How has your collecting evolved/devolved over the years?

[nosignofland]

I grew up on card shows in local malls and gymnasiums in the '90s. I'd save any money from Christmas, birthdays and chores and then dutifully spend it all on cardboard. I remember buying boxes, like 1996 Playoff Contenders, for around $65. Or going into the local card shop and grabbing a handful of various packs for $20. (The "good" ones cost $5/per.)

When I got back into the hobby around 10 years ago, I didn't think things had necessarily changed for the worse. Autographs in every box? Game-used jerseys? Booklets? Sign me up. Sure, everything was more expensive -- but it seemed worth it. And breaks allowed me to buy-in at a reasonable price. I remember chasing Barry Sanders in 2014 National Treasures by buying the Lions for less than $80 a case. Cheap teams were around $20-$25.

Obviously, that's not the case anymore. And, honestly, I find myself unsure of how -- or whether -- to continue on with this hobby.

I used to collect for the chase. And, while I still get in breaks now and then, I'm probably spending 5-10% what I did 5 years ago. I'm collecting more singles -- I'd guess a lot of us are -- but I just don't get the same kind of buzz, or dopamine rush or whatever you want to call it, compared to pulling a PC card out of a pack. Those days are dead.

I know this is too long. But, I guess, I'm just curious how it's worked with all you. I see threads about collecting sets or PC'ing a specific lesser-known player, and I'm jealous. I want to want to do that, but I just don't. I'm at an impasse. And I know most of us have likely changed the way we collect over the years. I'd just like to know how it's going for you.

[49erRCCollector]

Originally Posted by nosignofland

Obviously, that's not the case anymore. And, honestly, I find myself unsure of how -- or whether -- to continue on with this hobby.

I'd say be patient. I don't believe the prices on cards is sustainable. There's been significant erosion in a lot of key areas. Some of the big $$$ being spent is more of an ego flex than a hobby chase. Those people might get bored or worse yet, burned.

Reject the pump.

It won't collapse, I don't think, but I suspect it will come back down to earth, all but the super-blue chip cards/players/inserts.

[wongga]

My experience in the hobby has devolved for quite some time. The reason being life...as I grown older, my money is spent elsewhere or finding new things to do. My brother and I used to by a ton of cards.

What really changed now I'm kind of trying to get rid of some cards is how everything needs to be graded. A Jerry Rice rookie card when I was growing up was like $130 (circa 1993) per Beckett. But now there are prices for ungraded and then PSA 10, 9, 8 and so on. Ungraded is like $30 maybe?

I've been going through some old cards and finding some good ones (like 2 Brady Impact rookie card) and I'm going to get them graded at PSA so I can sell one.

As the hobby evolves, I need to read up and evolve with it. These days, I'll buy a pack of cards once in a while just for fun. But I was shell shocked how much a pack are these days!

[hermanotarjeta]

The great thing about the hobby is that it will always be there for you even after you take a break. You can return and adjust your style however you want.

Most everyone here used to open a lot more wax for fun but now it’s cost prohibitive and simply makes very little sense anymore due to the horrendous return odds.

I have devolved to the point that I actually have football cards in my collection to keep - pure caveman level.

[Stifle]

Decided to go back to the roots of collecting roughly 20 years ago to the LCS and shows. Have a much better time with interaction.

Some day I’ll do the Bay again but it felt more like a job then a hobby.

[blackbears86]

My unopened collecting has evolved by the "less is more" philosophy.


I've been selling my retail wax in exchange for select hobby boxes and buying more late 90's baseball and basketball.

[49erRCCollector]

Originally Posted by blackbears86

My unopened collecting has evolved by the "less is more" philosophy.


I've been selling my retail wax in exchange for select hobby boxes and buying more late 90's baseball and basketball.

I don't know how you don't rip it all. I have no self control.

[Seahawks fan]

Mine has devolved to the point where I have my foot out the door completely and I have offered my collection up for 1 sum a few times.

Prices have gone way up and the quality has gone way down. The breaks online with the constant yelling/excitement over mass produced player worn napkins and non serial #d "case hits" are unbearable. When they get something that is popular like Downtowns (Donruss, Optic, Clearly, One)/Kabooms (Absolute, Zenith) they add them to multiple products watering them down. They haven't had a "Game used" card of any player I collect since 2018 yet the 1/1s cost 5X what they used to and I wouldn't be interested at half that price.

You can't super collect anymore because they make too many cards (Trevor Lawrence had 7,200 different cards in 2021 alone). If you did want to Super Collect you have a sea of non licensed generic Wild Card/Leaf/Jersey fusion/Etc clogging up your search history.

The more and more safety rules in the NFL also makes the game less exciting to watch. Kids getting paid in college sports and making more at certain schools and teams changing conferences constantly has ruined rivalries/college football for me.

The old school collectors and the friends made at the LCS/in the hobby keep me slowly treading along. I just don't do football anymore for the reasons above.

