Thinking about calling it a day on collecting.
 

No, guys this is not a boy who cried wolf post. I have been collecting since September 1972 and almost exclusively pre-WWII since 1989. I don't know if it is because I am getting a little older or that I have seen just about every kind of card-except a few in Olbermann's collection-but the high has dulled a little. I also just don't like the way the hobby is going. A newer, smaller in number generation is coming in and although I do not have anything against new blood which is essential for this hobby, it is the smaller number that concerns me. Fame is fleeting would be the best analogy.

It also just the prices are out of alignment with reality. I include myself in this observation. If you look at eBay, the same cards are constantly on there, but every now and then a card will pique my interest. Of course, it also piques the interest of auction groups who then sell it in there auctions plus buyer's premium of anywhere from 12.5% to 20+%. Not whining, but even if you beat the auction groups in the bid, you pay an inflated value.

Part of collecting is enjoying what you have and part of it, frankly is investing. The investing part for me is overshadowing the collecting and I am a collector and I have always known that if it got to that point, it may be time to get out.

Admittedly, I haven't decided, but the excitement has waned.

A buyer's premium is meaningless from a buyer's perspective.

I would tend to contradict that especially if you are a new person breaking into the hobby. It would sort out now the men from the boys, but the addicts from neophytes.

I don't follow you. If you know X percent is going to be added to your bid, you bid accordingly. It doesn't take experience to figure that out. It has meaning only to a consignor.

I would never buy a baseball card (or related item) as an investment unless I absolutely loved it - I'm going to be seeing it for a long time so I need to really like it.

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Brian- Not to sound like your shrink...
 

but, I do understand. I have gone through that stage many times. I have been very lucky to have disposable income to feed my hobby. I try not to pin my feelings about my collection to 1.) pricing 2.) modern products & 3.) today's ML game.

Don't get me wrong, I still have many modern players I like and that along with my never-ending love of the game, keeps the fire burning.

My key is finding 'niches' like players born on my birthday; local players, which, thanks to the draft always has new blood. I found out only a few days ago that a 1952 Columbus Cardinals set exists.

My interest in Baseball and in the BBC hobby is far more emotional than financial and always will be.

I urge you to find a way to 'tie yourself back into it' - attempting very hard not to sound like Al Pacino in Godfather III.

Loosing someone like Tony Gwynn reaches all of us, though I don't know if that entered into your thinking...stay involved if your heart says so...

I agree Scott. You actually have a piece on your site I am waiting for you to get tired of so I can take it off your hands :)

If it is the Wagner portrait, I came close to making a deal once, but the potential buyer luckily balked at my price. I slapped myself twice and took it off the market.

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Brian...I agree with many of your concerns as well...aside from the fact that it's just not as exciting as it used to be...there are so few cards I desire that just never come up for sale...throw in the corruption and I may be close to calling it a day too!!

Pete,

I was trying to leave corruption out of my reasons, but I can't ignore the elephant in the room.

Unfortunately it seems most collectors can.

I think it helps to add related hobbies such as autographs, memorabilia, photos - you know, the stuff I sell :)

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...and fedoras

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You can't do the same thing forever.

You sure?;)

The toploaders are supposed to be plastic, not the stuff you store in them :D.

Brian, one of the things that is still great about the hobby is meeting people, the good people, that are involved. Someone like me, who isn't buying/selling a lot of cards kind of take things in stride, but those who are immersed in the "business" I think are more apt to burn out at some point.

With that said, I have always thought you come up with a grand variety of cards and I enjoy looking at what you have available even though you and I know my interests are a bit more narrowly focused.

Personally, I hope you stay involved at some level but ultimately it is up to you!

RC

I've gone through that funk a few times myself Brian but I always pull back, shift gears (maybe switch for a while to completing late 50's Topps sets) and come back to pre-war. I hope you hang in there.
As far as the investment angle, most all of my cards are worth more than I paid for them over the years, even though some sets have slipped lately, so I'm good.
Take a deep breath, put together an Ex-Mt 1959 Topps set card by card and then come back to pre-war;)

Thank you, Richard.

Buyer's Premium
 

100% accurate Peter which is a concept, for whatever reason, some people still tend to debate. The Buyer's Premium solely picks the pocket of the consignor with the buyer bidding accordingly to "x" %.

Joe

Brian - When it stops being fun walk away and find something new. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Yup, that's the one :)

I have been collecting for close to 30 yrs and corruption has been around and doing quite well the entire time. Any time there is money to make(steal) there is corruption.

