Very Sad to see somsbody selling off their collection of games, How do you feel?

[PROTOTYPE]

I'm bidding on some games right now and they are all in flawless condition. He's selling off what looks like his entire collection of game for various systems. I have mix feelings about this... As its good for me but kind of sad in away too. I don't know why and really won't ask till I win game or two.[ maybe not ]Yea, I know there can be a lot reasons.. money, sick of it all, etc. When I see somebody selling off their whole collection of games that took them years to complete and keep them in flawless condition . As a collector, even though I don't know him its feels like I do. So, the reason I'm bringing up this topic is how do you feel when you see this? Sad or happy you can finally get that rare game? or his lost my gain..:roll:

[8bitgamer]

I always feel a tinge of sadness. Maybe they are having financial difficulties or getting a divorce. Maybe there's another bummer of a reason.

[rocky412]

I'm also very sad to see this. I had to sell off some my atari collection almost 2 years ago because of losing my job. I had spent almost 15 years collecting a lot of cartridges from taiwan, Germany, UK, Brazil etc. I hated to get rid of them but I had bills to pay. I guess it was a good investment for my part. But something I can never get back.

[PROTOTYPE]

Yea, maybe you hit on something there? Maybe,I'm sad because I've sold off some of mine in the past too. dreamcast, turbo ect.. And that feeling you know you can't get back unless you have a lot money to burn.But as a collector we are the only ones that know what it truly means to sell it all off. A lot people don't understand why we collect video games, To me its keeping my childhood alive and well... Are body's will get old but are spirit is always young at heart:).

[PapaStu]

It's stuff. Stuff that isn't needed in life. I've bought stuff from people liquidating a number of times over the years. At some point i'm sure that i'll be doing the same. There are so many more important things than having 'all teh gamez'. Often times having a place to stay, food on the table, that room for the baby or the lights on trumps (and always should) the need of entertainment. Priorities change for people and ones that revolve around a collection of X are often the first to go.


I know far more people who've sold off stuff and not only felt good, but relieved that they have gotten it out than those who've been truly crushed by selling it all. I'm not saying that it doesn't sting to get rid of something that holds sentimental value, it's just not as bad as you think it is.

[wiggyx]

I sold of a LARGE portion of my collection while in college to, um, pay for college. I wasn't as sad at the time, mostly because I was too busy to even think about it, but now it bothers me a bit, and I've SLOWLY been starting to build the collection back up.

Some folks just move on. A good friend had a MASSIVE collection, and he sold about 85-90% of it just because he was tired of having to pack it up every time he moved (which was often) and because he just didn't really feel the need to collect anymore. He kept just what he played regularly.

[Tempest]

Some folks just move on. A good friend had a MASSIVE collection, and he sold about 85-90% of it just because he was tired of having to pack it up every time he moved (which was often) and because he just didn't really feel the need to collect anymore. He kept just what he played regularly.
This is pretty much what I'm doing. Over the past few years I've sold off large parts of my collection and invested in Multicarts (I still like to play on real hardware). There comes a point where everything starts taking up too much space and you realize that you haven't touched some of it in years. I'm keeping the parts of of the collection that mean something to me (mostly my Apple II and Atari 8-bit stuff) and as for the rest, I've found that I don't miss it. In the future I plan on moving across the country so I'm sure more of the collection will go then.

I think the hardest part is being honest with yourself. Sure you want to own everything, but do you really NEED to own everything? What do you play with? What haven't you touched in years? What can be sold for decent money that could be used for something else that you really want? Once you figure this out, everything else is easy.

[sloan]

It's mixed. If a person is selling due to loss of job, home, divorce, death in the family, etc., then the human side is saddened, but then the person needs the finances so it helps them too if I buy some of their stuff.

I feel sad most often at pawn shops because those places normally rip people who are vulnerable and poor. I don't buy too often from pawn shops because of that.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

Well,

It's sad if somebody explicitly states that they're selling off a beloved collection that they worked to amass based on a hardship that is requiring/forcing them to do so.

Otherwise, I don't tend to speculate or judge.

[Enmity]

I had to sell off roughly 90% of my collect a few years ago. Around 1200 games total. It hurt at the time and I still miss my shelves of carts.

