The second card!
 

Posted By: <b>Gilbert Maines</b><p>In niche set collecting there are several milestones, but to me the only card which beats the second one which you acquire is the last one!<br /><br />Now I haven't yet gotten many last ones. But those that I have are a joy to sit back and look at. The first card, by comparison, is simply a place holder identifying the existence of an anticipated effort. But the second card is the start of that comittment!<br /><br />You look at the two cards and visualize how more additions would appear. Then you gradually are overcome with a consuming desire to make progress.<br /><br />For me, after a while of making progress, I opt for other first and second cards. And put the quest for completion of the started sets on the back burner.<br /><br />That way, when additions come along, I grab them when I can, but I do not have the same intensity as I do in the beginning. But with each acquisition, I revisit the grouping and enjoy what I have assembled. Often I do that without a new acquisition.<br /><br />So I wind up continuously seeking various cards with a high level of urgency. This results in me frequently paying top dollar for every card. In a continuously up market, this approach is partially justifiable. But I wonder how others view the price of cards. For example, the last card I won on eBay required a bid 20% higher than the Vintage Card Prices/Card Pricer program's price histories indicated.<br /><br />To me +20% in this market is acceptable. How about you? Is any +% acceptable?

The second card!
 

Posted By: <b>Joann</b><p>I don't limit myself to a +/- because if I did I might never get some cards I need. I think I am willing, and do, pay a little more for a card because it fits a need. I've realized that by trying to focus on Detroit players I end up narrowing my options and that drives my own, individual price up regardless of market. <br /><br />Examples:<br /><br />I BIN'd a T204 Ramly PSA 1 Charlie O'Leary for $125 off ebay. I think that is high for a PSA 1, even though as PSA 1's go this was not in bad shape at all. But I don't see too many Ramlys of any kind. Plus it was a Detroit player. Plus it wasn't some HOF'er that would drive the price up. Plus it was in a lower condition that I could afford. So a Ramly PSA 1 might not be worth $125 in general. But a Ramly of a non-HOF Detroit player in lower grade, affordable condition? It was worth $125 to me because I don't know when I will see another.<br /><br />I also bought an E98 from a board member that I probably went a little high on. But Mullin is the only non-HOF Detroint player in that set, so in reality there was only one card that would fill my collection for E98 Detroit player.<br /><br />So the short distillation of this long answer is ... I get a little fidgety when I know I've overpaid by a lot, but I also know that you have to grab the infrequent chances to fill some slots even if the price is a little high. I really don't worry about percent difference. <br /><br />Because of this exact thing, I'm starting to just shift my collecting focus a tiny bit to include some non-Detroit players in sets I like (T205 NL'ers, some E cards and Obaks for example) just so I can pick up some nice looking cards at closer to market.<br /><br />Joann