This is Vent Thread - Lets define "Pumper" relating to this section of this website

ullmandds · #1 11-02-2023, 08:53 PM

I interpret the use of the term..."pumper" as someone who often touts the virtues of cards they own...as being super rare, desirable, or way undervalued...to try to persuade others of such virtues so as they may want to own such cards...thereby increasing the perceived value of said cards/items.

for example...show your favorite hank aaron card. poster posts spic and span aaron touting how rare it is as compared to the topps and thereby should be much more desirable and valuable.

darwinbulldog · #2 11-03-2023, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ullmandds

I interpret the use of the term..."pumper" as someone who often touts the virtues of cards they own...as being super rare, desirable, or way undervalued...to try to persuade others of such virtues so as they may want to own such cards...thereby increasing the perceived value of said cards/items.

for example...show your favorite hank aaron card. poster posts spic and span aaron touting how rare it is as compared to the topps and thereby should be much more desirable and valuable.

I concur. If you're talking about what aspects of a card you find aesthetically pleasing or what niche of your collection it fits into or when/how you acquired it, that's just discussing why you like the card. If you're talking about why other people should like it more than they do, that's pumping.

ClementeFanOh · #3 11-03-2023, 11:14 AM

Ryan- I too have seen the term "pumper" tossed around in various threads.
It got to the point that, for me within net54 anyway, there was the threat of
it becoming like the word "nice" in everyday language- almost meaningless.

My recollections of the term reveal that two sorts of folks use it on very
opposite ends of the spectrum. The first is the guy like 1911, who uses the
term about people who have more cash than him to spend on cards. Plenty
of folks on these boards have more disposable income than I do, but I've
yet to have the inclination to spew my envy by calling them "pumpers". 1911
loves to take it to extremes too, insinuating (if not bluntly stating) that
people with cash are one step away from forfeiting their bank accounts and
their futures because of cards. He gives no one credit for hobby knowledge
or financial prudence, instead lumping them into a category called
"pumpers". You're right, 1911 is a special kind of dolt. If the truth was a
snake he'd get bitten almost every time, and there is no reasoning with him.

The second sort who "pump" are the guys who like to flaunt their investment
"knowledge" by insisting repeatedly that collectors should focus only on
highly specific players. "Buy Ruth, Cobb, Mantle, and Robinson in high
grade". These folks think this comment is some sort of revelation, which it
isn't. They also think other collectors should mindlessly follow their advice
because- drum roll, please- it's their advice! Lots of people on these boards
have great knowledge and it's a pleasure to gain it. "Pumpers" feel like they
need to flaunt the advice and, I suspect, are really just hoping they are
right in the end because that's the path they chose.

Just my observations, nothing more or less.

Trent King

Rhotchkiss · #4 11-03-2023, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ullmandds

I interpret the use of the term..."pumper" as someone who often touts the virtues of cards they own...as being super rare, desirable, or way undervalued...to try to persuade others of such virtues so as they may want to own such cards...thereby increasing the perceived value of said cards/items.

for example...show your favorite hank aaron card. poster posts spic and span aaron touting how rare it is as compared to the topps and thereby should be much more desirable and valuable.

This is an interesting definition too, but, personally, one I think is too broad. What is the difference between pumping and showing off? Or, what if a card is posted in response to a question like �what is the next big card to take off?�. If someone posts a card they own and state why they think that could be the next card to take off, are they pumping?

Personally, I like Don�s definition and feel a �pumper� is stating their �opinion�, specifically and purposefully (and these two adverbs are key), that is, with the intent to (1) motivate others to buy the card, so (2) the value/price of that card goes up, and so (3) the pumper can sell or dump his card for a profit.

I think there are very few people on this site who intentionally seek to motivate others to buy their cards so they can dump them for more.

Yoda · #5 11-03-2023, 11:56 AM

And I always thought that a pumper was that guy at the water station furiously working a lever to extract a bit of H2O.

RCFire82 · #6 11-03-2023, 12:10 PM

My line of work, a pumper is a fire engine.

Kidnapped18 · #7 11-03-2023, 12:26 PM

Not sure I have seen the term pumper on any threads not that I am looking so this is new to me. I don’t care if everyone here collects cards for fun, for investing, a combination of the two or for any other reasons. I assume that most here collect for fun with the hope that their card values rise and if it rises to a point the owner wants to sell then they do so.
If you are a member here buying or selling cards then you should have some general idea of the card value based on grades past sales and the direction the market is going and price you want to pay and proceed accordingly. Most members here have access to all sorts of data VCP, cardtarget, PSA, auction houses past sales to make sure they don’t way overpay. I would tend to think a pumper wouldn’t influence my decision to purchase any card here or elsewhere.

gabrinus · #8 11-03-2023, 12:33 PM

I admit to being a pumper...only the price of the card goes up 5 years after I sell it...Jerry

bnorth · #9 11-03-2023, 12:36 PM

I would like to pump the $1 auction section in the BST area. There are some nice items listed this week. Would be great if more people would sell a few of their extra cards there to get more action and better cards listed.

They are real $1 starting bid auctions, can't find them too often anymore.

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