Lossing interest in collecting. (1 Viewer)

[wayne556517]

Mark,

Bowman were from the 50s and wonderful looking cards.

In the 80s more companies started to make cards like Upper Deck and Donruss. Unfortunately, there was a glut and the market crashed. I used to collect but just only Mets but even there it became too hard and expensive to collect all the cards being issued and I gave it up. I can see this happening here.

Hope your wrong Brad in reference to this hobby.

 

[jazzeum]

Me too but it seems we have more and more entrants, more and more dealers and we're in the middle of a bad economy. Something has to give.

As I mentioned my collection has to have the ability to sustain future purchases. Otherwise I'm not purchasing.

 

[lancer]

The baseball card "hobby" collapsed because of a product glut combined with speculators that drove the cost of the cards through the roof, shutting out the most important collectors, the kids. It was a hobby ripe for baby-boomers and their kids, which the baby-boomers then preceded to take over. When people saw all the dollars being spent by the boomers, the speculators moved in and everyone became a dealer with a goldmine in their card folders. Too much product, too many dealers, incredible price increases on everything from old to new cards, and the dreaded special limited editions, ruined the card business. The business is now a fraction of what it was with only one or two manufacturers still in the game. Does the TS hobby mirror this? To some degree it does, but not in it's worst aspects, ie., speculators. The economy hasn't allowed the run-away price increases that ruined cards, nor is the TS as widespread. But there is a large amount of product being made and prices keep rising in a hobby were it takes large dollars to participate. I think there is a problem brewing, and after reading all the posts on people cutting back, and being in the same boat, I hope a huge correction (a thinning out, as it were), is not going to occur but I don't see how this relatively small fan base can support the ever growing amount of product and price increases forever. JMO and I hope I'm wrong. -- Al

 

[gk5717]

I agree totally with Al and Brad. Something has to give!
I just read where T Gunn is expanding from WW2. Good luck as I think Gunn is right there with K&C as for quality. But again we now have another player.
I have come to the point where when I pass on a new release, example the new winter tiger, I say "whew" I just saved a couple hundred dollars, and actually feel proud of myself. This is coming from a guy just a year are so ago would say, I,m getting it, I,ll think of some way to pay for it. NO MORE.
Gary

 

[Currahee Chris]

When i collected baseball cards there was only Topps.Guess that shows my age.
Mark

Strange, I thought you hailed from the tobacco card era

 

[jazzeum]

We also have another potential player, Heritage Miniatures, in the Zulu-Sudan market, which already has Britains, John Jenkins and Little Legion, not to mention people still chasing after retired Trophy.

How much growth can be sustained?

 

[Phantom Warrior]

The baseball card "hobby" collapsed because of a product glut combined with speculators that drove the cost of the cards through the roof, shutting out the most important collectors, the kids. It was a hobby ripe for baby-boomers and their kids, which the baby-boomers then preceded to take over. When people saw all the dollars being spent by the boomers, the speculators moved in and everyone became a dealer with a goldmine in their card folders. Too much product, too many dealers, incredible price increases on everything from old to new cards, and the dreaded special limited editions, ruined the card business. The business is now a fraction of what it was with only one or two manufacturers still in the game. Does the TS hobby mirror this? To some degree it does, but not in it's worst aspects, ie., speculators. The economy hasn't allowed the run-away price increases that ruined cards, nor is the TS as widespread. But there is a large amount of product being made and prices keep rising in a hobby were it takes large dollars to participate. I think there is a problem brewing, and after reading all the posts on people cutting back, and being in the same boat, I hope a huge correction (a thinning out, as it were), is not going to occur but I don't see how this relatively small fan base can support the ever growing amount of product and price increases forever. JMO and I hope I'm wrong. -- Al

Excellent description of the baseball card problem as I remember it. And I agree, there are some big differences with the TS industry. The smaller TS market and higher purchase prices has limited the speculators. But IMO the huge increase in manufacturers and number of ranges can't be absorbed by the current collector base in this economy. I suspect the growth in the TS collector base is limited, so the new manufacturers (Figarti, CS, FL, Jenkins, TGM) must take market share from the large companies (Britains, K&C) that dominate the market and from companies that have left (NMA, 21st Century). Fortunately, the new companies production is in small runs. But, even so, I agree with Jazz - something has to give.

Terry

 

[maddadicus]

My baseball cards were fastened to my banana seat bicycle wheels with clothespins for a cheap motor sound Millions of dollars in old cards all bent and pinched up Michael

 

[marco55]

Strange, I thought you hailed from the tobacco card era

Well I do remember when Nucky Thompson was a child.
Mark

 

[marco55]

I think it's a mistake when they say people are over reacting about rising prices and cutting back.A large amount of people on this forum have said they have cut back.I think the makers need to be concerned about this.I think over saturation is not helping them either.Even thogh the ranges are great do you really need 3 or 4 companies making the same ranges.I think they are hurting themselves by doing this.Now there is someone else entering the Napoleanic period.The one exception to this may be WWII as that period is so vast and seems like the WWII collectors outnumber everyone else.JMO.
Mark

 

[Mister Dave]

I have lost considerable interest in collecting TS in the last couple of months as well. Mostly finding more enjoyment in painting now I guess. Not really too influenced by the price rise situation for finished TS, but I've never been big on collecting whole ranges either.

