JediDefender.com Forums
Community => Watto's Junk Yard => Topic started by: Brian on May 7, 2004, 01:33 PM
-
I wasn’t sure where to put this, since it doesn’t “specifically” apply to vintage, or Saga, or OTC, but collections in general. Hopefully this is an ok place to put it, sorry if it isn’t. I don’t mean for this to be a negative post, just something I was thinking about. If you ever lost your collection, due to theft, flood, fire, natural disaster, etc…..would you try to get it back? Would you just go after a certain focus? Would you try to pick up your favorites from your collection, maybe 10-30 figures, a couple of ships, a couple of beasts and just have one nice little display shelf? Would you just start collecting from what figures were currently out and in the future? Or, would you just hang it up and quit? I guess when I was thinking of this, I was thinking mainly of Star Wars collecting…but it can apply to anything and everything you might collect. I think honestly, if for some reason I ever lost my collection…I wouldn’t try to replace each and every bit of it. Not that I don’t enjoy it now, I just don’t know if I would. I’d probably get a condensed collection using one of a few options….(1) a handful of figures from each movie - favorites (2) focus on Original Trilogy collecting only, or (3) pick up “ultimate” type figures (such as upcoming VOTC figs), and main ships from the OT. As far as other collecting, I don't have much else...mainly Marvel stuff. With what little I have, I'd probably try to pick up what I had...or at least a Spidey, and a few X-Men. I hope no one here ever has to go through anything like this (not just because of collection reasons), this is more just a hypothetical question and I was curious what some of you thought.
-
Hmmm, interesting. I was actually thinking about getting some insurance for my collection and was thinking about what I would do with a check if the whole thing burned to the ground. I really don't think I would buy it all again. I think I would do a carded Vintage (first appearance) collection instead. I think it holds much more nostolgia for me than the modern stuff does and it would be a lot more satisfying and difficult thing to pursue rather than going to Target and buying the latest figures.
Not sure though...I might buy a loose OT modern collection too and ditch the prequels altogether
-
The insurance issue is actually what first got me thinking of this too Scott. We are in the process of moving, and talking to companies about homeowners insurance...and that's something I had just been talking about with my wife, insuring the collection. I've thought like you too, maybe going back and doing the vintage route. I've always been (very slowly) working towards a loose complete figure collection, with intentions of moving on to vehicles, playsets, or maybe carded figures after that. I have a feeling I might lean towards OT-only regardless (modern or vintage)...but there would probably be a few PT figures I might want too (some of the main characters at least). Although, if it was a start over point, it might be easier to stick to OT. Thanks for the reply.
-
I would cry. Alot.
Given no one was hurt.
If no one was hurt, then I would cry.
Family comes first.
Kevin
-
I currently have a $50,000.00 Insurance policy on my toy collection.
If I lost my toy collection do to some event I would hang it all up and stop collecting for the most part. To me it would not be worth all the effort to try to replace the entire collection that I have been massing for most of my life. For one I have some one of a kind items, those would be gone forever.
I might collect a few figures or items just to keep my inner child alive but I would not rebuild to be where I am now with my collection.
I would be upset... very upset and sad.
I would hope that this would never happen to anyone.
-
I really need to get cracking on an insurance policy for my collection. That said, I dont know if I'd go back and get everything or not. Knock on wood, I hope it never happens to me or anyone else.
-
I hope I don't lose it, because I've been amassing this stuff for 23 years, but if it did happen, I'd buy the best versions of my favorite Star Wars figures, a few X-Men figures, and the Buffy stuff again, and that would probably be it.
-
That would be bad. Hope never to lose my collection this way. If I want to give it for fre, let it be, but not to be stolen onr burned etc. But don;t know if I'll have the patience and $ to rebuild my collection. So I'll go for something else...
-
We're having this conversation over on the Canadian board. Sorta. Basically trying to find out who has insurance and how much they pay. My insurer charges an astronomical amount, so it's not worth it.
For me, I'd pretty much bail. I'd hazard I have probably at a bare minimum $10000 in my collection, if you factor in all the replacement cost for chase pieces, htf stuff, shipping, exchange rate etc. Probably double that easy.
