Anger at vintage card prices?

[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.

[Yoda]

Cards are a commodity just like stocks and bonds and, as such, are at the mercy of market plays. If your prized vintage card has skyrocketed, great but so has Apple stock. This goes back to value investing in any commodity. Speculation on an unproven player is gambling, where the so many imponderables exist. I will stick with dead Hof'ers.

[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"!

[bmattioli]

I try very hard not to live in the past of which can drive one crazy, but I do kick myself at times for passing on the '86/'87 Fleer Basketball wax at $10.00 a box all I wanted at the time..

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by joshleon

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

Same here...

Perhaps he can jump back in and specify.

[parkplace33]

Originally Posted by perezfan

Same here...

Perhaps he can jump back in and specify.

I was originally thinking high but it could be for both. You can decide.

[JollyElm]

"What are you rebelling against, Johnny?"

hqdefault.jpg

"Whaddaya got? Oh, and high card prices. Yes, definitely high card 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

[DeanH3]

Originally Posted by Rhotchkiss

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

I have my fingers crossed. I just might be able to finally get a nice T205 Cobb.

[packs]

As a collector who enjoys getting in when the cost is down, I do think there are plenty of opportunities in the post-war realm to buy now and sell high later.

When I think of pre-war players who went underappreciated for most of the hobby's lifetime, I think of players like Lajoie and Matthewson. For as long as I could remember you could pick up the Matty T206s for what seem like dream come true bargains compared to today's prices. Now, I think you'll be paying somewhere between $400 and $500 for even a PSA 1. In the past, Matty was not very expensive at all. I bought my White Cap for $80 in the early 2000s and it has since graded a 3. The Lajoie bat off card is selling for healthy prices now too. He was selling for even less than Matty.

In the post-war world I look at players like Aaron and Mays, who both still seem to be way undervalued when you hold them up to Jackie and Satchel who have become heavy hitters.

[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.

[packs]

I don't know that Cobb has dropped in the same sense as usual dips occur. It seems to me that Cobb jumped so high that people are trying to cash in on him all at the same time. As other have noticed, every auction seems to have four or five copies of every Cobb pose all up for auction at the same time. I'm sure that doesn't help keep prices high.

[calvindog]

Originally Posted by packs

I don't know that Cobb has dropped in the same sense as usual dips occur. It seems to me that Cobb jumped so high that people are trying to cash in on him all at the same time. As other have noticed, every auction seems to have four or five copies of every Cobb pose all up for auction at the same time. I'm sure that doesn't help keep prices high.

I think this is true as well.

[Rhotchkiss]

Originally Posted by calvindog

I think this is true as well.

Agreed

[obcbobd]

Anger. No?

Maybe frustration when certain cards or sets become so inflated that collecting them as a hobbyist becomes unreasonable. I wish the investment crowd would jump on something else like bit coin. I take joy in the fact that I completed the 33 Goudey set 25 years ago, so I have it to enjoy (I could/would not even attempt it now), no real joy in what some of the cards are now worth; I have other investments/savings that are for income or retirement.

The good thing is the hobby is very wide and there is plenty to collect that is affordable.

[BioCRN]

Originally Posted by obcbobd

I wish the investment crowd would jump on something else like bit coin.

The good thing is many of them are addicted to the flip and eventually will settle for "at least I broke even."

A huge chunk of them have no patience for a long hold or having their money tied up without actively gaining, even if those gains are just potential and on paper rather than in-hand.

A lot of the ballcard "investment bros" no longer care about people like Gary V's pumping of card investing that got a lot of sneaker and bit/alt-coin investors hyped up like they were for a few years starting in 2020. Gary V doesn't even hype them like he used to for almost a year now.

[jsfriedm]

Originally Posted by obcbobd

Anger. No?

Maybe frustration when certain cards or sets become so inflated that collecting them as a hobbyist becomes unreasonable. I wish the investment crowd would jump on something else like bit coin. I take joy in the fact that I completed the 33 Goudey set 25 years ago, so I have it to enjoy (I could/would not even attempt it now).

It seems to me that 1933 Goudeys are one of the areas still on the rise (outside of the Ruths and Gehrigs, which I think were probably more targeted by the casual investors). Each Jimmie Foxx seems to set a new record, and even the whole crowd that Frankie Frisch voted into the Hall of Fame is suddenly worth $400-500 in a PSA 4.

[Republicaninmass]

Originally Posted by packs

I don't know that Cobb has dropped in the same sense as usual dips occur. It seems to me that Cobb jumped so high that people are trying to cash in on him all at the same time. As other have noticed, every auction seems to have four or five copies of every Cobb pose all up for auction at the same time. I'm sure that doesn't help keep prices high.

In the past, auctions would refuse or advise against listing copies of the same card in similar grades. Nobody seems to care anymore

[Lorewalker]

Originally Posted by Republicaninmass

In the past, auctions would refuse or advise against listing copies of the same card in similar grades. Nobody seems to care anymore

Yeah we had discussed that recently. Now the house turns away nothing because otherwise it ends up with a competitor. Consignors share a lot in common with TPG submitters--they love the abuse.