Pawn stars - Transformers Collection

[gdmetro]

Anyone seen this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gMYIwVicJ8

I just saw this and this is just insane...

I want!!!

[loophole]

thats alot of Transformers

[griffin]

So many multiples...
He said he had about a thousand, so with so many multiples, the collection would only be Gen1, and very selective (there are just over 300 toys in Gen1).

[Golden Phoenix]

So many multiples...
He said he had about a thousand, so with so many multiples, the collection would only be Gen1, and very selective (there are just over 300 toys in Gen1).

Works out. Averages as 3 of most and 4 of the others

[SharkyMcShark]

The only thing I really learned from that is work really really hard so one day I don't have to sell my collection to fund a house/baby. It'd break my heart to have to part with that.

[liegeprime]

With the condition his collection is in, I think those pawnstars guys are really selling him short. Even the expert was rather reserved in his pricing, If the owner was to look around ongoing prices for his items ( sure a lot of effort) he'd see he can make MORE than $20,000 that he is aiming for. The thing is if he 's got multiples jeez why not store a whole complete set, sell the multiples, so they can use still the room for the upcoming baby and have the money as well too. Had he spend time on Glass cabinets or some form of cabinets he'd see he has still a room they can put the baby in and a complete G1 doesnt take up much room - just a wallspace.....baby's dont need a wall space now wont they? they need a crib and the whole floor space. If them Tfs were on wall mounted shelves (1 complete set) those couple will get best of both world? Someone should really advice that owner better. Besides he can have his baby inherit these TFs ( the set he retains- doubles gets sold) further down the track seeing as how good the condition of the toys are.

[5FDP]

Valid point liege... he can have his baby cake and eat it too :p

[Jetfire]

5K was a pretty low ball offer - but these are pawn stars!

[kup]

Yeah they are selling him short. A boxed Fort Max alone is like $1200 and he had multiples.

He had an army of Scorponoks whch complete go for like $300-$400 and boxed (which he had) can be like $800-$1000

A complete Mirage is like $100 loose and he had an army of them.

His collection should be worth at least $50,000 but the hassle as mentioned in the video is that he would need to categorize them all and sell them individually which is time consuming and with costs involved as no one is going to drop him $50,000 in one go.

[iceburn]

drools!!!!

[rampagesss]

:eek: thats a awsome collection! Id just put them in storage and wait to buy a bigger house :D

[bruticus]

its always comforting to see another nut who likes to collect multiples like me.

whatever the reason, its still a shame that he had to sell his entire collection...

[Eruntalon]

I hope he was not seriously considering parting with his collection for $18,000-20,000.00. That better be the best baby in the world.

[liegeprime]

I hope he was not seriously considering parting with his collection for $18,000-20,000.00. That better be the best baby in the world.


True, if that baby ends up being lazy ass backtalker when its older , Id flog him/her silly with a 2x4 with nails on it .... he/she doesnt know how much his dad sacrificed :(:mad: just so they can have him/her....

see Tfs never backtalk, they may be lazy just standing there but at least your not expecting it to move hehehe unlike babies... someone really should advice these couple better. someone without an ulterior motive unlike them Pawnstars guys

[Sky Shadow]

Even the expert was rather reserved in his pricing, If the owner was to look around ongoing prices for his items ( sure a lot of effort) he'd see he can make MORE than $20,000 that he is aiming for.

The 'expert' wasn't going to say more than the $20,000 the dude wanted though, because said expert was a friend of the Pawn Stars and wouldn't want to come in there and raise the 'reserve' price. That collection is definitely worth more than $20,000, but they're right that it would require work and effort to sell it that the Pawn Stars (like the babydaddy) weren't necessarily willing to put in.

[GoktimusPrime]

"My Transformers take up the entire room, and both the Transformers and my baby can't be in it."

Okay... this guy has been building this massive collection for 25+ years since he was a kid sacrificing his lunch money. So when entering into a relationship, purchasing a house and planning a family - as the owner of a large collection, surely you'd factor that in somewhere!!

Cos that's pretty much what I did. When my wife and I bought our home, I made sure that there we had a spare room for my Transformers. We have a room for ourselves, a spare room that we use for guests and will become our daughter's room in the near future, and of course, another room for my TF toys. There's no way I would've bought a smaller house if it meant I had to even put my toys in storage in boxes in the garage! Selling my collection just wouldn't be an option for me.

