(Has The Hobby Left Kids Behind?)
Yes it has. A not so long time ago you could buy a pack of sports cards for a Quarter and now 9.99 for a pack of Hot prospects. All the company's want to do is take your money and turn the hobby into a business. Today you can buy a box of Exquisite for 895.00 on many sites like ebay. Where did we go wrong? I'm just 13 years old and it takes all the money I have to keep my collection the only way we can beat this is to buy less packs and buy sell trade. And then we can have out fun hobby back!!!

Thanks
Jacob.



Vote on my poll.

im 15 and i dont think it has because there is group of us at school that trade and show off our cards its 20 of us but that still isnt bad i dont think

Yes the hobby is still good if you want to buy a 1.00 pack of topps total. and get some great base.

Jacob, Thanks for your perspective! It's all about keeping the hobby accessible to all! Your motivation is inspiring. Keep widening your trading circle and the youth influence in the hobby will grow with you and around you. Basebal card collecting's historic roots are on your side!
Gerald

When I was a teenager trading cards with my friends (Geezer alert! - we were trading 1979s at the start!) we thought it was crazy that there were suddenly three companies making cards and there weren't just three sets to build, there were a bunch of gold foil subsets, traded sets, and the like. And that was before memorabilia, factory autographs, and grading ever existed.

I counted from the then-current price guide the number of sets in production. In 1972 or 73 there was one set, period. In 1981 there were three and an update/traded set and a couple other oddballs. In about 1984, there were over 100 different sets, subsets, variations, updates and whatever else. There was no way to keep up as we were used to doing. This situation, as well as college and other real life issues, made me leave the hobby. And this was before the early 90's glut!

Now, since I returned in late 2003, with all the producers, subsets, inserts, and hobby exclusive variants, plus the big money pack and box prices, I don't see how the average kid can do much beyond the low end base cards unless there's substantial funding coming from somewhere. I know things have changed and collector's specialize these days, but it's still overwhelming.

I work for the school system and I don't get the impression that a lot of young people are into the hobby, at least not around here. I could be wrong. I frequent a couple local shops, but haven't found many other collectors who trade and aren't wrapped up in game used and wax boxes. I do hope the kids are still out there to preserve the lower end part of the market. I think base cards are trash to a lot of collectors, and that bugs me.

And don't get me started on graded cards. Maybe I'll write an article on that.

GCA

Yes. It has become too expensive for kids to keep up with their favorite players. But then again, business is business.

The hobby is leaving almost everyone behind. Unless you have a credit card (Love to use it) buy one good card is getting harder and harder. Forget about buying boxes, soon the only people who will be able to buy boxes are Donald Trump and Bill Gates. But we the consumers are looking for those 1/1 pulls! So don't blame the companies for what we the hobbyists wants. But due to the fact theres only 2-3 companies producing cards they can charge us what they want. Throw beckett into the mix. I believe they are in league with the companies to conmtinue the strangle hold they have on us.

So ask yourself this, would you buy a box that only has base cards in it??
The box is cheap but no MOJO pulls EVER!? Most people would say no. So why would a company do it if they know they would lose money? This is a business, not a hobby. Don't fool yourself. If you don't agree, check out the card section at ebay! EVERYONE is selling cards. Either trying to recoup their money or gouge people for over priced product! I say we're all doomed.

In 3 years (2010) I may not be able to buy base cards because of price!
Think about it.

Hey I remember buying boxes with just base cards in it, yes, I am OLD LOL, in all reality that is what we need to go back to for a few years, this influx or gu/printing plates etc: has gotten way out of hand on the market, seems like ever box you open now has 2 or 3 gu per box, but they only sell for a couple of dollars a piece, and the company's still charge $100 to $200 dollars per box.

And I noticed that the customers in my store open more of that stuff then they open the newer stuff, why? Well, better value an old box of 24 to 36 packs usually costs about as much as an 8 pack blaster from walmart, and you get an insert per pack, some great rookies, and some really nice looking cards, that is why I am stocking up on the older stuff, and not buying as much new stuff, and not only that in another couple of years people are going to be looking all over for this older stuff like they do now, for the 50's,60's, 70's boxes :)

Thanks for the replys guys. and I'm getting in to more older stuff like 80's 90's and vintage.


Thanks
Jacob.

Hobby has left everyone behind, but hey if you wanna spend a couple $100 on some boxes and throw your money away, then throw it my way!:becky: atleast thats the way i see it, Hence why you never see any breaks from me:thumb:

So the Dumb and Rich can keep breaking boxes and ill keep buying their good pulls on e-bay for cheap! and while they loose $$ ill be making $$:thumb:

"Example" Seen a Person on another site break a box of Hidden Treasures, Paid $550, they think cause they got some HOF GU and a Couple Decent Autos they had a Great Break! HELLO!! wake up, when or if they sold those they might and i say might get $200, so that comes out to be a big $350 kick in the *****:frusty:

I agree with Mike. I'll let everyone else drop the $$$ on boxes and reep their rewards cheap off the ebay. Well at least things in my price range.

Its what I do 2 but I like to break a pack here and there.


Thanks
Jacob.

I'm 13 and I have some trouble getting cards I need but thats why ebay was invented.

I have been collecting since the mid 80's, and have been totally turned off to the new 1/1, game used, autograph, parallel chase card insanity that started in the 90's and just gets worse every year. I would be happy to buy an affordable and attractive product of JUST base cards - like we had back then.

I haven't bought a new pack or box of cards in over 10 years, I'd rather just go for the singles I am interested in. I'd like to thank the manufacturers personally for totally turning me off to all newer cards.

I range into the newer stuff to have barter stock and to add to my favorite player collections. Some of my personal favorite cards are from the '89 Topps set. When you get a chance check out the Mattingly, Yount and Gwynn base in those sets. The purest baseball depictions capturing the essence of those great players...dollar value be damned, THEY ARE AWESOME!!

i think so because i am 14 and never have any money to spend on hobby only a retail pack or box every couple of months at wlamrt