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Posted by: Solid133 Nov 7 2019, 11:57 PM

So I've been an on and off collector since 2005 and coming back this time it seems like almost all the places are dead. Beckett done, SCS done, this place looks done. All that's left seems to be BO forums and SCF and even they are fairly slow. Did everyone just leave the hobby or is everything on FB now?

If most of you have transition to FB do you have any recommendations for groups? I've started to relist my old inventory and would like to start trade/sell/buy again.

Sad to see everyone has basically moved away from these and other forums, 10+ years ago was a great time to be a collector.

Anyways I'm determined to jumpstart this again and see if anyone has any recommendations.

Posted by: captkirk42 Nov 8 2019, 11:03 AM

Welcome back to the hobby.

It seems that most now are either on Facebook or Twitter.

I personally don't like to clutter my Facebook with trading card stuff largely in consideration of my family and friends who are unaware of my hobby hoarding habits. Although some trading card stuff sneaks around my FB NewsFeed. I don't do much on Twitter. I'm mostly here, around the blogs, SCF for the football team trader group mostly (which along with that site is also becoming a ghost town and the Trading Card DataBase.

Posted by: northicehero99 Nov 9 2019, 11:23 AM

I know some of our hockey group are on facebook. Not sure why sites are dying off, could be the hobby itself. Products seem to be getting more watered down with less hits for the money. Too much manufactured hits or event used hits in products too. I don't think the younger people are into the hobby anymore.

Posted by: redwing40 Nov 9 2019, 12:14 PM

Welcome back, Joey!

Seems all the forum sites are dying off and hitting the social media instead, mostly facebook as it's getting bigger and bigger with trade sites and box breaks, most of the forums like this one are converting over and setting up a group page there. I've set one up for our site, here's the link....

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2814226331926824/

It's a new FB page as the other TCC FB groups got left abanded so I started a new one, it is a closed group and I have to approve any member that wants to join, same rules apply there as here but it's mostly folks from this site and others and I try to promote members there to use the forums here to do they're Transactions here on the main site, not working as good as I wanted too though.

And also I agree with northicehero99, the money for product is not what it was for the money, less hits and a insane amount of parallels, RC, AU, etc...and with shipping cost it doesnt help.

Posted by: msw_sportscards Nov 14 2019, 07:08 PM

Welcome Back! A lot of people on FB, but most are buy and/or selling. It's difficult to get trades going there due mostly to little regulation/tracking of trades. I was fairly active on FB for about 6 months and I'm just not that into it. So now I basically just buy boxes to build sets and sell what I don't want on ebay.

And yes, it's sad the forums are dying out. Mostly because people are in it for the perceived money to be made and not the hobby of collecting cards.

Posted by: artyman60 Nov 27 2019, 06:03 AM

I think a big issue in this modern day “hobby” is just that, it’s no longer a hobby as much as it is an investment tool with people “investing” to flip quick. It’s rare you find anyone new to sports cards who isn’t in it to flip or invest. You’ve also got clowns like Gary V pushing an agenda and creating artificial hype to pump certain cards creating huge unrealistic spikes in prices which creates a frenzy of guys hyping and flipping only to move onto the next big deal

Obviously group breaks have all but helped price individuals out of buyin wax with company’s figuring it out and upping the price on what would even be their cheaper products to go for more then even I can really afford let alone a kid trying to come into the hobby.

I could go on but honestly at this point I just sound like the old man screaming get of my lawn. Like I’m sure most have I now just buy singles and quietly collect cards, occasionally meeting someone who does the same.

Posted by: northicehero99 Nov 27 2019, 11:49 AM

Arty great point on the group breaks. I did not even think about this, but you are correct. A perfect example is Black Diamond hockey, it used to be a 24 pack box with several hits and box priced under $100. Now it is a "higher end" product with 5 cards per box, some of the cards contain either manufactured patches or diamonds and the box is mostly "hits", and only 1 numbered base. This does lean to group breaks rather than set collectors/builders, unless you are a gambler or have $ to throw around.

Trading is another animal, too much confusion on what is the value, some use beckett, some use ebay sales, others COMC sales, others who knows how they come up with it? Then postage to mail the trade, is more than some cards are worth, especially to Canada, so that makes it harder to trade. Also, the fact that everyone wants the top players vs. teams players in trades makes it hard. I don't want to "trade down", but lots of traders want you to, because it is what you collect. Some are fair, but there are a lot of "flippers"/"investors" nowdays in the arena.

Posted by: aceecards Nov 28 2019, 08:37 AM

nice to see an active conversation .

Posted by: artyman60 Dec 7 2019, 06:19 AM

Great point Brian, it is almost impossible to trade anymore especially if the person knows that’s who you collect for instance I primarily focus on my Keith van horn collection these days and if some has something I’m interested in they usually ask for Jordan, Kobe, Lebron or whoever the hottest rookie is at the moment. Now I don’t mind trading in their favor but I’m not looking to trade a $400+ card for a card I could buy for $50

And don’t even get me going on shipping 😩 pay $1 for the card and $4 to ship hoping they at least use a bubble mailer

Posted by: NEPatriotsFan Jan 10 2020, 10:27 AM

My story and observations are similar...I just logged in here and it says my last log in was February of 2014...just got busy with life, etc, but am looking at this again as I really did enjoy trading. Cleaned out my favorites as half the sites are gone...it looks like there are trading sites on Facebook? who knew? thanks for the update...