When to start thinning down?

[edd_jedi]

Sorry for the cheery topic, but I've been thinking a lot recently about how to lessen the burden of my collection on my family when I'm gone. The main reasons for this are obviously getting older, but also some of my friends / relatives starting to pass, and also being honest the seeming decline in value / demand in vintage.

We've all been there - when I was in my 20s I expected to live forever, had very few financial responsibilities, and thought when I had kids they would love all my old stuff as much as I do. Sadly, now reality has hit - my kids aren't at all interested in my old toys or video games, all my son wants to play is FC 25 no matter how great I tell him Dark Forces or Super Star Wars are.

I'm not particularly worried about losing money, I bought the vast majority of my collection well before the 2016 "peak" so even at today's prices I'll be quids in if I sell. But the upwards trajectory in perceived value I saw annually has at best flattened, more realistically started to fall.

My wife has also made it very clear that if I did die unexpectedly, my collection would not be the amazing windfall it is in my head, it would be a massive burden, I'm talking probably 20+ 64L Really Useful boxes worth of toys and games, enough to set up a toy shop. And I would obviously be posthumously gutted if it all ended up in the wrong hands for a fraction of what it's worth today (that might be sentimental rather than cash value at this rate.)

I'm pretty happy with the small amount of stuff I have on display, it gives me a nice nostalgia hit every time I walk past it, but the other 90% of the collection packed away is just gathering dust and starting to bother me. I really enjoyed Echo Live last month, and didn't feel too bad about selling a few bits, so I think it's probably time to get the ball rolling.

Has anyone else got a plan for either letting it go themselves or what to do if you died suddenly? I have recommended Vectis, but even then while the Star Wars toys would do well, I have some very rare video games that would go under the radar there, and I'm not aware of a UK equivalent auctioneer for them.

 

[edd_jedi]

While there isn't (to my knowledge) a decent price tracking tool for vintage toys, I use Price Charting for games, and you can also see the levelling off very clearly here, so it's not just vintage toys slowing down.

 

[sith-smith]

My thoughts were that if I pass suddenly, give the lot to Vectis and try to negotiate a better sellers premium.

If I knew in advance that my time was coming and there was enough time, I'd probably sell some choice pieces to people who would want them, then give the rest to Vectis.

 

[monkey_roo]

No plan as such - my 14yr old routinely walks around my office pointing at all the things he will put on Evilbay when I kick the bucket - I think he's joking.......... Maybe.

I still have the same collecting goal I had 20 years ago and I want to complete that (basic figure run 1978-2005 carded - with the obvious addition of stuff around that) and I'm getting close now - but like you, no one in my household cares (add in the Transformers and MASK and Lego) and there is a lot of stuff no one wants.

I strongly suspect my instructions would be to go to Vectis (or equivalent) and sort it that way. Everything I own is catalogued in a Database, so it should be easy enough to appraise - and at the size it is, Vectis will come and collect I'm sure.

To be honest I am not one to believe in what comes after, so I figure when I'm dead, I'm dead and therefore people can do what they want.

Other thoughts - are there toy museums, they are about, hell, we could all donate and create a Rancho Obi-Wan in the UK

It's a morbid thought for sure, but you are right, sadly this is how time works and there's no getting away from it. Its funny, my brother and I often argue about what stuff from our parents house we will get, each arguing the other should get everything as neither of us want anything - so I imagine my kids will be the same.

Very cheery for a Monday (or any day for that matter)

 

[lejackal]

My collection is essentially minuscule, but my other half is under instruction to ask Simon before binning it, just in case it’s worth actual money worth having at the time the bucket is kicked.

 

[Mini99]

As I have already sold up once I would do the same as last time, make one call to Vectis and that’s it.
My wife knows what to do so if it was quick (and fingers crossed it is) I have no worries.

As mentioned above, if I had time there are a few pieces that I know friends would like so they would be offered first.

The more you have the more of a burden it is, but the most important thing is to have a concise will in place, as this removes a lot of the unknown for those who are left behind.

 

[Darth Bobby]

I have this fantasy of selling off all of my worldly possessions and heading off somewhere sunny for early retirement. As the years progress I think about it more and more. The problem is the only possessions I would miss would be the vintage Star Wars as they still give me an immense amount of pleasure. If I didn’t make it to retirement Nicky has instructions to call Vectis. With regard to prices going down, my feeling is I’ve had my moneys worth enjoying owning these magical items!

