I was priced out of the hobby years ago.

ThePatriotWay · 10-25-2025, 02:43 PM

Every now and then, I will check back on things but I just don't find enjoyment in buying cards now for what people list them for whether it be singles or boxes. It's pretty ridiculous. Like, a blaster box is ~$40 and a single hobby box for what is typically considered a "low end" product like Donruss is approximately $400+. I agree that it is better to buy singles anyways, but I guess am cursed for being a Patriots fan because even single cards are costing me $100+ for a Brady-Belichick era player and preferably graded. Now, I can afford it if I really want to, but it's a tough pill to swallow to just spend hundreds if not thousands (I know some of you are dropping thousands) on sports cards. I just wanna have fun!

boxbuster7 · 10-25-2025, 02:44 PM

I ripped a $40 blaster and got $2 of cards and it didn't feel good.

So in a way I wouldn't say I have been priced out but it is just not worth it anymore. It is way too much of a gamble these days and you get junk 99% of the time.

Jeter1020 · 10-25-2025, 02:51 PM

Always better to buy singles instead of boxed

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

asujbl · 10-25-2025, 03:54 PM

I haven’t bought a pack of cards in 25 years

Packs and boxes are for children… which is fine. My son loves to open some and I’m happy to buy them

Singles are for adults

Write that down

boxbuster7 · 10-25-2025, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asujbl

I haven’t bought a pack of cards in 25 years

Packs and boxes are for children… which is fine. My son loves to open some and I’m happy to buy them

Singles are for adults

Write that down

This is the smartest thing I've ever seen you post here

asujbl · 10-25-2025, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxbuster7

This is the smartest thing I've ever seen you post here

Smooches

bojesphob · 10-27-2025, 06:43 AM

I hear you. It really started in 2017 with the Mahomes craze. Not saying that wasn't justified (his stuff from then is still sought after), just not worth it in the end, especially if you didn't hit a Mahomes that year. Around 2012-2014 where really good years for product (overall, although LOTS of cheap sets), and you could get boxes of hobby Prizm for 30 dollars a box or like 2014 where the Jumbo Prizm was 60. Chrome was about 90 at the time as well. Of course, the collation and chances to hit something worthwhile even in that set were TERRIBLE. Several cases I opened myself weren't worth the 300/hobby, 600/jumbo then, and would still not be worth much now.

I will say, though, that I still on the random occasion buy into breaks. Had a break a couple months ago of 2025 Topps Finest baseball for the Reds, as my wife is a huge Reds fan and was able to get a Barry Larkin on card auto /50, which is worth about the price of the break. Also a few inserts and variations, including several of De La Cruz, so in the end made out on it. Now, that's not always going to be the case, as I know how hit or miss breaks are, but it does satisfy the ripping urge and if you find the right breaker and product can at least get more stuff for what you want than you would buying boxes. And, if you're smart about it, you'll spend less than you would for a box of the product. Just don't expect to regularly come out making money, unless you can throw thousands at breaks a month and make just a little over what you spent.

CardsByTheBeach · 10-27-2025, 07:35 AM

Just got back into the hobby, after many years out of it, over the last couple of months have bought quite of few boxes of cards just to get underway again and get some entertainment out of it, while fun, the value coming back I have found on ripping packs from boxes of cards is about 30%, I have had enough and now I am only going to deal with singles and the like.

MavsRChamps · 10-27-2025, 07:45 AM

"single cards are costing me $100+ for a Brady-Belichick era player and preferably graded."

Respectfully I don't really get this comment. Most Brady-Belichek era players have not noticeably gone up in price much the past 5 years. Perhaps slightly but not much. So if you could afford these cards comfortable 5 years ago what has changed? Some specific cards have gone up in price but if you're talking generic Brady cards, other Pats stars, or non-Patriots 2000's legends like Ray Lewis, Urlacher, Peyton Manning, Brees, Fitzgerald they have not skyrocketed in recent years, at least nothing crazy. So what cards are you referring to?

IpcSteveYoung · 10-27-2025, 08:31 AM

Even buying singles is getting expensive on eBay, at least for who I collect.

The infamous Blackrose used to be the exception to the mode with astronomically high prices. Now seemingly everyone does it.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

ThatGuyPal · 10-27-2025, 08:50 AM

Thanks for the announcement

majestik101 · 10-27-2025, 10:49 AM

COVID and grading combined to create the perfect storm, giving these companies essentially free rein to skyrocket the prices of their products and services. Stimmy money only exacerbated the problem even more.

As a direct result, you saw certain sellers in the secondary market raising their card prices to offset the increased costs of grading and box prices.

I pretty much stopped buying wax in 2020.

49erRCCollector · 10-27-2025, 12:39 PM

I wasn't priced out of the market BUT the prices did have me really redefine how I collected.