Like several other have said I to have had the same feelings you are having. I have taken several breaks from collecting over the years.

The Glass is STILL half-FULL
 

Don't drink so much or read the label

Brian - I can fully relate. I've been collecting vintage cards since the early 80's and have gone through phases of disinterest. There are many trends (like fraud and some of the auction house practices) that make me cringe or even wax nostalgic for the days of the Willow Grove shows, SCD and actual catalogs from Doubleheaders, Howards and Fritsch. I have re-charged by finding new challenges (Batter Ups, odd T206 back stamps, some post war set building) but if that doesn't reset your clock, then take a break, play golf, go hiking or some other hobby to fill the time. Then come back refreshed and see if there isn't some angle of this hobby that grabs your interest and gets you excited again.

I'm with those who walk the investing/collecting line by, yes, considering the investment angle--but only buying beautiful cards that I love.

Maybe you just need a break. Stop reading net54 and scavenging ebay and the auction houses for a while, and see where that leads you. I remember last year, Steven was thinking that the hobby was becoming stale for him: Link. However, after a little while, I believe he's come back and still collecting. Maybe it will be similar for you.

Actually, I think you just made his point......seen pics lately?

I knew there was something you could do forever.

I am surprised at the number of people that are considering "getting out". Brian, I hope you can get the love back and continue on. In the short time I have been on Net54 I have learned an immense amount about vintage cards from everyone here.

I am a 40-something white guy, and every February I am in my local schools giving talks and presentations on the Negro Leagues. I noticed that all anyone ever knew about was Jackie Robinson. The only books in the library were on Jackie Robinson. I had to take to the classes to talk about Paige, and Cool Papa Bell, and Gibson and so on. I do it because it is a passion of mine, but also if I do not do it, who will?

When collectors as knowledgable as the guys on this site want to get out, it is really a shame. I hope you can not only find your passion again, but view yourselves as mavens or curators for the vintage card and vintage baseball world. You guys help the newbies out and without that knowledge being passed on the bad aspects will just continue to grow.

Kudos to you on teaching more obscure negro league stuff...do many of the kids seem interested?

Getting out of the hobby to me...if I were to ever leave would mean mainly liquidating the majority of my collection...but I would still frequent this board and be somewhat active in the hobby still...just not a collector.

My advice would be to take a break and not sell anything that's really special or hard to replace just yet. Take a long break and see if you start to get the itch again. Maybe wait up to a year or so even before you part with any of your favorite stuff. You may regret it later. If you have no interest still after a long break then do as you see fit.
Best of luck.

I agree. Take a break and come back.....then decide if you want to get out. I have seen a lot of collectors get out only to come back in. And amassing a nice collection takes time so it's not so easy once you liquidate your good stuff. I am 100% sure I could never replace my collection completely if I got out. I just need to figure out a way to pay for my daughters college and still have most of my collection. Where there is a will.......

The kids love it. Who ever knew there was a Black Babe Ruth, or a guy as fast as Cool Papa Bell. Heck, the teachers in the schools did not even realize a man from our town was a negro league all star. I had to print out a wiki page for them which the kids loved.

Nice memory Gary.

Someone told me to pack all my cards up and put them away for awhile. I think they were gone 2 months and in that time I really shifted gears in my collection. It actually led to where I am today as I am selling or finishing all projects, every last one of them by the holidays this year.

Super-huge +1 on not selling some things. I took a 6-year break and sold everything except my favorite piece and a few that I was too lazy to sell. I'm really wish I had saved a few more things.

I guess that's the difference between cards and photos. I used to mainly collect signed HOF RC , but it got a little boring seeing the same cards.When the rare HOF signed RC finally surface, prices go up,I can't afford it, since everyone else is waiting for those rares ones as well to surface. I got bored of just waiting waiting and then praying I could afford it when that one rare card surfaced.

I got my first Pre WW2 snapshot photo and just so happen to be HOFer Joe Cronin, and I was hook! Mainly because no two snapshot photos are really the same, they tell a story, and they are generally affordable. So I collect HOF snapshot photo, and when that hits a dry spell...I switch back over to signed HOF RC. It's like a rotation within your collection. Helps keeps the interested going so you don't hit the dry spells.

Point. Take a break from cards and try somethings new or try a new challenge with your collection.

Please dont leave the hobby.

Maybe take a break and maybe step back your collecting to Topps Set building or something. Right now you are collecting the highest of high in our hobby, maybe go back to some basics.