It was to pay rent so it had to be done. I kept some of the more important games to me not really most valuable just the ones I cared about the most (NES World Champ Repro).

I've slowly been working on it but not to the extent that I use to. I use to collect just about everything. I've decided to work on one thing at a time.


It does suck a lot, but some times its very necessary.

[treismac]

I'm a deeply nostalgic and sentimental person, so selling off a collection is a downer in my book. As a handful have said before me, it is by no means the end of the world, but anytime someone has to part with something that once meant something to them it tugs at a few of my heart strings.

I might end up going across the Pond in a year or so, perhaps having to part ways with the majority of my collection. Not something I want to think of. I reckon I will invest in a handful of Power Paks/multicarts and make do that way. Honestly, I'd rather bury my collection in airtight containers on my parents' land than sell off my collection. That way if and when I return to Savannah my childhood will be waiting for me to unearth again and pick up where I left off.

[BetaWolf47]

It saddens me too, although I think I may end up selling most of my collection someday too. I have a lot, but never feel as if I have the energy to play anything. Would be nice to be able to sit down and play something for three hours, but whenever I do, I find myself turning off the game after 45 minutes at the most. Might sell the bulk of it and keep my top 25 games for each system.

[Badhornet]

I hate to see it if it is because of financial reasons. Most times people's economic position will get better, than they regret they sold their stuff......but hey you gotta eat.

Sometimes people move on and want to get rid of their collections because they lost interest or maybe outgrew them............. most of us will come to that stage one day

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

You should only feel bad if they actually stated their circumstances in the listing. Otherwise, you don't know what their situation is.

Plus it's a cycle. That collector probably bought some of those games off people in desperate need. The games will continue to change hands over time, but at least the games are being preserved.

I realize that people's situations can change suddenly, but there are also people out there that collect beyond their means, or collect at the wrong point in their lives. It should be: go to college, establish a career, then collect, not the other way around. That also prevents the "buy, sell, then buy again" pattern that some have alluded to.

[wiggyx]

Honestly, I'd rather bury my collection in airtight containers on my parents' land than sell off my collection. That way if and when I return to Savannah my childhood will be waiting for me to unearth again and pick up where I left off.

LOL, do it!

[treismac]

... at least the games are being preserved.

Excellent point. Better to sell your collection than junk it.


LOL, do it!

If I were to subterranean stash my games, you can be damn sure that they will be preserved. My family business is industrial construction, sir. I have access to backhoes, excavators, assorted metal, containers and drums, concrete mixers, and welding machines. If I bury my collection, it will survive a nuclear holocaust. Bet on it. :wink 2:

[wiggyx]

Well now that you've laid all that out, you have got to bury them when you move! It would shame the family business if you didn't! :D

[Yago]

I have come across a few people who do not feel the need to own carts anymore as everything can be emulated these days. No, of course it is not the same as putting a game in an old system with it's old clunky joystick in your hand. For me, that is a necessity. However, some don't feel that way.

[BydoEmpire]

It's sad if he's selling it because he has to - for example, to pay a medical bill. I've sold a lot of my collection because I wanted to, in order to fund other things. I have no regrets whatsoever about that. That said, I didn't sell off all of my collection, just stuff I didn't play much and didn't see myself wanting to collect for in the future.

[heybtbm]

Maybe upon deep reflection, he feels this way (http://youtu.be/tPPvkhGZT7Y) now.

[carbz413]

As the others have said, there could always be a variety of reasons that a person would sell off their collection.

I honestly don't really think too much about why someone sells their collection when I see the listings.

[sloan]

I have come across a few people who do not feel the need to own carts anymore as everything can be emulated these days. No, of course it is not the same as putting a game in an old system with it's old clunky joystick in your hand. For me, that is a necessity. However, some don't feel that way.

Sometimes collectors want to free up space and are going to strictly emulation. I have no problem buying those games.

[BetaWolf47]

Excellent point. Better to sell your collection than junk it.

If I were to subterranean stash my games, you can be damn sure that they will be preserved. My family business is industrial construction, sir. I have access to backhoes, excavators, assorted metal, containers and drums, concrete mixers, and welding machines. If I bury my collection, it will survive a nuclear holocaust. Bet on it. :wink 2:
Sheesh, you have the perfect means to hide a dead body. That actually scares me.

