Buyers Remorse

[chewy]

@pokehut1

Sounds like someone was trying to flip but got caught holding the bag when prices fell

I like Pokemon. But its cardboard dude. Thats my whole thing

[smokemon]

That’s tough to hear but there’s nothing wrong with learning a lesson as others have suggested.

If I can add on to this, maybe keep one piece for the mantle and let it serve its purpose of being nostalgic. Of course, this depends on what you bought but there’s nothing wrong with having at least one.

[tfgh]

@chewy

@pokehut1

Sounds like someone was trying to flip but got caught holding the bag when prices fell

I like Pokemon. But its cardboard dude. Thats my whole thing

And money is paper. Value is subjective.

If you are not into collecting then that’s totally fine. I’m sorry you are having doubts but these things happen. I have been collecting for a few years and I dread to think how much I have spent in total lol. But at the end of the day it gives me joy to look at my collection so for me it’s worth it.

As people have said, there are many other things you can collect to get cheaper options. You could try unlimited print runs rather than 1st edition or even something like Evolutions for that vintage feel without the price tag.

What was it you bought that you are regretting? Is it one thing in particular or just the total price you spent that’s bothering you?

[shadowless]

You don´t seem to have a real passion for the cards from what you wrote. That or that the money is way more valuable than the cards to you. I personally never spent more than I wouldn´t care to lose, that way, you never lose. It doesn´t matter if that threshold is 50k or 50 cents.

[bailster]

@chewy

@pokehut1

Sounds like someone was trying to flip but got caught holding the bag when prices fell

I like Pokemon. But its cardboard dude. Thats my whole thing

Dont worry, every market has bag holders. Just learn from your experience.

[arkhive]

Sounds like you impulse bought a bunch of stuff and liked the idea of collecting more than the actual reality, what with the total costs and whatnot. I’m sure everyone’s done something like this before so you’re definitely not alone. If you still like the cards as a whole, consider buying cheaper versions of them, don’t need to go for psa 10s at all. Played cards/binder sets are still plenty great when it comes to the art. Otherwise, if collecting was a fleeting thing for you then just sell off what you have and treat it as a lesson learned.

At the end of the day, there’s collectors of all different shapes and sizes in the hobby. If you genuinely enjoy the cardboard, you’ll figure out a way to do it sustainably for yourself. If you don’t enjoy it, sell what you have and move on. Life’s too short to do a hobby that you don’t fully enjoy, you’ll find something that fits you better.

[nikhil]

@chewy, if it helps, I recently got put in a position where I “got caught with the bag” in sports cards and if you don’t see an upside to holding them financially longterm, it may just be better to sell, recoup the money that you can/break even or lose a little because a liquid 200 is better than not having 350 at times (take that with a grain of salt). But I also wanted to note that I don’t have many cards but I engage a good amount on this forum and discord. You don’t need to spend money extensively to appreciate it the community here

[chewy]

Ive gotten alot of good consultation and thank you for that. Others assume I’m here to make a quick buck and just lost, to those I say you’re wrong,I wouldnt be coming here if I lost money in a gamble. you must have gotten the wrong idea from my question.

A lot of you answered me helpfully. I wanted to know is this hobby to expensive? Do I lack the passion to invest in it?

Ill enjoy what I bought I think, I might be concerned if I spent too much on a piece of my childhood to just look at on the mantel. But it’ll be fine. Maybe not what I consider to be 1000 dolars fine.

Maybe ill continue and get deeper or maybe ill be content with what I have. Pokemon is amazing but I’m almost 30 and feel confused if its worth what I put back into it after 20 years of neglect. No intent to sell or invest. Just expensive memerorbilaia…I’m just looking for conversation on what’s on my mind

Thank you
Mac

[kaminoikari]

@chewy

Hello all, new to the hobby

I bought in, at more than I can can afford.

The hype and nostalgia prompted me to place the anti and now I have a bunch of cool cards… But just that, cool cards. 1000 dollars later. Doesn’t seem worth it

Now I’m thinking I wasted a lot of money, I have no intention to sell or invest anymore like I thought I would. I just got excited and bought a lot of stuff. The display I built lost a lot of the excitement it first brought me. It only feels like a waste of money.

Anybody else with the same feelings? Can I feel good about having vintage Pokemon cards etc. or do you have to have a business plan/model to make collecting these cards a good decision?

[muk]

If it’s really just an issue of the cards you want being too expensive, there are many ways to make collecting more cost efficient.

Unlimited or Japanese instead of 1st Ed.
PSA 8 or raw NM binder collection instead of PSA 10.
Scrap the popular original (hyped) sets alltogether and go after interesting promo releases or modern cards that’ll cost you way less!

Or maybe you might want to buy a Game Boy and play through Pokemon Red again to reignite your passion?

