The Thrill of The Chase

[loriken214]

Do you get a rush out of obtaining something that you really want, jewelry, shoes, etc., and then find that the excitement is over once you have it? Then it is on to the next conquest?

Lori

 

[Gypsy]

Yes. Particularly when I'm stressed and/or worried about other things and I'm using shopping as a crutch. I have addictive tendancies and shopping is a big weakness that's gotten me into trouble before (long time ago). It makes me really careful now about what I buy, and a bit indesicive because I'm not sure if it's the rush I want, or the object and I don't want to confuse the two.

 

[VRBeauty]

Yes, and ditto much of what Gypsy said. There was a time when I turned my laptop over to a friend so she could scramble my password to one of my favorite gem auction sites! I love the search for the big bargain (I''m sure it was a man that "decided" that men were the hunters in the old hunter/gatherer paradigm !) But it''s getting better as I get a better understanding of why I do that... and of the resulting waste.

 

[coatimundi_org]

Date: 1/7/2009 1:02:42 AM
Author:loriken214
Do you get a rush out of obtaining something that you really want, jewelry, shoes, etc., and then find that the excitement is over once you have it? Then it is on to the next conquest?


Lori

haha! Yes, almost every time--and just with gems/jewelry.

 

[Gypsy]

VR... you know what helps me? Projects. I designed my dream house... complete with floorplan and furnishing for all the rooms one year. My engagement ring re-set took a few years. The wedding was a huge project (which I would not do again, as great as our wedding was, I'd elope). And now I've got a pendant project and I'm not taking the 'quick fix' pendant setting route on purpose because I realized that I was feeling weird because of the lack of project. It's not something that I do every day... but it is something that takes up some free time. I learned to sew for one project... wrote 2/3rds of two books (never finished). It's not the end result (though I want that to be great with each project and so far I've been happy with the result of all of them -- except that I never finished the books)... it's the journey. It really helps me and keeps my spending undercontrol, my idle hands busy, and the escape I desperately need at times. Pricescope also helps. Weird, but true. I just have to be REALLY careful with the colored stones... they are like candy. I try to only visit that board, and not learn too much about them because I feel it could be dangerous.

 

[Elmorton]

Definitely. My dad always told me as a teenager that "happiness is the expectation of getting what you want, not simply getting what you want." It''s totally true. I think I love an item the most as I''m carrying it to the register or waiting for it to come in the mail or imagining what something would look like on my finger if it were mine. Many times after I receive something I realize that I was just trying to fill a void (boredom? wanting look forward to something?) and it cheapens everything. There are gifts of course that I love so much more after I''ve lusted after them for a long time before receiving, but it''s because of the sentiment that someone wanted to give it to me more than the fact that I just wanted whatever it was (my e-ring and other pieces DH has given me come to mind) - but very, very rarely does a purchase I made fill me with happiness after the chase is over (with exception to very major, life-charting purchases like my first car, our first house).

 

[Brown.Eyed.Girl]

Ugh yes! Not with big big things - mostly because I stop and think about those for a long long time while I save up the money. But for others ... like my Uggs. Granted, I love my Uggs and they''re perfect for cold Chicago weather...but still. And there are others - like the Hermes scarf I got in the Tokyo airport...

But so far, I''ve been okay with my three categories that I buy of - books, purses and jewelry!

 

[FrekeChild]

Shoes...Most of them anyway. There are a few that still bring me *joy*(my green shoes that I searched for about 2 weeks for, my wedding shoes, my avatar shoes, my new gray boots and a few others-out of 130+ that isn''t too bad!) but most of the others are fabulous to have, but when it boils down to it...they were a conquest. Plain and simple.

Now jewelry on the other hand...I can''t tell you how much I enjoy my Elsa Peretti tsav stacking band. I fell in love with that ring, lusted after it for 6 months, and then finally it was mine! And the only reason I don''t wear it anymore is because it only fits my left ring finger, and most of the time that''s got the blue e-bling on it now. I also love the symbolism behind my e-ring, and although I''m less than enamored with the setting, that stone is probably the most precious piece I own. What''s funny is that it''s not my favorite stone (looks wise), but because of the pure sentimentality behind it, it could never be replaced. So anticipating receiving it was great, but having it (even in a setting that isn''t my favorite) still brings me joy.

Often jewelry that I buy on a whim...I don''t end up loving for long periods of time. But when I become almost emotionally attached to something, and lust after it...it continues to fascinate me well after the packaging it came in has gone.

 

[tlh]

Date: 1/7/2009 1:02:42 AM
Author:loriken214
Do you get a rush out of obtaining something that you really want, jewelry, shoes, etc., and then find that the excitement is over once you have it? Then it is on to the next conquest?