 

[Michael Sith]

I collect with my Son and we have got my 8 year old Grand son into vintage so what I have when I shuffle off this mortal coil, will be passed on

 

[Mini99]

It seems Vectis will be very busy in the future.

 

[lejackal]

It seems Vectis will be very busy in the future.

They’ll be flooded, Mikes grandkid will clean up for pocket money

 

[Gadders]

It's a good question, Edd.
I've always been of the mindset that I wouldn't part with any of my collection... but more and more recently, I've been thinking about getting rid of the boxed items and carry cases. Most are just in the loft. I'll definitely keep my loose and carded figures, plus the Play Packs and EB Set. But the rest, I am starting to think can go.
Having hit 50 this year, and seen a close school friend go from full health to dead in a matter of months, I'm starting to re-evaluate things.. I've already stopped looking at stuff on ebay, and left all the facebook groups. Other than checking in here every work day, I'm pretty much out of the hobby now. Haven't even listed to TVR for months now.
So, having gone off one on there, I think now is probably a good time to start thinning the collection whilst prices are still reasonable... spend the money on creating family memories whilst its still possible.
Saying that, I've got no idea on prices so I'll end up just sitting on it all

 

[Shep469]

Thinning out already, anything over 6in is off to new owners, next its the Corgi collection, then the dinky, then the polistil and in 30 years or so, the Retro collection

 

[Cazza]

This is something I've only ever fleetingly thought about, but you've got me thinking, Edd. I know my collection would be in safe hands with my boys, but may well start thinning stuff out before it comes to that. The only things I would definitely want kept are my (and my Dad's) childhood toys. Other than that, probably the loose run and a handful of MOCs. Bigger stuff and most of the MOCs can go...

 

[Michael Sith]

That’s the thing, there are items in collections that are personal to you, for one reason or another, and they do not necessarily have a monetary value, those are the items you hope will be kept for nostalgic reasons when you go!
As they say though you can’t take it with you, so enjoy being the current custodian and the joy it brings

 

[SimpleSi]

I think it's sensible to consider these things while you can. Younger collectors here don't need to worry, but time creeps up on us all.

I'm knocking on 60 and have been 'thinning down' a large number of different collectables over the years. I may have already commented on this here somewhere.

Moving abroad triggered my biggest cull. All my original Dinky toys went. I let my nephew sell them all on eBay and keep the money. Not exactly a goldmine but he did alright. Even that felt wrong but I knew it had to be done and better when I had some control over what happened to them. There's been a few things I wish I did keep but that's life. I enjoyed owning them and decided it was time for someone else to enjoy them as much as I did.

Many of my Star Wars collectables also went then. At one point I filled a large box of random modern low value Star Wars stuff on eBay for collection only, with a starting price of 99p. Only one person bothered to bid so they came and collected it all for 99p. They might have done well selling everything individually I've kept just a few sentimental items which I'll probably pass to family, as some are interested. As you say, you come to realise that not everyone feels so passionate about your lifetime collection.

One of my other hobbies is collecting Police memorabilia. I've already donated lots of my collection to a Police Museum in the UK. I've been almost obsessed with ensuring certain items go to the right places - somewhere where they can be appreciated and preserved. I've got more to do there.

I think selling to fellow collectors on Forums is also a nice way to pass things on.

 

[db94]

Been thinking about this post the last few days.
Go back to the early days of this forum and we were all feverishly snapping up things from the sales section, the hunt was great and the hobby was probably at its peak.
I actually like how a lot of us are now slowing down and selling off parts, just seems natural, for us and the hobby.

I had a proper moment on my birthday when a friend asked for pics of my gifts and as soon as I sent them to her I felt embarrassed - all toys and I honestly felt a wee bit foolish. Admittedly that feeling past pretty quick but it did make me think.

I’ve a few parts to find yet and my collection will definitely be complete. I had a few non SW vintage toys I was looking to buy but decided I’ve got enough now.

I’m lucky that my collection is on display so don’t have to worry about things being stored away so I’ll enjoy my room and the genuine nostalgia hit I get when I look at them but don’t plan spending much more on it.

My daughter collects SW so it’s nice knowing my collection will be loved but as I no longer have the highs of the hunt and SW collection slowly turns into just things on a shelf part of me wonders if she’d rather have more money towards a house deposit.

 

[poncho]

Swedish house cleaning

Its a mammoth task getting rid of stuff at least you its value or worth it's just time consuming but it's also cleansing.

My loose rare variant would be just sold as normal figures if left too my kids