Anyone here ever get that feeling when you think about stop collecting cards?

vittleboy

I Am thinking about giveing up cards and just selling everything but my big dogs off. I Guess its just not as fun anymore. I all ways see people giveing it up. I dont wantto be one of those guys who quits then comes back again and again. But i donno mabey i am just feeling the effects of the Jack. What do you guys think?

battier

i will never get that feeling......some people do cause they get bored
me i just set goals like certain sets i need to fill and ect...plus there is so much to learn and so many card shows....but the thrill of opening packs sucks

AiRjOrDaN22

I felt like that a couple times already...

SkiVermont3

<< <i>But i donno mabey i am just feeling the effects of the Jack. >>



u got jacked? i know when mpsteelerfan jacked me for $200 worth, i was thinking about quitting...but its too much fun, i couldnt stay away for long...

vittleboy

how old are you battier?

Because i am only 18 and lets face it. Its not cool to collect cards. Also I just got a car and its not cheep. I dont think i even have the income to keep collecting anymore. Hell There are 100.00 packs!!! I Rember the best packs were 4-5 and that was crazy for like 96-97 topps chrome.

nbatopfifty

yeah definitly make goals for yourself. i have 4 goals that will take me years to complete so i wont get bored anytime soon. maybe that will help.

thematrix31

Sometimes I know how you feel, but the best advice i can give you is just put em in your closet for a while and then get back into it

SkiVermont3

<< <i>Sometimes I know how you feel, but the best advice i can give you is just put em in your closet for a while and then get back into it >>



Lee knows all about being in the closet...

akafocus

Take a break. Recharge your batteries. Get some fresh air...

vittleboy

SkiVermont3- I have been Ripped off so many times. That doesnt even phase me anymore. But theres another thing. Were is the Trust. I can Be here for ever and Make tons of Refs. But all off a sudden a new guy wants me to send first. Or lets say i make a mistake and send something wrong and the guy gets pissed. All of a sudden i am Dog Crap and all my Refs mean nothing. Hell I Thought about quiting tons of times during the Traders Retreat days. But Never as Strong as now.

bjork73

I don't think I'll ever stop collecting; my astrological chart (Cancer sun to the max) predisposes me to mass accumulation of stuff, so it's good to have a focus to that

battier

actually man i am 25 ,with 2 kids and 2 step children...you wanna talk about income ...lmao.....i have a decent amount of cash 2
spend but not that much....but making smart trades keep me from spending cash.......but sometimes i over do it on ebay...lol

yanyak5

I feel like this a lot....i mean its so expensive to collect cards...buy packs and stuff....Its like whenever you get money you just have to spend it on cards, and then you feel like you never get anything good and you feel bad becuase you just wasted all your money...and then theres a time when you actually do pull a really nice card, but then you sell it to get money to buy more packs....i feel what your saying vittle....i understand.....i just stopped collecting for awhile....

YanksFan

Well, none of my friends know that I collect cards but they know I collect autos. I don't really even think of it as "collecting" to me its just a hobby. I just collect Topps rookies and autos'. I'm not to picky. I don't really get burned out with the hobby, but I did this summer when I was taken for about 400 in cards and another 130 in cash. But, $h*t happens. I just deal with it and its no big deal. I'm not like a big collector, what I want to keep I throw in one of many shoeboxes. Once it goes in, it usually doesn't get traded(thats why I'm buying more now as tradebait) unless I find a card that looks nicer. After this school year I'm prolly gonna quit for a while, since I'm gonna be moving out and I'm gonna have better things to do. I'm still gonna go up to the Nationals in NJ next year and hook up with a couple of guys on here. I dont set any "goals" b/c it's just a hobby and thats it for me. I used to think about collecting sets and stuff like that, but I'm simple and thats just to complicated.

