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skyking26
10-21-2007, 09:58 AM
I have a good thread going right now regarding the price of skyrocketing autographs, and it is getting nice response. Here is another topic:

UNHAPPY WIVES

We have all had them. Question is, how do we deal with them and our hobby. My wife has never been a problem with the few hundred dollar purchase here and there. Bat shaped boxes arriving on the door step always draws attention and irritation. A sure fire way to get a bad mood going. As some collector friends of mine know, in the past I have adopted a system to deceive that, while I am not proud of it, saves me from my wife's wrath. That system being using a bank check to pay for bats, jerseys, etc., and even going as far as sending the items to our business to disguise the transaction. Well, Bob just got caught. I did a 4 digit transaction on a Thome jersey a month ago and withdrew the amount from the account into a bank check. The idiots wrote it up that way on our bank statement!! I arrived home from jogging Friday night to a very angry and shaking wife who thought the bank had made a mistake. I had to fess up to several hours of not so fun argument. I could only say that I was not decieving as I would not be dumb enough to do this and have it appear on the statement and the seller did not know me and requested a bank check and yada yada yada...

Question here, what do you guys do. What stories are there? This was my first time at getting caught!!!

godwulf
10-21-2007, 10:14 AM
It's tough to keep those bat-shaped boxes from the door, isn't it? Even if it weren't, it's hard keeping your hobby on the QT when you've got nearly 700 bats and over a hundred jerseys in the house.

Encourage your wife to develop an expensive hobby. Mine has recently gotten herself and our two teenagers involved in scuba diving, and they do things like drive down to Mexico with other members of their club in order to go diving. Next year, I think they're going to Bermuda. It's really tough for her to object to my acquisitions, and the attendant expense, when she's doing stuff like that.

If your collection is extensive enough to warrant it, have it professionally appraised, and add a special rider to your insurance policy covering it. This will not only create the illusion that you're being financially responsible :D it will further make it appear that you're collecting "as an investment". Chicks dig that.

skyking26
10-21-2007, 10:26 AM
She has already complained about the insurance not being present - and I need to take care of it. Anyone with suggestions on where to start would be appreciated. I have State Farm...

harpt
10-21-2007, 10:33 AM
Luckily, my wife understands the idea that--with most of the stuff I buy--if we were ever in a pinch I could sell it for (at least) what I payed. It;s not like we're spending that money on hot dogs that are gone once consumed. She has been pretty good about it, though I must admit, my collection would be MUCH bigger if I were single.

My wife--similar to an example above--sometimes LIKES when I buy something, because it gives her a sort of "permission" to then spend that same amount on something she wants (fancy handbages or shoes). As long as we are not having difficulty paying the mortgage, or contributing to kid's college funds, etc...she is pretty good.

godwulf
10-21-2007, 10:36 AM
She has already complained about the insurance not being present - and I need to take care of it. Anyone with suggestions on where to start would be appreciated. I have State Farm...

I'll confess that I haven't actually done the insurance thing, myself...though she does mention it every so often, and I keep assuring her that I will. We have State Farm for the house and vehicles, too, so I'm sure I'll be going through them when I finally get around to doing it.

jonincleve
10-21-2007, 11:05 AM
state farm has a personal articles policy. you just list what you have. what you payed and what you believe it is worth within reason. $1.00 per year for every $1,000 worth of coverage. higher the deductible the lower the rate. so $60,000 insured without a deductible would be $600 a year.
baseball cards are easy do to price guides. game used is harder. example i paid a couple hundred for a 1993 jim thome jersey back in 1996/7. what is it worth? i have it insured for around $2000.00. the reason is his early jerseys sold at auction have gone in the $1200-1500 range when they come up. mine is a 1993 and i have seen 1 or 2 earlier.
how does anybody else value their game worn stuff?

thank you
john

jonincleve@sbcglobal.net

kylehess10
10-21-2007, 01:20 PM
I have the same problem with my girlfriend. She keeps telling me to sell everything so I'll become "rich" and sometimes I'll purposly tell her things to make her mad just to get a laugh out of it. I told that I have a helmet worth $1500 that I've had many people interested in, but I refuse to sell, and she just looks at me like I'm crazy. But I came up with a solution........JUST DON'T TELL! She thinks the last thing I bought was a few months ago but what she doesn't know is that I've been going on a little shopping spree this week, buying 4 bats and 1 armband so far, and there are some pants and a hat on eBay which I plan on getting later in the week. shhhhhhhhhh don't tell ;) :D

godwulf
10-21-2007, 01:30 PM
$1.00 per year for every $1,000 worth of coverage. higher the deductible the lower the rate. so $60,000 insured without a deductible would be $600 a year.

