Why Collecting Toys is Like a Heroin Addiction.

[Sky Shadow]

Why collecting toys is like a heroin addiction. (http://io9.com/5963592/the-dizzying-highs-and-terrifying-lows-of-being-a-toy-collector-are-mostly-terrifying-lows)

Discuss.

(I agree completely, by the way.)

[Slag]

Well... I've never been addicted to heroin... but i think i can understand where he's coming from.. winning something is a bit of a rush, but when you actually get it to your doorstep is another... It's a bit like christmas every month/week.
In the beginning i only collected loose figs and couldn't understand why someone in their right mind would pay hundreds or even thousands for a secondhand toy (boxed or not) ( 1 or 2 or 3 k seems totally reasonable for something rare these days) Now, i only pretty much look for boxed figures, (not sealed though, that way i can get them out whenever i feel like it) but when i do get a sealed fig, i do have a hard time cracking it. Most of the time i will just squirrel all my stuff away with a grand plan of getting them displayed in the "not so distant" future. (which is f@(#ing years away, btw)
(i have always told myself "it's better than spending your money on..... whatever.._)

[Tober]

- "Why did you get that Prime Airachnid?"

- "I don't know. Plastic crack is a hell of a drug."


Ummm... I don't tell my parents about it... Beyond that, it's just a hobby.


$300 for a gram of cocaine or Masterpiece Black Convoy, Soundwave and his minions..?



My question is this: What the f__k am I doing?

Yeah, okay. That I can relate to.

[Tober]

The table at the Fair looked like a mobile Transformers slab. We had two boxes of Wreckers, seventy-five pallets of Legions, five shelves of high-powered Dinobots, a container half-full of GeeWun and a whole galaxy of multicolored Universe, Classics, Henkei, Generations... also a pack of Gestalts, a stack of Alternators, a case of Titaniums, a bunch of raw Movieverse, and two dozen Mini-cons. Not that we needed all that for the Fair, but once you get locked into a serious toy collection, the tendency is to push it as far as you can. But the only thing that worried me was the GeeWun. There is nothing more irresponsible and depraved than a man in the depths of a GeeWun binge, and I knew we would be getting into Beast Wars sooner or later.

[kup]

Why collecting toys is like a heroin addiction. (http://io9.com/5963592/the-dizzying-highs-and-terrifying-lows-of-being-a-toy-collector-are-mostly-terrifying-lows)

Discuss.

(I agree completely, by the way.)

By number 2) in the article - I lost interest as I couldn't relate to what he was saying.

I don't throw my toys in boxes, I put them up for display and look at them often and they make me feel satisfied/happy. I also tend not to buy what I don't like so my purchases rarely make me unhappy. Only some of the last few MOTUC sub figures have really annoyed me but those are just a few and the sub is almost over.

Too bad I am not the only want that doesn't like those last few MOTUC figures as no one seems to want to buy them!

[Sky Shadow]

The table at the Fair looked like a mobile Transformers slab. We had two boxes of Wreckers, seventy-five pallets of Legions, five shelves of high-powered Dinobots, a container half-full of GeeWun and a whole galaxy of multicolored Universe, Classics, Henkei, Generations... also a pack of Gestalts, a stack of Alternators, a case of Titaniums, a bunch of raw Movieverse, and two dozen Mini-cons. Not that we needed all that for the Fair, but once you get locked into a serious toy collection, the tendency is to push it as far as you can. But the only thing that worried me was the GeeWun. There is nothing more irresponsible and depraved than a man in the depths of a GeeWun binge, and I knew we would be getting into Beast Wars sooner or later.

Nice. :cool:

[Ploughmans Lunch]

Ah, trying to find the right thing to write. I pretty much disagree with this article only in-so-much as it's trying to equate material obsession with substance abuse, which I think the latter is quite serious, but if you're genuinely unhappy with your life and thing that you're becoming a terrible person because of it, well, maybe you should see someone about it? It's hard but I guess admitting you have a problem is the first step.

Heroins not even that expensive either, it's just sometimes harder to get or messes up your circumstances/life so hard that it becomes expensive that way. But that's not taking into account things like functional junkies etc anojnwefhbrg.

[UltraMarginal]

There are certainly addictive qualities to collecting toys, and I currently have more packed a way than on display but that is an a vailable display space thing and the display changes.

I tend to restrict my collecting to transformers only and like Kup mentioned above if I don't think i'll like it I tend to avoid it.

If your collecting is effecting your life and relationships though, maybe it is time to seek a little help. at least getting up early for the toy fair only happens once every 3 months and part of the excitment is looking to see what "might" be there and most of it is spending tiem catching up with other fans from the board.

[liegeprime]

A good read. In some points I can relate or understand where he's coming from. Although most, if not all of what he's griping about his collecting habit I tend to conclude as a hoarding symptom of this guy. The guy has issues psychologically that his collecting is filling in for. Maybe not so destructive now but when he first put point 2- unhappy- that immediately rang bells to me. Something in his personal life is seriously lacking and the collecting aspect has took over to compensate for it. Maybe he is a collector way back so it is not an itself originally but now that he seeems to be so aware of the "pointlessness" of what he does at times in collecting, it's become the scapegoat. Oooor, it could be just collecting burn out. Which happens.

The part of winning rush I get. Every unhappy point he put up is symptomatic he's got personal issues he needs to sort that is showing in the way his collecting is . He needs to sort it so he can stop blaming collecting as a scapegoat as well to get balance and satisfaction in his collecting.

[GoktimusPrime]

I agree with #1 - it's expensive. And that's coming from someone who predominantly pays retail prices, and I already find it expensive. I cannot even fathom how f'expensive collecting toys off the secondary market would be. :eek:

I strongly disagree with #2 and #3 though. I love Transformers... if I didn't like them, I wouldn't collect them. I stopped collecting Marvel Comic toys after they switched from Toy Biz to Hasbro. Transformers on the other hand has never lost its appeal to me. And I mostly stick to buying toys that I expect to enjoy on some level (sure I've made a few mistakes, but on the most part I like the toys that I buy... hence why I seldomly post sales threads!).

Collectors Fairs, Conventions and annual midnight sales are the only times I line up to get toys... and even then, the former two are things that I mostly attend for social reasons rather than to obtain toys (getting toys at fairs and cons are things I see as a bonus and most of the time I walk away empty handed... I get far more satisfaction from just socialising with fellow collectors/nerds :))

My priorities are...
Primary objective: Play with toys
Secondary objective: display toys
Tertiary objective: purchase/collect toys

It seems that this author's priorities are inverse to mine, which might explain why he may be unhappy with it and compares it with being a drug addiction rather than a fun and enjoyable lifestyle choice. It'd probably make me feel miserable too if my priorities were like that and I was still buying toys -- as the article says, in that case it's the getting, not the having. But for me it's the having, not the getting. Once I've gotten the toy, then opening it and playing with it is where the real thrill begins. But perhaps for this guy, that's where the thrill ends and he feels bad until he can get his next "hit" (toy purchase).

