Your Beef with the Hobby or Why You Don't Care.

[ideal0024]

. I'm not the best dad, but I try to do my best every opportunity I get.

I really like that saying & am going to steal it.

 

[jrinne]

Prospecting. It seems there are more prospectors today than there are legitimate collectors. I say legitimate because that is precisely what prospectors are not. If you buy cards with the explicit intention to flip them, then you are no longer in it for the same reasons that kids have gotten into it for the last hundred years.

For those that have been collecting for decades the most enjoyable posts for us on boards like this are the ones where a set collector finishes off the last 5 cards he needed for his 1986 Topps set, or the Dale Sveum collector who picked up that card he's been after for 20 years. That is what this hobby was truly about.

Prospecting... my beef.

agian, what do you care what other people do with their time and money?

I don’t care what people do with their time and money so long as they don’t come on a message board “for collectors by collectors” and discuss at length their prospecting hits and misses. If someone wants to blow their money on cases with the intention of flipping that is their right to do so but they better never confuse themselves with real collectors…remember those, the ones that do it because they love the thrill and not the potential.

If you prospect you are not a “collector,” you see it as a business not a hobby.

I prospect and collect so what does that make me? Just curious.

Is there any card in your "collection" you wouldnt sell to make a decent sized profit?

Yes, I look at some of the cards I have and how long it took me to find them. I have autograph sets that took me 8 years to finish. I finished the 2001 2002 and 2003 UD PP master autograph sets and those are sets I will never part with. Im still missing a few from the 2002 and 2003 sets so technically they aren't "finished". Its pretty cool to look at the 2001 set from card 1 to 102 and have them all autographed.

 

[cgilmo]

Yes, you are a joke. I never insulted anyone in this thread. Show me where I insulted anyone. Just because you take offense to something I said doesn’t mean I an insult was thrown. An insult is calling someone a ******* and the fact you took offense and disagree with EVERYTHING I said is reassuring because it means my compass still points North in the HOBBY that is baseball card COLLECTING.

The reason you took offense to it is because you are part of the problem. We see the same problem in the autograph memorabilia side; people wonder why stars charge $300.00 for an autograph, well the fact is they have to charge that so parasites, I mean prospectors, don't flip them for a quick buck because they can't turn a profit.

You refereed to half the user base of this site as a cancer to the hobby. If you can't see how that's an insult then I got no help for you.

I said you putting collectors that prospect in a box is jackassish because it is. Ask JP to post some of the cards in his COLLECTION. Ask me to post some of my cards in my COLLECTION. Most of the guys here that you would consider prospector scum have collections along with the cards that they are flipping.

 

[NECpilgrims8]

I just posted my main gripe today....

http://usafuturewatch.com/?p=336

....taking a stand for all that is American!

I agree with Gilmore. Topps (and other companies) are capable of better and more, but they always seem to fall short and underwhelm.

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

The rookie card is and has always been the center of sports cards. The internet gives everyone the opportunity to buy and sell as they see fit. Why should you let that ruin collecting for you?

This is an exaggeration. Some non-collectors may think this for a variety of reasons - sellers may tell them as much - but most collectors don't value the RCs in their possession most. Besides, half the people can't agree what a rookie card is.

Of the 100 most important cards in baseball cards, how many are rookie cards? Try coming up with a list.

People should only buy a certain player or set and when they open packs, boxes, or cases, should keep every single card. Forever. That's stupid.

As gilmore would say, calling someone stupid for what they choose do in the hobby is pretty stupid.

 

[RL24]

People should only buy a certain player or set and when they open packs, boxes, or cases, should keep every single card. Forever. That's stupid.

As gilmore would say, calling someone stupid for what they choose do in the hobby is pretty stupid.

He wasn't saying that anybody is stupid for collecting that way if that's the way they choose to collect. Somebody else said that if you sell cards, you're not a collector. That's stupid.

 

[rico08]

I'd also argue that both pure, for-profit prospectors and set/player-type collectors get the same "emotion" from the hobby. Isn't it great to know you own a rare Ozzie Smith card? Surprisingly, it's the same feeling to have a huge prospect stash (and BANK when you decide to sell). Sellers don't force bidders to bid on Chris Shelton cards one week into the season.

What is the point in wasting energy and emotion on someone who doesn't influence any part of your hobby? I don't see a connection, only that you're online persona tends toward aggressive and you probably have a lot of time on your hands.

A Roy Oswalt supercollector, a vintage Topps low grade set builder, Jaypers, and an Ozzie Smith collector.

Who are four people who signed up for this message board?

 

[rico08]

People should only buy a certain player or set and when they open packs, boxes, or cases, should keep every single card. Forever. That's stupid.

As gilmore would say, calling someone stupid for what they choose do in the hobby is pretty stupid.