So, are you saying that without a deductible, it's actually $10 per thousand, per year?

Yankwood
10-21-2007, 01:32 PM
This is how I deal with my wife when she is naughty.

3arod13
10-21-2007, 02:29 PM
This is how I deal with my wife when she is naughty.

Funny! I'm dying! Good one! Hey, that's my sister (lol)

bigtruck260
10-21-2007, 02:57 PM
I often show her things that have appreciated in value over the years...

We treat it like a 401K...not really risky.

cjmedina1
10-21-2007, 10:01 PM
I have a good thread going right now regarding the price of skyrocketing autographs, and it is getting nice response. Here is another topic:

UNHAPPY WIVES

We have all had them. Question is, how do we deal with them and our hobby. My wife has never been a problem with the few hundred dollar purchase here and there. Bat shaped boxes arriving on the door step always draws attention and irritation. A sure fire way to get a bad mood going. As some collector friends of mine know, in the past I have adopted a system to deceive that, while I am not proud of it, saves me from my wife's wrath. That system being using a bank check to pay for bats, jerseys, etc., and even going as far as sending the items to our business to disguise the transaction. Well, Bob just got caught. I did a 4 digit transaction on a Thome jersey a month ago and withdrew the amount from the account into a bank check. The idiots wrote it up that way on our bank statement!! I arrived home from jogging Friday night to a very angry and shaking wife who thought the bank had made a mistake. I had to fess up to several hours of not so fun argument. I could only say that I was not decieving as I would not be dumb enough to do this and have it appear on the statement and the seller did not know me and requested a bank check and yada yada yada...

Question here, what do you guys do. What stories are there? This was my first time at getting caught!!!

I'm not sure where to start?So when you got home was she holding a Thome bat ready to swing?:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

cjmedina1
10-21-2007, 10:06 PM
Also Bob when you get a chance I still would like to see your MAC Jersey?

Carlie Medina III
carliemedinaiii@sbcglobal.net

skyking26
10-21-2007, 10:16 PM
When I got home she was holding the bank statement trembling. She thought the bank screwed up. I had to come clean...

I have not forgot about you withthe pic...

ivo610
12-29-2009, 12:13 PM
any new stories guys?

carct
12-29-2009, 01:39 PM
The first time I bought a jersey my wife said "you paid how much? For a jersey?". Then I reminded her I paid "how much? For a little piece of metal with a rock on it?". That was the last of the questioning.

TriplexXxSports
12-29-2009, 01:42 PM
I always assure my wife that at least I'm not out buying crack and hotel rooms for cheap hookers. She knows right where the money is going. It is hard for her to see the investment idea of collecting, but one sure fire way to keep her off my back is to buy her a little something nice when something sells.

Another way to please the little lady is let her buy a little something special and just let it go. Instead of saying "wow, did you really need a 34th purse to go with your 60th pair of heels?" just suck it up and say "wow, that new purse will look great with those red heels you just got - especially when we go (to her favorite restaurant) on Friday night"...

Works for me.

sox83cubs84
12-29-2009, 01:57 PM
My problem is a little different. My wife isn't privy to my purchases...but she hates seeing me on the computer. She will suddenly come up with chores that I HAVE to do, or HAVE to help her with, just to get me off the computer. Just now, as I was reading the previous posts on this thread, she decided, that, right at that juncture in time, the Christmas tree just HAD to be put away...soemthing she could have done herself, but dragged me in on because I looked too comfortable at the computer to satisfy her. I'm not sure how to slove this one...any suggestions?:confused:

Dave M.
Chicago area

sox83cubs84
12-29-2009, 02:09 PM
My problem is a little different. My wife isn't privy to my purchases...but she hates seeing me on the computer. She will suddenly come up with chores that I HAVE to do, or HAVE to help her with, just to get me off the computer. Just now, as I was reading the previous posts on this thread, she decided, that, right at that juncture in time, the Christmas tree just HAD to be put away...soemthing she could have done herself, but dragged me in on because I looked too comfortable at the computer to satisfy her. I'm not sure how to slove this one...any suggestions?:confused:

Dave M.
Chicago area


"solve" this one...we need a 3-minute edit feature!!

