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+---- Thread: *NSFL Cards (/showthread.php?tid=4145)
*NSFL Cards - RedCydranth - 09-04-2017
As the NSFL becomes one of the nation's favorite professional sports, the frenzy of collecting their player cards has picked up a lot of steam. As it was noted in a different article, people are lining up outside of stores to buy these hot new items. But is this a fad, or something that will stay the course of time?
Collections have been quite popular in the last decade or so. With collectible card games like Pokemon, Magic: The Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh! consistently selling well, these NSFL cards hope to cash in the trend. However those games have something that the NSFL does not. Function. Once you have rare cards in Yu-Gi-Oh! or Magic: The Gathering, they can be used to bolster decks and are coveted for their use in their respective games. With no function, other than being collectible, what reason would those who are on a limited budget have for these cards? But maybe that's the point.
Many of us remember the old crazes of Tamagotchi and Beanie Babies. Those, like NSFL cards, never had much purpose. They were fun to collect, and that was enough. There's obviously plenty of people who are buying into the hype of these cards and shelling out major cash to increase their collections. Maybe being the only guy who has that rare gold foil Shane Weston card, garnishing the envy of all who collect, is well worth the money that is spent on these packs.
But one might be concerned about the longevity of this potential fad. Like Beanie Babies and Tamagotchi, these cards might quickly become fads of the past. Once all the rarest cards are pulled, where is the incentive to keep buying? If only one person can have each of the ultra rares, where is the purpose after they've been all accounted for? Like the Golden Tickets found in Wonka Bars, a frenzy to find these ultra rares can only go on for so long. What will the makers of these cards do to keep interest high? If they keep adding more ultra rare one of a kind cards, doesn't that somewhat diminish the value of the original one of a kind rares?
Maybe, though, they might find a way to increase in value. Perhaps, over time, those cards which are very difficult to find can be sought by rich esteemed collectors and purchased for well over their original price. Like a 1984 Donruss Don Mattingly card, over time, these cards can become almost priceless. Perhaps one lucky pull can get a card worth enough to buy an entire season's worth of purchases. Like with any collection, it's only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. Right now it is too early to tell if collectors are willing to spend top dollar for those rares, or if these are a dead end purchase. It's a high risk and reward for those investing in them for the purpose of reselling to make money in the future. But for many, it's not about that. It's about making their collection the very best, like no one's ever was. And there's nothing wrong with that.
Not everyone is buying into the craze though. It appears to be a rich man's game. With packs costing $100,000 each, only the more well off people are able to come home with their allotted 3 packs a week. Many people don't have the disposable income to drop on trading cards every week. Some could argue that if these cards do have a very high cash value on the trading market, that these cards only make the rich richer. Other people who are more strict with their purchases aren't buying into the hype. There's plenty of people who could be classified as frugal, who despite having a good amount of disposable income, would rather hoard their money than buy these cards. They seem to be fine with missing out on all the fun and commotion. And there's nothing wrong with that, either.
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