State of the Post War Market

[Peter_Spaeth]

If the market's so soft why does it feel like I can't buy anything unless I am willing to overpay?

[Johnny630]

Peter,

I believe it’s because people either bought in 2016 or they don’t really want to sell the card. The economy is good. It’s also hard for some people to take a loss on a deal/card. Some people have it in their heads that whenever or whatever they buy should be worth more when they sell it. I have a bad feeling some sellers are going to have ridiculously high prices on their post war graded material. We shall see.

[LeftHandedDane]

Card collecting is a hobby for me, too - not an investment. That said, I am careful when I buy - I have a goal to be able to at least recoup a large percentage of what I put into it when the day comes to liquidate. That makes it a more cost effective hobby than, say, golf or travel or attending sporting events. At least thats what I keep telling the missus!

[Exhibitman]

There was (and is; Probstein/PWCC) market manipulation on the high end, and it spilled across to some lower end cards that many of us rushed to buy. No one can seriously debate that. But that only accounts for a piece of the pie . The economy has been decent for several years and people are feeling comfortable enough to spend on cards. I've seen a definite upward trend on real rarities: the cards I tend to enjoy having. I am getting unsolicited offers to buy and they are strong. Postwar, except for the high value cards that were manipulated, is swamped with material right now.

[dio]

Price goes up - people complaint price too high i can't get the card i want
Price goes down - I'm losing money on my cards...

Either way people will not be happy, Just buy what you enjoy with money that's not in need. People spend 100k on buying a brand new car after 5 years only worth 50k , as long as you enjoys it and the money you spend on it is not needed. then why care

[Neal]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

If the market's so soft why does it feel like I can't buy anything unless I am willing to overpay?

you're just cheap and delusional LOL - sometimes the most efficient means of travel is by snowmobile

[Exhibitman]

Interesting perspective, Mike. There are definitely segments of the hobby that are hotter from time to time. As I noted in my past post, I think rare cards have gone way up. The ones I pay attention to (mostly Exhibits) have tripled or more in the last several years. Which is why I am filling in holes in my collection in the coldest areas of the hobby. The collector's version of hit 'em where they ain't.

[MCoxon]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Interesting perspective, Mike. There are definitely segments of the hobby that are hotter from time to time. As I noted in my past post, I think rare cards have gone way up. The ones I pay attention to (mostly Exhibits) have tripled or more in the last several years. Which is why I am filling in holes in my collection in the coldest areas of the hobby. The collector's version of hit 'em where they ain't.

Yes - agree. And I think you and I collect a lot of the same rarities (in addition to exhibits, I think you like Atlantic Oils, Fleet Wings, Num Nums, Al Rosens, etc?)

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by MCoxon

Yes - agree. And I think you and I collect a lot of the same rarities (in addition to exhibits, I think you like Atlantic Oils, Fleet Wings, Num Nums, Al Rosens, etc?)

Yup, sure do. Plus Zeenuts, Bells and Morrells, Koufax and Aaron.

[Johnny630]

In 7-8 Mantle/Clemente and Jackie are as Blue Chip as they come. The only 3 post war players I would ever consider to invest in.

[MCoxon]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Yup, sure do. Plus Zeenuts, Bells and Morrells, Koufax and Aaron.

yep - the same

[jchcollins]

At least since the 1990's, I would say that Clemente in particular has really taken off. He used to be just another run-of-the-mill HOFer - popular, but nothing that really stuck out above the crowd. From what I have seen that has changed dramatically in the 21st century. His popularity among all vintage collectors is eclipsed maybe by Mantle, but I'm not sure beyond that who would vie for it. It seems he's even more popular for player collectors today than Hank Aaron - and that certainly was not the case in the 1980's and 90's.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Neal

you're just cheap and delusional LOL - sometimes the most efficient means of travel is by snowmobile

Never. Not at those prices.