General Forum

I bought my first pack of football cards, 2017 Score, in 17 years today.  Prior to that I’ve been picking up factory sets due to cost and no time to actually focus on collecting.  Now that I can, I didn’t realize how much I missed the rush of opening a pack to see what you base and insert cards I pulled.  I am definitely glad I have the money and time to build my own sets vs. buying factory sets.  This site, the knowledge all the members have and share, and the trading has pulled me back in to the hobby.  Now I won’t be able to leave Target, Wal-Mart or whatever store I’m in without picking up a pack.  Now I have to decide on what set I want to complete and which ones I just want a pack or two.  Anyway that’s my coming back to the hobby story...            

Welcome back! Entering my collection on here was the final kick in the pants I needed to get back into the NBA, so I think I know the thrill you are feeling right now. There's nothing better than pulling a great card of a player of team you really like. 

And just for the record, you competed your first trade about three months ago and I had the privilege of welcoming you back in that way! Great to hear that you're still in and active.

Welcome back. 

Kind of the beauty of this hobby, eh?  Allows you to come and go as circumstances allow.  Nice to have you back on the active roster!

I can NEVER leave Target without picking up at least one blaster box or several re-packs or whatever they have in the card section that interests me. I know that every trip to that store is gonna cost at least $20 more than the stuff I went there to buy. Trips to the mailbox to get packages from trades and ebay purchases just can't beat "the thrill of the pack".

Trades are still fun though. So if you have Carolina Panthers cards to trade, I have Steelers cards to trade (except DeAngelo Williams)!

I guess I don't understand how switching from factory sets to buying packs is considered getting back into the hobby.  Guess I've been out of the hobby since 1991 even though I have every Topps baseball set since then.

Because you are just accumulating sets! You're not "collecting" them. Busting the packs and hunting for the cards you need is collecting. And then using the extras you pulled to help others complete their sets and/or helping you complete more sets is more involved in collecting too. Just buying the complete set leaves out a LOT. You get none of the fun of opening packs and hoping for the cards you need, none of the inserts and parallels that come from packs and none of the fun of trading with others to help each other.

For a simile, buying dinner at Taco Bell or McDonalds is just getting you some tacos/burritos or some burgers. It's less expensive and less time-consuming, but not as fun as going to the grocery store and buying the ingredients to make it yourself. You have so many more options at the grocery store to do it how you want to vs. just buying off the menu at the fast-food place.

I took it to mean that before he was just going through the motions to get the factory set, but now the passion for the hobby has returned. I suppose I could be way off.

I was just maintaining my collection of Topps cards by buying the factory set each year and not even opening them. Now I'm actively trading to fill in sets, get Steeler cards and buying packs to build my own sets again. The thrill of opening the pack of cards, seeing that envelope in the mail box, and communicating with other collectors is back.  To me that is getting back in to collecting.