Feelings as a Flipper

[gb57]

Was writing this to see what responses I would get and hopefully clear my mind. About to make a trade to acquire a piece that I planned on getting once I saved enough funds but realistically would not be able to purchase comfortably until the end of next year or early the following.

I have a deal proposed for 2 of my pieces (out of a collection of 5) plus cash for I guess what you could call a "grail". This move would help round out my collection which is a positive, however sometimes I start think quantity, not quality.

I keep reminding myself that it is not that I do not like the pieces I am giving up in the trade, its that I like the potential new watch better.

Any thoughts or advice for dealing with flipping and trades?

[powerfunk]

Well first of all, you need to start a customary "Would you?" thread and start a poll between the watches in question.

I guess it depends on if it's "a grail" or "your grail." And whether or not the watches you're trading are easily re-attainable. Good luck with the decision!

[kilyung]

I focus on quality vs quantity.

[HL65]

Originally Posted by kilyung

I focus on quality vs quantity.

I focus on quantity of quality.

[h999r]

Originally Posted by SteelerFan65

I focus on quantity of quality.

this ... LOL

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by kilyung

i focus on quality vs quantity.

x2.

[Cabaiguan]

At one point when I started this hobby, I had close to a dozen watches...lots of Seikos and my fair share of Doxas. Many looked very similar, had the same functionality and run-of-the-mill movements.

Through the years, I've learned to appreciate the more traditional brands with in house movements and history. I now only have four watches, but appreciate each much more than the previous dozen Brand-X.

If your grail is going to be a high caliber piece that rounds out your collection, get it.

[Macro]

Best to buy what you really want asap and by definition focus on quality rather than quantity.

The cost of flipping soon mounts up so settling for a series of lesser watches is a false economy in the long run.

Buy once cry once as they say.

[p_mcgee]

The best advice I have received on the forums is to buy what you really want and don't settle for something temporary or that you don't intend to keep. I flipped many watches over the years but once I picked up the ones I really wanted, the desire to flip has mostly gone away. I think I'm pretty good at selling watches and still took a few hundred dollar loss (& sometimes more) on almost every watch I held less than a year.

Its not necessarily about picking up the $30K Patek or gold Rolex (though those would be nice), its about getting watches that reflect your personality and wear comfortably.

[QueueCumber]

I'd imagine it feels purty good!

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by gb57

Was writing this to see what responses I would get and hopefully clear my mind. About to make a trade to acquire a piece that I planned on getting once I saved enough funds but realistically would not be able to purchase comfortably until the end of next year or early the following.

I have a deal proposed for 2 of my pieces (out of a collection of 5) plus cash for I guess what you could call a "grail". This move would help round out my collection which is a positive, however sometimes I start think quantity, not quality.

I keep reminding myself that it is not that I do not like the pieces I am giving up in the trade, its that I like the potential new watch better.

Any thoughts or advice for dealing with flipping and trades?

I'll try to simplify this as it could be a very long write up.

I started "collecting" watches when I realized I had my own plus some that I had inherited and I became very interested in watch collecting. I quickly moved into vintage pieces, buying, selling, flipping and never really being happy.

Then I started buying higher quality watches but never really feeling satisfied. Soon my collection had ballooned to over 15 watches. Too many pieces, no time to wear them all.

After realizing that my taste(s) and views were changing, I have been selling off watches and recently sold three to get one. You can find my write up about getting my Patek 5711 after selling three watches that I loved.

I am finally much happier with my collection and I am even thinking about selling another two or three to get one. I find myself wearing fewer pieces more often and that makes me happy.

For me it is now about quality over quantity. I do like variety but at the end of the day I can only wear and enjoy so many pieces and it does no good to have them sitting at home unworn and unloved.