Been out of the sportscard game for the past decade...wtf??
 

I stopped collecting about 12 years ago when I was spending too much money on cards. But now my son who is turning 12 next week wanted to get some baseball cards so I went to order a box of something. Then I looked at the prices and could no believe pricing on hobby boxes. I used to buy a few boxes of each release, it was super fun to open. But it doesnt seem worth it at all with pricing now.

So, what on earth happened to the pricing?

The prices you see today are what box break participants are collectively willing to pay for someone to open the box for them in front of a camera.

The yield is no better than a decade ago, however the top pulls have a much higher price ceiling.

It’s the gamification/gamblification of the hobby at the click of a button.

I used to get a hobby box every year for Christmas and my Birthday… and if it was over $100? Late 80’s and early 90’s

That stuff better be gold

[QUOTE=imnotded;19981866]I stopped collecting about 12 years ago when I was spending too much money on cards. But now my son who is turning 12 next week wanted to get some baseball cards so I went to order a box of something. Then I looked at the prices and could no believe pricing on hobby boxes. I used to buy a few boxes of each release, it was super fun to open. But it doesnt seem worth it at all with pricing now.

So, what on earth happened to the pricing?[/QUOTE]

Gambling

As mentioned above

No one normal actually buys boxes anymore (hobby)

They buy into breaks and/or overpay at Target

Which is also ridiculously priced

OP,

Still have any singles? If so, check sold listings of your best cards and do the happy dance!

[QUOTE=imnotded;19981866]I stopped collecting about 12 years ago when I was spending too much money on cards. But now my son who is turning 12 next week wanted to get some baseball cards so I went to order a box of something. Then I looked at the prices and could no believe pricing on hobby boxes. I used to buy a few boxes of each release, it was super fun to open. But it doesnt seem worth it at all with pricing now.

So, what on earth happened to the pricing?[/QUOTE]

Are you thinking about purchasing to make money at some point in the future or for the current enjoyment of the experience with your son?

[QUOTE=eastbayak;19981873]OP,

Still have any singles? If so, check sold listings of your best cards and do the happy dance![/QUOTE]

This. Boxes may be expensive, but you will also be shocked by what your singles are now worth from 12+ years ago.

Stick with Topps flagship and Topps heritage for now.

[QUOTE=imnotded;19981866]I stopped collecting about 12 years ago when I was spending too much money on cards. But now my son who is turning 12 next week wanted to get some baseball cards so I went to order a box of something. Then I looked at the prices and could no believe pricing on hobby boxes. I used to buy a few boxes of each release, it was super fun to open. But it doesnt seem worth it at all with pricing now.

So, what on earth happened to the pricing?[/QUOTE]

Bidenomics

the hobby has become a unregulated casino

/thread

[QUOTE=JeffG1954;19981875]Are you thinking about purchasing to make money at some point in the future or for the current enjoyment of the experience with your son?[/QUOTE]

Its not about making money, but its nice to get some return. Been watching some Topps Chrome breaks and $200-$300 for a bobby box and getting a $5 auto and a possible buyback is crazy. Its different when you just get a dud box, but after watching a couple cases opened its just brutal.

All that being said, opening is part of the fun. Buying singles is fun too, but nearly as good as pulling a PC card. I think Topps Chrome was like $70/hobby box when I last bought it.

[QUOTE=imnotded;19982006]Its not about making money, but its nice to get some return. Been watching some Topps Chrome breaks and $200-$300 for a bobby box and getting a $5 auto and a possible buyback is crazy. Its different when you just get a dud box, but after watching a couple cases opened its just brutal.

All that being said, opening is part of the fun. Buying singles is fun too, but nearly as good as pulling a PC card. I think Topps Chrome was like $70/hobby box when I last bought it.[/QUOTE]

If boxes were $70 today, most would still be losers.

Remember when the big hits were autographs, now they are unnumbered insert cards. In the end collectors are stupid and the card companies are geniuses.

[QUOTE=imnotded;19982006]Its not about making money, but its nice to get some return. Been watching some Topps Chrome breaks and $200-$300 for a bobby box and getting a $5 auto and a possible buyback is crazy. Its different when you just get a dud box, but after watching a couple cases opened its just brutal.