[liegeprime]

i blame matty collector, they f*%#&% up this collector that he's now gone on burnout symptoms ;p. I guess him writing about it in a way is therapeutic....;)

[jazzcomp]

My question is this: What the f__k am I doing? I don't know either :)
Yes, it's f*ed up expensive.
My toys are in boxes as well. Thinking of spending on a display case makes me think of just using that money to buy toys instead...

[theheretic]

I think I am doing a similar thing to this guy except I do love my TF's and I have a high quality display cabinet in the living room so I can admire my favourites. Think I will start to scale back my collecting.

[Sky Shadow]

By number 2) in the article - I lost interest as I couldn't relate to what he was saying.

That's interesting, since to me point two sounds exactly like you! "As for Masters of the Universe Classics, I actually kind of hate them. I hate that they're mostly just bigger versions of the ‘80s figures instead of the awesome 2002 redesigns; I hate that they reuse parts like the classic line (even though they cost me $30 each); and most of all I hate that Mattel constantly assembles the toys incorrectly, meaning figures have mixed-up arms, legs, shoulders and more. And I'm paying $500 a year for these things."

Maybe your addiction is less like heroin and more like someone who moves from one drug to the next - you finished G1 and went on to Masters, you finished with Hasbro and moved on to third parties. (I don't know if they're necessarily 'harder drugs' or just different ones.) :)


I agree with #1 - it's expensive. And that's coming from someone who predominantly pays retail prices, and I already find it expensive. I cannot even fathom how f'expensive collecting toys off the secondary market would be. :eek:

For years, Australian retail has been more expensive than the secondary market for new Transformers. So maybe you still need that hit of finding the toys on the shelves. :)

[kup]

That's interesting, since to me point two sounds exactly like you! "As for Masters of the Universe Classics, I actually kind of hate them. I hate that they're mostly just bigger versions of the ‘80s figures instead of the awesome 2002 redesigns; I hate that they reuse parts like the classic line (even though they cost me $30 each); and most of all I hate that Mattel constantly assembles the toys incorrectly, meaning figures have mixed-up arms, legs, shoulders and more. And I'm paying $500 a year for these things."

Maybe your addiction is less like heroin and more like someone who moves from one drug to the next - you finished G1 and went on to Masters, you finished with Hasbro and moved on to third parties. (I don't know if they're necessarily 'harder drugs' or just different ones.) :)



For years, Australian retail has been more expensive than the secondary market for new Transformers. So maybe you still need that hit of finding the toys on the shelves. :)

You don't seem to understand how I work with my collecting and have come to uninformed conclusions from what you have perceived of me on this board. You are probably mostly misguided by the fact that I managed to complete my US G1 collection fairly quickly and after that begun to cherry pick other lines while closely following them. Granted I did complete G1 in "record time" as you once put it but that's not because of an addiction, it was because that was the goal I had set out for myself at one point and saw myself capable of achieving it - It was also a lot of fun so no regrets there and feel proud of my collection when I walk into my toy room and see it almost every day.

Most of what the article's Point 2 is about is pure regret when it comes to collecting - That's his main point. I don't have any of that with the exception of the odd single figure which total number is less than 5.

If I were like the author says in point two, I would have a whole lot more MOTUC figures like that huge wall several of the Matty collectors seem to have. Currently I can fit my whole MOTUC collection in a fairly narrow billy book case and still have space (Wind raider and stactions included). I have been a MOTUC cherry picker until 2012 when I only got a sub for Shadow Weaver and the fact that I was likely to buy most of the characters.

Do I have a preference for 200x? Yes I do very much and like it better than MOTUC. However I was also cherry picking that line as I didn't get any of the variants and only own a couple of vehicles - I can easily fit my entire 200x collection in a medium sized box (most of it arrived that way anyways since it was cheap bulk buy). In the article, the guy says he regrets his MOTU collection, I don't. However given how badly handled it is now, I probably will not go forward with actively collecting them in 2013, not because I have moved on to other things but because the line is no longer worth collecting due to all the issues.

At the same time as MOTUC, I have been collecting Classics (inc 3rd party which to me are part of classics) and GI Joes but the difference between my US G1 collecting and these lines is that they are all cherry picked based on what I like (toy and character). So I do not move from 'one line to the next' but just pick toys from different lines that I like. The only strictly complete line that I own is US G1 and it is still the major bulk of my collection.

The author's complaints about Mattel is what you highlighted and that part I do wholeheartedly agree with his sentiments, specially now that things have deteriorated so badly. However I largely disagree with most of the main points he makes in that paragraph as my collecting does not make me unhappy.

[Ploughmans Lunch]

We would be having the same conversation if we were all on heroin just fyi.

[Megatron]

1) It is so, so expensive.

Sure it can be, but if you are patient and stay on the lookout, you can often find great deals on some awesome toys. Also, it helps to have a toy budget and stick to it (well, most of the time anyway!).

2) It actually makes me unhappy. The craziest thing about these toys is that I don't even like them. Oh, I kind of like them, obviously, but not nearly enough.

I dunno about the author... but I love all my Transformers toys and collectibles. Otherwise, I'd just invest in something else. I personally don't collect complete toylines - I collect by character (of which I am a completist), because that's what makes me happy. If there's anything in my collection that I don't like or want for whatever reason, I'll just sell it.

See, the displaying, while nice, is secondary to the collecting - or to paraphrase, it's not the having, it's the getting. Owning toys kind of blows, which is why I don't really care if my toys are out or not.

Well, I'm the complete opposite - give me every toy I want right this minute and I'll be very happy indeed. Seriously, I don't dream about trying to get a MISB G1 Megatron (for example), or a complete Astro Magnum, or a MP Soundwave... I dream about actually owning them - and the sooner the better!

[kup]

I don't think the addictive qualities to toy collecting can be denied - It is true that the hobby is addictive and we all suffer from it at one level or another.

However I cannot relate to the author's depression because unlike him, I am happy with the stuff I am collecting and don't regret it.

[gamblor916]

I agree with point 1 but disagree with the second point. Everytime I look at my collection I think 'these are so fking awesome'
Buying what you like and reducing the impulse buys plays a big part in that.

[kup]

I agree with point 1 but disagree with the second point. Everytime I look at my collection I think 'these are so fking awesome'
Buying what you like and reducing the impulse buys plays a big part in that.

Yeah that is very true. The impulse buys is what kills your enjoyment.

Recently I bought an FOC Onslaught and FOC Swindle in a misguided plan at customizing them into game colors to be able to turn my G2 set into something closer to the game at will. Once I had them in hand and begun to play around with possibilities. Then I realized that they were never going to look good without having to redo the G2 set (which colors I like). I wasn't prepared to do that so regular FOC Swindle and Onslaught became superfluous making me regret the buy.

That is the only two TF toys in the last 2-3 year that I have regretted buying and it is a crap feeling. I can't imagine how it would be for someone who constantly impulse buys and ends up with bulks of unloved toys.

