Collectors’ demeanor in 2021

[Republicaninmass]

I've noticed people tout buying from PWCC as a badge of courage. You have to have your head examined if your willing to publically say you'd deal with them. I'm not sure what type of personality make people so adamant about sticking up for them, and continuing to do business with them. There are a few bad actors I know in the hobby, and honestly I would not sell them a card, take a card for free from them, ot even take a phone call or read their email. Ethics trumps all in my eyes. Likely the reason why 707 sportscards gets their premium.

If you do buy, and the card ends up being altered or whatever, please just destroy it. I'm sure after weighing all the pros and cons, you can write it up to a bad decision and you wont pass the buck here on n54, or elsewhere. Mmmmmm k?

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by Republicaninmass

I've noticed people tout buying from PWCC as a badge of courage. You have to have your head examined if your willing to publically say you'd deal with them. I'm not sure what type of personality make people so adamant about sticking up for them, and continuing to do business with them. There are a few bad actors I know in the hobby, and honestly I would not sell them a card, take a card for free from them, ot even take a phone call or read their email. Ethics trumps all in my eyes. Likely the reason why 707 sportscards gets their premium.

If you do buy, and the card ends up being altered or whatever, please just destroy it. I'm sure after weighing all the pros and cons, you can write it up to a bad decision and you wont pass the buck here on n54, or elsewhere. Mmmmmm k?

Todd in today's world people would buy from the Devil if they have the card they want/need. It's just the way it is, I don't judge people by it, they're addicted to the cards.

Now you hear a lot about people checking out PWCC because they think they're going to get a deal because of their recent issue of being kicked off of ebay so OMG I should really pay attention maybe I can get a steal aka meaning CHEAP or a DEAL....this is what's going through many heads right now.

[MooseDog]

I had a small shop back then and it was the 1994 baseball strike that caused the screeching halt.

Originally Posted by Republicaninmass

Then, for some reason, it came to a grinding halt. I was sitting on 300 scott cooper and carlos Quintana rookies. Many many other hundred count lots of players that were barely worth the stock they were printed on. I had loaded of rookie and traded sets, unopened boxes, and more. My " retirement plan" filled the back of a dodge Dakota 20 years later and I received $1,000 for my years of collecting.

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by egri

I have noticed an uptick in arguments here in the past year and a half. It's still very low overall, but more than it used to be. It seems like it comes and goes; I remember about 4-5 years ago it got a bit heated, then cooled off, now we're on an upswing again. I am a member of a few collecting groups on Facebook, but I don't poke my head in there very often so I can't comment on those.

I think Board animosity is more a product of certain people and/or topics than a sign of the times. I can think of several idiots, most of whom are no longer on this site, who stirred the pot regularly and created arguments and heated posts. Things tend to calm down for a while once the idiot du jour is booted, but then, inevitably, one or more people step into the role, rinse/repeat.

Alternatively, if its not one or more pot-stirers, its a certain topic that gets people fired up. Covid/vaccination/masks, etc is a topic that never ends well. PWCC and PSA-specific threads tend to get people's goat, especially if there is a big defender/supporter of either.

No clue what Facebook groups are like, so I cant comment there - I am not on social media and proud to say I have never once "liked" or "followed" or "tweeted/retweeted" anything.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by MooseDog

I had a small shop back then and it was the 1994 baseball strike that caused the screeching halt.

That is when I all but quit watching, or following, MLB.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

I think Board animosity is more a product of certain people and/or topics than a sign of the times. I can think of several idiots, most of whom are no longer on this site, who stirred the pot regularly and created arguments and heated posts. Things tend to calm down for a while once the idiot du jour is booted, but then, inevitably, one or more people step into the role, rinse/repeat.

Alternatively, if its not one or more pot-stirers, its a certain topic that gets people fired up. Covid/vaccination/masks, etc is a topic that never ends well. PWCC and PSA-specific threads tend to get people's goat, especially if there is a big defender/supporter of either.

No clue what Facebook groups are like, so I cant comment there - I am not on social media and proud to say I have never once "liked" or "followed" or "tweeted/retweeted" anything.

Couldn't agree more with the parts I made bold. I am probably on many peoples list as one of those idiots. I just couldn't believe almost nobody cared how corrupt the hobby is so I made a lot of posts about it. Then I realized screw those getting screwed because they don't care so I shouldn't care what they do. Now I avoid that stuff and do enjoy the board a lot more.

As a collector I have moved from mainly cards to more memorabilia because of the prices. In the stuff I collect the memorabilia did not have as huge of price increases.

[53toppscollector]

The concept of hobby demeanor is an interesting one, and I think it is important to sort of put it in context (which is a good rule of them for pretty much everything in life, imo)

A lot of people leave the hobby at some point, but I don't think it correlates to lack of interest in the sport or sports they follow. I checked out of the hobby in the late 90s, but my baseball fandom actually probably peaked in 2009-2011 when the Phillies were at their apex. At that point, I was watching every single baseball game, I was reading baseball books, spending hours a day on baseball-reference, etc and I didn't own a single baseball card.

I got back into the hobby a few years ago, and it honestly took me a year or so to really understand what the hobby now was. When I checked out, there was no ebay or COMC or Starstock or anything else. I only bought cards from my LCS, I only had a Beckett/Tuff Stuff price guide. I didn't know anything about the current environment. So it took time to learn how things were done. I had to understand the etiquette and standard practices of buying/selling cards, what was expected, etc. I basically learned that by trial and error. In the last year, I've watched lots of youtube videos covering basics and things like that, and I wish I'd seen those videos back in 2015 when I got back into things.

One thing that I do think is a net negative is people trying to tell younger/newer folks what the "right way" to collect is. I've seen lots of animosity directed toward people who flip cards, but those people are contributing supply to the market, and that is needed to have a healthy collecting environment. As with everything, attitude and how you handle yourself is important, but I think an old school vs new school debate/battle just isn't really productive or helpful.

As you can see just from sampling the posts on this board, there are so many different ways to collect cards, and there is no right or wrong way. There are still set builders, player collectors, type collectors, and every kind of hybrid in between. Even the guys just turning and burning, buying cards and looking to sell without a focus on actually collecting certain things, they bring something to the hobby. Everyone is entitled to collect what they want and to acquire it however it makes sense for them, as long as they are respectful, I have zero issue with it at all.

Just my $0.02

[conor912]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

It's stress. More experienced collectors are simultaneously suffering sticker shock, a dawning realization that they will not be able to afford the cards they want, and anxiety over whether to take profits on the cards they already have.

Oh, and the COVID thing.

I think this is a good point. I will add to it that a lot of sellers are not only seeking unrealistic prices on quality items, but they also seem more firm than ever. I’ve noticed a lot more “pay my ask or move on” mentality.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by conor912

I’ve noticed a lot more “pay my ask or move on” mentality.

I am guilty of that. A rapidly rising market means that I can hold on to a tough card unless/until I wring out the maximum profit from it. I sold a bunch of cards a few years back at 'exorbitant' prices only to have them shoot past what I got for them. I also don't see a point to discounting Babe Ruth. Harold Baines, sure, but not the Big Fella or others of his caliber.

[brianp-beme]

We should all live by this maxim:

"One's demeanor should not be meaner just because the selection has gotten leaner and the costs more greener".

Brian

[Yoda]

Sort of like getting married.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by Yoda

Sort of like getting married.

Ba-dum CHHHH