Resisting the Urge to Sell

[Exhibitman]

It's just stuff; everything in my collection is for sale, at the right price. Of course, if the item is really rare and I really like it a lot, the asking price will give the buyer a nosebleed. I've rarely sold an item at my asking price and been sorry later; I've nearly always regretted selling things for less. As for the OP question, don't resist it. The fact that you are considering it probably means the items really aren't all that important to you.

[ullmandds]

I'm with Adam...at this point in my life...I'm 43...have been collecting things all of my life...everything is for sale for the right place...very few "things" in life are irreplaceable!!!

[mybuddyinc]

"Someone asked me if my club was for sale. What a ridiculous question. Of course it is for sale. So is my hat and my overcoat, and my watch. Anyone who wants them can have them at a price." --- H. Harrison Frazee, owner Boston Red Sox, 1917

[CardsFan999]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

The fact that you are considering it probably means the items really aren't all that important to you.

I suppose what you're saying is true to a certain extent. None of the items I've sold off to acquire others are particularly hard to come by and they can all be re-acquired.

Cash flow has been the major issue. I recently started using Paypal's "Bill Me Later" feature. It's really nothing more than a line of credit, but it's hooked into Paypal and my limit is intentionally low. Perhaps it will help me resist my temptation to sell off items to raise quick cash for buying others.

[Exhibitman]

My rule of thumb is that if I don't have the cash to pay for something hobby-related I should not be buying it. If I was to bid on something at auction that required me to draw on a LOC to pay for it, I would do so only with the understanding between me and my CPA, er, wife, that I would liquidate other items to pay down the credit line and any accrued interest. My feeling is that when you start taking on debt to cover hobby stuff it has turned from a hobby into an addiction.

[ullmandds]

I'd follow Adam's advice...he's a smart cookie!!!! I totally agree...they're just cards...you can't eat them...or live within them...many things in life more important than old cardboard...and certainly not a good thing to go into debt over?!

[Ladder7]

Once you've put away five years worth of your household's salaries and are contributing generously to your 401k and own a home. Then it may be okay to play with baseball cards... Damnit, forgot about college tuition

Easier said than done, I know. Try to focus on one niche that makes you happy. Hunt for bargains and resist overpaying for something that may reappear. Mine niche is htf Boston items now. Everything else in our shoebox is tradeable in order to fill holes. No appreciable value lost, or gained. But I enjoy it a lot more. I'll be on a fixed income shortly. So our collection is as valuable as it'll ever be in my financial lifetime.

[CardsFan999]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

My rule of thumb is that if I don't have the cash to pay for something hobby-related I should not be buying it.

That used to be my rule of thumb as well and most of the time it's very good advice. The problem is timing. In cases where I might have the Paypal funds to cover it in two or three days, but I don't have it today, it is helpful. If an auction is ending shortly, and buy it now pay immediately, there is no reason to lose out on a good deal on an item because you don't have the money right this second. Definitely not a good approach for people that have problems with credit cards but that is not me.

[cubsfan-budman]

Originally Posted by CardsFan999

If an auction is ending shortly, and buy it now pay immediately, there is no reason to lose out on a good deal on an item because you don't have the money right this second.

I don't mean to hurt your feelings or particularly offend you, but this is a child's attitude and not one that is going to hold you in good stead in the years to come.

What if you accrue debt vs. hobby stuff and then lose your job? Or if your partner or you gets sick. I sincerely hope nothing bad happens to your or yours, but prioritizing hobbies over practicality and self-reliance is a recipe for bad things

[ullmandds]

you can lead a horse to water...

[conor912]

if you have to borrow the money, it's not a good deal

[CardsFan999]

Originally Posted by cubsfan-budman

I don't mean to hurt your feelings or particularly offend you, but this is a child's attitude and not one that is going to hold you in good stead in the years to come.

What if you accrue debt vs. hobby stuff and then lose your job? Or if your partner or you gets sick. I sincerely hope nothing bad happens to your or yours, but prioritizing hobbies over practicality and self-reliance is a recipe for bad things

You probably have money buried in the back yard in case we have another depression. No wonder everybody in this forum collects pre-war cards -- their brains are stuck in the pre-war mode too.

[HRBAKER]

If I even consider buying a card "on time" (meaning paying for credit) then shoot me since my brain is stuck in the pre-war mode too. Of course I'm 53 so what do I know.
Now if I am in the business and I am investing in inventory, maybe.

[beachhead2]

Your collection and finances are personal so ultimately there is no answer we can provide. Are you flipping cards to (hopefully) make money or buying and keeping? I am definitely the latter. What I buy goes into my display. As laughable as it might sound, I'm working toward completing the collection. There's an endgame. Do you have a goal or do you own cards for a while, get tired of them, and then sell them?

[HRBAKER]

Originally Posted by CardsFan999

You probably have money buried in the back yard in case we have another depression. No wonder everybody in this forum collects pre-war cards -- their brains are stuck in the pre-war mode too.

Is this the perception you have of people who choose to live debt free?