Please Help Me Make Some Sense Of It

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by packs

Prices are high because of a faux market created by a big seller who is no longer in the market on a particularly popular auction site. I anticipate prices coming way down in the very near future. Hold tight.

[packs]

Some big sales of popular cards have come into question. When a 10 sells for huge money it has a domino effect on the card in all grades and that effect creates a basis for future prices. It doesn't have to be a 10 either. It could be any popular card in any grade. When a card hits a new price point it sets the price point for the next card. But if there was no initial buyer then the price point is artificial. I think that tide is evening out. I'm predicting prices come back down because that activity has come into question and markets have come into question too. Like the market for Jordan rookie cards, for example.

[ooo-ribay]

I think people are really out of their minds paying what they’ve paying for Trouts, Bradys, Kobes, etc…..but what do I know?

[SyrNy1960]

Originally Posted by ooo-ribay

I think people are really out of their minds paying what they’ve paying for Trouts, Bradys, Kobes, etc…..but what do I know?

You know a lot! Because down the line, they will never maintain those values or even be worth half the amount they're paying today. Simply insane!

[Leon]

Anyone in the hobby today has to be looking at the prices and amount shelled out as some kind of investment. After selling my first collection, when I had all cards and almost no money, it is much easier now. The money being spent is an investment, like it or not. And I am a collector at heart but don't begrudge any flippers or dealers. They have great stuff sometimes. One board member many, many years ago, professed he doesn't collect any of this stuff, he collects greenbacks.

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[Aquarian Sports Cards]

I explain it this way. During the real estate boom, not too long ago, condos in Florida were selling rapidly and at ever higher prices. You'd buy a condo, wait a month and flip it for profit. Eventually the people who wanted to LIVE in the condos were priced out. Then, when the market crashed, the price had to come back down to the level that people who wanted to actually use the condo could afford.

[Carter08]

Although I don’t have a lot of it I’m new money into the hobby. I collected now-worthless junk as a kid in the 80s and 90s (and loved it) and always had it in the back of my mind to get back into the hobby. Pandemic boredom got me back in. So I’ve paid really high prices for things like an Aaron rookie 4. That’s about my level of card. What I’m wondering and maybe hoping is all the renewed interest keeps prices somewhat stable on vintage cards like that. I love the cards so I’m sort of ok with a crash and would just buy more if it does. I will say that every time it feels like there’s a softening a card ends at auction strong and puts that thought to bed for me at least temporarily. Although I’m not in it for the money by any means a crash would make me a bit sad overall and make me question some life decisions lol.

If the market starts to slide and anyone wants to unload a bunch of 48 Leafs hit me up!!!

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by Leon

Anyone in the hobby today has to be looking at the prices and amount shelled out as some kind of investment. After selling my first collection, when I had all cards and almost no money, it is much easier now. The money being spent is an investment, like it or not. And I am a collector at heart but don't begrudge any flippers or dealers. They have great stuff sometimes. One board member many, many years ago, professed he doesn't collect any of this stuff, he collects greenbacks.

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Cards are now assets, not collections. It is just the state of the hobby.

[jingram058]

Originally Posted by Leon

Anyone in the hobby today has to be looking at the prices and amount shelled out as some kind of investment. After selling my first collection, when I had all cards and almost no money, it is much easier now. The money being spent is an investment, like it or not. And I am a collector at heart but don't begrudge any flippers or dealers. They have great stuff sometimes. One board member many, many years ago, professed he doesn't collect any of this stuff, he collects greenbacks.

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I guess I will have to get some of my stuff graded at some point. My wife and daughter are well aware of that, and what I have. I don't have a lot, but some of it is worth serious money, Ruthian stuff at the top of the list. You are right. Some of these things make me an investor by default. But I am truly not in it for that.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Leon

Anyone in the hobby today has to be looking at the prices and amount shelled out as some kind of investment. After selling my first collection, when I had all cards and almost no money, it is much easier now. The money being spent is an investment, like it or not. And I am a collector at heart but don't begrudge any flippers or dealers. They have great stuff sometimes. One board member many, many years ago, professed he doesn't collect any of this stuff, he collects greenbacks.

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Yeah, but

[Yoda]

Whether it is quantitative easing, the Treasury buying up fresh Gov't bonds, Covid relief packages, the huge deficit, there is a massive amount of cash floating around the country and, as a result, I feel the U.S. dollar is being debased.
One prop for the $ has always been that international commodity contracts are denominated in our currency, eg. gold and oil. If that arrangement is somehow changed, and it would be hard to do so, there would be a run on the dollar, benefiting those holding foreign currencies, Yen, Euros etc. Inflation would also hit hard, affecting all of us.
I operate mainly as a wholesaler for the AH's. My buying side over the last 1.5 years has been practically non-existent due to prices. I feel I am fighting against other bidders on Ebay who either don't know what they are doing or are these mysterious cartels. Perhaps autographs are a realistic alternative, although the top ones are, like cards, rising quickly. Just look at Satch.