[Defcon]

I agree with the author, except I have had alot of enjoyment out of many aquisitions. It has addictive qualities, but I believe the worst is behind me.

Recently I have moved, and I had to move my collection as well. The best thing about this is, I was highly motivated to build a proper display. I went to ikea and bought 4x shelving units. I now have good setup. The previous one was good also, except alot of stuff was ending up in the wardrobe.

I to was feeling bad, but downsizing was the way to go. I have sold at least 100 this year, also I donated at least a dozen to the wishing tree appeal at Kmart.Some of the stuff is from 6 years ago, and clearance items. It would seem that my impulse buying kicks in whenever retail outlets have items on clearance. Thankfully I wasn't tempted to go on a binge and buy up all the kreo sets at toyworld when they were on special....

Its not really so much like drug addiction, I would compare it more to buying to much fast food and junk food, while neglecting to eat healthy.

[theshape]

Toy collecting can certainly become an obsession and a problem if it effects your life and relationships etc. Drugs can cause a physical addiction...pretty much like heroin, if you go without it you physically feel sick and cannot function until you get the next hit. I'd say toy collecting may more be like gambling... trying to chase that "high"

[Jim_jim]

My wife always complain that I am collecting too much toys. I need to hide them away every time I want to take it back home and also need to mark down the price. haha

[GoktimusPrime]

For years, Australian retail has been more expensive than the secondary market for new Transformers. So maybe you still need that hit of finding the toys on the shelves. :)
Not so much a need for the "hit" of finding the toy on the shelf a "play hit" that comes from the desire to start playing with that toy sooner rather than later. Unlike the author's attitude, for me it's in the having, not the getting. The thing I really like about buying from stores is being able to start opening the toy straight away and play with it. Half the time I open the toy as soon as I get home... the other half of the time I've already opened the toy before getting home.

If a toy only interests me mildly, or if I think the RRP is too expensive, then I will wait a while and get the toy at a discounted price. But if I like the toy, then I'm happy to buy it at RRP. So yeah... it also depends on the toys too. Some I'm willing to wait and see if it gets cheaper, or if I can get it cheaper on pre-order (like with MP Lambor... no way I would've paid full retail for that). But other toys, if I like the look of them enough, I'm willing to pay full retail for and get the toy sooner rather than later. :)


Toy collecting can certainly become an obsession and a problem if it effects your life and relationships etc. Drugs can cause a physical addiction...pretty much like heroin, if you go without it you physically feel sick and cannot function until you get the next hit. I'd say toy collecting may more be like gambling... trying to chase that "high"
One could argue that they're both fundamentally the same. A drug addict is chasing the next fix from their hit, and a problem gambler is chasing his/her next fix from their next game -- but as soon as the hit or the game is finished, they're desperate for the next fix from the next hit or game.

It's this part of the article that describes when toy collecting has become an addiction rather than an obsessively passionate lifestyle choice:

it's not the having, it's the getting. Owning toys kind of blows, which is why I don't really care if my toys are out or not. But finding a figure you want in a toy store? Getting that package from UPS, ripping it open to get the figure inside, checking out the accessories, and getting a whiff of that new toy smell? That's pretty sublime.
^He gets more thrill from acquiring toys rather than actually owning and using them. He doesn't even bother displaying them or playing with them -- just buys them and whacks them into storage I suppose and then goes and hunts for the next "hit." :eek:

At this stage he's no longer a toy collector, he's a toy hoarding compulsive shopper. He doesn't enjoy having toys, he just enjoys buying them. And yes, none of us can deny that there is pleasure in acquiring a new toy... the brain releases dopamine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dopamine) which makes you feel all happy and good -- that's the high. But what happens once the dopamine stops? Does the toy continue to engage and thrill you beyond that point? It does for me for sure... more so than the initial acquisition, being able to open and play with the toy is a new level of excitement for me. But I think people like this author just isn't getting that excitement.

It's weird... when I buy a toy, I think to myself, "I can't wait to open this and play with it!" -- do people like this author think to themselves, "I can't wait to put this toy away and buy another one to put away!" :eek: :confused:

[Paulbot]

I tend to agree with the article. I've expressed similar thoughts about my collecting many times. I have definitely asked "What the **** am I doing?" and moving last year was a big catalyst for it.

It is expensive. I haven't spent too much on individual figures (excluding my Fortress Maximus and Overlord and Scorponok figures) but the overall cost is something I don't want to calculate. I've recently been trying to clear some of my figures and have done so by selling most for far below their actual value. If I stopped to calculate the difference between my purchase price and the resale value I wouldn't be keen.

I don't hate my Transformers, but I have had times when I've looked at the size of my collection, and been unhappy about that period from 2007 to about 2009 when I changed from being a "collect only the ones I like" to "collect them all" and ended up getting far too many movieverse figures and backtracking and getting many of the Unicron Trilogy toys I'd sensibly passed up the first time.

I've almost got my collection back down to a size I'm happy with. There's still nothing on display but the ones in the tubs are the figures I actually quite like. I've still got too many toys in unopened boxes too that in theory I will "get to" but am more likely to put on eBay at some time.

I can see some addiction to the hunt for the figure, and finding and getting new figures still is a high but it wears off. I sometimes don't open the figure. It's usually not a huge priority to open them, so it does make me question why I put so much effort into finding something that "I will open eventually".

So yeah, for me I think it is like a different addiction, but I don't think it's made me a terrible person though. And I admit that I've also got certain issues, a lot of unhappiness, so collecting has been one of the substitutes I've found. I think Liegeprime's comment "Something in his personal life is seriously lacking and the collecting aspect has took over to compensate for it" definitely applies to me so I probably see this a bit to differently to others.

[kup]

do people like this author think to themselves, "I can't wait to put this toy away and buy another one to put away!" :eek: :confused:

I can't even imagine that. The more exciting thing for me is experiencing the toy itself after buying it. For transformers, I like exploring the engineering, sculpt and overall design. It would be dull for me and would likely loose interest if it was just a 'buy and vault' event.

For none-transformer toys like regular action figures, I am mostly satisfied at owning the character and displaying it with the occasional posing and accessory play.

[Trent]

I can't even imagine that. The more exciting thing for me is experiencing the toy itself after buying it. For transformers, I like exploring the engineering, sculpt and overall design. It would be dull for me and would likely loose interest if it was just a 'buy and vault' event.

This pretty much sums me up. I like sitting there with the toy while I'm watching TV and as Kup said so well, explore the engineering. That is the reason I only collect Transformers. I have no interest in He-Man, TMNT, Figma etc because it is the engineering, the way they get it from robot to alt mode and how good a job they do of making those modes look good, that draws me to TFs. Just tonight while watching Inglorious Basterds I must have transformed Lugnut and Assaulter at least half a dozen times each.

But that is not to say that there is no fun in the acquisition of them. When I buy something it feels good. But not as good as the satisfaction of realizing how good a toy it is that I have just bought when I get home and open it. And why I could never be a MISB collector. It may take me a while to get around to opening them, but I will.

