Anger at vintage card prices?

[Johnny630]

I think the anger comes from assumptions that a lot of the market is not the market/price as Leon said above. Thus pricing them out or making them pay more than they believe the card is worth. Many believe it could possibly be manipulated to drive up comps/vcp. I'm at stage 5 in my process of Grief over it...I'm at acceptance.

[butchie_t]

Bummed, or disappointed maybe but hardly angry. This is a hobby, I cannot get mad or angry about card prices or it is not worth having what I have.

Butch

[Touch'EmAll]

I hear ya, am at acceptance now myself. Years ago I would scoff at anything less then PSA 7 or 8 in Post War. Now I usually have to settle for the best looking PSA 3-6 I can get if I am after Mays/Aaron. So I still cruise ebay looking for those high end for the grade. And when I get 'em occasionally they put a smile on my face - so its all ok.

[BioCRN]

Pretty much every piece of vintage I've ever bought has eventually realized the value I paid and more.

Yes, there's opportunity cost missed in overpaying by not having more funds available for more things, but my personal finances tied to the hobby do not intersect with "real life" things. Also, my hobby is also not dependent on a business model of turning over inventory.

When compounded with realized deals and odd market opportunities to flip stagnant stuff (the COVID-era graded junk wax boom, for instance) I let time sort things out for me and they generally work out to my advantage.

Not everyone has their money flow set up in the hobby like this, though. The people that need inventory movement to keep cash fluid seem to have a lot more concern about the day-to-day/month-to-month.

[packs]

I get angry only at myself for my naive attitude toward cards. I thought I’d have forever to pick up some cards and when it came to other cards my philosophy was always “well I already have a Babe Ruth why do I need another”.

[cubman1941]

Originally Posted by packs

I get angry only at myself for my naive attitude toward cards. I thought I’d have forever to pick up some cards and when it came to other cards my philosophy was always “well I already have a Babe Ruth why do I need another”.

I can relate to this as, in the 80's, I lived in Denver and became good friends with a card shop owner. A stack of 52' s came in and I had first pick. They were all in great shape. First of all, I did not like the 52's at all; second of all, I am a Cub collector. So I just took all the Cubs out and left the rest. I don't remember what I paid but it was dirt cheap compared to todays prices.

[x2drich2000]

I think this is just an extension of the general discontent with the current cost of living. Folks are angry at the cost of rent, home prices, food, concert tickets, sporting events, you name it. We all remember when things were cheap. Now we pretty much can't afford the same level of things that we use to. I don't see the point in getting angry about it. Set your priorities and spend what you can afford. For me personally, I've found it really helpful to be thankful for what I do have and to celebrate with other collectors when they are able to add to their collections.

[ullmandds]

id guess this "anger" is more evident in younger...collector/investor types. Been in this hobby over 45 years. I've made some mistakes over the decades...but the vast majority of cards I've bought have appreciated significantly. This is because I buy...and hold. The few times I've attempted "investments" to "flip"...I've lost!

just a middle aged man's opinion!

[LEHR]

Originally Posted by x2drich2000

I think this is just an extension of the general discontent with the current cost of living. Folks are angry at the cost of rent, home prices, food, concert tickets, sporting events, you name it. We all remember when things were cheap. Now we pretty much can't afford the same level of things that we use to. I don't see the point in getting angry about it. Set your priorities and spend what you can afford. For me personally, I've found it really helpful to be thankful for what I do have and to celebrate with other collectors when they are able to add to their collections.

This is my general take as well.
You can spend 10 minutes on any social media platform and see hundreds of posts from people complaining about the price of everything. It's a genuine struggle for a lot of people. It always has been, but it seems like things are magnified today. I may not get to buy everything I want, and may even be buying less; but overall I'm extremely grateful for what I do have, and that I'm basically in a better financial situation than a lot of people. I may not be buying $100k+ cards (congrats to those who are), but it would take a absolute catastrophe for me to be in a situation where I couldn't make the house payment, fill up the tank, or had to stop collecting. No anger here.

[Touch'EmAll]

The last big inflationary time was way back during the Carter Adminisrtation, around 9% I think. By the mid-80's inflation had dropped and we then had the next 40 years of actually quite surprisingly low inflation. Count your blessings that we were able to accumulate the collections we have at reasonable prices before this next highest inflationary period we are in right now.

Of course, that doesn't help the younger crowd that are now in their early adulthood years. Good chance inflation eases soon, and then hope we don't see another rapid inflation time for many years to come.

Prices today are seeming like the new normal. If the younger crowd accepts this, and with luck we don't see hyper inflation for many years, then keep with the collecting and hold.

Then years down the line when this group approaches retirement, another big inflationary time will hit and we will all be saying again ... "thank goodness I bought when I did."

[calvindog]

Has no one else noticed that prices have come down considerably of late?

[jingram058]

I have never been in the hobby for investment or hoping for value increase purposes. I just like the cards and memorabilia. Would be great to be able to afford some more of these, but it is what it is. Anymore I look for beaters, and love them.

[joshleon]

Originally Posted by calvindog

Has no one else noticed that prices have come down considerably of late?

Yeah I was wondering whether OP meant "anger at high prices" or "anger at low prices"!

[Leon]

Originally Posted by calvindog

Has no one else noticed that prices have come down considerably of late?

See post #2. I own most that have come down ...
.

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by calvindog

Has no one else noticed that prices have come down considerably of late?

Cobb has most certainly come down a bunch in the last year, which impacts you disproportionately. Indeed, I think Cobb items have dipped enough that they are ripe for some good pickens/deals

[LEHR]

Originally Posted by calvindog

Has no one else noticed that prices have come down considerably of late?

There has definitely been some decline. A lot of the 19th century stuff I bid on still seems strong but I've noticed price drops in the last six months across the board in most areas, especially on common or oddball items.
I collect a lot of unopened material. There was a BBCE wrapped box that just ended in the REA auction a couple days ago that sold for $1,050 with the juice. I know someone who paid $3,600 for another BBCE authenticated box from the same issue just 15-18 months ago. Most items have not dropped that significantly for sure, but that sale stuck out to me and prices are definitely declining on a lot of stuff.