What with the high cost of Premium packs and new base card/chase card sets running $3.00 a pack retail, $4.00 a pack hobby or more.

Further cutbacks at work. No raises, furloughs, layoffs... Continually rising Gas prices, utilities, insurance costs...

Gone are the days of opening packs in hopes of creating a set. Buying a few packs here and there to get my kids interested. The adventure, the discovery, the fun is gone.

It looks like the days of buying new release cards are over for me. I will probably continue searching out dumped base sets on the web. Maybe the game will be to see how little I can pay for a set.

I just won a set of 59 Woodstock cards with shipping for about $5.00. When they come in I will probably look at them, stick them in a binder and forget about them.

Before I would have several partial sets I was working on open on my desk. The thrill of the chase to find those last few cards kept me interested in the sets for a month or 2.

Now its Click, buy, file and forget.

I just don't see the point anymore. And I have been collecting since the 60's.

I feel for you i know where your at six months ago i left a job making $10 an hour because there was no work and went to a $7.25 a hour and now 6 months later in that time i have been layed off and there is little work there and yesterday the fired 16 people some who have been there for up to 15 years my collecting is really been shoot and not looking in better see how i feel there going to close the plant down where i wrk maybe things will turn around all we can do is hope and pray for the best

Same here, but I'm still buying! After nearly 30 years at the same job for a VERY decent rate of pay I was 'let go' for no reason whatever, and after nearly two years of looking for work finally found a job at one third what I was formerly making. HOWEVER, I'm still spending lots of money on cards, as my nickname implies, I'm addicted to them.

I wish you all the best with the personal stuff, and I think many of us feel your pain in that regard as the economy is being brutal to alot of us. In regards to the hobby, I think you are being a little too hasty. Things come out so infrequently these days anyways, that maybe it's a good chance to take stock of what you are really into. If you are a card collector, then you probably have a collection of many other things, because they insist on putting it in the darn packs.

For instance, an interesting thing to explore would be the cheap, difficult, and no big hit or pack price fun that comes from stickers. Currently I am working on Primeval (that tv show with the dinosaurs). I believe they are made by e-max and that there are also a few Dr. Who sets. If you browse the Panini site or the e-max one, you might find something fun for you & the kids at a much, much lower price point.

Comic books and art are another weird outlet. Lately they seem to be dominating because of the sketch cards, which I just still don't get. You can break an Iron Man fan's heart by making the big hit of his box a Fantastic Four character that at no point makes an appearance in either Iron Man film, but yet you go to a con and try and get someone to draw you teen pregnancy Supergirl and your a bad person. Anyways, some of those what the heck sets could give you some inspiration. It's not really kid friendly, but after seeing the hack/slash sketch set I decided to try the Hack/Slash Omnibus #2 graphic novel. I liked it and never would have otherwise found my way to it. Some sketch cards also go for more than some actual comic book original art covers, which is another area to consider.

If you like the visual/display factor, collecting full sized movie posters could be another often cheaper option. Collecting movie props is another fun hunt, especially if what you are after is older since most people seem to be chasing the "hot right now" stuff. For a laugh, pull up Battle Star Galactica, everyone else is doing Caprica. A lot of former celeb's are also having their own e-bay stores now trying to sell the bikini's off their backs as it were, in this tougher economy. Many collectors fill their down time chasing through the mail autographs, which can take some time because of the waiting and trying to find or make the right picture fun.

As a throw in, other things I've collected include 1950's type crime novels which had amazing covers, and hand written books/diaries/manuscripts, usually from the 1800's when people had the time to write. (Too bad they weren't worth reading!) Happy hobbying, hope you stick with us. --Chris

quote:

Originally posted by EriktheArchitect:
......

Sounds to me like you have also burned yourself out a bit. Take a break and come back with the core subjects you love.