Sure, when you have a baby sacrifices must be made. It's why I don't have MP Grimlock and I'm a lot more discerning with getting toys now. I've also decided to sell off a lot of my non-TF toys too (as some of you have noticed :)).

Now judging from this video, this dude's collection seems to be predominantly G1 and G2 (I did see a Machine Wars Starscream though, heh) - which as griffin said, isn't that many figures if you take away the multiples. So if I were him... I'd consider selling all the multiples and keeping the best of each toy and do what most other collectors do and own ONE of each toy! He could keep them in storage until he can afford to upgrade to a bigger house.

But even if he's adamant on selling his entire collection... he'd be better off putting into evaluating each toy individually, and selling them individually instead of as a lot. Cos people WILL buy his toys individually (I saw a few toys I'd buy off him) but who would want to buy the entire collection? He'd make more money out of it too. Like they said, those boxed Fortress Maximuses would sell for a pretty penny each.

[Sky Shadow]

So if I were him... I'd consider selling all the multiples and keeping the best of each toy and do what most other collectors do and own ONE of each toy!

That is the most logical option (unless he wants to go cold turkey.) And it would make him that $18,000 as long as he has the time to do it.

[snazzbot 101]

"My Transformers take up the entire room, and both the Transformers and my baby can't be in it."

Okay... this guy has been building this massive collection for 25+ years since he was a kid sacrificing his lunch money. So when entering into a relationship, purchasing a house and planning a family - as the owner of a large collection, surely you'd factor that in somewhere!!

Cos that's pretty much what I did. When my wife and I bought our home, I made sure that there we had a spare room for my Transformers. We have a room for ourselves, a spare room that we use for guests and will become our daughter's room in the near future, and of course, another room for my TF toys. There's no way I would've bought a smaller house if it meant I had to even put my toys in storage in boxes in the garage! Selling my collection just wouldn't be an option for me.

While I was only buying for me, when I was looking for a house I too had in mind the future of my collection. As it turns out I have a really nice room I can fit out and showcase what I have now and later (the rest of the place isn't too shabby either :)).

The guy in the clip is clearly switched on about his collection and what it's worth - I can't help but think there are some other reasons as to why he's willing to part with it for so little. Sure, having and raising a child is a big - and expensive - responsibility, but I'm assuming he had nine months to come up with an alternative to the rather extreme: All stock must Go!

[5FDP]

I can't help but think there are some other reasons as to why he's willing to part with it for so little.

It's called a wife ;)

[RokDog]

It is a shame when people feel they have to sell their collection, but I can understand where they're coming from. In this guy's case, when you discover you're going to be a father, that probably had a pretty profound impact on what was more important to him. Space is one thing, but $20k in a trust fund over 18 years will cover the kid's future college fees!

For me, after I got a mortgage, all of a sudden the TF collection dropped much lower on my list of priorities. It's hard to keep collecting when in the back of my head every $100 I spent on bots is actually costing me $100 plus 7% over the next however many years lol

Whilst I could never part with the collection, I do look back and have regrets buying multiples of whatever I was obsessing over at the time: 8 Gnaws, 60+ cassettes, at least 3 of every combiner (excl Japanese ones). I just so couldn't sell em off after all the effort I went to in finding them!

[DarkHyren]

I would love that collection, and agree with everyone else that he could get alot more.
I suppose I understand the need to get cash fast, but there have to be better ways, like bank loans or something, at least until you can sell off each toy peice by peice.
But hey I'd look at buying it, just give me his details :p

[GoktimusPrime]

It's called a wife ;)
She would've known he had a massive collection before they got married, surely. And I find it hard to imagine that they never discussed living with his collection and with each other and with child(ren) in the future. Cos ya know... couples usually talk about this kinda stuff before committing. (-_-) Unless he was DAMN good at hiding that collection from her!

"What the hell's in this room?"
"Oh nothing, look behind you - a purple distraction!"


