Thinking About Selling

[Wee67]

This is only the second vintage Mego I’ve bought in the last year. I bought this despite having serious thoughts about selling off my collection.

For a while now, I’ve found I’m not sure I get the same joy from my toyroom. That said, every time I think about, it seems like something on which I can’t pull the trigger. I don’t know if it’s because of my Mego love or if it’s just the momentum of 25 years of collecting.

Thanks for letting me share. Thinking out lout among people who can relate helps me process. I'm not trying to be overly dramatic about toys. These bits of plastic, though, have become a big part of my identity. Obviously, it’s not life or death, but it’s a big deal for me.
And now we return to your regularly scheduled program.

[PNGwynne]

I've been selling off (really, practically giving away) large parts of my collection in the past year. Stuff in storage that I've barely touched in twenty years and to which I have no emotional attachment. Mostly '90-2000s Batfilm stuff, modern 12" Gi Joes, 200x MOTU, miscellaneous Toybiz junk, select Imaginext, Max Steel.

It's been very freeing and has allowed me to curate and reorganize what I still do have and enjoy it anew. And, I've used the sales money to fill some collection gaps and buy some grails.

If I do have to liquidate my collection, the vintage Megos will be the last to go; I love them stilll.

I think downsizing but still choosing to collect what brings you joy is a good compromise. I'm getting more selective--but more nostalgic--as I age.

I like your Riddler! I was so happy to get my first Bend N Flex just a few years ago--Aquaman.

[PNGwynne]

I think, too about a day when I might have just one toy left on a shelf as a reminder of my hobby and the great people I've met along the way, something beloved and an icon of all the rest before it. I think it will be vintage Mego Penguin or Aquaman.

Thanks for sharing, Wee67.

[Frenchy99]

Just like PNGwynne, if I start to sell, the recent 90s Toybiz stuff would be first on the list. 90s GI joe also.

[Wee67]

Thanks for sharing your experience trimming down. It really does help me process.

I think downsizing but still choosing to collect what brings you joy is a good compromise. I'm getting more selective--but more nostalgic--as I age.

This is what I've been thinking about. In my case, however, I think I might keep my new Venture Bros and Scooby Doo lines. I'm thinking about parting with Waltons, Happy Days, Starsky & Hutch, WOZ... well, you get it.

[Megotastrophe]

I lost most of my vintage and the vast majority of my customs and CTVT first stuff back in the move from Long Island to Houston. Bought some small amount of stuff and then nothing for years until some New Mego and FTC 66 Batman. A few years ago I realized my own mortality and didn’t want my kids to feel too guilty about throwing a ton of plastic and paper away. I sold off in sections. All my Trek and POTA Vintage and Emce and New Mego. And then all my vintage WGSH and some other stuff. Down to a manageable amount right now but it’s still all in boxes so it’s hard to see the point.

[Makernaut]

I don't have any wisdom to offer on the matter, but I will say that it eases my mind a bit to know a few others are similarly processing some of the same things that I am considering these days. For me, it was fun to acquire and reconnect with some of these toys, but having them becomes its own responsibility, and I feel quite over it. I could pick a nice representative remnant to display in a very small space and let the rest go. In fact, the only thing really holding me back from that is "the bother" of selling it off. Ideally, if a single buyer made a fair offer and carted it off themselves, I'd be happy in the way we are when there is "one less thing".

[palitoy]

I've flirted with it, but because it's such an overwhelming task, it usually goes away if I lie down.

The greatest advice on all of this comes from Harvey Pekar, who said something along the lines of, "Sometimes your collection is vital and you wake up one morning and it isn't." I butchered that, but it's always made sense to me.

[PNGwynne]

Sometimes collectible stores will do just what Makernaut is suggesting, even doing on-site appraisals.

Selling large lots of items on FB Marketplace (with my sister's kind assistance) allowed me to clear out a large amount of stuff very quickly and not ruminate much over it.

There's no doubt I could have made more $$ on the 'bay, but what a hassle. And again, I wasn't upset about taking a loss on it, i just wanted freed from it without trashing it.

Some of the sealed Imaginext items were donated to a childrens toy drive, that was satisfying.

[powersthatbe]

It's a matter of downsizing and freeing space. I take some items every few months to a place called pop culture collectibles and the guy there is nice and gives me more for my stuff than i expect. Not a matter of money just being free of some things. Next things i will throw in the box to go will be older marvel legends and dc direct . Now my comics, which is a 50+ years of collecting and many key issues within, I will let go of closer to retirement age or after retirement in seven years or so. I don't want to burden my niece and nephews with stuff they have no interest in after i'm gone.

[basilfan]

Just like it's okay to collect, it's okay to stop collecting. Tastes change. So save or sell. The one big no-no is tossing it in the dumpster. Give it to the Salvation Army or similar place so somebody else can enjoy it.

[Xavion2004]

For a while now, I’ve found I’m not sure I get the same joy from my toyroom. That said, every time I think about, it seems like something on which I can’t pull the trigger. I don’t know if it’s because of my Mego love or if it’s just the momentum of 25 years of collecting.

Let’s say the replacement value of your collection is $15,000. I offer you $20,000 for it. You immediately accept, because you know that you can replace every item in your collection (if you so desire) over the next six months and still have $5,000 left over.

Let’s also say you don’t have any pressing financial needs. It’s literally found money.

What items in your collection do you buy back?

[Dan2Dan]

This is such a great topic, and there have been so many great, thoughtful follow-on posts already as well!

I haven't thought about selling. But since COVID, the modern stuff I've bought has started to overwhelm the limited storage space I have in my home (let alone the display space). That has been 'cause for pause' for me personally.

The two issues in this regard that are front of mind are: (1) as someone already noted above, the 'hassle' of selling figures piece-by-piece on ebay and my related, total unwillignness to consider selling large lots of figures merely for convenience, and (2) for me it's become increasingly easy to distinguish between the items I really truly love (and would, like, grab in the event of a housefire) and a lot of the figures I've bought over the last 5 years, almost all of which I really like, but only maybe 20% fall into that 'really love' category.

Lastly, I'd also add the following thought: for me personally, now in my 50s and seeing the 'action figure industry' steadily diminish in popularity/retail availability in recent years, all of my thoughts along these lines are also colored by an increasing convicion that whatever I've bought in recent years, and whatever I might buy over the next couple of years, is likely to be 'the end of the line' for my participation in this hobby for my lifetime. I feel like I can rule out any possibility of ever subsequently re-buying anything I were to sell now. A sale now would be a 'forever goodbye' at this point.

[LonnieFisher]

This topic makes me very, very sad...

[Frenchy99]

Wow, some of you sound a bit drastic. Nothing wrong with taking a break. I collected like crazy in the 80s and 90s. Had to take a break early 2000s because of life issues... I just started again in the last 5-6 months with a vengeance and really enjoying myself after a 20+ year break. So I say, take a break, you can always come back later.

You dont have to sell off your collection if you have room to store it, you might regret it later on. I held on to all my toys and comics and real happy I did.

Everyone is different and not in the same situation.

I would not mind making some room for my new megos since I like them more compared to my my toybiz and 90s GI Joe but thats just a storage issue. Lots and lots of Megos came out. takes lots of room.