Gone from the Blue-Collar Guy

[Seven]

It's a challenge for all of us with varying collecting needs.

Starting in February, as I had some last minute expenses come up this month, I'm going to start putting a little money aside each pay check, in hopes that by the end of this year, I can afford a significant pickup in my Mantle Run.

I know it's very easy to look at the past through rose colored glasses, but I'd kill for the prices of five to ten years ago.

[Jewish-collector]

Other hobbies like photography, gardening, computer gaming, playing sports, etc,... are more about techniques and skill rather than money. There are some expenses to them of course, but not to the degree of as this hobby has become. We low end collectors need to find other aspects of this great hobby that gives us happiness, enjoyment, and fulfillment.

[FrankWakefield]

Seems to me Johnny M and Jewish Collector are correct, as are everyone else.

What were our expectations? As a 10 year old kid buying a pack of cards, I wasn't thinking about future value at all. And the same for buying my first T206 in the mid 80s. I just liked seeing a card from some player's playing days.

Have I ever thought about an increase in value? Yes. Although I think the value doesn't change, the value is nominal; what changes is the dollar amount at which buyers and sellers are willing to engage in transactions. I've bought graded cards, and for years whenever I bought them I cracked them out. The last few years I've left some of them in their slabs. Is that a tacit decision on my part recognizing that I'm gonna sell that card one day?

I mention the slab cracking to help folks see 2 perspectives: I'm buying this card to collect it because of the player, what he did on the field, the set and it's history, and the visual image of the card; vs I'm buying this card because it's going to increase in value. The 'buying to collect' folks get frustrated and thwarted with rising prices; while the 'investor' guys depend on that price increase.

Seems to me that in one way it sorts out the collectors and the investor/speculators. If the cards I'd bought as a 10 year old were still worth pennies I'd be ok with it.

[ullmandds]

Ya i remember and long for the days when nice t206 cobbs and goudey ruths were somewhat affordable. I missed the boat on 1-200 babe ruth strip cards noone seemed to want at the time. I also missed the bot on apple stock in the single digits.

Do i stop buying apple stock? No…i buy less.

I buy more raw cards for my binders now than I ever have since I was a kid. Its quite enjoyable. If the cards you buy have to be PSA sevens or eights and there is no deviation you’re in this more for the investment than a hobby. Invest elsewhere.

[NiceDocter]

I’ve had success going for whatever is out of favor…. skip chasing what everyone is after! Not that I’m looking for more competition but oddball stuff, programs, display items, the kind of stuff Gray Ghost sells…. It’s great and makes the hobby fun. It may or may not go up in value but if you love it who cares! The more narrow your focus is , the more likely you will miss some really cool items that not many have. Of course by my method you will end up with one heck of a bunch of crazy boxes and displays …. but it makes the hobby fun !! Don’t quit keep looking around…. expand your horizons! This is my formula for my epic estate sale one day…..

[Snapolit1]

Plenty of cool things to collect other than high end Goudeys. Photos. Tickets. Programs. Just have to be on the look out for the unusual and overlooked.

I bought a postcard on BST last year of relatively obscure 1900 black pre-integration player George Wilson. Have spend a lot of time researching him and seeing what I could find. Honestly has given me a lot more satisfaction than lobbing yet another psa entombed graded card into my safe deposit box. The fact that so few people know anything about him makes the researching aspect of it very satisfying And don't cost anything to research an obscure player.

[Eric72]

Take what the defense gives you.

Everyone ignoring oversized cards? Maybe pick those up.

SGC slabs sell for half the price of PSA? Consider snapping up the discount.

Non-mainstream cards being offered at a fraction of the cost of set registry darlings? Get the oddball item.

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by Seven

It's a challenge for all of us with varying collecting needs.

Starting in February, as I had some last minute expenses come up this month, I'm going to start putting a little money aside each pay check, in hopes that by the end of this year, I can afford a significant pickup in my Mantle Run.

I know it's very easy to look at the past through rose colored glasses, but I'd kill for the prices of five to ten years ago.

The problem is what do you do when you run out of stuff to sell to fund new purchases? A lot of the stuff I have is killer, I like it too much to let it go. Lol oh well that’s why I’m stopping.

I feel it’s gone for good the investor Speculator pushed it too far I just don’t see it coming back at least not on the graded cards and conditions I collect.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

The problem is what do you do when you run out of stuff to sell to fund new purchases? A lot of the stuff I have is killer, I like it too much to let it go. Lol oh well that’s why I’m stopping.