Nope, if it goes, I go. Not worth replacing. Too much of a challenge and not a pleasant one like hunting for toys at retail or trading. :-\
-
I didn't mean for this to be a "feeling bad" thread. Obviously I hope no one here ever has to experience some sort of a disaster where they lose their collection, or anything else. I have just been working on packing up the collection here for our upcoming move, and just starting thinking "what would I do if I lost all of this". It looks like many people, like myself, wouldn't want the trouble of backtracking and picking everything up again. I almost think I would focus only on OT, maybe as small as getting the VOTC figures, or just the OTC collection in general, along with a few ships here and there. Right, once I started I'd probably end up getting more. Thanks for the replies though everyone, it has been interesting to see everyone's opinions on this.
-
My collection is loose and most of the figures are fairly easy to get, even the vintage. Despite that, I know it'll take time to replace the collection. I'll pick up a few here and there and whenever I chance upon them as my mood dictates, but I doubt I'd devote a lot of time pursuing replacements.
-
I would replace the prop replica's and the posters for sure. I would probably replace the dolls but to even think of trying to get all the figures boggles my mind.
-
Similar question...If you had to sell your collection, would you put it up on eBay for one lump sum?
$25,000 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=37887&item=5902088792&rd=1)
-
I saw that today too Scott, just glancing over some of it, looks like he might have been a little generous pricing some of those items. I don't know how many people are looking to get their entire Star Wars collection in one swoop like that though...might not get bids, we'll see.
-
A little generous :P A lot generous, I was thinking about that the other day, If I ever decided to sell my stuff how long would it take to get rid of? Over a year I would guess
-
$25,000?
That's twice what my car cost brand new 4 years ago.
So, it scares me to think how much I've spent total on this stuff. :P
-
A little generous :P A lot generous, I was thinking about that the other day, If I ever decided to sell my stuff how long would it take to get rid of? Over a year I would guess
Quite so. I'm getting rid of my childhood toys and it is taking a long time. Listing, answering questions and then shipping take a ton of time. Max I list is 10 items a week. I have a job and a family too, both of which are priorities.
That guy is hugely generous with his amounts.
$10 for a vintage power droid? ::)
$45 for a vintage boba fett? :o ::)
$45 for Jedi Luke green saber :o
His carded POTF2 prices are way, way out of whack. He man LUke with short saber $14? Try $3.
He's got one commtech Motti and 8 Greedo? Not a good prognosticator either.
Anakin Skywalker Pilot EP I $17??????
The man has been reading price guides, not watching ebay. :-\
-
38 emperor palpatines???
19 leia as jabba's prisoner???
23 darth maul sith lord???
17 12" darth maul???
i'm into army building and stuff, but come on. but hey, at least he's including the shipping cost in the end value of the auction, and not trying to get another $600 for shipping. not that i think anyone will be bidding on that.
-
I was just thinking about this again lately, and had another question for you guys. If you had lost, sold, got rid of....whatever....your collection, and you were starting from scratch, or re-starting again....what would be the first thing or area you would buy? Where would you focus, or what would you want to have first? For me, it would first off be in the Original Trilogy area. From there, it would either be my loose vintage figure collection (nostalgia and these figures is why I collect Star Wars in the first place), or the 12 VOTC figures. I think at first I might lean towards the VOTC figures, and then build the collection from there, picking up some of the other "best" figures from the modern era. I think those would be the areas I would focus on, if I was starting from scratch, and maybe eventually branch into the other things again.
-
Simply put, I wouldn't start again. At least that's how I feel at this moment. It's a huge 'waste' of money. I could have easily bought my '67 Camaro by this point. Heck, I'd be close on two years of money alone.
That I have all of this stuff is self perpetuating, but losing it would simply kill the urge.
-
That is something I was curious about Brent, whether many of us would even start back up again. I know I don't have near the collections of many others, but I feel I have quite a bit of "stuff" too, and it would be kind of overwhelming trying to get it all back. I think I'd still want something, and the VOTC line might be the route I would go (or even the OTC - since they wouldn't be "repacks" to me then - or vintage figures). Of course, we all know how that goes, once you start...it seems to keep building and building, and branching out and branching out.
-
I'm getting ready to offload some Transformers reissues.
Transfans are the worst when it comes to lowballing. I realize the packages are open, but the stickers aren't applied and I've only transformed them about three times each.
It's an odd feeling, parting with stuff that you dig. I don't want to imagine what it would be like losing the entire collection instead of a few pieces.
-
I've actually been thinking about this a bit lately (partly prompted by a couple big storms we've had recently and a tornado not all that far from here). Also looking into what school I want to transfer to after finishing my two-year degree next year, which means I'll need to figure out where to put all my crap, etc....