- I only buy PC items, and most of those are PSA-graded vintage.
- I grade quite selectively
- I may get a wild hair about buying current boxes, but RARELY. Like, almost never. I do buy older boxes because I can often pay for the box by grading a certain card. I bought a box of 2002 Upper Deck XL, graded the Faneca and got a 10, covered the price of the box and then some.
- No breaks
- No case hit chases. I just don't think the unnumbered ones (Downtowns, cough) are that rare. Not sure what allure they hold long term, especially with Topps taking over.
- If I go months without a PC Card surfacing, so be it. It's a reprieve. I dropped $1500 on two cards recently but that was after a long spell of no spending...

boxbuster7 · 10-27-2025, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IpcSteveYoung

Even buying singles is getting expensive on eBay, at least for who I collect.

The infamous Blackrose used to be the exception to the mode with astronomically high prices. Now seemingly everyone does it.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

what is the "blackrose"?

49erRCCollector · 10-27-2025, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxbuster7

what is the "blackrose"?

Go to eBay, select your favorite player from 10 years ago or a legend player, sort by price high to low and then you will see.

the mesiah · 10-27-2025, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxbuster7

what is the "blackrose"?

A name that is forbidden around these parts ..boogey man himself for singles

majestik101 · 10-27-2025, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxbuster7

what is the "blackrose"?

Go to eBay - Search for Flawless cards - Sort by price, high to low. Look for any pictures showing a $10,000+ valued card in the foreground with a brown engraved wooden box in the background.

Congratulations, you just discovered a Blackrose listing.

ColtsCrush86 · 10-27-2025, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by majestik101

Go to eBay - Search for Flawless cards - Sort by price, high to low. Look for any pictures showing a $10,000+ valued card in the foreground with a brown engraved wooden box in the background.

Congratulations, you just discovered a Blackrose listing.

that guy has had the same cards listed at high prices since like 2017 or before most have never sold

f2tornado · 10-27-2025, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IpcSteveYoung

Even buying singles is getting expensive on eBay, at least for who I collect.

Even worse on COMC. There's still decent prices to be found for those willing to put a little time into it. I frequent the card show scene for bargain box material. I have a lot of fun looking through them, especially when I see cards I've never seen before and of course when I land a deal.

Seahawks fan · 10-27-2025, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bojesphob

I hear you. It really started in 2017 with the Mahomes craze. Not saying that wasn't justified (his stuff from then is still sought after), just not worth it in the end, especially if you didn't hit a Mahomes that year..

Mahomes prices were justified and the 2018 prices on wax hadn't gotten completely out of hand. Old Wax was still cheap though and you could still get great black friday deals. When the 2020 craze hit was when I was priced out. Garbage like 2013 Prominence which was as low as $35-40 a box every year for black Friday..went up to $250 a box. WHY? Blowout still has that product in stock for $199..again Why????

People say singles is where it's at and that will always be true, but busting cheap wax was great fun and it was plentiful across every price range. Now over produced retail junk with no GAME USED and no guaranteed hits costs more than Hobby boxes with multiple hits did. It was fun for 3 decades.

IpcSteveYoung · 10-27-2025, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the mesiah

A name that is forbidden around these parts ..boogey man himself for singles

Legend has it that if you say the username out loud three times in succession, he raises the prices of his listings by 20%

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

MiamiMarlinsFan · 10-27-2025, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThePatriotWay

Every now and then, I will check back on things but I just don't find enjoyment in buying cards now for what people list them for whether it be singles or boxes. It's pretty ridiculous. Like, a blaster box is ~$40 and a single hobby box for what is typically considered a "low end" product like Donruss is approximately $400+. I agree that it is better to buy singles anyways, but I guess am cursed for being a Patriots fan because even single cards are costing me $100+ for a Brady-Belichick era player and preferably graded. Now, I can afford it if I really want to, but it's a tough pill to swallow to just spend hundreds if not thousands (I know some of you are dropping thousands) on sports cards. I just wanna have fun!

If you’re a Patriots fan, you should have been buying Drake Maye this offseason. He was dirt cheap. You’d be having fun now.

jova888 · 10-27-2025, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxbuster7

what is the "blackrose"?

The ultimate hobby "F" boi!

10-25-2025, 02:43 PM	#1
ThePatriotWay Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Posts: 848 expandyourcollection 12ThePatriotWay87	I was priced out of the hobby years ago. Every now and then, I will check back on things but I just don't find enjoyment in buying cards now for what people list them for whether it be singles or boxes. It's pretty ridiculous. Like, a blaster box is ~$40 and a single hobby box for what is typically considered a "low end" product like Donruss is approximately $400+. I agree that it is better to buy singles anyways, but I guess am cursed for being a Patriots fan because even single cards are costing me $100+ for a Brady-Belichick era player and preferably graded. Now, I can afford it if I really want to, but it's a tough pill to swallow to just spend hundreds if not thousands (I know some of you are dropping thousands) on sports cards. I just wanna have fun!

