How many true collectors are there?

boxbuster7 · 07-19-2022, 05:12 PM

With cards being ubiquitous in the last couple years I'm interested to see what people think.

Going to define a true collector as somebody who puts cards first and money second. They can sell a card, but mostly collect for the pure enjoyment of it.

my guesses

Basketball: united states: 50,000 - worldwide 100,000
Football: united states: 75,000 - worldwide 100,000
Baseball: united states: 100,000 - worldwide 150,000

asujbl · 07-19-2022, 05:32 PM

Here we go…

1980bust · 07-19-2022, 06:30 PM

So you're asking how many hoarders of cards there are, with a preference to not cash in what they have to get new stuff, but just get throwing money into the pit?

Money gets cards gets money gets cards...

boxbuster7 · 07-19-2022, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1980bust

So you're asking how many hoarders of cards there are, with a preference to not cash in what they have to get new stuff, but just get throwing money into the pit?

Money gets cards gets money gets cards...

Before all this new money came into the equation, the hobby was about collecting. Which meant that most people used discretionary income to buy cards. Think about the people that collected exquisite cards from 2003/2004-2008/2009. It seems counterintuitive but the 'true collectors' probably had the highest gains out of anybody in how much their collections or (for lack of a better word), portfolios were worth.

I've always loved the game of buying and selling, probably even more than collecting. Sure I have my phoenix suns cards from the early 2000's, but I probably should've picked the lakers to collect if I wanted to make the most money.

So luck obviously is a factor as is your financial situation.

Vinny407 · 07-19-2022, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1980bust

So you're asking how many hoarders of cards there are, with a preference to not cash in what they have to get new stuff, but just get throwing money into the pit?

Money gets cards gets money gets cards...

When I started in this hobby in 92 at the age of 7, we didn’t call it “hoarding”, just collecting. I don’t blame all the new people in this hobby who joined over the last couple of years when prices went crazy. Why not make some quick money? Although it’ll take a long time for a lot of those people to realize it was just a fluke, It’ll become mainly a hobby again at some point. I never bought cards because of how much they may be worth in the future. It’s always just been an enjoyable hobby for me and worrying whether or not I made a good investment or lost a bunch of money would take a lot of the joy out of it. All that being said, yes, I did sell a bunch of 92 Topps Shaq rookies from my binder for like $40-$50 a piece during the “boom”, but I immediately used the funds for other PC stuff. So yes, there are still collectors. We’re just laying low until there’s not so many 94 UD base PSA 10’s to drudge through while looking for PC stuff.

Boo · 07-19-2022, 07:18 PM

4…just 4

oshmeehan · 07-19-2022, 07:27 PM

I've been buying and keeping solely Ersan Ilyasova for the past 17 years. What does that tell you?

bkcardcollector · 07-19-2022, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boo

4…just 4

are those in the us or international?

oldgoldy97 · 07-19-2022, 08:14 PM

I’m a hoarder because I didn’t need to sell to buy more. Maybe some people do.

clocsta2323 · 07-19-2022, 08:42 PM

The biggest losers in this hobby are the ones who feel compelled to incessantly distinguish themselves as collectors opposed to anything different.

cms11 · 07-19-2022, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1980bust

So you're asking how many hoarders of cards there are, with a preference to not cash in what they have to get new stuff, but just get throwing money into the pit?

Money gets cards gets money gets cards...

Hoarders is exactly how I define "true collectors". I'd say 99% of people in the hobby are buyers who sell most of their cards and only keep the ones they like the most.

boxbuster7 · 07-19-2022, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oshmeehan

I've been buying and keeping solely Ersan Ilyasova for the past 17 years. What does that tell you?

you are the truest of collectors.

SoccerRCs · 07-19-2022, 11:17 PM

I invest in what I like. : ) Mostly an investor here. Small time collecting. I'm going to the national for the first time. I will say, been watching card shows on youtube leading up to the national. It is amazing to me the astounding amount of money that people blow on absolute garbage. Many cards in the 10-500 range, even post massive correction, could go to 0 in a blink. Especially in the ultra modern category. I mean this stuff is completely and utterly prolific. A bazillion patches, autos and parallels. And it is multiplying like rabbits. Hard to believe the interest can be sustained at this rate. All the new younger collectors too... if they have no interest in older players and they entered during this, at some point you think, "Why am I paying 400 dollars for a green clown disco prizm of Julius Randle when I'm a high school student?" Or young professional or college student or whatever. And who on earth is ever going to be the exit liquidity for my green clown disco prizm, especially 6 years from now? There is a strata of cards that are truly special from a number of eras (and there will be some from the ultra modern era too) but many many many cards from the last 5 years are nothing more than 500 dollar coffee coasters.