Im not done collecting until the put me in the ground i was just saying it cut my budget down and i cant collect as strong as i use to do to the ecnomy and thanks for those ideas you posted the are some good paths to go down mostly my area it gong to hit is box busting i now search out card singles instead of busting boxes

EriktheArchitect, sorry to read about quiting.

I remember when I began collecting in the 90's. I can get trading cards packs from $0.50, $0.75, or $1. I bought every month some packs to build some sets and get surprised to get an hologram card.

I quit in the end of the 90's, returned in 2002, quit some years, and returned. For my I have a expectation that when I return to collect cards things will be better. But as far I see things are the same. The only different now is see the "big mania fever" of sketch cards.

With the bad economy & a new lower-paying job, I decided to narrow my range of cards. I used to buy cases and multiple boxes. Now I'm more precise in my purchases. I do agree with you that the thrill of opening packs has been replaced with the so-so thrill of winning an auction (even buy-it-now seems less satisfying).

I believe that life is cyclical, and just like the over saturation of cards in the 90's, I presume that our hobby will be kick-started into high gear once again in the near future.

Sometimes it's good to take comfort in what you already have, rather than what you're missing now.

Sometimes we collectors make it hard on ourselves. We think we have to complete master sets or get the premium cards with the overvalued prices to have a really good collection. Eventually almost everyone comes to the realization that there are too many cards and its costs too much money. That's when some people stop collecting, but most find other ways to keep having fun.

You have to set limits and stay within a budget. Concentrate on one or two products. Pay only what a card is worth to you. Learn to wait on cards. Don't buy single cards when a new product comes out, nearly all will drop in price after a few months. Look for bargains, many common autograph cards have great signers, some of the nicest sketches don't cost that much.

There is nothing you can do about the bad economy, but if you stop doing what you enjoy it will just make you more unhappy. I quit once myself, it lasted about two weeks.

I only concentrate on base sets. I enjoy opening the packs and sorting the cards than seeking out the last few cards. The cost of even basic packs has gone too far in my opinion. $2.00 a pack is my limit if it has 7 or more cards in it. $3 - $4 for a retail pack and only 5 cards. Sorry not for me. Premium packs are of no interest either.

I recently bought a bunch of the Hotwheels packs at $1.00 a pack on clearance. Had fun opening and sorting the cards with my kids. They got all the duplicates and are having fun with them.

I had a budget of $50 a month. That has now gone to $20. Can't do much with that other than buying dumped base sets.

I did pick up the Woodstock set of 49 for $1.50. Looked at the cards and put them in a binder. Opening packs and sorting the cards would have been more fun.

The fun is gone after 30 plus years of collecting.

HI, Im relatively new to collecting (within a year or so) and my focus has changed considerably in that time, I initially started collecting chase sets and base sets and have now moved into autos. I still pick up base sets but after the initial splurge, I only focus on sets that I have a real interest in and mostly from the 60's,70,s and 80's. I love tracking down the stickers for the sets as well.

I dont buy new packs as I figure I will always be disappointed, so I rather focus on hunting down missing cards online and from auctions.

I think one of the best things for me is when a card that hasnt been around for ages comes up on-line and I can finally complete a set at hopefully a reasonable price. Or when I track down a sticker set for an old 70's or 80's set. I recently got my hands on the sitcker set for V and also for Dune. It always amazes me how these things survive in such pristine condition for so many years.

Anyway, card collecting is just plain good fun, anything that can bring a smile to your face these days is worth the cost, however much you can afford to spend.

quote:

Originally posted by drofdarb:

Or when I track down a sticker set for an old 70's or 80's set. I recently got my hands on the sitcker set for V and also for Dune. It always amazes me how these things survive in such pristine condition for so many years.

It's because they only came out of the packs last week, they were massivly overproduced and there is still loads of unopened boxes in storage.

quote:

Originally posted by EriktheArchitect:
I only concentrate on base sets. I enjoy opening the packs and sorting the cards than seeking out the last few cards. The cost of even basic packs has gone too far in my opinion. $2.00 a pack is my limit if it has 7 or more cards in it. $3 - $4 for a retail pack and only 5 cards. Sorry not for me. Premium packs are of no interest either.

