Future of cards shows

[parkplace33]

Reading a lot of feedback about the Philly show. From what I have read:

1. Very well attended.
2. More modern than vintage compared to most years.
3. Some members said low inventory overall (maybe holding back for the national?).

The National is less than two months away and I am sure it will huge success (as always).

But what about post National? Thoughts on how shows will be in later 2021 and beyond.

[Tony Gordon]

I have been running a monthly show in Milwaukee for the past seven years, 2021 has been my best year to date. Trends I have observed lately: modern is currently much more popular than vintage. I have more Pokemon dealers at my show than ever before. In total, there are more dealers than ever before. My wait list for dealer tables reached a high point a few months ago of 70 people. Spending and price hikes were crazy earlier in the year but it appears both spending and prices are leveling off. My show, for one, is very healthy and I expect good things in the future. My next show at the Salvation Army Community Center, 8853 S. Howell, in Oak Creek, WI (south suburb of Milwaukee) is July 3. Come check it out if you are in the area!

[Johnny630]

I think a lot depends on the United States economic conditions, if inflation is only transitory like Fed Chairman Jerome Powell says then we should be OK. I have a feeling it’s going to be a little more rough than transitory.

[Hankphenom]

Based on what I saw and heard at the Philly show, I think this year is going to be gangbusters. The National will be crazy, I think.

[wazoo]

Originally Posted by Tony Gordon

I have been running a monthly show in Milwaukee for the past seven years, 2021 has been my best year to date. Trends I have observed lately: modern is currently much more popular than vintage. I have more Pokemon dealers at my show than ever before. In total, there are more dealers than ever before. My wait list for dealer tables reached a high point a few months ago of 70 people. Spending and price hikes were crazy earlier in the year but it appears both spending and prices are leveling off. My show, for one, is very healthy and I expect good things in the future. My next show at the Salvation Army Community Center, 8853 S. Howell, in Oak Creek, WI (south suburb of Milwaukee) is July 3. Come check it out if you are in the area!

It's a great show, +1

[packs]

Primed for a collapse. My predication is that shows will be heavily attended in the immediate short-term, which will likely tempt organizers to lease larger and larger spaces until people lose interest, which they inevitably will because most of the money in the hobby is not coming from collectors. At that point promoters will have overextended themselves and rather than a boom we are likely going to see a bust that will result in even less shows than there typically are.

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by packs

Primed for a collapse. My predication is that shows will be heavily attended in the immediate short-term, which will likely tempt organizers to lease larger and larger spaces until people lose interest, which they inevitably will because most of the money in the hobby is not coming from collectors. At that point promoters will have overextended themselves and rather than a boom we are likely going to see a bust that will result in even less shows than there typically are.

You Made a Key Point Here, “most of the money in the Hobby is not coming from the collectors”.

That Statement is 100% Truth.

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

I think a lot depends on the United States economic conditions, if inflation is only transitory like Fed Chairman Jerome Powell says then we should be OK. I have a feeling it’s going to be a little more rough than transitory.

This.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by packs

most of the money in the hobby is not coming from collectors.

Who were all those younger folks packing the room and crowding around tables at Philly? Speculators looking to make a quick buck on a hot hobby? Maybe, but there had to be a fair number of collectors among them.

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Who were all those younger folks packing the room and crowding around tables at Philly? Speculators looking to make a quick buck on a hot hobby? Maybe, but there had to be a fair number of collectors among them.

Yes I don’t know how many times I’ve heard them say dude I’m going to make so much money off this card I can’t believe I got this!!

Collect haha they collect money

Not all but I’m being series.

[packs]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Who were all those younger folks packing the room and crowding around tables at Philly? Speculators looking to make a quick buck on a hot hobby? Maybe, but there had to be a fair number of collectors among them.

Maybe one total collector. I was growing up in the 90s. Do you know how many of my friends collected Pokemon cards? Nearly all of them. Do you know how many collected a single card after the initial fad? None of them.

[bbcard1]

I sold my advertising company right before COVID and had intended to get back in to show promotion. I was pretty successful back in the day, did a lot with CSA and I understand the marketing part pretty well.

