Are We Slaves To The Registry?

[robw1959]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Let me count the ways:

1. It devalues knowledge. Putting together a top registry set doesn't require that the collector learn how to assess a card, just how to read a flip.

2. It increases competition between collectors, needlessly IMO. Registry geeks are constantly measuring themselves against other collectors rather than enjoying their compadres' collections.

3. It drives up prices by giving rich collectors reasons to battle over top specimens, which has the collateral effect of pricing many of us out of certain issues.

4. It dramatically increases the cost of collecting: slabbing stuff is expensive.

5. It makes storage of a substantial collection more difficult.

6. it grants a third party with a profit motive tremendous power over the hobby and its participants.

+1

[Bagwell-1994]

Originally Posted by robw1959

+1

I agree with all of these points. As a younger collector (ripe age of 37) who just wanted to spend a hard-earned life savings on baseball cards, started seriously buying last summer 2018, I must say, I was in for a big surprise/disappointment when I started buying up cards on Ebay.

I started with a 1941 Play Ball Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio, simply due to the historical significance of that year (last 0.400 batting average, 56-game hitting streak, last year before those players sacrificed time to WWII). I used Beckett as a guide to gauge the value of the cards I was buying, simply because Beckett magazine is what I remembered as a kid as being the definitive price guide for cards.

I continued buying and buying and until, thanks to certain sellers (here's looking at you, Ed Hazuka!) began answering my questions and educating me as to vintagecardprices.com and PSA SMR price guides, the difference between PSA/SGC/BVG, etc.

Suddenly, it began to become very clear that there was an essential cold, calculated, scrutinizing monopoly on the value of cards. I thought "the older and more worn, the better!" but boy was I wrong!

Suddenly, my child-like joy of simply buying "old cards I'd never thought I would own" philosophy eventually morphed into trying to acquire the best centered and best PSA grades I could possibly afford.

Now, months later, and having invested in a $70K + value collection of cards, I can honestly look back and say: boy do I miss that original feeling, that original passion, of simply adoring those worn beat up cards for what they were.. before all the scrutiny and PSA-grading mentality took over the way I looked at baseball cards.

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[Exhibitman]

Shain, you can go back to what you like. Check out OBC (Old Baseball Cards). There are some members on this board. They collect lower grade cards for the love of it.

http://mac.oldbaseball.com/

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Shain, you can go back to what you like. Check out OBC (Old Baseball Cards). There are some members on this board. They collect lower grade cards for the love of it.

http://mac.oldbaseball.com/

Of course I am biased but I think he can do both here! There are thousands of collectors on our site who collect cards that don't cost nice-house-mortgages. For me, I like well worn and real nice.

C'mon dude, get up!!

[Dpeck100]

Originally Posted by Leon

Of course I am biased but I think he can do both here! There are thousands of collectors on our site who collect cards that don't cost nice-house-mortgages. For me, I like well worn and real nice.

C'mon dude, get up!!

You can also enjoy high grade cards and mid grade cards at the same time.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Dpeck100

You can also enjoy high grade cards and mid grade cards at the same time.

I only have 1 nice card and didn't want to show it again.

[Dpeck100]

Originally Posted by Leon

I only have 1 nice card and didn't want to show it again.

The Babe Ruth?

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Leon

I only have 1 nice card and didn't want to show it again.

God don't please.

[Mrc32]

Originally Posted by Bagwell-1994

I agree with all of these points. As a younger collector (ripe age of 37) who just wanted to spend a hard-earned life savings on baseball cards, started seriously buying last summer 2018, I must say, I was in for a big surprise/disappointment when I started buying up cards on Ebay.

I started with a 1941 Play Ball Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio, simply due to the historical significance of that year (last 0.400 batting average, 56-game hitting streak, last year before those players sacrificed time to WWII). I used Beckett as a guide to gauge the value of the cards I was buying, simply because Beckett magazine is what I remembered as a kid as being the definitive price guide for cards.

I continued buying and buying and until, thanks to certain sellers (here's looking at you, Ed Hazuka!) began answering my questions and educating me as to vintagecardprices.com and PSA SMR price guides, the difference between PSA/SGC/BVG, etc.

Suddenly, it began to become very clear that there was an essential cold, calculated, scrutinizing monopoly on the value of cards. I thought "the older and more worn, the better!" but boy was I wrong!

Suddenly, my child-like joy of simply buying "old cards I'd never thought I would own" philosophy eventually morphed into trying to acquire the best centered and best PSA grades I could possibly afford.

Now, months later, and having invested in a $70K + value collection of cards, I can honestly look back and say: boy do I miss that original feeling, that original passion, of simply adoring those worn beat up cards for what they were.. before all the scrutiny and PSA-grading mentality took over the way I looked at baseball cards.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

Great post!

I think the only way to enjoy cards like when you were young is to not "invest" money in cards, simply buy cards you enjoy and change your mentality on making money when you sell. Just buy what you like and don't worry about ROI.