But the guy in the article reminds me of a lot of the people on here in the way of toys that they know they are going to be disappointed with. I see that as wasting money. But then again Gok would poop himself if he could see what I pay for some of the figures I have decided I wanted!:p

[Cat]

I just can't see it.

Sure, I know the addiction of collecting.

But I used to work at a needle exchange. I know heroin addiction, and a bazillion others that came and went from the streets. It's hard for me to disconnect from that.

[Raptormesh]

I don't see it either. Standing in line for hours, shopping in an air conditioned environment(or online) and at worst case incurring massive debt is a far cry to having to commit crimes like stealing(or worse) to fund the next hit, mixing up with violent gangs in shady areas of the city and actually degrading your body through needles and chems.

It's unhealthy sure, but let's not pretend they are even in the same magnitude in the slightest. Obsessive toy collection is no different to any other obsessive retail behaviour and you're not going to liken hastak to some drug pusher are you? Are you? :cool:

Hate to bring it this silly meme up but...1st world problems?

[The_Damned]

yea i fail to see the connection, except to make light of a different and more serious social problem.

[GoktimusPrime]

I don't see it either. Standing in line for hours, shopping in an air conditioned environment(or online) and at worst case incurring massive debt is a far cry to having to commit crimes like stealing(or worse) to fund the next hit, mixing up with violent gangs in shady areas of the city and actually degrading your body through needles and chems.

It's unhealthy sure, but let's not pretend they are even in the same magnitude in the slightest. Obsessive toy collection is no different to any other obsessive retail behaviour and you're not going to liken hastak to some drug pusher are you? Are you? :cool:

Hate to bring it this silly meme up but...1st world problems?

Drug addiction is a form of substance dependence, whereas toy addiction is a type of behavioural addiction. So it's probably more accurate to compare it with other forms of behavioural addictions like addictive gambling or video gaming etc. But fundamentally speaking, substance addictions and behavioural addictions are still all forms of addictions.

Symptoms of addictions include:
* Impaired control over the substance or behaviour. e.g. when HasTak releases another crappy repaint or a toy that seems overpriced for what it is, most of us would say to ourselves, "Screw that," whereas an addict would be like, "What a crap toy. I must have it!"
* Preoccupation with the substance/behaviour, so like you're constantly thinking about buying a new toy (as opposed to thinking about and enjoying the toys that you already have).
* Continued use/behaviour despite consequences - in this case, the guy doesn't even like his toys... doesn't play with them or display them. But he feels compelled to keep buying them.
* Short-term reward, long-term cost. e.g. if you're only buying Transformers to enjoy the experience of purchasing them, as opposed to buying Transformers and enjoying the toys for years to come. I still play with my G1 toys... just a few days ago I was making my G1 Rodimus Prime and Galvatron battle each other. :D
* Tolerance. This is when the body adapts to the substance or behaviour (thus it no longer gives you the same 'rush' or 'high'), and thus the user requires increasingly larger amounts to achieve the original effects. e.g. buying a new toy once a month no longer thrills you, so you buy a new toy once a fortnight. Then this becomes dull and you end up buying every new toy that you see on shelves as frequently as possible. When this no longer satiates you, you go online shopping for toys that aren't available in your region... and beyond that you start an eBay account and start splashing out for toys that are no longer available in your time! (i.e. vintage toys). I'm not saying that everyone who collects vintage toys off eBay is an addict, remember we're talking about people who enjoy the purchase more than actually owning these toys. So whereas someone might go, "Woot! I have a Grand Maximus! Can't wait to enjoy this toy!", the addict would be, "Woot! I have a Grand Maximus! Can't wait to put this toy in storage and hunt down Battle Gaia!"
* Withdrawal. "Aw man, there are no new toys out that I wanna buy. I'm not interested in Transformers no more." (http://otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=12154) I can see how a lack of new toys is extremely frustrating, for sure... but as I've often said before, during periods of "toy droughts" (especially the late G1, G2 and late RiD years) I felt frustrated that there were no new toys too. But it never stopped me from enjoying the toys, reading the comics and watching the videos of Transformers that I already had. As most of you know, I've been an avid and dedicated fan and collector of Transformers non-stop since 1984... there have been times when my passion has slowed down (G2 years), but it's never stopped.
* Denial. I know a guy who's in complete denial that he has a video game addiction (and thus refuses to seek help). His marriage has broken down because he was neglecting his wife and children and household because he was just constantly gaming. He's just completely anti-social.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

yea i fail to see the connection, except to make light of a different and more serious social problem.Probably more of the opposite - to make a comparatively minor behavioural problem seem more significant than it is.

I'm 2 parts Cat to 1 part Goki on this one - it is an addiction, sure, so there are some similarities, but to compare toy addiction to heroin addiction is a leap too far IMO.

[Sky Shadow]

As an experiment - I'm quitting Transformers for one month. I know I'm an addict, but anyone who claims they're not addicted should feel more than free to do the same. I will:

- not purchase any Transformers. That includes looking at buying Transformers on eBay or other sites that sell Transformers. I will also not go to any toyshops or the toy section of any department stores.

- not buy or read any Transformers comics/books.

- not play with, transform or look at any Transformers toys.

- not go to any Transformers websites including here at OTCA and Tfwiki.

(The only exceptions to the above are that I do have some Transformers which I'm selling on eBay and here - anything related to those is unavoidable. I won't check my sale page here, but if you PM me, I will get the message in my email. That goes for anyone who wants to PM me for whatever reason.)

I will keep a diary and will post it here when the month is over. This all starts tomorrow, so I'll keep checking OTCA until then - if anyone has any comments or suggestions let me know!

(For the sake of this experiment, GoBots/Machine Men/Machine Robo etc. count as 'Transformers' and will also be part of the experiment. I have no interest in third-party stuff anyway, but it too counts. However, for now - my other toy addictions [Masters of the Universe, Zoids, Thundercats etc] will be continuing, because I'm too addicted and not brave enough to go completely cold turkey on toys. It will be interesting to see if/how those addictions grow in a month without Transformers, however.)

[Sky Shadow]

(And I won't watch any Transformers cartoons either, but I doubt I would have watched any anyway.)

[kup]

I think that if you also get your kicks from buying other toy lines, it isn't much of an experiment since at the end, it is more or less then same 'kick'. You are not stopping the 'addiction' part completely.

[Defcon]

Yeah agreed, you actually need to go cold turkey, to have any effect on the addiction. Still collecting other toys defeats the experiment.
I would say also some basic lifestyle changes would shake things up. Like do something different to what you normally do. Change routines, try new things etc.

by the way I realize this is just an experiment, just offering more suggestions so it might be more effective :o

[Trent]

I think that if you also get your kicks from buying other toy lines, it isn't much of an experiment since at the end, it is more or less then same 'kick'. You are not stopping the 'addiction' part completely.