I think there is a great opportunity for the 30-50 table local/regional show with free or inexpensive autograph guests, much like the 80s and 90s. This has been made viable by the increasing fees of eBay and a general uptick in interest. I am planning on promoting a few shows in 2022. We'll see if I'm right.

[Snapolit1]

A tremendous amount of "energy" in the hobby, for lack of a better word, is from 20-30 year olds who are into case breaking. The price points for some of these new high end cases (basketball and football particularly) are like $7000 - $10,000. Younger people speculating that they will get the next PSA 9 Zion or Jasson Dominquez card that will fetch $200,000. They are also the ones who have swamped PSA. Including with Pokemon and Magic cards. Once they realize that shows are not an effective way of feeding their gambling jones, they will move on.

I've been fascinated with the breaking scene for a while and have dipped my toe in it a bit. It's amazing to me when I see a personal break of some new football release where some dude has paid $6,000 for a box of ten cards. The odds of making a profit on that box is minuscule. But to each his own. I just shutter to think whose dropping $6,000 to take a shot like that. If I paid $6,000 and ended up with $350 in cards I would likely be in a pretty bad mood for a while.

[Hankphenom]

OK, I give in, you guys seem very sure of yourselves. This is all musical chairs and absolutely nobody is actually collecting any of it, is that right? I don't even know what Pokemon is, but I guess it's made a comeback for a while, anyway. At least these folks are learning how to be good American entrepreneurs--cash in, make a quick buck, and the devil to the hindmost!

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by bbcard1

I am planning on promoting a few shows in 2022. We'll see if I'm right.

According to the consensus here so far, nobody will be coming to your shows by then.

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

A tremendous amount of "energy" in the hobby, for lack of a better word, is from 20-30 year olds who are into case breaking. The price points for some of these new high end cases (basketball and football particularly) are like $7000 - $10,000. Younger people speculating that they will get the next PSA 9 Zion or Jasson Dominquez card that will fetch $200,000. They are also the ones who have swamped PSA. Including with Pokemon and Magic cards. Once they realize that shows are not an effective way of feeding their gambling jones, they will move on.

I've been fascinated with the breaking scene for a while and have dipped my toe in it a bit. It's amazing to me when I see a personal break of some new football release where some dude has paid $6,000 for a box of ten cards. The odds of making a profit on that box is minuscule. But to each his own. I just shutter to think whose dropping $6,000 to take a shot like that. If I paid $6,000 and ended up with $350 in cards I would likely be in a pretty bad mood for a while.

I think it’s the thrill of the rush, kinda like sports book and gambling.

Can be Fun But Can Also Lose You a Lot of Cash Quick.

More People are profiting off it selling these breaks not buying to them.

[packs]

All due respect but this cycle has repeated itself more than once in recent memory. You don't recognize Pokemon, which should be an indicator of the bust ahead.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by packs

Maybe one total collector. I was growing up in the 90s. Do you know how many of my friends collected Pokemon cards? Nearly all of them. Do you know how many collected a single card after the initial fad? None of them.

Just curious, why were they buying them in the first place? Because their friends were? Looking to make a quick buck? So there was no inherent appeal to these things at all? Sorry, but it sounds like a generation of sheep to me, that's really depressing.

[packs]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Just curious, why were they buying them in the first place? Because their friends were? Looking to make a quick buck? So there was no inherent appeal to these things at all? Sorry, but it sounds like a generation of sheep to me, that's really depressing.

The appeal was that they were new and there was a Gameboy game to go along with them. Not to mention the gimmicky motto "Collect them all!".

Today, people will pay $100K plus for a PSA 10 Charizard. That is the total appeal of Pokemon cards now. What you might be able to sell a card you might get for. It isn't limited to Pokemon either. That is the same appeal that all major sports releases play to.

How else do explain why a hobby box of UFC cards costs over a thousand dollars? Nobody likes UFC that much.

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Just curious, why were they buying them in the first place? Because their friends were? Looking to make a quick buck? So there was no inherent appeal to these things at all? Sorry, but it sounds like a generation of sheep to me, that's really depressing.

My kids played with Pokemon and later Magic cards for hours and hours and hours. Of course once you actually played with these cards, good bye any chance at submitting them for any kind of high grade.

[packs]

I don't even see how kids can become new collectors now. What 10 year old is walking around with $300 to spend on a Bowman hobby box? And why would they want to? So they can maybe get a card of a guy who plays in the minor leagues?

