QOTW: Why do collectors buy complete sets?

Question of the Week #1
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Every Saturday I will post another question for collectors to ponder.​

My first question of the week is, why do collectors buy completed set(s).​

I often find completed sets on eBay and always wondered why collectors buy them. I also see completed dansco albums on ebay.​

IMO I find it more enjoyable filling my collection 1 coin at a time. When you buy a complete set you take the "hunt" out of it or to me the fun out of it.​

What your opinion on buying a complete set?
Have you ever bought a complete set?​

 

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I don't have an answer to your question. I have purchased mint sets and proof sets for mine and my wifes birth years, but that's about it.

But I agree with you. I enjoy scouring through my change at the store, searching rolls from the bank/casino, looking for star notes in my wallet, etc.
It's the thrill of the hunt for me.

 

There's more than one answer to this. I have bought complete sets for different reasons. There may be a few keys you need that you can just pop out. There may be a few coins that would upgrade your set. Switch the coins and put your rejects in the purchased set. Then try to sell it for the same money you got it for. Another reason is for hoarding or to set aside silver. I'm sure there are other answers.
Do you think it's more fun to buy partial sets?

 

I agree with you searching and filling the slots one at a time is much more satisfying however I would imagine the person buying completed sets is buying it more for the investment than the thrill of the hunt. Also eBay attracts a lot of what I call the casual on and off collector that really isn't passionate about collecting and they get impatient and just want to own the set.

 

NO, I like buying singles or proof or mint sets.

I have bought some completed sets but it is only because I wanted a certain coin in the set and I sold the rest.

 

I wasn't really talking about proof or mint sets. I would only buy these as a set.

 

I would purchase a complete set if it were for a gift maybe. Or if I thought it was way underpriced I might buy it, then when I get sick of it or need cash for other coins, would probably either sell it as is or if I had the time part it out since usually the sum of the parts is greater than the whole (assuming you don't have much selling costs).

I agree though, whether you're collecting coins from circulation or assembling a #1 Registry Set, the hunt is just part of the experience that makes it fun and exciting :thumb:

 

I have not bought any completed sets, so I am guessing here.
Perhaps some people like the idea of having something complete and entire, to not waste time looking for some parts, to be able to have the whole thing at once.
Or it may be a neighbor has been scouring change for years and shows off his collection with a few missing key dates, his neighbor might want to "one-up" him by showing him a complete set.
There might be as many reasons for buying complete sets as there are people who buy them, maybe if you know someone collects coins you buy them a complete set as a gift.

 

I've only ever bought two sets, and neither purchase was for the coins, but the albums they were in. Sometimes people don't know what they have in an album and just push the coins. I've picked up a few really nice vintage coin albums this way. The coins just went into tubes or to the coin shop as bullion.
Guy~

 

1. Buying a complete set is less expensive than buying the set coin by coin.
2. Buying a complete set is a starting point; then you upgrade the coins that don't meet your desired grade.

 

Kanga hit it on the head.

Especially if you're just shooting for AG/G/VG/F coins. Buy a complete set as a starting point and then add/remove as is necessary. Highly recommended.

 

Good point buying a set is often cheaper because the demand is not that high for complete sets. I bought a set of 11 coins and only needed 2 of them and I ended up selling the other 9. Well after all the fees associtated with selling I ended up making almost 200 bucks plus I still have the other 2 coins.

If you want to sell your set you will do better if you break up the set and sell them as individual coins.

 

Yup,

I have never bought a complete set but an almost complete set of business strike Two Cent Pieces. This AFTER I already had a few complete sets.

I was able to upgrade a few secondary sets and I'll always take another small motto. It also gives me the option to sell some off individually at a profit.

In short, it can really make sense to your wallet.

 

I've bought a complete set only to get the key coin and the 4 or 5 semi-key coins. Just the key and one semi key is worth more than I paid for all the coins. I still upgrade when possible and (should) sell the rest. I've only bought a complete set once but would do it again, for the same reasons, if I could afford it.

Bruce

 

I have purchased a complete set because:
One coin had greater value than the price of the entire set
and it was really beautiful.
A great deal is a great.

 

Sometimes folks will purchase a complete set to make up for lost time. You come back into the hobby after an absence of (20?) years and you're just tryin' to play catch-up. Possability?

 

I've never purchased a complete set but don't have anything against doing so. There's a fellow in the local coin club who buys complete sets and cherrypicks them. Sends the winners to PCGS for certification and then sells the other coins individually. He usually covers the cost of the keepers and the certifications but it's a labor intensive process.

 

Could be just lazy people with more money than they need.

 

I've never bought a complete set and wouldn't, but a nice set painstakingly assembled by an astute or very conscientous collector may have taken thousands of hours to put together. If your free time is worth $10/hour to you...that's A LOT of dough, or time saved, however you want to look at it.

I'm in it for the chase myself.

 

Keep in mind that people have very different goals in collecting. No one way is right or wrong or better or worse. Some people buy sets, some assemble sets, some buy circulated coins, some buy only gems, some buy bullion, some won't touch it, some like exonumia, some like US Mint products, some assemble type sets, some buy raw coins, some buy slabbed coins, some like old coins, some like moderns. Anyway, you get the idea. There is something for everyone in this hobby.