Hobby through 2014 so far

[kamikidEFFL]

Hey guys now I know we had a thread up not to long ago and well I wanted to ask what have people seen so far this year happening with the hobby. What's hot what's not. Are people shying away from stuff now or are people all about this particular set at this moment. Also, any predictions for the remaining of the year.

I myself have just basically watched my two sets the 1934 & 1938 Goudey sets. As always in the 34 the Gehrig stays hot but some of the higher end and higher grades seem to become a little bit easier to get for reasonable prices which is great for me. I haven't been watching the 38 set as much and haven't done much research. But from what I have seen is the stuff is staying pretty steady.

Anyway guys let's hear what you have seen so far into 2014 we are almost at the half way point.

[Bicem]

Seems like the price gap between the really good and rare stuff and the "on ebay everyday" stuff keeps widening.

I think overall the hobby is off to a strong year in terms of prices being realized.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Bicem

Seems like the price gap between the really good and rare stuff and the "on ebay everyday" stuff keeps widening.

I think overall the hobby is off to a strong year in terms of prices being realized.

Agreed. The nicest cards stay put and the other "everyday" ones keep recirculating. The best ones are going up in price/value and the others are stagnant or down just a little. I do see a ton of buyers, sellers and collectors (some new ones too) in the hobby, which is a good thing too..

[shernan30]

With some of the prices at the auction houses, it's a sellers market. Buyers seem to be paying a premium for most cards recently.


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[Exhibitman]

Nearly all of the dealers at our most recent show reported strong sales. A few said it was their best day ever.

I think it is stuff in the middle--decent but not spectacular--that is getting killed right now. I think it is guys like me--who can't afford the best but who can afford and traditionally purchased in the upper middle end of cards--who are sitting on their wallets or downshifting to lower grade cards to minimize risk and cost. I've seen an increase in low-end sales and lots of competition for the bottom [two of the 'best day ever' guys from our show specialize in low end]. There are lots of people collecting on modest budgets, which is nice to see again. I was very surprised at what I've sold lately. Some things I hadn't even thought were worth packing sold at our show, and other items I consigned with my fingers crossed are selling too.

[jbsports33]

We had a really good solid March and April, but as we get closer to summer I am starting to see prices come down and less interest. Online seems to be okay, but with many of the outdoor shows and auctions around, the indoor shows which we do most of the time have faded off a bit. We have seen a good selection of items and collections to buy this spring and have some good inventory, but it always needs to be the right items that need to be included. Like early pre-war issues!

Jimmy

[arc2q]

I am so new to serious vintage collecting so it is hard for me to say but I wonder if prices / sales tend to peak every year around the beginning of the baseball season. Does excitement about baseball get more people thinking and buying? Or is there historically no perceived link between vintage cardboard and the real world of baseball?

[6-4-3memorabilia]

There is something too that, Baseball is in the air in the Spring and Summer and I know I tend to buy more then than in the winter. I also notice the prices jump a bit in November and December for gifts I am assuming that's the reason anyway.

Originally Posted by arc2q

I am so new to serious vintage collecting so it is hard for me to say but I wonder if prices / sales tend to peak every year around the beginning of the baseball season. Does excitement about baseball get more people thinking and buying? Or is there historically no perceived link between vintage cardboard and the real world of baseball?

[Bosox Blair]

Pretty much 5 months into the year and I have been unable to win a single pre-war card via auction on eBay. This is unprecedented for me - I've been buying since 1998 on eBay. There is a lot less inventory than in prior years...and when I put in a fair or even aggressive bid, I get smoked.

On the other hand I have won a fair few lots from the auction houses. Some at better prices than I was expecting. Though overall I think auction houses are getting strong prices too.

It is still early, but I think 2014 is showing the strongest pre-war prices of any year since the late 2008 crash.

Cheers,
Blair