AiRjOrDaN22

battier i though u were 12 or something....

mcdee2

lately every day.. my new daughter.. (3 mos. old) takes a lot of time and money from the hobby... and well...its not as fun sometimes.. because its a lot easier to critique why you do certain things for the hobby and the things you try to create for everyone.. when its not your own cards making the contests winners.. and the list goes on and on and on.

battier

jordan-why you think that
mcdee-i knoe where you are coming from

playr050

If you quit now, when basketball season rolls around, you'll get the urge to come back.

autobilia

I had that feeling back in 1999 and quit collecting for 2 years. What got me started back up is that I use to take my cousin to minor league games (Knoxville Smokies and Memphis Redbirds). I remember I got a bunch of stuff autographed by JD Drew in 1998. The only thing that was missing from my collection was a game used jersey. I knew I couldn't find one, so in 2001 I saw looking for a rare game used jersey card. Saw that the 01 Fleer Genuine Final Cut was limited to 75, so I picked one up. Then looked and noticed that it was the rarest card in the set, so I decided to complete the set. Along the way, I started picking up more and more cards...

But after completing almost 3 sets, I started getting bored again and needed a bigger challenge. Wasn't having any fun, so I started on the Classic Cuts set. Now, I'm basically quiting myself and going back into autographs (non-cards) and memorabilia.

You may be getting interested in other things which is understandable. When you get to the point that cards become worthless to you (no matter what Beckett's book value says) and collecting is no fun for you anymore, then it's time to get out.

ilya

dude im wit you...

its just not as fun for me. and ive only been collecting for like 15 months... it was VERY addicting at first, but now, it's like "hey, there's more important things"

i have my license, a car, and a new house we just moved into.. i need money for gas, and keeping the car running... you know, stuff like that...

joestalin

I think we all need to face that fact that this is an addiction for us. We want to get out
and shut it down, but that isn't going to happen! I am always telling myself if someone came
around and bought all of my cards I would be happy and never open a pack again, but who
knows if I could do that. Heck the first thing I see when I walk into target are the cards. It
would be tough to walk by that or not hit a card shop when the new hot product comes out!

Is there anyone here who really thinks they can just walk away?

-Kevin

autobilia

<< <i>I think we all need to face that fact that this is an addiction for us. We want to get out
and shut it down, but that isn't going to happen! I am always telling myself if someone came
around and bought all of my cards I would be happy and never open a pack again, but who
knows if I could do that. Heck the first thing I see when I walk into target are the cards. It
would be tough to walk by that or not hit a card shop when the new hot product comes out!

Is there anyone here who really thinks they can just walk away?

-Kevin >>



Well, I won't have that problem. The weak basketball rookie classes since 99/00 helped me with that. I remember the days when you had at least 1 to 2 rookies that made a huge impact. 91/92 (Larry Johnson, Dikembe Mutombo), 92/93 (Shaq/Alonzo Mourning), 93/94 (Chris Webber/Penny Hardaway), etc. Since 99/00, there hasn't been any rookies of that caliber. People thought Shane Battier would have a "Tim Duncan" impact. Didn't happen. Now, the rookies are over priced and overhyped.

joestalin

Yeah I got burned in 2000 with all the Darius Miles hype. I bought a bunch of that hardcourt stuff!
Back then a rookie #ed to 900 was rare, beckett killed it and now they are worth nothing. Of
course the year before that was worse...francis and brand, man there have been a lot of duds
in basketball! I rarely open it now. I mainly do football and baseball. I think I will always at
least try some basketball as long as there is a chance to score an MJ auto!

Kevin

ahares

I'll never be able to walk away...i have been collecting since i was born...my dad was a huge collector in the 80's..he got out of it about 6 years ago and gave everything to me except his Larry Bird's....I try never to go over the edge when I am buying..i usually have a steady buying system that I use every week....I am hoping this way I will still be able to have money and time for other things in life..but yet still enjoy the art of collecting!

autobilia

<< <i>Yeah I got burned in 2000 with all the Darius Miles hype. I bought a bunch of that hardcourt stuff!
Back then a rookie #ed to 900 was rare, beckett killed it and now they are worth nothing. Of
course the year before that was worse...francis and brand, man there have been a lot of duds
in basketball! I rarely open it now. I mainly do football and baseball. I think I will always at
least try some basketball as long as there is a chance to score an MJ auto!