It is a shame when people feel they have to sell their collection, but I can understand where they're coming from. In this guy's case, when you discover you're going to be a father, that probably had a pretty profound impact on what was more important to him. Space is one thing, but $20k in a trust fund over 18 years will cover the kid's future college fees!
I'm sure it would... but he said the main reason he was selling it was to clear the room. I'm just astounded that he managed to get himself into this predicament to begin with. Like I said before, when my wife and I were looking into buying our home, we knew two things:
1/ I needed a room for my Transformers collection.
2/ We wanted to start a family in the (then) future.
...so as a result we intentionally bought a home with a room for my TFs and a room for our baby. Not rocket science. ;)

This gentleman must have had a similar conversation with his partner when purchasing their home and knew that they needed space for his collection and future child. I'm amazed that he got himself into this unfortunate situation where he's had to make what must have been a painful decision to sell his Transformers collection that he's spent 2.5 decades building. :( :(


For me, after I got a mortgage, all of a sudden the TF collection dropped much lower on my list of priorities. It's hard to keep collecting when in the back of my head every $100 I spent on bots is actually costing me $100 plus 7% over the next however many years lol
TF collecting is still a priority for me. I've just learnt to become more thrifty. Budgeting and planning future purchases ahead of time helps (e.g. I saved up for months before the ROTF toys hit shelves -- so I didn't go broke buying them when they came out :D).


Whilst I could never part with the collection, I do look back and have regrets buying multiples of whatever I was obsessing over at the time: 8 Gnaws, 60+ cassettes, at least 3 of every combiner (excl Japanese ones). I just so couldn't sell em off after all the effort I went to in finding them!
If I were desperate, as I imagine the gentleman in the video is - then I'd sell the multiples. Sure I wouldn't be happy about it, but it beats selling _everything_. But I suppose this guy would rather have nothing than keep a severely amputated portion of his childhood collection.


I suppose I understand the need to get cash fast, but there have to be better ways, like bank loans or something,
Exactly! And you can live with one kidney! :D


But hey I'd look at buying it, just give me his details :p
Well, if you got enough to buy his whole collection - go for it. Just be sure to sell your spares to the rest of us!! :)

[5FDP]

She would've known he had a massive collection before they got married, surely. And I find it hard to imagine that they never discussed living with his collection and with each other and with child(ren) in the future. Cos ya know... couples usually talk about this kinda stuff before committing. (-_-) Unless he was DAMN good at hiding that collection from her!

"What the hell's in this room?"
"Oh nothing, look behind you - a purple distraction!"


You never know... I'm sure there are quite a few members here that have dated (do the kids still call it that) and did not reveal their collection until well into the relationship - if at all. It is then plausible that one could go to the point of being married without full disclosure of ones 'secret' plastic crack desires.

Seen it happen and it normally doesn't end well for the males. Either your relegated to a dark dirty corner of the garage to hang your Pearl Jam Ten poster, or your stuff is the first to be placed on the trading block e.g. Ebay, when the time comes to discuss creating little protoforms in your image.

Of course there is a flip-side to that coin and I appear to be one of the lucky ones... or am I *looks suspiciously at wife*

[GoktimusPrime]

Seen it happen and it normally doesn't end well for the males.
Yeah, deception usually isn't recommended in a healthy relationship. :p

Unless it's a white lie, like sneaking a toy you just bought into the house under her radar. ;) :D :p

[1AZRAEL1]

Unless it's a white lie, like sneaking a toy you just bought into the house under her radar. ;) :D :p

Done that on a couple of occasions :o

And even had some delivered and then she asks all the questions :p

[Golden Phoenix]

Yeah, deception usually isn't recommended in a healthy relationship. :p

Unless it's a white lie, like sneaking a toy you just bought into the house under her radar. ;) :D :p

Perhaps she just didn't like his collection, went along with it anyway and then slowly tried to change him.
My ex did that. She was alright with it at first but then started to dislike it and try to make me stop buying.
Some people are crafty like that

[GoktimusPrime]

My ex did that. She was alright with it at first but then started to dislike it and try to make me stop buying.
Some people are crafty like that
...yeah, but 'sif you'd commit yourself to the point where you've bought a home and started a family with someone like that.

[5FDP]

I hate to burst your bubble on relationships Gok, but there are people like that.

[Golden Phoenix]

...yeah, but 'sif you'd commit yourself to the point where you've bought a home and started a family with someone like that.