However if none of that is an option for you, there’s no shame in quitting and moving on. The community will gladly absorb your cards in their collections

[fresco]

As a suggestion, ignore PSA, grading, everything. Just buy what you really like, the card. If you like x pokemon, just buy a cheaper alternative, something like LP ungraded.

Sometimes, in this forum or social media, there’s a distorted world where you only see the high end stuff which i bet represents a small portion of the actual collectors, thousands if not millions like to just collect cards, like literally just x card from x pokemon, no slabs, no grade. Just a card that doesn’t look chewed by a dog.

[jaredschallenge]

@chewy

@Alec

I get that feeling sometimes, like “this is just cardboard why am I spending so much time and money on it.” But that feeling is rare and the joy I get from the hobby is overwhelming in comparison. In your case, if you feel like you’ve exhausted your interest, it’s okay to feel like that at any point and be grateful you aren’t any deeper in.

As a Pokémon collector forum, you’ll be harder pressed to find people here who feel like they’re wasting money on the hobby, but there’s nothing wrong with dabbling in something new and realizing it isn’t what you want.

Yes that’s just it, I love it just an overly expensive memory to revisit. I guess I wanted people with time invested to make me feel better about what I’m getting into. All of the cards I cherished 15 20 years ago cost more than my mortgage. What a trip

There are times that my collection makes me a little sad because I don’t have many/anyone in my day to day life that shares that interest with me. A big part of the nostalgia for people was trading and showing off and enjoying it with others too. This community helps with that if it’s any consolation. Deep down I just love this hobby and it persists within me even without all of the great constant opportunities to share it with the people around me.

On the financial note, most have mentioned condition. I have just as much love for my psa 5,6 and 7 first edition holos as I would for a 10 to be honest… for me…

the card is the ‘necessity’. The condition is just a perk

I have some nearly dog chewed cards that I love too.

[Dirge]

Instead of buying slabbed cards from PSA/BGS/CGC, you could just buy raw cards. You can get the same cards without paying the premium.

[benoit489]

Out of curiosity, what did you buy?

[crushingame]

I’m sure you are not the only one going through this.

I used to drink a lot and scroll through eBay all the time. I would make stupid purchases and regret them afterwards…lol

[crushingame]

@pokehut1

Sounds like someone was trying to flip but got caught holding the bag when prices fell

Lol. If that’s true, man that sucks. Thousands will be feeling the affects for sure

[crushingame]

@zubat93

@chewy

Good question. I want more and more to feel fulfilled. But everything I want is outrageously priced. I don’t know if I have the means to participate in the hobby. I’m not broke. But I’m not in a position to buy a psa 10 rattata either it appears.

You can participate in the hobby, you just don’t have to get the highest graded copy of the card you want.
Try completing binders of the sets you grew up with, that shall bring you more joy than minty encapsulated cards.

I agree with Ash…

I had to buy a PSA 7 of one of my most favorite cards and that was a pretty pricey purchase, for me anyways. Look for lower graded copies and or resort to raw copies and grade them yourself. Sell them when they come back from grading and use that money to buy yourself one you really want.

It’s a process yes, but I’m sure many of us have done it.

[joer]

A lot of people love the prospect of having graded cards and they won’t feel fulfilled if they are not a high grade. I think a lot of the advice here to simply get binder copies or lower grades does not work for everyone. Sound like you would be disappointed with anything less than the best.

It also sounds like you don’t have the financial means to satisfy yourself so you have a couple realistic options.

1. Sell and cut your losses. Admit that you won’t be satisfied and enjoy from afar other people’s collections or videos.
2. Find a way to invest regularly with disposable income so you can be satisfied.
3. But into cheaper product. If vintage is too expensive then try something more modern like evolutions, hidden fates or vivid voltage.

Having buyers remorse can happen but be true with what will make you happy and shoot for that. You need to truly appreciate what you have or it will seem silly. Nothing happens without proper motivation and simply having cards won’t make you happy. You have to have an emotional bond to enjoy the hobby fully.

[mthursty]

Graded cards and 1st editions are not for everyone. I can’t afford them. I’d rather buy a complete set of played cards than one graded card from the set.
For me, filling binders is the one thing I really enjoy and it’s such a cheap way to collect!
I think many people here have good suggestions on what to do if you want to leave but if you are willing to stay, sloooow down! Collecting pokemon cards exists for people at any level!

[nppokemon]

Many people in the hobby get excited and buy more than they’d like to, or spend more than they like time to time. But you have to have your genuine interest behind that to really enjoy the journey.

Another thing is to have a goal and stick to it. It’s easy to get caught up in hype or heat of the moment and buy something spontaneous. Really put in the time to research and know what you want or what you would enjoy the most. Stick to those goals and in times of hardship or struggle you can work your way backwards to sell, etc.

That way the things you complete first or buy first are the things you want the most, and are the last items to go.