I recently bought a bunch of the Hotwheels packs at $1.00 a pack on clearance. Had fun opening and sorting the cards with my kids. They got all the duplicates and are having fun with them.

I had a budget of $50 a month. That has now gone to $20. Can't do much with that other than buying dumped base sets.

I did pick up the Woodstock set of 49 for $1.50. Looked at the cards and put them in a binder. Opening packs and sorting the cards would have been more fun.

The fun is gone after 30 plus years of collecting.

That is rough. . . but even at that price range there are options. Dollar Tree pretty regularly has non-sport stuff now, and you can often find packs from boxes with the hit taken out for a buck a pack or less. . .

If you're not having fun then you're not having fun -- but there are definitely ways to enjoy cards on a budget. . . I probably have stacks of packs around here I'd let go for little (Robots, for sure, and I think something else) -- and I'm sure lots of dealers and other people who buy lots of wax do to.

Good luck!

Jon

Sorry to hear that you've lost the bug. Maybe some time away from the hobby will do you well. Sometimes that's needed to reignite the flame.

quote:

Originally posted by EriktheArchitect:

Before I would have several partial sets I was working on open on my desk. The thrill of the chase to find those last few cards kept me interested in the sets for a month or 2.

Now its Click, buy, file and forget.

I just don't see the point anymore. And I have been collecting since the 60's.

Say it ain't so, Santa!

To overcome the current state of the modern hobby (I also collect 50's & 60's material plus Promos of course) I decided to collect all Inkworks chase cards (no offense to any other card company), but I have some strict rules to make it more of a challenge and not break the piggy bank. I will only go through a dealer's book or box if they are selling the inserts for under $1.00. I may spring for $1.00 if it is the last card or two within a subset. It's not the easiest thing in the world to put together a 9-card puzzle subset in this manner and I get to look at my whole collection in one binder after each acquisition. It's not the big shot in the arm that will keep other manufacturers afloat but it does supply some liquidity to the dealers who need to shell out for the next product...and its fun! I can spend hours at a show like Philly amassing some "major " acquisitions for short money. I do have to bend my rules a bit for caseloaders but not by much, I've found.

Don't go, just change your ground rules but if my suggestion sounds appealing I suggest that you stick to Rittenhouse or Breygent.

I have most everything I wanted from earlier sets. A few holes here and there that I fill in when I find them. Made a big purchase from Tamara at Warp9 over the holidays and filled in a bunch of my Star Wars stickers wants at an affordable price.

The new products, some of which are interesting to me, are just too expensive and seem to be concentrating on the Chase, autograph and sketch format. I would love to be able to pick up some of the new retail kid oriented packs for my children but those have gotten too expensive.

For several years I concentrated on the old tobacco cards when I could find them around 10-25 cents each. Those days are gone too!

The troubles NSU is having with just getting companies to advertise. Prices have gone too high for the average collector in my opinion.

I'll be around and I'll be supporting the magazine and website but thats about it for now.

good luck

I am very sorry to read this too Erik. Like some of the others have said, I wish you could find a way to specialize and stick around that way.

Thank you so much for your support and glad to see that you will be keeping up with the website and the magazine.

Thanks and see you around Card Talk!

quote:

Originally posted by H_Toser:
I am very sorry to read this too Erik. Like some of the others have said, I wish you could find a way to specialize and stick around that way.

Thank you so much for your support and glad to see that you will be keeping up with the website and the magazine.

Thanks and see you around Card Talk!

I'll be sticking around. Just won't be buying any new product. I can always mail off my SASE's and get promos's. I have been cataloging the ones I have and so far have about 850 different ones. I've asked my wife to get me the promo guide for my birthday.