Kevin >>



See, I've seen just about everything. Nothing impresses me anymore. If I was to open a pack that was all Jordan autos, it wouldn't impress me. You read about people who pull a very nice card and say something like, "I almost had a heart attack" or "I almost fainted". I can't see myself getting excited. I've pulled a Jordan auto, I've pulled a Jordan insert #'d 01/23, I've pulled redemption for autographed cards & memorabilia, etc. That's one of the few reasons I stopped buying packs. People buy packs with the intention of pulling something nice. When I go to the card shop to get 1 screw downs, I may buy 2-3 packs just for the heck of it (not expecting anything). For example, I bought 3 packs of Ultra FB (I've never collected football except vintage) and pulled a Torry Holt League Leaders Game Used Jersey card. It's like a common card to me. I just tossed it to the site. May just use it to trade off for a Classic Cuts card I don't already have. After this Classic Cuts set, the only thing I would collect is Legendary Cut signature cards since I'm going back into autographs and memorabilia and know obtaining authentic autos of those players would be tooo expensive or nearly impossible to find on things other than cards.

baljitgill

I felt like quit the hobby in January of this year. All the new products and the costs were getting carried away. Spending $50 for a pack of cards and getting crap was frustrating. I took a little break and thought about what I wanted to do. Stop or collect something that was a little easier and didnt have me buying every product. Hence, I started collecting Webber.

Bottom line is that you should collect what you can. What makes sense for you and your budget. Thats the key.

BG

autobilia

<< <i>I felt like quit the hobby in January of this year. All the new products and the costs were getting carried away. Spending $50 for a pack of cards and getting crap was frustrating. I took a little break and thought about what I wanted to do. Stop or collect something that was a little easier and didnt have me buying every product. Hence, I started collecting Webber.

Bottom line is that you should collect what you can. What makes sense for you and your budget. Thats the key.

BG >>



I have a decent budget, but it's not that. It's just not fun anymore.

KBryant1

i have felling right now but probably over come it

bjork73

I've never really been discouraged when I see a dry patch in pack pulls, because I generally keep my focus on cheap boxes (prime example: a $27 box of 2001 Fleer Genuine FB) or Topps/Bowman packs (only need one, and then the stamps, 3X5 index cards, and envelopes). Buying products like Fleer Hot Prospects never really made sense to me (GU in one per 3 packs = 67% chance of getting jack sh!t for $12 ) although I will occasionally splurge on a pack of Tribute or Pristine or Private Stock/Titanium since the risk factor isn't that high. Those $100+ packs really turn me off due to the huge risk ($100 for a likely $40 in BV just seems wrong). There ARE ways to keep yourself safe in the pack-busting arena

vittleboy

I Started collecting cards really young because my half brothers collected and my dad did. My Dad gave it and so did 2 of my brothers. Now just me and one of my older brothers collect. He as i feel has it set. He just goes for a few guys and sticks strong to them. (Joe Dumars, Bo Jackson, Ricky Henderson and Charles Woodson) I HAve my collection all messed up. I Trade for a card then just trade it for another and so on. This year i Wanted to put the 02 Spx Basketball set toghter because i thought it whould be FUN boy was i wrong. It was hell. I gave up way to much to put the set toghter and with puting the set toghter i killed my collection. I really dont have anything on my tradelist. And I still need one more card to finsh the set in Jason Richardson. I know someone on here has it but I dont think i can get it off him. I think this set killed me. I will never do a set again. I Rember the Time 1999 UD Football Came out. I was liveing in Hannibal Mo. I loved how the cards looked and i decied to put the set toghter. I spent 500 on puting it toghter LOL and i ended up tradeing it for 150.00 lol. Boxs sell for a ton but the cards arnt worth half the box price anymore.

I See people on here With there awsome collections and they show them off like they have everything. I Hate that so much. I Dont even like talking about my personl collection. Sure i have really good stuff. But Why Show it off when i wont trade it like people here do. I Put my Chrome and SPA Tmacs on my Tradelist to see if i whould deal them. I couldnt lol. I paid 20 for the both of them and i cant let them go. Thats the kind of stuff that keeps me going with cards. When you have that one card no matter how much it books it means the world to you. Mine are the Tmacs and Most of My Personal Collection. I donno if any of that made sense im a little drunk and tired. LOL

