The Hoarder - accumulates cards incessantly and never sells until death do him part.
The Drifter - Has focused goals that once met may refocus in a new goal resulting in the disposition of the old goal or those who drift from one goal to another without ever completing any of them.
The Churner - Auction addicts with some level of budgetary constraint who can’t resist a good auction and are forced to sell in order to pay their auction bills or save their marriage. Emotionally crazed collectors who frequently buy high and sell low.
The Hobby Investor (Wise old Collector) - Focused collector who consistently looks for deals on cards they hope to sell
someday for more than their costs. No card in the gottahaveit category, only good deals. These are the savvy collectors who are chameleons who hide in the reeds with patience aplenty ready to pounce at the most opportune time.
The Bottom Feeder - whose best card is only slightly better than his worst, which has borderline authenticity, paper loss, markings, stains or rodent tooth prints, or better yet all of the above. Fills empty binder sleeves faster than a locomotive to complete sets that absolutely no one would be proud of.
The Elitest - whose worst card is only slightly worse than his best, which appears to never have been held in human hands. Cards where the terms immaculate and pristine somehow fall short and seem inadequate. The collector who pops his tops only after buying the tops in Pops.
The Flipper - Member without a true collection of their own who is looking for cards, often in larger lots that they can resell for a profit either here or on the Bay, but do this as a hobby and not for a living. Different from the group above in that the flip is a
quicker maneuver and their collection is nonexistent.
The Sniper - the collector who gains pleasure from seeing grown men cry at their screens after losing an auction to his last second bid.
The Cracker - self-described liberator of cards entombed in plastic cases designed for their preservation. Also known as
The Feeler
The Crossover Artist - buys only cards from a TPG he doesn't like so that he can spend more money resubmitting either for a higher grade or "the look".
The Dealer/Collector - Dealers that have legitimate collecting interest, but are clearly trying to make a living in the cardboard trade.
The Auctioneer - an owner in the proliferating Auction House Industry.
The Hard Core Dealer - full time non-collector who suck and feed on all of the above.
The Newbie - the awestruck deer (dear) who know they want to be hit by the approaching vehicle but can't decide quickly enough whether to take a head shot, a broadside or a kick in the ass.
The Ex-Collector - the guy who may or may not still have some or all of their collections but for one reason or another, financial or motivational, is not actively chasing anything.
The Dead Collector - sort of a permanent Ex, as Ex-Collectors can always re-enter. This category consists of (death) certified collectors only.
The Future Collector - The offspring of a collector who has no idea of what they may inherit from The Dead Collector
The Unborn Collector aka
Collector-in-Utero - The last hope for the sexually active collector who already has a stable of deadbeat future collectors, who don't know the difference between a Cobb and an ear of corn.
The Researcher - Yes, there are valid research interests in prewar collecting, but if you can do a google search, copy & paste and post on
Net54, you may find your "research (?)" regarded with
plaudits.
All of the above may be not be mutually exclusive, so that you may find that you are a
Hybrid Collector. Don’t be alarmed. This is not a serious condition and can be treated.
I think.
This thread is the result of a conversation (Boca) with another member (bird) earlier today who may want to remain anonymous (man).