What you want VS What you need

[Archive]

Posted By: David Poses

When I can't find something I need for my collection (focus, at the moment, is type cards of Highlanders/Yankees), I find myself buying all kinds of stuff I don't really want and typically end up unloading on the B/S/T at a loss. These detours include several forays into bulk T206s and various other T and E cards I am now trying to get rid of so I can pay for the stuff I really need to fill holes in my collection. Sometimes, I'll buy a duplicate example of a card I already own from my "need" list even though I am perfectly satisfied with the one I have.

I convince myself that the "want" card doesn't cost as much as a "need" card, but as soon as I buy it, remorse sets in and I remind myself that several "wants" cost more than one "need." I seem to be on a 3:1 ratio (3 cards I don't need for every 1 card I do).

What's your ratio? How do you maintain focus? Is there a trend in what you buy when you can't find something you need? I'm thinking of getting back into 50's Bowmans as a side project just because they're readily available and relatively cheap and can give me the fix I seem to need so often.

[Archive]

Posted By: Dan Bretta

I am always finding myself bidding/buying items I already have...if I do happen to stray outside of my focus it's always with the intent to resell it. For about two solid years now though I have remained very focused and if I do happen to bid on something I already have I usually just put in a low snipe and if I get it...good...and if I don't...then well I didn't really need it anyway.

All bets are off though if it's something I "need".

[Archive]

Posted By: jdrum

Everything I buy must be something I want because I don't need any of it.

Note: But I sure like it.

[Archive]

Posted By: justin

My focus is, and always has been, putting together my T206 set. But in the last 2 months, I have bought T3's, T205's, T207's, and a about dozen E's. I keep telling myself that I deserve some slack while building the monster, but this is getting ridiculous.

[Archive]

Posted By: Steve Dawson

My main focus is pre-WW2 hall of famers. For the last few months, I've run into increasing difficulty finding the cards I "need" (mostly 1933-34 Goudeys), in the grades I'm looking for (PSA 2-3).

To kind of fill in the gap and satisfy my itch, I've found myself going for "common" T206's. I started with the Chicago Cubs, and have obtained all of them except for Lundgren. Now, I find myself looking for the Brooklyn Superbas.


Steve

[Archive]

Posted By: Jason L

When i first re-entered the hobby in 2004, I was all over the map, which helped define my interests, but boy, was it costly!
I would say my ratio was 50/50 want vs need, but to be honest, it was 100% want, until my goals became defined.

Now it is more like 90% need

Problem is my "need" list keeps growing...sometimes just to accomodate things that I want, if you get my drift.