Dunno. You hear stories like that. It could also be that the dislike started after they moved in and started a family.
What I do know is that you do not want to piss off a pregnant woman. Do what she demands by any means necessary. Learnt that the hard way at a hospital cafe.....

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

...yeah, but 'sif you'd commit yourself to the point where you've bought a home and started a family with someone like that.Wife: "Honey, I'm pregnant and I'm keeping the baby. We need the room and the money so you're selling your toys."
Husband: :(

This sort of thing is why a non-negotiable condition of any living arrangements I have is my own room, with living together being a duress thing for negotiations purposes. It's my space that I can escape to and deck out how I want - including shelves of Transformers - and guarantees I don't end up sleeping on the couch after late/drunken nights out, or when any Grasshopperettes are down with the flu or somesuch.

Also, $5000? WTF? Maybe $5000 for the Fortress Maximii, but really...$5000?:eek:

[Tabias Prime]

$5000 us ....9 words f*** off I'm giving this to you for $5000 that would be my response..

I don't think hes an expert, I think hes an ass-hole for offering so little for something worth a minimum of at least $40000..

[Tabias Prime]

Yeah, deception usually isn't recommended in a healthy relationship. :p

Unless it's a white lie, like sneaking a toy you just bought into the house under her radar. ;) :D :p

I just get then delivered to my work so she doesn't ask questions...:p:p:p:p

[5FDP]

I agree with you Tabias. He did look like an asshole, especially with that smirk on his face as he made the offer. I would've punched him in the face.

I watched the whole episode and to me, it just looked like he was ripping people off who found themselves in a desperate situation for money.

Not a show that I would watch if it aired here.

[dirge]

Perhaps she just didn't like his collection, went along with it anyway and then slowly tried to change him.



You never know... I'm sure there are quite a few members here that have dated (do the kids still call it that) and did not reveal their collection until well into the relationship - if at all.


Quite frankly, neither of these are healthy for a relationship.

Sure, people grow together & can improve on character flaws over time with the other's support (eg insecurity, jealously), but noone should go into a relationship and expect to "change" someone. Aside from the fact that it rarely works, they're not accepting & loving that person for who they are.

On the other hand, concealing oneself is just as stupid, since the other person isn't given the opportunity to make a fully informed decision.

Everyone has passions, flaws & idiosyncracies & should make compromises, but openness, acceptance and honesty are essential. If his wife is "forcing" him or he didn't tell her until fairly late in the relationship then their relationship has bigger problems than a lack of space.

[Golden Phoenix]

Quite frankly, neither of these are healthy for a relationship.

Sure, people grow together & can improve on character flaws over time with the other's support (eg insecurity, jealously), but noone should go into a relationship and expect to "change" someone. Aside from the fact that it rarely works, they're not accepting & loving that person for who they are.

On the other hand, concealing oneself is just as stupid, since the other person isn't given the opportunity to make a fully informed decision.

Everyone has passions, flaws & idiosyncracies & should make compromises, but openness, acceptance and honesty are essential. If his wife is "forcing" him or he didn't tell her until fairly late in the relationship then their relationship has bigger problems than a lack of space.

I agree. It is really unhealthy. But it happens. People do stupid things when "in love." It isn't an excuse and is something that should be strongly advised against but people can get irrational about things like that.
They take the 1 flaw against all this other good stuff doesn't matter and I can just ignore it, but then it builds up and up and then they just can't.


also....the second quote wasn't me, was 5FDP

[Tabias Prime]

Heres a question, If he had 2 rooms of Transformers like this why not put up some shelves and display them properly in one room instead of on the floor in 2 rooms?

[dirge]

also....the second quote wasn't me, was 5FDP

My bad. Fixed. :o

[GoktimusPrime]

Wife: "Honey, I'm pregnant and I'm keeping the baby. We need the room and the money so you're selling your toys."
Husband: :(

This sort of thing is why a non-negotiable condition of any living arrangements I have is my own room, with living together being a duress thing for negotiations purposes. It's my space that I can escape to and deck out how I want - including shelves of Transformers - and guarantees I don't end up sleeping on the couch after late/drunken nights out, or when any Grasshopperettes are down with the flu or somesuch.
Exactamundo! Most blokes need their man-cave. :) Apparently it is part of male psychology. Some blokes have a room full of sports memorabilia, other guys have a pool room, some people have their garage, some guys retreat to the garden (yardwork) - for me it's my TF room. :)

Also, $5000? WTF? Maybe $5000 for the Fortress Maximii, but really...$5000?:eek:[/QUOTE]


Dunno. You hear stories like that. It could also be that the dislike started after they moved in and started a family.
Surely you'd know what you like and dislike about your partner (and what you can tolerate and what you can't) before committing to cohabitation and starting a family.


