How many collectors are members these days
I see a few threads asking what makes a collector, or how much you have does that make you a collector. But Im going to ask this question not to start any big debate or to hurt anyones feelings but im curious to how many people are seriously into collecting vs those that are just trying to make a buck.
As far as collector im talking about those who pick up games whether loose, cib with manual, varation etc. with the intentions of keeping them as part of their collection or to play. Those that have had their games in their collections for years and wouldnt sell unless a emergency came up. Gamers also included that buy the games to play and keep them til they play the heck out of them or they trade for a new one to play.
compared to those that are just here with the sole purpose of selling games for profit.
Again dont take me as saying I dont like those that just sell and dont have any intrest in collecting. Im just curious because it seems like no one anymore really wants to do any kind of trading unless its seriously to there advantage. I built 80 percent of my nes collection from trading but it seems like no one is into trading anymore just selling, henceforth why Im wondering how many people are collecting and how many selling.
And by selling im not meaning selling extras to buy more stuff i mean just selling as the sole goal.
Comments
without buying and selling games i don't/wouldn't want, i could afford collecting. I usually break even so after all is said and done, the games in my collection don't cost a thing.
no one anymore really wants to do any kind of trading unless its seriously to there advantage.
for me at least, it was exactly the same five years ago. it was probably the same ten years ago when it came to expensive stuff.
usually the guy that wants to trade is the guy that doesn't have the cash. and usually they are the ones that give you grief, much like the buyer of the $20 ebay item that bitches and complains while the guy spending $500 is low maintenance.
If I had to guess I'd say you probably found it easier to trade five years ago because you were probably buying/trading stuff that wasn't worth as much then? that chubby cherub trade at $30 was easier to pull off than at $400?
Other stuff varies, if I buy a box of 20 SNES games and end up only wanting to keep 3 of them, I'm pretty likely to try and sell or trade them on here.
I would call myself a collector though, I'm not into NES games to make cash (I have sold duplicates, I've also traded them, I hope I'm at least decent to deal with in either respect).
As for the point of not wanting to trade, it's sometimes difficult to do that since there are always the looming questions such as conditions of the items, and what each party values them at. I have almost always just forked over the cash for things I want, and rarely have done a trade. Money always seems to be the best way.
I personally find it much more rewarding that way, and I feel as if a lot of collector's lose sight of why we are even interested in video games in the first place. 99% of us are here because we have very fond memories of the games we played as a kid. God knows that you can't spend as much time playing games as you grow up and realize adult responsibilities, but it's always a great feeling when you have time to kick back and beat a classic or explore a new game.
I'm not in it for the money, I'm not in it for the collection, I'm in it for the gaming. That's why I'm selling-off a good portion of my collection now, because a game that I haven't played or never intend to play is just a glorified paperweight IMO. Instead of trying to have depth to one set (like a complete NES set), I'm going for a breadth across all systems. Grab the populars for NES, SNES, Genny, N64 and then maybe move to PS1.
I personally find it much more rewarding that way, and I feel as if a lot of collector's lose sight of why we are even interested in video games in the first place. 99% of us are here because we have very fond memories of the games we played as a kid. God knows that you can't spend as much time playing games as you grow up and realize adult responsibilities, but it's always a great feeling when you have time to kick back and beat a classic or explore a new game.
Well said, same goes for me. When I buy something, I normally intend to keep it, however, in the rare occasion, if I see a new game that intrigues me, I might try it out. If I like it, I keep it.
I doubt many sellers are gonna step up and actually say they resell...
It wasn't until Steve fell into this that I had one to play as I wished. Then it wasn't until we opened the shop that I wanted to start collecting. I went through many things I wanted to complete when I setteled on the lisenced set. I kept "my" carts at the shop for a while. If we didn't have it in stock and I had it Steve would pull it and sell it. Now they are all safely at home LOL.
So yea I would say I am the collector. Once it goes home it does not leave. The only 2 I keep at the shop are the BB2 and F2. That is to keep my kids from messing them up.
no one anymore really wants to do any kind of trading unless its seriously to there advantage.
for me at least, it was exactly the same five years ago. it was probably the same ten years ago when it came to expensive stuff.
usually the guy that wants to trade is the guy that doesn't have the cash. and usually they are the ones that give you grief, much like the buyer of the $20 ebay item that bitches and complains while the guy spending $500 is low maintenance.
If I had to guess I'd say you probably found it easier to trade five years ago because you were probably buying/trading stuff that wasn't worth as much then? that chubby cherub trade at $30 was easier to pull off than at $400?
well thats kind of what im talking about, going way back to atari. i made trades were i would trade 5 to 10 semi rare games for a rare game like qbert cubes.. one guy got 8 semi rares out of the way and i got 1 rare game. plus im not really talking about the collecters/gamers that sell extras or rare stuff to buy more stuff. im talking about the ones that solely come here just to make money off the members here. really have no intrest in gaming but just making money.
I was just curious to see if anyone would come out and say Yeah I just come here to sell for profit not really intrested in games. From what ive seen over the years it seems some only post in how much is this worth thread and the sell thread.
