I wasnt in the forum before so not sure how many have dropped off. However i do have to agree about the focusing on premium products. Now even more than ever it seems buying boxes is just too much and could put people off entering the hobby. While i buy a lot of singles, I do admit it is not as much fun as buying a box and seeing what you get. I also believe there are too many variations of cards. Back in the 90's or earlier when you get a good card such as a Jordan you knew that others had the exact same card. Now you have to deal with different variations of the same card plus if it is numbered. There are also different variations now for hobby and retail so if you don't have the money you get locked out from certain cards.coupled with card producers increasingly focusing on premium products, and prices being driven up, feels like many people who used to frequent this forum have dropped off.
I wasnt in the forum before so not sure how many have dropped off.
I'm active on here and active on a Facebook group. I love here because it feels like a community with people who comment and want to talk about cards, although it is quiet on here at times.To be fair, I don't know if they dropped out of the hobby or simply post/deal elsewhere. I don't really use Facebook, but Facebook groups are a thing these days, and it seems a few retailers will eschew their own online store and sell produce directly through their Facebook page.
But certainly if you were to go back to that 2011-2015 period, there was a lot more activity on this site. Every section had its regulars, whereas its predominantly AFL/NRL/NBA where the activity is today. And even then there's been a dip. The AFL mailday section still has posts going back to 2022 on page 1, and Box Breaks back to 2021.
However card collecting always goes through swings and roundabouts, hell back then Panini looked like an unstoppable 800 pound Gorilla, and now look what's happened. Before them it was Upper Deck and before that Topps. Hopefully a new peak is on the horizon, though its not helped by these exclusive deals that limit competition for our dollar.
Do you find it slows down towards the end of year with Christmas and other things that pop up. Or is it just slowing down. I don’t know. I haven’t slowed down and nearly bought a darth Vader and ewok refractor and I’m not even a big Star Wars fan it just looked cool lol.
it just looked cool
I don't buy singles I'm more for thrill of the pull kind of collector than just buying the card
Yeah I enjoy it as well and would do it more if the prices went down a bit. I don’t mind the odd mystery box but did breaks once or twice but it’s the trading card equivalent of the pokies so won’t do that too often. But like garnett, I buy a lot of singles to get the cards I want. Which probably come from the breakers hahahaI don't buy singles I'm more for thrill of the pull kind of collector than just buying the card
I buy most of my stuff through cherry as well online.Cheapest box of Hoops hobby on ebay right now is USD$224. About USD$100 more than last year.
I'm glad i paid presell through Cherry which was about the same but in AUD.
Let's see if we get to Zion levels of crazy. It's certainly heading that way!
More like the equivalent of scratchies. I fancy my odds on a pokie machine more than going in a break. Admittedly the latter is way more fun but the odds of getting something decent are horrendous. And it's why breakers have to engage in a lot of turd polishing.Yeah I enjoy it as well and would do it more if the prices went down a bit. I don’t mind the odd mystery box but did breaks once or twice but it’s the trading card equivalent of the pokies so won’t do that too often. But like garnett, I buy a lot of singles to get the cards I want. Which probably come from the breakers hahaha
Well said, I've cut my collection back this year so going forward I can realistically maintain a collection near 100% complete of in my case NRL Warriors signature cards. Already I see next years Traders has more signature variants than this years. I buy/sell/trade to get funds to maintain my hobby . I've seen a number of longtime collectors not only stop collecting but selling up entire collections which is sad (pending on the reasons) but it's just like many things in life, you move on. I just hope anyone needing to sell for much needed dollars in these tough times both sides of The Tasman that they aren't being lowballed . The hobby adapts to a changing environment and there's winners and losers as in life.Like any hobby, it's disposable and not life's highest priority for people who see it as a hobby. If it's your business, I'd imagine things are a lot more uneasy. This time of year is always slow since there's very obvious other priorities even without fasting in COL increases.
That said, like collecting anything, it's an emotional hobby that's largely driven by FOMO. For speculating on hyped prospects, for not opening up that box you were eying up, for not knowing if you'll ever see that budget-stretching card again. Auctions are perfect for getting caught up in the moment.
I'm a 100% singles buyer. I prefer to curate my (limited) collection rather than try and get lucky with ripping boxes but ending up with endless rubbish cards. I can always watch breaks to see the reality if I want to.
If I'm selling more, I'm buying more, and vice-versa. I've had a fairly decent month of sales so far, so i'm using that cash on one of the most expensive cards I've ever bought as a Christmas present to myself!
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