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03-02-2013, 07:20 PM | #1 |
Cobra Viper
Join Date: May 2009
Location: California
Posts: 481
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I'm not really sure where I'm going with this post, I guess I just wanted to talk to somebody about it, i don't have any collector friends in real life, so....
A few days ago I was doing some cleaning/organizing and as I was going through my boxes of toys, I realized just how many i had. I don't have anything on display, all of my toys are in storage bins under the bed. Because of this, it's pretty easy to forget (at least in my case) just how much I've accumulated. As I was going through them, i was just kinda like "damn, do I really need all of this?" I mean I love my toys as much as the next collector, but I kinda started to feel a bit....I dunno....weird. I felt like it was getting out of hand. I have a bunch of stuff that I don't even really care about. I love classic G.I. Joe, I'm truly passionate about them, but I really don't give a shit about RoC or retaliation. And yet I have all of the figures from those lines (so far). Even with the 25th and ME figures that I love so much, I feel like I've overdone it. Do I really need all these different variations of the same characters (SE, SS, CC, etc)? The same goes for Transformers. If its a classic figure or classic style figure I love them. I really don't give a shit about Movie Transformers, or the newer Prime line....and yet I have all of them. And how in the hell did I end up with a bunch of Star Wars figures? I'm not even into Star Wars, jesus. I sat there going through all this shit that i've accumulated, and I saw my collection in a different light, a negative light. For the first time as a collector, I felt like it wasn't fun anymore, that it had become a burden and I just wanted to sell everything and be done with it. Doing so would be a massive undertaking, at something I had no intentions of doing at the time, so I just kinda packed everything back up and shoved it back under the bed to deal with at a later date. Anyways, after a few days I revisited the issue, and realized that I can't sell off my entire collection, thats just crazy talk. I really do love collecting, but I now know that I had overdone it. At this point I want to re-focus my collecting. I don't want any extra fluff, I just want what i loved (and still love) as a kid. I want to just have 1 figure for each character, no more 20 versions of the same figure. I'm going to pick my favorite one, and sell off the others. This goes for the extra lines that I don't care about as well, RoC, Retaliation and Movie/Prime Transformers. I'm guessing that other collectors have experienced something similar to this as well, I'd love to hear how they dealt with it. I don't even know where to begin with the sorting / choosing / ebaying / etc. It feels like such a large undertaking, but it's something that needs to be done. Anyways, I'm rambling, thanks for reading. -zandar Last edited by Zandar07; 03-02-2013 at 07:26 PM.. |
03-02-2013, 07:39 PM | #2 |
Hisstank.Com General
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Posts: 5,841
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The greatest thing I ever did for my collection was to stop being a completist. I even remember the day that happened. I was going through a box of Star Wars toys, and I found a shoebox that was at least half full of just Luke in his Tatooine costume. I don't even like that costume, but there I was with every single figure Hasbro had ever made of him in it, and there were a lot. I realized at that point that I was wasting money buying figures that I didn't want, when instead that same money could go towards something I did want.
So I stopped buying one of everything and instead I army build, and I'm much happier for it. |
03-02-2013, 07:42 PM | #3 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,845
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Man I go through this same thing all the time, and I've probably done sold stuff and rebought things 3 or 4 times already. Probably the best advice is keep anything that reminds you of a good time from the past. I.e. toy you had as a kid, toy your wife gave you as a birthday present, stuff like that. Things that have a memory associated to it will always bring back that memory and thats worth keeping. On the other hand you will realize that a large amount of the stuff has no memory and thus no value to you. To those items I say leave them under the bed like you have it and in 3 months/ 6months/9months etc see if you've even bothered to look at it or still have feelings about throwing/selling it. If you think you might regret it you probably will so just store it , but if you really dont feel like you would then you should go ahead and sell it with a clear conscience. Once you pare down the collection to the things that are most important you will feel more in control. Then you have to go about keeping yourself from buying all brand new stuff allover again.
