What do you guys do/say when your wife/dig other buys you junk?

[discodanman45]

I enforce spending limits for holidays in my household and if my wife wants to buy me things I don't want and stays in the limits I always open with a smile on my face. I am a whiskey snob and she always tries to impress me with picking out a whiskey every holiday. Most of them are sitting there with one dram taken out of them because I will never take a sip out of them again. I got Laphroaig Lore for Xmas and it was the first present in a long time that I enjoyed opening!

[Stifle]

Had to tell my brother a few years ago, that for Christmas not to purchase packs from a opened box. It wouldn’t be worth it since so many are sifted through.

[kordell1]

My wife got me a tin of UD baseball early in our relationship. I pulled a base Pujols jersey card. A couple years ago, my daughter bought me a blaster of Donruss basketball and I pulled a Harrison Barnes jersey. I have some great and valuable cards in my collection, but those are 2 of my favorites and will stay in my collection until my last day.

[Skipscards]

Appreciate the gift and cherish the cards. Who cares if they are commons?

Also, since she is going to buy you cards put together a want list and give it to her for future reference.

[seanbros55]

My wife would never ever EVER buy me cards. EVER. Not in a million years.

I’d celebrate the fact that she bought them for you. Put those bad boys in one-touches and display them front and center.

“Assist” any potential future purchases with a little casual education.

[jlklemp]

My wife only ever bought me two boxes of cards - a 2009 Ginter hobby box, and a 2014 Bowman Platinum blaster box which yielded a Buxton jumbo auto relic redemption (the only time I ever pulled an auto from a blaster box).

She did well with those two boxes, but I was honest with her and told her the thought of her buying cards scares me to death because there's a lot of scams already lying in wait for people who don't know the hobby, and the more she blindly buys cards for me, the more likely she is to get ripped off by some a-hole.

At the very least, if it doesn't convince her to stop, then maybe it'll open up a conversation where you can set some ground rules (like which sites she should buy from, which brands, etc.).

Also, don't throw the cards out. Once she gave you crap cards, they were no longer cards but mementos to remind you how much luckier you are than some guys because you have a girl who supports your hobby rather than gets jealous of it.

[BestRCs]

Originally Posted by DegaBama

100% keep them close by you. It's the thought that counts. I wish my wife got me cards haha. Now, take time to inform her on stuff, SLOWLY.

Good points. I’m very happy to hear her joy in her gift to me so I will definitely keep them close. You’re so right. It’s awesome.

You’re also right that I need to inform her slowly LOL because I think the biggest thing is I can’t help but be bothered by the part she’s getting swindled. I love my wife and her being swindled doesn’t make me feel good.

I feel she bought one of these auctions that are geared toward unsuspecting people. If any of us saw these cards for this price we’d all be rolling our eyes.

I just pray she does t buy me one of those elaborate framed signed Jersey’s with a fake auto and shady authentication you see at like the mall or something from time to time.

[kjetilfan]

Originally Posted by dashcol

I wouldn’t throw them away. I keep everything that my kids or wife has ever given me.

Why do people always care about the monetary value of everything and never stop to think that sentimental value is so much more rare and worth so much more?

OP, what you say is, “Thank you, they are great, I will keep them for ever!” You have to mean it though.

How many gifts have you bought your wife that she said she loved it, but she probably actually had no use for it, or didn’t like it? Be happy she thought of you, and she tried. Love has no price.

THIS x 1000

[Cubs_rock21]

I'm a savage so I'd say wtf did you buy! and we'd laugh, and id save her money in the future lmao. But anyone with me isnt sensitive so I could pull it off.

[Browns1981]

I got a box of Bowman Chrome for Christmas from my inlaws, and while I appreciate the thought, I'd rather they didn't pay scalper prices for something I'm perfectly fine not having.

[ctal]

The first card my wife bought me was a Brett/Bobby Hull dual auto as her wedding present to me. Other highlights include: 2013 Bowman blister pack of 3 packs, yielded a Byron Buxton /10 auto (which was sold). Outside of the Buxton most of the cards have gone into sets or kept in the pc.

[SleepyWill]

Be appreciative that you’re with someone that doesn’t mind you hobbies, and the substantial cost it likely comes with.

I made it a point last year to tell her to just buy me one touches and that’s it. Told her that I would love them no matter what and that they’d be fine by me.

[cardsin47]

You could do what I do —- say “why don’t you ever listen to Me? Know how I know you don’t listen?.... because if you did, I wouldn’t be staring at a pile of overpriced junk that you think is a present!”






Jk

Buy a little jewelry box, put the cards in it, and tell her “ these are the best cards I’ve ever owned —- because they’re from you “

[LCM1223]

They could buy me 91 Fleer and I’d be to the moon

[Gustomania]

Showcase them in your office or wherever, that way she feels engaged in your collection and you can continue to have fun. Sounds like well worth the $20!!!!!

[Spicoli]

Originally Posted by RetailHitsOnly

Maybe you could start talking to her about the ins and outs of the hobby in lieu of telling her about what she bought.

