Money Spent On Hobby

[Chris]

How much do you guys spend a week on the hobby?

What do you usually buy?

[chljoe]

I don't buy boxes as much as I used to. I usually just go for singles of my player collections from Ebay. Sometimes I spend nothing in a week, sometimes maybe $50 or $100, but that is rare.

[abnascar22]

I was spending WAY too much, that's why I finally quit. I bought probably a box per racing release (generally $70-90 per box), plus every time I went to Walmart or Target, I'd buy a few packs or a retail box ($20-30). I'd say at least $1,500 a year on cards (boxes, packs, ebay, card shows), plus over $300 a year just at the post office, just mailing, no money orders.

It was too much for this college student.

Alex

[Chris]

Is very expensive hobby

thats why i got out of it 10 or so years ago lol

[doniceage]

I usually don't spend a lot of money. I have not bought a card on ebay in years. So that along saves me a ton of dough as you say if your on EBAY you get the addiction to spend and spend. Not having a account cures those vices.

As for money at boxes at a cardshop never as they are too highly priced compared to some of the bigger and direct dealers. As sometimes the hobby shops get their thru a middle man (not direct) so their prices have to be naturally higher by as the products changed hands more than 1 unlike if they were direct.

I usually do one or two shows a year which I think is the best thing over buying a box. 1) I get to meet people and do a lot of trades which we all talk about is what the hobby is all about. 2) I get to be on the side of the dealer so when people are looking to sell I have a advantage and I have picked up some nice pieces for friends, my pc, etc. So from that standpoint alone a show is worth it. 3) Being set up at a show lets you be patience and you get to truly shop, browse, and look over all the items there unlike if your only there for a few hours. 4) then your also there for the whole show duration allows you to sell, meet new collectors, etc. for a great experience of which usually never happens when you go in and out in a hour or two.

The show cost me anywhere from 15 to 75 for a show as if it more expensive that is out of my league unless someone wanted to split a table but not many want to do that these days. I think everybody should try a show from time to time.

p.s. I would say I average about 20 or so a week on cards. Counting other stuff as in the trip itself, admission, autographs I pay for, etc. it jumps up. As there is food, gas, lodging, etc. which jacks up the bill. So probably a little over a few grand but that mostly NON CARD RELATED in the true sense.

DON

[etmill01]

I only buy boxes once a year and that is when I get my tax refund back, other than that the rest of the time I get a few packs here and there and a few cards of the players I collect...I would say with the boxes, packs, cards of who I collect and postage I probably spend about $1,000 a year..Thanks Ed

[Chris]

Not been if you can afford it because your doing something you love

[hagansp]

depends on the week...ive already bought $300+ worth of stuff off ebay in a week, and yet sometimes weeks go by and I dont by a thing, I look for deals, look for good buys, etc.

I dont buy as many boxes or packs as I did as a kid...Im more of a "profit" collector, I guess you could say now. I see dropping $150 on a box and pulling as your best card a scrub Rookie auto that books $40 and sells for $5 and noone wants to trade for it being a waste of money. So instead of paying $150 on that box, Ill spend $150 on the player(s) I want from that set and buy them off ebay and know Ill get what I want.

Example, 2003 SP Authentic, I really started getting away from boxes and packs in 03. I blew my money on 2 boxes of SP Authentic, pulled a Brian St Pierre patch (the highlight of the box) and the other box I got a auto of someone who noones knows. $300 down the drain for nothing...A month later instead of buying a $150 box, I paid $100 on a McGahee SP Authentic MultiColor Patch. Paid $50 less and got something I like sooooo much more.



It's a different way to collect, but I get more fun and enjoyment out of it, at least Im not kicking myself for blowing money on junk!

[hagansp]

wow Ed brings up a good point, between selling and trading, I dont even know what I spend shipping per year...Sometimes I go to the post office and spend $20 just mailing stuff!

[jeffgordon]

I wish I had the Hundreds of dollars to pay for 1 pack of cards. I just read an article in the beckett baseball how this person bought 1 pack of Sterling Silver baseball in the high hundreds $$$. He said he got decent players but the cards were damaged, rounded corners. He was ticked he got damaged cards for paying hundreds of dollars for 1 pack. This hobby is redicuious. Thank god nascar Press Pass and Wheels will never be outradious as these other sports. You know your not going to get rapped when buying racing cards. Yeah they may not be worth as much, but you get quality and decent cards with decent race used.