What is missing in the Australian market?
- Thread starter SharpysSports
- Start date
ozballer23
#1 J.R. Smith Collector
1. Hit the nail on the head with local shops, the ability to see and touch a card has a major influence on purchases and trades. Also adds a social aspect to the hobby, let alone showcasing it.
2. More card shows/swap meets - as per above reason
3. Variety (brands) - this applies to the hobby globally, not just locally
2. More card shows/swap meets - as per above reason
3. Variety (brands) - this applies to the hobby globally, not just locally
Well I spose the other obvious 1 is that the game is played on their back doorsteps, which makes it front and center of everyone's minds and therefore a bigger market/interest level as a whole. This is why they can sustain card shops while we can't, and why we need to be open to shipping overseas if we hope to get good prices for our cards in general.
I think not having proper distribution also affects us price wise. I know for a fact I'd bust more boxes if I could pick them up at a local shop. I'd also buy more online if I wasn't stung with high shipping prices.
When I was in the states, the ability to see rack backs and card supplies at a Wal-Mart was awesome. They didn't have a huge range and it was a small selection, but I assume having something like that in chains here would be a plus for the hobby.
When I was in the states, the ability to see rack backs and card supplies at a Wal-Mart was awesome. They didn't have a huge range and it was a small selection, but I assume having something like that in chains here would be a plus for the hobby.
ozballer23
#1 J.R. Smith Collector
Leaf has a database of "some" patches
I got in contact with them in regards to this (below) before purchasing to verify it was legit. They were very helpful. A database that you can access yourself would be much easier and cut out fake patches.
WoobieZarz
OzCardTrader
One of the biggest downfalls I see in this hobby today, and it's primarily for those with overseas' sports interests (NBA, NHL, NFL) is the cost of products. AFL and NRL cards come out annually, and are easily sourced, and in most cases, quite easily collected for the young enthusiasts. But I look back on the days when I used to be able to walk into my local and buy a few packs for $10, you simply cannot do that in today's era with the same NBA products (not sure on actual costs, and I'm probably just guessing - but I've gotta be close, right!?).
Back in the day, we didnt have the ebays, and the COMCs that we have today, and there's simply no way to combat that, other than to operate in similar manor, but the costs on importing products to be resold locally, simply cannot fathom that without a price increase.
Back in the day, we didnt have the ebays, and the COMCs that we have today, and there's simply no way to combat that, other than to operate in similar manor, but the costs on importing products to be resold locally, simply cannot fathom that without a price increase.
SharpysSports
OzCardTrader
For it to be done properly you would need full cooperation from the card companies and have access to their cards prior to release. If it was done after release there is still no guarantee that it is real or fake. Might be a business opportunity for someone to start documenting these things. Not sure how you would make money out of this though.
ozballer23
#1 J.R. Smith Collector
If an individual was to do it they would need access to all products prior to release. Not sure how card companies would feel about that. And would that individual be corruptible to change patches for the right amount of $$$?
Billyhoyle
Im Not Juan Garcia
Isn't the biggest thing missing is population?
The us population is 1272% larger than Australia.
So simply the market is much larger.
And as someone else said - the sport is on there door and more in your face and more readily available than afl/NRL
The us population is 1272% larger than Australia.
So simply the market is much larger.
And as someone else said - the sport is on there door and more in your face and more readily available than afl/NRL
WoobieZarz
OzCardTrader
In all honesty, I'd quite enjoy sticking a site like that together. Would be 100% based on honest people submitting cards.
It'd be a freakin massive database though. How many /499 (or more) patches are there now??
Anyone remember the Ultimate Premium Patches site someone put together on Photobucket? Started with 04-05 and included 05-06 and other cards.
It'd be a freakin massive database though. How many /499 (or more) patches are there now??
Anyone remember the Ultimate Premium Patches site someone put together on Photobucket? Started with 04-05 and included 05-06 and other cards.
ozballer23
#1 J.R. Smith Collector
Agreed!!!
Biggest hinderance ahead of local card shops is our stupid fixed import rate that mr's howard and costello concocted back in 2001. US$00.534 on the dollar for all imports plus the added import tarrifs, GST and shipping tarrifs.... that's why packs are so expensive nowadays in australia.
Yea, I'd love to see some packs there. A few months ago, our local news agent sold a box of NBA, AFL, NRL, etc. (one box each). After 2 days the whole box of the NBA was gone! The rest of the boxes weren't even opened!
Having the cards close, do get you hooked easy.
wolvesjr34
Morrow Super Collector
Yup that impacts so much stuff like games too... Another reason to loathe the Liberals (although anybody may have done that - I wonder if it is something that can be undone??)
I miss being able to buy packs at kmart... even those random mix packs of assorted diff base and maybe an insert.... they were fun just to look for star players. paying $5 or $6 for a pack of Hoops though is not something I want to do. I do miss local card shops though!
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