The Five Stages of Acquisition

A collectible is only worth what someone else is willing to pay for it.
— Unnumbered Ferengi Rule of Acquisition

In addition to the 285 Rules, Ferengi recognize five Stages of Acquisition:

Infatuation : An unreasoning love or attraction. — "I want it."
Justification : Moral excuse used to explain. — "I must have it!"
Appropriation : To take to one's self in exclusion of others. — "IT'S MINE AT LAST!"
Obsession : A compulsive or irrational preoccupation. — "Precious!"
Resale : The action of selling something previously bought. — "Make me an offer."

This teaches us that all Good Things must inevitably come to an end … no matter how much you want something, or what it costs you to posses it, there will come a day that you are willing to part with it … for a profit, of course … so, enjoy the Fourth Stage while it lasts. ;-)

Your goals should be:

to make your Obsession (ownership) stage last longer than the first three stages combined, or
to at least get twice what you paid for it upon Resale.

And always remember …

NRFB! (Never Remove From Box!)

—The Bipolar Anon-IP Gnome (talk · contribs) _{02:21, 1 April 2008 (UTC)}