I hate to burst your bubble on relationships Gok, but there are people like that.

Indeed...
"There are two constants; the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein.


I agree. It is really unhealthy. But it happens. People do stupid things when "in love."
Yeah, that typically happens during the 'honeymoon' phase of a relationship and you're trying really hard to impress your partner. But you'd think that the pretense would be dropped by time you get to the stage of making a long-term committment to each other.


Heres a question, If he had 2 rooms of Transformers like this why not put up some shelves and display them properly in one room instead of on the floor in 2 rooms?
Cos that'd make sense!! :D :) :cool:

[Golden Phoenix]

Surely you'd know what you like and dislike about your partner (and what you can tolerate and what you can't) before committing to cohabitation and starting a family......

.....Yeah, that typically happens during the 'honeymoon' phase of a relationship and you're trying really hard to impress your partner. But you'd think that the pretense would be dropped by time you get to the stage of making a long-term committment to each other.
Everyone is different. Every relationship is different. Everyone has a different way of seeing things.
Some people look at others in fine detail and scrutinise the relationship they have and the person they are with for marriage potential, others have shot-gun weddings in Vegas with someone they just met.

There are also bound to be things you don't know that you don't like until you try them. Living with someone is one of those things. Since some people do not live with each other until they get married then they will not find out about things they don't like until they get married.
Again, she may have thought having a room full of old toys was fine and not going to bug her. But then after walking past that room everyday for, I dunno, say a year, she is sick and tired of them and wants them gone.

As for the honeymoon period and starting a family. Some families are started during the honeymoon period either by choice or accident.

So it is possible and reasonable to say the transformers didn't bug her when she got married to him and when she first got pregnant.
Now they need a room for the kid and it does bug her.
It is a perfectly normal thing to happen which may or may not have been in their control. But it happened and they are in the situation they are in.

I say bravo to him for putting his unborn child ahead of his toys.
Maybe not getting rid of everything, but that is what the second room might be for. He might be planning to keep one of each and put them in the second room to free up one for the kid.

[liegeprime]

Heres a question, If he had 2 rooms of Transformers like this why not put up some shelves and display them properly in one room instead of on the floor in 2 rooms?

Well as I have already stated since reply #6 of this thread - he's got multiples - A) keep 1 complete set for his own ( unless as Sky Shadow said he wants to quit cold turkey - hah I bet when the withdrawal symptoms hit he'll be reaaaaaaallly sorry)

B) sell the multiples (its laborious but hey so is collecting - he's a collector he should have the patience in cataloguing it and slling it piecemeal)
by himself - geez ebay is his friend- a little reasearcyh and surely he'd see he was short selling himself so much just by settling for a paltry $20,000 for the lot....
C) A baby needs the room - - a complete set of G1 TF occupies only 1 side of the wall of a room, hence get decent shelves with 6-8 movable/adjustable shelves and viola instant baby room with a Tf display on one side... easy and they still end up with the money since he'd be selling the multiples.

sheesh his problem is rather simple, it's just his refusal (laziness) to put an effort in selling his TF multiple piecemeal that's hindering him.

It is rather a ridiculous way of displaying his Tfs though - all on the floor?? once he puts em up on shelvings then he'll realize IT IS JUST HIS STUPID WAY OF DISPLAYING THAT MAKES THEM THINK THEY GOT NO ROOM FOR THE BABY. That child in his first few years only needs a crib space for crying out loud.... He might not even need to get rid of all the multiples had he displayed/stored it properly..... there's surely IKEA in US so he has really no excuse on displaying ideas sheesh :rolleyes::rolleyes:

[heroic_decepticon]

5K was a pretty low ball offer - but these are pawn stars!

Agree man. I'd spit in the guy's face if I were the owner. 5K is just bullshit.