All that being said, opening is part of the fun. Buying singles is fun too, but nearly as good as pulling a PC card. I think Topps Chrome was like $70/hobby box when I last bought it.[/QUOTE]


Don’t worry! Topps finest and archives are coming out soon.

I believe Archives comes out tomorrow or Wednesday. Just check the Topps website.

You can relive that glorious pack opening.

I’ll probably pick up a box of the finest, or wait for update. I too like ripping. I haven’t done too bad this far, and it’s great collecting with my son.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[QUOTE=timber63401;19982032]If boxes were $70 today, most would still be losers.[/QUOTE]

We're all losers, we collect baseball cards. We're barely a step above playing with Legos, Disney adults, cosplay, if we're above them at all.

[QUOTE=PuddleMonkey;19982151]We're all losers, we collect baseball cards. We're barely a step above playing with Legos, Disney adults, cosplay, if we're above them at all.[/QUOTE]

I was gently making fun of my sister about her cloning, propagating and selling rare plant buds on eBay, and then I remembered I collected little pieces of cardboard with arbitrary gold stamps declaring their rarity, encased in plastic tombs with a subjective numerical value assigned to them declaring their worth…

Then I got drunk.

[QUOTE=PuddleMonkey;19982151]We're all losers, we collect baseball cards. We're barely a step above playing with Legos, Disney adults, cosplay, if we're above them at all.[/QUOTE]

cosplay is way cooler than sports cards

want to see crazy prices? go check out the price of a basketball or football hobby box and baseball looks like peanuts

[QUOTE=imnotded;19981866]I stopped collecting about 12 years ago when I was spending too much money on cards. But now my son who is turning 12 next week wanted to get some baseball cards so I went to order a box of something. Then I looked at the prices and could no believe pricing on hobby boxes. I used to buy a few boxes of each release, it was super fun to open. But it doesnt seem worth it at all with pricing now.

So, what on earth happened to the pricing?[/QUOTE]

Get your son and run away from cards as fast as you can.

[QUOTE=PuddleMonkey;19982151]We're all losers, we collect baseball cards. We're barely a step above playing with Legos, Disney adults, cosplay, if we're above them at all.[/QUOTE]

Is Marshall Fogle a loser?

I THINK NOT!!!

[QUOTE=PuddleMonkey;19982151]We're all losers, we collect baseball cards. We're barely a step above playing with Legos, Disney adults, cosplay, if we're above them at all.[/QUOTE]

When the Lego Movie came out...I realized that the movie was about me. I was Lord Business.

With three boys who are grown and have kept (disassembled) all of their old sets, I am likely Lego rich.

[QUOTE=EBCollectibles;19982265]Get your son and run away from cards as fast as you can.[/QUOTE]

Just run away from packs and toward the singles boxes. Skip the $1000 box of 2018 Topps Update and buy the PSA 9 Acuna Bat Down for around $225... or whatever comparison you prefer.

[QUOTE=DylanPowers92;19982216]want to see crazy prices? go check out the price of a basketball or football hobby box and baseball looks like peanuts[/QUOTE]

My kiddo likes Pokemon. Gotta love when you go to the store to see that packs are all sold out -- meanwhile you watch videos of "collectors" buying up all the stock, open the packs before getting to the parking lot, and chucking 95% of the cards into the trash can

[QUOTE=Handsome Wes;19982355]My kiddo likes Pokemon. Gotta love when you go to the store to see that packs are all sold out -- meanwhile you watch videos of "collectors" buying up all the stock, open the packs before getting to the parking lot, and chucking 95% of the cards into the trash can[/QUOTE]

Get the 95% out of the trash can. Free cards. Everyone wins.

[QUOTE=premium1981;19982363]Get the 95% out of the trash can. Free cards. Everyone wins.[/QUOTE]

If you have a place to store it, some of that Pokémon "trash" suddenly gets worth a little when the card becomes more playable. Likewise for anyone who picked out those Cal Raleigh base Topps a few years ago while the ripper only kept the Wander Francos.