After my initial sitting-on-the-couch-in-my-underwear-and-sobbing-uncontrollably mourning period, I think I would just restart collecting from that point onward. But I suspect it would have permanently crippled my enthusiasm for the hobby, meaning whatever came after would only be halfhearted.
I'd go back and replace a handful of my favorite items. But it wouldn't be practical (or even necessarily desirable) to try to replace every piece, since it's taken me a decade to amass what I have. And a fair portion of it isn't readily available anymore -- nothing super rare or expensive, just not so easy to find. Never mind the fact I haven't cataloged my collection so I don't even have a full accounting if I wanted to replace it all.
I would begin with the POTF2 and Episode I figures I got when they were new, and which I therefore have greater emotional attachment to. Later on I've picked up some others from these lines, but they're not as important to me as the ones I had from way back when.
One thing I probably would try to completely replace is the book collection, since most of them are still available in paperback form. It'd be hard to find all of the hardcovers again, though.
-
About 7 or 8 years ago, I created a computer database of my collection and plugged in values from current price guides and magazines. It was worth more than $20,000. Then my database got too huge for my computer at the time and started freaking out, and I got behind, and prices have changed, but I figure with all the new stuff, it's gotta be in the $20K-25K range, at least. We talked about trying to get an insurance rider for the collection, but until we get the stuff organized (still waiting to tile that Star Wars room) and cataloged again, I'm sure we can't even *talk* to our insurance agent about it. Plus, with the cost of insurance in Florida right now, it may be more than we can afford.
Bottom line, if I lost my collection, I'd probably lose a lot more as well, and at that point, there'd be more important things to spend any insurance money on than rebuilding the collection. Plus, as some of you have mentioned, I have a few rare or hard-to-find pieces, and lots of vintage stuff. I mean, I've been collecting since the first movie came out. Plus, like some of you have said, I don't know if emotionally I would be able to keep collecting. I would definitely be heartbroken. I'd probably have to take anti-depressants or get therapy or something if I lost it all.
-
First off great question!!!
I would just hang it up!!! My collection spans decades, and would just be too much to try to get it all back!!! Even if I had insurance, which I don't have, I'd just use the money for something else!!
-
If I lost my collection, I'd cry like a little baby for days. :'(
I've put my heart and soul into my collection, so to lose it would be tough. Very tough. But I honestly don't think I could collect it all over again. I'm a collector of the modern lines at this point, but it's my vintage toys from my childhood that mean the most to me. Sure, they're all beat up, but the connection to my childhood is the reason that I collect.
I think if had to start over, I'd just buy a few of my favourite modern Hasbro pieces. Instead I'd focus on the upscale pieces and use my completist gene to focus on vintage collecting.
Let's hope none of us ever have to actually make this decision. :-[
-
Hey, I remember this topic.
One of my friends had this happen last year in a fire that devasted his family. Friends were able to help him start rebuilding, but he's playing catch up like crazy.
If my whole collection were to go, sadly....I think I'd pass on rebuilding it. I'd buy choice pieces, but I can't see going back and buying everything (all that POTF2 stuff) again. I'm just not interested in it....but I also don't want to sell it.
-
Yep, I would just go after certain pieces. There is no way I could go out and rebuy 28 years of stuff. I, like most of us, buy pieces as we go along throughout the years. Obviously some more than others. After awhile it all builds up into a massive collection for many. I never dreamed I would have this much Star Wars crap. LOL! It's insane. I don't even have everything and it's still nuts.
Regardless I would be sick if I lost all my collection to some sort of disaster or whatever. It just would not be financially possible for me to rebuild it. I would use the money for my kid's (or future kid's) education fund. That or money for a new house. At any rate it would not be used to rebuild my former collection.
-
I nearly lost my vintage collection to a fire once. Some ships and my DeathStar got smoke damaged and a little warped and few odds and ends seemed to have vaporized. but 99% of it was okay.
If I actually lost my entire collection in the near future, I would hang it up for now. However, I would make it a goal to re-aquire it down the road if I get ahead financially.
-
I'm with Josh, I'd try to replace a few choice pieces, but cannot fathom trying to rebuild everything. While i have no desire to part with anything I have, I know I wouldn't have the passion to go back and start from scratch.
All that money would go towards this instead:
(http://www.wake.co.nz/img/x22.jpg)
-
If my modern collection went up in smoke, I honestly wouldn't be too disappointed.
My insurance would cover replacement costs for everything (i.e. retail value), which is more than it's worth if I were to sell it.
