Wantlists - to share or not to share (and why?)

[CobbSpikedMe]

My wantlists are posted online for anyone to see and it generates trades and free cards fairly often. The link is in my signature. I'm not looking for anything really rare, except some Jersey City Skeeters items, so I don't care if people see it. I also won't overpay if someone were to try to gouge me on prices so I'm worried there. I have not problem saying no thanks.

[Danny Smith]

I post my want list of e105s that I still need for the set. There are a few of us going after the set and most of us know what the others are looking for.

Its been great for me as the other e105 collectors have helped me out and I've provided them leads as well. In addition I've had at least a dozen members reach out to me online or help me find cards at shows.

I know it doesn't always work out this way for others but without my list being public I wouldn't be anywhere near completing the set.

[x2drich2000]

I can definitely see both sides of the argument. I lean more on the side of sharing. Items that are common, I have a set amount I'll pay and if it is over, well, there is always another one. Items that are rare, I might not see them right away, but another member might and grab them for me. I've found quite a few members that help each other out looking for items they need.

Here's one a member helped me get.

[hcv123]

I don't think it's in general a bad idea to share a want list - understanding that if it is a rare item(s) you are looking for you may expect to pay a "little" more if someone turns it up (as a previous poster stated - always have the option of saying no thanks if it is a real gouge). What your "friend" did is a scumbag move (unless you knew he was also collecting the set and possibly had the same cards on his want list before sharing yours).

[mrreality68]

Hi,

Sorry to hear of your experience.

I enjoy collecting and I put most of my passion into the rare or not so rare cards that often do not come up for auction often.

I share my list (on the signature sections below). I have also shared with my network of net54 forum connections and other connections I have.

It has helped me get many cards that I would not have because

1. Anyone looking to sell/trade any item that I am looking for now has a potential trade/sale partner
2. Many good people on the forum etc have made introductions for me or given me leads on people that have what I am looking for. (even if we do not make a deal made a connection and potential friend in someone who has similar interest)
3. Allows me also to make connections to bounce questions or concerns of a card with someone for any opinion that may have more expertise or experience than I do.
4. Also if I need to flip a card to raise cash for a higher priority card on my list I have contacts to potentially sell it faster so I do not lose out on the card that I want to get but need the funds for

I am also lucky I have not been "burned" or had any bad experiences from sharing my list.

Also if someone else gets the card I wanted the reality it "sucks" but there are so many other cards and opportunities in the future. I just go with the flow.

[christopher.herman]

Originally Posted by CobbSpikedMe

I also won't overpay if someone were to try to gouge me on prices so I'm worried there. I have not problem saying no thanks.

This ☝

[egri]

I can see both sides of it. I've put mine out there because in the past I've had people who have seen my wantlist reach out and left me know when they see cards I need come up. I haven't yet had anyone see a card I need, not tell me, then buy it and try to flip it to me for an obscene multiple of what they paid, so I guess I've been lucky there.

[Mark]

If there's one card, or other item, that is surprisingly hard to find, I tell no one for about 20 years. And then I break down and ask around.

[Rhotchkiss]

I often share my wantlist with friends and dealers I trust. I generally don’t post them on a public forum, but that’s not because I am concerned about getting screwed. I have had a couple people over the years buy something they know I need and dangle it. Those people suck and I think they are shortsighted - I will no longer do deals with them and they likely lost out on lots of business with me over a single card.

I really try to help someone else if I can. However, sometimes I want a card I know someone else needs and I don’t want to stand down. DJ is a great example of that- I wanted a red crofts example, specifically an HOFer, and an Evers came up. I knew DJ needed it, but I really wanted it too. I won it and I love it. But if/when the time comes to part with it, DJ will 100% have first crack at it. It really sucks when you compete with friends and collectors you respect.

There are many people on this board who have helped me out over the years - Sean, Bryan, Chris, Wayne, Kevin, Joe, Andrew, Mike, Phil, Sonny, James and on and on. There are so many good guys on this forum, and I am so thankful for all the help I have gotten over the years. I hope I can reciprocate in time

My advice, I wouldn’t let a few bad crabs spoil the bushel.

[doug.goodman]

I'll tell anybody who asks what I'm looking for, and if somebody uses that against me, oh well. I won't pay more than what I want to pay, no matter how much I "need" something. Another will turn up eventually, and if not, oh well again.

Doug

[G1911]

If they are easily found cards, no reason not too.

If it's a toughie that is known, no reason not too.

If it is a tough card that is known to exist but people don't realize, for example, that particular front/back combination is rare, I put it on my public want list in a way that doesn't highlight it as a rarity, but just a card I need.

If it is a card unknown to the hobby, I generally keep it quiet until I secure one, before I out it, if I do. Sometimes I bring it up and out it, specifically because it will bring one out that I can then 'overpay' for to acquire. If sellers don't know there is a variation or something making a card desirable, it will sit in their stack of cheap extras not worth selling forever.

There are also certain unknown variations that I just really like, and don't mention because others will simply drive the price up on me as I buy them up. I'm buying them because I like them with no intent to publicize and sell later, and I don't want the extra attention. This applies to tough but not super tough variations.

There are a couple hobby pals I would consider friends that I share more with, on the understanding it stays private and they don't publicly out a card we need. Usually I will send them a copy of the card in question if it's one I'm sort of hoarding on the downlow.

Academically, I'd rather share everything, but realistically, sometimes it's just screwing myself to do it, as the profiteers who don't care about the card but see an opportunity to get in early on a tougher variant jump in.

[MuncieNolePAZ]

I share my wantlist freely. If nobody knows what you are looking it definitely makes it difficult to connect with somebody that has the card I am looking for. I do sometimes think I would be better off not sharing since I only collect Cobb and WaJo but am not going to overpay just because someone thinks they can use the list against me. I have only had positive experiences on Net54 so hopefully that continues.

Chad