A Shift in Priorities

[Archon_Turtle]

As a collector, I think we all have times when we look at our collections and think, "man... do I really need any of this crap?"

usually, that feeling is fleeting. Lasting only a few moments before we snap out of it. These feelings are natural, and usually don't mean much if anything.

It is when that feeling begins to nag you on a regular basis that you may stop and take notice. This is where I'm at now.

Now before you have a coronary and run around screaming "OMG ARCHON IS SELLING HIS COLLECTION!!!" Let me say that that is not the case. Far from it.

My passion for collecting or the Turtles has not faltered. Nor do I think it ever will. But I think as i have gotten older, my tastes have changed. And I think the burning desire to "HAVE EVERYTHING' is no longer there. I believe I am approaching a state where I only want what I actually want...instead of the impossible "everything". Let me show you something....



Despite not really being able to really see how many crates are in this picture (due to not being able to fit everything in frame, and there being several rows of stacked crates) I'm sure that you can appreciate how much stuff this photo represents. All of these crates are full to the brim of TMNT toys and merch. Toys and merch that I haven't had on display in over 5 years. Most of these crates constitute toys and merch made after 1998. Just about everything in there falls outside my "passion areas". Heck, I'm not even really sure what is in a lot of these.

Long story short, over the next few weeks/months the plan is going to be to sell virtually everything in these crates. And going forward, the collection mantra is going to be "collect it because I want it, not because I need it".

To give you an idea of what is stay and going, here you go:

Staying:

• The 88-98 Vintage Toy Collection
• The comic collection
• Original Art
• Most movie props
• General rarities
• Gifted Items

Going:

• A percentage of my bootleg collection
• Duplicate comics
• Just about every toy after 1998 aside from a handful I really like
• Most Miscellaneous TMNT items
• Select pieces from the art collection

After this I don't intend on being a completionist collector in any area outside the comics...because that seems to be where my adult passion really lies. The vintage turtle collection is staying because it's 100% complete, and means a great deal to me nostalgically.

Please don't confuse this for a move of desperation. Nor is this forced. There was no pressure from my wife to do this, and I don't "need the money". In fact, the great majority of the money generated from this will most likely get funneled back into the collection in some form.

I'm blessed to say that I am working a LOT right now, so I'm not 100% sure WHEN this is going to start going down (70+ hour weeks are FUN!), but I felt like I needed to say something to make this idea of mine seem more real.

Thanks for listening!

Steph

[CyberCubed]

I did this myself with my old toy collection too. I basically sold all the Turtle varients except for the really good ones.

The 4kids line especially was crap looking back at it now, I can't believe I spent so much money on all the varients then.

[Powder]

I know the feeling, I've considered a bit of downsizing myself. Plus I've realized that I really can't continue to have that "I must buy everything I find with a turtle on it" mentality anymore. Gotta eat. I'm sure it'll be for the best, mang.

[Raph]

Dude, I so know what you mean. I'm 33 now, and still as big a fan as ever, but I've also gotten very selective. I buy the new figures and comics and occasionally some new merch that really stands out. No way am I buying everything I can get

[Jester]

I know my 4kids collection needs thinning...I just have to finally sit down and wade through it.

I am however accepting donations of any cool stuff you wanna get rid of, Boss.

[Archon_Turtle]

I think I've finally realized that having one of the best collections out there doesnt mean it has to be one of the biggest out there too.

[CyberCubed]

So I guess this means no Lego TMNT for you?

[Jester]

Truer words have never been spoken. Quality over quantity. Sadly I have neither. I do have much love for the franchise and quite a bit of nostalgia built around the few things I have and that counts.

[Archon_Turtle]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

So I guess this means no Lego TMNT for you?

I'll probably get the base set, or whatever I have to get for those adorable mini-figs...but I doubt you'll see me shelling out 300+ for the exclusives anytime soon.

[CyberCubed]

Sadly I've been thinking of downsizing my comic collection too. I realize I own like 15 different versions of issue #1, especially with all the reprints in the collections.

One day there might come to a point where if everything is collected in trades (hopefully if IDW continually puts them out), I'm considering selling all the individual issues. I want every TMNT story, but I don't need every story multiple times in different trades and formats.

We're still early on in the IDW trades, but if say...5 years from now and we have almost everything collected...it might come to a point where even the comic collection needs to be trimmed.

[Luzmagica]

Im agree about getting what you want and not everything per se....I think at the begining a fan Want everything...and later when we develop the taste we choose more selective stuff....

...Just asking....Will you list in ebay? Will you accept worlwide shipping?....

[Archon_Turtle]

Originally Posted by Luzmagica

Im agree about getting what you want and not everything per se....I think at the begining a fan Want everything...and later when we develop the taste we choose more selective stuff....