I know what you are saying about kids and our hobby, but there are children that are in our hobby. My 12 year old is the youngest at all the card shows we go to, by 10-12 years. But he needs good, honest collectors like yourself to help him.

Speaking about the Negro Leagues, I picked up this book and Ralph Kiner's biography on the way home from the post office on Saturday:

Similar Funk
 

Hi Brian,

I have been going through a "down phase" recently myself.

Sometimes it's good just to take a break from the hobby. The hardest thing to do in this hobby is to be patient especially when it seems that all of the items on your want list have vanished. Sometimes it's good to take a break and sit back and enjoy your current collection.


Be well,


Patrick

This is good advice. Sometimes even a week or two completely away can really help.

brian
 

I would sure hate to see you go, ole buddy.
all the best,
barry

Things that fit my baseball collection come up so rarely any more that I had to switch gears to feed my need to collect so I switched to collecting postcards of my hometown. I still search for the local minor league and Nebraska Indians items that I love, but I found that finding an obscure postcard for a couple of bucks gives me just as big a thrill as finding items for my baseball collection. Maybe you just need to switch to a new (cheaper) hobby for a while?

Brian--if you've been a collector for a long time it's tough to get out of collecting entirely. I suggest finding something new to collect. An area with some historical significance where things are not expensive, so there is less of an incentive for sleaze bags to try to rip you off. Also, avoid areas with registry sets where people feel the need to have someone who knows little what they are grading tell them indirectly what their things are worth. Another prime example below:

Jay- I remember many years back having an Old Judge portrait card (the player escapes me) with the most perfect deep rich photo quality you could ever find on an N172. But because of a tiny bit of paper loss on the back, maybe the size of the tip of a pencil eraser, it was graded Poor. And the card you posted is a NR MT+. No matter how many times you tell them they've got it wrong, they keep repeating their mistakes. What a shame.

it's in your blood....
 

no matter how hard you try, your in:)

take a break for a little while

If you ever want to do something that will re-ignite your passion make a trip to 18th and Vine in Downtown Kansas City. The Negro League Baseball Museum is awesome - plan on spending the whole day. It doesn't get much better than this...

http://nlbm.com/

I AGREE 100%!
A wonderful place to immerse yourself in a very rich part of baseball history.
My first visit to the nlbm I got the privilege to meet Buck O'Neil just before he passed. I feel pretty lucky.

Sell some stuff and buy a surfboard. The sharks aren't as ferocious and it's a healthier hobby.

Wonderful Memories:
 

Jeff- Thanks for sharing Buck with us! I wanted to meet him ever since Ken Burns Baseball first aired...but never got the opportunity...but, in his spirit, I will not complain about not getting an opportunity - we were all blessed to have 'gotten to know' that great man! And, yes, you should feel very lucky!

Jeff, you are so lucky to have met Buck O'Neil. I'd have given just about anything to sit down with him for an hour or two to talk about the history of the Negro Leagues. Mr. O'Neil is one of the greatest ambassadors the game of baseball has ever known. People that truly love the game, as I do, should feel fortunate that Mr. O'Neil did as many interviews and documentaries as he did. He may be gone, but we'll always have his incredible memories.



Brian, I've been where you are now. I got so burned out on baseball card collecting that I just quit. This was in my early twenties. It was only about five years ago when it dawned on me that I used to have so much fun collecting, and that I wanted to do it again. So, I have to agree with everybody else. Don't quit the hobby. Take a break, a long one if needed. And if you ever feel that itch to start collecting again, jump back in.

Bottom line, do what you think will make you happy. I wish you the best of luck with whatever you choose.

I've been where you are now off and on for a year or two. Not yet ready to jump ship though my card mojo is low. Stopped setting up at shows two or three years ago because that stopped being fun. I no longer get warm and fuzzy while looking at material that we see over and over again. Showcases at shows just blend into one another. I know haven't seen it all, but I feel like I have.

Net54 isn't nearly as fun or interesting to me as it used to be though I still peruse it out of habit. Don't know if the membership has changed or I have, Probably some of both. Used to love BST, now it irritates me, seems more like hustler haven now. I certainly skip over anything demanding paypal f/f payment.

Still debating whether to attend the National or not. Maybe that would snap me out of it. Would be nice to hang out with some old collector friends over food and drink. Ironically I am now one card short of "completing" my collection. Just can't summon the juice to acquire it.

Improved cashflow and a fatter checkbook just seem more attractive now.

