OT today's society, Whatnot vs Sotheby's

[BioCRN]

Originally Posted by Eric72

I think people throw money at breaks because there's a wide-reaching epidemic of gambling addiction in the U.S. these days. Possibly other countries, too.

While I agree that a huge majority of people out there using breaks as a type of gambling/entertainment rush, some people are out there doing it for legit collector reasons.

I've met a few people who do team breaks because they're team collectors and buying into a break can take care of getting them most of the way to filling their collection with 1 or 2 breaks.

Everything is so expensive these days that putting together a set from packs/boxes is already too high of a gamble to buy into if you don't care about most of the cards in those packs.

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by BioCRN

While I agree that a huge majority of people out there using breaks as a type of gambling/entertainment rush, some people are out there doing it for legit collector reasons.

I've met a few people who do team breaks because they're team collectors and buying into a break can take care of getting them most of the way to filling their collection with 1 or 2 breaks.

Everything is so expensive these days that putting together a set from packs/boxes is already too high of a gamble to buy into if you don't care about most of the cards in those packs.

Fair point, to be sure.

[steve B]

speculation and following potential are nothing new. In cards it goes back at least into the late 70's.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Originally Posted by steve B

speculation and following potential are nothing new. In cards it goes back at least into the late 70's.

But I would say the percentages of people speculating vs collecting have skewed wildly in favor of the former.

There's a lot more wannabe George Soroses today than Warren Buffetts. The idea that there's a get-rich-quick option is too tempting I guess. Of course like most schemes, the overwhelming majority fail.

A somewhat analogous example in the card world would be Ash Jain vs any one of the fly-by night social media guys. Ash has worked his ass off. Has amassed a reputation and inventory that plays second fiddle to very few dealers I can think of, and he's not going anywhere (as he demonstrably proved by weathering the storm of the massive theft at the Dallas show)

Now compare that to some "bro" who has a couple thousand to throw at cards and thinks that, along with minimal effort or knowledge and a youtube channel, is going to turn him into a millionaire next week.

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

But I would say the percentages of people speculating vs collecting have skewed wildly in favor of the former.

There's a lot more wannabe George Soroses today than Warren Buffetts. The idea that there's a get-rich-quick option is too tempting I guess. Of course like most schemes, the overwhelming majority fail.

A somewhat analogous example in the card world would be Ash Jain vs any one of the fly-by night social media guys. Ash has worked his ass off. Has amassed a reputation and inventory that plays second fiddle to very few dealers I can think of, and he's not going anywhere (as he demonstrably proved by weathering the storm of the massive theft at the Dallas show)

Now compare that to some "bro" who has a couple thousand to throw at cards and thinks that, along with minimal effort or knowledge and a youtube channel, is going to turn him into a millionaire next week.

Pffft. Next week? Bro. BRO!!! Who has that kind of time?!?!?!?