The only money in the hobby is from bored adults who don't care about collecting cards and have no staying power.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by packs

All due respect but this cycle has repeated itself more than once in recent memory. You don't recognize Pokemon, which should be an indicator of the bust ahead.

I've been going to and setting up at shows for 40 years, I've seen all the cycles repeat themselves, just never paid much attention because I had no interest. Beanie Babies, Pogs, Pokemon, inserts, refractors, whatever, they all passed by and were a part of the scene at shows but not part of my scene, there was no reason for me to investigate them further. I guess this was just more of that on a larger scale at Philly, and things will get back to their old sleepy selves before too long. At least there will be a lot of lessons learned by these kids on both sides of the ledger. Does this generation collect anything? Did your generation collect anything they still care about? If not, I find that incredibly sad, but to each generation their own.

[packs]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

I've been going to and setting up at shows for 40 years, I've seen all the cycles repeat themselves, just never paid much attention because I had no interest. Beanie Babies, Pogs, Pokemon, inserts, refractors, whatever, they all passed by and were a part of the scene at shows but not part of my scene, there was no reason for me to investigate them further. I guess this was just more of that on a larger scale at Philly, and things will get back to their old sleepy selves before too long. At least there will be a lot of lessons learned by these kids on both sides of the ledger. Does this generation collect anything? Did your generation collect anything they still care about? If not, I find that incredibly sad, but to each generation their own.

I'm from my generation and I collect cards. But it didn't matter when I was born. I was going to do it anyway. We would all probably say the same thing and we are all similarly aware of how small our circle is. It will always be that small. If you remember that you won't get burned.

[Eric72]

I, for one, am glad there are such a variety of people in the hobby. If everyone collected what I collect, and did so the same way, the hobby (for me) would be even more expensive than it is now.

Some twenty-something is spending hundreds or thousands for their spot in a case break? If they can afford it and they're having fun, I see nothing wrong with it. Plus, they're not competing with me for T206, '56 Topps, and Mantle/Jackie/Clemente/Aaron/Mays.

Are half (or more) of these newcomers going to be gone in a year? Quite possibly. However, those who remain will be the future of the hobby...just like people my age were back in the 80s.

The landscape has changed over the past year. I've embraced it. Now, more than ever, I'm guided by a simple philosophy:

Collect what you like.
Like what you collect.
Leave the rest for everyone else.

[Snapolit1]

Yeah, maybe I'm cynical, but when I see these heartwarming stories like "Look at Little Johnny at his neighborhood card show negotiating for a card . . . ." I'm dubious of the whole thing. I have a brother and friends who teach middle school and high school. These kids aren't into baseball cards believe me. It's all computers and all on the phone stuff. Average 12 year old is about as excited about baseball cards as he is for the next Bruce Springsteen album.

Originally Posted by packs

I don't even see how kids can become new collectors now. What 10 year old is walking around with $300 to spend on a Bowman hobby box? And why would they want to? So they can maybe get a card of a guy who plays in the minor leagues?

The only money in the hobby is from bored adults who don't care about collecting cards and have no staying power.

[bbcard1]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

According to the consensus here so far, nobody will be coming to your shows by then.

I am often wrong, but I think this is a good bet. In addition to fees, the high cost of postage have made selling the moderately priced cards difficult via on-line selling.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

My kids played with Pokemon and later Magic cards for hours and hours and hours. Of course once you actually played with these cards, good bye any chance at submitting them for any kind of high grade.

Playing with and collecting these things seem like two totally different things to me, although we did play with our baseball cards, too. So nobody actually collected Pokemon, they bought them to play the game? Are they buying them now to play with or collect?

[packs]

It's no different than baseball cards. People bought them because they liked Pokemon. When they got older, they found out their cards were worth money to a small fraction of people who still collected them.

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by packs

...I was growing up in the 90s...

I find that truly surprising, no offense intended.

Your Net54 persona strikes me as more of a "get off my lawn" retiree than someone in their 40s.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by packs

I'm from my generation and I collect cards. But it didn't matter when I was born. I was going to do it anyway. We would all probably say the same thing and we are all similarly aware of how small our circle is. It will always be that small. If you remember that you won't get burned.