...Just asking....Will you list in ebay? Will you accept worlwide shipping?....

It will depend on what the item is Luz. Any high profile stuff will probably go to ebay. But if, for instance, someone on here was to offer me a price I was happy with for all of my 2k3 toys as a single lot, I'd probably take it. A good home is going to be more important to me than a high price.

[Venom]

Power to ya, brotha!

I've had those thoughts, too, on occasion because my collection is not on display and stacked up in my closet and around my room. As you said though, the thought is fleeting because at some point I will be able to.

This is a pivotal moment in your life, man, so I want to congratulate you on the blessings life has bestowed upon you!

A few years ago when I got back into collecting, it was mainly the comics I wanted most, which I still love and will always cherish those moments when I'd get a box from Katie full of books with a little note stuck on top.

There was a few 4Kids! figures I got (the Shredders), and a few I wanted but was in that "I'm 20-something and embarrassed to be buying toys" phase" (Raph (yes, I never got 'im!), the Turtle toddlers, Turtlebot, Usagi, Yoshi), and there's also a couple old school figures I've always liked but never got (Black Lagoon Leo), but while I may get those at some point, it's not a high priority.

I think, personally, the "Pokemon mentality" for me struck at a couple points: when I realized that my collection was big, yes, there is always someone out there with bigger collections (you, Danny, Michelle), and while I occasionally find myself popping on ebay and sporadically bidding on something (the NASA patches), for me, personally, I've decided if it's something I like, I'll get it; if not, I won't. I've liked a lot of the new stuff, so I've gotten it, but things like the IDW Limited label sets or the talking Turtles I'm passing on.

Again, though, I'm truly proud of ya and for you, Steph, and hope one day we'll get to meet (or at least accept my call! :sniff: )

[mysterycolor]

definitely understandable- i get asked all of the time why i dont have a bigger personal collection- but it is the quality, not quantity- you are, after-all, the one who has to live with all the merch! your collection will always be the best on the drome ♥ glad to know i helped a little with the building of it

[Yep It's A Trap]

I've been saying and thinking this for a while now. I really want my collection to be of quality rather than quantity. I only collect the old figures that have been graded no less than AFA 90 as I want what I collect to be the best condition of what it can be and the most rare too.

What artwork are you on the fence about selling? Maybe some of us can make some offers to help persuade you. Any Mirage art by chance? I'm not interested in the new stuff at all.

[Marksenad]

TMNT hoarders I understand bro, I recently got engaged so at the moment money is going other places. I know that you have no reason, but for me it made me step back and look at what i have, what i want and what i should get rid of. It's a tough call for me, and judging by the size of your collection its going to be hard even to sort through those boxes and pick and choose. All the best with it!

[tipet]

It's a very good decision.

Since I've started collecting back in 2008 I have followed some ethic rules that I never break, like buy only what you really want. So I have never asked myself about ... I really need all of this?? Because the answer is: NO! But I want it.

Collecting is only a hobby that makes your live more rich and happier. Nothing else. So all this items that you own, but you don't know, are dispensable because they are not improving your happiness.

[pannoni1]

While I'm not quite there, I tend to collect items that I have a real interest in. For example, my top priorities are the vintage toy line along with pre-Image comics since that was the golden age of the franchise and will always carry meaning to me. I feel that IDW is overdoing it with the reprints, and while some of the newer toys are cool, such as the Secret Sewer Lair and some of the characters unique to 4kids, you don't want to become a hoarder and there is stuff from other fields, whether from other toy/comic franchises or something else such as coins and sports cards so you can have room. For example, when I collected vinyl 45s I started by collecting every record, but soon saw that certain types didn't have appeal such as country and easy listening due to their low value. This is a good indication about what to collect, as in the long run the original vintage toyline will always be more valuable than 4kids and Nick.

Then you have statues and limited edition stuff that only appeals for "trophy items" that are all about consumerism and not love of the product such as the history and usage. As they say, wealth does not necessarily bring joy; it's love that does.

[Shogun26]

You are def not alone in this Archon!
I came to the same thought about a year ago after selling some of my pieces. Why am I selling all this good stuff when I have boxes of random items like magazines and duplicates I could be selling?

Now that school is almost over I have decided to just focus on figures and vehicles and watches and sell the rest. 1988-1998 is def also my range because those are the figures I grew up with.
I do have some volume 1 comics that are first prints and I've been going back and forth on whether I want to sell or keep them. Esp since I've sold my entire Archie series already.

But I def think this is something every collector goes through at one point or another.

[plastroncafe]

As the kids now say, I know those feels, bro.