LovelyLlamas · 07-20-2022, 12:04 AM

To me there is no definition of what a “true collector” is. There have always been flippers in this hobby and there are many different ways to collect, which makes it a very eclectic experience

I’ve been collecting Kris Humphries since 2005 and have acquired over 1000 autographs of him. I’m not in it for the money. I’m in it for the hunt and every step I can get closer to that 100% mark even if it is an impossible task.

When I was a kid in the 90’s I wanted to release my own Beckett like magazine only with pictures of every base card/insert set for reference with a rated description of the set. (1992-93 Fleer Total D was a Five star set, for example…1991-92 Fleer Base was a One star set). It was my own little virtual encyclopedia of releases. Of course, when 1/1 sets and 1997-98 UD jerseys came around I had to scale back what I could get as even common players in the law sets were very pricey. I used disposable cameras and taped a photo of the card into my hand written magazine. I’ll have to find them one day. Pretty sure they are still at my parents house.

Sorting out cards is like therapy for me. I love reading card backs of the older sets and learning fun facts like in 1992-93 Skybox…where it’s revealed that Rodney McCrays favorite movie is How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I don’t collect baseball but I buy the flagship factory set every year because I adore their write ups on the back for nobody prospects and how they have something nice to say about every player. Even the scrubs of scrubs. It’s endearing.

We all have different collecting journeys and stories. Some things are best not to be applied with a label.

Archangel1775 · 07-20-2022, 08:23 AM

I held on to my 1990 Hoops commons for 30 years and cashed out a dozen Marc Jackson cards in 2020. Does that not make me a true collector anymore? If I lose that title
, I’m going back and buying a case of 1990 Hoops to make up for the shame

TheFrenzy · 07-20-2022, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clocsta2323

The biggest losers in this hobby are the ones who feel compelled to incessantly distinguish themselves as collectors opposed to anything different.

I'd say the biggest losers are the cynics like this guy.

Even the purest of heart collector knows that the hobby companies and dealers are in it to make money, but nobody has to be happy about all shenanigans recent years have brought.

Kobe101 · 07-20-2022, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxbuster7

With cards being ubiquitous in the last couple years I'm interested to see what people think.

Going to define a true collector as somebody who puts cards first and money second. They can sell a card, but mostly collect for the pure enjoyment of it.

my guesses

Basketball: united states: 50,000 - worldwide 100,000
Football: united states: 75,000 - worldwide 100,000
Baseball: united states: 100,000 - worldwide 150,000

Do we really think Football has more collectors than Basketball in the US?

I am guessing you are eliminating the "non collector" flippers but there are just as many of them in football if not more now.

kwon34 · 07-20-2022, 09:43 AM

Hello, I've been collecting since 1998 and while I agree times have changed but those who been collecting over 18+ years are collecting for items they love. I have not sold a single thing YET

but passing it down to my kids - I'm not sure if I would sell to get college funds started

spurs50fan · 07-20-2022, 09:50 AM

Probably 400-500 tbh

PSA2Pac · 07-20-2022, 10:21 AM

The only true collector on this planet is Boo.

He doesn’t only collect cardboard, either

TheFrenzy · 07-20-2022, 11:18 AM

If we're defining collector as "someone who has purchased a card or a pack of cards in the past year for the purposes of collecting and not business," then I'd say it's easily at least a million. That would only be 1 out of every 330 Americans. Roughly 1 in 2 Americans will pay to attend a professional sporting event in a given year, so the idea of 1 in every 165 event-attending sports fans also enjoying cards seem like a pretty safe bet.

Now if we're defining "collector" as someone who checks eBay daily, attends card shows, and is a member of Blowout......yeah, it's going to drop down to the 10,000-50,000 range.

grade · 07-20-2022, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxbuster7

With cards being ubiquitous in the last couple years I'm interested to see what people think.

Going to define a true collector as somebody who puts cards first and money second. They can sell a card, but mostly collect for the pure enjoyment of it.

my guesses

Basketball: united states: 50,000 - worldwide 100,000
Football: united states: 75,000 - worldwide 100,000
Baseball: united states: 100,000 - worldwide 150,000

I collect basketball , football and baseball.