Dave M.

jhunt28
12-29-2009, 02:28 PM
I make sure to have my own credit card, that the wife NEVER sees. I also make it a point to get tracking numbers, know when the deliveries are coming, and tip the doorman in my building to only give the packages to me, not the wife!!! Then I proceed to look around my bedroom for places to stash the good, like a squirrel in the winter!!!

grenda12
12-29-2009, 03:04 PM
OMG! That is so me and the boyfriend. Ive got to have expensive things sent to my mom's house when I know he'll be home and if I know he heading out of town for a few days for business, I try to get the deal done before he goes that way he wont be home when the item arrives.

I have been busted more than once. He hounds me when the mail comes in. Usually its a race to the mailbox.

Great story!

BrewCrewSackers
12-29-2009, 03:16 PM
Tell her to look at the bright side, if you get DV'd she gets half. Women also tend to be revenge spenders so tread lightly.

anatfan09
12-29-2009, 03:26 PM
I noticed the topic of insurance or insuring your collection came up in this thread. The idea of $600 a year to insure a $60,000 collection is correct. Typically a regular home policy only covers around $2,000 for memorabilia or baseball cards & even then there could be some debate come claim time. The only way to guarantee the full replacement of your item is to have it listed under scheduled personal property. Then you & the insurance company will be agreeing in advance to the items value & the coverage's will not be limited to just your basic perils, fire, theft etc etc. For example, your prize bat falls off the shelf & cracks in half, that would be covered.
The more affordable way to insure your investment would be to only "schedule" items you cannot afford to lose & only insure them for what you have into the item. I am sure some people tend to exaggerate the value of their collection no matter what they are collecting. Had you spent 25k on your wife's ring, most likely you would insure it....

70to66
12-29-2009, 03:48 PM
Tell the wife it's the collecting, or your going to take up golfing and go on golf trips with Tiger Woods!

bigtruck260
12-29-2009, 03:53 PM
I go through long lulls where I don't buy anything sports related, mostly because I have other hobbies that cost money - like firearms...

When I explain to my wife that spending money on 'decorative' (as she calls it) stuff is much more sensible than shooting 50 cents to a dollar 10 times a second - she gives me a little more room.

However, alot of times both hobbies are going simutanteously, and THAT's where the trouble starts.

Since I've had my kids, she is more understanding of traditions - and if my little guy ends up thinking bats are cool...so be it...I consider it a wise investment.

mariner_gamers
12-29-2009, 04:35 PM
The one I got slammed for was a $750 PayPal billing error. It was supposed to hit my PayPal account for 90 days no interest. Instead it hit our checking account 4 seconds later. I had no idea anything was amiss until 4 hours later when my wife called frantic. I was trying to explain a quick move from savings to checking would remedy the situation but she was already in full attack mode. I actually listed several items on here and eBay to cushion the blow I was receiving

I learned a few things that day. First spending $100-$200 here and there is much easier for my wife to tollerate. Second I re-read my PayPal checkout screen VERY CLOSELY. Third no amount of future purse purchase offers makes up for a $750 "unauthorized" withdrawal for baseball "junk".

Day-to-day we keep it pretty even. She drives the Benz I got the Patriot......

