Gone from the Blue-Collar Guy

[Casey2296]

As a WC/MC collector myself I feel your pain. It helped me to build a list of my collecting goals and stay true to that list as much as possible. I find it helps when I'm focused on acquiring a big card that I curtail making any smaller purchases and keep that money growing in a pot until I can make the big purchase. I have about a dozen more cards to acquire on my list and I feel that I'll have built a respectable collection. Of course those cards are a bit pricey so it may take me awhile.
Frustrating for sure, I hope you can find some part of collecting that keeps it enjoyable for you.

[ullmandds]

Psa 7-8 early willie mays cards arent exactly blue collar cards??? I agree prices have gotten crazy and ive accepted that in order to get some cards i want i have to part with others. Life goes on!

[Exhibitman]

It is a challenge for us all.

[slightlyrounded]

My New Year’s resolution is to fund this year’s purchases entirely with sales. Going to be a real challenge I think but will allow me to still be active in the hobby while not costing anything. I’ll revisit next year but kind of relishing the challenge for now.

[bxb]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

It is a challenge for us all.

+1

[mrreality68]

It is a challenge and sadly will always be a challenge but alot of forum members have given some great suggestions.
But in the end do what is right for you and your family.
Just do not give up what you enjoy if you do not have to.

[deadballera]

All of my purchases are funded by sales of cards - so no new money going into the collection. low grade / mid grade / nothing much high grade. It's all good to me.

All of us have our condition requirements.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by deadballera

All of my purchases are funded by sales of cards - so no new money going into the collection.

Been that way with me for a decade or so. Anything I want I have to sell into or save for from sales proceeds.

[Tyruscobb]

I share your sentiment. The market has priced me into grades I wouldn’t have even looked at five years ago. However, there are surprisingly some exceptional looking low grades out there. These are the cards I now collect, but it takes a little more patience. I’m also thankful I obtained what I did when I did.

[Seven]

It's a challenge for all of us with varying collecting needs.

Starting in February, as I had some last minute expenses come up this month, I'm going to start putting a little money aside each pay check, in hopes that by the end of this year, I can afford a significant pickup in my Mantle Run.

I know it's very easy to look at the past through rose colored glasses, but I'd kill for the prices of five to ten years ago.

[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.

[FrankWakefield]

Seems to me Johnny M and Jewish Collector are correct, as are everyone else.

What were our expectations? As a 10 year old kid buying a pack of cards, I wasn't thinking about future value at all. And the same for buying my first T206 in the mid 80s. I just liked seeing a card from some player's playing days.

Have I ever thought about an increase in value? Yes. Although I think the value doesn't change, the value is nominal; what changes is the dollar amount at which buyers and sellers are willing to engage in transactions. I've bought graded cards, and for years whenever I bought them I cracked them out. The last few years I've left some of them in their slabs. Is that a tacit decision on my part recognizing that I'm gonna sell that card one day?

I mention the slab cracking to help folks see 2 perspectives: I'm buying this card to collect it because of the player, what he did on the field, the set and it's history, and the visual image of the card; vs I'm buying this card because it's going to increase in value. The 'buying to collect' folks get frustrated and thwarted with rising prices; while the 'investor' guys depend on that price increase.

Seems to me that in one way it sorts out the collectors and the investor/speculators. If the cards I'd bought as a 10 year old were still worth pennies I'd be ok with it.

[ullmandds]

Ya i remember and long for the days when nice t206 cobbs and goudey ruths were somewhat affordable. I missed the boat on 1-200 babe ruth strip cards noone seemed to want at the time. I also missed the bot on apple stock in the single digits.

Do i stop buying apple stock? No…i buy less.

I buy more raw cards for my binders now than I ever have since I was a kid. Its quite enjoyable. If the cards you buy have to be PSA sevens or eights and there is no deviation you’re in this more for the investment than a hobby. Invest elsewhere.

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by Seven

It's a challenge for all of us with varying collecting needs.

Starting in February, as I had some last minute expenses come up this month, I'm going to start putting a little money aside each pay check, in hopes that by the end of this year, I can afford a significant pickup in my Mantle Run.

I know it's very easy to look at the past through rose colored glasses, but I'd kill for the prices of five to ten years ago.

