How long can you go without purchasing anything sports cards related?

[hermanotarjeta]

I’ve been collecting for decades and I don’t think I’ve gone more than 3 weeks without buying something sports cards related.

In the event of a time out or boycott, for example, exactly how long do you think you could realistically hold off on purchasing a sports card related item/service in any form - packs/singles/boxes/supplies/grading/breaking? I suppose trading would be fine since you would not be contributing any new money into the hobby?

How strong is your conviction when it comes to this hobby?

[ThoseBackPages]

this is a great question!

[dashcol]

I don’t really buy that much anymore, I have shifted to mainly trading.

So for me I could go years without buying anything, but probably a month or so without trading.

[boxbuster7]

I find it comes and goes with Wax. I really think my interest in ripping is at an all time low just because of how diluted the products are these days.

I buy and sell different cards everyday, but honestly I feel like I could go cold turkey if I wanted to and cut back my inventory under 100,000 cards. I definitely think the future is uncertain for the industry. And every day fanatics seems to make me think this more.

So I'm trying to stick to cards that I can either flip quickly or hold long term. But I'm finding the long term holds just aren't popping up too often so it is more just surfing the internet more than actively buying. The manufacturers really have printed too much crap.

I've always traded the cycles of the seasons, but NBA is definitely broken. MLB and NFL are very top heavy right now also.

So I find the active managing part of it to be less these days and just letting things sell when they sell and be patient.

[UCCF]

I went 15 years without buying anything. It wasn't that tough.

[hermanotarjeta]

I went 15 years without buying anything. It wasn't that tough.

You did this despite staying active in the hobby?

How in the world did you accomplish that?

[ThoseBackPages]

I went 15 years without buying anything. It wasn't that tough.

and you came back? :coffee:

[packman80]

traded my card collection yeas back and went into sports memorbila. Now even that last few years hardly bought anything as really don't need anything new. Nicer to have money in the bank then spend it on more sports stuff.

[MiamiMarlinsFan]

I am the master of my own domain.

[ThoseBackPages]

I'm OUT!

[chris_ac]

These topics are becoming dystopian. I assumed many who post regularly these days seem to not really pursue cards or not modern. Vintage is fine and you can say you’re active that way but it’s a finite pursuit and seems to lack creativity. Today’s overproduction which creates all kinds of cards both good and bad and some that are cheap because they are just lost in the shuffle still is what makes the collecting possible today even among the overpriced or overhyped stuff.

But all these thread starters about how psychological taste/distaste or habits or why you choose to buy/sell what you do in this market (hobby). Makes me verklempted…

To answer the dire OP. No number. Always. Life needs lemonade from the lemons you won’t eat.

[Americards]

1 or 2 days

[MiamiMarlinsFan]

I'm OUT!

Haha… I’m sympathetic, but I was a little surprised by how easily I quit comic books back in 2016 once I physically ran out of room for them. I was able to go cold turkey on actions many many moons ago when I realized how bulky they were to store. So I can only assume that if the day ever comes when I either need to, or want to, quit cards I probably can.

[ThoseBackPages]

Haha… I’m sympathetic, but I was a little surprised by how easily I quit comic books back in 2016 once I physically ran out of room for them. I was able to go cold turkey on actions many many moons ago when I realized how bulky they were to store. So I can only assume that if the day ever comes when I either need to, or want to, quit cards I probably can.

you know, i have similar feelings on the comics and toys!

[no10pin]

I run through cycles. There are times where I'm searching eBay every day and probably buying something several times a week.

There are other times when I just get tired of looking at cards for awhile, and I may not buy/sell anything for a month or so.

[SupermanBrandon]

you know, i have similar feelings on the comics and toys!

I need more 80s toys in original packaging in my life

[ThoseBackPages]

I need more 80s toys in original packaging in my life

Yes, YES YOU DO!

[MiamiMarlinsFan]

you know, i have similar feelings on the comics and toys!

I’ve never actually tried quitting sports cards since I started, so who knows! The longest I’ve gone is two weeks. Definitely not anything span longer than that. While sports cards is newish for me, I’ve loved baseball since for as long as I can remember, so it was an easy hook for me.

[asujbl]

The rest of my life. Would be super easy. Barely an inconvenience

If I had a reason to

[Bunny Hop]

The rest of my life. Would be super easy. Barely an inconvenience

If I had a reason to

Wow wow wow wow ... wow.

[boxbuster7]

These topics are becoming dystopian. I assumed many who post regularly these days seem to not really pursue cards or not modern. Vintage is fine and you can say you’re active that way but it’s a finite pursuit and seems to lack creativity. Today’s overproduction which creates all kinds of cards both good and bad and some that are cheap because they are just lost in the shuffle still is what makes the collecting possible today even among the overpriced or overhyped stuff.

But all these thread starters about how psychological taste/distaste or habits or why you choose to buy/sell what you do in this market (hobby). Makes me verklempted…

To answer the dire OP. No number. Always. Life needs lemonade from the lemons you won’t eat.

I kind of agree with this post. There are so many ways to enjoy cards. The simple answer to all these threads we see is do what makes you happy. If you aren't enjoying it, then take a break.

[mfw13]

I could go several months without buying anything.

But the reality is that cards on my wantlist(s) pop up every couple of days, so I don't think I've ever gone more than a week or so without actually making a purchase on EBay.

[UCCF]

and you came back? :coffee:

Sure why not? I collected when I was younger, I took a break, then I came back. That doesn't feel so crazy.

[eastbayak]

If needed, I can quit for several years (as I had done during HS/college).

Fortunately, I won't ever need to.

[ThoseBackPages]

Sure why not? I collected when I was younger, I took a break, then I came back. That doesn't feel so crazy.

i hear ya!

[MoreToppsPlease]

I’ve been collecting for decades and I don’t think I’ve gone more than 3 weeks without buying something sports cards related.

In the event of a time out or boycott, for example, exactly how long do you think you could realistically hold off on purchasing a sports card related item/service in any form - packs/singles/boxes/supplies/grading/breaking? I suppose trading would be fine since you would not be contributing any new money into the hobby?

How strong is your conviction when it comes to this hobby?

An equally good, or perhaps better, question is how long can you exist in the hobby without selling cards?

[hermanotarjeta]

An equally good, or perhaps better, question is how long can you exist in the hobby without selling cards?

I think that would be a lot easier.

Just buy cards and store them away, never having to deal with selling them - you could do that for an entire lifetime, especially if you are a hoarder.

[KhalDrogo]

An equally good, or perhaps better, question is how long can you exist in the hobby without selling cards?
The best question is how long can you go without leaving negative feedback for shipping costs you agreed to?

[MoreToppsPlease]

The best question is how long can you go without leaving negative feedback for shipping costs you agreed to?

Don’t be such a sour puss, just think of it as constructive criticism.

Next time, just package your deliveries better and you won’t get rung up.

[theplasticman]

I voted for several months.

My want lists are small. It's a matter of locating something I actually need.

[RedLabelRecords]

I’ve always wandered by the card aisles at target. As long as I’m in one I can’t resist. Especially heritage products.