First, "maximize" your return, sounds like something you should be doing with a 401k, not with your spare time hobby. Although some of the dealers on the site may try to "maximize" their return, I bet Ted Z. and Jim B. have never once thought of it that way.

Second, no one is saying you can never voice an opinion. But, when your opinion is weighed against 30 years of experience, don't get defensive when others don't side with you.

Perhaps I was too ambiguous, or perhaps it was just lost on you, but when I said "maximize my return", it meant the return of knowlege and enjoyment I can get from this place based on the investment of my time here. Had nothing to do with money whatsoever. Sorry for the confusion.

Wasn't lost on me one bit. But it was about you getting back something, tangible or intangible. A lot of people don't see it that way. Just have fun with the hobby.

The only person I've had to justify my collection to is my mom, who is most aggravated by all the packages coming in the mail (and that I should be saving up for tuition!). Luckily, I've managed to convince her that I'm able to sell parts of it at any time should an urgent need for cash arise -- some cards/memorabilia I could part with easily and without second thought (Yankees go first!), but others would definitely be as an absolute last resort.

Chicago, your wife must be a saint if the indecisiveness you've displayed on this forum extends in any way into real life.

What
 

The above...who is this piler-on and why, in a refering to another forum member, ever mention a wife or any family member? You know, with all this BS, why not someone step up and be the bigger man and not get into these childish back-and-forths? Don't like/agree with what a member says, ignore him. It's the attention and immediate responses that he and others may very well be feeding off of. Like the signs at the zoo...don't feed the animals...

I paid for our kitchen renovation by selling cards...now my wife loves cards.

Andy

And in conclusion...
 

Thanks to everyone for their great advice and support. I sat down with my wife yesterday and went through VCP with her. I've recorded the price of all cards I've purchased over the past couple years and the majority of them have seen some higher prices lately. She was convinced that me spending so much time (and $$$) on our great hobby is actually sensible. That's really all it took in the end. :cool:

Watch out Goodwin/REA - Here I come!!!

Is your ex-gf...
 

Is your ex-gf one of the ones on eBay claiming she was left with her ex's ball card collection and sells random cards for a few dollars per lot with the chance of getting a high $ card?

Ouch... man that had to hurt. At least you're smarter and wiser now...

Frank W
 

Frank- we have gone over this before ;).

I can easily say I am an investor and a collector. As a matter of fact I feel I am one of the more passionate collectors on the board. I still get a tingle when I get a card like the Thorpe recently, which I have no intention of selling (SEE BST tomorrow). At the same time I like to think I make smart decisions on what I buy. That way when I do go to sell them, hopefully in the very distant future, I can get my money back and maybe even a little more. Even if I don't get more I have had a lot of pleasure in collecting. I do consider them an investment almost as much as a collectible. How can I not consider them that way when I put out so much, relative to my other resources, for them?

As for my wife. Ever since I made a trip out to California, several years ago, and came back with a nice check in hand, she hasn't said a word. I handle all of the finances in the family and we both like it that way. She knows that I sometimes make a little and sometimes lose a little. It seems I get packages as least 3-4 times a week and she doesn't blink an eye. She's a great wife!!

i have no idea how she listed them.. she used a secret ebay id..... i wasn't on ebay then. But she only took good cards and was somewhat educated on them, so i bet she listed them individually. Anything over $20 value was taken with a few exceptions. She missed my Ozzie, Rickey, Brady and left my Peytons alone. But Mickie, Nolan, Drysdale, Wayne, Mario, Gordie, Mr. Orr, Rocket, Dryden, Lafleur, Roy, all decided to play for someone else

Yes it hurt when i opened the monster boxes and 2/3 of it was gone..... then i went threw my binders and all the star cards were gone, just commons left....A grown man cried that day!

Hopefully i am wiser for it.... but somehow i doubt it!

Ebay
 

Ebay has helped the hobby the last few years, because it gives normal collectors a way to cash in their 'investment'. Now it is easier to buy, because we know we can sell quickly if we need to. My wife is more comfortable with my buying cards, the last few years.

It used to be that I would have to sell to a card dealer, who would insult my cards, and then offer 1/3 to 1/2 what they were worth. I hated that process! The auction houses were only taking the high-end stuff. Ebay is the great equalizer. I can sell my cards and get the same amount as the big dealers can. The dealers have been cut out of the process.

Ron