The problem is what do you do when you run out of stuff to sell to fund new purchases? A lot of the stuff I have is killer, I like it too much to let it go. Lol oh well that’s why I’m stopping.

I feel it’s gone for good the investor Speculator pushed it too far I just don’t see it coming back at least not on the graded cards and conditions I collect.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

The problem is what do you do when you run out of stuff to sell to fund new purchases? A lot of the stuff I have is killer, I like it too much to let it go. Lol oh well that’s why I’m stopping.

I feel it’s gone for good the investor Speculator pushed it too far I just don’t see it coming back at least not on the graded cards and conditions I collect.

I have been collecting for easily 35 years so old stuff to sell I am no longer interested in isn't a problem. The new $600 limit on getting a 1099 is what will stop most from doing it. Since many eBay sellers are normal collectors selling something to buy something else or straight up unlicensed non tax paying dealers. I see eBay listings drying up real quick.

[Tao_Moko]

It's healthy to walk away for awhile every now and then. Stay off the forums, ebay, ah's and put the cards away. Come back with a new perspective. It's just a hobby and just cards. Fills a void sometimes, but I always realize I can live without most of what I have.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by bnorth

I have been collecting for easily 35 years so old stuff to sell I am no longer interested in isn't a problem. The new $600 limit on getting a 1099 is what will stop most from doing it. Since many eBay sellers are normal collectors selling something to buy something else or straight up unlicensed non tax paying dealers. I see eBay listings drying up real quick.

Remember, the reporting is only for commercial sales activity, so Paypal Friends & Family payments are NOT included in what will be reported. Not sure if any of the other payment platforms have a similar type of personal payment option, but if it seems maybe so, you can contact them and ask if such payments are included in this new 1099-K threshold reporting mandate or not.

However, be advised these payment platforms are not stupid, and monitor and keep record of all payments through them, including friends and family ones. So don't be surprised if they suddenly see someone incurring ongoing transactions and activity for thousands or tens of thousands of dollars using their friends and family option, especially when there was no such previous F&F activity or history before, and investigating it themselves, or reporting it to the pertinent authorities (like the IRS). They certainly aren't going to take a hit for someone using their payment platform and trying to get around the tax laws. Remember the old saying, pigs go to market, but hogs get slaughtered.

[todeen]

Originally Posted by Seven

It's a challenge for all of us with varying collecting needs.



Starting in February, as I had some last minute expenses come up this month, I'm going to start putting a little money aside each pay check, in hopes that by the end of this year, I can afford a significant pickup in my Mantle Run.



I know it's very easy to look at the past through rose colored glasses, but I'd kill for the prices of five to ten years ago.

I told my wife I would like to save and buy every three or four months. I still collect Barry Larkin, but the new reality is for pre-war I need more money than my monthly allotment can buy.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[Johnny630]

Another one going to the Next Level Out of my Reach Now


https://www.ebay.com/itm/144369802131


Probably the Second Hardest Regular Issue Topps Willie Mays Card to find in high grade after the 53 Topps

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

Another one going to the Next Level Out of my Reach Now


https://www.ebay.com/itm/144369802131


Probably the Second Hardest Regular Issue Topps Willie Mays Card to find in high grade after the 53 Topps

And its overgraded to boot...may even be altered??

[GasHouseGang]

Originally Posted by Tyruscobb

I share your sentiment. The market has priced me into grades I wouldn’t have even looked at five years ago. However, there are surprisingly some exceptional looking low grades out there. These are the cards I now collect, but it takes a little more patience. I’m also thankful I obtained what I did when I did.

Both SGC and PSA are so much tougher on grades now that many of the "lower" level grades look like the higher grades of a few years ago. I blame all the card doctors who have suddenly created PSA 9's and 10's of vintage cards that didn't used to exist.

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

Psa 7-8 early willie mays cards arent exactly blue collar cards??? I agree prices have gotten crazy and ive accepted that in order to get some cards i want i have to part with others. Life goes on!

Pete, I agree, but as the Bard said, "Parting is such sweet sorrow".

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Yoda

Pete, I agree, but as the Bard said, "Parting is such sweet sorrow".

As Arthur Miller wrote in Death of a Salesman, life is a casting off.