Sacrificing a Set to Buy a Dream Card Dilemma
 

Would love to know if anyone else has been in this position. A dream card of mind just because available and has a total pop between PSA and SGC of less than 20. Thing is the coffers are dry. In order to afford this card I would have to sell some pieces off. I have been working on a set for awhile and would have to sell about 10 cards from it to raise the cash for this dream card. Has anyone else been in a position where they have gone backwards on building a set to free up some cash for a dream card? If so did you regret doing it or not? Would love some feedback:-D

Thanks guys and TGIF

Do it if the cards from the set are easier to replace than finding the dream card again.

Been there more than once. Are the cards you are selling easily replaceable? How often does your dream card come up for sale? If the cards you would be selling are easily replaceable, without a doubt sell them and get the dream card. If the cards you sell are not easily replaceable, do you have anything else you could sell instead? If it is a private sale, have you inquired if the seller would be willing to accept a payment plan? Sometimes being creative pays off.

DJ

I am not a set builder but have faced a similar decision selling off a few smaller cards to pick up a big one. I'd say go for it. Especially if the pop is that low.

If it's your dream card, then it's a no brainer, sell the set, and quickly because it may be someone else's dream card too.

What happens if someone else grabs it while you are selling a set off? That wouldn't be good. . . . .

That was exactly my analysis when I did that very thing several months ago. I don't regret it because it would have been quite a while before the card I received became available again, particularly in the condition I wanted. Personally I'd go for it.

I agree with the above - sell the set cards and buy the dream card. I have never for a second regretted picking up a dream card. I am not a set builder, but part of the fun in that is the process of building the set, so this will let you extend the fun of building your set too.

Get the dream card....

Try to broker a deal where maybe you put some $$$ down and the owner agrees to let you sell the other set cards to raise the funds (so you don't end up moving your set cards and missing out on the dream card)

That is what credit cards are for.

Dream card. And after you take the advice of the board and own the dream card, can you share with us your new acquisition?

Agree with Jeff on this.

Quality over quantity; get the dream card.

A little over a year ago, I opened up a new NO interest for 15 month credit card to cover the cost of my "dream" card. I am 13 months in and have no regrets or problems sending over the 1/15 of my total cost each month to cover the cost. In two months when I send over my last payment, I will close this card out.

On my next large purchase, I will likely do the same as this method has worked fine....I know because my wife keeps passing onto me all of the CC 15+ month/no interest offers we receive in the mail.

OP should go for your dream card.

Go for it. Last time this situation arose for me I discussed the matter with my wife and we agreed that I would use our HELOC to pay for the card if I won the auction, with the understanding that I would then sell however much it took to pay it down to zero. I didn't win the card, but I ventured further into the deep waters than ever before chasing a card. I'd do it again if the possibility presented itself to get a truly cornerstone piece.

From the sounds of it I think you would regret not going for the "dream card", not letting go of cards from a set to do so.

Go for it, but for me, I have trouble selling almost anything in my collection. Good on all you guys for being able to do that.

I've done this a couple of times. I never miss the bulk of the cards I sold off, but I do still miss a few of the pieces of the bulk -- try to keep those, the ones you are going to miss.

Good luck!

Get the dream card. It sounds like it doesn't come up that often. You'll end up regretting it for a long time if you don't get it now.

I'm with everyone else, get the dream card!

No frickin' doubt, grab up the dream card, and grab it quickly before it goes poof!!! in the night and you never see it again.

buy the dream card you wont regret it

I am in a somewhat same but different situation. :confused:

I have mainly stuck to collecting 52 Topps cards but I have always wanted and coveted a 56 Topps Mantle as well.

Right now I can get a newly slabbed PSA 4 for a very fair/decent price but I can't make up my mind to purchase it or put my money towards more, specifically high numbered 52 Topps cards?

I still need many lower numbered cards but I thought if I am willing to spend $500 or so on one card that I love, should I maybe spend that on one or a couple high number 52 Topps cards? :confused:

I know the decision is mine only, but for the life of me I can't figure out what to do! :mad:

You go with your gut. If it tells you the Mantle is the one, do it. If not, don't. There will always be 1956 Topps Mantles out there, and there will always be 1952 Topps cards. Whichever you pick, you aren't wrong. Make a decision and don't second guess yourself would by my suggestion.

I say go for the 56 mantle

To me, anyways, it seems like a lot of 56's are coming on the market but they are still commanding decent money. Not sure if that will last or not though?
With the high numbered 52's, and I could be wrong, I am thinking they are a little more scarce and will always command decent money and maybe continue to rise, based on condition of course?

My highest coveted card is a 52 Topps Mathews, but with them in the stratosphere, it's unlikely I'll ever be able to afford one.
With me not being able to afford the Mathews, and likely a few others, it's unlikely I'll ever be able to finish my set, so that is a big part of the reason why I want to stray and purchase the 56 Topps Mantle that I love.:confused:

Decisions, decisions!

