I think its across the board.
Hobby Kingz is no more...
blow-out is nowhere near as active as it used to be.
I think part of the issue is that there doesn't seem to be many collectors left any more and a lot more rip and flip.
The recent boom over the past few years alot has come from Social Media people Gary V, Jake (or Logan whichever it was)Paul etc... so the people that saw that are obviously on those already and not on a forum so naturally look for groups on those platforms. All the breakers are on there posting the hits instantly so people already see all the cards.
Also the hobby seems to be getting younger and I would imagine a lot of people never knew forums existed or still exist as they only know social media.
How do we get people back to the forum is a good question.
The ozct fb page isn't super active so possibly doesn't bump on peoples algorithms and they forget about us or they don't know about.
With the hobby shows seemingly making a bit of a come back, the hangout in Melbourne was huge earlier in the year. Some sort of advertising maybe a flyer or give away sponsored by ozct at those events.
Im sure more posts will inspire more ideas here
where did the true collectors and hobby enthusiasts go though? How many times have we said or heard the story “back into collecting since i was younger, found girls, cars etc and found collection” etc - many times!
pushed back out by the prices? Disillusioned by flippers and greed? I can’t figure it out
100% well said...Facebook is too much here and now.
All the good information gets buried never to be found again!
Yes there's a search function, however we've all used it and it's an absolute mess.
Forums provide historical knowledge and easy access to that information. The forum needs to be protected at all costs!
Just to clarify - if someones (@grahamabove) comment gets the most likes but it's not a suggestion then that doesn't qualify as winner
Thanks for the acknowledgement. Lol, I won’t do long form but provide some high level observations through my sales (circa 5000 cards per month). I will list what I think the direction or the change of mix the buyer. Note that some segments are mature ones whilst some are emerging. Some segments also cross over. I'll leave it to the forum to think how best to attract these different segments of the market. You really have to think laterally.What do you think @anakinleo ? You’re super into cards and selling but don’t post that much considering. I’d imagine you’d have a wealth of info younger collectors would love to hear. No urge to type long form?
Thanks for the acknowledgement. Lol, I won’t do long form but provide some high level observations through my sales (circa 5000 cards per month). I will list what I think the direction or the change of mix the buyer. Note that some segments are mature ones whilst some are emerging. Some segments also cross over. I'll leave it to the forum to think how best to attract these different segments of the market. You really have to think laterally.
1. Female presence is starting to increase and is no longer just a boy’s hobby.
2. The investor mindset, treating cards like crypto and stocks.
3. The old school set collectors
4. Loyalty fan - Club, Country, Geographic, Players.
5. Card buybacks - normally by companies or players themselves.
6. Cross overs or cross cannibalisation from NFTs. Similar with cards and comics in the 90s.
7. The show-off or must have singular card or set. Normally instagram heavy or a passing fad.
8. Vaulters - just buy and keep till the day they die. A lot of super collectors fall into this category.
9. Thrill seekers…… normally box breakers.
10. Sports & TV enthusiasts. Can come in many forms. watchers, followers, stats/data driven, etc
11. Channel enablers I.e. grading companies, Beckett, forums, stores, etc
BTW, if anybody is interested in any of my cards in COMC, just send me a message. I'll try my best to entertain most offers.
Thanks for the acknowledgement. Lol, I won’t do long form but provide some high level observations through my sales (circa 5000 cards per month). I will list what I think the direction or the change of mix the buyer. Note that some segments are mature ones whilst some are emerging. Some segments also cross over. I'll leave it to the forum to think how best to attract these different segments of the market. You really have to think laterally.
1. Female presence is starting to increase and is no longer just a boy’s hobby.
2. The investor mindset, treating cards like crypto and stocks.
3. The old school set collectors
4. Loyalty fan - Club, Country, Geographic, Players.
5. Card buybacks - normally by companies or players themselves.
6. Cross overs or cross cannibalisation from NFTs. Similar with cards and comics in the 90s.
7. The show-off or must have singular card or set. Normally instagram heavy or a passing fad.
8. Vaulters - just buy and keep till the day they die. A lot of super collectors fall into this category.
9. Thrill seekers…… normally box breakers.
10. Sports & TV enthusiasts. Can come in many forms. watchers, followers, stats/data driven, etc
11. Channel enablers I.e. grading companies, Beckett, forums, stores, etc
BTW, if anybody is interested in any of my cards in COMC, just send me a message. I'll try my best to entertain most offers.
I think there are many factors we have seen a slow down of late and I think can be contributed to some of the following:
- People aren't locked down anymore and are back focusing in on things they missed out on over the past few years and with that goes disposable income with it....concerts, drinking, sports, movies, holidays, drinking etc.....some of the cash that was being spent on cards between 2020 to Now is being redirected into those areas again.
I mean its a tough choice.... a blaster of Court Kings or an all expenses paid round the world holiday flying first class? What would you choose?
- The volume of product and the cost of it. You see boxes that were selling for $150-200 AUD now closer to $1000 AUD with set size/parallels and production up meaning 99% of the boxes you get offer little value or collectability. In the past you could sort of handle spending $150 on an NBA box and pulling a jersey card some inserts and an auto of some semi decent player.
Anyone remember Exquisite being $500 a box with usually a Jordan or Bron auto every few cases and now $500 will get you a Pack of Prizm Basketball Retail.
Sure you could pull a Chris Taft Exquisite RPA for your $500 but that stung a bit less than the $7000 you spent on an NT box which returned you a Zeke Nnaji RPA that probably sells for less than the Taft!
These days you usually get some never heard of grizzled veteran of the 70's or a mass produced rookie auto of a guy who is already plying his trade (post NBA) in Uzbekistan and a Jersey card with a piece of jersey in it that's actually closer to YOU having touched it than the player.
- Generational change - those who were collectors back in the 80/90/00 and had a specific player PC's, the players have all retired (or are in jail/dead/wont sign for Panini) and either their cards are so expensive to buy now you cant really fill the gaps in your PC from these eras.
Funny thing is with no money during that time we couldn't buy the rare cards we wanted, and with our income 10 times that we still cant buy these rare cards now! Thanks Goldin, PWCC!
You end up having to settle for no new cards at all (unless MJ playing Golf of wearing a Suit tickles your fancy) or the other situation is another 1000 autos/cards of your player from Panini using the same photo each time (see Horace Grant).
Or you could buy one of these puffy jacket cards from Topps to pacify your need for nostalgia.
Speaking of Nostalgia.......players these days are soft........Dennis Rodmans softest fouls would have been automatic ejections these days!
I mean this play below was called a charge on Larry Legend......thats how soft the game has become now compared to this!
Anyway Im off to tell the kids to get off my lawn again....
But bring back 80's basketball, 90's designs, 00's product prices and get rid of the influencers who tell you who and what to collect and how if you buy into some fractional ownership of Nico Mannion cards you will be able to retire by the year 2040.
Cheers
Matt
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