But the family collects Pokemon.

Pokemon: United states : 2,000,000 worldwide 100,000,000

boxbuster7 · 07-20-2022, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kobe101

Do we really think Football has more collectors than Basketball in the US?

I am guessing you are eliminating the "non collector" flippers but there are just as many of them in football if not more now.

I was judging it based on the popularity of football. I'd say basketball has the most dedicated collectors.

Supersuper · 07-20-2022, 12:42 PM

I don’t think the number of worldwide collectors of NFL is right. Not many people watch American football except Americans. I think most ppl collect basketball card, then baseball… baseball is also not that popular, Only US, Canada, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Some latin American countries care about baseball.

HeyRelaxGuy · 07-20-2022, 01:01 PM

No disrespect to the OP, but this thread makes no sense to me.

First of all, the definition of a "true collector" is something that can be debated for weeks. How can you put cards first and money second? I think everyone puts both of them first! Anyone who says that he loves his cards so much and doesn't care if they lose 90% value is full of crap!

Secondly, how do we come up with numbers here?

For example, United States = 50,000 and the world = 250,000. There are people who own stuff, but are taking a break from the hobby. There are people who attend card shows and only purchase $5 cards. There are investors who come in and out, etc. How do we even come up with these numbers? That's like me trying to figure out how many men in the USA like blonde-haired women and how many men in the world like blonde-haired women. Maybe all of them? Dunno!

07-19-2022, 05:12 PM	#1
boxbuster7 Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 11,578 boxbuster777	How many true collectors are there? With cards being ubiquitous in the last couple years I'm interested to see what people think. Going to define a true collector as somebody who puts cards first and money second. They can sell a card, but mostly collect for the pure enjoyment of it. my guesses Basketball: united states: 50,000 - worldwide 100,000 Football: united states: 75,000 - worldwide 100,000 Baseball: united states: 100,000 - worldwide 150,000 __________________ Psa 9 > psa 10

07-19-2022, 05:32 PM	#2
asujbl Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 61,754 ohiosundevils	Here we go… __________________ https://ohiosundevils.smugmug.com/ Browns/Cavs/Tribe/Buckeyes/Jackets/Devils TheFrenzy - “Blowout ain't a place for normies”

07-19-2022, 07:18 PM	#6
Boo Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: PA Posts: 54,177 klay22	4…just 4 __________________ I have found that flicking through a few threads on my smartphone is a great way to pass some time while "stocking the pond."Hairy 6/7/12 “ I feel you, brother. Welcome to East Berlin, circa 1963.” Hairy 5/9/20

07-19-2022, 07:27 PM	#7
oshmeehan Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 7,132	I've been buying and keeping solely Ersan Ilyasova for the past 17 years. What does that tell you? __________________ FEAR THE DEER

07-19-2022, 11:17 PM	#13
SoccerRCs Member Join Date: Jan 2022 Posts: 463	I invest in what I like. : ) Mostly an investor here. Small time collecting. I'm going to the national for the first time. I will say, been watching card shows on youtube leading up to the national. It is amazing to me the astounding amount of money that people blow on absolute garbage. Many cards in the 10-500 range, even post massive correction, could go to 0 in a blink. Especially in the ultra modern category. I mean this stuff is completely and utterly prolific. A bazillion patches, autos and parallels. And it is multiplying like rabbits. Hard to believe the interest can be sustained at this rate. All the new younger collectors too... if they have no interest in older players and they entered during this, at some point you think, "Why am I paying 400 dollars for a green clown disco prizm of Julius Randle when I'm a high school student?" Or young professional or college student or whatever. And who on earth is ever going to be the exit liquidity for my green clown disco prizm, especially 6 years from now? There is a strata of cards that are truly special from a number of eras (and there will be some from the ultra modern era too) but many many many cards from the last 5 years are nothing more than 500 dollar coffee coasters. Last edited by SoccerRCs; 07-19-2022 at 11:20 PM.

07-19-2022, 06:30 PM	#3
1980bust Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Posts: 603	So you're asking how many hoarders of cards there are, with a preference to not cash in what they have to get new stuff, but just get throwing money into the pit? Money gets cards gets money gets cards...

07-19-2022, 08:14 PM	#9
oldgoldy97 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 49,065	I’m a hoarder because I didn’t need to sell to buy more. Maybe some people do.

