What's this hobby come to?

[Grant]

The most unbelievable thing happened to me tonight. I had been watching these auctions for the whole time they had been up. The auctions were as follows:
1) Clinton Portis Game Used Turf Shoes he wore against Colts in the Playoffs
2) Clinton Portis Game Used Gloves he wore against Colts in playoffs.
These were NFL auctions.

Had the high bids on both auctions until tonight. I have to work, but I stayed up late just to make sure I won. Well noone had bid again until like 2 minutes left. Saw the bids on the shoes were 550. I bid 1000. Said I was outbid. Bid 1500, outbid, 2000, outbid, 2100, outbid. Give me a BREAK! $2100 and still outbid??
Gloves I got outbid with a mere 1 second to go. 1 damn second and they were mine. Gloves sold for $760, my bid was 750. I say that this hobby is getting way to expensive. Anyone who has any input on anything about prices of things nowadays and/or personal experiences, post them. I would love to hear other sad stories to help me feel better about myself.

[samhall]

Its unbeliveable...
I collect for the fun...
My friends collect for the $$$
is the end comming?
With the flood of jersey cards,
....What gonna keep the hobby alive in 50 yrs?
What is there gonna be
were all gonna get sick of jerseys and autos maybe.. even SP's
what is gonna come out that gonna keep us all attatched?
A game used finger nail card?
A game used piece of hair?
How far are we going to push this?
I know im exagerating but think about it?
I hope you guys understand. I collect for the fun...But the cards i have no wants for these days i have to sell them so i can buy more of what i like! Im just a teenager and its hard for me to buy an $80 dollar box...How do they expect kids to buy cards when packs a like $5!!! They should be like a buck so kids can buy and enjoy them too...Or make it so retail can have more inserts..I donno...
Just my thoughts. I think the company thats doing the best is Donruss/playoff...You can write them a letter and get a response in just days. Then comes upper deck... there fast too...Topps is a little slower... and FLEER IS OMG HORRIBLE! DAMN!
thanks guys
sorry i talked so much
peace

[bootydaddy]

Just think of how sad you'd be if you bid $2100 for a pair of used Portis shoes, and won!

[j.e.lew]

Who in their right mind would pay that much for game worn shoes? or gloves? I could think of a million better things to do with 2 grand.

As far as the Hobby goes, it's the kids that complain that the hobby ripps them off, it's the older collectors that get blamed for this.. thats why i stick with vintage,I'd rather pay 5 bucks for a common from 1958 than a pack of crap now.

[6ace]

i collect because i love the bears but can live with a lesser value card in my collection when the bids get out of hand

[john1170]

Originally posted by j.e.lew
Who in their right mind would pay that much for game worn shoes? or gloves? I could think of a million better things to do with 2 grand.

As far as the Hobby goes, it's the kids that complain that the hobby ripps them off, it's the older collectors that get blamed for this.. thats why i stick with vintage,I'd rather pay 5 bucks for a common from 1958 than a pack of crap now.

I agree with this totally. Even though I still buy some newer product I get much more enjoyment buying older cards for a fraction of the price that these newer cards are at. I also get much more enjoyment opening a pack from the 70's then a newer pack. Instead of buying 1 Ultimate collection pack for $100 I would rather get 2-3 1977 Football rack packs. Much more exciting to me.

[Grant]

Well, it all depends on the person. Granted I like cards, it wouldve been nice to win those shoes. I like unique collectibles. I had no intentions of bidding that high, but when I get outbid and cant seem to outbid the other person, I just go blank and type in crazy figures. I looked at the guys recent auctions hes won and he won a bunch of NFL auctions ranging from 500-5000. I had no chance. I would take something I could keep forever and say yeah, I have the only pair of shoes/gloves he wore in a playoff game. To me, something like that is something to cherish. All depends on how big of a fan or what type of person you are.

[pr0phet]

Yeah im with je and john here.. 2k for a pair of shoes.. wow... why.. I thought you paid outragouse prices for those tickets man.. thats a bit bit too high.. You can go case hunting for something in that range

Jay

[Grant]

case hunting? like cases of cards? im high bidder on a case of 03 contenders as we speak

[podstock]

boy, it's amazing the amount of money people will pay for used equipment by athletes

just astounding!!