Plus, I have completely lost interest in all modern toys. :(
Vintage is a different story.
I'd re-collect, but my approach would be very different. I'd use the insurance money to acquire very rare and unique items, rather than going on a carded figure spending spree.
-
I'm with Josh, I'd try to replace a few choice pieces, but cannot fathom trying to rebuild everything. While i have no desire to part with anything I have, I know I wouldn't have the passion to go back and start from scratch.
All that money would go towards this instead:
My money would probably go towards this:
(http://www.autobytel.com/images/Features/03-Dodge-Viper-SRT-10-2.jpg)
Which sometimes honestly makes me wonder why I don't just sell the stuff I don't care about and only collect the stuff I REALLY like. These days, I tend to only buy things I want, but I still have hundreds upon hundreds of figures from the last 10 years that I'm fairly ambivolent about.
-
I got to thinking about this issue again, while reading of a few more of our friends here scaling back their collections for lack of money, space, time, or any other issues. I should probably change the title of this, because I'm wondering more of if you were starting from scratch - or even if you just had a little amount of space to display things - what would you choose to collect and display - Star Wars or otherwise? I'm getting to the point now where the space I have to display (our office) is getting pretty full. I don't like it when things look cluttered, and I'm thinking now what needs to be packed away. What would you choose to keep?
For me, although I really enjoy the entire saga (and ROTS from the prequels in particular), I'm more of an OT person overall. If I was really strapped for money or space, I think I'd focus on that. Maybe completing a loose vintage collection, and possibly moving onto vehicles and/or playsets eventually. I think I'd still be drawn to the modern stuff too, particularly things on the level of the VOTC/VTSC figures. If I took it further than that, I think I'd collect the basic figures from the OT - particularly those who had versions in the vintage line - sprinkling in "new characters" such as the Lars, Hem Dazon and other aliens, etc. It would be tough to ditch the prequel stuff totally though, so I'm not sure what I'd do there. Maybe I'd keep a dozen or so from the prequels as well, stuff along the lines of Evolutions Maul/Anakin/Palpy, ROTS Pilot Obi, 3PO, Jedi, Clones, etc. Its always tough to know for sure when you're not technically in the situation, but its just something to think about.
Outside of Star Wars, my main interest is Marvel (and to a lesser extent DC) stuff. Foremost among that is Spider-Man. If I was limited on space, I think I'd try to keep a "Spidey shelf" with Spider-Man and his "world" of characters/villains. If I had extra room, I'd continue on with more of the Marvel Universe though. I guess there are always more and more ways to branch off, depending on your interests (for me, comic figures, Unleashed, etc.) - but if I'm trying to keep it to a bare minimum, this would probably be what I'd stick to - in an order of relevance:
Star Wars 3 3/4" Figures - Vintage and Modern (Original Trilogy) - maybe a handful of prequel figures
Marvel Legends/SMC Figures - Spider-Man, then other Marvel (or DC - Superman, Flash, Batman)
Star Wars 3 3/4" Vehicles/Beasts/etc. - Original Trilogy
Star Wars Unleashed
There are other areas I've always been interested in too, higher end stuff in particular (GG Busts, Master Replicas, Sideshow 12" Figures) - so that would be an option too. I'm looking mainly at what I collect now, and what I'd do if I had to pack things up/sell things off/start from scratch and only had a few shelves to use. What would you choose, if anything, to collect and display?
-
If I lost my collection, I probably wouldn't start over. I'd go back and get some of the cooler/favorite figures, but rebuying everything would be a lot more expensive then when I first bought it.
I would go back and rebuy the Legos again though. There are a LOT less of them I'd have to track down, and a lot are still sold for MSRP either in stores or online.
-
I guess this applies to me now that I'm selling off my loose collection. Many things lead to my decision and it wasn't an easy one. I just want to move on to better things. My love of Star Wars hasn't diminished, just my love of the Hasbro line. The excitement I once felt isn't there anymore.
I've decided to only keep a few things from Hasbro - the VOTC/VtSC figures, all the astro droids, 7" Unleashed and maybe a few select figures that I really like.
I'm also keeping and will still be collecting the Galactic Heroes line. I plan on eventually giving them to my son when he gets old enough. Until then, they'll remain carded and hanging on the wall.
Once thing I'm most excited about is getting my Lego collection built and displayed again. I had the majority of them built shortly after I finished my basement, but had to take them apart again once I realized I didn't have the room. With my Hasbro collection now slowing dwindling, I now have room for them.