autobilia

<< <i>I Started collecting cards really young because my half brothers collected and my dad did. My Dad gave it and so did 2 of my brothers. Now just me and one of my older brothers collect. He as i feel has it set. He just goes for a few guys and sticks strong to them. (Joe Dumars, Bo Jackson, Ricky Henderson and Charles Woodson) I HAve my collection all messed up. I Trade for a card then just trade it for another and so on. This year i Wanted to put the 02 Spx Basketball set toghter because i thought it whould be FUN boy was i wrong. It was hell. I gave up way to much to put the set toghter and with puting the set toghter i killed my collection. I really dont have anything on my tradelist. And I still need one more card to finsh the set in Jason Richardson. I know someone on here has it but I dont think i can get it off him. I think this set killed me. I will never do a set again. I Rember the Time 1999 UD Football Came out. I was liveing in Hannibal Mo. I loved how the cards looked and i decied to put the set toghter. I spent 500 on puting it toghter LOL and i ended up tradeing it for 150.00 lol. Boxs sell for a ton but the cards arnt worth half the box price anymore.

I See people on here With there awsome collections and they show them off like they have everything. I Hate that so much. I Dont even like talking about my personl collection. Sure i have really good stuff. But Why Show it off when i wont trade it like people here do. I Put my Chrome and SPA Tmacs on my Tradelist to see if i whould deal them. I couldnt lol. I paid 20 for the both of them and i cant let them go. Thats the kind of stuff that keeps me going with cards. When you have that one card no matter how much it books it means the world to you. Mine are the Tmacs and Most of My Personal Collection. I donno if any of that made sense im a little drunk and tired. LOL >>



Set building with SP's are always tough. Only way you will be able to complete is if you focus on that set and that set only. That means no packs or buying any other cards. Some people get started and half way through, quit. I collect nothing but Classic Cuts. I do buy nice patches, but majority are for resell to make extra cash to buy more Classic Cuts. Other than that, I'm collecting autographs and memorabilia. If you know for a fact that you can't focus on the set and only that set, then there is no reason to waste your time. A set like that may take up to a year to complete or more. Do you think you could stay at one set that long?

YanksFan

Vittleboy,
I know whatcha mean. I've traded nearly all my gu'ed, high end inserts, low end inserts, and nice rookies for Topps rookies. I don't mind trading a really nice card for some 5-7 dollar rookies. But now my best card in my Topps collection is a Chrome Marbury rc. I see all these guys with very very very nice cards, and others saying it doesn't impress them when the pull a Jordan auto, auto for that statement, you suck
But I do collect what I like, so I don't really care that I'm trading one big card for smaller cards. But like I get to crack maybe a box a year(this year I broke 3, woopee!) since the shop in my town closed up, I've got to drive into Delaware just to go to a place that carries like 15 boxes total. That and I never pull anything major, mostly el cheapo inserts. Then I see ppl pulling like Kobe autos or Mark Prior autos. Oh well, no use in complaining.

Derrick

That's why I don't make trades much anymore, because people are so fu^king picky about what they want, not to mention it's gotten boring. Yeah, I'll make a trade every now and then...but when I first came to CU...I was a trading MOchine! But, now I just like the sports topics and arguing about different things regarding sports and having friendly arguments...it's all in fun. I've grown away from trading...plus I rarely even buy packs anymore and I've sold about 70% of my collection away (which did me some good because I got a sh*t load of money)...but you see my point. I'll be here to make a trade every now and then...but mainly hear to just bullsh*t and talk sports...and go to the Open Forum and bullsh*t about anything...

Drock

i dont think i can go away from it but the basketball has let me down with these weak a$$ rc classes the past few years thats y i dont collect non of the new stuff and i dont expect this years to be any better but i have turned to baseball now and im fine with it but i also think buying packs are a waist of money i just buy singles if u wanna go pack busting u should buy the box and for the cost of the box u could have bought 2 of every card u pulled lol unless u get lucky of course well thats my 2 cents derek

lafrentz06

I remember when I wanted to get out. It's just so fun I can't. I mean finding a sweet-a$$ card that you like, and seeing what you can trade for it! I don't buy, for 1 reason, I don't have the money! Please don't jump on my and say I don't know how it is about not having money, I'll admit it, I don't. I come from a very wealthy family(don't make that sounf like I'm braging), but with me driving(to school and work), I don't have the money to spend on cards, so I strictly trade. It is possible. If moneys the problem, it is possibe to trade, and not buy.