If you aren't quitting the other toy lines, in all likelyhood you will just compensate for this buy spending more time/money on the other lines.

[GoktimusPrime]

I wouldn't be able to give up having and enjoying Transformers, so I'm definitely addicted in that regard. I wouldn't stop purchasing Transformers now, but not because because I have a strong urge to buy new toys right now, but because I'm afraid that if I wait till later the toys might become more difficult and expensive to chase down afterwards. It might not... I mean, United Artfire and Encore Fortress Maximus might end up shelfwarming and being massively discounted later. Or they might not. I'm not a betting man, so I prefer getting them sooner rather than later and risk having to spend more time and money hunting them.

But something I'd like to discuss is, when does an addiction become problematic? Because here are some points where I draw the line....

+ Enjoyment. Is Transformers fun for you? Do you love/enjoy it?
+ Are you using Transformers as a means of recreational escapism, or are you using it as a means of coping with other issues/problems in your life?
+ Is it negatively affecting the way you relate with other people?
+ Is Transformers distracting you from life? To put it crudely, do you have a life other than Transformers and toy collecting (and other nerdish or compulsive pursuits)?

Let's examine this in relation to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/maslow.jpg (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs)
I think as your addiction is more greatly the lower order needs toward the bottom of that triangle, then the worse it gets.

Physiological: You know you're addicted badly if it's impacting on basic things like food, water, excretion etc. Think of that meme with a picture of a toy collection that states, "Somewhere someone is eating cup ramen." Imagine taking that one step further -- where you've spent all your money on toys and you can't even afford to eat. I once heard a radio caller who used to work at casino high roller's room who said that they often had to change the carpet under the tables because some customers will literally urinate and defecate in their seats rather than take time away from their games to go and use the toilets.

Safety: In this case we're mostly likely talking about financial security. Imagine someone spending all of their earnings on Transformers to the point that they're unable to maintain adequate savings or save up to buy stuff that they would like, such as a car, house etc. So imagine the stereotypical adult with no savings and still lives with his/her parent(s).

Love/Belonging: Is this hobby making you a social isolate? Are you still maintaining a network of friends and/or - if you wish it - romantic relationships with a partner? Is this hobby making you ignore your family (as in the case of the person with the game addiction I mentioned in my last post)?

Esteem: Do you respect yourself or do you suffer from some kind of inferiority complex (or even self loathing)?

Self-Actualisation: It is said that this is need is achieved only when all the other previous needs are achieved.

If Transformers is something you enjoy, and it isn't negatively impacting on you or others... then why not? Perhaps in such a case it's more of a "benign" addiction rather than a "harmful" one. JMHO. :)

[Sky Shadow]

Yeah, I'm looking at my Transformers addiction this month - not all toys, all comic books, all TV shows and all the internet - just the ones that relate to Transformers.

[janda the red]

Interesting read.... Not sure what I think to be honest, but it definitely made me think!

Good luck with your experiment though Sky.... Interested to hear how you go.

:)

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

Yeah, I'm looking at my Transformers addiction this month - not all toys, all comic books, all TV shows and all the internet - just the ones that relate to Transformers.Even Lugnut?!:eek:

[5FDP]

Smoking is an addiction... which I quit 19 months ago by going 'cold turkey'. Transformers is something I enjoy and does not negatively affect others around me, most importantly, my family in a financial sense. I do not relate to this article at all. I actually find it quite disgusting to liken toy collecting to a drug addiction (anyone who has known someone with a drug addiction would understand why).

[Ploughmans Lunch]

Smoking is an addiction... which I quit 19 months ago by going 'cold turkey'. Transformers is something I enjoy and does not negatively affect others around me, most importantly, my family in a financial sense. I do not relate to this article at all. I actually find it quite disgusting to liken toy collecting to a drug addiction (anyone who has known someone with a drug addiction would understand why).

Thank you!

[1orion2many]

I can understand addictive behavior but to compare toy collecting to heroin addiction is bordering on the absurd. Maybe this guy needs to a little more research into substance abuse before putting something like that up. I've known a person who was on a high and tried to kill themselves by bashing their head into a brick wall. Luckily they knocked themselves out instead and went to hospital. Not in my wildest dreams would I compare the two.

[Raptormesh]

Gok I do understand what you're trying to say but in all seriousness the article should probably have compared it to say a shoe collection addiction instead of substance abuse no matter what the underlying psychological similarities are. I'm not saying toy addiction can't be damaging and is not legitimate cause for concern but as it is, I can't take the article seriously and am a bit miffed the author made light of a such serious issue that its almost insulting.

[The_Damned]

Smoking is an addiction... which I quit 19 months ago by going 'cold turkey'. Transformers is something I enjoy and does not negatively affect others around me, most importantly, my family in a financial sense. I do not relate to this article at all. I actually find it quite disgusting to liken toy collecting to a drug addiction (anyone who has known someone with a drug addiction would understand why).

that is what i was trying to say

[Megatron]

At least with toy collecting you can sell off items and recoup your money, should you ever need to do that, or say if you start loosing interest in them. With drugs or gambling, you can't do that. So yeah, bad comparison.

[Trent]

Smoking is an addiction... which I quit 19 months ago by going 'cold turkey'. Transformers is something I enjoy and does not negatively affect others around me, most importantly, my family in a financial sense. I do not relate to this article at all. I actually find it quite disgusting to liken toy collecting to a drug addiction (anyone who has known someone with a drug addiction would understand why).


Gok I do understand what you're trying to say but in all seriousness the article should probably have compared it to say a shoe collection addiction instead of substance abuse no matter what the underlying psychological similarities are. I'm not saying toy addiction can't be damaging and is not legitimate cause for concern but as it is, I can't take the article seriously and am a bit miffed the author made light of a such serious issue that its almost insulting.


I can understand addictive behavior but to compare toy collecting to heroin addiction is bordering on the absurd. Maybe this guy needs to a little more research into substance abuse before putting something like that up. I've known a person who was on a high and tried to kill themselves by bashing their head into a brick wall. Luckily they knocked themselves out instead and went to hospital. Not in my wildest dreams would I compare the two.


At least with toy collecting you can sell off items and recoup your money, should you ever need to do that, or say if you start loosing interest in them. With drugs or gambling, you can't do that. So yeah, bad comparison.

Alot of people upset about this comparison and making light of drug addiction, yet the term 'plastic crack' gets thrown around this board on a daily basis and no one says a word against it.

High horses anyone?

[Defcon]

Yeah I think the comparison of toy collecting likened to drug addictions, was just a shocking title for the blog, like to grab a readers attention. I don't think the author went on to explain the connection, If he did that would be just ignorance. But I can understand how some would be annoyed, or offended, escpecially if they have friends with addictions. Also its just really carries a negative connotation as well. I really do hate when people say I'm addicted and I have a problem because I have a collection of toys! sometimes I feel a little bit guilty, but I really enjoy this hobby.

