How do you decide what to collect?

[hazofhorsham]

Interesting question - How do you decide what to collect?
For the vast majority of us we can't just buy half a brick of every new deck, so how do you decide what decks you get? How many you get of them? And how frequent will you buy a deck?


For me, I have three classes I follow.
ALL MUST BE REASONABLE PRICE:
1. Something I can attach special meaning to.


Either it's going to a good cause, you know the guy doing it, it is a souvenir, it's a kickstarter and I want to chip in, etc.


2. It's a bicycle deck.


I am not going to lie, I am primarily a bike collector so most bicycle decks are on the list - provided I don't have a vendetta against the producer.


3. It's a USPCC deck that I like the look of.


I picked up the hoyle 52 Iraqi most wanted, and I have the Bulldog Squeezers, the tally ho's and just club special Bees. I wouldn't dare breach into collecting bees... Too many casino cards.


Also, their are some decks I stay away from for whatever reasons. Like D&D... I think it would bankrupt me with all the new decks.


What about you guys?

[loldudex2]

For me it is one thing: looks. They don't need to handle well, or have a certain finish, al long as I like the look of it, I will buy it, provides I have the money.

I generally make a purchase once amonth or so, and usually on the launch night to insure that I can get them.

[Belk]

The way it looks, really. And if there is more then one, whether or not I can afford all of the decks in the set.

[xZEROx]

My answer, one word, Bicycle.
Everything Bicycle-branded will end up in my collection, even the merz decks (when the prices are lower of course).

[Curt]

For me, it mainly just what ever catches my eye. However, I also enjoy trying to add decks to my collection that are harder to come by, like my gold monarchs and vintage decks. Up until now I have needed to order a at least a couple of each deck in my collection, so I always have something to play with but once I receive my vortex decks, I will open up 3 or so of those and use them most often leaving my more money to spend on individual decks instead of 2-3 of each. Everything I collect though is USPCC branded ( vintage decks have their coinciding company name/age of deck as well )

[Kanped]

I like to get things that are different, unique in some way.  Could be the design, handling, even an unusual gaffed deck.  Just something I think is creative.

[Knobz1]

I'm glad you brought this up.  I just looked at my collection and told myself, "Boy, I'm glad I bought a brick of smoke v1's and a brick of mirror v1's when they first came out." Then I looked at my collection again and asked myself, "Why did I buy a brick of white Arrco's??"   Money, looks, and availability.  These are typically what decides on how many decks I get or don't get for the most part.

[Evan]

I usually only buy USPCC decks. The deck needs to be reasonably priced like $10 and under. I always get the deck releases from E, T11, TBC, and D&D.

[phantom1412]

I mostly collect decks from magic companies as a main target.
My target are all E decks, all T11 decks, all D&D decks, all the BC decks, all david blaine decks. Now started to think about collecting blades decks.

I have some other decks as well, most of them are USPCC.
I pledge on most of kickstarter decks that made by USPCC too.
All depends on the look of the decks.

[Frost]

I go for the decks that look cool and that are low in price .

[dmbaggs]

For me it's mainly looks. I have many awesome looking decks that are not USPCC and handle terribly... but they look so cool! That's probably the biggest thing for me. If I like the look of a deck I will get it.

On top of that I like to get rare decks when I can. Who doesn't right?

Finally I'm a big fan of interesting Bicycle decks (this usually goes along with looks). For example I've been eyeing the Bicycle Irregular deck for a while. Not many people love this deck but I think it's super cool and it's one of the more interesting Bicycle decks.

[loldudex2]

When I started collecting I promised myself I would ONLY buy Bike decks so I didn't go overboard, and so I knew what I was collecting, but it didn't take long for me to lose self control. I'm the kinds guy who says "I will just get these non-Bike decks, but I promise this will be the only time" and then I keep saying that "This last time" until I give up all together... That us why I don't think I should ever drink, do drugs, or gamble.

[dmbaggs]

When I started collecting I promised myself I would ONLY buy Bike decks so I didn't go overboard, and so I knew what I was collecting, but it didn't take long for me to lose self control. I'm the kinds guy who says "I will just get these non-Bike decks, but I promise this will be the only time" and then I keep saying that "This last time" until I give up all together... That us why I don't think I should ever drink, do drugs, or gamble.

haha uh oh! Slippery slope!!

One thing I don't understand is the people who collect decks they don't care for just because they need them in their collection, or maybe it's a rare deck. If I don't like a deck I don't get it. Even if it's crazy rare or the best handling deck. I need to like a deck for me to buy it. That's one reasons I don't have any of the Red Artifice decks... I'm just not a fan.

[NathanCanadas]

I choose decks that don't cost too much. That's about it. I usually don't go over 25$ a deck. I get all sorts of decks, but I try not getting more than 2 or 3 of the same one most of the time.

[Don Boyer]

When I started collecting I promised myself I would ONLY buy Bike decks so I didn't go overboard, and so I knew what I was collecting, but it didn't take long for me to lose self control. I'm the kinds guy who says "I will just get these non-Bike decks, but I promise this will be the only time" and then I keep saying that "This last time" until I give up all together... That us why I don't think I should ever drink, do drugs, or gamble.

haha uh oh! Slippery slope!!

One thing I don't understand is the people who collect decks they don't care for just because they need them in their collection, or maybe it's a rare deck. If I don't like a deck I don't get it. Even if it's crazy rare or the best handling deck. I need to like a deck for me to buy it. That's one reasons I don't have any of the Red Artifice decks... I'm just not a fan.

For that kind of person, the act of collecting itself is what gives them pleasure, not the actual items being collected.  You're most likely to find "completists" in that category - the ones who have to have every deck in every variant.  It's a recipe to go broke fast.

It's less a "I have these rules" thing and more a "those look cool, sound like they handle great" thing.  And I do have a few crappy handling decks, just because I liked the design.  My most recent interesting acquisition was two pairs of Bee bridge decks, possibly of 1983 vintage, and a big handful of "The Dog" miniature decks!