That was worthless.......^^

Derrick

<< <i>

<< <i>Yeah I got burned in 2000 with all the Darius Miles hype. I bought a bunch of that hardcourt stuff!
Back then a rookie #ed to 900 was rare, beckett killed it and now they are worth nothing. Of
course the year before that was worse...francis and brand, man there have been a lot of duds
in basketball! I rarely open it now. I mainly do football and baseball. I think I will always at
least try some basketball as long as there is a chance to score an MJ auto!

Kevin >>



See, I've seen just about everything. Nothing impresses me anymore. If I was to open a pack that was all Jordan autos, it wouldn't impress me. You read about people who pull a very nice card and say something like, "I almost had a heart attack" or "I almost fainted". I can't see myself getting excited. I've pulled a Jordan auto, I've pulled a Jordan insert #'d 01/23, I've pulled redemption for autographed cards & memorabilia, etc. That's one of the few reasons I stopped buying packs. People buy packs with the intention of pulling something nice. When I go to the card shop to get 1 screw downs, I may buy 2-3 packs just for the heck of it (not expecting anything). For example, I bought 3 packs of Ultra FB (I've never collected football except vintage) and pulled a Torry Holt League Leaders Game Used Jersey card. It's like a common card to me. I just tossed it to the site. May just use it to trade off for a Classic Cuts card I don't already have. After this Classic Cuts set, the only thing I would collect is Legendary Cut signature cards since I'm going back into autographs and memorabilia and know obtaining authentic autos of those players would be tooo expensive or nearly impossible to find on things other than cards. >>



So, what your saying is that you just like opening packs without looking for anything? I don't know about that. How could you NOT be looking for something nice in the packs? That's like buying packs and just saying..."well, I hope I get a Kobe Bryant common card today"...yeah right. I KNOW you HAVE to be looking for something nice...I mean, who wouldn't?

autobilia

<< <i>I remember when I wanted to get out. It's just so fun I can't. I mean finding a sweet-a$$ card that you like, and seeing what you can trade for it! I don't buy, for 1 reason, I don't have the money! Please don't jump on my and say I don't know how it is about not having money, I'll admit it, I don't. I come from a very wealthy family(don't make that sounf like I'm braging), but with me driving(to school and work), I don't have the money to spend on cards, so I strictly trade. It is possible. If moneys the problem, it is possibe to trade, and not buy.

That was worthless.......^^ >>



Trading is pointless to me now because no one ever have what I'm looking for (I know. I look for oddities). It seems everyone has the same stuff and looking for the same stuff; What's New & Hot. That's why I just sell and buy what I want or need for sets. Now you see why I'm always on Ebay. You never get those "Will you trade?" responses and you can always find what you looking for. It eliminates majority of the hassle.

Kingbball

I thought i was the only one who wanted to stop collecting! I know i should stop collecting but then for some reason i can't. When new products come out or i find a bargain on ebay I seem to be uncontrollable spending $$ on cards. I remember in my earlier years of collecting, I would get excited and happy if i pulled a rare insert or so. Now these days when i pull "super cards" I am not as enthusiastic. The hobby is not enjoyable as it use to be when i was younger. It's so true when people call it a addictive hobby, I waste so much time and $$ on cards and just wish sometimes i never got into this whole collecting thing. I just think sometimes about what i could of done instead with the money or the time i wasted collecting cards. Now college is very near so hopefully I can sell my collection and use the $$ toward my expenses that I will face. The only question is, can I ever let go of my collection?... only time can tell..lol

autobilia

<< <i>So, what your saying is that you just like opening packs without looking for anything? I don't know about that. How could you NOT be looking for something nice in the packs? That's like buying packs and just saying..."well, I hope I get a Kobe Bryant common card today"...yeah right. I KNOW you HAVE to be looking for something nice...I mean, who wouldn't? >>



Actually no. The last 2 weeks I went to get those 1 screw down holders, I've bought a few packs of Topps Chrome FB, Donruss FB, and Ultra FB. The rest is, the guy who works there is a die-hard football fan and we are in a few football leagues. It's almost like a pack wars thing, but I could careless about FB cards (except vintage). I never even ask what's in that product. And cardnyou can vouch that I know nothing and could care less about football cards. I NEVER expect anything from packs which is why I don't really buy packs. Some of the stuff I pull, I may either sell on Ebay, trade it to a friend for a Classic Cuts I need, or just give it away in a contest. Notice the packs I have been buying are about $3 a pack or less, so it's no biggie. Plus, I buy packs from time to time to show support to the local card shop. That's where I pulled the Jordan auto and #'d insert to 23 and a bunch of autos. They even offered me a job there before, but I turned it down because of my current job. So, when I get those packs, I don't expect much.

akafocus

Go ahead take a break. It will do you good.

