Demand = Value ?

[Millerzeit]

General question and appreciate any info/advice from the forum... With so many card manufacturers producing many types of cards these days, how does one choose which card types/brands to purchase/collect ? The marketplace reminds me of wallstreet almost.. supply/demand + market values. I'd assume cards with autos or pieces of authentic gear have more demand & value. Or is it the "limited" numbers of cards produced for a certain box/case matter? Does seasonality factor in too ? Love to hear the feedback on this. Thanks!

[key2win]

I only collect basketball, but with me it comes down to these 3 things: the look of the cards, the cost per box, and how many hits you get per box. Now that Panini is the only one that can make NBA cards, I dont have the choice of Topps or Upperdeck anymore. Some of the products I really like from the past 2 years and have gotten boxes: Prestige and Threads. I liked Donruss Elite 2 years ago so I dropped $90 on a box. The basic Donruss last year was a lower end product for $50, so I got that too because of the price but didnt like how the cards looked that much. With everyone it will be different, but card design and price/hit per box is the deciding factor for me. Obviously as you can tell, I dont buy $100+ boxes since I cant afford it. LOL!

Higher end products typically are suppose to be worth more, but card boxes are like the lottery. Sometimes you can pull a card that is worth a lot of money, other times you get a common card. Higher end boxes, typically any hit cards from them will be worth more on the secondary market (EBAY) than low to mid end products.

[gladdyontherise]

I buy boxes based on value you can get out of the box, I am not in the hobby for money, but don't want to drop a bunch of money and have little to show for it.

I really liked 2011 Topps Jumbo Football this year, I ended up getting 2 cases of that.

[Millerzeit]

i appreciate the replies and comments greatly.... i understand about the hits per box idea and quality of the cards.. i'm not in it for the money either / I just love sports! Thanks!