Set builders: when u give up?

[AnthonyCorona]

I've been trying to complete 2013 Gypsy Queen for a while but the photo variation SSPs are veryyyyy tough to come by. One popped on eBay last night, a Harper for $80, messaged the guy and he said he's got more than I do, sell mine to him so he can complete it. I'm debating, the Harper and Trouts are gonna be very expensive, but I also think it would be cool to help someone else complete their set. I look at cards as a hobby, not competition so I might do that. Anyone else been in a similar situation? If so, what did u do?

 

[Musial Collector]

How many do you have left to complete it?

 

[AnthonyCorona]

I still need like 20

 

[predatorkj]

Sp's are not necessary to build a set. You can pick and choose. 2013 topps football, I did the set with sp's. It was doable. 2014 topps football had over 100 sp's. Which IMO is a joke and not worth the trouble. I find some on the cheap, I'll pick them up and add them to my set. But I'm not sweating it.

My advice, before you even decide to do the sp's for a set, find out how hard they are to pull, how many there are, and how much they are going for. It'll give you an idea of how hard it will be to finish. I neglected to do several sets because there were either too many sp's or they were too expensive. I've been in your boat. But, I'd keep what I have if I were you. You're not far from the set and interest may wane for the cards making them cheaper.

 

[AnthonyCorona]

My advice, before you even decide to do the sp's for a set, find out how hard they are to pull, how many there are, and how much they are going for.

I messed up right there. I got all the base and base SPs but had no idea these variations were so rare. I guess a little more research would have been a wise move. I guess its still cool to have some either way and I actually pulled one and only opened one box

 

[Hawk8]

Never give up!

 

[predatorkj]

I messed up right there. I got all the base and base SPs but had no idea these variations were so rare. I guess a little more research would have been a wise move. I guess its still cool to have some either way and I actually pulled one and only opened one box

Well hey, I never got the "Jon Smoltz" card from heritage a few years back. Sometimes that stuff isn't a worth bothering with.

 

[AnthonyCorona]

Well hey, I never got the "Jon Smoltz" card from heritage a few years back. Sometimes that stuff isn't a worth bothering with.

I don't go after all the heritage variations. They have way too many. For 14 I just did base and now I'm working on action variations, not all the logo and color variations

 

[predatorkj]

I don't go after all the heritage variations. They have way too many. For 14 I just did base and now I'm working on action variations, not all the logo and color variations

Yeah, when they started doing tint variations, my eyes made that choice for me. To hell with that.

But like I said, just be picky with what you decide to do. Don't feel compelled to do anything. These companies get way too carried away with the inserts, parallels, and variations.

 

[AnthonyCorona]

Yeah, when they started doing tint variations, my eyes made that choice for me. To hell with that.

But like I said, just be picky with what you decide to do. Don't feel compelled to do anything. These companies get way too carried away with the inserts, parallels, and variations.

Yes they try to get way too buck wild.

 

[16christensen16]

If it always bugs you or you find yourself going crazy because you can't complete it then there is nothing wrong with selling. However I would only sell if it helps out another set guy. With that being said...if it's still fun to chase then stick with it! I will say this I have no plans on ending the pursuit of my big set I'm after

 

[smapdi]

I like tough sets. It used to be common for me to have half a dozen sets going that would take more than a year to finish. There are sets I spent over a decade on (or two). I'm one card short of a set #/20 that I haven't added to in probably 6 or 7 years but I still check the sites regularly. Being stuck for a 2 years on SSPs is nothing. If you aren't happy chasing them, or they're too expensive, there's nothing wrong with shipping what you have a turning those dollars into something else and helping another collector out. But if you really think you'll be happy finishing it, then go ahead and finish it, no matter how long it takes.

