Card prices tipping point?

Brent G. · #1 11-21-2025, 03:53 PM

I just walked out of the bi-annual Chicago Sports Spectacular without buying anything. I am NOT cheap, but prices were higher than the National that occurred less than 4 months ago, some ABSURDLY so. I have no idea where some people are coming up with their numbers, COMPS BE DAMMED. Many items — of all eras — 1.5-5x logical value with minimal negotiation.

The funniest things I saw:

• Signed/ungraded 1984 Topps Eric Dickerson RC: $400 ... only like 6x actual value.

• 2025 Johnny Furphy (an injured 10th man off the Pacers' bench) Flawless jersey card: $650

I won’t attend another show until the National next year. Happy to spend my $ right here.

raulus · #2 11-21-2025, 04:07 PM

Good for you!

But I'm guessing plenty of people were eager to still buy, even at those prices.

I suspect that there's a psychology of not wanting to make the trip just to come home empty handed.

Brent G. · #3 11-21-2025, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raulus

Good for you!

But I'm guessing plenty of people were eager to still buy, even at those prices.

I suspect that there's a psychology of not wanting to make the trip just to come home empty handed.

I didn't want to walk out with nothing, and never have at a show, but being 20-minutes away helped that need, I suppose.

gregndodgers · #4 11-21-2025, 07:52 PM

To a large extent, prices reflect demand. If the price is set too high, we can always negotiate the seller down.

Brent G. · #5 11-21-2025, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregndodgers

To a large extent, prices reflect demand. If the price is set too high, we can always negotiate the seller down.

No, you can't ALWAYS do that — especially on opening day of a 3-day show, I guess. Some are immune to sensible negotiation, while others are simply waiting for dumb money to walk in.

gregndodgers · #6 11-21-2025, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brent G.

No, you can't ALWAYS do that — especially on opening day of a 3-day show, I guess. Some are immune to sensible negotiation, while others are simply waiting for dumb money to walk in.

I stand corrected! We can always TRY to negotiate down! LoL

But seriously, I think high prices are a sign of a healthy hobby! And when I NEED a particular card, I don’t let the price stand in the way!

unamuzd1 · #7 Yesterday, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brent G.

I didn't want to walk out with nothing, and never have at a show, but being 20-minutes away helped that need, I suppose.

I had that happen for the first time this weekend as well (different show). Dealers I've known for decades are retiring and their spots are being filled by bulk-buyers who advertise 5-figure bankrolls on Staples-printed banners.

Which is fine, I guess. More power to 'em.

It was weird, though. And kinda settled that, yeah, after collecting for 45 years, it's probably time to actually figure out how to sell off what I've accumulated.

ezez420 · #8 11-22-2025, 09:29 AM

Curious Brent I see you joined in 2024. Are you new to the hobby and just making this observation?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Brent G. · #9 11-22-2025, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ezez420

Curious Brent I see you joined in 2024. Are you new to the hobby and just making this observation?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I collected as a kid from 1981-90, then like many my age, got back in a couple years ago. I understand ultra-rare items are different. I'm talking about items that are more easily found, in which significant sales data is available. I'm not a seller, unless it's to help finance something else I want.

vintage321 · #10 11-22-2025, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brent G.

I just walked out of the bi-annual Chicago Sports Spectacular without buying anything. I am NOT cheap, but prices were higher than the National that occurred less than 4 months ago, some ABSURDLY so. I have no idea where some people are coming up with their numbers, COMPS BE DAMMED. Many items — of all eras — 1.5-5x logical value with minimal negotiation.

The funniest things I saw:

• Signed/ungraded 1984 Topps Eric Dickerson RC: $400 ... only like 6x actual value.

• 2025 Johnny Furphy (an injured 10th man off the Pacers' bench) Flawless jersey card: $650

I won’t attend another show until the National next year. Happy to spend my $ right here.

Brent,

i collect vintage hof's and yes , alot of prices were high, BUT
i ended up buying from 6-8 different dealers, and made other offers
to another 6-8 dealers that were turned down.

(i live 20 minutes from rosemont, went both yesterday and today)

the thrill/reward is in the hunt.

cards acquired:
'58 mantle psa 4
'55 koufax (rc) psa 2
BOTH blazers for the grade, cracking and sending to sgc

'56 koufax psa 6
'56 koufax sgc 4.5
'64 rose sgc 4.5
'64 rose sgc 4
'65 rose psa 6
'67 rose sgc 6.5
'58 aaron psa 3
'58 t. williams sgc 4.5
'69 seaver psa 6
'63 brock sgc 4.5

with vcp at my fingertips as usual, i was able to see AVERAGE vcp prices
and buy high eye appeal, centered cards very close to average, BUT,
with far greater upside. it took ALOT of work and hustle, but , working
with a relatively modest budget, i came home with some GREAT cards,
in my humble opinion. you are correct though, the vast majority were "fairly
high" and others stuck to their "sticker price" price when i made legitimate offers. which is their right.

just a different experience for me, that's all.

now $11.50 for a coors light....... that's a whole other story, haha.

Aquarian Sports Cards · #11 11-22-2025, 09:42 PM

I've been hearing about how pointless shows are for buyers on a budget for a long time now. I don't get to walk around much at shows, but in the little bit I do, I see things that are interesting to me at reasonable prices every show.

Yoda · #12 11-23-2025, 01:17 PM

I Have been watching on YouTube a series of lectures given by none other than Warren Buffet on the state of current financial markets. Warren basically states that markets are about to go into a major correction period, pointing out such morbid things that the current inverted yield curve on bond prices was present in 1929, 1987, 2005 when crashes occurred. He urges people to diversify, moving into alternative assets such as real estate and, yes, collectibles, art, wine etc. but no mention of sports stuff. He hates gold. Maybe when the market correction comes we will be alright. Maybe we will all be living in caves.

BioCRN · #13 11-23-2025, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yoda

I Have been watching on YouTube a series of lectures given by none other than Warren Buffet on the state of current financial markets. Warren basically states that markets are about to go into a major correction period, pointing out such morbid things that the current inverted yield curve on bond prices was present in 1929, 1987, 2005 when crashes occurred. He urges people to diversify, moving into alternative assets such as real estate and, yes, collectibles, art, wine etc. but no mention of sports stuff. He hates gold. Maybe when the market correction comes we will be alright. Maybe we will all be living in caves.

So much is relying on AI and the companies that support AI. It's a bit early for those industries to wash out, but at some point winners and losers in the race for monetizing the heavy up front investments will need to be realized.

So many other corps are making "record revenues" but also experiencing record expenses.

Beyond that, a lot of money is tied up in private lending debt...banks are still the big boys in lending to companies, but there's a lot of not-very-transparent private debt funding very important parts of our economy.

Speaking of debt, household debt and credit (which is much easier tracked) is getting concerning.

I have no idea how to handicap any of this overall, but a big chunk of the positives are holding onto a single industry that's not established enough to make a reliable roadmap for how things may play out.

Republicaninmass · #14 11-23-2025, 02:32 PM

When even the biggest collectors on this forum are selling, it has to at least give one pause. Sure there are other buyers out there, but...

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