10-25-2025, 02:44 PM	#2
boxbuster7 Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Posts: 13,205 boxbuster777	I ripped a $40 blaster and got $2 of cards and it didn't feel good. So in a way I wouldn't say I have been priced out but it is just not worth it anymore. It is way too much of a gamble these days and you get junk 99% of the time. __________________ Psa 9 > psa 10

10-25-2025, 03:54 PM	#4
asujbl Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 64,270 ohiosundevils	I haven’t bought a pack of cards in 25 years Packs and boxes are for children… which is fine. My son loves to open some and I’m happy to buy them Singles are for adults Write that down __________________ https://ohiosundevils.smugmug.com/ Browns/Cavs/Tribe/Buckeyes/Jackets/Devils TheFrenzy - “Blowout ain't a place for normies”

10-27-2025, 07:35 AM	#8
CardsByTheBeach Member Join Date: Oct 2025 Location: NE Florida Posts: 41 tcman50 dont have one	Just got back into the hobby, after many years out of it, over the last couple of months have bought quite of few boxes of cards just to get underway again and get some entertainment out of it, while fun, the value coming back I have found on ripping packs from boxes of cards is about 30%, I have had enough and now I am only going to deal with singles and the like. __________________ My best year for cards is 1972, both Topps basketball and Topps baseball.

10-27-2025, 12:39 PM	#13
49erRCCollector Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 12,855	I wasn't priced out of the market BUT the prices did have me really redefine how I collected. - I only buy PC items, and most of those are PSA-graded vintage. - I grade quite selectively - I may get a wild hair about buying current boxes, but RARELY. Like, almost never. I do buy older boxes because I can often pay for the box by grading a certain card. I bought a box of 2002 Upper Deck XL, graded the Faneca and got a 10, covered the price of the box and then some. - No breaks - No case hit chases. I just don't think the unnumbered ones (Downtowns, cough) are that rare. Not sure what allure they hold long term, especially with Topps taking over. - If I go months without a PC Card surfacing, so be it. It's a reprieve. I dropped $1500 on two cards recently but that was after a long spell of no spending... __________________ Will MASSIVELY overpay for: 2002 Fleer Authentix #180, 181 Derek Smith & Zack Bronson AND 2007 Upper Deck Target Exclusive Rookies Autographs #261 Joe Staley #'d to /5

10-25-2025, 02:51 PM	#3
Jeter1020 Member Join Date: Jul 2024 Posts: 2,031	Always better to buy singles instead of boxed Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

10-27-2025, 06:43 AM	#7
bojesphob Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 3,782 bojesphob	I hear you. It really started in 2017 with the Mahomes craze. Not saying that wasn't justified (his stuff from then is still sought after), just not worth it in the end, especially if you didn't hit a Mahomes that year. Around 2012-2014 where really good years for product (overall, although LOTS of cheap sets), and you could get boxes of hobby Prizm for 30 dollars a box or like 2014 where the Jumbo Prizm was 60. Chrome was about 90 at the time as well. Of course, the collation and chances to hit something worthwhile even in that set were TERRIBLE. Several cases I opened myself weren't worth the 300/hobby, 600/jumbo then, and would still not be worth much now. I will say, though, that I still on the random occasion buy into breaks. Had a break a couple months ago of 2025 Topps Finest baseball for the Reds, as my wife is a huge Reds fan and was able to get a Barry Larkin on card auto /50, which is worth about the price of the break. Also a few inserts and variations, including several of De La Cruz, so in the end made out on it. Now, that's not always going to be the case, as I know how hit or miss breaks are, but it does satisfy the ripping urge and if you find the right breaker and product can at least get more stuff for what you want than you would buying boxes. And, if you're smart about it, you'll spend less than you would for a box of the product. Just don't expect to regularly come out making money, unless you can throw thousands at breaks a month and make just a little over what you spent.

10-27-2025, 07:45 AM	#9
MavsRChamps Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Cherry Hill, NJ Posts: 3,164 purple3252	"single cards are costing me $100+ for a Brady-Belichick era player and preferably graded." Respectfully I don't really get this comment. Most Brady-Belichek era players have not noticeably gone up in price much the past 5 years. Perhaps slightly but not much. So if you could afford these cards comfortable 5 years ago what has changed? Some specific cards have gone up in price but if you're talking generic Brady cards, other Pats stars, or non-Patriots 2000's legends like Ray Lewis, Urlacher, Peyton Manning, Brees, Fitzgerald they have not skyrocketed in recent years, at least nothing crazy. So what cards are you referring to?

10-27-2025, 08:31 AM	#10
IpcSteveYoung Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: New York Posts: 1,283	Even buying singles is getting expensive on eBay, at least for who I collect. The infamous Blackrose used to be the exception to the mode with astronomically high prices. Now seemingly everyone does it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

10-27-2025, 08:50 AM	#11
ThatGuyPal Member Join Date: Jan 2021 Posts: 4,469	Thanks for the announcement

10-27-2025, 10:49 AM	#12
majestik101 Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Socially Distanced Posts: 45,526 majestik101	COVID and grading combined to create the perfect storm, giving these companies essentially free rein to skyrocket the prices of their products and services. Stimmy money only exacerbated the problem even more. As a direct result, you saw certain sellers in the secondary market raising their card prices to offset the increased costs of grading and box prices. I pretty much stopped buying wax in 2020.