 

[predatorkj]

On another note, if you do plan to put together the sp's or especially a serial numbered set, hit that thing hard and quick. If you wait, the cards lose popularity and you tend to have a harder time finding them. I'm down to like 8 cards for the 2008 stadium club beam team auto set parallels(missing two B&W and like 6 golds). I'd also recommend that if you want the base set to go along with the sp's, buy it as a set to cut down on cost and time. For instance, you want a base topps set or gypsy queen, buy it already complete.

 

[Tom Oates]

I never give up. My 2004 Fabric of the Game baseball set includes a 1/1 McGriff jersey card. Even the McGriff collectors have never seen one. Who's the freakin genius that puts a 1/1 card in a 200 card jersey set?

 

[AnthonyCorona]

I appreciate everyone's input, I think I'm gonna sell off the SSPs and just be done with this set. I don't think I need all the variations to complete the set, plus its a hobby, nothing to "worry" about. I'll definitely research a little more before I start another set like this again!! Thanks everyone!

 

[David K.]

Never give up!

What he said! I'm current working on a 2003 Timeless Treasures gold set.....only 10 of each card were printed......and theres a 100 cards in the set. Currently I have 71 of 100. Been working on the set for the last 11 years......Land about one per year.....another 29 years and I'll be finished. Best regards, David

 

[AnthonyCorona]

What he said! I'm current working on a 2003 Timeless Treasures gold set.....only 10 of each card were printed......and theres a 100 cards in the set. Currently I have 71 of 100. Been working on the set for the last 11 years......Land about one per year.....another 29 years and I'll be finished. Best regards, David

That is a crazy hard set, 71 is very impressive

 

[JVHaste]

I am considering throwing the towel as well. I am a Donruss Crusade collector and decided recently to stop buying, as I was way over my card budget. (refusing to look at ebay) I think I'll just do some trading to nab a few more, but the odds of ever completing that behemoth went from .00000001% to 0%. Eventually you get to a point with a set where it feels like you have "enough" . . . .for myself adding a PSA9 Arod green and crossing the 100 mark was a nice spot to stop. . for now(!?)

I think a big deal with stopping is becoming numb to an amazing set. If average Joe collector sees a nice Crusade or a T206 or Mirror Gold they crap their pantaloons, but when its all do deal in things can become stagnant.

 

[predatorkj]

I am considering throwing the towel as well. I am a Donruss Crusade collector and decided recently to stop buying, as I was way over my card budget. (refusing to look at ebay) I think I'll just do some trading to nab a few more, but the odds of ever completing that behemoth went from .00000001% to 0%. Eventually you get to a point with a set where it feels like you have "enough" . . . .for myself adding a PSA9 Arod green and crossing the 100 mark was a nice spot to stop. . for now(!?)

I think a big deal with stopping is becoming numb to an amazing set. If average Joe collector sees a nice Crusade or a T206 or Mirror Gold they crap their pantaloons, but when its all do deal in things can become stagnant.

I'll second the becoming numb part. After a while in the hobby, it's like you can get numb to things you don't even own simply because you've seen it all.

Question? Are you going after all three colors or just the greens? If it's just the greens, you should be able to eventually get that done. If your going after reds and purples, you're asking for trouble.

 

[JVHaste]

I'll second the becoming numb part. After a while in the hobby, it's like you can get numb to things you don't even own simply because you've seen it all.

Question? Are you going after all three colors or just the greens? If it's just the greens, you should be able to eventually get that done. If your going after reds and purples, you're asking for trouble.

Yea, I realized early on that the whole set would be impossible, so I had the idea to challenge "Gwadexxi" in the PSA Green reg.
http://www.psacard.com/psasetregistry/alltimeset.aspx?s=53409

That idea faded a bit when one night I saw a terrible off-centered Tejada with a 10, wide left... the very next day I saw a random player 10 with wide right. Also the fact they divide normal and rookies into 2 sets is ridiculous. (Beckett does the same) I guess in the end I might just be a Crusade collector instead of a set collector, because I've knowingly bought cards I have dupes up already. I think I'm up to 4 Rondelle Whites.