Are you still having fun collecting?

[indianawars]

So for many years I have been a collector of all sorts. Star Wars, Indiana Jones, really any movie that captured my imagination as a child I now collect. So as the years rolled by and the reality of life struck me down - sadly I did not become more powerful than I could possibly imagine. So I turned to the memories that served me well growing up, starting with a quick search of my favourite items as a child - but for me it didn't end there - suddenly I was hooked on capturing back the toys from my golden childhood, starting with Star Wars! It has only been a decade since I started, but what a different market we have today! I remember umming and ahhing about buying a MOC 12-BK Darth Vader for £150 (which graded, C80, B85, F85) - The idea of paying almost £3000 for a Boba Fett, and £500 for a VC Jawa was Ludacris to all collectors back then. Fast forward to now and these prices are almost now accepted as the norm to most. So my question to you all is: Are you still having as much fun now collecting as you did when you first started? Or has the market driven the passion out of you as prices now soar higher?
I don't think the market will ever be the same as it once was, and sadly I think my days of buying new additions to my collection are almost at an end due to the rising prices...

 

[edd_jedi]

Your post seems to be more about money than fun, but the two are linked. To be honest it has been pretty relative for me personally. I don't like the fact prices have shot up so much (especially in the last few years) but because I was so young when I started collecting prices have ALWAYS been high for me. 10 years ago when I was putting my first tri-logo run together I was working part time as a waiter while at uni, so any £50+ MOC was a massive financial hit, I couldn't have done it if I wasn't still living with my parents. Prices have gone up considerably (I shed a tear every time I read through my old paypal receipts and see how much I paid for my original ones!) but I have since embarked on a career and therefore also earn more than I did back then. So the affordability factor hasn't changed much for me personally, almost any MOC purchase is still a big chunk of my disposable income gone.

But the fun in this whole hobby for me is the thrill of the hunt, and that has nothing to do with money. It doesn't matter how much cash you throw at collecting, if you don't put the hours in you won't find the gems. Any idiot with unlimited funds can go on eBay right now and put together an AFA 85 Kenner full run (just look on Facebook) but I don't see any fun in that. Collecting is about building relationships and helping each other out to find tough pieces. Joe helped me find a 'grail' piece just a few weeks ago

 

[theforceuk]

I still enjoy the hobby it's not what it was a bit like Football really, the prices are what they are and I have always thought everything is to expensive anyway. It's still good tho.

I do have to sit in a dark room on my own some times after buying a MOC. :lol:

 

[SublevelStudios]

But the fun in this whole hobby for me is the thrill of the hunt, and that has nothing to do with money. It doesn't matter how much cash you throw at collecting, if you don't put the hours in you won't find the gems. Any idiot with unlimited funds can go on eBay right now and put together an AFA 85 Kenner full run (just look on Facebook) but I don't see any fun in that. Collecting is about building relationships and helping each other out to find tough pieces.

Yep, that pretty much sums it up for me too.

I'm now almost exactly 2 years into my re-collecting Star Wars vintage. It's amazing how the whole collecting scene has changed and what pieces are now considered must haves, when 20 years ago you couldn't give the stuff away.

I'm enjoying it more now than the first time I started back in 1989, for different reasons, the only one thing that remains the same is the thrill you get searching and finding stuff, especially when it's cheaper than the going rate, and it is still out there if you look and put in some ground work.

What I am more aware of is the unbelievable amount of dick heads, scammers, thieves and morons there are out there! But this is also balanced with meeting and dealing with some true gentlemen, some really knowledgable and friendly people who have become friends.

So in answer to your question, yes, I still enjoy collecting

 

[Clarkspie&chips]

I am having far more fun collecting now than i did back in the mid-late 90's.

The main reason for that is the internet as not only is it far easier to source an item you realy want but the wealth of knowledge out there is incredible and easy to find. Ive also found not a huge amount has changed in prices since then, i remember paying £30 for a loose barada in about 1995, Iains just sold one for £25!

Toy fairs back in the day were pretty crap as well with 1 or 2 MOCs and incomplete loosies (at least where i grew up). Now we have Farthest From which is like walking into a museum, and its all for sale!

Best of all is the community, SWFUK is a wonderful place and im so glad to be a part of it but it think as were all a bit older now, a lot of the ego and childishness has gone from the hobby (although not all unfortunately). The fact that people will travel for hundreds of miles to sit down for a curry and a pint with a bunch of likeminded blokes really is testament to how strong a community this is and i cant really imagine that happening 20 years ago.

 

[_Lee_]

I collect with my heart now, as i used to collect with my heart and wallet

I get the same feelings and enjoyment from a battered box or any loose figure nowadays whereas i used to think that i could have whatever top end items i wanted. i stopped collecting MOC ages ago, and now buy something that i xan connect with and holds a story. Whether it be a Palitoy MOC or a cut palitoy cardback-they mean the same to me

One thing us for sure, no one can deprive you of those 3 movies and the memories they hold for you

 

[sith-smith]

I do and I don't

In some ways I enjoyed it more when I first started, hitting car boot sales every Sunday morning. Also enjoyed going to collectors shops, and the various shows immensely. It was like being a kid again. I had great fun, learnt loads and met many great people lots of whom I'm still good friends with.