[Megatron]

Alot of people upset about this comparison and making light of drug addiction, yet the term 'plastic crack' gets thrown around this board on a daily basis and no one says a word against it.

High horses anyone?

I'm not sure why I was quoted. I'm not upset or anything, just making an observation from a financial aspect.

[1orion2many]

Alot of people upset about this comparison and making light of drug addiction, yet the term 'plastic crack' gets thrown around this board on a daily basis and no one says a word against it.

High horses anyone?

High horse maybe. Call me a Hypocrite if you want but I don't believe a tongue and cheek comment is the same as the serious comparison made in that article, Maybe I'm wrong but that's my opinion.

[GoktimusPrime]

I never took the article as literally comparing toy collecting with a heroin addiction -- I thought it was meant to be a hyperbole, again much like the "plastic crack" phrase that gets thrown about. I don't think anyone who says "plastic crack" is literally comparing toy collecting with a crack addiction, but merely a hyperbolic metaphor.


At least with toy collecting you can sell off items and recoup your money, should you ever need to do that, or say if you start loosing interest in them. With drugs or gambling, you can't do that. So yeah, bad comparison.
I know what you mean because with collecting at least you have something to show for it. With gambling and drugs you just blow your money away and you're left with nothing. But toy collecting can sort of be like gambling in a way.

On the whole toys do not appreciate well - many toys are depreciating investments, and even most toys that end up appreciating do so incredibly slowly compared to more conventional forms of investment like buying stock market shares, blue chips or just whacking your money into a savings account and letting it mature with interest. People who buy toys and expect them to appreciate in value are in a way gambling. If I want a toy bad enough, I'll either buy it as soon as I find it in stores, or I'll pre-order it if it's not coming out here. This is because I don't want to risk the toy becoming harder to find and selling at inflated prices on the secondary market later on. Most of the time this works out for me, but sometimes it doesn't.
e.g.:
* I bought Beast Wars Metals X-9 Ravage MISB in 1999 for $20-something. The cheapest I could find on eBay atm is going for 170USD (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Transformers-1999-Beast-Wars-Transmetals-RAVAGE-X-9-Takara-Japanese-w-Box-/360513490968?pt=US_Action_Figures&hash=item53f0475018) <FMW
* I bought reissue God Ginrai when it came out for $93. The toy shelfwarmed massively and even local Australian import stores were selling them for $20 each! <FML
* I pre-ordered eHobby Astrotrain and paid $35 for it MISB. Look at this! :eek: (http://www.ebay.com/itm/TRANSFORMERS-G1-E-HOBBY-ASTROTRAIN-MIB-LOT-BOX-TRIPLE-CHANGER-CLASSICS-Anime-/221154801607?pt=US_Action_Figures&hash=item337dda77c7) <FMW
* Paid $150 for Jetwing Optimus Prime when it came out in Big W. It shelfwarmed at Target for $99. <FML
...etc.
So my "buy it sooner at RRP" policy sometimes works and sometimes backfires on me, so it's a gamble. But I find that it usually works out well for me so I see it as gambling with odds tipped in my favour, which is why I continue to stick with this personal policy... but there's no solid guarantees. So as with gambling, you accept the fact that you might make the occasional loss and roll with the punches (just as long as you're "winnings" outnumber your "losings" :)). I don't buy toys with the intention to resell them, but I do sometimes go, "Ah nuts! I could've gotten that cheaper if I waited!" Thankfully it's not too often and most of the time I end up thinking, "Gee I'm glad I got that sooner rather than later!" :cool:

[Cat]

Umm, hmm.

There's some interesting posts. Some that have correct info, some that were glossed over , and some that just went awry.

We tend to think the worst when we think of a heroin addict. They certainly exist, in large numbers. I used to see it everyday.

Some of it is permanently etched into my mind. The work I did, the place I worked at, did a necessary thing for the community. That doesn't mean it was fun, or pretty. It wasn't.

I will just say, that there are heroin addicts who are probably a fair(er) comparison to toys, but I still find it largely frivolous, and disrespectful, to dead and living. There are some heroin addicts who lead normal lives: lawyers, bankers, even politicians. They are somehow able to continue their life pretty much undisrupted. They're the lucky few though.

Let's be very clear: differences to toy and heroin. Do you enjoy a new purchase, a new figure, filling in a gap, or getting a grail item? Of course. Heroin is different. It's more that these people have one great experience, and the rest is done trying to get that again, and they can't. Along the line they've become addicted. Some try it once and never again.

Everyone has an addiction. Everyone. It could be sex, money, love, anything. We all have one. And they're mostly okay, as they're within defined limits.

Do we trigger dopamine when we open/obtain a new figure? Well, I doubt we'll find any studies on that on, but if we do, it would be a different part of the brain firing. It's just too different to classify together with heroin, IMO.

There are things that happen if the drug isn't continually obtained and maintained in the body. Figures are irregular, even when buying heavily, some days you get a new wave and five older figs in the mail, other days, nothing. Is the effect of that similar to a heroin addict not receiving a hit? No, there's no way it is.

It's not a physical addiction like heroin.

I also have no problem with the term 'plastic crack'. I don't believe anyone really intends it as a serious term. If they did, I'd march them into the Valley myself.

I know things that I shouldn't have known in my early 20's. None of them have come from toys, though.

To say that toy collecting is like gambling is another fallacy, just as bad as the heroin comparison. It's missing the physical reactions that are triggered, the real facts, to make a shallow comparison 'work'. Ask a gambling addict and they'll wonder what toy collectors get out of it, and what a waste of money that is. It's perspective. It's maturity. It's comprehension.

[Megatron]

I know what you mean because with collecting at least you have something to show for it. With gambling and drugs you just blow your money away and you're left with nothing. But toy collecting can sort of be like gambling in a way.

On the whole toys do not appreciate well - many toys are depreciating investments, and even most toys that end up appreciating do so incredibly slowly compared to more conventional forms of investment like buying stock market shares, blue chips or just whacking your money into a savings account and letting it mature with interest. People who buy toys and expect them to appreciate in value are in a way gambling. If I want a toy bad enough, I'll either buy it as soon as I find it in stores, or I'll pre-order it if it's not coming out here. This is because I don't want to risk the toy becoming harder to find and selling at inflated prices on the secondary market later on. Most of the time this works out for me, but sometimes it doesn't.

<snip>


I wouldn't relate toy collecting so much to gambling as to a calculated risk because as you said, with gambling if you blow your money you will never get it back.

Of course, toy collecting as an investment applies more to MISB collectors. If collecting specifically for that purpose, collectors tend to buy the toys that have the highest chance of appreciating, such as Limited Editions and exclusives, or that are highly sought after (such as MPs). Otherwise, it can be a hit or miss in regards to the value of a toy after it's been opened, say 30 years from now. It's true that toys in general appreciate slowly, if at all, which is where it helps to collect and keep them mint and sealed, and not resell them too soon after they've been purchased. And even if they do start to depreciate, it may very well be only for a certain number of decades before they begin to appreciate as people start to realise that there's not many of them left in the world any more and they become increasingly hard to find. But this requires a lot of time and patience and of course there are other, quicker ways to make money, but no method is completely free of a certain amount of risk.

