Unhappy Wives

[carct]

Re: Unhappy Wives

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]

Re: Unhappy Wives

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]

Re: Unhappy Wives

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?

Dave M.
Chicago area

[sox83cubs84]

Re: Unhappy Wives

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?

Dave M.
Chicago area

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

Dave M.

[jhunt28]

Re: Unhappy Wives

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]

Re: Unhappy Wives

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]

Re: Unhappy Wives

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]

Re: Unhappy Wives / insurance

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]

Re: Unhappy Wives

Tell the wife it's the collecting, or your going to take up golfing and go on golf trips with Tiger Woods!

[bigtruck260]

Re: Unhappy Wives

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]

Re: Unhappy Wives

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]

Re: Unhappy Wives

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]

Re: Unhappy Wives

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]

Re: Unhappy Wives

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]

Re: Unhappy Wives

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