Is collecting still fun?

[bishop2knight]

I'm curious to see if others still find the hobby to be fun. Sometimes I have a hard time remembering what was fun about it.

First off, I always will love opening packs. But at today's prices compared to getting what I want (Packers) it's hard to justify.

But another thing I love is having a hard time finding cards. But now, if I want a team set of Packers, or need a rookie, or want an auto, all I need to do is hunt the Internet for a couple of weeks and I have it.

Another thing I'm having a hard time with lately is I don't know what to collect. There are just so many cards out there, it's sometimes hard to determine what to get.

I'm rambling, but I do enjoy this hobby, but I want to find a way to continue that feeling. Right now, I buy something and get little or no satisfaction from getting the card(s).

[Molina00]

I still get a feeling of satisfaction when I get wins like a Dennis Eckersley auto that books for $40 and I pay $7 like I did the other day. I don't have much trouble deciding what to collect because I like building the regular Topps sets and collect certain Rangers. If it wasn't for baseball cards, I would have very little fun and enjoyment in my life. I don't know if that sounds rediculous but I really have no life.
Just buy what you like and if you like too much, do what I do and buy whats cheap. Which isn't much these days.

[Knight302]

Originally posted by bishop2knight
I'm curious to see if others still find the hobby to be fun. Sometimes I have a hard time remembering what was fun about it.

First off, I always will love opening packs. But at today's prices compared to getting what I want (Packers) it's hard to justify.

But another thing I love is having a hard time finding cards. But now, if I want a team set of Packers, or need a rookie, or want an auto, all I need to do is hunt the Internet for a couple of weeks and I have it.

Another thing I'm having a hard time with lately is I don't know what to collect. There are just so many cards out there, it's sometimes hard to determine what to get.

I'm rambling, but I do enjoy this hobby, but I want to find a way to continue that feeling. Right now, I buy something and get little or no satisfaction from getting the card(s).

First,I still find collecting fun but for reasons other than when I first started some 23 years ago.

Years ago,I jumped into collecting because I had some allowance money adding up and it was just burning a hole in my pocket. I went to a department store here called Richway (it is now Target,I don't know where Richway went).That day,I found a record player for $10 (my brother still has it now) and saw some baseball cards.I didn't look at them from an investment standpoint but just as a whim to see what they were like.There in the first pack was a Chris Chambliss card.I kept going through the packs and saw some Braves cards and from then on,it was history.I began saving them and amassed a nice collection and started trading with my friends.

Now,my collecting has taken some different turns.I still don't look at it as an investment but as a way to escape the everyday 9 to 5 thing and relax my mind with stats,sets,players and living my childhood again.I have also introduced my son to the hobby and enjoy showing him various things about cards and teaching them history from the cards (yea,sports history...lol).I like the challenges of some of todays sets.I get a thrill from "the hunt" for particular cards both from packs and from auctions.I still trade here with some friends and have different trade material I use for on-line trading.I don't seem to ever tire of collecting.

Another thing I'm having a hard time with lately is I don't know what to collect.

It's difficult to tell you what to do here.I do both sets and a few players.Find a focus that is attainable yet challenging.Stick to it.I like trying to build master or near master sets and in all honesty,it's not anymore expensive going to the bay and buying what you want than it is to buy chances on boxes.It's really an individual's choice.What interests you? Why? What's out there that would fill that interest and how do you go about it?

-Frank-

[Travaje]

I just started collecting again. I enjoy buying a box and the excitement of opening packs and finding how lucky I am. I define lucky by:

1. Finding cards of players I really like, regardless if I am collecting them or not.

2. Pulling really hard to get cards. I just pulled a dual GU that was 1:144 packs, and I think that's huge! But then again, why keep buying boxes until you do get that hard to find card, when you can not only find it on Ebay, you can get it for only 20% percent of the worth. Why spend $75-100 on a box of cards trying to find a 1 in 6 box card that may book $50 but only sell for $10 or 15? You can buy all the cards you want from a product and still not pay the full price of one box. So why buy the box? It's like if you want to enjoy the thrill of opening the box, you take responsibility that you're a sucker and your cards are only worth a fraction of their book.

If the cards aren't really worth what they are booked, the book should reflect that, and then in turn, the prices of the boxes should go down, especially when there's 5 or 6 different kinds of one company, like Upper Deck. Otherwise everyone's gonna get smart and stop buying the boxes and then the hobby will be dead. If I don't think I can get at least 75% BV, I'll just keep the card. They're all nice cards, and I like to look at them, the point of getting them in the first place.

[pwaldo]

Originally posted by bishop2knight
I'm curious to see if others still find the hobby to be fun. Sometimes I have a hard time remembering what was fun about it.

First off, I always will love opening packs. But at today's prices compared to getting what I want (Packers) it's hard to justify.

But another thing I love is having a hard time finding cards. But now, if I want a team set of Packers, or need a rookie, or want an auto, all I need to do is hunt the Internet for a couple of weeks and I have it.

Another thing I'm having a hard time with lately is I don't know what to collect. There are just so many cards out there, it's sometimes hard to determine what to get.

