Results 11 to 20 of 25
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01-06-2009, 08:21 PM #11
I think at first ebay helped the hobby, don't get me wrong now I buy on ebay alot, not as much I I use to but I live in an area where there are not any shops to go to and even if there was I don't think they could stay in business long because there is just not enough people in my area that would pay the money for the higher end products. Ebay is a good place to unload that once in a lifetime hit, or find a rare card you have been looking for but I mostly just look for my cards on trading sites now. Now on to Beckett, I use beckett as a guide line only the hobby needs something like this, I admitt they could do a better job, but back when I started collecting in the early 90's (when collecting was collecting) all you had was beckett, and no ebay. You had to go to a card show or shop to get your cards or trade with your friends down the street. I think the problem is everyone (well not everyone) is trying to make money off of a hobby.
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01-06-2009, 08:25 PM #12
I agree we are to blame but disagree about autos gaining value. The only way they will ever increase is if card companys stop making them (well maybe not stop but slow down). Have them numbered lower, make fewer or something. All I know is something is going to have to change.
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01-06-2009, 08:29 PM #13
i think ebay is both the problem and the solution to the hobby- bear with me, while i try and explain
pre-ebay (pre internet, basically) trading was localized, and companies didnt make the high end stuff, because people were not willing to spend a ton of money to pull a card or cards that they didnt want. if their friends or, maybe, their shop didnt want them, they were stuck with them. it was much more a localized collecting base.
ebay and the internet has opened up collecting to people all over the world. the companies realized this, and started to produce higher priced products, because, they reasoned that collectors who didnt pull the card or cards they wanted could always sell them or trade them to someone who did want them (look at this site, for example)
ebay, like any smart business, saw this, and made it much easier for collectors to have a (mostly) safe place to buy and sell the cards that they had, and wanted.
now, recently, ebay has been hurting the hobby a bit, with its ever increasing prices. people who make money, and even a living, off of ebay are forced to buy the higher end products, because that is all anyone will buy any more
I hope that made some sense
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01-06-2009, 08:39 PM #14
Well, that's the strange thing. With the flood of all these "sticker-autos" I just think that "on-card autos" are gonna become more scarce, and more wanted. Therefore, they would eventually increase in value. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if Upper Deck becomes so lazy that they begin to release sticker exquisite autos. Anyways, that's just me.
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01-06-2009, 08:42 PM #15
I see what you are saying and I would rather have an on card auto but, I think in most peoples eyes an auto is an auto. I hope you are right though and I am wrong, only time will tell
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01-06-2009, 09:24 PM #16
It's funny. This same discussion about market flooding, taking the fun out of the hobby, etc. has been discussed before. Anybody remember when Upper Deck released in 1989? Old-timers were complaining about the same thing: "Two dollars a pack? They're ruining the hobby! What kid wants to spend two dollars on one pack of cards when he can four at that price?" Yet, here we are. The hobby is as strong as ever, and I get autos from players that are obscure to most, but they're autos that I wouldn't have otherwise. I never try to collect every card released. It hard enough doing it with just 4 companies (UD, Fleer, Donruss, and Topps).
Great topic, btw. It never gets old.
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01-06-2009, 09:37 PM #17
I am happy with the way collecting is going there are products out there that are just amazing, I just don't like the way prices are going, I think we need to get a handle on it. I think I have come up with the answer though, if you take a look back sometime before 1996-97 pretty much one card company had one product, I think that's what we need again. Fill it with inserts, autos, refractors, or whatever you want to put in it but one product per company, well one might not be enough but you get the idea. I just think that would be a step in the right direction.
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01-06-2009, 09:55 PM #18
Very ture, and great suggestion. I mean do we really need 5 different forms of the Exquisite product, with Premier, Black, Ultimate Collections, and Chronology?
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01-06-2009, 10:16 PM #19
I agree. This would solve a lot of the flooding. Thankfully, when Fleer was eliminated/absorbed by UD, a lot of excess product went out as well, but there are still quite a few products out there in basketball.
Anyhow, yes, this discussion never gets old, and lots of great points by everyone, lol.
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01-06-2009, 10:19 PM #20
but you know this will never happen the card companys would loose too much money, from a collectors stand point I like all the products because it gives me a lot to choose from, but its just killing the hobby. I will always collect because I like it, I would never try and make a profit, if I see a card I really want I buy it or try and trade for it. I mean I collect players like: Ronnie Brewer, Rodney Carney, Craig Smith, and Paul Millsap, and my favorite team is the Timberwolves so you pretty much know I am not going to be making a profit off of any of those guys. I have all the big name autos CP3, D. Will, bynum but I would gladley trade those for my pc players, because I am in it for the joy of collecting. Now having said all that, don't misunderstand I wouldn't trade a cp3 auto for a $20 ronnie brewer auto but if the deal was right I would care. That's just the way i think.
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Originally Posted by jeebus86 
