Hobby vs Economy - Thoughts?

[cohibasmoker]

Some time ago, there was a discussion about whether or not the economy will affect the hobby. Well, things have changed since the initial thread and I’d be interested in hearing other member’s thoughts. I DO NOT care who got us to this point and as such, not a single politician or political view is expressed.

-The National deficit has quadrupled;
http://blog.heritage.org/2009/03/24/bush-deficit-vs-obama-deficit-in-pictures/
-The last “stimulus bill” cost a trillion dollars;
http://blog.heritage.org/2009/01/27/stimulus-101-the-pelosi-reid-obama-debt-plan/
-Just this week, a Billion dollars was spent on the “CASH FOR CLUNKERS” program
with another two billion to be released next week; and,
http://blog.heritage.org/2009/01/27/stimulus-101-the-pelosi-reid-obama-debt-plan/
A National Healthcare bill is about to be passed which could cost 1 Trillion dollars just to start.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/16/AR2009071602242.html

The issue is, who and/or how these programs are going to be paid for? I can’t answer that question because I don't know but I will say that, for every dollar that is taken out of my pocket, that’s one dollar less I have on the hobby.

There will be some members who will say I should NOT have posted this link because it is a political discussion and there are blogs dealing with such topics. My reply is and as I stated above, I DO NOT CARE who got us to this point and as such, not a single politician or political view is expressed.

If you will note, I have attached actual links to the factors I have outlined. Not a single link is either a right and/or left wing website and/or blog. If we are going to discuss the economy and the hobby, I think we should deal with the FACTS and not innuendo and or media personalities.

For myself, I will continue to collect memorabilia but my collecting will be very limited and extremely selective.

Jim

flaa1a@comcast.net

[Dewey2007]

My thoughts are this is a thread that is just destined to be removed or locked even with your well intentioned disclaimer. Can't wait to see how long before it jumps the track.

Anyhow, I too will continue to collect memorabilia and will have to be very selective in my future purchases due to the economic disaster created by folks who shall remain nameless.

[skyking26]

Me TOO.

Business is bad and my health is worse. I'll continue to collect, but I will be more selective as time goes on...

RK

[both-teams-played-hard]

I would love to write a massive tale about all our exploits over the last 8 months but alas, I am a bit lazy and don't have the stamina to piece it all together. Instead I will show a few bits and pieces to tide you over until I can fully get back in the saddle and knock out another whopper of a story. Another reason I am being lazy is because I did a fresh OS install and I forgot to transfer the folder with my story in it. But I did save my original Eve folder so I still have all my chat logs and pics, but I am not in the mood to deal with re-writing and retrieving all the pics and logs. It turns out I think it will be a long story, but I won't have as many chat logs since it's hard for me to get it all in order, so I will try to peace it all together via pics and my own sweet words.

where to begin? Well you might remember in your in game life and would love to write a massive tale about all your exploits. But all those need enough golds. where to provide, I only searched GKPlayer, I heard from my friends get gold from GKPlayer.
I began to concern that with prices changing since the first time on GKPlayer. it's better to buy cheaper golds quickly. People unload a massive amount of smack and you end up getting gkplayer to pay you 500 million ISK and additional 5% more. Good times! As you know I tend to run into a lot of happyness in this game.
http://www.both-teams-played-hard.com

[both-teams-played-hard]

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/5294/8x10sdrockets.jpg (http://www.imagehosting.com/)
http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/672/dickvitalewallpaper.jpg (http://www.imagehosting.com/)
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/1808/pitolpetelsu2.jpg (http://www.imagehosting.com/)
http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/2127/chicagocubsarizona20inc.jpg (http://www.imagehosting.com/)
http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/2545/lucyredd7.jpg (http://www.imagehosting.com/)
http://img229.imageshack.us/img229/2861/coolidgecard.jpg (http://www.imagehosting.com/)

[cordovacollector]

Have I been punked or have I been drinking?:confused: Sorry, BTPH, but I could make no sense of your two posts.

[both-teams-played-hard]

Have I been punked or have I been drinking?:confused: Sorry, BTPH, but I could make no sense of your two posts.

http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/3712/jordanlovepoem.jpg (http://www.imagehosting.com/)
http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/103/bustagger.jpg (http://www.imagehosting.com/)
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/912/fruit1.jpg (http://www.imagehosting.com/)


www.both-teams-played-hard.com

[frikativ54]

Have I been punked or have I been drinking?:confused: Sorry, BTPH, but I could make no sense of your two posts.