Lori

OMG, Lori, are we soulmates?

 

[loriken214]

Here is a prime example of my madness. I had dimend SCASSI custom make this eternity ring for me last year. It cost quite a bit, too. Once I had it for a few months, I decided that I wanted something different and sent it to Dover Jewelry. They purchased it from me for a fraction of what I originally paid and posted it on their website. It has been sitting there ever since. Now, I''ve decided that I want it back. How crazy is that?

Lori

 

[Rhea]

Yes. I finally have the perfect e-ring and I love it and know that I really don''t want to wear anything else. But the chase is so much fun!

I like to plan things, but right now I''m at a place in my life where we really don''t have the money or insight into where we''ll be to move onto the next big thing, a house. It''s hard for me to sit still and find something to fill the space so I''m always trying to move onto the next big thing.

 

[simplysplendid]

Date: 1/7/2009 8:45:26 AM
Author: tlh

Date: 1/7/2009 1:02:42 AM
Author:loriken214
Do you get a rush out of obtaining something that you really want, jewelry, shoes, etc., and then find that the excitement is over once you have it? Then it is on to the next conquest?

Lori

OMG, Lori, are we soulmates?

Gypsy is my soulmate.

I totally agree with what''s been said and I also agree that having a project on hand is quite helpful. I do shop quite a bit and the chase is fun. But I must say that for most of my purchases (especially jewelry), I still love them even after the chase. I guess we can get the thrill from either wanting what we have or having what we want and many a times, I forget to look at what I already have and to enjoy them. A lot of this I blame on my ineffective closet management.

 

[loriken214]

I''ve since controlled myself and only buy what I can afford now, but I still get really excited when I see something on PS that I would love to have. There are SO many beautiful things on here that I can look at and that seems to satisfy me for a bit.

Lori

 

[AmberGretchen]

Hmm...I do love the chase and I definitely love a bargain, but, especially for big purchases (mainly jewelry and handbags for me), I really take pleasure in the item once I have it too. In fact, that''s an important part of my purchasing decision for non-essential (don''t want to stir up a controversy here - I realize "essential" is subjective but I''m thinking of food, medications, etc...here) or luxury items is a calculus of how much pleasure I will derive from owning the item, and for expensive items, it has to be quite a bit. For example, my tsav and diamond ring, I plan to wear for the rest of my life (not every day but a lot of days), and every time I look down at it I will take pleasure in how pretty it is (to me) and also in the success that it represents.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

I go nuts...

If I decide I want to buy something...either a purse, or jeans, or something for the house...its like I have to have it at that moment. I catch myself driving to fast, cursing out slow drivers, being cut-throat over parking...even if the item isn''t "hot property"...I get way amped up!

I''m doubly worse on Black Friday!!!!

 

[decodelighted]

This holiday season has been rough for me re: wanting to shop. My pup''s been sick (on the mend!), I didn''t get a job I really wanted & our house started having some more leaking problems -- and apparently my answer to all of this is these shoes I''ve been obsessing about non-stop.

Did I mention that I found them on sale at Piperlime but they only have 2 sizes .. but I keep refreshing to see if an 11 magically comes back as a return!

Am usually pretty good about figuring out when my "obsession" is really escapism. But knowing it doesn''t help that much. Just have to wait til it passes. (Or splurge) BAH!

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 1/7/2009 2:47:58 PM
Author: simplysplendid

Date: 1/7/2009 8:45:26 AM
Author: tlh

Date: 1/7/2009 1:02:42 AM
Author:loriken214
Do you get a rush out of obtaining something that you really want, jewelry, shoes, etc., and then find that the excitement is over once you have it? Then it is on to the next conquest?

Lori

OMG, Lori, are we soulmates?

Gypsy is my soulmate.

I totally agree with what''s been said and I also agree that having a project on hand is quite helpful. I do shop quite a bit and the chase is fun. But I must say that for most of my purchases (especially jewelry), I still love them even after the chase. I guess we can get the thrill from either wanting what we have or having what we want and many a times, I forget to look at what I already have and to enjoy them. A lot of this I blame on my ineffective closet management.

Definitely Soulmates.

My closet is a horror, and my memory suxs so I frequently find myself going "Oh yeah... I own that, don''t I? Wow it''s really pretty!"

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 1/8/2009 11:57:06 AM
Author: decodelighted
This holiday season has been rough for me re: wanting to shop. My pup''s been sick (on the mend!), I didn''t get a job I really wanted & our house started having some more leaking problems -- and apparently my answer to all of this is these shoes I''ve been obsessing about non-stop.