07-19-2022, 08:42 PM	#10
clocsta2323 Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: D.C. Posts: 6,841	The biggest losers in this hobby are the ones who feel compelled to incessantly distinguish themselves as collectors opposed to anything different.

07-20-2022, 12:04 AM	#14
LovelyLlamas Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 653	To me there is no definition of what a “true collector” is. There have always been flippers in this hobby and there are many different ways to collect, which makes it a very eclectic experience I’ve been collecting Kris Humphries since 2005 and have acquired over 1000 autographs of him. I’m not in it for the money. I’m in it for the hunt and every step I can get closer to that 100% mark even if it is an impossible task. When I was a kid in the 90’s I wanted to release my own Beckett like magazine only with pictures of every base card/insert set for reference with a rated description of the set. (1992-93 Fleer Total D was a Five star set, for example…1991-92 Fleer Base was a One star set). It was my own little virtual encyclopedia of releases. Of course, when 1/1 sets and 1997-98 UD jerseys came around I had to scale back what I could get as even common players in the law sets were very pricey. I used disposable cameras and taped a photo of the card into my hand written magazine. I’ll have to find them one day. Pretty sure they are still at my parents house. Sorting out cards is like therapy for me. I love reading card backs of the older sets and learning fun facts like in 1992-93 Skybox…where it’s revealed that Rodney McCrays favorite movie is How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I don’t collect baseball but I buy the flagship factory set every year because I adore their write ups on the back for nobody prospects and how they have something nice to say about every player. Even the scrubs of scrubs. It’s endearing. We all have different collecting journeys and stories. Some things are best not to be applied with a label.

07-20-2022, 08:23 AM	#15
Archangel1775 Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Cali baby! Posts: 21,516	I held on to my 1990 Hoops commons for 30 years and cashed out a dozen Marc Jackson cards in 2020. Does that not make me a true collector anymore? If I lose that title , I’m going back and buying a case of 1990 Hoops to make up for the shame __________________ *There are the intangibles that set someone apart from the pack.So the blur isn't your inability to see his greatness, it's merely the inability to measure it.*

07-20-2022, 09:43 AM	#18
kwon34 Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 94	Hello, I've been collecting since 1998 and while I agree times have changed but those who been collecting over 18+ years are collecting for items they love. I have not sold a single thing YET but passing it down to my kids - I'm not sure if I would sell to get college funds started

07-20-2022, 09:50 AM	#19
spurs50fan Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Posts: 3,869	Probably 400-500 tbh

07-20-2022, 10:21 AM	#20
PSA2Pac Member Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 3,889	The only true collector on this planet is Boo. He doesn’t only collect cardboard, either

07-20-2022, 11:18 AM	#21
TheFrenzy Banned Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Texan in AZ Posts: 44,115	If we're defining collector as "someone who has purchased a card or a pack of cards in the past year for the purposes of collecting and not business," then I'd say it's easily at least a million. That would only be 1 out of every 330 Americans. Roughly 1 in 2 Americans will pay to attend a professional sporting event in a given year, so the idea of 1 in every 165 event-attending sports fans also enjoying cards seem like a pretty safe bet. Now if we're defining "collector" as someone who checks eBay daily, attends card shows, and is a member of Blowout......yeah, it's going to drop down to the 10,000-50,000 range.

07-20-2022, 12:42 PM	#24
Supersuper Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 797	I don’t think the number of worldwide collectors of NFL is right. Not many people watch American football except Americans. I think most ppl collect basketball card, then baseball… baseball is also not that popular, Only US, Canada, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Some latin American countries care about baseball.

07-20-2022, 01:01 PM	#25
HeyRelaxGuy Member Join Date: Jun 2022 Location: Toronto Posts: 665	No disrespect to the OP, but this thread makes no sense to me. First of all, the definition of a "true collector" is something that can be debated for weeks. How can you put cards first and money second? I think everyone puts both of them first! Anyone who says that he loves his cards so much and doesn't care if they lose 90% value is full of crap! Secondly, how do we come up with numbers here? For example, United States = 50,000 and the world = 250,000. There are people who own stuff, but are taking a break from the hobby. There are people who attend card shows and only purchase $5 cards. There are investors who come in and out, etc. How do we even come up with these numbers? That's like me trying to figure out how many men in the USA like blonde-haired women and how many men in the world like blonde-haired women. Maybe all of them? Dunno!