kyberforged
Forum Replies Created
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Yeah I did notice the last show I was at Pokemon occupied most of the show floor
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Dang dude that is some greatness right there. Those vintage cards are absolutely gorgeous
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I think you’re onto something here. My local card shop definitely has that “third place” feeling sometimes — people aren’t necessarily there because they need to buy something. They’re there because they know other collectors will be there.
I’ve started noticing the regulars too. Guys who seem to know the employees, know each other, talk cards, look through boxes, trade, watch people rip, and just hang out for a while. It reminds me a lot of a good local coffee shop where the community is almost as important as the actual product.
Honestly, I think that’s one of the coolest parts of the hobby. You can walk into a shop knowing absolutely nobody and potentially walk out having met somebody who collects the same player or set you do.
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If your card store people seem open to chat, give it a go. They are card nerds too. It’s always good to be known at the shop too because sometimes we may text customers we know when we take something in that we know they collect.
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Yeah my buying habits and PC was so different at the start. Now I’m buying players I got future vibes for and my PC while getting more diverse has also gotten more focused.
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100% agree. That’s the kind of card that puts the “collecting” in collecting.
A card being worth $5 on the market doesn’t make the memory behind it worth $5. You got that autograph yourself, it was your first one, and now you have that moment preserved in your PC forever. I’d take that over a million-dollar card that I have no personal connection to any day.
That’s also why I think the hobby is so cool. Two people can look at the exact same card and see completely different values. One person sees a $5 card, the other sees a piece of their own history.
The market can tell you what a card is worth. It can’t tell you what it means to you.
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Goldin is too rich for my blood but I enjoy seeing some cool grails
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Yeah, $80 a card adds up REALLY fast. Especially when you have a handful where you’re grading primarily for protection or your PC rather than trying to maximize the resale value.
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That’s exactly how I feel about some of my PC cards too. Sometimes the grade is completely secondary. If it’s a card that means something to you, having it protected in a slab and knowing it’s going to be preserved for years is worth the grading cost by itself.
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That’s exactly what surprised me about card shops too. You walk in expecting a retail transaction and realize pretty quickly that a good LCS is really more of a community hub.
The fact that someone will sit down with you, talk through your cards, help you figure out what makes sense to grade, and actually remember you the next time you come in makes such a difference. And when the owner is introducing you to his family, you know it’s not just “customer walks in, customer walks out.”
I think those regulars hanging around are actually a big part of what makes a good shop special. They aren’t necessarily there to buy anything. They just enjoy being around people who are into the same stuff.
Honestly, I think that’s something the hobby does really well when you find the right shop. You’re not just buying cardboard — you’re finding your people.
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Yeah, absolutely. Jeanty had a ton of hype last year, but a No. 1 overall pick who happens to be a QB is basically the perfect recipe for expensive breaks.
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It’s mostly because people love those Galaxy 2021 and 2023 sets. I don’t think they printed as many of them, but some of the unnumbered refractors from those sets go for hundreds. That particular Vader was a super. It just sold 5 months ago for $31k
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As much as I hate how much eBay takes they really are the best option for hunting down hard to find stuff. No one is close to a market as big as theirs. If you want some fun window shopping though, Goldin is really cool.
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Totally get it and since there is no clear market cap, some companies absolutely overcharge. We try to create breaks that are more value focused. Can some skunk still? Yes but its going to be on a $20 spot rather than $200 spot. We aren’t one of the Big Dogs so our place in the market is to be a good value option. A good example, I just put up a 6 box break of Series 2 with no vet base, least expensive spot is $15. If you want to go big the max team is the Dodgers at $150. The real winner with all these fish in the sea over all is the collector because of all the options, you can actually shop around and find the best prices
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I could definitely see Iverson being next. His cultural impact is massive, and he has that combination of on-court greatness, personality, and nostalgia that tends to make a player’s cards age really well