Changing collecting habits or thinking about getting out altogether?

[Throttlesteer]

Yes, we've seen bad actors and scandals before. The recent issues appear to be much more widespread and difficult to assess the overall impact. I'm curious whether anyone has considered changing their collecting habits or have considered getting out altogether? I know most of us don't look at our collections as "assets" or "investments". However, we also are willing to pay high prices to have nice examples of the cards we collect and don't want to see their value erode due to this kind of nonsense.

I am definitely considering changes to what I buy, who I buy from, and which TPG (if any) I plan to use. While it doesn't appear any of my cards have been identified on any of the known lists, and I haven't been able to spot any alterations of my cars, there are no guarantees. The value or cost of replacement for everything we own is now in question. Population reports (including numbers and distribution of quality) are even further clouded, if not worthless.

Yes, I'm toyed around with the idea of not buying online anymore, only buying from certain auction houses, or even holding on to what I have and getting out altogether.

[Peter_Spaeth]

I changed my habits years ago because I knew then what was going on. I definitely recommend making changes if you are just buying indiscriminately.

[Fballguy]

I buy very few cards. Every time I get the itch, I go on ebay and remind myself how many illegal reprints there are...and how realistic they have become...and lose interest.

[barrysloate]

Nothing wrong with continuing to collect, but use a little caution and common sense when buying. No reason to let the card doctors control the narrative.

[GaryPassamonte]

I changed my collecting focus in 1995. I never developed a grading addiction to kick.

[ullmandds]

Like peter...I changed my collecting habits years ago and very rarely do I spend significant money on cards.

[yanksfan09]

Originally Posted by Fballguy

I buy very few cards. Every time I get the itch, I go on ebay and remind myself how many illegal reprints there are...and how realistic they have become...and lose interest.

I haven’t seen many convincing outright fakes of pre war cards. Modern is a different story though.

As for changing buying habits. I don’t see it effecting me at all really. I never bought high grade vintage for the most part. Maybe a little more leery of modern but don’t buy too much of that anyway compared to vintage.

May possibly buy more if prices were more drop, time will tell. However I think higher grade will see more effect which I don’t do anyway with pre war.

[yanksfan09]

It will be interesting to see if really great looking authentic slabbed altered cards see a bump in value. People might say why spend 10x on a graded on of equal eye appeal that may be altered anyways.

[Stampsfan]

I hope I'm not out forever, but this has changed how I look at my collection and collection habits.

http://net54baseball.com/showpost.ph...&postcount=450

Frankly I'm disgusted by the whole thing. Not sure where I'm going next, TBH.

[vintagebaseballcardguy]

This all just makes me feel even better about buying raw T206s off our B/S/T from guys like Scott.

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[Johnny630]

Buy when the panic hits full force.....should be plenty of deals or during the next US recession

Mayor Of Chicago “Never Let a Good Crisis Go To Waste”
Rahm Emmanuel

[drcy]

As I do work for museums, I quit collecting a while ago, except for little trinkets and items that will look good on my wall.

Believe it or not, I've owned perhaps 7 graded cards in my life, and have never submitted a card for grading. I used to buy expensive cards, but they were graded and before the "everything has to be graded" phase. Though I did have game used and autographs with LOAs.

[SMPEP]

I don't have to change collecting habits.

I have never seen a single PSA 10 I wished to own.

But I see a beater and say - "Ahhh, there's the card I want!"

Why? Money. Nope.

Because the beaters were played with, admired and loved. They were actually used. They are part of the history of the country. They are real.

A PSA 10 can never accomplish that.

I'm very happy to leave the PSA 10s (and the associated profits) to the card trimmers, shillers and hucksters - as long as they agree not to venture into my beater space. I think we have gotten alone pretty well to date.

[judsonhamlin]

I'm more likely to get an SGC 10 than a PSA 10, so I am clearly not the target audience for PWCC, Moser, et al. That being said, this scandal has taken some of the wind out of the hobby for me.

[x2drich2000]

This is the first Cobb I ever got and the most recent Wagner I picked up. I think that pretty much answer the question on what I have collected in the past and what I will continue to collect going forward.

[Scott L.]

Originally Posted by judsonhamlin

That being said, this scandal has taken some of the wind out of the hobby for me.

Agreed Judson. This hobby give me just as much pause as it does enjoyment these days. I'm not going to completely stop but I think I'll slow down a bit.

[OldEnglishD]

Originally Posted by judsonhamlin

I'm more likely to get an SGC 10 than a PSA 10, so I am clearly not the target audience for PWCC, Moser, et al. That being said, this scandal has taken some of the wind out of the hobby for me.

This.