Like, show her ‘this cool thing you learned on eBay’ that shows you how much a card sold for and add she can use this method to get the best price for something she wants but is unsure of the value?

Idk maybe dont mansplain it tho


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Pointing out facts and assembling them into a dialog is not mansplaining, and the term is completely vapid and f@@ked out.

[JrFinest]

My wife once bought me a mystery box on Amazon for 20.00 of random searched cards.

Right in the middle was a mint 2011 Bowman Chrome Red Jersey Trout.

Make sure to go over them a few times. You never know. lol.


Also be glad she supports your hobby.

[NatsSBR]

Beyond being grateful, if you've got kids you want to introduce to collecting, your wife might appreciate you making this a shared gift with them. Put them in a dedicated binder that belongs to the kids.

My daughter thinks her Charlie Hayes and Oil Can Boyd cards are the best part of her collection. I have to remind her about the HOFers and other cool cards I've given her.

[Raleigh504]

Early on my fiancé (when we were dating) bought some older packs... "vintage" as they say.... mainly 88-93 baseball cards, did pull some decent rookies from that time and a donruss reverse negative card that was in great condition... I just said that it all brought me back to my childhood and thanked her.

Later on mentioned the better packs to buy and what not, and she typically now doesn't buy anything (she will call if she is out and randomly sees something). She mainly wants me to clean up my collection and that I have way too many cards. The most enjoyable set she opened up was USA Baseball Stars & Stripes when I got 2 cases for cheap. Ended up making money on it so it was a win-win.

[rogatsby]

My wife used to be almost as enthusiastic about the hobby as me. These days not so much, but she is really supportive of my habit lol. She was also supportive of my fishing. And last year,she bought me this for Christmas because I also collect pocket knives.



And this year I bought her this. Doesn’t seem like a fair or equitable trade lol.



I would be happy if my wife bought me cards, regardless of their value.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[123precision]

Even though I only collect singles of specific players, she buys me the latest unopened product occasionally. Its not something I would buy on my own but opening packs is fun. She got me a Stadium club box for Christmas. I'm not complaining.

Sent from my moto g(6) (XT1925DL) using Tapatalk

[1989FF]

I would thank the person. It's the thought that counts. Correct the situation if you feel they really want it fixed. I want to make sure my wife likes her gift. Wrong color Uggs, we took them back. No problem. I don't want my money wasted.


Depending on my relationship with the recipient would determine how much I would say. My wife already knows but I'd say "there's many many different types of cards made and only a small % hold any value or significance to the average person. Not even counting all the scams and tricks sellers use. Unopened boxes are a great choice as well but the companies make so many products that are a waste of money they too can be a gamble. I know how hard you work for your money as do I, and we're always trying to make sure we get the most bang for our buck. These are special because they were picked out by you. Thank you. I only know what to buy because I've been doing it for xx years. You're off to a great start though. If you want to buy me cards in the future, say tomorrow I'll gladly provide you a lengthy wish list that will help."

My family is thick skinned and we're all always competing to be the clown in the room. If my wife bought me a stack of commons, my boys would start saying "looks like $3 on ebay Dad" or "those were free, right?"...then kid #2 would say "someone went dumpster diving!"

[brothertona]

I say thank you and then I'd talk to her about the things I like to collect. My GF bought me a Z-Folio for my birthday this year. I love it, my GF and I - and her family make Amazon lists with things that we want for Christmas - it always makes sure that you get what you want for Christmas/holidays. I've bought my GF clothes that she didn't completely love, and I say if you don't like it feel free to return it because I want her to be happy.

[ChiSox93]

In 2017 my wife bought me a 1990 Topps Frank Thomas autographed PSA graded card. It 100% brought me back into the hobby. That was the last time she bought me anything hobby related. So take what you can get whenever your wife gifts you something hobby related. She always tells me she will never make that mistake again. LOL!!!!

[salas1991]

Originally Posted by BestRCs

So my wife was thoughtful enough to “surprise” me by buying some cards off eBay...... unfortunately she knows nothing about cards. You can already see where this is going. So I open up the package she got me and it’s literally a stack of commons. I could tell it was something that was going into the trash as soon as I opened it and saw a stack in a team bag. I was terrified.

And of course I got the question “you like them!?!”

I said “yeah~”.. but I didn’t. Because not only were they junk, I’m sure she paid a lot more than she should have. Which terrified me!!! I was worried about how much she wasted... Luckily it’s only $20 (I saw the packing slip inside) and not more.

But what do you guys do or say? I’m obviously happy she is thinking of me and what not but I obviously don’t want her to get the idea she is doing good and buy more/buy something for a ridiculous price. I feel like I’ve told her before of the pitfalls of sports cards but she may has a mind of her own when she thinks she has a “good idea”

Do you guys tell your wife/girl straight up this is terrible after receiving a “gift”or how have you handled similar situations?

That has not come up for me, as my wife thinks it's all junk and a waste of $.

Ok, so where was I? Topps Series 1 case pre-order? Check.