VERIS#60
12-29-2009, 07:08 PM
wow! where do i begin on this one? my wife just left and i dont have much time. she is self employed and works out of the home so therfore, i dont have much free time on here. hold on my wife is calling. "no honey i am not on the computer or guu. i know honey, i wont get on there and i promise to get all my cleaning details done. be carfeful and i will see you when you get home." okay, i am back. if you only knew how true all this was. that was not the first time i have ever lied to her and i am sure it wont be my last. she, "honey" was born in 1971 and only one year old when i first started collecting. she was still pissing herself and now she is pissing me off. she thinks i spend way to much time on the internet and guu. she thinks guu stands for, "guys uncontrollable urges." "honey says the reason she wont have sex with me is because i dont give her much attention. i spend waaaay too much time fooling with my collection. then, i have to listen to that viagra commercial on the radio with a young sounding sexy female voice. "men, do you want to perform like that male superstar you once used to be? do you wanna put the love back into your love life? men...do you suffer from empotency?" "no, i suffer from the words, "GET THE F**K AWAY FROM ME! I GAVE YOU SOME AT LEAST TWO YEARS AGO!" "oh, thats right honey i am sorry, i forgot." when it only comes around once a year or two like your birthday it is hard not to forget it was feb 17th of 2008. excuuuuuse me! she is always complaining about my collection. would she rather me be spending all of our money at a strip club? finally, i told her, "look, i love to collect and that is all there is to it and if you dont like it you can pack your bags and get the hell out! she was in the other room and i am pretty sure she didnt hear it cause i said it reeeeeal loooooow. maybe i was just thinking i said that to her, but i said it anyway. i do not spend that much money on collecting, but i did open up another bank account with a debit card. she recently found the bank books and boy did i ever have to think fast that night. i am selling all my cards and oddball items to concentrate on game used items. i sell my items through of friend of mine on ebay and use my mothers address. it is so nice to know there are other people just like me on here. i would love to talk longer, but honey is calling again and if she hears the keys on the keyboard or delayed response, she knows what i am doing. happy collecting to everyone and have a great year!
bruce

RJB44
12-29-2009, 07:15 PM
Having my wife clueless to the hobby certainly helps. When she gives me a hard time for spending a couple hundred or so, I just show her a similar jersey on Ebay or some other site that is priced significantly higher. Considering her lack of interest to begin with, I do not see the need to go into any details with her about the actual comparison. She doesn’t know the difference between a 1985 DeCinces or Grich vs a 1985 Scoiners or Sanches. All she knows that it is a 1985 “Vintage” Angels’ jersey and I paid a lot less they what others are priced at. I also show her a similar jersey that may be a few years older than the one I bought or am considering to buy and tell her how these things just go up in value over the years. She actually complements me more often than not. It is all about strategy. I have to be careful that she does not try the same approach with me, because we are all gullible in our own way.

10thMan
12-30-2009, 12:11 AM
My ex-Fiance & I had an argument about me Collecting, mostly Bats. Or should I say SHE got upset one day, after Listening to everything she had to say, here`s what I said.

"I dont Drink" (at all)

"I dont Gamble"

"I dont go to Titty Bars"

"I`m Faithful & always come Home on time"

"An Occasional Cigar, & A Bat now & then"

She just nodded her Head & said "ok"

Happy New Year, Keep it SAFE!


Sean

xpress34
12-30-2009, 01:49 AM
I guess I should count my blessings!!!

My wife is very understanding and supportive of my collecting - bu there is some history as well that got us here.

When we met, I had been divorced almost 10 years from the 1st wife.

When I got divorced, I didn't own any GU stuff, but had lots of memorabilia - Gloves, Bats, Balls and Autos - dating back to the turn of the century. When she threatened to ask for them (not because she liked them, but because she just wanted to F*%& with me) I sold the entire lot and stashed the cash.

So, the current wife and I meet - she comes to my house and sees my Ed McCaffrey Broncos AU jersey on the wall, the Ray Bourque Avalanche AU jersey on the wall and the few pieces I had picked up to start collecting again and I told her - if you want to have me, you get the whole package... my sports collecting and such, or you can move on. She thought it was kind of cool, and it all worked out.

Now, as long as I'm not missing another bill (mortgage, electric, food, etc) she is supportive of my hobby and has taken a keen interest in learning what some pieces are and such - especially important to me in case something happened to me, she'd know what she has and not get screwed over.

In fact, I just got a sizeable settlement from Work Comp for my accident this past March (got rear ended in company truck and jacked up my back, tore my rotator cuff, etc.) and she knew that I had earmarked some funds for the collection. I also made sure her and the kid both had great Christmas' as well as investing in stuff for the family/home - New Computer, New Dyson Vaccuum, New Garage Door Opener, New Garage Storage Units, etc...

And then I bought myself a COMPLETE (all 36 Panels) GRADED 1951 Berk Ross Set, a 1947 Dodgers Team ball (20 autos including Robinson), Clint Barmes 2006 GU Batting Helmet, etc...

