Let's talk about when there's too many things you want
 

Man, there are so many eBay auctions ending today and tomorrow and I want them all. And then there's some major auctions ending pretty soon and I want all their stuff too.

I thought I'd start a thread to talk about "the choice." How do you make it, assuming there are multiple items that fall within your focus all ending around the same time?

I used to get antsy and just go after what was ending first. But I'm trying to change my ways. After reading the board so much I've begun to take into consideration when I'm likely to see the item again, if at all. I also try to think about the next item I pick up down the road and whether buying this item will get me closer to that one, or farther away. I guess that's a way of saing re-sale value, but those words sound too harsh. I'll still love it while I have it.

Many sniping services have a feature that allows you to group multiple snipes and once an item in the group is won, all others are canceled.

I have a definite hierarchy among the sets and subjects that I’m currently collecting, and that is tied pretty closely to how common they are and how often they are available.

I’m working on a couple autograph collections of major career accomplishment clubs such as 500 HRs, 3000 hits, 300 wins and 3000 strikeouts…none of which are rare or really uncommon (just pricey) so they fall back pretty far in my hierarchy when I have to choose what to chase after in auctions or on Ebay. Most of them can be had at any given time, it’s just a matter of having the funds.

Then on the opposite end of my spectrum is my quest for T209 Photo Series, since they don’t come up very often in auctions, and most of them are uncommon or rare, they always jump to the top of my priority list.

I usually compare my resources with the likelihood I will be able to get the card again. If I don't think I will see it again, or again soon, I go deeper on it. Tener was on N172 and N173 and maybe others.

It depends on what you collect. If it's the Monster, then you're only limited by your pocketbook, because they're all available pretty much all the time (except the Doyle, of course). If it's E-121s, there are a couple seriously tough cards that you'd shove everything else aside to pick up. There are plenty of cards that would fit nicely into my Washington collection, but that I've passed on because I knew I'd have chances later. To follow up on Leon's comment, when the really tough item appears then everything else drops down. Want a '33 Ruth in nice condition? No hurry. A JuJu Drum? Grab it now.

Of course, that means that there are some holes in my collection that are just silly, like a Johnson B18 blanket.

Bill