+1

As to the question of our membership changing, there is no doubt it does. Last month was about average for new, (manual) site registrations. We had 97 members join last month. Some members stay, some go and some have joined very recently. Some of the old timers get a bit jaded but the hobby and this site is fine, imo. There is no doubt that the collecting fun factor comes and goes, it's normal. I enjoy carousing with my friends in the hobby almost as much as I do collecting the cards themselves.

Brian- I wish you the best, whatever you decide. I would offer one bit of advice from one who's been there, when you get mired in a collecting funk, resist the temptation to start selling off pre-war card sets. About ten years ago I sold off complete sets of many caramel cards and have just now completed getting them all back again. It's too frigging hard to find some of the cards now as many collectors, for investment sake or collection sake, have buried the cards in to their collections like the T213 tobacco Coupons. Cards which were available ten years ago are now difficult to find and you'll find yourself kicking yourself for selling them. I know when I decided to "re-put" together the E95, E96, E97, E99 and E100 sets, especially in nice condition, it was tough. E98s would fall in to that group also but for the Black Swamp Find which has made it easier, albeit a little pricey. Sets like the 1909 Zeenuts will never disappear from my collection because it is now impossible to put together the whole set from scratch.
Think twice! For me, I only collect 1909-1919 in the pre-war because that is my favorite time in history. Find a niche, that's mine. Sure I have sets like the DeLong, Tatoo Orbit, George Miller but the 1909-1919 era is my niche.
I wish you the best in your decision....:)

I've retrenched and refocused substantially over the last year. Part of it was finance and part was recognizing that my collection had become The Collection. It had a life of its own. I find myself re-energized by asking myself to collect only what really interests me. I got rid of 90% of my slabbed cards and replaced the ones I really liked with much cheaper lower grade raw cards. I also culled a lot of the bulk of sets I favor and kept only a few cards from them that I found aesthetically pleasing. Ultimately all you can do is what feels right. If money is not an issue I'd echo the others' recommendations not to sell while you are down. I'd also add, come to the national. It always re-energizes me. Finally, for now, try a different thing. For me it was photos

1909 Zeenuts? That does sound like an impossible set to complete.:)

NEVER let the 1909 Zeenuts go.........

Everyone's giving you great advice. Keep us up-to-date on what you do. I like the PAUSE, refresh, try something else out for a while. I'm doing some 1950's/1960's Topps sets right now. It's been fun.....

Good luck!

Thank you, Tom. It was a pleasure meeting you and Ken Cohen and Cohen's table at Robert Morris a couple years ago. The IRS agent made me a little nervous. I don't know why. I reported all my income.

In 1990 I was set up at a show with my table of vintage oddball cards. The dealer next to me had stacks of 1989 Upper Deck and was selling Griffey and Sheffield rookies like they were going out of style. I think he was pricing them a few bucks below market. We got to talking and he started bragging about the thousands of undeclared dollars he was making every weekend selling Griffey rookies. $10,000 one show, $5,000 another show, and so on. Eventually he asked me what I did and I told him that I practiced law. He asked what kind and I said I am a tax lawyer with the IRS's tax fraud division. He turned about fifty shades of whiter then green. I thought he was going to puke.

The moral of the story is that if you are making a fortune in cash and aren't booking the revenue, STFU.

People usually want that kind of payment, because they are usually wholesaling cards over here with a very small profit margin (I can only speak for myself - I know some sellers are charging thru the roof for their stuff - maybe the can afford to pay all the fees, since they are sky high anyway. If we are going to get beat down to below wholesale prices, we might as well sell everything on Ebay, pay the fees, where we get a gazillion more eyeballs than we do just on Net54. Just a thought....

Exactly why I PREFER...
 

being paid that way. Cheap and easy - less headaches for each side.

Nice juicy rationalization for misrepresentation and borderline theft. If that floats your boat, go for it.

Nope...Not at all. It is no different than posting a want ad in the newspaper, pinning a note on a bullentin board, or posting an ad on Craigslist. Not sure why you think there should be fees involved with any of those? Should selling on here be any different? Or you can just go back to Ebay where everything is bloated - makes no difference to me.

What's wrong with Paypal f/f? How is it borderline theft? I must be missing the point.

Brian, I'm sorry to hear that you're considering hanging it up. I for one will miss your monthly sale threads. Many of your cards don't fit my collecting needs but I really enjoy scrolling through the diversity of cards you list. I know I've bought a couple of cards from you (and recently missed out on that Merkle). Hopefully a break will revive your interest and you'll come back soon.

