State Of The Hobby

[Goudey77]

I agree, someone stated fear of missing out. Sometimes you gotta make your best educated guess and buy with that uncertainty which is usually an impulsive reaction. Only speaking for myself

Originally Posted by Leon

Can there be an educated impulse buy? I think I have made a few of those.

Yes, hobby appears strong in a lot of places.

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[irv]

Originally Posted by Dpeck100

This is an excellent point. I am in financial services and many advisors had been telling clients wait for the pullback to deploy cash and when the violent move lower took place they sat on their hands or the clients said lets wait and see what happens.

The other big issue with stocks is the daily volatility can shake you out very easily. With cards at least there is a longer selling cycle generally so in my view they are easier to hold and this is one of the appeals from an investment standpoint.

The hobby is very healthy. When it takes as long as it does to get your cards back from third party graders it isn't because they don't want to get them back to you quickly it is because there are so many being sent in.

I was just having a brief discussion last night with a neighbor about the rate of return that can be achieved in cards and it is astonishing. You don't have to have a lot of money to at least see a positive return on the funds you spend and you get the benefit of owning the hard asset. Buying a card for $20 and selling it for $50 isn't going to change anyone's life but find me another area where the investment minimums are so low and the percentage returns can be so outsized. I don't know of one.

I also, like Octavio, agree with Dpeck's post above.

Although, obviously, not conclusive, I have noticed card shops/sellers popping up more locally now as well. In my big metropolis, there has mostly just been one which focused mainly on hockey cards but just recently another one opened up as well. Also, while searching the Bay, I have also encountered a few local sellers that I have never noticed before.

[Leon]

There are a few new ones in DFW too. The one I went into not long ago didn't have any vintage though. I think I might have seen a few 70s Topps but otherwise I didn't really know what anything was.

Originally Posted by irv

I also, like Octavio, agree with Dpeck's post above.

Although, obviously, not conclusive, I have noticed card shops/sellers popping up more locally now as well. In my big metropolis, there has mostly just been one which focused mainly on hockey cards but just recently another one opened up as well. Also, while searching the Bay, I have also encountered a few local sellers that I have never noticed before.

[egri]

Not sure what this is an indication of, but on eBay I have noticed fewer auctions and more BINs with museum level price tags.

[ullmandds]

Well gentlemen...I've had a change of mindset personally. I was itching to buy something the last few days...I scoured ebay...the internet...I could NOT find anything that suited my desires to SPEND!!!!!

To me...this is an indication of the strength of the hobby! There is nothing for me to buy!!!!!!!!! Yes there's crookery around every turn...yes there's manipulation going on...SHILL bidding...it's all happening...BUT...the hobby is still strong...because I cannot buy what I want!

[Republicaninmass]

Hey Pete, was it due to high prices or lack of material?


Just curious for my annals of 2019

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by Republicaninmass

Hey Pete, was it due to high prices or lack of material?


Just curious for my annals of 2019

Both...but mostly lack of material.