I'm rambling, but I do enjoy this hobby, but I want to find a way to continue that feeling. Right now, I buy something and get little or no satisfaction from getting the card(s).

You sound like me about 10 years ago.

I left the hobby because I was confused with all the new products, was tired of getting ripped off, and I had lost the fun of opening up packs.

I didn't buy any new packs or cards for about 3 years until I found this card shop that I stopped in. I had some extra time and said what the hey I'll just look around and see what I had been missing.

Since then I've gotten back into the hobby and ENJOY it a lot more know. I'm focused on who and what I want to collect and I love to open packs again. Also I love getting cards cheap and eBay has a ton of great cards for under $7.50.

I don't know if the stores are in your area but check out the boxes in Kmart and Target that are $9.99. They have a good selection of packs in each one and they aren't searched and you pay about a $1 a pack. You can't beat those.

Also try and find a GOOD Cardshop in your area. Not one that will rip you off but one that will give you deals and will be fun to go into every week. It may take some time to find one but once you do you will gain a lot more out of it then your having know.

Also don't get confused by all the new products. I can't even name half the baseball sets that came out this year. I just stick to certain one's that I like (Topps, Bowman, etc) and don't even give the other ones a second look.

[stkmtimo]

I still find the hobby a lot of fun, though it does require some investment.

Just wondering, how old are you guys? Always like to find out when people started collecting.

Thanks,
Tim

[john1170]

I am 32 and started opening packs in 1977. I have attempted to get out on a few occassions but I have come to the conclusion that it will be in my blood forever. I still have a lot of fun opening new packs even though they cost an arm and a leg. I have narrowed down what I collect for my personal collection and the rest I enjoy wheeling and dealing.

[supermegadork]

I agree with the trav man. I just can not justify busting packs open at $100 a box to try to find the 1 card I really want in that set. For the cost of the box, i just buy it on the bay. But, in the same way, it has taken a lot of the fun out of the hobby.

I still love the thrill of watching an ebay auction and bidding, especially when you pay $20 for a card that usually sells for double that because the seller listed it on a bad day or it ended at a bad time.

I still think though that a card sells at a specific fraction of book price. I think if someone looked in Beckett and saw that a card booked for $150, they would have little problem bidding $75 on it. Lets say this same exact card books fopr $75, I guarantee you it will not sell for $75, I bet it would sell in the $40-$50 range tops. (yes, this is an overexagerated generalization) Unless it is a brand new rookie card of the current year. It seems to me that a lot of some player's cards are selling way above book, but Beckett adjusts too slowly on new releases in my opinion...

I think the big fun 10-15 years ago for me as a kid was completing a set, but now with pack prices what they are, it is rediculous to try to complete a set. Maybe this is only because I am a disgruntled adult who ca no longer afford the fun things in life :(

[Travaje]

I'm 23. I collected hockey when I was a kid, from 93-95. I just got back into cards in July, I started with some MVP and now that i'm learning the ropes, indulging in the higher-priced packs/boxes.

I do intend to deal my cards eventually but I'm holding them until I'm ready to part with them, because I really like them. I'm a ebay virgin and a little hesitant. I collect strictly for the thrill of busting packs and boxes, and to get me into this season, to follow the sport more and have some fun with it and invest in some good cards. I would like to sell what I eventually don't want, but not for lower than half of the BV.

I know when I was 14 I was selling lots of cards to people, even out to Canada a lot, and getting BV all the time, getting great trades, and not having to pay fees, it was a free message board on AOL back then. Things have changed so much in 9 years in the hobby. It's so "oh, it's just an insert, it's not a GU, probally can't even get 2 bucks for it" now...all inserts are cool if you ask me. I even get excited about base cards, and think they are worth every penny, even if they are worth 50 cents. Maybe I should sell it for 15 cents? Nah.

Not trying to sound disgruntled..sorry :)

[BlackDiam0nd66]

I love collecting!! I totally agree with what Frank said, it is an escape from the rat race, and I also don't collect as an investment...lol....if I did I wouldn't have cards of some of the players I have :p

I rarely open wax, and when I do, it is of the $9.99-$19.99 Target/Toys r us/Kmart variety. I collect 3 players (trying for all their cards) Errict Rhett, Travis Prentice, Matthew Hatchette....those 3 names right there tell you I am NOT in this for investment...lol ;) I do also collect certified autographs, again, not for investment purposes! I especially enjoy the autos of the players I grew up watching way back when (when they actually wore animal skin and hit the ball with a club...LOL) nahhh...I'm only 39....but I love collecting players graphs that played from the 50's-70's the most! I was just wondering to myself the other day how often other collectors take out their cards and look over them, sort them, etc. It is a daily thing for me. I love just grabbing a soda, my box of cards (biiiig box...lol) and sitting cross legged on the couch watching baseball/football/basketball/any other sport that happens to be on, and going through my cards. It may seem stupid to a number of people, but it is something that I enjoy, and will continue to do until I can do it no more. I have had my ups and downs with the hobby, but I won't let the downs "keep me down".

Well, talk about rambling...LOL.....sorry all, but to answer the question...YES!!!! Collecting is still fun! :D

Peace,
Rima