Can this hobby be saved

[Bigalloyd13]

I have been wondering a lot lately can this hobby be saved. Can it? Or is it done and completely its just a buy and flip industry? I'm sure their is a lot of forums about this out there. Thoughts??

[jkiddlridnour]

I know a guy that can save this hobby.

[montej1695]

Unfortunately its not a hobby anymore for 75% of the people involved.

[Giantrobot]

No one is stopping you from just collecting the cards, and ignoring the fast cash/lottery/bust and flip side of the hobby. That's what I try to do. Sadly, we can't turn back the clock and make this an innocent hobby like it was before. Kids aren't driving sales anymore. It's mostly nostalgic adults and opportunists. I'm with you, man, but the best you can do is just enjoy the actual cards for what they are, and not how much they're worth, and hope more people follow suit.

[Bigalloyd13]

It doesn't seem fair. I get it that people have to make money, but this is a hobby for collectors and shop owners. Not just plain ole gamblers

[IronMonkey415]

I think it will come back stronger next year.
Panini hired better designer and it seems like there are more on card auto in the future, the company that killed it this past few years is actually saving it.

[k13]

Nope. Greed and money ruin everything.

[Bigalloyd13]

I would love to see kids back in it again

[Bigalloyd13]

I would love to join the industry and help make a difference

[tristan20]

How can Kids collect when products are all overpriced?

[CxG Voodoo Doll]

Buying and flipping can be still be considered a hobby

[CxG Voodoo Doll]

Originally Posted by tristan20

How can Kids collect when products are all overpriced?

Thank you....

[Bigalloyd13]

That's when Panini has to lower the prices to bring kids back into it. If they make it more affordable for kids then they might be real collectors one day and stay in the hobby for them to make more money down the road

[bkcardcollector]

Tons and tons of affordable stuff out there. You can get autos and game jerseys for $1. You can get entire sets for $5. Way easier to get decent price stuff then when I was a kid and the overpriced hobby shop was my only option. Can a kid go after wiggins auto rc...no. Can he go after Cory Joseph auto rc..yes. Hobby is fine. I for one am here to stay.

[paul06901]

Originally Posted by Bigalloyd13

I have been wondering a lot lately can this hobby be saved. Can it? Or is it done and completely its just a buy and flip industry? I'm sure their is a lot of forums about this out there. Thoughts??

I won't get into a long, drawn out explanation as to why the hobby is doomed I have in many posts in the past.

I will simply state that yes, it is.

And anyone who thinks it will get better really needs to just examine the raw economics to the industry, the market, and the demographics involved. There is a need for collectors and people KEEPING/HOLDING the cards in order for value to sustain with secondary market sales of new singles. As the quantity of true collectors continues to dwindle, secondary market values of singles constantly tanks after every release, and the flood of singles is ever-strong (there is only so many ways to skin a cat or design a sports card) ... it doesn't make economic sense for this bubble to continue inflating forever. Even with MJ and Lebron back ... this isn't an infinite hobby...

It's a recipe for disaster.


That is all

[TungTLe]

Originally Posted by Bigalloyd13

That's when Panini has to lower the prices to bring kids back into it. If they make it more affordable for kids then they might be real collectors one day and stay in the hobby for them to make more money down the road

lower the prices? hoops and other low ends not low priced enough? topps and UD didnt do that, they had lower end sets, but most of their stuff was going towards adult collectors with prices from $150+ per box (sometimes per pack)

[tristan20]

Originally Posted by bkcardcollector

Tons and tons of affordable stuff out there. You can get autos and game jerseys for $1. You can get entire sets for $5. Way easier to get decent price stuff then when I was a kid and the overpriced hobby shop was my only option. Can a kid go after wiggins auto rc...no. Can he go after Cory Joseph auto rc..yes. Hobby is fine. I for one am here to stay.

Where is the joy when you cant bust it open yourself?

Affordable stuff coming from overpriced products, just goes to show how much value those boxes have.

Panini prices boxes so high and loaded with a bunch of old unknown players, its as if they have Jordan or even lebron signed.

No way can a kid get excited pulling a Fat Lever, Alex English, or some other player they don't even know about.

I have drifted from the hobby a bit, and its only because of Panini. Absolutely no other reason.
I can't imagine a kid getting into collecting, its an adult hobby now. And unfortunately it is being killed as quickly as Panini can keep printing crap.

[bdrr]

Panini's prices are too high.

Baseball cards are fine because Topps has kept it affordable.

[bkcardcollector]

The cure for high prices is high prices. If people stop buying the prices come down to meet demand. Whats to stop a kid from picking up a box of 2012-13 for $25. If your asking will boxes be $200 for 5 cards forever. I would say probably not. If you asking if cards will cease to be produced all together and people will throw their cards away I find that very hard to belive.

[Giantrobot]

Originally Posted by bdrr

Panini's prices are too high.

Baseball cards are fine because Topps has kept it affordable.

Hoops is the same price as Topps.

[Bigalloyd13]

The secondary market is flooded, because people see it a way to make money, but that is what leads to the prices being so high because flippers or gamblers see it as another form of get rich quick scheme.

[xavieronly1]

Too many flippers holding rare cards at super high BIN. And someone here wants to have more collectors? What a joke!!!

[Bigalloyd13]

I would almost trade every card I have to make the hobby steer towards the greater good. For real though

[bkcardcollector]

Originally Posted by xavieronly1

Too many flippers holding rare cards at super high BIN. And someone here wants to have more collectors? What a joke!!!

Exactly what I am saying. If you think prices are too high that means there are too many collectors. If you want lower prices you are hoping the hobby dies. Can't you all see the contradiction. Do you want the hobby to thrive or do you want low prices make up your mind.

[rttrffg2012]

I blame Obama