Thinking about quitting this hobby.

[UltraMarknus]

I think falling into "completeism" is very easy to do. That's what happened to me with Transformers. I was buying stuff I didn't really care for just so I can have a complete collection and something new frequently. I never thought of it as a sign of my awesomeness or anything. I just felt annoyed not having so and so. It's a tough cycle to break and I felt no guilt that I was buying toys and hoarding money while I could be using the money in better ways.

Best way to beat it/quit my opinion? Sell everything. Put that money on debt or in savings plans If you don't have money to spend....

 

[The Skull]

Dang... that video made me cry.......

That was sad and awesome at the same time. I won't admit to crying but dam that was powerful I just made my little buddy a nice little midnight snack(dogs rule)

 

[The Boot]

I think falling into "completeism" is very easy to do. That's what happened to me with Transformers. I was buying stuff I didn't really care for just so I can have a complete collection and something new frequently.

I think thats happening with quite a few HT customers, they don't have to own it, but to appreciate it they want it in-hand, so they order it and appreciated in-hand for a short while but since they don't want to own it they sell it off.

Very true statements. For awhile, I'd buy just about anything that Hot Toys put out that looked awesome (which, let's face it...was/is a lot of stuff) but after I had it in-hand and that initial sheen wore off, I'd find myself thinking "Why? Why do I think I need a tiny Thor on my shelf? Why is this tiny plastic man important to me?"

Don't get me wrong, Thor is great and I enjoyed both the movie and Hemsworth's performance but the character itself doesn't really resonate with me in any way.

Anyway, thankfully, the resale value of Hot Toys products has been pretty good. I didn't really lose a ton of money (Sideshow figures, on the other hand...that's a different financial story...) so it's not a big deal. Either way, it did make me think a little more about which characters I was purchasing and why.

That's the main thing, I think. Ask yourself "why" before making that purchase and you might find yourself hitting that "Complete Order" button less and less frequently.

 

[Mr. Green]

^^^ Buy more boots!!

 

[Uncanny Web-Slinger]

@ the boot

So often it's the thrill more than the want, i'm keeping myself in check by having groups of pics of my orders and cycling through them to dedicde which i still really appreciate but that isn't a real want for my collection, i'd cancel and honestly never look back aside from when in-hand pics first pop up.

And lately have started to just not order in the first place if it doesn't resonate with me enough long term.

I also have a strict budget for each quarter and won't go over it

 

[crows]

At these point, I'm not only talking for you, but for me too, this hobby has become an addiction, I keep telling myself "one more figure and I will stop buying more" but I can't stop buying more figures, I even gotten to the point that I stole money from my parents to buy more figures, I trying to find in myself to stop but I can't, like you also you said you buy one figure and then you buy another from that same franchise to complete the set, it very hard to stop and I don't think I will

you stole from your parents bro? that's bogus dude
specially because your typical hot toys is more than 100, so it was not even pocket change,

 

[Deadly Dagger]

lol@thetinyplaticmansupportgroup.

 

[Bardoon]

I actually fall into the "I don't need to own it to appreciate it" category.

But I DID own it.

I sold my entire collection about 2-3 years ago. It started originally as just G.I. Joe. I had a lot of original RAH carded figures, eventually got the JvC stuff, through Spytroops, all the way to 25th Anniversary.

Along the way I discovered Hot Toys AVP Predators and ALIENS Colonial Marines and before you knew it. I had LOTS of Hot Toys. So I started right when Hot Toys "blew up" in the West. I had every ALIENS Colonial Marine, the original Hot Toys Superman that wow'ed everyone, and soon they were joined by Iron Man, Wolverine, other Aliens and Predators, Sideshow statues, movie figures, etc.

Not only that, I also had MULTIPLES of the figures I really liked and kept those stored away.

Eventually, I was getting ready to move and just realized I could let it all go and feel alright about it. At that point, the money was a bigger concern to me and I sold it all. The GI Joe collection, the Hot Toys, the Sideshow, Medicom, etc. I used most of the money to pay off my car and it felt really good to do so.

I didn't feel any need to be a completist, but I felt that I just didn't need or want them anymore. I still appreciate and respect the hobby and ironically, a lot of my favorite figures have already been redone in better versions (ie: the "classic" Predator and movie Spider-man) so I have picked up some figures here and there but nowhere near to the amount that I had before and I probably won't go back to that ever.