[BigTransformerTrev]

For years when people who can't relate to my obsession asked me about collecting Transformers I have fallen back on the line...

"Well, it was either Transformers or heroin. I figured with Transformers I don't need to sell my furniture to pay for it, and I don't have to do that whole messy needle thing"

... which has usually illicted a laugh or at least a rye smile. I did like the line in the article about "It's not the having, it's the getting" which I can totally relate to as I spend a fortune on Transformers, then a couple of weeks later I hardly touch them and am hunting my next TF fix. As for his other points, I don't think it's made me a dislikeable person (unless they touch my toys - then beware! See thread about 'Have you had people mess with your TF's and break them?!') and I truly love my toys, whereas this person does not even seem to like them.

I think his analogy works on a few levels, but definetly not all.

[kup]

It is actually easy to make an educated guess in which toys will appreciate in value and which will not based on fan enthusiasm and demand. Naturally it is not a sure thing but if you are savvy enough and follow fan community trends you are likely to have a good ratio when it comes to positive appreciating toys.

For example, it is easy to judge that movie and several mainstream toys won't appreciate well. However toys like Classics, specially the Henkei/United releases tend to fare a lot better depending on the characters.

[5FDP]

For example, it is easy to judge that movie and several mainstream toys won't appreciate well.

Some general release toys for the first movie have actually appreciated significantly over the last 5 years, particularly Voyager Blackout and Leader Brawl. Toys for ROTF and DOTM... not so much.

[theshape]

I really can't see many modern toys appreciating in value too much as there are just so many misb samples being stored and kept nicely in peoples collection as they will always be ones for sale. I think the biggest growth would be in any vintage stuff that is likely to not be reissued - action masters / pretenders or g2 stuff.

As long as the franchise stays popular here shouldn't be significant depreciation either.

All my opinion of course :-)

[kup]

Some general release toys for the first movie have actually appreciated significantly over the last 5 years, particularly Voyager Blackout and Leader Brawl. Toys for ROTF and DOTM... not so much.

A hand full (or less) will appreciate but the larger mass of them won't. It is just the way it is for most recent mainstream lines unfortunately.


I really can't see many modern toys appreciating in value too much as there are just so many misb samples being stored and kept nicely in peoples collection as they will always be ones for sale. I think the biggest growth would be in any vintage stuff that is likely to not be reissued - action masters / pretenders or g2 stuff.

As long as the franchise stays popular here shouldn't be significant depreciation either.

All my opinion of course :-)

Personally, I believe that modern lines do not have enduring following because people tend to forget about them almost as soon as they are over.

[5FDP]

A hand full (or less) will appreciate but the larger mass of them won't. It is just the way it is for most recent mainstream lines unfortunately.

Maybe I read into your comment too much that 'movie toys won't appreciate well' thinking you were referring to the entire line :confused: I was just pointing out that some already have :)


I really can't see many modern toys appreciating in value too much as there are just so many misb samples being stored and kept nicely in peoples collection as they will always be ones for sale. I think the biggest growth would be in any vintage stuff that is likely to not be reissued - action masters / pretenders or g2 stuff.

As long as the franchise stays popular here shouldn't be significant depreciation either.

All my opinion of course :-)

Today's toys will be the vintage toys of tomorrow. Well, maybe not tomorrow, but in 30 years time they will be :p There will always be someone looking to reacquire the toys that they had as a kid so the demand will be there. In the grand scheme of things, the movies were, for better or worse, huge and big money spinners for Hasbro. We already know that there were people like us 30 years ago collecting Transformers for the mere purpose of leaving them in the box, hence so many MISB samples being sold on eBay. Perhaps it wasn't as common as it is now (or as popular as we know it to be thanks to the internet and fan fourms), but there will always be a demand for vintage toys. But yeah, market saturation will also determine their worth because rare items will always appreciate more (sorry to anyone that stocked-up on movie Bumblebees for their retirement fund :D).

[GoktimusPrime]

Actually, I'm inclined to agree with theshape here. Post G1 toys won't appreciate nearly as well as G1 even after the same amount of time. I think the reason for this is that in the 1980s and early 90s, almost everyone collecting Transformers were children... and I didn't know _anyone_ who kept their toys sealed as a kid! The fact that the core appeal of a Transformer is in its transformation and marvelling at how it changes between modes, it meant that way less people were likely to keep these toys sealed unlike say vintage Star Wars figures.

When Beast Wars came along, those of us who grew up with G1 were in our late teens and twenties; high schoolers and uni students. So first of all, it meant that we had more money than we did as children in the 80s - many of us were working part time student jobs or even full time apprenticeships and trades, and by time RiD, Armadaverse and other lines came along, the children of the 80s had already well and truly joined the workforce. So increased levels of disposable income meant that we were able to buy the toys that we wanted, so we don't really have these "holes" in our post-G1 collections.

The other thing is, as the children of the 80s entered adulthood after G1/G2, there would have been an increasing number of people becoming sealed collectors. For me, in 1997 - as a university student - I bought my first spare set of Transformers to keep sealed. It was CD ROM Convobat Vs Megalligator. That toy was an absolute beeotch to find... hard enough to find one for myself, let alone for other collectors outside Japan that I was running around and buying Transformers for! :rolleyes: And after I'd bought all the CD ROM vs sets that people had asked me to buy... I remember finding another one, so I quickly bought it and till this day it remains sealed. I would never have done that as a kid.

I reckon post G1 TFs would have lower demand but increased supply on the secondary market compared to G1 TFs. But who knows... kids who grew up w/ Beast Wars would be in their early 20s now, so a lot of them would be TAFE/uni students or just starting in the workforce... basically, where we were when Beast Wars came out. So maybe this it the time for Hasbro to tap into this market as they're now starting to have more disposable income - more so than us because they're young enough not to be burdened with other financial responsibilities like mortgages and families. Seriously... I think Takara was really smart in unleashing so many G1 reissues in the 00s, because that's when we had that spending power to just buy them! If Hasbro wants to tap into the kids who grew up with BW, I think now is the time to strike while the iron's getting hot. :) Earlier this year I brought BW Inferno with me to Smash!, and a young 19 year old Canadian came up to me and got all excited (in the same way that people of our age would when seeing a G1 TF - made me feel old :p). I talked to him about how the Canadian BW franchise, like how it was called Beasties instead of Beast Wars, and he was like, "That's right!" and I see him being hit by a "Nostalgia Tsunami" :p He thought I'd bought the toy from the con and asked me where he could get one, but I told him that I'd brought it from home.

[kup]

Maybe I read into your comment too much that 'movie toys won't appreciate well' thinking you were referring to the entire line :confused: I was just pointing out that some already have :)

There is always some that do in any line, the thing is that how many actually do and how many don't. It is safe to say that most movie toys don't appreciate much along with other mainstream lines like A/E/C with some exceptions. It's not just me being biased to lines I don't like as I am also aware that Beast Wars 10th anniversary did not appreciate much yet I didn't mind and collected that line.




