What would you do????

[Golfcollector]

Recently had this happen to me so curious as to what other collectors would do in a similar situation.

SCENARIO - You have been searching for an elusive card for your collection for a couple of years. Finally, FINALLY you have the chance to buy one. it is a graded example, lower grade but nice for the grade, and the price is pretty reasonable - - -and you are negotiating with the seller for this and another card for your collection.

BOOM! Out of the blue a SECOND example becomes available from a different source! This one is ungraded, maybe just a shade nicer but at a cost that is 51% more than the card you first found.

We are not talking break the bank money here, but still it is a few hundred bucks. And no, neither one is trimmed

Do you:

1) Go with the first card
2) Punt the first card and buy the second card
3) Purchase BOTH


Curious to hear what others would do and some support as to why?

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Golfcollector

Recently had this happen to me so curious as to what other collectors would do in a similar situation.

SCENARIO - You have been searching for an elusive card for your collection for a couple of years. Finally, FINALLY you have the chance to buy one. it is a graded example, lower grade but nice for the grade, and the price is pretty reasonable - - -and you are negotiating with the seller for this and another card for your collection.

BOOM! Out of the blue a SECOND example become available from a different source! This one is ungraded, maybe just a shade nicer but at a cost that is 51% more than the card you first found.

We are not talking break the bank money here, but still it is a few hundred bucks. And no, neither one is trimmed

Do you:

1) Go with the first card
2) Punt the first card and buy the second card
3) Purchase BOTH


Curious to hear what others would do and some support as to why?

I have done all 3 multiple times.
1) If I have commited to purchase I would not feel right backing out.
2) If just kicking the tires on the card I will let the person know I found a better example and thank them for their time.
3) Done this one WAY too many times. Sometimes because I am a hoarder and sometimes because I know I can sell one of them for more than purchase price later. Sometimes to even protect the price on a rare card.

[jchcollins]

There have been times I've been stuck between 2 cards on ebay, and bought them both. As long as you know what you are doing with the price, you can normally wait and make more informed decision later with both cards in hand as to which one to keep. Or you may just decide to keep both of them for some period of time. This is an ebb and flow thing with me, and has happened more than a few times before.

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Golfcollector

Recently had this happen to me so curious as to what other collectors would do in a similar situation.

SCENARIO - You have been searching for an elusive card for your collection for a couple of years. Finally, FINALLY you have the chance to buy one. it is a graded example, lower grade but nice for the grade, and the price is pretty reasonable - - -and you are negotiating with the seller for this and another card for your collection.

BOOM! Out of the blue a SECOND example becomes available from a different source! This one is ungraded, maybe just a shade nicer but at a cost that is 51% more than the card you first found.

We are not talking break the bank money here, but still it is a few hundred bucks. And no, neither one is trimmed

Do you:

1) Go with the first card
2) Punt the first card and buy the second card
3) Purchase BOTH


Curious to hear what others would do and some support as to why?

1) It depends, is the second card in that negotiation also tough, or is it more along the lines of a throw in to make the money seem better?
2) Maybe, if it messes up the deal for the third card or annoys the seller who may eventually have other cards for you that's not what you want to do. If it makes sense, I would be sure not to do it until I had the card from the other source in hand.
3) If you can afford it - Yes. Especially for a card that's uncommon enough that it took a couple years to find the first one.

[JohnP0621]

I would buy the first card for sure at 50% lower price than the second card . It also has already been graded and will save you that cost and make it easier to sell when the time comes. Would also consider buying the second one also if it was that tough to find and could always sell later or use for trade material.

John P

[CobbSpikedMe]

Originally Posted by JohnP0621

I would buy the first card for sure at 50% lower price than the second card . It also has already been graded and will save you that cost and make it easier to sell when the time comes. Would also consider buying the second one also if it was that tough to find and could always sell later or use for trade material.

John P

I agree with John here. If I could afford it I would buy both of the cards and have some nice trade bait for another tough card down the road.

[bobbyw8469]

I would buy both....keep the higher graded one, and sell the other one at a nice enough markup to offset some of the money you spent for #2.

[AGuinness]

Originally Posted by JohnP0621

I would buy the first card for sure at 50% lower price than the second card . It also has already been graded and will save you that cost and make it easier to sell when the time comes. Would also consider buying the second one also if it was that tough to find and could always sell later or use for trade material.

John P

I guess the way I read it is that the first card (graded) was the more expensive one, with the second being 51 percent the cost of the first.

If I'm reading this right, I would get the second one for my PC if I had trust in the seller and hadn't committed to the first yet. But doing due diligence is important for either card.
I would be wary of buying both with the idea of flipping - I've been in a similar situation in the past and tried it with mixed results. There's no guarantee that somebody else is chomping at the bit to own a copy of the same card, much less pay more than what you are paying for it. It could work, of course, but in this situation, I'd rather have the money to put into another card for my PC right now than go through the hassle of trying to flip it and take the risk of keeping my money tied up in something that doesn't move quickly, and even worse, for maybe a loss.

[Steve D]

[QUOTE=AGuinness;1925585]I guess the way I read it is that the first card (graded) was the more expensive one, with the second being 51 percent the cost of the first.

Here's the wording in the OP:

"BOOM! Out of the blue a SECOND example becomes available from a different source! This one is ungraded, maybe just a shade nicer but at a cost that is 51% more than the card you first found."

So for example, if the first card is priced at $100, the second card, costing 51% more, would cost $151. There is no way I would go for the second card in this scenario, as it is only "just a shade nicer", and "ungraded".

Steve

[AGuinness]

Guess I need glasses!
My point remains, just switching the card I’d take, though.

[Fred]

And BOOM, while you're waiting to make a decision the seller for each of those cards sells them to someone else because you waited too long to pull the trigger....

If you have a deal with the first seller ad he's been negotiating in good faith, then obviously the right thing to do is to not blow that person off. If it isn't break the bank money and you waited a couple of years for it, then there's a chance someone else is looking for the same card. Get them both and keep the one you like the most and sell the other.

[Leon]

I would buy the graded one for less money and start looking to fill the next hole. Not a hard decision for me. I have bought 2 of the same cards before and it hasn't worked out that well.

[bbcard1]

All things being equal, I'd buy the first one. The reason is that it sounds like a crapshoot as to which one is a better value and you don't want to alienate the seller as he has demonstrated the capacity to find stuff you want.

If both cards are marketable and it is from a popular issue and money wasn't a problem, I'd probably buy both. Good trade bait and you could apt get your money back at worst. Talking about something like a t206 Southern Leaguer or Cracker Jack.

There are some cards I want for my collection that are best described as "rare and undesirable" meaning they are going to be hard to find but I probably won't find another person looking for it even if I do. In which case I would buy the first one and be done with it.

[Golfcollector]

Great input from all, it is interesting to see how minds of other collectors work as well.

FWIW, I was wavering between all of the scenarios at some point this weekend. I am going to go with scenario #1 which also lets me pick up another great card in a package deal, and I am still considering #3 as well

[Leon]

Nice.
Sometimes running your thoughts on cards by the forum, will help with some new ideas or, will reinforce your own thoughts.

Originally Posted by Golfcollector

Great input from all, it is interesting to see how minds of other collectors work as well.

FWIW, I was wavering between all of the scenarios at some point this weekend. I am going to go with scenario #1 which also lets me pick up another great card in a package deal, and I am still considering #3 as well