He mentioned in a previous post what about if TPCI started printing any card on demand. Which, imo is still fine. Ive actually wanted that to be a reality for so long.
I think it kind of depends on what the reason for cards going to 0 means in this hypothetical scenario for me.
If cards maintained their scarcity but for some reason became extremely affordable (like some magical law of the universe that locked prices at something low), then I think this would be my favorite scenario as this allows me to start going for some crazy collections outside my current scope. However, it might make things even more difficult to obtain as people might not even want to sell “rare” things for “nothing”.
If cards went to 0 because there are unlimited copies indistinguishable from cards of any era/condition/error being printed of everything by some magical gigamegacorp company that has the final say to the legitimacy of all cards, then I could see the hobby going to poopoo for me if everything could be ordered on demand. I enjoy the history of a lot of these cards and the difficulties in obtaining things.
It’s kind of similar to why I enjoy collecting things in video games in the first place. The items have no monetary value in the real world but have some sort of difficulty and rarity, and the journey itself in obtaining and showcasing the items makes it meaningful.
The art is nice and all but it’s like I like looking at pictures of cats too but I don’t really go out of my way to collect pictures of cats.
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“Going to 0” and “Easy to buy” are not quite the same thing. There’s fun (for me at least) in finding a nice card in person at a local shop or something like that. If all cards were just reprinted and available new in perpetuity that would take something away from the hobby but I’d still collect I think.
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I’d still species collect for sure, but I suspect it would be even harder to find the exact cards I’m looking for because no one is putting up a random Korean Voltorb from a deck for sale for $0
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I like this take tbh.
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Always. Personally it would remove a lot of barriers and anxiety about storing “valuable” items around, so I’ll buy even more relaxed.
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I think collecting would become really frustrating if everything was worth 0. Imagine trying to buy any rare or low pop card if there was 0 financial reason for the people who own them to go through the effort of listing them for sale.
Cool, you can afford an illustrator now. What are the odds one is ever actually available instead of just being thrown in the bin like your average bulk.
If we’re imagining some fairytale land where prices are 0 but also for some reason the market keeps ticking like it is now… Then sure, that would be amazing. But realistically these things having value is the only reason the secondhand market keeps ticking over
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I would complete all my dream binders, then buy a gelato
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Asking E4 this question is silly
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Also, anyone who collected before 2020 auto answers this as yes, because it practically was zero compared to now. This question is only relevant (outside of trophy cards) in the 2020s.
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it’s nice to have your collection be worth a lot but many years ago i collected for the same reason i did as a kid, so my motivation couldnt be changed
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It’s just like buying cheap commons & uncommons from older/mid era sets in mint condition, such a pain 
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This is a great post. I think my interest in collecting if everything “went to 0” would be contingent on there still being some challenge and difficulty in collecting certain cards (i.e. no infinite reprint of cards/packs indistinguishable from the originals). I was collecting during a time when many cards were 5% of their current market price, and there was still an exciting chase and real satisfaction to collecting.
Cards losing even 95-98% of their market value probably wouldn’t change anything to me, provided that decrease is due to market forces. However, if we’re talking a functional collapse of the market where everything is worth literally zero, as @thurco points out this is going to make collecting a lot harder. It would be the difficulty of collecting in a market like this which would drive me away, not the fact that I can’t make money off of the hobby.
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Okayyyyyyyy
Already collect some is near 0. is hard & fun trying fill the album mostly the especial golden ones.
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Yeah, then everything would be affordable.
Of course, ‘went to 0’ still doesn’t mean exactly 0. As others have said, if it were truly 0, you probably wouldn’t be able to find what you want easily since no one would sell them.
@Gagging has a take I agree with.
I don’t really mind having whatever is currently in my collection dropping significantly in worth, but for whatever reason, I interpreted the hypothetical as @triple had pointed out earlier: not that all else stays as is but everything drops dramatically in price, but that everything becomes worth nothing because everything is available to you at all times at an extremely low cost. The latter would basically kill integral parts of collecting that I think are fun and rewarding: “hunting” for cards, feelings of progress/achievement, goal setting, etc. Keep in mind this type of situation would also dismantle some social aspects of collecting too, like trading/trade nights, card shows, joy for other’s achievements, etc.
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If everything goes to 0, i’m picking up some scrolls and kangs
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Absolutely, I’d still collect. Id even go so far as to say I’d collect even more than I do now.
A vast majority of my entire collection is made up of exclusively species collections- Piplup line and Tandemaus/Maushold at the moment, but there are so many other species I’d love to put together deep dive binders for if I could afford it. I’ve even had to limit Tandemaus and Maushold to English only and no cameos because my financial priorities lie with my Piplups (and like. Actual real life things like rent and food, haha).
I don’t collect for financial value at all- it’s all personal value to me. If the price of cards tanked, I would be ecstatic to pick up some beautiful arts that are currently (and possibly forever) out of reach.
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Yes but exactly what does “if everything was easily obtainable” mean? As in literally every card including errors, playtest, beta, autographed, etc. could be ordered for free at the click of a button? Or were all cards essentially $0 but their rarity was maintained?
Cost ≠ rarity. When I was a kid, I got into collecting cards for the thrill of opening a pack and seeing what rare card was. And knowing once the print run had ended, that was it. Rarity plays a big part in why many people collect.
I personally don’t care about the $ value of my cards. If that was taken away, I would still collect however if the rarity was also removed, well that’s a different story and perhaps my answer would change.
I think if there were unlimited print runs of every card, it would take away from some of the enjoyment. In saying that, I do love both looking at and organising my collection as @pfm mentioned in his reply, so perhaps I would still collect and enjoy the cards for that factor alone.
An interesting thought and I enjoyed reading everyone’s replies.
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CoroCoro Shining Mew infinity binders here I come
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