Some of you should hang it up altogether (you know who) as it is making you mean...

dirtmonkey

I don't collect cards because I "think it's cool". $hyat, I'm 28 and could care less if it's hip to collect or not. If you look at much of my collection, it's from 5-10 years ago. I do more trading than buying anymore because packs are expensive, but I still love to sit and crack a pack/box. For every person that decides to quit, a new person begins... Just the fun of it all.

NickM

You can't get everything as it comes out, unless you have an almost unlimited card budget.
Collect what you like.
This is supposed to be a fun hobby, so decide what you care to put in your collection, and focus on it. It can be certain sets or subsets. It can be teams. It can be players. It can be cards of certain types. It can be memorabilia or autographs. What matters is that you enjoy it.
If you love sports collecting enough, you may even find you don't want to specialize and want some of everything. That's the way I am (although I still have priorities in my collecting. The thrill of finding great deals (whether bargains or hard-to-find items) can be its own reward.
If you're not enjoying collecting, ask yourself why, and then figure out what needs to change for you to enjoy collecting. If the problem is that you have been cheated and don't trust other people to deal with them, you should focus instead on collecting items that you don't have to regularly trade for through the mail.

Nick

Remster

I quit for 8 years.Raising a son,marriage,family took all my time.Got into it again last November and it's much more fun now.never lost my love of sports and this adds to it

Bobstar

Good topic gang;sometimes it's good to take a break.You can sit back,see what you have & decide from there.One thing CJ & I decided when we started collecting Cal Ripken cards was we were always going to have FUN with this hobby.
We have a budget we adhere to as I am on disability & can't work.
With that money we decide if it's all going for boxes,eBay or some to both.We also decided to get out of basketball because we found the NBA boring & like some of you have also said,there have been no real impact players the last few years.
Set building has been a challenge but also exciting too.We recently completed the Topps Heritage Hockey set with SPs.This set is one of the nicest hockey sets around & we did this by buying 1 box,trading for most of the rest except for 3SPs we bought & 3RCs off eBay.We had a blast!
I think I might be the luckiest guy here tho.I am 59 & CJ is only12 ;it's awesome to watch him rip packs & see the joy he gets when he gets a nice card he is looking for.I remember that feeling & because of him I still get it also when we rip a box together.It's kind of sad reading about how some of you guys feel.Some of you need to take a break from collecting.You've lost that thrill I speak of.It seems like that happens when you start treating this hobby like a business.We both vowed never to let that happen to us.
MAY THE NEXT PACK YOU RIP HAVE THE CARD OF YOUR DREAMS!

tuneman

BobStar-I dont know you and i have only read your tirads against Uwfatke (or however you spell it ). I just thought you were full of piss & vinegar. However your right on the nose. When you treat this as more than a hobby you lose every time. If you expect to EVER see the money you put into cards again you are SEVERLY MISTAKEN. You would have had a better chance in the Nasdq the past two years ( down 70% ).

Vittleboy-Whatever you do, do whats right for YOU. The only thing that worries me an old codger of 41-is when you said collecting cards at 18 isnt cool ( Well FYI-it aint at 41 either ). I hope if card collecting teaches you one thing in life its that what matters most is to be true to yourself, not to what others think of you.Thats a really hard lesson to accept at 18 and might be asking to much if i recall my teens ( morals and social values were easy but card collecting might be hard )

I am one of the lucky ones, I have worked for a while and sold my company and now have a disposable income to buy cards and put those monster SPx sets together.( In fact i built the blue SPxet in basketball this year ) It does take work and its a lot of fun. If it were not for set building i would not be in this hobby.It does not matter to me much if the rookie class is great or lame cause im in this for fun-not profit. I dont intend to sell my cards(Unless its as a huge collection of sets from 1948 Bowman on to present day )-Let my heirs do that and personally if thats all i leave them their in trouble anyway.


tuneman


tuneman