The Hobby is Dead

[flemingc04]

It's the rush to spend $500 on tin. I bought a Larry Robinson 13/14 Cup Auto for under $12... knowing the seller paid $125 for every Cup cards he pulled. UD makes millions on Cup (somebody on another forums calculated 5,000 cases x $3,000 per case = ?) and eBay makes thousands or millions on every card sales at 10% commission.

The sellers and buyers are the ones taking the kicks in the butt. Sellers get 1/2 of what they paid for, and buyers get the lousy quality control that UD pumped out.

The quality is so bad this year in the cup. Bad centering from top to bottom, left to right... white spots on corners, and some are crimps on the corners. 1 color patch with a touch of 2nd color. The cup cards aren't doing that well on eBay. Gotta love UD monopoly.. lol

That might be their revenues. They have significant costs involved in procuring content for a product like that, as well as the packaging, shipping, etc. which we know nothing about because they don't disclose that sort of thing.

RGM81 hit the nail on the head and pointed the things some people don't think about. Plus $500 per tin ($3,000 per case) is the retail price. The stores which we purchase product from (brick and mortar or online) have operating costs and so do the wholesalers, and nobody works for free. Therefore, that revenue doesn't all go to Upper Deck.

[13stepper]

I'll take the two Hertl's for $5, heck throw in the Galchenyuk for $10 please. Post it up and PM your Paypal addy please.

They never will, that's a different market and very manipulated.
Lot of schilling involved in jordan and 90's stuff..

I cant even give away two hertl YG'S for $5...
Galchenyuk $10 and he's hot...

Most cup rc's selling low unless sick patch and it just came out.

Guys giving away gretzky blue pmg's for $10 at shows...

Star player die cut auto from spa...can't even sell for $5...yet people will spend $500 on boxes to get those hits...

[habscards]

I think that this upcoming year will be really rough. Their are no true top rookies to chase. Unless Droiin absolutely tears the league apart. I will look on the bright side though and hope that collectors switch more from chasing rookie to chasing star players.

[Tripredacus]

I don't think the hobby is dead. The primary market is working properly. I see the problem in the secondary market where the market values do not reflect in the retail price. Then again, it has always been like gambling in that respect.

[piper1]

I don't think the hobby is dead. The primary market is working properly. I see the problem in the secondary market where the market values do not reflect in the retail price. Then again, it has always been like gambling in that respect.

We obviously need two different threads, one for collectors who remain active in the hobby and another for those who are worried about the market. That way both parties can be happy because the Hobby is alive and well. For those of you looking to make big money I suggest something other than cards and oil at the moment.

[habscards]

We obviously need two different threads, one for collectors who remain active in the hobby and another for those who are worried about the market. That way both parties can be happy because the Hobby is alive and well. For those of you looking to make big money I suggest something other than cards and oil at the moment.

I think that you are wrong there. Oil is at its lowest price in a long time right now. It may plateau for a bit but it will go back up. It always does. If I had extra money right now I would be investing in oil.

[JEG]

As a newer collector (1st year back since 90'S & I was 12) i can't comment much on the past but from what i can see is there are just to many different types of collectors that the market will never be able to please them all. Cards would have way more value if there wasn't guys opening case after case, with no care about the cards other then resale, there for flooding the market with cards that wouldn't have be opened by average hobbyists. But in the same breathe this is the reason you may have that awesome 1/1 card you love for a reasonable price, or better yet a trade! Its a give and take.
I would like to see more trading but in the same breath with shipping costs, and at times difficult trade partners I can see the disconnect. Plus its way more thrilling to crack a box and hit a card then trade for one, even if the traded card is "Valued higher". So people sell to open more. Some seek the Gambling thrill more than the hobby!
Just my two Cents!

[piper1]

I think that you are wrong there. Oil is at its lowest price in a long time right now. It may plateau for a bit but it will go back up. It always does. If I had extra money right now I would be investing in oil.

The new forecast is $70 a barrel within six months. I only chose oil to make the point that the complainers on here aren't talking about the hobby at all. They are only talking about the sports card business and lining their pockets vice the hobby of collecting hockey cards, so I wish the Mods would change the title accordingly.

[RGM81]

Man you guys are awesome. In a thread proclaiming the death of the hobby y'all are stepping up to nearly QUADRUPLE KingKuba's feedback based on his generous offerings.

[Ninjaflip]

"shipping rates are destroying the hobby"

maybe the profit/value attitude is more destroying?

"Hobby"
noun, plural hobbies. 1. an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation: "