Don't think I will stop TS altogether, and I do have my eye on a couple of new items at the moment.

MD

 

[kogu]

I got fed up many a times and took several attempts to call it quits.
It didn't work. At any time there were just these few figures, sets I had to keep.
Simmo, don't get rid of everything. Toy Soldiers are too much fun
Konrad

 

[Mitch]

Marco...

Interesting post but, I think there are only a handful on here who think its knee jerk or over reaction about cost and the problems you raise. A point about WWII is that although its a bif area most manufacturers seem to follow narrow lines Tigers shermans just in slightly different formats. I would think and hope that because its so vast an area that we could see movement outside the ''box'' more often.
Mitch

I think it's a mistake when they say people are over reacting about rising prices and cutting back.A large amount of people on this forum have said they have cut back.I think the makers need to be concerned about this.I think over saturation is not helping them either.Even thogh the ranges are great do you really need 3 or 4 companies making the same ranges.I think they are hurting themselves by doing this.Now there is someone else entering the Napoleanic period.The one exception to this may be WWII as that period is so vast and seems like the WWII collectors outnumber everyone else.JMO.
Mark

 

[marco55]

You have a point Mitch that they need to go outside the box more but they seem to have a comfort zone that sells very well for them.When you have 3 or 4 companies making the same range I think hurts them overall,since most collectors do seem to be cutting back. In the past they might collect sets from different makers and some collectors can still do this but now they might collect from one maker.Case in point is all the Sudan ranges. Now all these sets are nice but they are coming out around the same time and this makes it hard for the Sudan collectors to get them all but if somebody had come out with a different era it might be better for the company.True the Sudan collectors probably wouldn't buy them but other collectors might (big word).One reason I think companies keep making the same wars is even though thee is 5000 years of warfare only very few eras sells.It's a paradox in a way.
Mark

 

[Phantom Warrior]

You have a point Mitch that they need to go outside the box more but they seem to have a comfort zone that sells very well for them.When you have 3 or 4 companies making the same range I think hurts them overall,since most collectors do seem to be cutting back. In the past they might collect sets from different makers and some collectors can still do this but now they might collect from one maker.Case in point is all the Sudan ranges. Now all these sets are nice but they are coming out around the same time and this makes it hard for the Sudan collectors to get them all but if somebody had come out with a different era it might be better for the company.True the Sudan collectors probably wouldn't buy them but other collectors might (big word).One reason I think companies keep making the same wars is even though thee is 5000 years of warfare only very few eras sells.It's a paradox in a way.
Mark

The other side of the debate on duplicate ranges is that a Sudan collector may buy a few figures from each of the manufacturers so everyone makes some sales. But with collectors cutting out entire ranges, is it better to be the sole manufacturer of a not popular range or one of 3 or 4 manufacturers of a popular range that sells.

Terry

 

[Mitch]

I still think from what I read and what I hear elsewhere that its not so much a case of ''losing interest'' as much as being driven out or restricted by price. Some may not like that being mentioned but, tough, as nobody, I have seen has started a thread entitled bored with the releases but love the prices!!!
Mitch

 

[4th Hussar]

I still think from what I read and what I hear elsewhere that its not so much a case of ''losing interest'' as much as being driven out or restricted by price. Some may not like that being mentioned but, tough, as nobody, I have seen has started a thread entitled bored with the releases but love the prices!!!
Mitch

I have seen a few new sets that I like but the constantly escalating prices have caused me to hold off buying. I am content with searching for older pieces at reasonable prices. Contrary to what the manufactures and dealers claim methinks current prices reflect a bit of greed

 

[uksubs]

I have seen a few new sets that I like but the constantly escalating prices have caused me to hold off buying. I am content with searching for older pieces at reasonable prices. Contrary to what the manufactures and dealers claim methinks current prices reflect a bit of greed

To me a lot of the figures look over priced now even when buying them in from the USA & that why I'm only buying Figarti & CSC stuff now

 

[Jackaroo]

Excellent description of the baseball card problem as I remember it. And I agree, there are some big differences with the TS industry. The smaller TS market and higher purchase prices has limited the speculators. But IMO the huge increase in manufacturers and number of ranges can't be absorbed by the current collector base in this economy. I suspect the growth in the TS collector base is limited, so the new manufacturers (Figarti, CS, FL, Jenkins, TGM) must take market share from the large companies (Britains, K&C) that dominate the market and from companies that have left (NMA, 21st Century). Fortunately, the new companies production is in small runs. But, even so, I agree with Jazz - something has to give.

Terry

Terry,

Agreed, also the AeroArt/Figarti “Marco Polo” joint venture is in the pipeline!!! Alby