Collecting Fun vs Frustration
Do you find collecting retro games is like riding a wave of emotions between the good and the bad? Do you get tremendous joy when receiving something minty/rare? And do you feel temporary insanity/depression when something goes wrong during a transaction?
I’m guessing the answers to the above would be “yes”, “yes” and “yes”.
What’s your current ratio of Fun:Frustration? Has it changed since when you first started collecting?
My score is currently something like 3:2 (Fun:Frustration). Looking back, when first starting it would be around 9:1.
I’m guessing the answers to the above would be “yes”, “yes” and “yes”.
What’s your current ratio of Fun:Frustration? Has it changed since when you first started collecting?
My score is currently something like 3:2 (Fun:Frustration). Looking back, when first starting it would be around 9:1.
Comments
I currently see a therapist.
That is all.
:-)
But yes, unfortunately some of those frustrating moments can be rage inducing. Money brings the worst out of some people and the hobby gets more cutthroat with each passing year. I'd like to think that 90% or even 95% of collectors are good people but that 5% will sacrifice anything or anyone to get the best deal for themselves.
I'd say when I started it was on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being fun and 1 being horrible...9:1. Now it's more like 3:7.
Lots of eyes are on are desirable early NES variants right now, it's hard to find deals (at least online). When I was heavily collecting Xbox, you could find variants many other collectors didn't even know existed for like 10 bucks, and all of the fun was in the hunt/discovery rather than just dumping money to complete well documented lists of games. Not that Xbox is a desirable thing to collect, but I've definitely had the most fun seeking and documenting more out of the way things like that.
I only get frustrated when stuff doesn't work like this arkanoid arcade pcb. Other than that, of it isn't fun, I'm not gonna do it...
No frustration, here. enjoying it.
Used to be a lot more fun when the market wasn't stale and prices were more volatile. I don't collect anymore simply because I have what I want but couldn't imagine actively collecting these days. Selling on the other hand... pretty much nothing but frustration.
Absolutely agreed! We tend to think collecting as simply the buying part, but often, most collectors need to sell/flip to further their collection.
There are multiple reasons that have changed my moods in collecting compared when first started: scarcity of new finds; married life (as opposed to single life); too many idiots both buying/selling; eBay being a money sponge and enforcing constant rule changes; upping their fees etc.
Currently, space has become an issue, and planning to upgrade to a new house this year. This would require me to sell a chunky part of the collection, which along with a 6 day job, I’m finding that I have little energy/time to sell them all individually. Even grouping them in small chunks means I have to be brainstorming constantly in what to group, what to sell locally, what to sell online, in which order I should be selling what etc.. a bloody big pain!
I know, these people have every right to deny selling to me based on whatever criterion they please. Still being treated second class person just because the seller thinks everything outside the borders of US is great risk (despite my spotless track record), or because they don't bother to fill a small customs sticker feels.. extremely frustrating.
That being said I'm incredibly grateful to every single person who actually has shipped to me and especially those of you who've helped me by acting as an intermediary. The awesomeness of many people here greatly outweights any frustration!
If you're taking out shipping issues on something you love, something ain't right.
Example. I ordered some Toronto Raptors hats... they're over a week late and there's no sign of them in the mail system. I'm not going to take that out on the Raptors or like them any less.
Take a breathe man, enjoy yourself.
Really the only time I feel deep deep frustration is when I wanna buy something but the seller discriminates me because I'm outside the US, because they want to "avoid the hassle".
I know, these people have every right to deny selling to me based on whatever criterion they please. Still being treated second class person just because the seller thinks everything outside the borders of US is great risk (despite my spotless track record), or because they don't bother to fill a small customs sticker feels.. extremely frustrating.
That being said I'm incredibly grateful to every single person who actually has shipped to me and especially those of you who've helped me by acting as an intermediary. The awesomeness of many people here greatly outweights any frustration!
As a buyer, my collection comes from all around the globe. As a seller, I sell more locally but have posted quite a few high end items overseas on occasions. So I do understand the frustrations from both ends of buying/selling overseas.
I just want to explain a common misconception the main issue why sellers don’t like posting to overseas. I think the main issue is the hassles to the seller when an overseas postage goes wrong. Unless you regularly sell, it’s very time consuming to continually communicate and ring up postal workers to chase up a package, and wait and wait for updates/responses.
That being said, if I never added another NES item I'd be more than happy with what I have (the only stuff I still am looking for is boxes and books anyway). After 20 years the race is over, anything else is just a victory lap.
I've been collecting for 10 years and haven't been frustrated once.