I have less advice for this because I struggle with it now. My wife will tell me to buy something if I think I like it because its cheap when it comes out and she'd rather I do that then spend more on ebay later. But its hard to know if you really like something or not. Whatever you do hang in there. Having a cool collection that you may or may not need to pare down is a good problem to have. Just keep your perspective on how lucky you are and how good life is. |
03-02-2013, 07:53 PM | #4 |
VALKYRIE
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Over the rainbow where your mom is at son
Posts: 23,515
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I went through something similar to you within the past months, dating to last year. Storm Shadow is my favorite character so I am keeping nearly all of the Storm Shadow figures I own. With ROC, I did enjoy the line more since I was casually customizing figures via parts-swapping.
For Transformers, usually enjoy modern figures based on classic characters, like the CHUG(Classics/Henkei/Universe/Generations) figures. So I am keeping nearly all of those and only getting rid of a handful. For the 25th line there are only a few figures I don't have, but some of the ones I do have I just don't enjoy anymore because they're just not up to par. I mean I like some old toys but sometimes I would find myself buying a figure because it was the ONLY modern representation of that character out at the moment. However a disappointing toy, is still a disappointing toy. I've learned to hold back and not buy something even if it's the only modern toy of said character/vehicle out. Case in point, the numerous Cobra Commanders I bought from the 25th line. I like the Resolute ones and the Comic Pack one that used the Crimson Guard body. The rest are disappointing aside from the vac metal battle mask one that came in the last battle pack. Even so, that one is immediately outclassed by the upcoming Ultimate one. Going from what you said, for Transformers, I would just buy CHUG figures(just the ones that are good), and for GI Joe, just the Ultimate figures based on the classics. If you don't care for the movie designs/characters/figures then collecting them just to collect is just wasting money and taking up space. |
03-02-2013, 08:11 PM | #5 |
Cobra Viper
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: O'Fallon, IL
Posts: 476
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Like Xenos, my collecting hobby got MUCH better when I decided not to be a completist with the Joe line. Up until ROC hit, I was buying everything Joe...to include a vintage line, JvsC, Spytroops, etc. I looked back on all the crap, and decided to dump everything non-vintae that I didnt like. I'm still a loose completist with 82-94.
From that point on, I only buy things I really like, and I am also more patient. With a few exceptions, the hot figure today will be easy to get at a show in a few months. It really took the burden away and makes me enjoy it mch more. I also noticed you dont display anything. I know everyones situation is different, but if I dont have room to display it, then it means I dont get it or something else leaves the collection. I really only enjoy the items I can get out and see in my room. |
03-02-2013, 08:16 PM | #6 |
Hisstank.Com General
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Hawaii
Posts: 8,089
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It is real simple for me... if I look at something and it makes me smile... I keep it. If it makes me conflicted... it gets a temporary stay of execution. If it makes me regretful or indifferent or any other emotion... it goes.
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03-02-2013, 08:27 PM | #7 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,617
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Im finding that I am buying stuff I really don't like or need too (like this wave 2 Roadblock. it's not what I like)
I am stopping that. Course, I'm still seeking large stuff like PTE aircraft....
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03-02-2013, 08:40 PM | #8 |
The Dude
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: castle destro
Posts: 4,105
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Yeah, I hear what you’re saying. I really have a problem with multiples of the same character especially with the MU line. I'm tired of all the damn Thor's, Captain America's, Spider-men, and Iron men that they try to force you to buy, because they pack them with a figure that you do want.
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03-02-2013, 08:43 PM | #9 |
endlesssummerofthedamned
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Midway, PA
Posts: 3,773
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I think if you make a list of boundaries to collect within and stick to them, you should do alright. Once you realize there's a problem and want to fix it, then you're on your way. Start picking out the elements you no longer want and start selling them off on Ebay or trading them for items you don't have. The secondary market for Joes is pretty good. I don't collect anything else, but I assume Star Wars and Transformers are doing well also. For those that you have multiples, pick out the one or two you want and sell, trade or reduce the rest to custom parts. There's lots of options. Good luck.
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03-02-2013, 08:58 PM | #10 |
Plastic lover
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Over The Rainbow!
Posts: 8,395
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You DON'T have to get sucked into getting all of the figs from all the lines, case in point Joes.
I went overboard with the ROC figs and I was able to stop and check myself and decided to keep only the women and got rid of the rest. Stick to what you like and get rid of the rest.
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