Done with collecting

[dk988]

...................................................................

[BBases31]

Why don't you just buy the cards you want? Sounds like you don't like that you lost gambling. No reason to buy wax at all if you don't want to lose money

[dabbadoo]

buy singles that you want to keep, stop gambling with packs --- and thats exactly what it is, gambling

[awz50]

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

New account and a post about being done collecting

Classic

[awz50]

Also stop gambling. Just buy what you want

[vegetable]

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

Hobby has entered a new Era of scamdom since fanatics took over.

[Bambino22]

Alot of us learned $$ lessons. Myself included.

What you described is not collecting.

Take a break and get back into the hobby on a strict budget with a different path.

[DarcyWinston]

Stay off whatnot and fanatics live

[Biohazarddfl]

I can't say that I blame you. Greed in the hobby is at an all-time high and the average collector is taking a beating right now. Especially if you enjoy buying boxes.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

[no10pin]

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

Don't buy $200-300 boxes of cards to chase 1 very difficult to hit card. You haven't even started collecting in your few month return yet, so there's no reason to quit.

Start shopping for single cards that you like and you'll enjoy it much more.

[ThoseBackPages]

rough life lesson for sure

#ThanksTopps

[Bcr]

Originally Posted by Bambino22

Alot of us learned $$ lessons. Myself included.

What you described is not collecting.

Take a break and get back into the hobby on a strict budget with a different path.

Exactly.

[brewtown107]

Anyone else get the impression OP's post is AI generated? Combines several hobby cliches and doesn't make sense on several levels.

[discodanman45]

Originally Posted by brewtown107

Anyone else get the impression OP's post is AI generated? Combines several hobby cliches and doesn't make sense on several levels.

AI has much better grammar. I can tell when students write in their own words and I would not question the OP's post. It is their own work.

[Bambino22]

Originally Posted by brewtown107

Anyone else get the impression OP's post is AI generated? Combines several hobby cliches and doesn't make sense on several levels.

Is this our forum future?
Actually I'm slightly suspicious of a troll. But give the benefit of doubt when someone is stating their struggles.

[Biohazarddfl]

He posted before and seemingly was in it to make money and found out that there is not really any money to make and is disenchanted. Of course he isn't a collector, but the fact that the odds are so extremely stacked against the customer right now is not helping the hobby. I need someone to want to open the packs to pull the cards that I eventually want because I sure as #@#@#@#@ am not opening them right now.

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[Bambino22]

Originally Posted by Biohazarddfl

He posted before and seemingly was in it to make money and found out that there is not really any money to make and is disenchanted. Of course he isn't a collector, but the fact that the odds are so extremely stacked against the customer right now is not helping the hobby. I need someone to want to open the packs to pull the cards that I eventually want because I sure as #@#@#@#@ am not opening them right now.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

It's an interesting thought experiment. And needs it's own thread. I've thought alot about who is good for the hobby. Am I net + or - to the hobby for example.

I use to think to be a net positive to the hobby you had to buy and open wax as the #1 requirement. As that is required to get things started. But I was wrong. Topps has watered boxes down way too much AND not shown transparency on equal distribution of big hits to breakers versus direct to consumers. So it's logical to pause on buying complete boxes (not breaks) until people buying boxes are treated better and given equal opportunity.

[Biohazarddfl]

Originally Posted by Bambino22

It's an interesting thought experiment. And needs it's own thread. I've thought alot about who is good for the hobby. Am I net + or - to the hobby for example.



I use to think to be a net positive to the hobby you had to buy and open wax as the #1 requirement. As that is required to get things started. But I was wrong. Topps has watered boxes down way too much AND not shown transparency on equal distribution of big hits to breakers versus direct to consumers. So it's logical to pause on buying complete boxes (not breaks) until people buying boxes are treated better and given equal opportunity.

Great post. This is similar to how I feel these days.

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[REGGIE206]

I will never understand people who buy a box in hopes of hitting the “big card” in the set, especially when it’s a rare card.. then get bummed or depressed when they didn’t hit it?

The odds are completely stacked against you like winning the Lotto.

If you want a specific card really bad, save yourself the trouble and just save up for it and buy the card.

[Bambino22]

Originally Posted by REGGIE206

I will never understand people who buy a box in hopes of hitting the “big card” in the set, especially when it’s a rare card.. then get bummed or depressed when they didn’t hit it?

The odds are completely stacked against you like winning the Lotto.

If you want a specific card really bad, save yourself the trouble and just save up for it and buy the card.

Many are trying to hit that super jackpot though. That 1/1 Superfractor that can never be saved for. So forget odds, it's a dream chase to hold the top card in the hobby.

[oldgoldy97]

It was a fun month though, wasn’t it?

[REGGIE206]

Originally Posted by Bambino22

Many are trying to hit that super jackpot though. That 1/1 Superfractor that can never be saved for. So forget odds, it's a dream chase to hold the top card in the hobby.

I understand that.. I just don’t understand getting upset or depressed if you don’t hit it. Like I said, the odds were stacked against you.

[trmpetyjo]

I know the feeling man, you see everybody else hitting some awesome cards and you want to hit something too. You want your gambles to pay off like theirs have.

It can be a real expensive hobby, but a real fun hobby too. A lot of these guys have some good advice. Some are just trolls and want to make you feel bad because you haven't done things the same way that they think you should be doing them.

A lot of these guys have good advice because they've been in the same boat and learned the hard way themselves. Buy the card you like instead of gambling on breaks. Don't spend more money than you can afford to lose. Everybody's got their own opinion on everything. One thing that helped me was narrowing down my focus. Are you still trying to collect everything a bit of everything. I find more joy in being more specific in what I collect. It took time to figure that out. I do buy into breaks occasionally, but I expect to lose and realize I'm paying for entertainment more than product.

If you get burned out for a bit take a break, give yourself a few weeks off and see how you feel before you just dump everything.

I think you're handling it pretty well actually, talking things through, asking advice, is good therapy bad beats suck part of getting over them is getting it off your chest and that's what this form can be good for as long as I don't listen to the trolls.

We're going to have to deal with a "this is AI comment on every single post now" which makes the hobby a little crappier.

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[Archangel1775]

Attempting to hit the baseball Tom Brady with big odds in a just released set and you quit already? The first problem is not setting goals. Figure out what you want to collect and grab singles. If you have the expendable income, sure, go after Tom Brady but buy the single or his 2000 rookie cards.

[colfix87]

Originally Posted by dk988

...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...

...not hitting that Brady Bowman Draft, I don't see how I can continue with the hobby....

These are two different things. The former is collecting, the latter is gambling. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but at least be honest with yourself about what you're getting into - you might get something incredible, but you probably won't, and you're guaranteed to get a bunch of random base cards of players/teams you might not care about.

As to the former, as others have said - buy singles. Doesn't even have to be expensive or flashy if you don't want it to be. My advice, if you want to get the "little kid" feeling again, is to go dig around in a commons box at your LCS. Pick out a bunch of your favorite players / favorite team, smile as you walk out with a stack of cool stuff that you paid ten bucks for. Ten-year-old you doesn't care that it's not valuable, ten-year-old you is super pumped that you just got some cool cards of your favorites.