I must stop this crazy buying spree!!!!!!

alohaet

Every once in a while I go through this crazy impulsive card buying spree. I seem to be doing this with no rhyme or reason. I was doing nicely focussing on one particular set... then BANG, Helter Selter sets upon me. I am retiring in March07 and should be hoarding my money not spending it like I have been. Yes, I can always sell the cards later I know, but I really enjoy the cards. Fortunately I am a divorced guy and don't have a wife to answer to. (boy would I have some explaining to do). Some of the cards I buy are never going to be worth anything to anyone but me. I just like them. What I don't sell my son & daughter probably will. I know I have made a couple of board members here quite happy with my purchases (you know who you are)LOL. I must say that I have nothing but praise for the people I have dealt with here. I've just got to stop this craziness.

Do any of you go through this once or twice a year, or more?

Ed

pandrews

i go through it all year long, Ed.. i buy too much, and im completely unfocused..

blindflyer

Ed,

I came back to the hobby a few months ago SOLELY to complete my 1960 Topps baseball set (which was about half complete). Needless to say, it was nearly all VG-EX, and now I want it all in PSA 8 or better --- so I'm pretty much rebuilding the entire thing....

....then, I started taking a closer look at the '84 Donruss set b/c I love it ... next thing I know I'm buying factory and hand-collated sets like they're going out of style as I look to complete a high grade raw set

....then, I find myself up on ebay late at night and start perusing. Next thing I know I've bought $70 of random PSA graded '80s stars (a la Mattingly, Pat LaFontaine, Marcus Allen, and completely other random cards --- Pat Verbeek RC?). I've done this more than once.

....then, Topps Allen and Ginter comes out. I start buying into the hype. Next thing I know I've bought multiple boxes and a slew of singles on the bay.

It's a disease and there is no cure!

-t

Stone193

Ed

I started a thread a long ways back - don't know whether you participated.

There's plenty of people using ebay and the hobby as a surrogate or anesthetic for many other things I think or guess.

When I was feeling low the last two years, I went on a spree and ran up the credit card - I do have a wife to answer to!

This is not a particularly popular topic.

It's sorta like walking into a bar at midnight and asking: "are there any alcoholics in the place?"

The fact that you have broached the question is a great start!

Now, it's up to you to figure out why you have been making these purchases.

My favorite hint/helping device:

1. Someone offers you a deal? There will always be another deal!

2. One can go broke saving money!

3. For every item on ebay, there will always be another down the road.

Finally, I received many PM's from people who have been there - you are not alone - just that you are coming into the light - while others roam in the shadows of the cave - which is not a bad thing either.

And last - and most important - when one cuts back on spending and stays within a budget - they truly start to enjoy the hobby IMO.
mike

bri2327

Ebay is my crack.

Every time I reflect and settle into concentrating my collecting interest it goes well for a month or two then BAM, a relapse and Im off the wagon going all different directions.

There outta be a 12 step program for this kinda stuff. Maybe I can start one to support my own habit

alohaet

Thanks guys for the support. I knew I was not alone in this. I think one thing that is causing the current problem is that I won't be able to do this when I retire. So I guess I am getting my fill now. I will reign it back and just concentrate on one set.

Thanks, Ed

lawnmowerman

<< <i>Thanks guys for the support. I knew I was not alone in this. I think one thing that is causing the current problem is that I won't be able to do this when I retire. So I guess I am getting my fill now. I will reign it back and just concentrate on one set.

Thanks, Ed >>

Yeah, leave those Emmitts for me

matt

NewJerseyMeatHook

alohaet

Lawnmowerman, The 2 cards I like are the 89 Score Supplimental 101T PSA 10 (which I am outbid on at the moment) and the 89 Fleer Update U40 which I have now in PSA 10. I know I have about 50 of his cards raw in a album somewhere. I was at one time trying to collect all his cards but gave up when I got to over 50. I think you are safe from me in the future.


Ed

themetalsign

It is a good disease though..........

MajorDanby

i go through it. i think a lot of collectors go through it. it's in our blood. we try to stay focused, but when we something nice...we just cant help it. usually what happens to me is that i go through a mini spree...then feel somewhat guilty. eventually, i sell these excess cards off after a few months.

be glad that you can sell them back on the market with nearly the same price as you bought it (and in some cases you might make a profit). if you're addiction was, say, clothing or toys....you're left with both guilt, a bunch of items you dont want and an empty wallet!

Stone193

<< <i>i go through it. i think a lot of collectors go through it. it's in our blood. we try to stay focused, but when we something nice...we just cant help it. usually what happens to me is that i go through a mini spree...then feel somewhat guilty. eventually, i sell these excess cards off after a few months.

be glad that you can sell them back on the market with nearly the same price as you bought it (and in some cases you might make a profit). if you're addiction was, say, clothing or toys....you're left with both guilt, a bunch of items you dont want and an empty wallet! >>


MD

That's a good point about selling/bailing out.

Nobody wants my wife's 60th pair of shoes!

My wife and I were talking about our budget - and how much credit card debt we have.

