Value is in the Eye of the Beholder

Anyone who reads this blog regularly knows that I am a collector and that I do not collector for value but for pleasure.

Recently I joined a comic collecting page of Facebook. So far, the majority of the posts I have seen there have been people saying 'I just bought this for ($$$). Is it worth that price?' It is the kind of thinking I have never understood.

The simple truth is, if you were willing to pay that amount for it, then it was worth it for you, and that is really all that is important. I do understand that as one builds their collection, they want good deals and are hunting for bargains. However, once you've paid the money that is you deciding if it is worth it, a good enough deal for you to spend that money on. Worrying that you might have spent more than needed if you would have done more looking, is not going to change the fact that for you it was worth it when you bought it. I have overlooked so many cool pieces because the price being asked, even if it was a fair price for the item based on market value, because it was not worth the price for me.

I also do understand the thrill of learning you got a really good deal or being hopeful that you didn't overpay. However, at the point of transaction you said it was worth it to you, making the market value meaningless regarding that transaction. For other people that might not have been a good deal, because it is not worth that to them. As I am not a Batman fan, Batman comics are not worth anything to me and I would say anyone has overpaid for them from my perspective. On the other hand, I am a huge Spider-Man fan and am willing to pay amounts for Spidey comics that a lot of people might not think it is worth that much to them.

Focusing on making your collection what makes you feel the most satisfied is for me highly rewarding. I would rather have a good story to tell about the item (Why I picked it up. Why I see it as an important piece of my collection) than being able to 'brag' about getting a good deal.

But that is me and how my thinking goes.

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