Collect, Sell, Otherwise?

[DLinney]

First I want to apologize if this topic has been discussed in the past, if so please delete this thread.

The question I have for you guys is, what is your primary reason for buying packs of cards? Is it to build a very nice personal collection, the thrill, or to turn a profit?

Also what is favorite brand cards for whatever reason you buy packs?

I ask this question because I'm just getting back into cards and would love to get a fresh perspective (other than my wife's) from you guys.

Thanks

[toddhead]

I open packs with my daughter simply for the fun of it and the thrill of the hunt. She dreams of hitting a Bryce Harper auto and even though I explain that we could probably save up and buy one instead of buying packs she can't resist the thrill.

The odd thing is that she picks random autos that we pull and claims they can never be traded or sold. Still haven't figured out why she picks the ones she does... I don't think I will ever be able to get into the mind of a 9 year old girl.

[jewcer2k5]

I collect b/c I enjoy searching for specific cards and I enjoy getting the cards that I want. I also do it to make some money but I only buy cards I like.

That being said a lot of people on the boards are chromies, they only want bowman chrome auto's b/c those are the cornerstone to any collection of a specific player.

Personally I have started taking a liking to Five Star and TTT and other higher end types of products. You have to pick something that you enjoy.

[StayingWarm]

Welcome to the boards!

I collect because it makes me feel like a kid again. I know few joys greater than ripping into a fresh box of wax or getting the card that completes a set I've worked on for a while.

It was a shock to me when I got back into collecting just how many products there are. There's just no way to collect even a fraction of what's out there. I changed from being a base set builder to picking a few things I like at a time, working on them as long as they're fun and changing it up when it stops being fun.

One thing I never got into is "super-collecting". No disrespect to those who do it, but I just choose to not hero-worship a single player. Instead, I spread it out a bit among products and teams that I like. Here's a sample of what I currently have going on:

* 2012 Topps Tribute Cincinnati Reds autographs - I love the way this set looks, with a clean design, unique encased packaging and on-card autos. I bought a couple cards as part of a greater "buy Reds autos" project and before I knew it, I started hoarding them. I have some sick fascination that I could one day own all 99 Jay Bruce or Brandon Phillips cards from this set (+ some /50, /25, /etc versions). And yes, I realize this is creepier than super-collecting :o)

* 2012-13 Panini Preferred Blue Autograph set (basketball)- 100 cards, with a nice mix of current and past players (including Bird, Magic, Kobe and some other good ones). I can buy commons for a few bucks each, and every once in a while pull the trigger on a bigger name. I generally like this model, and have used it with 2011 Topps Lineage Mini Relics (cool 1975 design) and 2005 Upper Deck Legends Football autos sets, among others.

* 1999 & 2000 Upper Deck Legends Auto sets - Similar to above. Mostly HOF-quality players with great design and on-card autos. These sets are a slow burn for me as I have all the "easy" ones and I don't have enough money in the collecting fund to buy some of the big ones, but it's fun to search for the occasional deal. I'll complete these sets one day...

* 2005 Topps All-American Chrome sets (Football) - Just started this one. At a few bucks a card, these don't break the bank. It's more of a challenge just to find them, as most are either sitting in someone's personal collection or are gathering dust in dealers' dollar boxes. I'm about 50% done with the sets (gold & silver).

* Cincinnati Royals NBA cards, especially Oscar Robertson - I just get a kick out of knowing Cincy used to have an NBA team, and think it's cool I can pick up cards of them. If Big O is in a Bucks jersey on a card, I could care less. But if he's sporting a Royals jersey...I'm in!

Sorry for the book, but thanks for letting me share what I love to collect. I hope that you find some things that you're as passionate about as I am about these. Good luck, and happy hunting!

[DLinney]

I open packs with my daughter simply for the fun of it and the thrill of the hunt. She dreams of hitting a Bryce Harper auto and even though I explain that we could probably save up and buy one instead of buying packs she can't resist the thrill.

The odd thing is that she picks random autos that we pull and claims they can never be traded or sold. Still haven't figured out why she picks the ones she does... I don't think I will ever be able to get into the mind of a 9 year old girl.

What you said is the exact reason I got back into cards. I can't wait to share the experience with my child.

[DLinney]

Sorry for the book, but thanks for letting me share what I love to collect. I hope that you find some things that you're as passionate about as I am about these. Good luck, and happy hunting!

Thanks for the great info and sharing your thoughts.

[cross4444]

So many reasons:

#1: I love baseball and cards are a time-honored tradition of recording baseball history.

#2: The thrill of it. Unlike many, I'm not talking just about the thrill of pulling a high-dollar "hit", because if I was in this for the money I'd be an idiot. I'm talking about the thrill of hitting that card of my favorite guy, or a card that I know one of my trading buddies will love, or best of all, a card I need to finish a set.

#3: The social aspect. I enjoy talking about cards and baseball through my blog and with other collectors on forums like this one.

[centereacan06]

Well, I am part of every "subcategory" of collecting. I have my fair share of PCs that will stay we me forever (Zack Wheeler, David Wright, [most likely] Rafael Montero, other Mets, complete sets, etc...), but also some "investments" (Andrew Aplin, Braden Shipley). However, for the most part, any card I sell goes right back into the hobby as I will either buy more PC cards, boxes/packs, or trade-bait.

I open packs because of the thrill. What's inside the packs is completely unknown. You could get nothing but base, or a $1,000 1/1 auto. But, whether I get the former or the latter, I still make the best of it (Can send the base TTM for autographs that will go into the NFT/FS PC).

Also, collecting gives me another reason to have fun with my little brother (9 years old). He loves to open packs and to trade with me (usually base cards). He doesn't understand that base cards are worth so little compared to what other cards are available in the hobby, so it really brings out the fun so much more. A $1 relic card is the Holy Grail and pulling a Bryce Harper $1 Topps base RC is an unforgettable moment.

I hope my kids and grandkids love the hobby as much as I do.

[rob11nats]

I rip packs because I'm an addict haha.

I usually sell my pulls for a few cents on the dollar and put the money towards Nationals PC stuff or Red Sox stuff for my little brother.

[friarbolt]

I like gambling, and busting wax is gambling. It's thrilling to open packs and hope to hit a big card.

With how expensive it is there is really no other reason to bust wax with the exception of just purely doing it for fun. If your building a PC or investing singles are 100% the only way to go.

[superjames27]

i do it out of pure fun nothing like an adrenaline rush of opening a pack or winning that pc card on ebay at the last second

[joey_peapod]

I do it because I can finally afford all the Griffey cards I never knew existed when I was I kid! It's fun to get to know other collectors. It's also fun to be able to find cards from your networks that never appear on eBay. It's still fun to find 90s inserts I really had never seen before.

[metsplaya123]

I do it because its fun and I love making money while doing something fun. It makes sports even more exciting which I never thought was possible!

I open packs because of the gamble and the other reason is because sometimes it's harder to find something, so I hope to find it in a pack or box