Ive been here since the start and have bid against a lot of the older members, but also they made a lot of good trades with me. Just seems the help eachother out feeling has turned more into the how much can i get for this feeling. I guess you older guys need to start a snes collection lol
Personally, I think the way people are dealing nowadays has changed with the inflation of many sealed/popular/rare games. I'm in no way an oldtimer, but I can make myself an idea of how rare and semi-rare games were traded amongst collectors back in the day. Now the price difference between this and that is bigger than it has ever be, and chances are that the gap will continue to increase over time.
Honestly, I don't see how someone could use NA for the sole purpose of making profits off trades/sales. Perhaps I haven't dealt here for long enough, but I don't feel that most members here are looking to make a quick buck. I've never seen this place as an open market. Anyway, the whole buying/reselling practice takes place elsewhere.
I'm definately a collector because I buy everything and sell nothing lol. I collect because I want to play the games and I enjoy the challenge of aquiring rarities. If every nes game were to become worthless tommow I would be just as happy.
Same, I 100% agree on all points.
That said, I've got an awesome landmark coming up in my collection. When the new games I bought a few days ago get here in the mail, I'll officially be at 200+ NES games. I've been really collecting for a little over a year, so... three more years to go and I should have most everything!
I have to agree on this one. It seems (to me) that the BST threads are not from people trying to make a dollar but to pass on something that might benefit others or to sell of something to raise cash for an emergency or a larger purchase for their collection. That is not to say "wholesale" transactions don't occur. I have had a few on here.
However, for the most part I don't see a lot of us on here trying to "make a living" here on this particular site.
I'm convinced that it's just become a lot easier to sell and buy stuff rather than set up a trade, and this then makes it seem like more people are in it for the profit rather than collecting, but I don't think there's too many resellers around (at least not actively posting).
Also, I really don't get the impression most people are profit-mongers here (sure, some are, but most aren't IMO). I still think most people here try to help each other out, and the ones that don't typically get ignored.
I'm not in it for the money, I'm not in it for the collection, I'm in it for the gaming. That's why I'm selling-off a good portion of my collection now, because a game that I haven't played or never intend to play is just a glorified paperweight IMO. Instead of trying to have depth to one set (like a complete NES set), I'm going for a breadth across all systems. Grab the populars for NES, SNES, Genny, N64 and then maybe move to PS1.
I personally find it much more rewarding that way, and I feel as if a lot of collector's lose sight of why we are even interested in video games in the first place. 99% of us are here because we have very fond memories of the games we played as a kid. God knows that you can't spend as much time playing games as you grow up and realize adult responsibilities, but it's always a great feeling when you have time to kick back and beat a classic or explore a new game.
i fall in the minority of the 1% here. i dont enjoy playing games, never did, never will. i like snes rpgs, but thats about it. i collect nes shit cuz i started it about 10 years ago and i want to finally finish it. i also hoard stuff more than (or just as much as) erik, but that is due to 1) being lazy, 2) not needing the money, & 3) being lazy. i would assume erik's reasons are much the same!
Why has our society gotten to the point where people who want to make money are "bad" or "evil".
theres nothing wrong with making money you have to have money in order to survive. But there is also a thing called being kind, helpful, honest, generous, but that seems to be a forgotton life style. Its hard anymore to tell who is sincere and whos not.
A good example of what im talking about is former member nofriend, it seems he joined with the best intentions of being part of the collecting, gaming group, But after being here a while it seemed like he was upset because he didnt have the rare games or collection some of the other members did. Then he kind of became obessed with buying rare stuff but then turning around and selling it soon after. Im assuming he spent to much and had to sell because he needed the money to pay debt. But you older guys know he would pay a lot for something and then come post about it get his pats on the back. wow cool man , nice etc then it would be for sale. then it got to the point he did what he did because it seemed he got obessed with having rare stuff to come brag about.
This also holds true for a few other members they got in over their head and use poor judgment to get more and more. I dont know if they were really bad guys or just got caught up in needing the feeling of being a better collector than everyone else.
So its alright to make money just dont obessed with it
I'm a collector, but nothing in my collection is off limits,
oh really?
I might have to send you a PM
(but i'm pretty sure I already know the answer)...no
Also, I don't ever get rid of anything in my collection, because much like Ms Clawful said, I'm horrible at making money and it's a great feeling knowing I have such a large library to dive into whenever I get bored.
That being said, I agree that there is nothing wrong with just being a seller (which of course is different than a scammer like nofriendo), in fact they can be very good for the community and the hobby.
But collector/hoarder yes... only once ever in my collecting have I ever gotten rid of something I didn't have a double of and it's still something I don't have. But that was a TRADE not a sale with Bronty for a sealed CANADIAN game and I did the trade because he had helped me out with so many things I needed for my collection along the way and I would do it again since he helped me so much.
I like to think that I have helped out many many many people on here with their collections since joining in 2006. And many people on here have helped me with my collection. I know I wouldn't have a complete collection or all the cool other stuff I have without the people I've met and dealt with here on NA. Hell I bought what 30+ NES accessories from you DOUG alone? All in all I love NA and I know my collection wouldn't be what it is without the people here.
For me the hardest part about doing trades is always finding something the other person has that I actually need or want. Otherwise I would trade over sell any day if I could get something I wanted or needed I'd much rather have that item than cash that still can't buy me the item I need. This being said if anyone has any Game Gear stuff I need I'd gladly trade in your favor. And I collect all Game Gear from around the world so European/USA/Japan I'm open to anything.