I feel it’s gone for good the investor Speculator pushed it too far I just don’t see it coming back at least not on the graded cards and conditions I collect.

I have been collecting for easily 35 years so old stuff to sell I am no longer interested in isn't a problem. The new $600 limit on getting a 1099 is what will stop most from doing it. Since many eBay sellers are normal collectors selling something to buy something else or straight up unlicensed non tax paying dealers. I see eBay listings drying up real quick.

[Tao_Moko]

It's healthy to walk away for awhile every now and then. Stay off the forums, ebay, ah's and put the cards away. Come back with a new perspective. It's just a hobby and just cards. Fills a void sometimes, but I always realize I can live without most of what I have.

[Touch'EmAll]

If ebay listings dry up real quick, then that reduces supply. Assume demand stays the same, then you have increasing prices. Increasing prices as in more spendy than the last year - oh, boy, up up up go the values yet again ?

Forget nice condition pre-war, forget PSA 7 & 8 the 50's & 60's HOF star cards, now all I can afford are 1970's stars in PSA 7 and splurge on a PSA 8. Or heck with it all and buy raw Steph Curry & Giannis cards, call it good.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Touch'EmAll

If ebay listings dry up real quick, then that reduces supply. Assume demand stays the same, then you have increasing prices. Increasing prices as in more spendy than the last year - oh, boy, up up up go the values yet again ?

Forget nice condition pre-war, forget PSA 7 & 8 the 50's & 60's HOF star cards, now all I can afford are 1970's stars in PSA 7 and splurge on a PSA 8. Or heck with it all and buy raw Steph Curry & Giannis cards, call it good.

Can definitely see Ebay losing some listings as sellers who aren't flat out businesses don't want to risk getting a 1099 and suddenly have to start reporting such activity for tax purposes. Can see them moving to other venues besides Ebay, where they can be paid by check or M.O. instead, or possibly start consigning through a big online seller or auction house that doesn't report and send 1099s to them. Using our forum's B/S/T is just such an option. No one likely reports anything on here to the IRS, nor are they required to by the forum. And the forum itself isn't required to keep track of and report anything to the IRS either (at least not yet). This could actually be a good thing for shows, flea markets, and such, going forward, as sellers are possibly motivated to go out and about again so as to not have to worry about their sales being reported to the IRS.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by bnorth

I have been collecting for easily 35 years so old stuff to sell I am no longer interested in isn't a problem. The new $600 limit on getting a 1099 is what will stop most from doing it. Since many eBay sellers are normal collectors selling something to buy something else or straight up unlicensed non tax paying dealers. I see eBay listings drying up real quick.

Remember, the reporting is only for commercial sales activity, so Paypal Friends & Family payments are NOT included in what will be reported. Not sure if any of the other payment platforms have a similar type of personal payment option, but if it seems maybe so, you can contact them and ask if such payments are included in this new 1099-K threshold reporting mandate or not.

However, be advised these payment platforms are not stupid, and monitor and keep record of all payments through them, including friends and family ones. So don't be surprised if they suddenly see someone incurring ongoing transactions and activity for thousands or tens of thousands of dollars using their friends and family option, especially when there was no such previous F&F activity or history before, and investigating it themselves, or reporting it to the pertinent authorities (like the IRS). They certainly aren't going to take a hit for someone using their payment platform and trying to get around the tax laws. Remember the old saying, pigs go to market, but hogs get slaughtered.

[Ray Van]

Originally Posted by BobC

Remember, the reporting is only for commercial sales activity, so Paypal Friends & Family payments are NOT included in what will be reported. Not sure if any of the other payment platforms have a similar type of personal payment option, but if it seems maybe so, you can contact them and ask if such payments are included in this new 1099-K threshold reporting mandate or not.

However, be advised these payment platforms are not stupid, and monitor and keep record of all payments through them, including friends and family ones. So don't be surprised if they suddenly see someone incurring ongoing transactions and activity for thousands or tens of thousands of dollars using their friends and family option, especially when there was no such previous F&F activity or history before, and investigating it themselves, or reporting it to the pertinent authorities (like the IRS). They certainly aren't going to take a hit for someone using their payment platform and trying to get around the tax laws. Remember the old saying, pigs go to market, but hogs get slaughtered.