The wife knows about all of it and gets excited herself to even help open stuff when it comes... I did however get her into collecting in her own way - she does various things... Hello Kitty, Paul Frank, Domo and Barbie. Very girly girl stuff. For Christmas the year after we were married, I tracked down a Versace Designer Barbie for her - she had seen it in Versace's window on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. That bad boy (err... girl) set me back about $300! And that was a steal at that price!

So we trade out - and she also knows it's an investement for our son's (or our own) future.

As far as the insurance thing, check with your agent - each state is different. Per my agent, because my collection is so diverse - and value is past $250k now (that's Cards, Memorabilia, GU, Comics, Art, etc) she suggested that I keep and inventory with approx values, but buya blanket policy for say $300,000. In the event of a total loss, they would pay out the entire $300,000. In the event of a theft or partial loss, it would cover me based on the inventory schedule up to the max amount.

Costs a bit more, but lots of peace of mind.

Sorry for the long thread!

- Chris

murfsteve25
12-30-2009, 02:03 AM
I'm not rich and i probably spend more money on my game used stuff than we can really afford. This causes a lot of arguments between the wife and I. Sometimes i feel really guilty. For example, this past summer i bought my $2,300 Arod bat that I had to make payments on for a few months. This was after I had bought a Michael Jordan auto baseball (UDA), Arod auto all star ball (MVP Marketing)...a few more bats, hats, helmets and so on...

The wife and I talked about it and I decided to stop impulse buying. There is a bunch of stuff i bought that i didnt REALLY care for, just thought it would be cool to have in my collection. So I've decided to only buy what I'd really like to collect...which is David Justice. It works out for the both of us cause his stuff doesnt pop up that often, and when they do theyre usually not too expensive. There are a few other items I'd like to have in my collection from other players (a Griffey bat) and when they pop up WE BOTH will decide if we can afford it.

Yea i used to have things shipped to other addresses too. Got caught doing that... but I just had to decide if I wanted to live paycheck to paycheck and have my baseball stuff or If i wanted to beable to live comfortably.

GarkoCollector
12-30-2009, 07:44 AM
This is how I deal with my wife when she is naughty.

Thats how I deal with her when she's naughty too!

HAHAHA, just kidding, I couldnt resist!

3arod13
12-30-2009, 08:27 AM
My wife is pretty cool with my collecting. She actually has a couple Troy Aikman pieces of her own (yes, she's a big Cowboy fan).

I don't use our household money for my collecting habit. I've built up a good amount of cash from buying and selling for a profit in order to support my collecting habit. On occasion, I may need to dip into our funds to buy a piece, but put the money right back.

I find that as long as the money isn't coming from the household income, there's really not much that can be said.

Regards, Tony

TriplexXxSports
12-30-2009, 09:16 AM
My wife is pretty cool with my collecting. She actually has a couple Troy Aikman pieces of her own (yes, she's a big Cowboy fan).

I don't use our household money for my collecting habit. I've built up a good amount of cash from buying and selling for a profit in order to support my collecting habit. On occasion, I may need to dip into our funds to buy a piece, but put the money right back.

I find that as long as the money isn't coming from the household income, there's really not much that can be said.

Regards, Tony

Same here. It really does help to have 'separate' accounts for our vices. She has a separate account for herself that she is allowed to spend as she wishes, and I have the same, which neither have anything to do with the joint accounts. It is much easier that way and the arguments are minimal, at best, because the bills are always covered, mortgage is paid, fridge is full, etc.

Tensions only get high at the end of the month when the credit card bill comes in....:eek:

Fnazxc0114
12-30-2009, 10:00 PM
Ive never had a problem buying stuff. I tell the wife not for approval but just to let her know that x amount of dollars will be moved from one of our accounts. I think it is crazy that you guys would let a piece of wood or cloth become an issue of friction in your marriages. If you dont tell the wife or try to hide it you are nothing more than a liar.

bigtime59
12-31-2009, 10:10 AM
Same here. It really does help to have 'separate' accounts for our vices. She has a separate account for herself that she is allowed to spend as she wishes, and I have the same, which neither have anything to do with the joint accounts. It is much easier that way and the arguments are minimal, at best, because the bills are always covered, mortgage is paid, fridge is full, etc.

Tensions only get high at the end of the month when the credit card bill comes in....:eek:

Ding! One account for her, one account for me, one account for us. As long as the third one is filled each month, neither one of us asks what's going on with accounts one and two. Works really well.