Collector demeanor in 2022 – Is it just me?

[butchie_t]

I was somewhat shocked last month when I went to a local show with the number of young collectors walking around with briefcases. Once opened rows of slabs met my eye.

This is not a hobby in their eyes, it is a stock exchange floor and they are trading on their futures.

How can that be enjoyable? The romance of collecting has been dented to an unrecognizable form.

B. T.

[bmattioli]

Just enjoy the 95 percent and ignore the 5 percent.

[BobbyStrawberry]

Originally Posted by butchie_t

I was somewhat shocked last month when I went to a local show with the number of young collectors walking around with briefcases. Once opened rows of slabs met my eye.

This is not a hobby in their eyes, it is a stock exchange floor and they are trading on their futures.

How can that be enjoyable? The romance of collecting has been dented to an unrecognizable form.

B. T.

+1. It seems many are in this only to flip and make quick cash. For these folks, baseball cards might as well be undefined "widgets". The funniest ones are when people ask "which type of box available at Target brings the best ROI?"

[cardsagain74]

Most of the FB card groups I've joined have a pretty good general demeanor (and are enjoyable to interact with).

The exception is the huge hockey card group, which is like a childish mix of a soap opera and scammer page

[Stampsfan]

Originally Posted by cardsagain74

Most of the FB card groups I've joined have a pretty good general demeanor (and are enjoyable to interact with).

The exception is the huge hockey card group, which is like a childish mix of a soap opera and scammer page

This is intriguing to me.

First, a little history. The main reason I became engaged with FB is because on here (Net54), I would read posts about people finding cards in FB groups. Because of this, I took the plunge 2-3 years ago. Joined a T206 group, some vintage baseball, CFL football, and a few hockey card groups.

In the last couple of days, the largest (that I've found) hockey card group has come under deep criticism where a couple of the admins are accused of scoping out posts and making purchases before they are approved and the general members can see them.

Now, I am not here to accuse, confirm, or defend it. I am simply commenting on what is being said in other hockey groups.

Myself, I have preferred one of the smaller groups. Seems to have more knowledgeable and courteous participants, and I've actually picked up a few items that I needed. I've also met some quality people along the way.

What i hate most about many FB card groups is so many folks want to jump in and show they are the smartest collector on the planet. They love to criticize asking price, and sometimes belittle newbies simply asking questions. It gets tiresome.

[cardsagain74]

Originally Posted by Stampsfan

In the last couple of days, the largest (that I've found) hockey card group has come under deep criticism where a couple of the admins are accused of scoping out posts and making purchases before they are approved and the general members can see them.

Now, I am not here to accuse, confirm, or defend it. I am simply commenting on what is being said in other hockey groups.

No clue if that actually happened either, but it definitely wouldn't surprise me.

There's just more of a slimy aspect to some of the people on that page than all the other groups I've been around combined (which includes others that are just as big). But it's still interesting to stick around for the entertainment value

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by BobbyStrawberry

+1. It seems many are in this only to flip and make quick cash. For these folks, baseball cards might as well be undefined "widgets". The funniest ones are when people ask "which type of box available at Target brings the best ROI?"

Some of these guys might get lucky, but I assume the vast majority of them won't do the work to learn about what they are pouring money into and will lose their asses.

[Tabe]

The hobby has definitely morphed but I don't agree that the interactions are worse necessarily. They're just different. When you're posting in groups and so forth, you're going to get feedback in a way that simply wasn't possible 30 years ago. And, yes, some of that feedback will be negative. I can tell you that, with one exception, the interactions I see in my Facebook groups are generally polite and not annoying - even when giving negative feedback.

The one exception I see is people ignoring what people are asking for in posts. "Looking for Mac Jones Autos, no college jersey stuff" and then 90% of the responses will be non-autos or college jersey cards. That's annoying.

To me, it feels like a lot of the complaints I see about behavior are just complaints because things are different than they used to be.

[Deertick]

Originally Posted by Tabe

To me, it feels like a lot of the complaints I see about behavior are just complaints because things are different than they used to be.

2001: Chris, I believe you may have a point. Every generation has slightly differing methods of communication.

2022:, F*&K OFF, boomer.

[Snapolit1]

Totally agree. As I inch closer and close to old man territory, it's clear to me that to my age group and older, everything is "worse". EVERYTHING. It's not "worse," it's just different. Newsflash, things change.

All things must pass. George Harrison.

That doesn't make them worse. It just makes them different.

Originally Posted by Tabe

The hobby has definitely morphed but I don't agree that the interactions are worse necessarily. They're just different. When you're posting in groups and so forth, you're going to get feedback in a way that simply wasn't possible 30 years ago. And, yes, some of that feedback will be negative. I can tell you that, with one exception, the interactions I see in my Facebook groups are generally polite and not annoying - even when giving negative feedback.

The one exception I see is people ignoring what people are asking for in posts. "Looking for Mac Jones Autos, no college jersey stuff" and then 90% of the responses will be non-autos or college jersey cards. That's annoying.

To me, it feels like a lot of the complaints I see about behavior are just complaints because things are different than they used to be.

[cubman1941]

I am in old man territory and you are correct. Everything is "different" for me. I find very few set collectors and very few traders of anything that is not graded. I was in the antiques business for many years and finally got out the end of 2019 because tastes have changed. People were not longer collecting nor getting something they liked, it was, when they came in, for the most part, they were looking for one specific item. The old time antique collector was gone. Things change and I am unable to change with them as the prices have pretty well forced me out. I don't know what will happen with my collections, yes I have a few different ones since once a collector always a collector, but I still am enjoying what I have and the occasional find of something to add whether it be a Cubs card or a Mighty Mouse comic book.

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Totally agree. As I inch closer and close to old man territory, it's clear to me that to my age group and older, everything is "worse". EVERYTHING. It's not "worse," it's just different. Newsflash, things change.

All things must pass. George Harrison.

That doesn't make them worse. It just makes them different.