any other sickos out there
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theczar
Posts: 1,590 ✭✭
There was a time when i spent a lot of time gambling on games. each day i would get the paper look at the lines, call my other degenerate friends and talk about who we liked etc.
there is an old cliche in gambling, it is not the winning or losing it is the action. if i had bet on five games and went 3-1 i would not even care about the last game because i knew i had a winning day. of course a disturbing trend developed.
Two weeks a month I would pay the Man
One week a month I would break even
One week a month I would collect from the Man.
Not only was my "hobby" costing me time, but money. For my sake I rarely make a wager on sports anymore---But I have picked up the EBay bug.
I am actively working on about 10 sets. If there is a day where I don't get to have a snipe in I get a little itchy. Sometimes I then snipe on stuff I have no interest in but it looks like a good deal. Much like gambling I don't care if I win or lose. I have a habit of putting in large snipes just to make the winner pay more if I don't get it. I have never stiffed a seller, and unlike sports betting I do have something to show for it after I pay and I do stay within a budget. It just seems that it is a better day for me when I get up and look at my snipes and know I have some "action" going that day.
I know there are a 100 things worse I could be doing on the internet or with my money, and I have no desire to stop. My question is: Am I alone with this e-bay buying thing?
there is an old cliche in gambling, it is not the winning or losing it is the action. if i had bet on five games and went 3-1 i would not even care about the last game because i knew i had a winning day. of course a disturbing trend developed.
Two weeks a month I would pay the Man
One week a month I would break even
One week a month I would collect from the Man.
Not only was my "hobby" costing me time, but money. For my sake I rarely make a wager on sports anymore---But I have picked up the EBay bug.
I am actively working on about 10 sets. If there is a day where I don't get to have a snipe in I get a little itchy. Sometimes I then snipe on stuff I have no interest in but it looks like a good deal. Much like gambling I don't care if I win or lose. I have a habit of putting in large snipes just to make the winner pay more if I don't get it. I have never stiffed a seller, and unlike sports betting I do have something to show for it after I pay and I do stay within a budget. It just seems that it is a better day for me when I get up and look at my snipes and know I have some "action" going that day.
I know there are a 100 things worse I could be doing on the internet or with my money, and I have no desire to stop. My question is: Am I alone with this e-bay buying thing?
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ebay can drain your bank account (or max out your CC) at lightspeed.
Please visit my Topps Heritage Ebay Store with new items added all the time
Of course you're not alone. Why do you think I did the thread on the 9.5 Step Program. Ebay, like gambling, drugs, chocolate cake and taking it thru the big toe, are very addictive.
I have not purchased anything in 2 months and it's killing me!!!!!
Cut back to one or 2 sets.
Steve
then there would be several days without bidding. in which case i would really get the shakes.
i already cut down from 15 sets to 10.
stone i remember that post from last month and had added some dribble into it. my issue is not the spending of too much money as others may have done, it is the desire to have to have a bid in. i bought a gerald ford autographed photo one day from dsl for $99.99 because i was bored. this got me thinking about starting a presidentail autograph collection. fortunately i have not gotten there yet (although one day a chester arthur signature may be displayed prominently in my home).
ebay is so much better than a card show, the home shopping network, wal-mart or a catalog from some retailer. they have so much, and you can do it parked your rear end without talking to anyone.
i am not a victim and i know there are a high percentage of people out there who have much bigger problems than this.
jk, but i did notice this recently.
your ends obviuosly justify your means so keep on keeping on.
Julen
RIP GURU
1955 Bowman Raw complete with 90% Ex-NR or better
Now seeking 1949 Eureka Sportstamps...NM condition
Working on '78 Autographed set now 99.9% complete -
Working on '89 Topps autoed set now complete
<< <i> my issue is not the spending of too much money as others may have done, it is the desire to have to have a bid in. >>
czar
It's your thread and your dime.
But the tone of your thread and my inference is directed to some kind of impulsive/compulsive behavior.
It's like the guy who only needs two drinks a nite and doesn't consider themself an alcoholic.
IMO, there's no difference between overspending and having to have a bid in.
<< <i>I am actively working on about 10 sets. If there is a day where I don't get to have a snipe in I get a little itchy. Sometimes I then snipe on stuff I have no interest in but it looks like a good deal. Much like gambling I don't care if I win or lose. >>
Seems to me you have an ebay addiction - whether you choose to call it over-sniping or overindulging in bidding - IMO this is semantics.