Today's toys will be the vintage toys of tomorrow. Well, maybe not tomorrow, but in 30 years time they will be :p There will always be someone looking to reacquire the toys that they had as a kid so the demand will be there. In the grand scheme of things, the movies were, for better or worse, huge and big money spinners for Hasbro. We already know that there were people like us 30 years ago collecting Transformers for the mere purpose of leaving them in the box, hence so many MISB samples being sold on eBay. Perhaps it wasn't as common as it is now (or as popular as we know it to be thanks to the internet and fan fourms), but there will always be a demand for vintage toys. But yeah, market saturation will also determine their worth because rare items will always appreciate more (sorry to anyone that stocked-up on movie Bumblebees for their retirement fund :D).

Something being old or rare does not necessarily mean that it will appreciate. It needs to have demand as well. As awesome and highly sought after as the G1 line is, there are still some of the toys that haven't appreciated much or at all like the Firecons and Jumpstarters.

Time will tell what actually appreciates and what doesn't but personally speaking, I reckon that movie toys (but a few) will gradually fall to the 'forgotten' bin as time passes. I don't see much enthusiasm for them anymore.

[5FDP]

As awesome and highly sought after as the G1 line is, there are still some of the toys that haven't appreciated much or at all like the Firecons and Jumpstarters.

There is a reason for that - both the Firecons and Jumpstarters were extremely simple toys that were marketed around a gimmick. It is hard to find either of these toys with their mechanisms intact which affects their value greatly. Not to mention that they were both made in ridiculous quantities and never featured in the cartoon so they shelf-warmed badly. To quote the Transformers Wiki (http://transformers.wikia.com/wiki/Jumpstarter) "Jumpstarters were made in sufficient numbers to fill the toy boxes of the entire known universe." If both toys were short-packed and in limited quantities, it may have been a different story today.

[Cat]

G1 toys also break easy, especially the desirable Diaclone cars. So while many had them, many now want what they had then, not now, ie unbroken pieces.

And seeing as this is thread drift, could we maybe take it to its own thread?

This whole topic is just not good (the original article, not it being shared here) and well, I for one would like to see it die.

Comparing toys to heroin = no way anyone possibly wins. Nobody looks good answering that, whether right or wrong. It's just nasty.

[kup]

There is a reason for that - both the Firecons and Jumpstarters were extremely simple toys that were marketed around a gimmick. It is hard to find either of these toys with their mechanisms intact which affects their value greatly. Not to mention that they were both made in ridiculous quantities and never featured in the cartoon so they shelf-warmed badly. To quote the Transformers Wiki (http://transformers.wikia.com/wiki/Jumpstarter) "Jumpstarters were made in sufficient numbers to fill the toy boxes of the entire known universe." If both toys were short-packed and in limited quantities, it may have been a different story today.

Yeah I know why but my point is that despite their age, Jumpstarters are not really sought after and therefore do not appreciate much in value.

The firecons and sparkabots are not that easy to find, specially in good condition but once you do, they don't cost much.

[5FDP]

Yeah I know why but my point is that despite their age, Jumpstarters are not really sought after and therefore do not appreciate much in value.

Ahhhh... I see, you're actually agreeing with me that due an over-supply of them (Jumpstarters), supply outweighed demand resulting in low appreciation values today which is what we could have with movie Bumblebee in years to come which I covered back in my initial post (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showpost.php?p=330547&postcount=60). Glad we got that sorted :p And here was I thinking I was sitting on a nice little nest-egg (http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/transformers-dream-lot-jumpstarter-56651789) :D

Back on topic...


Comparing toys to heroin = no way anyone possibly wins. Nobody looks good answering that, whether right or wrong. It's just nasty.

+1000

[1orion2many]

Yeah I know why but my point is that despite their age, Jumpstarters are not really sought after and therefore do not appreciate much in value.

The firecons and sparkabots are not that easy to find, specially in good condition but once you do, they don't cost much.

Maybe compared to other G1 TF's they haven't appreciated much but I'm sure if you compare a MISP Firecon price today to what they cost off the shelf ($2.95 on sale I think:o) They would have appreciated quite a bit;):)

[kup]

Maybe compared to other G1 TF's they haven't appreciated much but I'm sure if you compare a MISP Firecon price today to what they cost off the shelf ($2.95 on sale I think:o) They would have appreciated quite a bit;):)

Perhaps but keep inflation in mind ;)

[1orion2many]

Perhaps but keep inflation in mind ;)

This much inflation :eek: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Transformers-Original-G1-Firecon-Sparkstalker-MOSC-AFA-75-Sealed-/120964705959

[GoktimusPrime]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/avatars/spitdrink-1.gif Tell him he's dreaming!

[5FDP]

This much inflation :eek: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Transformers-Original-G1-Firecon-Sparkstalker-MOSC-AFA-75-Sealed-/120964705959

To be fair though, you can't use that as an example. AFA'd toys are grossly over-priced for what they are.

[GoktimusPrime]

I think this article's comparison of toy collecting w/ heroin addiction is only meant as a hyperbole, and not meant to be taken literally -- just like when people say "plastic crack," they don't literally mean to compare it with a crack addiction, it's just an exaggerated metaphor. So let's move away from this arguably awkward or inappropriate metaphor and focus on what the crux of the article is saying: when does toy collecting become a kind of detrimental addiction?

The problem I see with the author is that he's spending a lot of time and money into building a collection that he doesn't even enjoy. By his own admission, he spends over a thousand dollars a year on toys that he doesn't play with or even display, and has come to ask himself, "What the <expletive> am I doing?!" - which, in his situation, is a bloody good question! This is where I think the author's problem lies, and where I see collecting as becoming a detrimental addiction:

the displaying, while nice, is secondary to the collecting - or to paraphrase, it's not the having, it's the getting. Owning toys kind of blows, which is why I don't really care if my toys are out or not. But finding a figure you want in a toy store? Getting that package from UPS, ripping it open to get the figure inside, checking out the accessories, and getting a whiff of that new toy smell? That's pretty sublime. *snip* Despite the aggravation, the cost, and the (B.S.), getting a new toy is still a sweet, sweet hit of nerdiness and joy. It doesn't justify all the bad stuff - it doesn't even come close - but it doesn't matter. Because I'm going to keep doing it anyways. I've got to.
^right here. It's a themed shopping addiction. He's not actually addicted the toys themselves (since he doesn't even use them), he's just addicted to buying toys. As he confesses, for him it's about the getting not the having. But I'd say most of us here aren't like that - I think for most of us, it's about the having over the getting. Yes, acquiring new stuff feels great, but _having_ that toy to use feels even greater. :D This guy's not so much a toy collector, but a toy purchaser. His collection is merely the by product of his hobby of toy purchasing.