a bad ROI, but they are fun for many people, myself included. You have a chance of hitting big. You learn new prospects/players to watch/root for. You get a taste of the "chase" while spending $50, or $100, or $150 on a team/some players instead of an outrageous amount on a box. It may be negative ROI, but negative ROI on $50 or $100 is a lot more forgiveable than on a $500 or $1000 box.

[AstrosFan17]

Originally Posted by theshowandme

I left for 15+ years and came back. As a kid I didn't have a lot of money, so it was a pack or box every few months (2000-2005). But it was mostly buying/trading singles. When I got back into it as a grown man I bought A LOT of wax but realized that is such a weird way to collect.

I honestly had a lot of fun flipping through the .50 cent bins and $2-5 bins at a card show last week. Saw a lot of crazy people buying retail wax at 400% markup. It's all about perspective.

I grew up in a small town and knew NOBODY else that collected, so I got used to just building my sets from buying a ton of wax. Of course through the 80s that was much easier than it is now... one release per manufacturer - those releases were available nearly EVERYWHERE throughout the entire season. you could spend a couple bucks a week over the entire season and you'd have a TON of cards by the end.

I too LOVE to go through those 'bargain bins' at the card shows, I just wish they happened more often. There's a monthly show here, but most of the guys who buy tables are focused on higher end graded cards and autos/relics. The big Tri-Star show is here twice a year usually, but the timing the last few years (when not cancelled due to the pandemic) has been pretty bad - usually conflicting with some event my kids are involved in. The last time I was able to go was February 2019

[NYJNYYFan]

I got into the hobby around the same time, and so did a handful of friends as well. That's been the most fun part about if for me, discussing what we pick up or sell or rip on a weekly basis.

One friend of mine started breaking, and me another buddy are thinking of getting a table at a card show this summer.

Maybe this feeling will wear off, but I still get excited when a set I've been looking forward to, like UFC Prizm, gets released and I can watch breaks on Youtube or search for singles I want on ebay.

[VandyCards]

Originally Posted by Ray27Ray52

I don't collect anything anymore because I no longer get emotionally invested in cards. There were times when I dreamed of owning a Joe Montana auto or a Peyton Manning auto etc. but those times have passed. I've owned so many cards in my day that they are just commodities to me now. I'm jaded and occasionally that bothers me but it is what it is.

I had a conversation with my buddy the other day. He's a collector. He's been buying a bunch of JK Dobbins because he's a fan. Immediately my mind went to well that's money down the drain but I stopped myself because he doesn't worry about that. He just wants the cards. I want cards that are likely to be worth something some day. We're all different.

But why cards and not something else? This isn’t the easiest, quickest, or most tax-preferable way to make money.

I’m not being critical I’m legit curious. Is there something just more enjoyable about it being cards? Or just something you find you have more experience/knowledge about?


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[DiamondDonovan]

Stop buying wax at resale prices and stop buying into breaks/fillers/razzes...coworkers & friends who have gotten back into it message me all the time and I am amazed at how much money they are blowing.

But with that being said, this hobby can be as expensive or as a cheap as you want it to be. Collect your favorite teams and players; I rather buy a bunch of low end and cheap PWE singles and get cards that I actually want.

If you find it frustrating or not fun, like anything other activity - time take a break or find a new hobby. It's too easy to waste money on trading cards; so if you don't enjoy it...I would avoid it.

[Danderlion]

I'm having fun! More fun than I have ever had in the hobby.

Mainly selling, but will make some pickups here and there (singles). I don't bust any packs unless I get lucky and find something I like at MSRP (this is rare).

But I came back to the hobby in 2012. I can't imagine trying to start now

[Zhamlau]

Its a business at this point and a goofy one to boot. Every card will eventually be worth a million dollars, everyone's always rich in potential value, and as long as we pretend asset bubbles never end its gonna be golden parachutes all around.

Try not to worry so much, the damage is baked in already. Enjoy the next few months and pawn the future whoa's off on the next specula...er...collector.

[clocsta2323]

Originally Posted by DrDamo

I'm also always amazed at how so many people feel OK with selling things at super-inflated prices. It feels bad to take advantage of people making really poor decisions -- like, I don't understand how people can sell blasters for $60 and not feel even a little bit of moral squeamishness.

Stay in the foam playpen. If not for your sake but for those who care about you.

[rms13]

Originally Posted by jthomas541

This hobby is not fun.

I am not a regular forum user, but got back into the hobby like many people did during the start of the pandemic. I collected during my childhood, during peak-junk-wax, from 1990-1996 or so. Then came high school, college, work, marriage, dogs, mortgage, kids, and all that other stuff that leaves little discretionary income for putting into photos of professional athletes.

I actually want to collect these cards, however:

This hobby is not fun.

I can't go to a store on a random trip to pick up a gallon of milk and get a few packs of cards to open. If they have anything, I can only buy 1 pack.

This hobby is not fun.

I can go lineup at Target on Friday morning at 8am, but if I don't get there before 4am, there isn't enough stock for me to get a mega box of Select football which are just being flipped.

This hobby is not fun.

"Just go to your LCS or buy something on Blowout." $75 for a 2020 Topps Chrome Jumbo pack? $170 for a mega box of 2020 Bowman? GTFOH.

This hobby is not fun.

This is worse than junk wax. At least then you could buy all you wanted and have worthless photos of professional athletes. Flippers, "investors", bots, and the rest have ruined this hobby in the hopes of hitting a jackpot. Is the next Trout or Lebron in every single release?

This hobby is not fun.

I know, I know - supply and demand. When does it end?

This hobby is not fun.

I'm basically in the same boat except I collected 86-92 as a kid. I got back in at end of last year and there already were no packs of anything at any store locally for me unless I paid $20-40/pack at local shop. I pivoted into UFC cards a few months ago which was fun because you could still buy singles of most guys other than Conor McGregor pretty cheaply compared to other sports. Than UFC Prizm came out and it's impossible to find unless I want to pay $150 for a blaster from someone that lined up at Target at 4am on Friday to buy one for $20. Not only is it not fun but it makes me sad. I'm sad that I can't just buy a 2-3 packs of cards at msrp to open and enjoy and it makes me sad that people in our country are so hard up that they need to wait in line at Target at 4am to make like $110-120 profit after costs and fees flipping cards. It sounds like easy money if you have time to do it but when you do the math most of these people are making less than min wage for the ammount of time they have to spend for one box now with purchase limits. The entire hobby has turned into a combination of greed and desperation in my view. Even though I am mostly in it to collect it still makes me feel dirty sometimes when I think about what I'm supporting with my money

[fabiani12333]

Originally Posted by BigSeph

You will never beat out the most desperate degenerate gambler in the world to a buy-in, or the crustiest guy who rolls out of his trailer to be at Target at 4am.

I lol'd

[cking]

Originally Posted by DrDamo

I don't understand how people can sell blasters for $60 and not feel even a little bit of moral squeamishness.

The same way people still consign with, purchase from and use the vault service of PWCC.

Its like spitting in the face of the people on here who do the legwork to try and out pieces of garbage like PWCC.

And why do they do it? All for their own financial gain or to avoid paying taxes.

No moral compass. Money rules all for these types.

The fact that they are willing to overlook what PWCC has done tells me everything I need to know about that person.

[RobTheGood]

being a Canadian shopping on ebay is a nightmare!

exchange rate + large shipping costs + import charges!


/rant