[daveyc1]

been collecting since 87. stopped opening packs around 94-95 or so. I saw the writing on the wall of pack prices for quite some time. in 89, upper deck started charging $1/pack. then 90 leaf came around and $5/pack was common. then I remember some paying $10/pack for 91 stadium club. $25/pack for 93 finest was about my breaking point. within 2 years i was buying single only and was SO much happier for it.

been buying singles only for about 30 years now. wife gets me a blaster or 2 for christmas which i never pull anything i am ever interested in. now i feel i am building a collection and not blowing my money on packs.

[cardsin47]

Originally Posted by 49erRCCollector

I don't know how you don't rip it all. I have no self control.

If you lose enough $ you’ll obtain the self control quickly!
(Everyone in unopened once use to open)

[jplarson]

Originally Posted by daveyc1

been collecting since 87. stopped opening packs around 94-95 or so. I saw the writing on the wall of pack prices for quite some time. in 89, upper deck started charging $1/pack. then 90 leaf came around and $5/pack was common. then I remember some paying $10/pack for 91 stadium club. $25/pack for 93 finest was about my breaking point. within 2 years i was buying single only and was SO much happier for it.

been buying singles only for about 30 years now. wife gets me a blaster or 2 for christmas which i never pull anything i am ever interested in. now i feel i am building a collection and not blowing my money on packs.

Good reminders of those expensive pack benchmarks. The packs etched in my mind as high end/expensive were 1990 Leaf baseball, 1994 Topps Finest, 1996 SPx (one card per pack?!), and 1999 Upper Deck SP Gamed Used Edition (one jersey card per pack?!).

[Chris P]

Originally Posted by jplarson

Good reminders of those expensive pack benchmarks. The packs etched in my mind as high end/expensive were 1990 Leaf baseball, 1994 Topps Finest, 1996 SPx (one card per pack?!), and 1999 Upper Deck SP Gamed Used Edition (one jersey card per pack?!).

1996 SPX basketball brings back sooo many memories. I remember wanting a pack soooo bad but the thought of only one card per pack kinda scared me but I really like the cards so I bit the bullet bought a pack (i believe my lcs was selling them at $6 pack) and pulled a sweet Hakeem Olajuwon lol

[asujbl]

Haven’t opened a pack of cards (outside of with my son) in 25 years

I used to collect everything. Was really big into the high end autograph rookies like NT, Contenders, Bowman Chrome etc… depending on sport

I realized I didn’t give two craps about autographs of a bunch of guys younger than me

I realized I did want cards from my childhood, both my favorite players and others, like a Mark Price and Bernie Kosar rookie card. I also realized that buying each of those raw for like $3 and putting them in a box was dumb… dumb for me… as I would never look at them or care. If others like to look at their stuff? I realize it’s not dumb. That’s just not my style

So the PSA 10 collection was born maybe 10 years ago

You can hate graded cards. The premium. The whatever. That’s fine

It’s a very easy way to focus and just collect for my PC with a little investment as part of it

I enjoy watching my kid open blasters but I don’t understand why any adults would do it

It’s just a bunch of stuff that takes up space

But to each their own of course

[49erRCCollector]

Originally Posted by asujbl

Haven’t opened a pack of cards (outside of with my son) in 25 years

I used to collect everything. Was really big into the high end autograph rookies like NT, Contenders, Bowman Chrome etc… depending on sport

I realized I didn’t give two craps about autographs of a bunch of guys younger than me

I realized I did want cards from my childhood, both my favorite players and others, like a Mark Price and Bernie Kosar rookie card. I also realized that buying each of those raw for like $3 and putting them in a box was dumb… dumb for me… as I would never look at them or care. If others like to look at their stuff? I realize it’s not dumb. That’s just not my style

So the PSA 10 collection was born maybe 10 years ago

You can hate graded cards. The premium. The whatever. That’s fine

It’s a very easy way to focus and just collect for my PC with a little investment as part of it

I enjoy watching my kid open blasters but I don’t understand why any adults would do it

It’s just a bunch of stuff that takes up space

But to each their own of course

I'm not far off of this.

I want PSA 10s of all the Niner (rookie) players I remember getting cards of as a kid. Now I get one best card per player in the best grade I can get.

I grade all the scrubs/forgotten role players myself. Sometimes pay for the higher end, or an upgrade.

That's it. Helps keep focus.

[blackbears86]

Originally Posted by 49erRCCollector

I don't know how you don't rip it all. I have no self control.

I recently opened two 2023 prizm basketball megas and got absolutely ZILCH. Not even a Wemby insert. I want to be clear: I'm not bitching. Retail is an absolute overprinted mess. I expect nothing from retail. If I get something reasonably good, I'm ecstatic.



I call this "retail therapy". It keeps me in check, and keeps me from busting my hobby boxes.


I'm conducting more retail therapy tonight: busting a couple 2023 Donruss blasters while I watch Heat/Bulls.

[49erRCCollector]

Originally Posted by blackbears86

I recently opened two 2023 prizm basketball megas and got absolutely ZILCH. Not even a Wemby insert.



I call this "retail therapy". It keeps me in check, and keeps me from busting my hobby boxes.


I'm conducting more retail therapy tonight: busting a couple 2023 Donruss blasters while I watch Heat/Bulls.

I do this as well from time to time. I do love cracking old stuff and hitting some random good ones from the times of yore.