Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Patience. 5 1/2 years worth of patience.

There comes a time in this hobby when most collectors realize that this isn't a race. There is absolutely no need to rush out and buy the latest and greatest the week after release.
 
It's a hard lesson to learn. Some of us never learn it. I feel that's a big reason why there is burnout and people drop the hobby after going all in for as long as they could.
 
I know it was a huge lesson for me. But I am a much happier collector now. And like all good things, they come to those who wait for them.
 
And wait.
 
Aaaaaaand wait.
 
5 1/2 years.
 
Cue the wavy picture and the dreamy music as we flashback to 2008.
 
There was a product called Upper Deck Premier. My guy Adam LaRoche had several cards in the set. And several parallel cards... all of them pretty. I wanted ALL THE LAROCHE CARDS!
 
The thing is, I acquired a lot of them too. Just because I had one /10, doesn't mean I didn't want 2 or 3 or 4 of them.
 
The same goes for /15 and /25. So you know that carried over to the ones /30.
 
Thirty! Easy! Might as well get them all!
 
I think I have 10 or so of the /30. I was buying them for fair prices. Between $7 and $15.
 
Then another one popped up on the 'bay. #28/30. It was beautiful. I wanted it.
 
No. I needed it.
 
Problem..... it had a Buy It Now of $25, with a Best Offer option. $25????? Is he insane?
 
So I buckled down and offered him half. More than I wanted seeing as it would also have $3.50 shipping.
 
He came back at $22. Ha! I declined.
 
A year goes buy and that card is still in my Watched Items.
 
I offer $10. Still plus $3.50 shipping.
 
He refuses.
 
A year goes by.
 
I offer him $9.
 
Nope.
 
Another year goes by.
 
My offer goes up to $10 again.
 
No dice.
 
So I give up. But I still watch MY card in my Watched Items. And it stays there... month after month. At $25, for another 2 1/2 years.
 
Then, in December of 2013.... the seller has a xmas sale or something.... and low and behold, my card is marked down to $12. Except now it's $5.50 shipping.
 
I send him an offer of $7.50 all in. I've been the only one wanting this card for over five years.
 
I think he finally gave in... he counters at $9.50 shipped.
 
BOOM!!!
 

Patience. A lesson well learned.

Now.......

Why the hell do I need so many copies of the same card????

2 comments:

Play at the Plate said...

That's so dumb. Why would anyone want all the #/30 cards? (I've done it and I'm actually doing it again). ***Hangs head in shame***

Congrats on showing some extreme patience and finally getting the one you wanted.

bamlinden said...

At what point does patience become spite? Or laziness?

And were computers even around that long ago?

Impressive!!!