I am sober, and I struggled as well. :confused:

[both-teams-played-hard]

I am sober, and I struggled as well. :confused:

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/2259/93027623.jpg (http://www.imagehosting.com/)
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/3710/buckeyecycleclown.jpg (http://www.imagehosting.com/)
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/3042/jackdavis.jpg (http://www.imagehosting.com/)
http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/9731/sevitin2.jpg (http://www.imagehosting.com/)
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/7599/havlicekbrownsneg.jpg (http://www.imagehosting.com/)
http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/3848/kentstate.jpg (http://www.imagehosting.com/)

[chakes89]

I would love to write a massive tale about all our exploits over the last 8 months but alas, I am a bit lazy and don't have the stamina to piece it all together. Instead I will show a few bits and pieces to tide you over until I can fully get back in the saddle and knock out another whopper of a story. Another reason I am being lazy is because I did a fresh OS install and I forgot to transfer the folder with my story in it. But I did save my original Eve folder so I still have all my chat logs and pics, but I am not in the mood to deal with re-writing and retrieving all the pics and logs. It turns out I think it will be a long story, but I won't have as many chat logs since it's hard for me to get it all in order, so I will try to peace it all together via pics and my own sweet words.

where to begin? Well you might remember in your in game life and would love to write a massive tale about all your exploits. But all those need enough golds. where to provide, I only searched GKPlayer, I heard from my friends get gold from GKPlayer.
I began to concern that with prices changing since the first time on GKPlayer. it's better to buy cheaper golds quickly. People unload a massive amount of smack and you end up getting gkplayer to pay you 500 million ISK and additional 5% more. Good times! As you know I tend to run into a lot of happyness in this game.
http://www.both-teams-played-hard.com
Um,

What the hell?

[cordovacollector]

I confess. I am a card-carrying baby boomer and I did NOT do drugs in the 1960s. Now I wish I had. One hit of LSD and all this would make sense. :o

[both-teams-played-hard]

I confess. I am a card-carrying baby boomer and I did NOT do drugs in the 1960s. Now I wish I had. One hit of LSD and all this would make sense. :o

http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/4810/severin.jpg (http://www.imagehosting.com/)

[cordovacollector]

OK, now this is actually getting funny (honest) and I am enjoying it, so it must be time to call it a day!!

The best thing about your last post, BTPH, is that I can name every single person in the illustration!!! For that alone you should sell it to me cheap!!! :D

[cordovacollector]

Uhhhh, ok, i want to give this a shot. Maybe I missed a couple.

Joey Bishop
Woody Allen
Man From U.N.C.L.E. - David Mc?
Johnny Carson
Dave Garroway
Bob Hope
Cleo and Ceasar (Sonny & Cher)
Bill Cosby
Jack Paar
Charlie Weaver
Tommie and Dickie Smothers
Snoopy
Bobby Kennedy
Lyndon Baines Johnson
Darn ... Who's pushing the car? Not Skeezix, not Gasoline Alley, Willie....???

[cordovacollector]

PS Are all the photos on your website for sale?

[cohibasmoker]

My thoughts are this is a thread that is just destined to be removed or locked even with your well intentioned disclaimer. Can't wait to see how long before it jumps the track.

Anyhow, I too will continue to collect memorabilia and will have to be very selective in my future purchases due to the economic disaster created by folks who shall remain nameless.

Hopefully this thread won't be deleted or locked but that is NOT my decision. I wrote it purely from a business and/or collector point of view and I believe that I stayed away from politics, false statements, personal attacks and innuendo.

There aren't any hidden meanings in this thread and it is as it reads, is the economy going to affect the hobby? With today's economy, anything that we are considering buying, either in our personal and/or hobby decisions, we have to spend more time in making our decision (s). That's it.

Jim

[sammy]

Perhaps this may explain his postings.

-------------------------------------------


Chicken Little
Keep your doom-n-gloom bullshit off of this forum.

Dig?
__________________
b-t-p-h@earthlink.net (b-t-p-h@earthlink.net)

[both-teams-played-hard]

Uhhhh, ok, i want to give this a shot. Maybe I missed a couple.

Joey Bishop
Woody Allen
Man From U.N.C.L.E. - David Mc?
Johnny Carson
Dave Garroway
Bob Hope
Cleo and Ceasar (Sonny & Cher)
Bill Cosby
Jack Paar
Charlie Weaver
Tommie and Dickie Smothers
Snoopy
Bobby Kennedy
Lyndon Baines Johnson
Darn ... Who's pushing the car? Not Skeezix, not Gasoline Alley, Willie....???

Great Job! You guessed more than I did! I don't know who is pushing the car. You forgot Robert Culp. I do not own this artwork. However, I have a couple of John Severin pieces in my collection. This sold on eBay for seven thousand dollars. I was naive' enough to think I could win it for three hundred.
The photos are not for sale. Many are original negatives or slides in my collection. Most are .jpegs that I scraped from eBay, etc.

[both-teams-played-hard]

Darn ... Who's pushing the car? Not Skeezix, not Gasoline Alley, Willie....???
Yes. That's the Crack'd magazine mascot (forgot his name).

[both-teams-played-hard]

Yes. That's the Crack'd magazine mascot (forgot his name).
Sylvester P. Smythe

[suicide_squeeze]

cohibasmoker,

I think your thread is excellent, and completely related to the times.

Obviously the hobby is being hit hard by the current state of the economy. In fact, I would say it is borderline devastating to the hobby.

The first few things you heard (which I concur with) is that collectors are being more "selective" and have limited funds. Let's face it, as collectors, we are limited to what we can buy because we are using our discretionary income to support our interest. In tough times, those funds sometimes dry up.