Regardless of the payment platform, anyone not accurately reporting their sales in previous years has been committing tax fraud. I have zero sympathy for anyone whining about changes to tax form policy - the existence of these forms and/or the monetary limits do not preclude the fact that you should have been reporting your sales all along. Your gravy train just ran out of steam. Boo Hoo

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by Ray Van

Regardless of the payment platform, anyone not accurately reporting their sales in previous years has been committing tax fraud. I have zero sympathy for anyone whining about changes to tax form policy - the existence of these forms and/or the monetary limits do not preclude the fact that you should have been reporting your sales all along. Your gravy train just ran out of steam. Boo Hoo

Lmao love it !! Well Said

[Exhibitman]

Ray, Johnny, count me in too. I run a legit card business and have to report not only my income but also file sales tax returns too. Zero sympathy for people whining about having to pay their share. Taxes are the price we pay for civilization.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Ray Van

Regardless of the payment platform, anyone not accurately reporting their sales in previous years has been committing tax fraud. I have zero sympathy for anyone whining about changes to tax form policy - the existence of these forms and/or the monetary limits do not preclude the fact that you should have been reporting your sales all along. Your gravy train just ran out of steam. Boo Hoo

Ray,

You are 100% correct. I say the same thing all the time when people start complaining about these changes to tax compliance and reporting rules.

It is just like all the people who complain about the alleged "tax loopholes" that supposedly only benefit the rich and well-to-do in our country. These complainers/protesters in reality are mostly those who are pissed because they themselves can't take advantage of such tax-saving laws, rules, and nuances in place. What many people don't seem to realize is that most of these tax laws that are often viewed as giving special treatment or favor to some are likely in place to push people and the economy to go and move in a particular direction, not to just give "rich" people a break. Our government is not supposed to be telling all the people and businesses exactly what and how to do things, yet when the economy goes bad, inflation hits, and so on, everyone still seems to look at our government and blame them, and expect them to somehow fix it overnight. Writing favorable tax laws/rules to sort of steer people and businesses in a particular direction is a direct example of our government directing and leading by offering a carrot, as opposed to using a stick to get everyone to do what they want. And for those that don't like that way of doing things, maybe just move someplace else like North Korea. I believe they fully embrace the "stick method" over there.

Nearly half the people in this this country end up paying no income taxes every year, and many actually get money/credits from the government. Yet no one calls those people out on the "tax loopholes" they are able to use and take advantage of.

Truth is, there really are no such things as "tax loopholes". The tax law simply is what it is. If you don't like it, contact your congressperson and work to change things. Or figure out how to change your situation and circumstances so you can also supposedly take advantage of these so-called loopholes yourself, and quit your bitchin'.

[todeen]

Originally Posted by Seven

It's a challenge for all of us with varying collecting needs.



Starting in February, as I had some last minute expenses come up this month, I'm going to start putting a little money aside each pay check, in hopes that by the end of this year, I can afford a significant pickup in my Mantle Run.



I know it's very easy to look at the past through rose colored glasses, but I'd kill for the prices of five to ten years ago.

I told my wife I would like to save and buy every three or four months. I still collect Barry Larkin, but the new reality is for pre-war I need more money than my monthly allotment can buy.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[Johnny630]

Another one going to the Next Level Out of my Reach Now


https://www.ebay.com/itm/144369802131


Probably the Second Hardest Regular Issue Topps Willie Mays Card to find in high grade after the 53 Topps

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

Another one going to the Next Level Out of my Reach Now


https://www.ebay.com/itm/144369802131


Probably the Second Hardest Regular Issue Topps Willie Mays Card to find in high grade after the 53 Topps

And its overgraded to boot...may even be altered??

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

And its overgraded to boot...may even be altered??

Could be…it’s PSA people don’t care. They pay up for PSA not SGC for postwar vintage.

[ullmandds]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

Could be…it’s PSA people don’t care. They pay up for PSA not SGC for postwar vintage.

it sounds like you don't care either?

[Johnny630]

Originally Posted by ullmandds

it sounds like you don't care either?

It’s not about whether I care or not My point to posting the link of the 58 Mays PSA 8 listing was that here is another card that is gone from me, meaning way too high in price for the condition/grade I collect.

[bbcard1]

I have been playing around the edges. I found a couple of good buys and was able to add a 1952 Bowman near set and 1957 Topps near set and I was able to get at what I perceived to be "old prices" and then filled them in pretty promptly without too much expense.

One of the best sayings I ever heard was "We plan, God laughs." That said my plan is to work until I am 70 so long as I am productive, enjoying it and making positive contributions to my clients. I would the like to spend the next ten years selling my collection. I will probably keep the 1970s stuff because I could stay in the hobby doing Hostess and Milk duds and such. It is also the stuff I collected as a boy so it's not high grade.