Yes, correct. I was saying that it is stupid for someone to attempt to define the hobby--or in this case exclude someone from it.

 

[Austin]

It's ridiculous how some members get so upset about how other members choose to spend their money on cards.
When a prospector flips a card or buys a case of BDP, why should a vintage, or set, or player collector care?
The sale of a 2008 Superfractor has no effect on a collector's player collection or 1982 Fleer set.
Just let everyone enjoy baseball cards, whether it be for fun or profit or both, and don't worry about what other members do with their money.
Aloha. :grouphug:

 

[carlitoson]

...What is the point in wasting energy and emotion on someone who doesn't influence any part of your hobby?...

As a collector, the only time I get frustrated with prospectors is when I'm trying to get a card and have to go up against someone who is "building their stash" so to speak. Usually they have to bid on every single copy that surfaces (frustrating).

It's not always prospectors though; sometimes it's just "hoarders". I'm a pretty patient person however, so it normally pays to just put the card on the back burner until those folks move on to something else. I appreciate the folks who bust product and sell (prospectors or otherwise)...it's how I get my singles.

 

[RL24]

...What is the point in wasting energy and emotion on someone who doesn't influence any part of your hobby?...

As a collector, the only time I get frustrated with prospectors is when I'm trying to get a card and have to go up against someone who is "building their stash" so to speak. Usually they have to bid on every single copy that surfaces (frustrating).

It's not always prospectors though; sometimes it's just "hoarders". I'm a pretty patient person however, so it normally pays to just put the card on the back burner until those folks move on to something else. I appreciate the folks who bust product and sell (prospectors or otherwise)...it's how I get my singles.

Please do not disparage my hoarding habits.


:lol:


Seriously, I love to hoard cards. I was just looking at the Josh Johnson collection, and I never cared much for the silk cards, only have 1 myself... he has like 10 of 50 silks on one card, they looked so great together! Made me wish I had hoarded some silk...

 

[carlitoson]

 

[Mozzie22]

Yes, you are a joke. I never insulted anyone in this thread. Show me where I insulted anyone. Just because you take offense to something I said doesn’t mean I an insult was thrown. An insult is calling someone a ******* and the fact you took offense and disagree with EVERYTHING I said is reassuring because it means my compass still points North in the HOBBY that is baseball card COLLECTING.

The reason you took offense to it is because you are part of the problem. We see the same problem in the autograph memorabilia side; people wonder why stars charge $300.00 for an autograph, well the fact is they have to charge that so parasites, I mean prospectors, don't flip them for a quick buck because they can't turn a profit.

You refereed to half the user base of this site as a cancer to the hobby. If you can't see how that's an insult then I got no help for you.

I said you putting collectors that prospect in a box is jackassish because it is. Ask JP to post some of the cards in his COLLECTION. Ask me to post some of my cards in my COLLECTION. Most of the guys here that you would consider prospector scum have collections along with the cards that they are flipping.

Those are your words, not mine. If others took offense to my post that is their problem. Let me ask you something, did you get into collecting first or prospecting? Did you have your collection and one day say, “I bet I can make money by buying and selling potential stars?” At some point did you have the joy that just collecting gives many on this board or did you just decide to keep a few of the things you weren’t planning on flipping?

It makes no difference how many cards are in your “collection” if the first thing you think of when you see a rookie is, “How much can I make by flippin’ this to some sucker!!” It wouldn’t even be bad if there were a few prospectors but “half the user base on this site” thinks about making money when they think of cards instead of the hobby aspect… it is sad.

I think it is safe to say that most of the users didn’t sign up to this site so they can wade thru a thousand threads about prospecting. Look at all the player collectors and set collectors here, you make it sound like you are in the majority but you are not.

Be a prospector, that is your prerogative, but please don’t think for a second that the money aspect of this hobby hasn’t worsened it. The same person that prospects is the same person that starts a thread bitching about some patch forger when in reality that forger is just trying to make a little more money on his flip, too. Why, I bet that patch forger is a “real collector” too and forgery is just the other side of the “hobby” for him.

 

[uniquebaseballcards]

People should only buy a certain player or set and when they open packs, boxes, or cases, should keep every single card. Forever. That's stupid.

As gilmore would say, calling someone stupid for what they choose do in the hobby is pretty stupid.

Yes, correct.I was saying that it is stupid for someone to attempt to define the hobby--or in this case exclude someone from it.

He wasn't saying that anybody is stupid for collecting that way if that's the way they choose to collect. Somebody else said that if you sell cards, you're not a collector. That's stupid.

There needs to be SOME definition in the hobby or else people run amok...which always seems to happen whenever money is involved in this world. How would no definition or regulation work in the financial world??! We'd be back in the stone age because everyone would try to take advantage of one another without some degree of protection. Funny how lack of definition or lack of rules always seems to benefit SELLERS...