[Darth Binks]

I am a little sad to hear about things like this, but on ebay it could just be a reseller saying those things, no way of knowing for sure. It may sound heartless, but as a fairly new collector I can't help but see some opportunity when something like this happens.

[Genesaturn]

It's always sad to see someone selling off their collection or a big part of it. Most people I've seen do it, do it for financial reasons. Things happen, and the economy is rough. You gotta do what you gotta do. My collection would be bigger, but back in 2004 I sold off most of what I had when my daughter was born, and I'm finally getting a lot of it back.

[Robocop2]

I think that anyone having to sell of something beloved is sad. Happens alot though, classic cars, collections of whatever, etc. etc.
Sure if you've lost intrest in it then its really not that big of a deal. You collected, you enjoyed, you lost intrest, you sell.
But to have to peice out something that you put together with tons of effort and care because you have to is terribly sad.

[Xian042]

yeah, it can be sad. But I think for people that sell stuff on sites like this are comforted that they are going to like minded people that will treasure these things as much as them. When things turn up, they will have the joy of buying these things over again!

[Panzerfuzion]

Life is only temporary, sooner or later your collection won't be yours anymore. Everything you think you own is in reality only a rental.

[8-bit-dreams]

i guess the only thing that won't tick a piece of my heart is that when the one who sells the stuff is a buy and sell guy or something like that. That's at least hard to know for sure. But if the man really spent some good times , treasured memories or if it was an inheritance or something , man i am very much willing to buy it from him and assure him that he can buy them back in the future. It's just sad to part with things like that(being it games or anything). The feeling of it might not be given that same maintenance or caring that you usually give it.

i guess the only thing that a collector who share same sentiments like the seller wishes that the stuff will land on good hands.

[Orion Pimpdaddy]

Plus it's a cycle. That collector probably bought some of those games off people in desperate need. The games will continue to change hands over time, but at least the games are being preserved.


Excellent point. Better to sell your collection than junk it.


Oversimplify much? The person selling the games may get some comfort from knowing the buyer is likely a collector.

[Parodius Duh!]

If hes selling it to pay for his 2 year old daughters hospital bills, then thats sad.

If hes leaving the hobby cause hes no longer interested in it, then who cares.

[Casati]

I'm always somewhat surprised when someone announces on Ebay that they're selling their entire collection. The games often sell at below-average prices because they're in a hurry to get rid of them all at once, so I just hope they aren't selling off for the money. And if I ever sold my collection for the money, I'd still keep my favorites. I usually sell the games I don't really like anyhow to keep my collection manageable.

[PROTOTYPE]

What the hell? Didn't land any of his games, the prices went to high and people went nuts? 150.00 for tales of Destiny not seal? the Raiden project over 75.00 ? Resident evil 70.00 ? Even average games going for over 30.00 People were going crazy because these were from a collector and knew they were in mint condition...oh well, At least he did good.:)

[Ryudo]

I don't really care. Just means one less out there to compete with on trying to get a game or item hard to get.

[Steven]

To be honest, nope. UNLESS it's someone I know. When I see an online persona selling it all off, I do feel a momentary "aw dang" but that's about it.

People move on in life. It happens all the time. It's a bit sad, but if it makes them happier, more power to them.

[Masamune]

I've sold my entire collection before, thinking I'd never want to play these systems and games again.

Then there came a time I wanted to play those games again! I had to buy all that stuff again! What a pain!

I don't think it's sad. Like the OP suggested, maybe the seller is sick of it all. I'd be happy to take those games off his hands.

[xelement5x]

I feel worse for the people that think their collection of mainly Atari, Nintendo and Sega commons with a couple rares thrown in is worth $50k. They probably need the money, and had thought for a long time that their collection was more unique than all the other ones out there and worth a lot more. Maybe, but probably not.

I've got my own "unique" gaming items which I think are really cool and are worth a lot, but it's really all just plastic and paper (with maybe a bit of silicon and solder thrown in). The same could be said for almost everything in our lives, it's our personal attachments that make them worth anything.