Imagine you had all the knowledge about the hobby that you have right now, but you were just starting to collect cards.
What, if anything, would you do differently? Would you collect the way you do now?
I like busting wax too much not to buy new stuff. I think if I was just starting, I would spend a portion of my card budget on new product, but I would really concentrate on my main focus, which is team collecting. I know I could make more progress on the team collection if I spent some money on it instead of only relying on trades. I would probably limit my non-Ranger player collection to one or two players at a time. That would allow me to complete those collections a little quicker too.
Now, back to reality.
Would it be out of the realm of possibility to stop collecting the way I've been doing it for all these years and start over? No, but I'm not someone who does well with change. I just don't like it. I'm a creature of habit. I am trying to get the team collection organized so I can get up a complete wantlist, but my biggest obstacle is that I'm an unorganized person by nature.
That's something I would really like to change.
I would go back 3 years, not sell my cards, and instead collect what I do now with that in mind. Would've spent a lot less on many collections that since died, and I would have had a lot more trade bait. I also would have probably finished my 1995 Topps set by now.
ReplyDeleteI collect a lot of different teams, era's, sets, sports and teams currently. I really enjoy collecting a lot of stuff, so I don't think I would change too much. Actually, I would have bought a few cards that I passed up. That's about it.
ReplyDeleteI think that you will find once you have your lists finished it is way easier to stay on course with your team collection. It worked for me. I have hardly bought any cards that were not a Red Sox in 2 years (except for Virdon cards because he is from my hometown)
ReplyDeleteSo far this year the only packs I ahve busted was:
1 pack Topps Series 1
1 pack Upper Deck
2 packs A & G
1 blaster A & G
That's it. The rest of my money went into my team collection.
being able to go back, but know what I know now???
ReplyDeletethe late 80's early 90's would've been a LOT different, let me tell you.
I find myself stumbling over cards I never knew I had because at the time the player was still developing. I probably would have organized them better to begin with. The only advantage is it feels like ripping a pack and getting a big hit.
ReplyDeleteDon't buy so many crappy packs of sets I won't be chasing, leading me to have to dump them for cheap or for free
ReplyDeleteI'd have refrained from buying all that wax in teh 1980s and just bought those sets complete 10-15 years later.
ReplyDeleteBut then again...I'd have missed out on the ride. So maybe not.
I don't know that I would change what I have collected if I started over but I for sure would make sure I organized much differently. As many of us know how not organizing properly can snowball into a mess very quickly, I would be sure to not let that happen anymore.
ReplyDeleteI usually have buyer's remorse after busting wax. I'm always so much more pleased with my deals on Ebay, scrounging through 10 cent boxes, and trading with bloggers. I'd go back and stress to my earlier trading self that I was wasting money on packs, especially all those packs of 1990 Fleer that hang like an albatross around my neck.
ReplyDeleteI've only been collecting for a little over a year, and I haven't amassed a huge, closet filling collection at this point. But if I started over today, I wouldn't have bought all of those "bargain" blisters of junk wax. I went through a phase where I was worse than a junkie when it came to those things. "Oh look...baseball cards! And their CHEAP!"
ReplyDeleteHmmm... I probably would not do much different. I like my collection as is. I took a break from collecting for several years, but I think getting cards from that era (early 2000s) is cheaper now than it would have been then, so it worked out for me in the end.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I would do anything different. I do wish that I still had some of my cards that have been lost through the years. I am talking about Hostess and Kellogs cards. That and I would have held on to all of my doubles throughout the years.
ReplyDeleteI probably wouldn't buy as many re-packs. I've bought, like, eight re-packs from Wal-Mart in the past few years. I got a few neat cards from them, but nothing really spectacular, even for re-packs. I also probably wouldn't buy anything but Topps. For some reason, I love the Topps sets.
ReplyDeleteif i could start all over, i would concentrate on players. it was cool at first to collect my favorite team, but after awhile i noticed, some guys on the team i do not particularly care for. Looking at the team sets, there were always cards i never paid any attention towards. recently, with the help of blogs, i have re-focused and will be pursuing only players i like, which turns out to be about one player from each team. Kind of like forming my own All-Star line-up.
ReplyDeleteI gotta agree on the repacks. I've bought way too many, and while they are entertaining, the actual collecting value is very slim. I would set a card budget and try to buy at least one box of a set if I want to collect it, instead of dumping money on blasters and packs every time I go to Wal-Mart.
ReplyDeleteSeeing what all of the sets that I spent lots of money on in the 90s are worth now can be tough at times, but I had too much fun opening those boxes and putting those sets together. Sets didn't become a chore to complete until SPs started showing up in everything. I don't think that I'd change a thing.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first started blogging I would rip everything I could get my hands on even long after I finished the set. I wanted bait to trade and of course I was hoping for a big hit. I wasted a ton of money and a year later still haven't recovered.
ReplyDeleteNow, I am exercising much more self control and ripping far less. I am still collecting, but relying more on other bloggers to help me finish sets. For trade bait I have been buying lots. Basically taking the 10 bucks I would spend on packs and buy a lot of minis or random relics. I don't have the chance of a great hit, but get much more bang for my buck that way and by buying a random lot it gives me plenty of potential trade bait. Of course I bargain shop with the lots. This working for me right now. I miss the thrill of the rip, but I am happier and less stressed about money which makes it more fun. So that is what I would change if I could start over. I would spend less money on full retail priced wax... Other than that I am pretty happy with my collecting style and I love this hobby!
The contest is closed. Feel free to still leave an answer to the question.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't do much differently. Less current cards, probably, especially those years between 2008-11.
ReplyDelete