Depressed....

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Posted By: Paul Griggs

I dragged my feet on this Ruth US Caramel, & now it's gone. I really want this card, & I should have just bought it. It seems these could be hotter than the Goudey's right now. I just don't see them often enough to know what to bid.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=86843&item=5178636064&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

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Posted By: Wesley

Don't worry, Paul. The 32 US Caramel Ruth will turn again on ebay once in a while. Definitely expect to pay more for that card than any of the 33 Goudeys in the same condition.

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Posted By: Paul Griggs

Yeah I know. Sometimes I get feeling a little guilty for spending so much money on this stuff, & it makes me hesitate. I don't feel that guilty about not giving the wife much money, but the kids college funds gets to me sometimes. I've seen two "real" Ruth US Caramels on eBay in the last couple months, so I suppose there will be another. I'm not counting the PSA 8 last week, from a seller in Japan with zero feedback. Thanks.

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Posted By: warshawlaw

But I always tell myself this (well, my wife too when she raises an eyebrow):

I don't play golf or have other expensive hobbies that are pure consumption of money.

All the time I spend on cards other men spend on golf, bars, tv watching and bimbos. Some men blow off steam by go to Vegas to gamble, drink and get lap dances in strip bars; I hang out with other card nerds (no offense) and talk and trade cards in vacation hot spots like Cleveland, where the local word for a pretty woman is "tourist".

You are not spending the money; you are investing it. Cards are valuable and are not likely to lose their value. Over the last 40 years, they have increased in value like any other investment. Besides, who's to say the $$ I plunk into my T206 set wouldn't have gone into Worldcom or Enron stock? I sure wish the $2k I put into Enron had gone into a couple of nice T206 Cobbs instead. At least if the cards go bust I will end up with some very nice things instead of a statement from a brokerage telling me I am a loser.

So cheer up and keep collecting; it could be much worse

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Posted By: Jeff

Adam, clearly you've practiced that shtick; very smooth delievery--and I think you may even have convinced yourself that it is true! The only saving grace is that the cards are liquid and could be turned into cash if need be. That being said, I can't imagine selling my collection...

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Posted By: Gilbert Maines

Gee, you guys talk about drinking, gambling and carousing as if it is not the time teasured pasttime of males throughout history.

And show me something with better liquidity than a bottle of twelve year old ...

or a beer!

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Posted By: Scott Forrest

There is certainly more to life than cardboard, but if you collect wisely you can at least re-coup your expenditures when "outside influences" come down on you. I'm currently liquidating 90% of my collection - two kids in college - and don't expect to lose a nickle.

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Posted By: Julie

would rather see a good movie than a bad play, and rather read a good book than see a good movie, take a lot of public transportation, and have a self-supporting son. Daughter is something else again.

As for cards as inventments--I recently (VERY recently) had to sell 3 expensive cards. I made 500% profit on two of them, but sold the third for what I had paid for it. If you have collected cards for a long time, and buy what you like, that's the way it goes. Oh, the two I made 500% profit on, I sold cheap!

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Posted By: Paul Griggs

Great points by all. True, I usually justify it by telling myself these cards shouldn't depreciate, & it's a good investment. However like Jeff Said "I can't imagine selling my collection". In usual style, I'm over the guilt quickly, & that Ruth Caramel is as good as mine next time. (yes, I put some bucks in the 529 accounts yesterday).

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Posted By: Scott Forrest

Also, there are items I simply can't part with, especially the unique items. I think back on items I have sold and regretted and it almost always involves something ireplaceable. Here is one I would never let go of:

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Posted By: Paul Griggs

That's pretty awesome. What is it?

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Posted By: Scott Forrest

It's about 3.5 x 4.5, probably 1880's.

A few years ago you could find nice old photos on ebay and had no bidding competition. Not so anymore.

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Posted By: Dave

"I spent most of my money on booze and women. The rest, I just wasted"

on old baseball cards.