Admit it, you're a throwback!

[Snapolit1]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Playing with and collecting these things seem like two totally different things to me, although we did play with our baseball cards, too. So nobody actually collected Pokemon, they bought them to play the game? Are they buying them now to play with or collect?

I suspect that a fair number of 30 year olds who grew up playing with them as teens and who have made boku bux in their Silicon Valley start up or on Bitcoin now find them to be a source of great nostalgia and something they will pay stupid money to collect.

Not a whole lot different than someone who grew up in the 60s and played with baseball cards and now has major disposable income will pay $500,000 to collect a Mickey Mantle card.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by bbcard1

I am often wrong, but I think this is a good bet. In addition to fees, the high cost of postage have made selling the moderately priced cards difficult via on-line selling.

I hope you're right. I got so excited at Philly, but the younger guys here have brought me back to earth!

[packs]

I don't mean to be negative. I've just seen it before. I'm also frustrated by the infiltration of the hobby by non-hobby people, which is not a good thing in my opinion.

[Bobbycee]

Originally Posted by packs

I don't even see how kids can become new collectors now. What 10 year old is walking around with $300 to spend on a Bowman hobby box? And why would they want to? So they can maybe get a card of a guy who plays in the minor leagues?

The only money in the hobby is from bored adults who don't care about collecting cards and have no staying power.

Are you kidding me?! When you say: " Most of the money in the hobby is not coming from collectors". Maybe you just described the Pokemon craze, the new Basketball & Football rookie investment, and overspending on modern cards. But, have you considered Vintage and the people who collect Pre War? It's the exact opposite of what you just described. Maybe that's what you meant, knowing that people who have collected for years have the staying power & resources. It didn't sound right.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

I suspect that a fair number of 30 year olds who grew up playing with them as teens and who have made boku bux in their Silicon Valley start up or on Bitcoin now find them to be a source of great nostalgia and something they will pay stupid money to collect.

Not a whole lot different than someone who grew up in the 60s and played with baseball cards and now has major disposable income will pay $500,000 to collect a Mickey Mantle card.

Except that the guys here are saying nobody was actually collecting Pokemon at Philly, the crowd was there to speculate in those and everything else. That strikes me as different from the proven staying power and cross-generational appeal so far of baseball cards, although who knows if that will maintain or for how long?

[bounce]

To add to some of the sentiment around the Philly show, the Tristar show in Houston the weekend of June 4-6 was highest attended in maybe 10+ years (?), and there really were no autograph guests that would "move the needle".

Had my best show since I began "dealing" around 4-5 years ago. There was plenty of energy in the room, as someone earlier pointed out about the hobby in general. One change at this show - if you didn't have a reseller permit, you weren't SUPPOSED to be able to get a table. That's something that I think most promoters should actually consider implementing to (1) cut down on the number of "dealers" and (2) ensure that the dealers aren't just flippers or fly by night one timers. This in turn should help limit the number of tables, which I think is actually a good thing for an event, but realize it's not necessarily in the best interest of the promoter. Good promoters figure out how to make a good balance of that so there is some "value" to actually having the table.

I would say that a lot of the early "action" was still between the dealers, but I think that's true of just about every show and that's not different today than it was for the past several years. However, saying those people aren't "collectors" I think is not entirely accurate. What I'm finding is most of them collect something (besides dollar bills), some are just most focused on what they keep and they see the flipping as a means to get the funds - my own activity for the past several years is not far off from that. I had to start buying and selling more modern cards in an effort to get funds together for my vintage purchasing. It's not net zero to me (I spend more than I bring in), but that supplement "feeds the beast".

I keep hearing plenty of doom and gloom from people for all kinds of reasons, inflation, crypto crashes, lack of stimulus, insert any reason you want to. I actually think that's mostly coming from collectors who are irritated by higher prices for things they want to buy, and on the other side the flippers who may be trapped in cards at higher prices as in the short run seems like modern especially is coming down. Pretty much everything is still quite a bit higher today than it was a year ago, and I believe that has as much to do with interest as anything else. Show attendance sure sounds to be proving that out from what I've seen personally and heard about other shows. I expect the National should probably confirm it, as most are expecting record attendance there as well.

