Please Help Me Make Some Sense Of It

[SyrNy1960]

My mind can't wrap around these insane prices that graded cards are selling for. It's not like grading is a new thing. And I'm not talking just about graded 10 cards. 6's, 7's, and 8's are selling for big $$$. For the sellers, it's great. For they buyers, not so much. I don't see these prices holding up down the line when it comes time to sell. One guy said, "people are investing in cards to protect their assets, because inflation is so high and no end in sight. I think this will keep driving good cards higher and higher with demand."

Did I fall asleep and wake up in an episode of the Twilight Zone?

Thanks! Tony

[jingram058]

You are in the same boat as me, Tony. I bought my cards, the ones I actually purchased 20 to 25 years ago, to re-build my collection from when I was a kid. I bought them, and other memorabilia for a fraction of what they go for today. So that was my 2nd era of collecting. I got back in about a year ago, when I traded some of dupes, and that got me going on my now complete 53 Bowman set. I was shocked at what had happened. Seems like everything pre-1980 had risen crazy. But pre-war and 1950s-60s cards were exponential. And then Ruth, Mantle, DiMaggio, Cobb and all the others were out of sight, and a select few would make you a millionaire. Now those same few cards will make you a multi-millionaire. Unbelievable but true. Alas, though, only if they are graded, as there are some unbelievable fakes out there, too. None of mine are graded, so while I have some desirable cards, I will just continue to enjoy them as a hobby. The regular posters on the main forum of net54, the pre-war page, are primarily card investors, not regular card hobbyists. I post comments from time to time, but it's all about big money investment for the most part. Occasionally they notice my posts, if I make some extreme comment. But I am not in that league.

[whitehse]

It’s crazy. I completed a popular vintage set with the Hofers all in mid-grades and the rest bring raw. I sold some of the graded Hofers for many multiples of what I paid for them. Hopefully I can eventually go back and purchase raw examples to fill in my set. I could not pass up finally making huge money on my hobby after all these years. It was a no brainer for me.

[ooo-ribay]

I think it’s not just graded cards. I’m about ready to say “enough.” I’ve got plenty of stuff and could stop collecting right now. I could afford to still be in the mix but choose not to be. I’m not sure everyone is making wise “investments”….

[egri]

For my signed 1953 Topps project, I used to think Satchell Paige was overpriced at anything above $1,200. I passed on a whole bunch of them at the time because I figured I could always pick him up later. Now he routinely sells for over $3,000, and occasionally over $4,000. Jackie Robinson I'm glad I already have, because those have been fetching around $10,000 lately. I was talking to another member about it recently, and there's no way I could start the project today, unless I either inherited a great deal of the set or won the lottery. For someone like Mantle, I may need to live with that hole in my set for a while.

[Seven]

Originally Posted by egri

For my signed 1953 Topps project, I used to think Satchell Paige was overpriced at anything above $1,200. I passed on a whole bunch of them at the time because I figured I could always pick him up later. Now he routinely sells for over $3,000, and occasionally over $4,000. Jackie Robinson I'm glad I already have, because those have been fetching around $10,000 lately. I was talking to another member about it recently, and there's no way I could start the project today, unless I either inherited a great deal of the set or won the lottery. For someone like Mantle, I may need to live with that hole in my set for a while.

I'll have hit a financial wall with my Mantle Career Run, once I eventually pick up the 1953 Topps, which hopefully in a few months will not have jumped significantly. But I went from "I can one day afford the 52 If I save up properly" to "The only way I afford it is if I hit lotto"

I try not to let the money interfere with the enjoyment I have in the hobby. I plan on collecting a long time so it's not too much of an issue. I can't definitively say what the card market will look like 5,10,20 or 30 years from now. But looking at the state of things right now, it's a little upsetting I'll have a hole in my collection. But you never know what might happen!

[egri]

Originally Posted by Seven

I'll have hit a financial wall with my Mantle Career Run, once I eventually pick up the 1953 Topps, which hopefully in a few months will not have jumped significantly. But I went from "I can one day afford the 52 If I save up properly" to "The only way I afford it is if I hit lotto"

I try not to let the money interfere with the enjoyment I have in the hobby. I plan on collecting a long time so it's not too much of an issue. I can't definitively say what the card market will look like 5,10,20 or 30 years from now. But looking at the state of things right now, it's a little upsetting I'll have a hole in my collection. But you never know what might happen!

I thought I was priced out of Campanella, but then another member here turned up one a few months ago and we were able to reach a deal. I've noticed as I've entered a holding pattern on the project, I've been spending a lot more time with the cards I sent out TTM a few years ago, and dedicating more time to a few side projects that aren't as capital-intensive.

[samosa4u]

Originally Posted by 3arod13

My mind can't wrap around these insane prices that graded cards are selling for. It's not like grading is a new thing. And I'm not talking just about graded 10 cards. 6's, 7's, and 8's are selling for big $$$. For the sellers, it's great. For they buyers, not so much. I don't see these prices holding up down the line when it comes time to sell. One guy said, "people are investing in cards to protect their assets, because inflation is so high and no end in sight. I think this will keep driving good cards higher and higher with demand."

Did I fall asleep and wake up in an episode of the Twilight Zone?

Thanks! Tony

Yeah, it looks like you've been asleep for the past two years cause' this subject has been discussed a million times on here!

[SyrNy1960]

Originally Posted by samosa4u

Yeah, it looks like you've been asleep for the past two years cause' this subject has been discussed a million times on here!

Yeah, I have been! Mainly a Gamed Used Memorabilia Collector. When GAMEUSEDUNIVERSE became a ghost town, I drifted off to sleep. Finding NET54 got me back looking at the card side again. Thanks! ��

[glchen]

I've had a hard time wrapping my mind around the huge increases in prices for a lot of cards, but I've finally come around to it. It is what it is. Basically, this is the new reality. The fact is inflation is running around 5%, and the stock market had done exceedingly well in the last year. Many folks have much more in savings than pre-pandemic, so you figured that you can now buy all of those cards that you wanted in the past but had no money for. Now you have the money. However, the problem is that the card prices have gone up even more than your savings has, so you're back to the beginning, perhaps even worse off comparatively. Life goes on.

[Jewish-collector]

Other hobbies like photography, gardening, computer gaming, playing sports, etc,... are more about techniques and skill rather than money. There are some expenses to them of course, but not to the degree of as this hobby has become. We low end collectors need to find other aspects of this great hobby that gives us happiness enjoyment, and fulfillment.