I wish you the best in whatever you decide to do.

Zach

Yes you are.:D:D:D

Recent changes in the law in most states allows for merchants to surcharge for credit card purchases as long as the surcharge is disclosed on the receipt. The semantics may differ but in essence it is ok to give discounts for not using credit cards or paypal.

The point you are missing is that it's fine to charge less for non credit card purchases, just accept checks, cash, money orders etc.

However, using PaypalF/F in this manner is a violation of the user agreement, pure and simple. Is that fraud or theft, I leave up to lawyers.

Color me Uninformed---
 

Are Paypal F/F and asking that payment be made using the gift option via paypal the same thing?

I use it just to save what little I can...I realize in spite of my recent activity, I am 'small potatoes' compared to most of you guys.

If you ever want to do something that will re-ignite your passion make a trip to 18th and Vine in Downtown Kansas City. The Negro League Baseball Museum is awesome - plan on spending the whole day. It doesn't get much better than this...

Then head up the street for some Q @ Arthur Bryants

Sounds like a plan!
 

As a new retiree, I do believe I will make that trip!

Life is complete with a good dog (pet that is), BBQ, and baseball !

- oh, and this recliner...that's all I need. (channeling Nathan)

Hang in there, Brian.
Witness all the people who care
about you!

I guess we both just violated the agreement then. :D

Doug and everyone,

I appreciate it. The problem is getting the flint to work to start the fire again.

Brian - Many recommend Viagra for this problem.

Ummm. Different diagnosis than I needed :o.

Good one, Ken :D.

Brian,

I think there is much to be discovered about the B&W E cards from the early '20s and will miss your knowledge and passion for those cards if you decide to call it quits. Best of luck whatever you decide to do.

Scot Reader

Interesting topic
 

I too have considered hanging up the skates (Canadian hockey collector here) on occasion. I think most collectors have at one point in time in their life. Each time I consider it I ask myself why? It always points back to my childhood where we all would pullout our box of cards and trade with our friends in the old got em got em need em game. You would banter back and forth toss in a few cuss words and eventually make the trade. None of us considered the "value" or rareity of the card. We just knew we needed it and if it meant that you had to trade 2 or 3 for the one you needed then you called your friend a few choice names, made the trade then smacked each other and went on to the next trade. Today when you see the kids that manage to pull themselves away from the video games in a store or show collecting cards the first think mentioned is the "value". They don't appreciate the fun in collecting and that is disheartening to me, hence the frustration. Each time I consider giving it up I think back to what I enjoyed as a kid and look for that in other collectors. They are out there you just need to be patient. That is why I never sell always trade and rarely buy any of my collection. I am not into the graded, slabbed, authenticated stuff. I know what I collect, know what I need and know what I have to trade to get it. I also know I will occasionally buy a few cards but I don't rely on some third party mistake prone lacky to tell me what is obvious to me. SO the next time you consider putting away the cards, keep the chin up and skate it off my friend, skate it off

Hi Brian,
Ever since I joined Net 54 several years ago, I have thoroughly enjoyed your frequent and enthusiastic participation on Net 54. Just today, I marveled at the many very tough Schapiras, W503s, V89s, etc. that you showed in the Roaring 1920's thread. To me, you are obviously a collector who loves scarce cards regardless of condition, as do I. And, I suspect that collecting has been too much a part of your life for too long a time for you to be able to walk away from the hobby and not regret doing so a year from now. So, I fully concur with the other members who suggest that you take a break from collecting and, unless there is a financial need, not part with your cards, especially the scarce ones (except, perhaps, for your WaJo and Sam Rice cards that I covet :D), until you are absolutely sure collecting is outta your system.
Best, whatever you decide,
Val

Some of you may have seen my post of what do I do as I am in financial difficulties. I took most advice. I graded some cards and sold them off. It took a big burden off the family. 5 years ago I had stage 3 cancer, and I thought-what the hell am I doing with this stuff?(cards). I am cured of cancer, but that thought still is in my head. But I still have the collecting bug. I am now very interested-and highly enjoy- a different piece of BB memorabilia.
Please-this is not a classified ad to sell my stuff. I know where to go. It is a comment only, about loosing interest in one collecting avenue, but picking up another. If I sell off my entire cards collection that does not mean much any more, I can use the cash, and I can also have some $ to continue to purchase BB memorabilia. For example-I am not into cards anymore, but I might love pre-WW2 equipment. No, that's not my passion-Just an example.