I'll still be buying the Kubricks and luckily they only come out a few times a year. And if I ever did decide to sell off everything, I think these I would keep.
Marvel Legends will still be collected, at least for now. I'm waiting to see what Hasbro does with the line. Hopefully the continue the same way Toy Biz is doing it now. I'm almost certain a scale change would cause me to stop collecting this line. We'll see.
I'm getting into the 12" Sideshow stuff and think this will be a great line. Expensive sure, but amazing. Need to buy a glass cabinet for these shortly.
Other than those, I think I might start looking some of the mini busts and Master Replica stuff. I'll see how my sales are going first before committing, but they're something I would like to have.
-
I still feel the same way I did last year, with a twist.
I've already stopped buying a lot of the lines I was collecting previously. I'm only collecting the stuff I really like now, but I still have too much. Plus I live in a smaller house so there's even less room to pick and choose what will eventually be displayed.
Woe.
-
I'm an addict. If I were to lose everything, I think it would be a great excuse to not bother collecting at all. It's a huge waste of money, IMO, and I really probably should stop. I have to say, moving and boxing it all up, then looking at it all sitting in a lump and now thinking about what it cost it's been a largely pointless exercise.
Don't get me wrong, there's some really neat stuff there and I've had a ton of fun and made tons of friends but I think about what I could have bought and I realize that it's pretty frivolous to put that much money into stuff like that.
I haven't looked at my previous comments, so I hope these aren't too dissimilar.
I guess I'd try to rebuild a couple of things, but moving, while a pain, was also instructive. I let the movers handle everything from my collection except three boxes:
loose vintage - 2 boxes
Kubricks - 1 box
I guess those would be the last to go were I to get out, but even those I don't think I'd chase hard to replace. My loose vintage collection was easy to assemble, relatively speaking, because I was selling my own vintage toys off to fund those purchases. It wasn't really like I was spending actual money. The Kubricks, cool as they are, I'm not about to go spending stupid amounts of money on chase figures yet again to replace them.
I'm pretty attached to the Gentle Giant busts and might try and rebuild some of that collection as well, but not really much else.
I'm perpetually in the same boat as Mikey has been in - wondering what I should and should not be collecting. I like Lego, but don't have that much love for it. I do still think the Hasbro stuff is neat (some Tatooine stuff looks fantastic) but I have so much stuff that I don't really need that badly. Unloading it (ships, beasts, etc.) has a lot of appeal, but I don't even have space to go through it right now. I'll certainly keep many pieces, but even a lot of stuff I have on order online is in near danger of being cancelled. I'm just really questioning why I need a $300 18" tall Princess Leia figure.
Think of all the beer I could have bought.
-
Simply put, I wouldn't start again. At least that's how I feel at this moment. It's a huge 'waste' of money. I could have easily bought my '67 Camaro by this point. Heck, I'd be close on two years of money alone.
That I have all of this stuff is self perpetuating, but losing it would simply kill the urge.
Yep, that was pretty much the same, just a whole lot more succinct and less whiny.
-
I'm perpetually in the same boat as Mikey has been in - wondering what I should and should not be collecting.
That's kind of what I've been thinking about lately too, and why I enjoy reading everyone else's responses on this. There always seems like there's so much that would be nice to collect, and if I had unlimited space/fundage it would probably be: Hasbro Basic, Unleashed, Galactic Heroes, Master Replicas, Mini Busts, Sideshow 12", and LEGO (not to mention Marvel stuff) - but, that just isn't feasible. That's why I'm trying to decide what I want to stick with, and collect. I'm a fan of the 3 3/4" line (OT in particular), especially when its at the top of its game, so I don't know that I could give that up - at least not completely. But, there is a lot of the higher end stuff that I think is really neat - but I can't afford - so I can see why many people get away from the "smaller" stuff, and move onto the higher end collectibles. Anyways, its nice to read everyone's thoughts on this, it just seems like something many of us around here have been giving thought to lately - scaling back, dropping out, or just really considering what is important.
-
I'd just start collecting from where I left of. Maybe I'd track down some of my favorite figures on the secondary market.
-
If I were to loose my collection, I'd take the insurance money and move on. I might restart my Han focus, but I don't know for sure. But there would definately be some SW stuff still around the house. I've tried selling all of my POTF2 collection lately and can't get it sold for a decent price. I'm not even looking to get back what I put into it. I've managed to sell my EpI and POTJ though. Back to the question though, I'd be upset that my collection was gone, but I can replace it. Afterall, it truly is just plastic and cardboard.
