When a 1/1 isn't really a 1/1

[deweyinthehall]

Originally Posted by gunboat82

For me, the overproduction of sets (and manufactured rarity within each set) is a turnoff because it makes it practically and financially difficult to collect even the base cards of a favorite player(s). If you happen to be a completionist with an unhealthy compulsion to chase rainbows, forget it. The only winning move is not to play.

I'm also disappointed that we've moved from a "junk wax" era of overproducing everything to a "junk rainbow" era of giving the appearance of limited production by playing with the color palette and releasing countless subsets. Last year, we had Bowman, Bowman Chrome, Bowman Chrome Sapphire, Bowman Draft, Bowman Draft 1st Edition, Bowman Draft Sapphire, Bowman Chrome X, Bowman Platinum, Bowman Sterling. And that's before we even get to plain ol' Topps, with regular, Chrome (Platinum, Cosmic, Black, Logofractor, Sapphire, Ben Baller), Inception, Heritage, Archives, Gold Label, Gallery, Gilded, Museum, Opening Day, Rip, Ginter (regular, Chrome, X), etc. etc. etc.

I've seen numerous Facebook group discussions lately about which colored chrome parallels are worth chasing (1st Bowman and RCs only, of course). These conversations are never about what's visually appealing, but rather about what will hold value for resale. The consensus seems to be that the "original" refractors like red and gold will hold their value, but it's best to flip the aqua-lava-shimmer-tacofractors soon after release to leave less savvy investors holding the bag.

It takes all the fun away when it's less about the artistry and more about finding the next mark. I understand that this is all inevitable whenever there's demand and the perception of scarcity, but modern collecting gives me Wolf of Wall Street vibes that make me feel dirty. Earlier this year, a breaker lit a Niko Goodrum 1/1 on fire for a customer who was upset that it wasn't a bigger name. At that point, it's no longer about sports collectibles at all; it's pure degenerate gambling. And the card companies fuel it by pricing their products so that third-party breakers are the only entry point for many, turning the hobby into an expensive raffle.

Gambling is right - given we've normalized vice, how long before Fan Duel, Draft Kings or someone else cross-promotes with cards to really make things seedy? If the leagues all love gambling, which they obviously do, it can only be a matter of time.

[swarmee]

Well, Fanatics is trying to do something. Basically the first person with one of the duplicated superfractors gets to get a big payday so they can take it off the market.

One sold on eBay for $1500 and can be redeemed for $25K.

[Eric72]

Originally Posted by swarmee

Well, Fanatics is trying to do something. Basically the first person with one of the duplicated superfractors gets to get a big payday so they can take it off the market.

One sold on eBay for $1500 and can be redeemed for $25K.

Plot twist:

The seller of that card had the package "intercepted" by the carrier. The card is on its way back to the seller, who has apparently "ghosted" the buyer.

The buyer, of course, is posting on social media about his "property" and telling people he offered to split the proceeds of the $25,000 payday.

Boy oh boy, the content creators are churning out videos and people are chirping away in the comment sections...

...

Ain't the modern side of card collecting grand?

I'm so glad I don't collect lottery tickets modern cards.

[Eric72]

Just to be clear, I wasn't aiming anything at John. I was just illuminating the idiocy involved in this Superfractor situation...for the enjoyment of all.

Originally Posted by Eric72

Plot twist:

The seller of that card had the package "intercepted" by the carrier. The card is on its way back to the seller, who has apparently "ghosted" the buyer.

The buyer, of course, is posting on social media about his "property" and telling people he offered to split the proceeds of the $25,000 payday.

Boy oh boy, the content creators are churning out videos and people are chirping away in the comment sections...

...

Ain't the modern side of card collecting grand?

I'm so glad I don't collect lottery tickets modern cards.

[steve B]

Lottery tickets you say?
Thats actually a thing.

https://www.lovetoknow.com/home/anti...ectors-society

[swarmee]

Originally Posted by Eric72

Just to be clear, I wasn't aiming anything at John. I was just illuminating the idiocy involved in this Superfractor situation...for the enjoyment of all.

I didn't take it that way. There are always some nutty things happening in the cardosphere.

[Casey2296]

Originally Posted by deweyinthehall

Gambling is right - given we've normalized vice, how long before Fan Duel, Draft Kings or someone else cross-promotes with cards to really make things seedy? If the leagues all love gambling, which they obviously do, it can only be a matter of time.

+1 it's a reflection on the slow breakdown of "society" where honest hardworking decent folks are marginalized and the "hustle" is embraced.

[gonefishin]

I'm not currently a big collector of modern cards, nor a big collector of pre-WWII cards. I mainly collect cards from the 50s and 60s. There was a day when I bought several cards and packs from the mid-90s through let's say 2015 or so. With all that said, I think what is happening with the manufactured 1/1's is comparable with what happened to game used.

When game used came out, it was all the craze. Collectors were paying big bucks for anything game used. I could be wrong, but one of the biggest at that time was Upper Deck - they literally owned the market in game used cards at the beginning. It was new, different, etc. Of course, everyone started mass producing game used cards. It went from bats, to uniform pieces, etc., and eventually involved into game used dirt and grass - how silly is that! The market for game used started tanking, and game used pieces that were worth hundreds were now worth pennies.

Could this be the way of the 1/1's? It very well could be. However, all the major players marketing/sales teams are always thinking and planning. What is the next big thing to entice buyers? A golfing day with Tiger? A lunch with Mahomes? Etc., etc., etc.

Most of the player cards I collect, the players are deceased. The likely hood of them being arrested for domestic abuse, gambling, drug use and so on are over. Rarely, has the market value of their card decreased over time. Unless you drastically overpaid for a card (which I'm guilty of), the value of the card has not decreased.

If your buying a current players card today because you enjoy the card, player, etc., that's a good thing as money isn't the issue. If your investing and spend $1,000+ for a 1/1 prospect hoping to make an easy fortune - good luck with that.

For all the reason's stated in this thread, 1/1's are spiraling down and soon will loose their allure. Then it's on to the next "Great Thing".