The new breed of collectors...

[wazoo]

Hmm. Never a good idea to generalize a demographic. Some of us are in it gor the long run…

[Bridwell]

The new "higher end" collector/investor is moving funds from the stock market, or low yield bonds, or out of crypocurrency into sports cards that are perceived to be a safer investment with more upside potential.

Cards of famous players selling for more than $1000 each are like gold nuggets the investor can store for a time, enjoy, show off, and then resell when the next hot investment comes along. The "Blue Chip" players like Ruth, Gehrig, Cobb, Mantle, and Jackie Robinson are easy for them to spend big bucks on.

These types of investors are used to buying at "market", which is the price it takes to win the auction no matter how high. The price to win is the current value, in that flawed logic.

[FrankWakefield]

I agree, that is what they're doing.


And for us old geezer collectors, it is what we did to the collectors of Cracker Jack prizes. Those folks were seeking rings, tops, puzzles, figurines, and then along comes those "Cracker Jack Ball Players" cards of 1914 and 1915. Those prizes were tough enough to find without baseball card collectors running up the price on all of those cards.

[CobbSpikedMe]

Originally Posted by wazoo

Hmm. Never a good idea to generalize a demographic. Some of us are in it gor the long run…

I agree with Waz here. Generalizing a demographic is not the best idea. I assume there are several new young collectors on this board that just don't post very often but are reading threads and learning about the hobby and it's history. It's the flashy investors that are running up prices and exploding the hobby right now. But there are many new collectors that aren't investors.



.

[ALBB]

I fully get it - old collectors getting older..young collectors are.....a.....young !

But whats tough to take is I see 75% pokemon stuff at shows....I get it ..its hot..like way back in the beany baby days....but feels that more comic/toy/non sports show stuff

[John1941]

Originally Posted by wazoo

Hmm. Never a good idea to generalize a demographic. Some of us are in it for the long run…

I've been thinking that throughout reading this thread. I, for example, am a 15 year old vintage set builder.

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by John1941

I've been thinking that throughout reading this thread. I, for example, am a 15 year old vintage set builder.

Well, as a 15 year old you just learned a very important lesson . . . avoid making generalizations across large groups of people.

Good luck with your sets!

[darwinbulldog]

I'm glad when I was a younger collector the older collectors didn't have so much disdain for me. Or at least didn't seem to.

[SyrNy1960]

Originally Posted by darwinbulldog

I'm glad when I was a younger collector the older collectors didn't have so much disdain for me. Or at least didn't seem to.

They did, but they didn't express it like most do today because of the internet/social media.

[homerunhitter]

As us old farts are getting older, do you think that the younger collectors are really going to be into set building as we are now? Meaning do you think set building will eventually die out amongst the newer collectors entering our hobby?

Has anyone ever got to a point in their collecting where they thought, why even collect all this cardboard because in the end you can’t take it with you! So why collect? Just curious to everyone’s thoughts on this.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by homerunhitter

As us old farts are getting older, do you think that the younger collectors are really going to be into set building as we are now? Meaning do you think set building will eventually die out amongst the newer collectors entering our hobby?

Has anyone ever got to a point in their collecting where they thought, why even collect all this cardboard because in the end you can’t take it with you! So why collect? Just curious to everyone’s thoughts on this.

Man, that logic could lead one to a dangerous place in life, where nothing was worth doing.

[Leon]

I still enjoy the hunt of rare pre-war type cards. I never get bored. Plus I then collect whatever I want to. I am very sporadic. This came in the mail a few days ago...

[homerunhitter]

True, but think about it where do all these binders and boxes of top loader cards go too eventually. Someone else selling them for pennies on the dollar? The wife’s new boyfriend? Some card dealer that like , nope this babe Ruth card isn’t worth much because it isn’t graded. I’ll give you $10 for it! Hopefully it will go to someone that is knowledgeable about prices and would appreciate it. What is the end game in collecting? Just something to think about.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by homerunhitter

As us old farts are getting older, do you think that the younger collectors are really going to be into set building as we are now? Meaning do you think set building will eventually die out amongst the newer collectors entering our hobby?

Has anyone ever got to a point in their collecting where they thought, why even collect all this cardboard because in the end you can’t take it with you! So why collect? Just curious to everyone’s thoughts on this.

The same reason I do anything in life: I think it is right, I think it is practically necessary, or I think it is enjoyable. Obviously cards falls under #3. There’s no point and we all die, but that doesn’t seem a reason to me not to enjoy my life while I’m here. I enjoy the cards, so why not? I can’t take money with me either. Might as well do the harmless things that give me joy and enjoy the one brief life I get before it’s time to scoop me six feet under soon.

[Touch'EmAll]

Old or young, this is a fun hobby and hopefully with a little profit. Whatever makes it fun to whatever age should all be considered good as it keeps our hobby thriving. Sets, no sets, singles, vintage, modern, long term, short term flippers, it all contributes to the fun. Things change, go with the flow, don't get too stuck in the mud. Do what you like, don't knock the next guy. Appreciate the fact the hobby is alive and well.

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by homerunhitter

Has anyone ever got to a point in their collecting where they thought, why even collect all this cardboard because in the end you can’t take it with you! So why collect? Just curious to everyone’s thoughts on this.

In a way, aren’t NFT’s kind of that? The thrill of acquisition (and hopefully selling) without the pesky need to actually own/hold anything?

[Mutton Chop Yaz]

Originally Posted by 3arod13

They did, but they didn't express it like most do today because of the internet/social media.

Some of them expressed it in person, while trying to rip you off to boot! Any kid who explored the local card shops of Anytown, USA with allowance or lawn mowing money in hand during the 1990s knows the Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons (from whence my user name originates) is only barely a fictional creation.