Now, not always as much. I think the competition, prices and all the backstabbing, cons and just plain weirdness has taken its toll and so at times it seems more of a hassle.

Hopefully that might change.

At least I still enjoy being part of a community

 

[Grant]

I'm having more fun now that Iv quit collecting. It's cool to see what others are picking up etc.

 

[indianawars]

Some great opinions/views on this... I think it's fair to say if you try and deal outside of here, then you're going to get stung pricewise (Although I do think people need to contribute more to the forum and not just sit in the background waiting to PM someone every time they sell something cheaper here than on eBay). I fully agree that bargains are still to be found if you have the time to keep looking, 'Lord knows I try.' I think the point I was trying to get across is - It's a shame that in most cases now greed seems to be prevailing over common sense with prices in our hobby, meaning the joy of what collecting is to me is being tarnished somewhat by the rising prices. My main reason for my post is - It was more fun because it wasn't so expensive

 

[Michael Sith]

The car boot days have long gone and that's a shame, but if you collect for the fun and the thrill of the hunt, and you collect the runs that YOU want then the fun is always there.
It's also the case that a lot of interest is being fuelled at the moment by fair weather collectors, with the new films etc, and all of the hype, as many have said, once these guys have had there 10 mins, and start collecting the next big thing, then they will have to offload their pieces at much lower prices...simple supply and demand....when that's the case.....fill yer boots time.
If your a SW collector, and in it for the long haul happy days. swings and roundabouts.

 

[ODB]

No, in short. Its not the big price hike but moreover the fact that there are so many people out to make as much money and trample over everyone to do so. Add into that some of the product out there is poor it means the search is a chore as you have to wade through a lot of overpriced dross to see anything worthwhile. Throw in a recent surge of collectors who are all about bragging rights rather than collecting or just plain fun means my patience is severely tested.

The community is also severely fragmented and perhaps everyone should just take one step back, chillout and remember its supposed to be fun. Just my 2p worth at the end of the day.

 

[Bonsai_Tree_Ent]

Back in the days mentioned I enjoyed building up a loose collection and having a good number of vehicles and playsets too - collecting in a vacuum I assumed that what I knew about having a Star Wars collection was all there was to know.

Becoming a part of the 'community' over the past 2-3 years has been like peeling through the onion layers of knowledge, and I have enjoyed that aspect tremendously. I realise now how little I knew back in the 90s, and the minutiae of detail and research that becomes apparent to a longterm engaged community member is fascinating and I am still learning...

 

[Captainsolo1978]

I'm priced out the market at the moment. Too many individuals charging extortionate amounts on places like Facebook.

Still love the figures I have though.

 

[fuzzybuzzytoys]

Yeah, I agree with the above. Where's the muck there's brass but unfortunately where there's brass there's muck and money has completely ruined this hobby for me right now. Too many wankers with two much money and no desire to contribute except to hoover up as much cash as possible.

When people ask me about my hobby it used to be followed up with 'that's cool' or 'I loved those toys' etc and now conversations are totally dominated by 'how much is this worth' or 'I brought this for £xxx did I do alright?'. Yeah you did alright if you brought something that you love and is going to bring you warm fuzzy feelings when you look at it. Else you got a trophy, next time why don't you just show me your bank balance.

 

[Richard_H]

Damn right I am.

I understand the concerns about prices but if I was in a position where I was unable to afford to continue then I'd just change my habits. Get more involved in the community, cons, FF etc. Look at other foci such as oddballs, comics, novels, etc. SW for me is much more and bigger than the standard set of action figure related accessories.

 

[jedisearcher]

Back in the days mentioned I enjoyed building up a loose collection and having a good number of vehicles and playsets too - collecting in a vacuum I assumed that what I knew about having a Star Wars collection was all there was to know.

Becoming a part of the 'community' over the past 2-3 years has been like peeling through the onion layers of knowledge, and I have enjoyed that aspect tremendously. I realise now how little I knew back in the 90s, and the minutiae of detail and research that becomes apparent to a longterm engaged community member is fascinating and I am still learning...

That's a really great post. I got most of a full loose collection back in the early days of ebay but I knew so little and the resources just weren't there to help collectors. As a result, I'm putting off the day when I check all my weapons bought at that time to check for repros because I've got a feeling it's not going to be pleasant ...

When I came back to collecting about 3 1/2 years ago I thought I knew abit but looking at all the stuff on here, on RS and the SWCA it blew my mind. It's been a huge learning journey and I've learned quite a bit, but the real fun is knowing there's such a lot still to learn.

And such a lot to buy ... (and I think we'd love that side of things to be cheaper), but yes, I'm still enjoying it more than ever

 

[Dublinjeff]

Interesting thread topic and some really excellent posts in reply. For me, the answer is 'Yes'... The main reason for this is my recent return to collecting loose variants for the reference guides.

