Manufactured scarcity vs. actual rarity

[Leon]

Originally Posted by jandr272

Does anyone believe the cards manufactured intentionally rare, like the 1/1, 1/25, etc, will hold their value? How long has this been happening and have any maintained their value?

Hard to say but almost all collectors on this board don't buy into the manufactured rarity game too much. I think research would probably show they don't hold their value, many times. Since I don't collect that stuff I can't help with when it started but my guess would be when all of the really shiny cards started being produced. ...good question though.....

[Section103]

One of the main problems with manufactured scarcity is that they arent even rare. A 1 of 10 often becomes a 1 of 10 that can be found in red, blue, purple, black and green.....this year. And next year, there's a similar 1 of 10 set all over again. For many collectors, there is no difference between a 2014 1 of 10 Mike Trout auto card and a 2015 1 of 10 auto card. When you start adding up those limited sets, they arent so limited anymore.

[frankhardy]

I think a true rarity is a card that wasn't meant to be so. When I think rare, I think test issues.

[mrmopar]

I have pondered that myself quite a bit. I stopped buying newer stuff for the most part in the late 90s/early 00s. I have amassed a sizable collection of Steve Garvey though and I do buy the new artificial rarities of his along with anything else that ALR-bishop has left over for me, but only time will tell beyond a single generation of buyers if these will still be desired later on.

I have a few older issues that are harder to find (mostly Dodgers oddball), but I guess my original budget and collecting interests lead me down the path I am on now. I guess in the end is a hobby only for me and although there is some resale value in it, I get what I enjoy and don't think too hard about future value.

[drcy]

10,000 1-of-1s is 10,000 cards.

If someone wants to collect those cards, that's fine by me. People should collect what they like and if they like modern cards that's great. But I think a financially sane way is to buy the modern stuff that is a few years old, where the prices have settled, and not the latest stuff. Just my two cents.

[DaClyde]

I think the manufactured rarity only works when the card itself is particularly desirable. Otherwise they end up like the dozens upon dozens of low-numbered cards that just sit on eBay month after month, getting nary a bid.

[Shoebox]

I have a weakness for HOF autos and game used and purchase many of them on eBay. It is littered with choices of manufactered rare cards. Like has been stated by others is the volume of 'rare' cards that dont stand apart. If I want a Juan Marical auto or a Derek Jeter jersey swatch I can find 200 choices of each in less than a minute. I target the attribute I want and a price range I want to be in . The low serial numbers have never influenced what I buy. The eye appeal and individual asthetics of the card/auto/relicare what drives me when I pick what I will bid on.

[brob28]

Originally Posted by Section103

One of the main problems with manufactured scarcity is that they arent even rare. A 1 of 10 often becomes a 1 of 10 that can be found in red, blue, purple, black and green.....this year. And next year, there's a similar 1 of 10 set all over again. For many collectors, there is no difference between a 2014 1 of 10 Mike Trout auto card and a 2015 1 of 10 auto card. When you start adding up those limited sets, they arent so limited anymore.

Like Rich and Dustin posted earlier, there are so many of these out there I would be skeptical. I have not searched but my guess is there are 1000's of Derek Jeter limited relic cards out there. Seems each year more appear for each and every star past and present.