Without a doubt intending to sell for profit and collecting are two different things. When one is engaged in the act of selling here, they're not engaged in the act of collecting, this is a separate activity. People who own shoe stores aren't collecting the shoes in their stores, they're selling them.

 

[Mozzie22]

I'd also argue that both pure, for-profit prospectors and set/player-type collectors get the same "emotion" from the hobby. Isn't it great to know you own a rare Ozzie Smith card? Surprisingly, it's the same feeling to have a huge prospect stash (and BANK when you decide to sell). Sellers don't force bidders to bid on Chris Shelton cards one week into the season.

What is the point in wasting energy and emotion on someone who doesn't influence any part of your hobby? I don't see a connection, only that you're online persona tends toward aggressive and you probably have a lot of time on your hands.

A Roy Oswalt supercollector, a vintage Topps low grade set builder, Jaypers, and an Ozzie Smith collector.

Who are four people who signed up for this message board?

No, it is not. It is the same "emotion" a gambler gets.

I wasn't wasting any energy until this damn thread came up. I posted what is basically a pet peeve about the hobby and was insulted (by a mod no less).

I think you'll find for the most part my online persona is docile.

 

[mlbfan10]

Prospecting. It seems there are more prospectors today than there are legitimate collectors. I say legitimate because that is precisely what prospectors are not. If you buy cards with the explicit intention to flip them, then you are no longer in it for the same reasons that kids have gotten into it for the last hundred years.

For those that have been collecting for decades the most enjoyable posts for us on boards like this are the ones where a set collector finishes off the last 5 cards he needed for his 1986 Topps set, or the Dale Sveum collector who picked up that card he's been after for 20 years. That is what this hobby was truly about.

Prospecting... my beef.

agian, what do you care what other people do with their time and money?

I don’t care what people do with their time and money so long as they don’t come on a message board “for collectors by collectors” and discuss at length their prospecting hits and misses. If someone wants to blow their money on cases with the intention of flipping that is their right to do so but they better never confuse themselves with real collectors…remember those, the ones that do it because they love the thrill and not the potential.

If you prospect you are not a “collector,” you see it as a business not a hobby.

I prospect and collect so what does that make me? Just curious.

Is there any card in your "collection" you wouldnt sell to make a decent sized profit?

I'm just chiming my two cents. I prospect but I do collect. I prospect what I want to try and make money on and collect what I want to keep in my collection. I have cards that I will never sell regardless of what their values increase to so maybe there can be a happy median.

 

[rico08]

No, it is not. It is the same "emotion" a gambler gets.

I wasn't wasting any energy until this damn thread came up. I posted what is basically a pet peeve about the hobby and was insulted (by a mod no less).

I think you'll find for the most part my online persona is docile.

Clearly this is pointless, and I was wrong. Your peeve about the hobby has to do with people in it--people who have nothing to do with what you collect--which is what I'm staying is such a waste of time.

 

[rico08]

There needs to be SOME definition in the hobby or else people run amok...which always seems to happen whenever money is involved in this world. How would no definition or regulation work in the financial world??! We'd be back in the stone age because everyone would try to take advantage of one another without some degree of protection. Funny how lack of definition or lack of rules always seems to benefit SELLERS...

Without a doubt intending to sell for profit and collecting are two different things. When one is engaged in the act of selling here, they're not engaged in the act of collecting, this is a separate activity. People who own shoe stores aren't collecting the shoes in their stores, they're selling them.

Sorry, the absurd comparisons (financial world and shoe salesman????) leave me completely confused to any point you were trying to make and neither have anything to do with someone who likes baseball cards (and is therefore part of the hobby).

 

[cgilmo]

I'd also argue that both pure, for-profit prospectors and set/player-type collectors get the same "emotion" from the hobby. Isn't it great to know you own a rare Ozzie Smith card? Surprisingly, it's the same feeling to have a huge prospect stash (and BANK when you decide to sell). Sellers don't force bidders to bid on Chris Shelton cards one week into the season.

What is the point in wasting energy and emotion on someone who doesn't influence any part of your hobby? I don't see a connection, only that you're online persona tends toward aggressive and you probably have a lot of time on your hands.

A Roy Oswalt supercollector, a vintage Topps low grade set builder, Jaypers, and an Ozzie Smith collector.

Who are four people who signed up for this message board?

No, it is not. It is the same "emotion" a gambler gets.

I wasn't wasting any energy until this damn thread came up. I posted what is basically a pet peeve about the hobby and was insulted (by a mod no less).

I think you'll find for the most part my online persona is docile.

I am not a mod.


You made a ******* statement and I called you on it.

I think your online persona (at least in this thread) has it's head shoved firmly up it's kiester.

 

[Joshua.Roundtree]

Is it a full moon today?