Box Breaks

What tickles your fancy as a card collector? Do you like autographs? Or how about nostalgia-themed sets? Do you like to open a pack knowing you're guaranteed a jersey card? Or maybe you just like to spend a couple of dollars on a pack of cards. Whatever your collecting preference, there has never been a time to collect with so many choices and options.

A lot of the doom and gloom I hear now comes from collectors fed up with the sheer number of products. I tend to agree on one level but not on another. I am a person who likes options. I like the fact that on any given day I can go to McDonald's and order a Big Mac or go to some fancy diner and try to pretend like I belong in my crinkled dress shirt or stay at home and make a big plate of pasta. You'll never hear me say there's too many restaurants. I just choose not to support the ones that don't please my tastebuds.

I know, you're probably thinking that unless you're a savvy businessman you don't collect restaurants or grocery stores. But think about it for a second. If you're a Big Mac kind of guy (or gal), why bother with the lobster? If you revel in building sets like I do stick to something like Topps Total or Fleer Tradition. On the same token, if you want the chance at a Cadillac card and you can afford it, good on you for plucking that pack of Be A Player Ultimate Edition (with bonus points if your significant other doesn't make you sleep on the couch for doing so).

In the past few years all of the card companies have been paying more attention to the different types of collectors that are out there and trying out various niche products to meet those preferences. This has meant an increase in the overall number of releases and an end to the days where everyone can collect every set from every sport.

I do think that there is room for some attrition in with some brands, but I also appreciate the diversity most of today's products bring. The number of sets might be somewhat overwhelming but if you take a quick look at which ones click with collectors, it's the ones that hit their target demographic. For example, last year Topps Total and Upper Deck 40-Man were both meant to be a set and team collector's dream. Topps Total worked because it avoided inserts, autographs and game-used cards that would drive up pack prices. 40-Man had the McGwire autographs and game-used cards but it flopped because the price was higher than the set collectors were willing to pay.

Ten years ago there wasn't a lot of choice in what to buy. Everyone was making basically the same product. You can look at what's out there now and say there's too much or you can see that's there truly is something for everyone.