If you're thinking about letting go...do it, it's not the end of the world. Use the money to pay off any debts, travel, on a new hobby, etc. Keep your favorite pieces and sell the rest, hopefully to someone who will appreciate them just as much as you did.

 

[The Boot]

I still appreciate and respect the hobby and ironically, a lot of my favorite figures have already been redone in better versions (ie: the "classic" Predator and movie Spider-man) so I have picked up some figures here and there but nowhere near to the amount that I had before and I probably won't go back to that ever.

If you're thinking about letting go...do it, it's not the end of the world. Use the money to pay off any debts, travel, on a new hobby, etc. Keep your favorite pieces and sell the rest, hopefully to someone who will appreciate them just as much as you did.

Sage advice for thetinyplaticmansupportgroup.

 

[Predatormaniac88]

Come on. I wouldn't complain about the insults. You earned it. It is "sad crap". You steal money to buy toys. You're a criminal ... for action figures. That kind of crap deserves to be insulted.

Everybody has their temptations -- but you need to grow up. It'd be a shame to go to prison for something so stupid. You need to sell everything you stole to buy, confess to your parents, reimburse every nickel you stole (and any profit you make) ... and you should hope they give you a swift kick in the ass. You need it.

SnakeDoc

lol going to prison, you guys crack me up

 

[intothevoid]

Real classy dude

 

[balboa1976]

lol going to prison, you guys crack me up

Predatormaniac88 is a joke, the guy claims to have a problem and on top of all of it he admits to stealing money from his parents to pay for his collecting, and then he takes any advice as an insult. I checked his last posts and he's showing off his new Hot Toys Indiana Jones figure that he just got today How much pride can you have when you purchased a collectible with money that was stolen from your parents? I guess the advice isn't working. I wonder how old this guy is? Reason am asking is if the guy is 12-18 I would understrand, but I have a feeling this guy is just an idiot.

 

[pins79]

I'm just starting out collecting, but I tend to be a completist and I'm trying to get myself out of that habit. I can see how doing that could burn somebody out. I've decided to focus on Hot Toys Iron Man, batman, terminator stuff and Sideshow marvel statues. We will see how this works out.

 

[NCC-1701 no bloody ABCorD]

I sold my entire collection about 2-3 years ago. It started originally as just G.I. Joe. I had a lot of original RAH carded figures, eventually got the JvC stuff, through Spytroops, all the way to 25th Anniversary.

Along the way I discovered Hot Toys AVP Predators and ALIENS Colonial Marines and before you knew it. I had LOTS of Hot Toys. So I started right when Hot Toys "blew up" in the West. I had every ALIENS Colonial Marine, the original Hot Toys Superman that wow'ed everyone, and soon they were joined by Iron Man, Wolverine, other Aliens and Predators, Sideshow statues, movie figures, etc.

Not only that, I also had MULTIPLES of the figures I really liked and kept those stored away.

Eventually, I was getting ready to move and just realized I could let it all go and feel alright about it. At that point, the money was a bigger concern to me and I sold it all. The GI Joe collection, the Hot Toys, the Sideshow, Medicom, etc. I used most of the money to pay off my car and it felt really good to do so.

I didn't feel any need to be a completist, but I felt that I just didn't need or want them anymore. I still appreciate and respect the hobby and ironically, a lot of my favorite figures have already been redone in better versions (ie: the "classic" Predator and movie Spider-man) so I have picked up some figures here and there but nowhere near to the amount that I had before and I probably won't go back to that ever.

If you're thinking about letting go...do it, it's not the end of the world. Use the money to pay off any debts, travel, on a new hobby, etc. Keep your favorite pieces and sell the rest, hopefully to someone who will appreciate them just as much as you did.

Great points. I'm guessing there are lots of people in these threads who are trapped in this hobby, who won't even admit it to themselves. Instead they hide in these posts and pretend because so many other folks seem to spend tons of dough on plastic figures it must be OK to do so. They buy so much that they can't even store it anywhere, let alone display it in any reasonable manner. It's a sad addiction and too often people just laugh it off and go on to the next figure. "Enjoy the hobby" is their mantra, while their money goes bye bye. Most of these people are probably relatively young, so they have time to correct the damage they are doing to themselves financially. Or they're too rich (or their parents are too rich) to care.

