re: Is hobby card collecting worth it right now?

I got back into it when Skenes and Crews was drafted. I was chasing their rookie cards to put away. What I learned during that time is that the hobby is seriously broken. The cost of buying boxes to chase a card is stupid and inflated by the potential of a couple players. Then the base cards are trash, the only things people care about are the numbered cards. And that is fake as well. They created demand and exclusivity by making cards in limited numbers, but at the same time print the same card in 10 different colors and number them individually as well. So most of the time, your 1 of 1 is actually just 1 of that color and there's 5,000 of the same exact card with a different color boarder.

Collecting has been building since covid and prices are stupid for some of these cards, especially the hot rookies. You have HOF players whose cards aren't worth much, but then you have a rookie who hasn't done anything pulling crazy money.
These prices won't last, I personally believe the bubble is going to pop again like it did when we were kids.

That said, I have some cards I picked up pre covid boom that are in my safe Ive considered selling. I don't know that they will ever be worth more than they are now.

This reminds me of the 1989-1992 boom market back in the day. Things have evolved but it feels like it has that bubble mentality. When an afternoon sports radio show on a Friday is talking about the cards in the deck they opened and not sports, I know it is at the peak or damn near.

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Do it for fun, or don't do it at all. Nine times out of 10, they're going to go down in value.

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Totally agree and that is why I collect the dead guys. The value always goes up and you don’t have to worry about them blowing out a knee or something nefarious.

He has some good stuff, but he does not have 1 million worth of stuff by a long shot. He has a few very rare cards, 1-4 thousand dollar cards, but he has more volume than anything.

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Is hobby card collecting worth it right now?

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I'd say yes if you have a ton of disposable income or if you have a particular player or team you want to collect for yourself.

I went to one of the card shows in Gonzales a few months ago and honestly it was overwhelming for someone who hasn't been in the hobby since I was a child in the 90s. Tables filled with cards costing hundred to thousands of dollars each.

What's funny is you can get a card of a true hall of famer and legend of the sport for a good price, but the newest rooke who hasn't proven dick goes for thousands.

Card collecting is a mix of playing the stock market and gambling. You hope to buy low on the players who will skyrocket in value and then sell high. It's rare to see people collect for the enjoyment of the hobby anymore and almost all cards, regardless of sports, comic book, anime, etc are just so ungodly expensive now it's not even worth it to me.

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e has some good stuff, but he does not have 1 million worth of stuff by a long shot. He has a few very rare cards, 1-4 thousand dollar cards, but he has more volume than anything.

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I got you. I know my uncle is sitting on a psa 5 52 Mantle. That is all before you talk about his other Mantles, Babe Ruth's, Jordan RCs, Jordan/Kobe autos, etc.

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It is gambling. Especially buying sealed boxes. Even buying singles there's no guarantee, the "value" these cards hold isn't real, they're just pieces of paper, so the prices really depend on what the people with the money to spend decide are the "best." There's research you can do to try to make informed decisions when purchasing, but if you're looking to make a lot of money, it's a ton of time to put into something that may not work out. If you're looking for a hobby and not an investment, buying cheap cards that are undervalued and flipping it can be profitable. But really only if you go through COMC, flipping cheap raw cards and trying to ship them is too much effort.

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I get this addiction out on the show. I don’t even play diamond dynasty but holy shite trying to flip cards on the market is probably 50% of my time spent on that game

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If you stick to the GOATS, it something you can make money on (Jordan, Messi, Ronaldo, Lebron, Kobe, Ohtani, Judge, Brady, Rice etc). second tier players and its a break-even for fun type of thing but you are probably chasing a player that won't hold value long-term, but there might be some success stories along the way. most "new and exciting" guys will almost never pan out long-term and prospecting to get rare cards for new guys is where people completely lose their arse. People sunk thousands hoping will levis would be good...obviously having never seen him play. they were rewarded with huge L's.

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Wander Franco was the can't miss prospect/rookie and his stuff was going nuts and increasing in value...then he diddled a 14 year old and his stuff would cost you money if you set it on fire. The most recent cautionary tale of the can't miss guy.

I got mildly interested a few months ago and started reading/watching some videos.

Dudes open like 4 packs a minute throwing 99% of the cards to the side. Did not look fun.