Well, the beauty of your dilemma is that, whichever way to ultimately go, you aren't wrong and end up with a nice card. That's really kind of a good problem to have. Best,

Kenny

Think of it in this scenario:

You walk in to a card show/dealer with $X in your pocket. On one table are the 10 cards you need for your set; on another table is your dream card. Which one(s) do you buy ?

That's essentially where you are, except that you have to do a little work to turn the 10 cards into cash if you go for the dream.

Dale I agree on that 52 Mathews, it is very high on my want list also.

To the OP I would get your dream card. I done the opposite and sold a couple error cards to buy my dream set a very nice 59 Fleer Ted Williams set. I am very happy I done it and have never regretted it.

This. Always take advantage of what is most difficult to replace.

Dream card...not even a question.

Think of it this way...you're hosting a party, word gets around you're a collector, and everyone wants to see some "cool" stuff. Would you look more like a rockstar if you pull out a binder of a complete set from the 50's...or an early Mickey Mantle card?...Exactly. ;)

Sort of doing this recently. At the National, I consigned my complete W572 collection to Heritage. They had a reasonable consignment percentage and there is a reserve so I do not lose my shirt. Hopefully the procedes will go towards continuing to build my T205 Cubs reverse collection of buy a really cool premium card for my collection. Liked the W572 but have not picked anything new in over 2 years.

Let's be honest with yourself, Taylor
 

Let's be honest with yourself, Taylor.

You want this dream card, with a said POP of less than 20. Fair enough.

You are currently working on a set you presumably want badly enough to build it card by card. You've made good progress.

OK, on one side of your imagination, place the set you're working on, in its completed state. The entire set. A set you have worked hard to complete, and there it is, in the condition you are striving to maintain.

On the other side, place the dream card, whatever it may be.

The tough question you must ask yourself, if you could only have one of them, which one would that be? Why? Really, think it through and hard, man, why do you want the one you chose? Are you going to easily change your mind?

Now, you've indicated the dream card might be "a chance of a lifetime". Could be. Could be.

Then again, completing this set might be in its own way a chance of a lifetime.

Lots of factors must be weighed in. Actual chances of returning to the set and getting it done. Seeing something else that causes your heart to flutter. The low pop of the dream card might change, but I doubt it, since I will assume it's a pre-war card.

I can sort-of relate to your dilemma. I was not working on a set, but the opportunity came about for me to land a dream card. I did not have the funds, but the owner said he would hold the card for me if I could come up with the dough in 2 months. At this time, spring of 1989, you could place an ad in SCD, and IF you had the right kind of stuff, you could sell a lot of it. Placed the ad, had a ton of orders, with a lot of repeat business from a happy customer involving cards not in my ad, and by the grace of God, I made it. I bought the dream card. I turned many cards into one single card. Have I missed those I let go?

Not for one second.

I still own the dream card.

Follow your heart.

Doesn't matter what Joe Blow from Kokomo thinks between the two.

Wishing you the best, mate. Take care. ----Brian Powell

The longer I'm in this hobby, the more I wish I would have eschewed large sets and runs of cards and focused more on a handful of special, select cards.

I would never collect a huge set again - but I treasure a handful of singles I have (plus two or three team sets, and one run of something that cannot be completed).

Sell the set, buy your dream card. If you don't, you'll look back and regret the decision one day

Except for a couple nice looking, but run-of-the-mill sets I am doing to keep me interested, I agree completely. Go for the dream card. You might regret it later.

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Except for a couple nice looking, but run-of-the-mill sets I am doing to keep me interested, I agree completely. Go for the dream card. You might regret it later if you don't.

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I totally agree...I missed my opportunity to get a '52 Mantle while it was still affordable...

back when I was six-years-old.

DO'T!

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Sacrificing a Set to Buy a Dream Card Dilemma
 

This is purely a personal decision. There seems to be an overwhelming number advising you to sell the set and buy the dream card. Nothing wrong with this advice at all. I take a different approach to collecting as I am primarily a set collector. To me, sets are like a time capsule for a particular era. While we remember the Cobbs, Ruths, Mantles, Aarons, etc., the common players, and many of the interesting stories surrounding them, have added immensely to baseball's lore. While I enjoy looking at my 1954 Aaron, I equally enjoy pulling out the binder holding my 1965 set and looking at the players that defined the game at that point in history.

Again, no wrong answer to your question. Do what makes you happy. Just offering another viewpoint. Good luck with your decision.


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Whelp! Looks like I was not fast enough as the buyer told me the card sold. FWIW, the card was the M110 Sporting News Honus Wagner Cabinet and what I was selling off was pieces of a 1914 CJ set I am building. Appreciate all of the advice... will certainly have a better grasp next time on what to do and how quickly to move.