I'd take the insurance money though and buy either this a Glock 19 compact with a laser site.
And when that was done, I'm hooking myself up with a Demarini 34/30 softball bat.
-
i imagine almost everyone who has a complete or nearly complete modern collection has noticed that this thing has gotten to be far more of a juggernaut than anyone ever expected. i think most guys would be relieved to be able to come back from a different perspective and try to narrow their collection.
it would be very hard to just give up 10 years of collecting, but at the same time, i think hardly anyone would immediately start searching for a monkey face leia on a mint card if they had to start from scratch.
-
If I lost my collection I would probably try to replace my favorite pieces but not everything. When I was in high school I was dumb enough to bring in a binder with my entire Baseball card collection and of course it was stolen, and never found. I replaced my Cal Ripken Jr. rookie card then called it quits and never collected cards again.
-
I lived through the vintage era of SW, GI Joe, and Transformers and had most of all lines in varying degrees of some sort at the time. Right now, I'm in limbo and living back with the folks due to college, but I have my SW and TF collection insured at 50k.
I would NOT pick up on any toy line if I were to lose it all. I started back collecting toys hard core in 99 and would not attempt to start over or to specify in one particular area. I'd take the money and buy a house and move on with my life. Too much of a headache/second job to try and keep up on all the new stuff that keeps coming out.
-
If I lost mine, I'd not touch Star Wars again. I had no idea in 1995 that it would become what it has, and if I did, I'd never have started.
I've been going back and forth for more than a year on this whole game. It's become a "just one more piece" thing, but I have said a definitive no to the CW Gunship and it's accompanying Battle Pack, so that's progress.
But then there's Sideshow's line, and I doubt I'll be able to stop with that.
I just look around at all this stuff and figure I'd be halfway through a mortgage with the cash. :-\ And to sell it would be a joke, since most figures are worth pennies now.
-
The choice is simple for me -- I'd call it quits and get out.
If you think about how much money we spend on this "****" it's enough to make one sick.
I'm trying to become more convervative in my purchases. I don't need everything and I'm going to try to get away from the Hasbro stuff and just focus on the Sideshow 12" figures.
One 12" figure every two months (or so) at $55 a pop is better than $150-200 a month on mass produced 3 3/4" figures.
-
The choice is simple for me -- I'd call it quits and get out.
If you think about how much money we spend on this "****" it's enough to make one sick.
I'm trying to become more convervative in my purchases. I don't need everything and I'm going to try to get away from the Hasbro stuff and just focus on the Sideshow 12" figures.
One 12" figure every two months (or so) at $55 a pop is better than $150-200 a month on mass produced 3 3/4" figures.
You and me both. I'm done w/ Hasbro. I just got my 12" Anakin to go with my 12" Luke. I'm all about the Sideshow line now. I also got the GG ROTS Vader bust last month and want to pick up some more busts, probably the ROTS Clones next.
-
Interesting responses, it seems like many of us are having similar thoughts lately. Its not necessarily a decrease in the love of Star Wars itself, but maybe for certain lines - or maybe just the overwhelming feeling of so much product in the past 10 (or 30) years. It seems like many people almost feel like it would be a "relief" to stop, in some aspects, or to be more limited. I know I continue to look at ways to cut back, and now I'm trying to decide what to pack away since I'm out of room in our office to display things. Its hard sometimes though, with all the nice products out there. That's why I sometimes wish that lines (Hasbro in particular) was a little more limited, because even though we choose what we buy, when nice figures come out - no matter what the pace of things for the year - I still find that I want to pick them up. With the other things I collect, I can't afford to go all out with the Sideshow line (although I have Han preordered), but I can see the appeal of knowing you're in for about 10 or so figures a year - you probably won't have to hunt for them, and you can organize your display accordingly. That's a reason I wouldn't mind seeing the Hasbro figures slow down a bit in some ways, just because this year it has seemed overall that you really have to be there when stuff gets put out - or its gone (with some exceptions). Anyways, thanks for the continued responses, its interesting to read where everyone is at as far as their feelings on their own collections.
-
It seems like many people almost feel like it would be a "relief" to stop, in some aspects, or to be more limited.
We really sound like a bunch of addicts, don't we? I've "cut back" quite a bit this year, but I'm kidding myself if I try to say it's because of anything besides this not being a movie year.
