Flippers at it again
- Thread starter Kirbyfan34
- Start date
Read this, it explains some of it, I believe............
www.sportscollectorsdaily.com
Study Explores Why Millennials, Gen Z Have Fallen Hard for Sports Cards
In a turbulent year, Gen Z and Millennial audiences have hobbies like card collecting to be exactly what they're looking for.
Interesting! I think you were replying to my earlier post about why the sports card hobby has just exploded in 2020 when so many conomic factors say that it should not.
I never had heard the comfort theory before. But I have seen quite a few younger and new collectors drop some big money on brand new product. And one of these big, younger buyers does these online breaks which I think the article is refering to
One thing that looks to be a dark cloud for the hobby, is that when things return to normal post-Covid, many of these same new collectors will return to their old ways of enjoying themselves leaving cards behind, Only time will tell..
I never had heard the comfort theory before. But I have seen quite a few younger and new collectors drop some big money on brand new product. And one of these big, younger buyers does these online breaks which I think the article is refering to
One thing that looks to be a dark cloud for the hobby, is that when things return to normal post-Covid, many of these same new collectors will return to their old ways of enjoying themselves leaving cards behind, Only time will tell..
I don't know if that situation can be completely fixed while the major retailers are selling the product. There's no way they are going to put the resources or effort into it. Somehow there's needs to be some sort of way where they can move the product without cutting into their profit margins too much. On most levels the product comes in and moves quite quickly. Mission accomplished, order some more for next month.
I don't have any solutions jumping out at me. But my instincts tell me the answer is somewhere in the chain between us and the flippers. By this I mean these flippers are buying big chunks of the products for themselves. We'd all agree they're not buying as collectors or to build sets but to "flip". So who are they selling to? Generally speaking it's us......those that can't get them on the shelves.
I don't have any solutions jumping out at me. But my instincts tell me the answer is somewhere in the chain between us and the flippers. By this I mean these flippers are buying big chunks of the products for themselves. We'd all agree they're not buying as collectors or to build sets but to "flip". So who are they selling to? Generally speaking it's us......those that can't get them on the shelves.
Ive been able to find one or two blaster boxes of update, a box of A&G and a couple of boxes of Bowman early on...the card shop in harrisburg has a few blasters, for under what Target sells them for..
I get sick of seeing all these locals (i'm sure most without jobs too) that have pictures of floor to ceiling boxes of everything they've bought. And people will still keep buying them at their inflated prices.
here they STOP selling CARDS..
They are selling to breakers who pass the inflated cost on to those that buy in to breaks, gambling on a chance at a big hit.
If these people want to buy this stuff then so be it. I for one will not spend 30 or 40 dollars on a retail box by getting it from someone else. I have been at this hobby for a long time. While I have not seen it this bad I have been through some bad times. I can remeber when people were buying up 1987 Topps because they thought they were going to put there kids through college with it. How did that work out? Another point that I think is worth making is that most people are very impatient in today's world. Everyone is looking for the next get rich quick idea. Sports cards just happens to be the in thing right now. Give it 6 months and things will return to normal. Especially when the people who are hoarding this stuff realize that the market has dried up of people wanting to buy it. I have siad it 1,000 times that cards are only worth what someone is willing to pay for them. the last time I checked, the "book" was not buying anything.
Bryon
Bryon
I gave up on buying boxes years ago when it became too much like gambling. You were paying more money for what 'might' be in the box. My one usual exception is update. I bought a $70.00 retail box of update off of eBay in November and although I did happily get the full base set and land a rookie variation, I was completely disappointed. The base set was hot for a while but now I can probably get it for $20-$25 and I got two golds, three rainbow foils, half the Turkey Red set, with two chromes and maybe 5 other inserts that except for a Jeter will all be in dime bins once it's safe to start going to shows again. I'm seriously considering never buying a box again.
And yes, I can't wait for this bubble to burst, although it cracks me up to see people trying to sell their 1990 Donruss Nolan Ryans for $500.00 on eBay.
And yes, I can't wait for this bubble to burst, although it cracks me up to see people trying to sell their 1990 Donruss Nolan Ryans for $500.00 on eBay.
I did see some WalMart holiday, Heritage High number, and Topps Chrome Update at local stores today. To me it's just irritating because I'm pretty sure these fools, are 1, not buying for themselves and if they are , they are looking for the hit, 2, don't care at all about the sport that the cards represent, and are looking to make a quick buck. To me part of the charm and attraction is the connection with those players, and the games that we watch. It's nice to get a relic or an autograph, or inserts, but that is secondary for me. It may be cliche, but it's the love of the game for me.
Some of the new kids will stay with the hobby just like we all did. How many though remains to be seen.