If you go back and read my thread which you added some "input" to - you will see that I offered some very constructive tenets on the psychological basis of the operation of ebay and its effect on people and offered some truisms to combat the fever:
1. there's always too much on ebay.
2. there will always be another down the road
3. you can go broke saving money
The first step to winning the battle is "acceptance"
mike
Does that make you an alchy? i thought the J curve is 4 drinks a night. 2 would be considered good for you.?
Who knows im no doctor
<< <i>The good thing about this "HABIT" is that you have something to show for it................. >>
Lost
I used this one on my wife for almost a year...she doesn't buy it anymore if you know what I mean. I also tried telling her: "isn't this better than me running around, drinking in bars?"
Anything short of...
1. Admitting one has a problem.
2. Working toward solving the problem.
3. By behavior modification and a set of goals like setting a budget, paying off debt first etc.
The rest is pure rationalization IMO - and I've used them all - believe me.
mike
The problem with sports betting is that it can be addictive. But if you're hemhorraging money on cards and memoribilia you'll end up in the exact same spot as the guy sweating a 10 teamer in the Stardust sportsbook.
<< <i>I think if my poker playing went sour; my collecting days would be over as well. >>
My poker days are over. Golf trip to Florida, got into a game with an 80 year old grandma and lost on a "low" full house to trip aces over threes. I am sticking to my random focus on eBay!!
<< <i>
<< <i>I think if my poker playing went sour; my collecting days would be over as well. >>
My poker days are over. Golf trip to Florida, got into a game with an 80 year old grandma and lost on a "low" full house to trip aces over threes. I am sticking to my random focus on eBay!!
I play "fun" Texas Holdem everyday.
If there's a way to lose a hand...I'll find it!
Geordie
Dodgers collection scans | Brett Butler registry | 1978 Dodgers - straight 9s, homie
Had an awful breakup, replaced time spent with significant other to time spent playing video poker/keno in South Dakota. Was so terrible I had to leave the state.
Take a rational, educated individual and mix in a complusion . . . spells big trouble.
Returned to cards . . . Couldn't be happier.
<< <i>Mike - where do you play? I'm on partypoker.net from time to time.
Geordie >>
Geordie
I play on Pacific Poker - 888.com - my sister actually linked me to it. The family plays there.
I would imagine they're all pretty good.
The one Annie Duke is plugging on Fox looks pretty good - a lot of promotions.
But, I can't afford to lose, so I can't afford to win - so no "real" poker for me - thank you.
Also - Mike "the mouth" Matusow admitted that after he was knocked out of this year's WSOP in 9th place and picked up over 1 million bucks, he "busted out" playing too much on-line poker - if a pro can bust out - you know I'll find a way!
mike
that is all that matters. life is short. Enjoy what you have and do not worry about the small things. If buying cards or whatever you spend money on becomes a problem then it is a problem. If you do it in moderation inthis instance (2 sets) not 10, then the original poster may perhaps find his happy median. Too many times we just do not sit back and enjoy this thing of ours as a hobby. And as such only money that is disposable should be used. If one starts getting behind in CC payments and can't afford milk for the baby then I suggest you ponder Mike's program.
Me? Ill brb I have to check my ebay.
Steve
Stingray
The other thing I've done is enjoy my throw away cards. I had a post recently about 1991 Pro Set football being my guilty pleasure. I got into card collecting because I really enjoy the photography. I can get that out of a $15 set.
Lastly, looking through these boards (Mail call thread), auction catalogues, Smithsonian baseball, and the PSA set registry is a great way to see the cards without having to own the cards.
Besides, I'm working on shooting a short film with some friends of mine. I'm writing the screenplay now. Finding other hobbies helps too.
buying a nice vintage card could be like playing a low house edge game such as craps (pass/no pass only) or 21. you may lose a little but not taking a huge risk.
buying the 1985 wax box is like playing a parlay card. nice payout if it hits but that doesn't happen often enough.
buying the pro set football is like keno. doesn't cost a lot, but odds are out of this world.
those who go into exile on ebay could be the ones playing the poker for fun on the poker sites. costs nothing but still have action.
there are those who have gotten into memoribila. could be like the give who goes to las vegas to play golf, sees blue man group, spends a day at the spa, or gets a hooker. just a different way to blow money.
as mentioned before i am not looking for sympathy, just wondered how many other people are happier when they have some ebay action. it seems that many of us have a need to kill some time without killing our bank accounts.