Did I mention that I found them on sale at Piperlime but they only have 2 sizes .. but I keep refreshing to see if an 11 magically comes back as a return!

Am usually pretty good about figuring out when my ''obsession'' is really escapism. But knowing it doesn''t help that much. Just have to wait til it passes. (Or splurge) BAH!

Deco, I''m sorry to hear about your troubles. Lots of dust for puppy mending quickly, a better job turning up, the leaking being cheaply but permanently fixed... and those SHOES! In a size 11 turning up.

 

[isaku5]

I just clicked on the link you provided, deco, and saw that a size 11M is available!!! Grab it!!!

 

[NovemberBride]

There is an 11 in those shoes available!

 

[loriken214]

Date: 1/8/2009 11:57:06 AM
Author: decodelighted
This holiday season has been rough for me re: wanting to shop. My pup''s been sick (on the mend!), I didn''t get a job I really wanted & our house started having some more leaking problems -- and apparently my answer to all of this is these shoes I''ve been obsessing about non-stop.

Did I mention that I found them on sale at Piperlime but they only have 2 sizes .. but I keep refreshing to see if an 11 magically comes back as a return!

Am usually pretty good about figuring out when my ''obsession'' is really escapism. But knowing it doesn''t help that much. Just have to wait til it passes. (Or splurge) BAH!

Deco,

Did you get your shoes?????

Lori

 

[bee*]

I tend to love everything that I buy although I still always want to buy more! I''m a buyaholic!

 

[Judah Gutwein]

I''ve had a sometimes problem with the "thrill of the chase" mentality.
Thankfully, my better half doesn''t share this habit.

Usually, the initial excitement wears off after the conquest.
If this doesn''t happen, it most certianly will upon receipt of your new credit card statement!!

I actually believe that the reason people engage in this kind of behavior is to get a quick and momentary high...sort of like a "pick me up" type thing.
It is also (IMO) a manifestation of the fact that we human beings are always searching (soul searching perhaps), for that sometimes elusive sense of serenity.

Buying something "on the fly" or on a "whim" or for the "thrill" can be an application of the transference of that search...

If this makes no sense, forget I said it!

 

[geckodani]

If I impulse buy an expensive item - the thrill of acquisition quickly fades. If I have lusted after, drooled over, planned for and saved up for something- I enjoy it greatly!

 

[Bliss]

Yes, yes and yes! Online sample sales are like crack to me.

Must.
Stop.
But.
I.
Can''t!

 

[partgypsy]

I think I used to have that alot, in particular about buying gems. I would get one I liked, but my list of ones I wanted to get was ever growing! Also I always like projects, and it is fun to daydream about getting a stone, and making it into a piece of jewelry.
Strangely ever since I got my diamond earrings in Jan 08 it has been much, much less. Ironically in retrospect the reason I found this website originally was to get a pair of diamond earrings, but then got distracted by a list of other projects mostly involving gemstones. So every year put off getting those earrings. FINALLY got the diamond earrings I''ve been lusting for, and even though there are still stuff on my wish list, it just doesn''t seem as compelling. It''s like my earrings were the "big win" that made me feel, I have enough.
It''s a great feeling (don''t know how long it will last!)

 

[Haven]

I have the opposite problem--I like to mull things over once I find something I *think* I *might* want, chew on it for a while, and ultimately I almost always convince myself that I don''t really want or need it.

But I don''t like having a lot of stuff around.

Actually, I think I get a thrill from realizing that I DON''T really want whatever it is I thought I wanted. Maybe I''m insane.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I may be more like Haven. I don''t like to buy unless it is something I am 100% sure I want. I spend tons of hours online looking at this site and jewelry sites, and I have trouble making a decision most of the time. That makes me feel that I really must not want it badly enough if I don''t have a strong desire for an item. The last time I really fell in love with a piece was when I tried on the Tiffany Legacy band a year ago. I called my hubby from Tiffany''s and asked him if he wanted me to tell the sales clerk to write it down so he could get it for me for Valentines or whatever, and he said, no, just buy it now. Even though it wasn''t an extravagant item, it was so beautiful and elegant and I knew 100% that I loved it. And I still do!!! My regrets are when I buy something I don''t really love or else I order something and it isn''t right for me once I try it on.

 

[Porridge]

Oh yes. So much so that I had to have a long, stern talk with myself about not letting material possessions get to me. I fixed it by having things to do to look forward to, rather than things to have

 

[jewelerman]

I LOVE THE HUNT!Been known to hunt for years for the right piece of jewelry or watch...but appreciate the pieces that i luck into while looking for the main piece....consultation prizes until the big one comes along.