It seems to me that at the shows, and online, the interest in the hobby is maybe as high as it's ever been. That's a good thing. More interest should translate into better things across the board, but since the space is unregulated in virtually every sense, there will be bad actors and fly by nights who just pass through. Tell me how that's different than 10 years ago, 20 years ago, 30 years ago...And yes, Panini and Topps will overproduce (already have) which will create some fluctuations in pricing. None of this is new.

There's been overwhelmingly too much focus on the prices and values of cards in the past year, versus the actual "art" of the cards themselves. I can assure you that the nostalgia factor is as real as it gets at these shows, and while that's something that will likely get quenched it's nowhere near run it's course yet. The hobby needs to continue to educate better and try to move away from just these headlines of values if it's going to sustain. I think there are enough people who know that who will find their space in it and help things move in a positive direction for everyone. There's plenty of opportunity out there still, and some good new tools and sites that actually make collecting and education more accessible. Again, those are positives that the hobby needs more of.

[packs]

Originally Posted by Bobbycee

Are you kidding me?! When you say: " Most of the money in the hobby is not coming from collectors". Maybe you just described the Pokemon craze, the new Basketball & Football rookie investment, and overspending on modern cards. But, have you considered Vintage and the people who collect Pre War? It's the exact opposite of what you just described. Maybe that's what you meant, knowing that people who have collected for years have the staying power & resources. It didn't sound right.

I know that because I collect pre-war and there's no other reason to collect it unless you love it. You're not going to get a Babe Ruth Goudey for $100. You will spend because you have to have whatever you're buying.

But I don't believe that is where the majority of the money being injected into the hobby is coming from. Speculators are where the money is coming from. Modern is generating the money. Online exclusives are generating the money. People come to the show in person to buy what they couldn't online. But it's in the interest of speculating, not collecting cards. Do you think a majority of people who buy a box of 2021 Bowman are doing so to complete the set?

[bounce]

Originally Posted by packs

I don't mean to be negative. I've just seen it before. I'm also frustrated by the infiltration of the hobby by non-hobby people, which is not a good thing in my opinion.

Not picking on you, but this is part of what I'm talking about. If the hobby is going to sustain, it needs more interest and more people. Those people are by default currently "non-hobby" people, right?

[packs]

Originally Posted by bounce

Not picking on you, but this is part of what I'm talking about. If the hobby is going to sustain, it needs more interest and more people. Those people are by default currently "non-hobby" people, right?

I wasn't talking about all people. I was talking about most. If you are a serious collector you are aware of how small your circle is. That circle will always be that small. There will be someone to take your place but there won't be a waiting list.

[Snapolit1]

Totally agree. If everyone in the hobby was a 65 year old guy arguing about tobacco card backs and reminiscing about putting cards in the spokes of their Schwinn bicycle in the summer of 1969 it would certainly get a little stale.

Originally Posted by Eric72

I, for one, am glad there are such a variety of people in the hobby. If everyone collected what I collect, and did so the same way, the hobby (for me) would be even more expensive than it is now.

Some twenty-something is spending hundreds or thousands for their spot in a case break? If they can afford it and they're having fun, I see nothing wrong with it. Plus, they're not competing with me for T206, '56 Topps, and Mantle/Jackie/Clemente/Aaron/Mays.

Are half (or more) of these newcomers going to be gone in a year? Quite possibly. However, those who remain will be the future of the hobby...just like people my age were back in the 80s.

The landscape has changed over the past year. I've embraced it. Now, more than ever, I'm guided by a simple philosophy:

Collect what you like.
Like what you collect.
Leave the rest for everyone else.

[Snapolit1]

I don't know. What's the percentage of people who are "collecting" Willie Mays rookie cards versus those "speculating" in them? I have no idea. Seems the vast majority of people now are trying to collect something that will appreciate in value. I have no issue with that.

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Except that the guys here are saying nobody was actually collecting Pokemon at Philly, the crowd was there to speculate in those and everything else. That strikes me as different from the proven staying power and cross-generational appeal so far of baseball cards, although who knows if that will maintain or for how long?

[glynparson]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Who were all those younger folks packing the room and crowding around tables at Philly? Speculators looking to make a quick buck on a hot hobby? Maybe, but there had to be a fair number of collectors among them.

