General Forum

Hi all,

Relatively new around here, been soaking it in over the past few months. I recently came back into collecting in adulthood after being a young collector in the 80s and 90s.

With a lot of the knowledge and input here, I'm curious of the make-up of the people on here. I'm assuming it's mostly long-time hobbyists and collectors that may some buys/sells on the side -- maybe some that took a break and recently got back into collecting like I did. I assume that there's also some pros that either do this as a living or maybe previously owned shops, traveled to card shows, etc.

I'd be curious to hear about the background of this group. It's been great reading some of the discussion since I joined.

  I think you are right on all accounts.    But you also have geezers like me, who collected in the 50s 60s and got back into the hobby in the late 70s and early 80s.

Collected 81-03.  Quit when I moved to California. Sold my collection when I moved back to Illinois.   Got back into cards maybe 2011 or 2012.  I regret that decision sometimes, but it keeps me occupied in the winter.

Worked for a card shop during my early teens, worked for a card company later on. :)

Had tables at shows. Have bought a ton, and collect most of what I own.

Collected sports cards as a kid from about '86 - '94, got into playing Magic in '94 and did that through about 2002. Was out of cards completely then until about 2012 when I rediscovered the cards I had kept, and got back into collecting.

Collected as a kid from mid 70s til early 90s when the hobby seemed to go nuts. Bought a box of Topps baseball in 2006 and haven't looked back since.

Collected when I was a kid in the early 70's. Joined the Navy and mom threw them all out except one precious box that she missed. Got back into it in early 90's, stopped again around 95 but kept all of the cards and they moved with me everywhere I have lived. I finally started back again a couple of years ago. This website has really been the fuel that got me going again.

I started collecting as a kid in the mid-late '80s, never stopped but slowed down significantly in the early '00s. Worked in two different shops and had a table at a small show once, but for the most part I only sell cards to buy other cards. I think I've spent more time on the hobby in recent years - thanks to blogging, COMC, and trading forums like this - but due to a lack of shops near me, a severe lack of product variety, and being a father/homeowner.. I probably spend less money on new cards than I did ten years ago.

My first recollection is buying packs of '74 & 75" Topps baseball. Collected hard with my friends until the mid 80's. Went away from it until those fabulous early 90's years. After 2000 I bought out 2 large collections from e-bay locally, one store off of craigslist and one storage locker that almost killed me.  Half of my stuff was stolen in 2017 from a locker.  I only collect things i want now.  I rarely buy packs or boxes but still keep my eye on those too good to be true adds for people selling off large collections.  Going to downsize the stuff I don't want soon but I'm torn in so many ways in this hobby i still love so much. I'm 52 and don't want to leave a bunch of worthless stuff for my wife to deal with.