Do you work on just one collection, or several collections at the same time?

Stooge

I have several collections in the works that are active and I'm not sure if it is beneficial to avoid the burnout syndrome, or if working on several keeps me from actually completing one at 100%. I have 3 non-sport sets 2 have 66 cards, and 1 has 132 cards. I have several baseball sets, and find that I love card collecting even more then I did the previous week and that I would love to collect even more sets. $$$ troubles certainly come to play I'm sure for everyone, even if you submit your own cards, or buy someone else's PSA 10's. I even recently earlier this year picked up my coin collecting habit over at PCGS and that takes it toll.

So, the ??? is do you collect just 1 set or several and Y?

Gemyanks10

Speaking only for myself, I can only work on one major graded set at a time. When I say major, I mean like a 726 card Topps set from the 80's. I have been known to work on a Topps set, as well as a few small sets if cards I need for my major set dries up as to not get bored. If money were no object, then it would be a completely different story, as there are literally hundreds of sets I would like to complete someday.

My issue is that I like more than one aspect of the hobby. I love set building, sending in cards for grading, and collecting unopened material prior to 1990 so sometimes it can be extremely overwhelming. Here and there I have to take a step back and remember that this is all a luxury and that I am fortunate enough to have a good job and a family that supports this "addiction" lol. I can't conquer Rome in a day, and this is a lifelong hobby so if I were to complete everything I wanted to complete overnight, there would be nothing left to look forward to down the road.

I take it one day at a time, and someday hope to amass a collection that is not only respectable and admireable, but one that truely speaks volumes for the time and effort that I put into it.

Happy Collecting!

GDM67

Working on multiple things at once (player and team sets, in my case) keeps me from getting frustrated when one set doesn't seem to have much available for sale.

BostonAmericans

I work a couple at a time. I take one vintage and concentrate on that. Then I keep up to date on modern as they get released. If an opportunity for something I 100% know isn't part of my collection pops up I will go for it, otherwise I just stick with the one. If I can ever get a good inventory of what I have I might try a multi-pronged approach, but even at that I think I would quickly get mired in the 'never get any set collected' muck.

Bliggity

I like to mix it up a bit so that I always have something I can work on. My "big" project right now is a '53 Bowman set, but they only come up in person at card shows, and one can only spend so much time on eBay. Plus, I have to space it out over a few years for $$ reasons. And you usually don't get to rip packs building a vintage set. So I'll usually pick one or two modern sets a year also. I'll buy a couple hobby/jumbo boxes and open one or two packs a day over a few months to keep busy in between card shows where I can get the '53 Bowman. The money that goes towards the moderns does push back the timeline for finishing the vintage set, but I think otherwise I'd lose interest too quickly.

DanBessette

I'm working on 3 player collections and the 1959 Fleer Ted Williams set. I also have 2 vintage team sets I'm working, but those are more "back burner" projects. Believe it or not, having these several concurrent projects is actually way more organized than I used to be, when I'd go to shows and shops with no plan and just buy whatever caught my eye. I think I'm currently on a really good place with my collecting and I'm having a ton of fun.

coachnip13

<< <i>Working on multiple things at once (player and team sets, in my case) keeps me from getting frustrated when one set doesn't seem to have much available for sale. >>



Good idea, and that's where I think I'm headed. Working on 1972 Topps baseball, and I have 44 cards left to get. The ones on eBay are either chewed up or three times the expected price. So it's time to start on something new while chipping away at the end of that set.

Griffins

<< <i>Working on multiple things at once (player and team sets, in my case) keeps me from getting frustrated when one set doesn't seem to have much available for sale. >>



I do the same. It also helps when a set gets hot and the prices spike, you can just step away from that one until the got to have it now guys hit completion.

AZDBzn2019

<< <i>

<< <i>Working on multiple things at once (player and team sets, in my case) keeps me from getting frustrated when one set doesn't seem to have much available for sale. >>



I do the same. It also helps when a set gets hot and the prices spike, you can just step away from that one until the got to have it now guys hit completion. >>



Man, was lookin' for this advice before. Once the got to have it guys hit completion, then you need to pay for boxes of the dudes that you didn't know were got to have it guys. And then that set is HOT ! So in actuality the guys you missed on then piss you off and you can't admit it so you buy cases at twice the buy in early price,

Stone193

I spend the least amount of time on cards but one set - full time is enough - as listed below - I also work slowly/part-time on the T3 set.

I agree with what Anthony said - good POV.

ashabby

I do more than one set so I don't get bored. It also makes it more fun since you run into dead ends for awhile on some sets. Also some sets get hot and cost more so I move away until they cool down or looking for better cards.

TNP777

Multiple sets. I've got several football (1970-1978) and baseball (1965-1972) sets going, at least a couple dozen 'modern' Dodgers team sets, and a dozen vintage Dodgers sets (mostly Red Man, Bell Brand and Post). Oh, and a vintage Bowman Rams set from 1952 Large.

AZDBzn2019

What is the set on your sigline Is that a 2015 Topps Dodger set ? Or must you admit, you have zero actual collecting focus and will go this way and that and get what you can from any set whenever it works out so basically no focus.

Wait, that's me. It is funny and friendly though seeing others also so dorf. (that was a Bret Butler set I started to look at correct ? what in the ???? cool)

TNP777

Meh. Never mind. There's no way I'm not being trolled.

gemint

I employ the multi-set strategy. I've completed 1967-71 in 8 or better (except one 7.5) and am now working on '66 and '72-76. I also completed '61. I'll also pick up cards for other years in raw or graded form randomly. It may sound like a lack of focus but I do stay focused on building out the post war Topps baseball sets and avoid branching out to football, basketball or pre-war. I would get frustrated and bored working on only one set. It would probably also force me to overpay for cards. Especially now adays when some cards only come up for sale a few times a year.

elsnorto

Paul, like most others who have chimed in, I too work on multiple sets simultaneously.

When I got back into the hobby, I shifted from current product to building vintage sets. I started building 1935 National Chicle, 1948 Leaf, & 1950 Bowman.

But as I got closer to completing those and cards I still needed were few and far between, I added additional sets.

That cycle repeated and now I am working on 25 graded sets and at least that many raw sets.

Snorto~

skrezyna23

I am working on two player registries (Mattingly/Buehrle). Started Mattingly about 8-9mos before Buehrle.