I agree with this 100% but for some reason a select group would rather just always wish for the worst and focus on the negative. There are far more collectors than some of these people like to pretend just like some of the "true collectors" seem to worry about value more than they let on. Hobby looks strong will there be a pull back of course there always is no market is constantly rising but I think we don't end up worse than we were before the pandemic just seems illogical.

[buymycards]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

Yeah, maybe I'm cynical, but when I see these heartwarming stories like "Look at Little Johnny at his neighborhood card show negotiating for a card . . . ." I'm dubious of the whole thing. I have a brother and friends who teach middle school and high school. These kids aren't into baseball cards believe me. It's all computers and all on the phone stuff. Average 12 year old is about as excited about baseball cards as he is for the next Bruce Springsteen album.

That is totally untrue. My 3 11 year old grandson's are avid collectors, as well as my 12 year old and 24 year old grandson's. Every kid on their Little League team collect's baseball cards. They go to card shows and card shops and trade with their friends. The only downside is that they can't go to a store to buy packs because the "investors" have cleaned out all of the stores. Even the online products at Wal-Mart have tripled in price during the past few months.

As far as Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic The Gathering, etc., they have been around for over 20 years. There are many tournaments and many young people getting together to play each other. Take a look at the tens of 1000's of these cards on the TCG player website and the 100's of people selling cards for a couple of bucks or less.

And, I think that overall, disregarding the very limited number of people who are buying the expensive cards, the heart of the collecting market and the lions share of collecting money is coming from the hard core collector's.

[Jewish-collector]

I think the kids (with all the money you see at the shows) are just the children of these wealthy non-collector guys, who recently have been buying the record breaking Michael Jordan rookies, Trout rookies, Lebron rookies, etc,... and they give their sons $20,000 to make it grow.

[packs]

Even the board has been touched by the non-collector draw of the hobby. How many threads have there been over the last year speculating on the long-term value of certain cards or posts asking what cards will appreciate over others, etc.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

I don't know. What's the percentage of people who are "collecting" Willie Mays rookie cards versus those "speculating" in them? I have no idea. Seems the vast majority of people now are trying to collect something that will appreciate in value. I have no issue with that.

Me, either, if that's the case, and likewise I have no clue what the % is between collectors and speculators, plus the crossover factor--how many collectors may be finding their wallets loosened to add to their collection by the idea that in general it has proven to be a good investment as well?

[whitehse]

Originally Posted by wazoo

It's a great show, +1

I second this. I plan to be there in July, the first show I have attended since all this "stuff" started last year

[hcv123]

I can tell you I was impressed to have spoken with at least about a dozen younger collectors -20 somethings between Chantilly and Philly that were looking to get out of modern and into vintage!! I don't subscribe to the "doom and gloom" thesis. Prices on some of the big stars are already leveling off from their short decline after the long run up. People are buying these cards (I know because I have sold a number of them). I suspect shows for the next 2-6 months are going to be very strong and will drop off as post Covid life gets back to normal, but will still be better attended than pre Covid.

[vintagechris]

I agree with what packs is saying and that's pretty much what I see. I don't know if most people are speculators but the number of speculators/investors to collector seems to be out of whack.

That wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing as there are more people in the hobby except I think a large majority of those are in it because they saw a way to make easy money and when it is no longer easy, they leave.

You saw prices being run up for modern graded base cards because investors thought they could make quick money flipping them. They would even say buy the base cards because they are liquid. Well, they are only liquid as long as demand outweighs the supply. That currently is not the case for most modern.

People who bought Lebron, Jordan, Kobe and a myriad of other modern cards in February and March for the most part got crushed. Factor in some if not quite a few funded their buying with debt and you got some people who learned a hard lesson.

[wazoo]

Originally Posted by hcv123

I can tell you I was impressed to have spoken with at least about a dozen younger collectors -20 somethings between Chantilly and Philly that were looking to get out of modern and into vintage!! I don't subscribe to the "doom and gloom" thesis. Prices on some of the big stars are already leveling off from their short decline after the long run up. People are buying these cards (I know because I have sold a number of them). I suspect shows for the next 2-6 months are going to be very strong and will drop off as post Covid life gets back to normal, but will still be better attended than pre Covid.

There’s a pretty decent outfit of us younger collectors on Facebook. Seems to just be another medium.