The high-end items had been holding up real well through it all, but I have even noticed a few of them are now going for way off the mark.

Did any of you notice the Mickey Mantle 535th home run ball that just sold in the Legendary (ex-Mastro) Auction? Estimated to sell between $30-$40,000.

It went for $20,400.....price includes buyers premium.

A beautiful Mel Ott 1943 game used bat....estimate: $20-$30,000

.......sold for $14,400.

It's no secret, the bad economy is severely effecting our hobby. If you have the money and are willing to split with it, you can pick up some nice pieces these days. That said, it is my prediction you will see less and less nice pieces offered as the economy sits parked in stall-node. No one wants to dump their nice stuff for a deep discount, and that's what's happening.

The second tier and less desirable items are all but nickel and dimers at this point. It's all about picking up anything you like for a song, as the number of bidders you are going against are dropping like flies, as evedenced by the posters here who have stated they will be more selective, and have less funds to buy with.

It's ugly out there, and your post with links are right on, cohiba.

We have an invironment right now that is doing us in as a Nation, and it will take decades to get out of this mess. Let's just hope there will be a great smoke-screen concoction developed by our current leadership (I use the term loosely) to snowball all of us into believing things will improve at a much faster pace. You know, like Billy-boy's years.....before it all collapses again.

In the meantime, at least it will get people to spend money again, and the hobby can move forward.

[suicide_squeeze]

One other thing,

There is no reason to believe this thread will be locked up. I think everyone here is conscious of the fact they should not turn it into a political spin.

By the way, I read BTPH's posts too at the beginning, and I just scratched my head. Way out there.....makes me wonder what's up with the dude. Borderline alarming. We all have fun here at times.......even have posts deleted by mods for crossing little lines....but this stuff is just unexplainable, BTPH.

Dig?


P.S. Once again, sorry for my typos on my previous post...
"evedence" = evidence :mad:

[BULBUS]

I know there are some grammer and spelling police here, but there is no need to apologize for typos :)

Back to the subject now, with a 10% salary cut, no raise in 3.5 years, no bonus the last 2 years, 401k matching gone, purchases have been few and far between. I guess I'm lucky to still have a job, several co-workers/friends have been laid off.

I mean. I still look, but there doesn't seem to be that much out there right now, even if I did have the funds. Maybe people aren't advertising items knowing they won't get the price they want. They only sell stuff if they absolutely have to.

-Chris

[cordovacollector]

Yes. That's the Crack'd magazine mascot (forgot his name).

OH YEAH!!!!! That's right! I was the only kid in my entire town of 1000 that read CRACK'D and MAD so the local drug store continued to get in in with their magazines and comics for me. Talk about a geeky little girl! I loved those mags!

And I used to put model cars & trucks together w/ the neighbor boys ... and we even did the Weirdos ... Rothschild, I think.

Thanks for the great memories!!!!

[cordovacollector]

Great Job! You guessed more than I did! I don't know who is pushing the car. You forgot Robert Culp. I do not own this artwork. However, I have a couple of John Severin pieces in my collection. This sold on eBay for seven thousand dollars. I was naive' enough to think I could win it for three hundred.
The photos are not for sale. Many are original negatives or slides in my collection. Most are .jpegs that I scraped from eBay, etc.

Why, thank you, sir! ;) Which one do you think is Robert Culp?

We are going to get SOOOooooooo Busted for hijacking this thread. :o

[both-teams-played-hard]

Why, thank you, sir! ;) Which one do you think is Robert Culp?

We are going to get SOOOooooooo Busted for hijacking this thread. :o
Robert Culp and Cosby together for "I Spy", right?

If you like model kits from the 60s...I have a Munsters "Drag-u-la" on eBay right now.

[cordovacollector]

Oh, of course!!! Nice catch!!!!

Send me the link to your Munsters model! I did a model of the family car (casket) at the time.

About five years ago, I found my Grampa Munster doll ... small troll doll size. I sold it to an antique dealer friend for about three bucks. That night I got home and found a toy price guide and ... oops!!! The next morning I drove 60 miles to buy him back. She just gave him back to me for free. Whew. She was as ignorant as I was. I put him on eBay the next day and got $300.

[ChrisCavalier]

As per the forum rules, please do not highjack threads. If you are interested in posting on this thread, please make sure it is relevant to the subject posted. Not only is changing the topic unfair to the original poster, it is inconsistent with proper etiquette on the forum.

Thanks in advance for your cooperation.

[cordovacollector]

I sincerely apologize for hijacking the thread away from the original post.

On that note, the economy and cancer has definitely affected the way I purchase items for my collection. Now, when I find a particular sweet item that fits into my collection, I have to save for the item and HOPE & PRAY the seller is willing to wait until I am able to pay. (Right, guys? Thank you!)

Sometimes I will buy some of inexpensive items I see just so I can feel like I am collecting something. There are some great bargains on mid to low-end items that you just didn't see even 5 years ago.

But you also can tell people are reaching into their collections to help make ends meet because there are things coming back onto the market that guys wouldn't part with a few years ago.