I'm looking at Christmas - at the earliest - to start my budget.

jradke4

Focus is always tough as there are always cool cards/sets coming out. But I am doing a good job this year. So far I have only bought Favre's, HOFer auto FB's (spent too much but am close to 3/4 there in terms of total cards) and working on finishing my run of Finest Football. See a trend. I have stopped with all the other sports and have stuck to my true passion, football. I have my 2 cases of this years finest football pre-ordered. Since I focus on the sets its tough not to rip through all the boxes. But with the rookie auto's, its hard not too. Look forward to this years crop. Hopefully I get lucky in the first case and can save some boxes to sell later.

Stone193

<< <i>Focus is always tough as there are always cool cards/sets coming out. But I am doing a good job this year. So far I have only bought Favre's, HOFer auto FB's (spent too much but am close to 3/4 there in terms of total cards) and working on finishing my run of Finest Football. See a trend. I have stopped with all the other sports and have stuck to my true passion, football. I have my 2 cases of this years finest football pre-ordered. Since I focus on the sets its tough not to rip through all the boxes. But with the rookie auto's, its hard not too. Look forward to this years crop. Hopefully I get lucky in the first case and can save some boxes to sell later. >>


Good luck on the Finest FB Jr

This is the first year that I didn't buy a case of Heritage - next year I may be 5!

mike

RonBurgundy

What a good thread at an appropriate time. I got seriously back into the hobby about 2 1/2 years ago. I decided I wanted to complete a 1968 set, as I had about half the raw cards for a set. Thought it would be a good 2-3 year project. 9 months and a big buying spree later, it was done. Decided I would take a break last spring.

That lasted a month. I bought a 1957 Mantle and then started buying 56's and 57's. Finally decided late last year to focus on 57's, thinking it would be a good 2-3 year project. 8 months and several buying sprees later, I need one card for a high grade, completely graded set (not on the registry as there are several SGC and GAI cards that will need replaced or re-slabbed).

I need to take a break, big time. I first need to pay off the bill for the National, then need to spend the rest of the year getting several hundred cards graded, and also buying the one remaining card I need for the '57 set. That's it. But then I started thinking, you know, I have about 100 really nice raw 61's. Then I see some interesting things on Ebay, and here we go again.

Part of my problem is that having been out of the hobby for so long, I am trying to make up for lost time. But I need to settle down a bit. I have other projects I want to get to other than cards, and this hyperfocus (obsession?) I have is getting in the way.



Ron

LWMM

That's a link, by the way...

gosteelers

<< <i>Thanks guys for the support. I knew I was not alone in this. I think one thing that is causing the current problem is that I won't be able to do this when I retire. So I guess I am getting my fill now. I will reign it back and just concentrate on one set.

Thanks, Ed >>



Ed,
As always, please let me know if I can be of any assistance...

MajorDanby

as stone can attest to, there's nothing like the reality of bills and financial harship to stop these spending sprees dead in its track. unfortunately, something it's too little, too late.

I'm planning to sell parts of my collection pretty soon...ive focused my entire attention on completing the T206 set and two minor, easily afforable sets (05 bowman heritage and 91 topps). My HOF rookies collection will have to wait till i get out of grad school...which, could be when hell freezes over.

BigDaddyBowman

My name is BigDaddyBowman and I'm a cardaholic!


I also have these sprees of buying. Due to my occupation, I have the summer months off which gives me way too much available time to surf ebay. I will dump a couple grand over the summer, but then I will go from August to June without buying hardly anything.

alohaet

gosteelers36, you devil trying to entice me again. You & daddy*doctor are feeding this monster that dwells in the collecting cavity of my mind. It might be time for me to check into the nut house for a checkup.

Ed

detroitfan2

<<Yeah, leave those Emmitts for me

matt>>

Just curious why you guys collect cards of such an obscure player like Emmitt Smith. Is he a relative or something?

lawnmowerman

<< <i><<Yeah, leave those Emmitts for me

matt>>

Just curious why you guys collect cards of such an obscure player like Emmitt Smith. Is he a relative or something? >>





Thanks Tom. You always make me laugh

Matt

Stone193

One key thing to do:

CUT DOWN ON HOW MUCH STUFF YOU WATCH on ebay!

Unless you have a large budget - watching 20-100 items can only lead to buy, buy, buy! And then your bank account goes bye, bye, bye!

This is reality for me.
mike

alohaet

Stone193, You have offered some great advice here. I guess it is just putting your priorities in order and sticking to them. Thanks.

Ed

tkd7

I can give one piece of advice. You mention that you can sell the cards later, but I've always found it good to sell some things now. It helps break that psychological barrier of collecting when you actually do sell. Knowing you can sell and actually selling are two different things.

NewJerseyMeatHook

Due to my occupation, I have the summer months off which gives me way too much available time to surf ebay

I hear you, brother!

Stone193

Another potential problem area:

The SNIPE PROGRAM!

It makes it a bit too easy. If ya have to manually purchase things - again - it will slow ya down a whole bunch!

mike