At the end of the 2019 season I was looking over my collection and noticed that I had not completed any of my Topps base sets from 2016 through 2019 and resolved to not buy any packs for the then upcoming 2020 set. I have not regretted that decision in the slightest.
By forgoing new sets, I can spend more time appreciating and upgrading the sets I do have (especially the sets pre 1988) and continue building a 1971 Topps set. Rather than spend money that I don’t have (my daughter will be going to college in a year and half), I’m flipping cards on COMC and using the profits to purchase the singles I need. It’s a slow process, but oddly rewarding. Over the past year, I’ve managed purchase a few dozen, including many HI numbered cards including Willie Mays. Now if COMC can get their act together and mail them out to me sooner than three months from now, this plan I have could work.
I’ve also started flipping graded cards on Thepit.com. After a slow start, I’ve managed to earn a few hundred bucks over the past month. Like flipping on COMC, it’s oddly rewarding to purchase cards, never have them in your possession and then sell them for a profit. Since The Pit does not take a cut until you cash out, I can keep flipping and flipping until I grow tired of it. However, unlike flipping on COMC, I’m not sure what my long-term plan is there. Maybe I’ll try to flip enough to purchase a nice PSA 8 Clemente or Aaron.
Another reason I have vowed to not collect new sets is a change of mindset. As I look at my wall of sets in binders, I ask myself why do I have so many? Do I derive any joy from them? What’s going to happen to them if I‘m hit by a bus? Will they be a burden to my family? Well, I came to the conclusion that I only really look at my sets which predate 1988. Why? Well, I turned 16 in 1988 and the ballplayers seemed more human; not the gods I made them out to be when I was younger. Now as a soon-to-be 49 year old, I find I’m asking myself if I see current ball players in the same way as I did when I was a kid. Well, of course not. All of them are significantly younger than I am and that would just be weird. So why am I spending all this time and effort building new sets? Frankly, I flip through the older cards because I think they are more interesting to look at in terms of style and subject matter than those that followed. My wife claims that I am going through a mid-life crisis and while I’ll never admit it to her, I think she’s right.
As for flippers going to Walmart or Target and buying out all of the new product to sell at shows, well that sounds very disheartening. I hope that it does not turn off too many of these younger collectors who seemed to have recently joined our ranks.
Sorry this post got way off topic but reading these posts and listening to 70s music on SiriusXM just stirred up these sentiments.
By forgoing new sets, I can spend more time appreciating and upgrading the sets I do have (especially the sets pre 1988) and continue building a 1971 Topps set. Rather than spend money that I don’t have (my daughter will be going to college in a year and half), I’m flipping cards on COMC and using the profits to purchase the singles I need. It’s a slow process, but oddly rewarding. Over the past year, I’ve managed purchase a few dozen, including many HI numbered cards including Willie Mays. Now if COMC can get their act together and mail them out to me sooner than three months from now, this plan I have could work.
I’ve also started flipping graded cards on Thepit.com. After a slow start, I’ve managed to earn a few hundred bucks over the past month. Like flipping on COMC, it’s oddly rewarding to purchase cards, never have them in your possession and then sell them for a profit. Since The Pit does not take a cut until you cash out, I can keep flipping and flipping until I grow tired of it. However, unlike flipping on COMC, I’m not sure what my long-term plan is there. Maybe I’ll try to flip enough to purchase a nice PSA 8 Clemente or Aaron.
Another reason I have vowed to not collect new sets is a change of mindset. As I look at my wall of sets in binders, I ask myself why do I have so many? Do I derive any joy from them? What’s going to happen to them if I‘m hit by a bus? Will they be a burden to my family? Well, I came to the conclusion that I only really look at my sets which predate 1988. Why? Well, I turned 16 in 1988 and the ballplayers seemed more human; not the gods I made them out to be when I was younger. Now as a soon-to-be 49 year old, I find I’m asking myself if I see current ball players in the same way as I did when I was a kid. Well, of course not. All of them are significantly younger than I am and that would just be weird. So why am I spending all this time and effort building new sets? Frankly, I flip through the older cards because I think they are more interesting to look at in terms of style and subject matter than those that followed. My wife claims that I am going through a mid-life crisis and while I’ll never admit it to her, I think she’s right.
As for flippers going to Walmart or Target and buying out all of the new product to sell at shows, well that sounds very disheartening. I hope that it does not turn off too many of these younger collectors who seemed to have recently joined our ranks.
Sorry this post got way off topic but reading these posts and listening to 70s music on SiriusXM just stirred up these sentiments.
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Is that like a hobby box?
That is what the label says, and from the looks of the box it is.
Oooof.
I remember that as well. Just unusual to see current hobby products on retail shelves.
