Priced Out?

[JollyElm]

235. Too-Too Clock
Although everyone is (rightfully) complaining about how expensive cards are getting these days, the simple truth is cards have always been way ‘too’ expensive since the beginning of time. Even when Mays and Mantle cards could be gotten for $5 apiece, that was considered a ludicrous price.

[Seven]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

235. Too-Too Clock
Although everyone is (rightfully) complaining about how expensive cards are getting these days, the simple truth is cards have always been way ‘too’ expensive since the beginning of time. Even when Mays and Mantle cards could be gotten for $5 apiece, that was considered a ludicrous price.

Always love these collectorisims you come up with, gives me a chuckle whenever I see one.

[commishbob]

I had been on a mission to complete the Topps sets I remembered and loved from 1957 to 1979. Over the past decade I'd made good progress with just a few sets still to complete. But the crazy prices I faced when dealing with the '67 high numbers over the last year or two had me rethinking that original goal.

I've turned my attention to building my publication collection (Baltimore Orioles, Colts and NY Rangers programs), finding wire service photos of players I collect, and piecing together some fun non-sports sets I's been slowly building over the years.

I still have a hand in the baseball/football card market. When attempting a set I almost always started with a single purchase of 100-200 commons in a lot and there were usually some stinkers mixed in. With some patience and perseverance I've found that there are nicely conditioned commons still to be had a good prices.

So I'm staying active in the hobby but it seems unlikely I'll do another set chase any time soon.

[joshleon]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

235. Too-Too Clock
Although everyone is (rightfully) complaining about how expensive cards are getting these days, the simple truth is cards have always been way ‘too’ expensive since the beginning of time. Even when Mays and Mantle cards could be gotten for $5 apiece, that was considered a ludicrous price.

This is exactly right. It's always been relative, but always expensive.

[seanofjapan]

I try to follow the principle of "Hitting them where they ain't" to collecting (not just cards but everything, I have a lot of collections on the go).

Avoid the stuff everyone is going after and try to find things that have these two qualities going for them:

1) They aren't being actively pursued much by people with money so the prices are low; and
2) They have some innate quality which makes them of interest, suggesting that the reason they aren't being pursued is just because the market under appreciates them and not because they suck.

The problem with this strategy is that eventually the market catches up with you and starts plowing money into the neat under-appreciated things you were buying up cheaply and suddenly you find yourself priced out of the market and forced to move on to something else.

Which is what is happening now of course.