I think one thing that keeps me from thinning the heard is my years at Rebelscum (and dealing with you guys here) has engrained in my brain that selling things just feels WRONG to me. Some people have really helped me out over the years, and I'd hate to somehow betray that help by liquidating stuff (especially stuff someone gave me at a good deal).
Is that crazy?
Sure, there are ways around it. I could start a sale and limit it to people I've traded with before, but chances are...they have it all already anyway. ;D
I could sell everything super dirt cheap, but then I'd be sitting there saying "Is this figure really worth getting rid of for 2 bucks?"
I am only buying stuff I really like these days, but I'm full aware there's a lot of stuff in my collection I could lose and not feel bad about. I should really get rid of that stuff I guess.....but for the reasons mentioned above, I don't.
-
Exactly. It's really not worth the effort to sell a bunch of figures at $2 a pop -- especially if you go the ebay route (factoring in fees, paypal % and shipping).
A lot of times, when I sell, I often regret selling the pieces I did. I then end up buying them back a few months down the road.
How crazy is that?
???
-
A lot of times, when I sell, I often regret selling the pieces I did. I then end up buying them back a few months down the road.
How crazy is that?
Not that crazy actually. I feel like you do, except I never sell anything. However, let's say I could sell POTF2 He-Man Stormtroopers. I probably would. What would I get for them? A buck? Less?
For that price....they're almost better sitting in the very back row of a lineup of better POTJ and beyond troopers, you know?
That's sort of the case with everything I have. The pennies on the dollar I'd get for them isn't worth letting them go, and for the stuff that IS worth a lot....I don't want to sell it, because I feel like I'm doing something that I've always hated to see. Profitting on Star Wars.
Example:
1. Let's say I decide I don't want some of my 12" Hasbro figures anymore, especially the ones that are being replaced by better Sideshow versions. Some are worth 10, a few a lot more. I'd want to sell them for what I got them for, or less....and at that point, I'm looking at a figure I bought for 15-20 who's now "worth" 70 or so, and saying "Do I really need the 20 bucks so bad?" "What if I want to buy him back later? It'll cost three times that."
Sucks.
-
It really seems like a lot of collectors are starting to really give some thought about what they want to keep/sell/collect, etc. I noticed that there is a thread going over at the GH forums as well where a number of members are selling or talking about selling much of their collections. I don't know if its a common age group, if things are just getting too overwhelming, or just the lack of time/money/space. I think for many, at least for me, Star Wars collecting turned into a gateway to so many other collections. I doubt I would have gotten into many of the other things I currently have displayed if it wasn't for starting back into the basic Star Wars line (Unleashed, Galactic Heroes, Marvel Legends/Classics, LOTR, DC/JLU, MOTU, etc.)
-
With work, two kids and everything else in life; toys (for me) have become tiresome and costly.
I've pretty much sold everything NOT related to SW and am seriously thinking about selling parts of my SW collection that don't interest me anymore...
My wife wants a bigger house so that's at the top of my priority list now.
-
There are very few pieces that I would seriously hunt down again if I ever lost the collection I have right now. If I lost it all, I would probably concentrate on individual characters (Boba Fett, Grievous) and try to finally complete my Burger King vintage glass collection I've been putting off for the last three years.
The more I look at stuff that is coming out, the less I see that interests me. The only EU I've ever particularly cared for is the animated "Clone Wars" stuff, so I'm not even going to bother with the Adam Pawlus Commemorative Exclusive Royal Guard and I am seriously considering cancelling my order for the Black Stormtrooper. When every ship is an EU-repaint of a film vehicle, it makes you realize that one Hailfire Droid is more than enough to do you.
I love the stuff I have, I look forward to finding new and interesting stuff that I don't have, but in the end, that's all it is: STUFF. I'd be much more interested in making sure my cats and loved ones were safe than whether or not that red ARC Trooper made it out of the fire in one piece. :)
-
If I ever lost my collection, I'd be upset, but I can almost guarantee that I would not pick it back up again. Sometimes it sickens me to think of all of the money I wasted on comics, cards, and toys over the years.
