Current state of the hobby-Vintage Cards

[Neal]

Good stuff is getting harder to find. So are good deals.

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[brian1961]

Originally Posted by Neal

Good stuff is getting harder to find. So are good deals.

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My response may be irrelevant, but when I was heavily buying high quality Mickey Mantle items in the late 1980s to late 90s, the good stuff was very hard to find. I NEVER looked for a good deal; I was focused on looking for a great card.

I suppose my reflections are irrelevant because prices have skyrocketed since that time. Be that as it may, the pursuit for the perfect and a paucity in population has never ceased. --- Brian Powell

[OlderTheBetter]

Originally Posted by brian1961

My response may be irrelevant, but when I was heavily buying high quality Mickey Mantle items in the late 1980s to late 90s, the good stuff was very hard to find. I NEVER looked for a good deal; I was focused on looking for a great card.

I suppose my reflections are irrelevant because prices have skyrocketed since that time. Be that as it may, the pursuit for the perfect and a paucity in population has never ceased. --- Brian Powell

No -- totally relevant. Mantle is the prime exemplar of the generational megastar that has staying power. But I personally don't feel that most baseball HOFers are going to be much remembered by a large percentage of fans. Every time a poll is taken the average harder core baseball fan is about 50 years old. I wish someone would do a creditable poll on the average age of Vintage (worthless term but lets say pre-1980) collectors. I bet it would also be about 50. Lol

[Balticfox]

Originally Posted by OlderTheBetter

Every time a poll is taken the average harder core baseball fan is about 50 years old. I wish someone would do a creditable poll on the average age of Vintage (worthless term but lets say pre-1980) collectors. I bet it would also be about 50.

I'd guess very close to 60.

[Exhibitman]

60 is the new 50...

I am doing very well selling postwar baseball. I offer good cards at reasonable prices and people buy them. Try to wring out every nickel and your inventory will rot and you will be running a museum.

With a few exceptions, most postwar cards are not rare and are more commodities than precious gems, so you make money on the buy. That's the cold fact that people do not want to believe: this stuff ain't rare, so it is all about the buy.

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

60 is the new 50...

I am doing very well selling postwar baseball. I offer good cards at reasonable prices and people buy them. Try to wring out every nickel and your inventory will rot and you will be running a museum.

With a few exceptions, most postwar cards are not rare and are more commodities than precious gems, so you make money on the buy. That's the cold fact that people do not want to believe: this stuff ain't rare, so it is all about the buy.

Adam,

Do you find collectors going after variations? Just curious whether that is still a thing...

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by Zach Wheat

Adam,

Do you find collectors going after variations? Just curious whether that is still a thing...

It really depends on the variation in question. The classics: Milton Bradley, white letters, etc., always sell. I am also doing well with misprints and errors. There is a small but growing dedicated base of collectors who love to add flubs to their collections. I am an Aaron collector, so when I come across a screwed up vintage Topps Aaron, I gotta have it.