 

[Cap'n Cook]

Rule 1. Don't get into or stay in debt because of this hobby.

This is a luxury. Buy what you can, keep what you can.


Sell if you need to. Break free from the completist mentality.


It's a prison. Eventually you'll have figures you don't really care for but have to keep the collection complete.


That is NO FUN. And you'll eventually run out of space.


Ask yourself, if there was a fire and you could only save 10 figures, which would it be?

I'd go from there.

Sums it up nicely.

 

[NCC-1701 no bloody ABCorD]

Sums it up nicely.

Yeah, that's all well and good. The problem is that that's too difficult to adhere to for most people. This is why it's referred to as an addiction. It's like saying, to lose weight and stay fit, eat less. Almost everyone knows this, but cannot do it. Therefore, it's a problem.

 

[Josette]

I don't post on here very much anymore because I've pretty much gotten out of buying high end collectibles like Hot Toys and Sideshow. After getting out on my own, my view of money changed dramatically, and now I find myself questioning something every time I buy it. Is it really worth it? How much do I really want it? Would this money be better used towards bills or other things?

I got into some debt (not really due to this hobby, but home repairs, medical bills), and that's changed my attitude on things.

It's been over two years since I've purchased a Hot Toys figure, even longer since I've purchased anything Sideshow. I received Thor as a gift. I sold all of my Pirates of the Caribbean and Batman figures.

It just sort of hit me that even if I liked something, that didn't mean I liked it enough to collect it. Especially when you start talking about hundreds of dollars. That's for something I absolutely love, not something I really like.

 

[pixletwin]

Yeah, that's all well and good. The problem is that that's too difficult to adhere to for most people. This is why it's referred to as an addiction. It's like saying, to lose weight and stay fit, eat less. Almost everyone knows this, but cannot do it. Therefore, it's a problem.

Cannot do it? Or are to weak to take control?

When the problem is a matter of self control, there is no quick fix solution. You wanna lose weight? Buck up and take control. You want to get out of debt, stop spending money. It might not be the solution you like, but it is a matter of choice. The addiction is an illusion one you break past it.

 

[sparkstron73]

Reading some of the posts on this thread I see alot of familiar traits to myself.
I have too much stuff that I was keen on, but now I have changed my tastes, but still hang on to the old stuff as I 've had it so long.
I've had my priorities back to front spending money I did'nt have because something was a "bargain" and I could either keep or sell it on for a small profit.
I did that for a while untill it came to a head and I could not take the stress and lack of room to store catalogue and sell whilst having a life.
2 years ago I had my first child and then my life changed.
I still love this hobby and have a massive collection which I am downsizing as much as possible as I am moving to a smaller place and I just cannot display and keep everything.
Plus money is tight and baby needs new shoes
I don't begrudge him anything and think I am better off now with less than having a room full of stuff that although is pleasing does not compare at all and I would sell the lot if it came to it.

My advice and tips are borrowed but still valid if you can stick to them.
Ask yourself 3 things before buying something new and in this order, whether it be a collectable or anything in life.

1. Can I afford it?
2. Do I need it?
3. Do I want it?
I have made a few bad choices recentley and do sometimes fall of the wagon.
I do class it as an illness or addiction and depending on your finacial state or relation to money it does make a big difference.

Where as somebody might think 50-100 pounds is a lot that might be pocket change to some wealthy people or kids with big pocketmoney.
I look at other peoples collections with awe sometimes at how much money must have been spent aqquiring these items, but then again I have a fairly big collection aqquired over time and some lucky bidding/trading.
At the end they are only pieces of plastic and resin no matter how well made and crafted and they are not the be all and end all.

 

[NCC-1701 no bloody ABCorD]

Cannot do it? Or are to weak to take control?

When the problem is a matter of self control, there is no quick fix solution. You wanna lose weight? Buck up and take control. You want to get out of debt, stop spending money. It might not be the solution you like, but it is a matter of choice. The addiction is an illusion one you break past it.

Very simplified thinking, and unrealistic. Of course it's a matter of self-control. The point is few people do have self-control. Hence, the term: ADDICTION. Otherwise there would be no overweight people or people who cannot stop spending money on plastic toys. You can't just say to someone, "you must have self-control," and expect the waters to part and the problem to go away. Maybe in a utopian world.