I'm currently trying to unload a huge amount of stuff as I'm getting married and my fiancee and I eventually want to get a house. I got rid of almost all of my cards back in the late '90s and ended up taking a bath on them :(
I have a massive comicbook collection that guides for over $100,000.00. I picked out less than 4,000 books that decided I wanted to keep (I have EVERY Star Wars comic published in the US, almost every single appearance of Swamp Thing, every single appearance of the modern Starman, every silver-age and above Spectre appearance, etc.) but haven't even been able to move the remaining 16,000+ books (all "valuable" books) at $10,000.00. Nor at $5,000. Nor even at the $2,500 I'm currently asking :(
As for toys, I only really have Star Wars and any compatible figures, all loose and almost all customized. Practically worthless aside from the work that went into creating them.
If I was to loose them, not really a big deal in the long run. As long as no one I loved was injured/killed in the hypothetical disaster that claimed my collection, I'd get over it.
-
If I lost my collection, I'd just try and continue, and slowly buy back what I lost. It could take years, but it would happen.
-
My SW stuff I'd wait for Hasbro to either re-release that suff or wait for better versions.My Palisades stuff.....*gulp*......EBAY! *Dun,dun,duuuuuuun!*
-
Nor even at the $2,500 I'm currently asking :(
Is that because collectors want nothing but graded books?
-
I thought this topic went along the same lines as the discussions here already - There seems to be a lot of people dropping out of certain areas of collecting (or all), and others who are just moving on to other things. I know I'm continually trying to prioritize what I collect, and what could be cut out. If you had to scale back your collecting to just a few particular areas (or lines), which ones would those be? If you were scaling back, which ones would be the last to go? As much as I enjoy the higher end stuff, I know that prices would keep me out of that for the most part regardless of what else I was collecting - so I'd probably go with the cheaper stuff. Primarily, I'd focus on the basic 3 3/4" line, and if I'd scale it down further it would probably to go to the OT only - and even further (if I had to), the "vintage" (VOTC/VTSC/VTAC) figures. The second area I would continue would be Spidey stuff, comic or movie versions most likely. I like comic stuff as a whole, but if I had to cut it way back, Spidey would be the last to go I think. Just curious what some of you might keep going with, if you had to scale things down.
-
I think I would scale back my Jurassic Park collecting. With no movie out, and constant re-hashing of the same dinosaurs in new paint jobs, over and over, with no end in sight (and no new movie in sight), I can't really say I'd miss it all that much. I only keep 3 Jurassic Park Toys out on display, and one custom, just to show my loves. I still love the movies, but the JP purchases would have to go. With my armies of Clones, I don't have the space to display nearly 1/8th of my JP collection, so it would seem like the first thing I'd cut.
The last thing to go would be my Star Wars collecting. It keeps my imagination going, and customizing is my creative outlet outside of cooking (what I do for a living) so I can't fathom stopping.
If I absolutely had to put my money into another SW line, it would be the mini busts.
Kevin
-
I've scaled back in a few things I collect. With the Kubricks, i've ditched all my high-end exclusives/carded/chases and now just stick to the main series and 400% pieces...
-
I think I would stick with kubricks, and collect a very limited number of Hasbro items. I've given up on the GG bust line, bust-ups, and carded figures (with a few exceptions). The gentle giant stuff is great, but the amount of product they have been pumping out is starting to put them in the Hasbro category of "too much is too much." That is before mentioning their exclusives and collectors club fiascos.
Like JoshEEE said, there are some items in my collection I would feel too guilty parting with. I have made trades and asked favors to get some of them, and it would feel disloyal to let them go. I have with a few things I just didn't have room for or interest in anymore, but I try to avoid it.
Also I think I would bail on all but a few of the ships. They look just as good (sometimes better) in the smaller scales (titanium and the old galoob action fleet) and take up a lot less room and money.
-
Assuming that I received some damage money from whatever destroyed my collection, I would try to build back all of it. Getting back a loose version of each figure from vintage to present would be my first concern. Ugh, don't even want to think about something like this. :-\
-
mine's all insured with my card collection=50,000 if lost it all.I pay about 125.00 dollars per year.+I have some very old Mickey mouse items on that and antiques.
-
If I lost everything I wouldn't go back and replace the stuff I had from the Hasbro lines. With how much product they are putting out lately, they will either re-release it in the next few years, or they will release a newer, better version hopefully. I'm buying the Hasbro lines right now for my kids. If it were all lost, I would wait to see if they are even interested in the 3 3/4 inch line, and if so, only buy what they want. For my own personal collection, I would continue on the Master Replicas route and collect the FX sabers, but I would also add the hilts to my wish list.
I'm moving in the next few months, so I will be very interested to see how much of the stuff (hopefully none) is damaged as a result of the move. Here's to hoping I packed it all well enough!