When I sold up everything last year I reckoned, that's it! I had lost pretty much all interest in collecting. Do I slightly regret selling up? Sometimes, yes. Seeing what prices are being commanded now for pieces I think "did I sell too quickly"....However that's really only ever a fleeting thought. I was never collecting for monetary gain. If you do, this can be a dangerous game! As Michael rightly pointed out, its swings and roundabouts.

As many have alluded to, prices have gone crazy at the moment and I honestly believe that this will lead to a lot of 'smaller' collectors losing the buzz as it becomes frustratingly expensive to acquire various items.

However, what I've come to realise is, is that there is always something out there to keep the interest piqued. Be it loose collecting, Card backs or oddballs. Its a great hobby in so far as every budget is catered for if you are willing to focus on 'different' items.

So Yes, I'm having fun collecting, and SWFUK is a big part of that.
The community spirit on here is something I haven't found on any other site. The level of expertise, advice, and simple plain old fun means I will be a member on here for years to come

 

[db94]

Was going to post up a new thread entitled "New focus - not spending money" but you've raised the point in yours

Like a few others I'm definitely on a spending freeze, unless something too good too be true falls in my lap (like my most recently purchased Walker) I'm not likely to be spending any cash on SW vintage for a couple of reasons -

I have been collecting long enough now to winch at some of the going rate prices and kick myself for not buying things a few years earlier when they were dramatically cheaper e.g. R2D2 pop up, R2 is my focus figure and was watching for a nice mint example loose and carded, all of a sudden he's way out my price range. Maybe I'm just old and grumpy but buying him now would niggle me because "I missed the boat"

I don't want to spend money on things now just in case the prices do drop - but has SW vintage ever really came down once it's gone up?

Bottom line is my financial priorities have changed and it'll be a few years before I can spend money on my hobby guilt free so that is why my new focus will be on continuing to enjoy this hobby/forum without buying.

I'm sure I'm not alone in going straight to the for sale section - we are collectors, we collect. I find it very easy to justify to myself buying an item for my collection and as soon as it's on a shelf I miraculously find something else that I "must have" so it's clear adding to my collection is one of the main drivers for me being here but (and this is the new focus) so is being part of this forum, not even the collecting community but specifically this forum - it's great, the members are great, I've made some proper good friends off of posting here, learned **** loads about SW toys, remembered long forgotten memories of my childhood through shared experiences and stories.

I find it nothing short of staggering that some of our sellers continue to sell beautiful items at mates rates when we all know they could easily double their money selling elsewhere. Remember saying to my wife a while back that it's sad but inevitable that the prices here will soon be similar to FB and ebay but they're not - the good guys are still selling within this forum, selling to friends and collectors putting us before cash.

I spent today looking for some prizes I can send to Jez for his competition instead of trying to add to my collection and it was a damn good day, won't be able to send him much but I know he'll appreciate it and I know whoever wins it will be happy to receive something from the forum.

I am pretty upbeat about not spending money on SW for the next few years - as Grant said I'll get my fix by enjoying what other people post in latest acquisitions.

I feel sorry for genuine SW collectors that don't know about SWFUK - because without it most of them that are priced out of buying will loose interest and miss out.

So after that helluva long ramble - yes I am enjoying collecting, even when I'm not

 

[tiefighterboy]

I keep my chin up. I think what actually killed it for me for a bit was the Facebook groups. Full of scammers and dickheads and just general investors not collectors. I am sure these people existed way before the internet and I was fine when it was just the forums, but now you get to see some of the worlds biggest excuses for wasting oxygen. I have now left most of the groups and only remain in a few and of course the forums.

I do miss collecting in the 90's in the pre-internet days as you actually went to sales, toy shows and looked thru magazines like toyshop. Ebay has made things easier and at first cheaper, but then these instant collectors and investors showed up and made it a total ****ing mess.

So..long story short...I still enjoy collecting, but I find I need to censor myself from alot as it just brings me down and pissess me off most of the time. Ignorance is bliss.

 

[Mr-shifter]

Yes, I am having more fun collecting now for a few reasons.

When I started collecting back in the mid 90s, I was on my own. I used to pick up what I could out of the Friday ad, from a shop/stall called Jabbas Hut in the North Laine in Brighton (Jubilee shopping hall, that is now Komedia if anyone knew it or remembers it) or the local toy fairs that were on in the area. Stuff was limited and harder to collect. Internet collecting means so much is now accessible. Not only in terms of buying but also making the contacts that you need to pick things you might want up.

I also was quite unique, in terms of I didn't know any like minded collectors. It was always the subject of humour with my friends. I am now part of a community. That has both pros and cons but on the whole, I have made some decent friends. I attended both celebration Europe 1 and 2 by myself, not knowing anyone else there. I am going to Celebration Anaheim in a few weeks time as part of a group, and hopefully meeting a load of new like minded people. This has also contributed massively to my enjoyment of the hobby.

So overall the answer is Yes