Why buy something that you'll just sell not too long after?

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As most of you know, my biggest special interest is toys.

I thrive on 'em; I thrive on 'em so much I run my own retail website...which might I add is doing very, very well, especially as we haven't even been in business a full two years yet!

Anyway, on one of the message boards I frequent, I've been reading a lot of posts recently about folks selling off entire collections cause they just don't want 'em anymore, and replacing it with other stuff.

Now, one thing I will flat-out tell you about the toy community that I've learned from experience: whole collections get sold en masse from these folks, and often too. Likely one of the things that keeps the value from getting that high for a lot of stuff.

But I keep wondering: what's the point in constantly jumping for the latest, hot thing if you're just gonna sell it a few short years later? I don't get it. It just seems like a massive, massive waste of time and money to me. And don't forget: not only will people buy these goods online; in many cases, they'll drive all around doing toy-hunting, and will indeed pay top dollar for these items.

I understand bills come up and other things; I completely understand that in regards to why someone might need to sell off their collections( although in several cases I still say '"why would you do that; you'll just want it again anyway; bills won't go away, but once your collection is gone, that's it"). But I just don't understand the mentality of "buy it now, because it's cool and it's new, then sell the whole freakin' thing in almost less than 10 years and have no regrets over it". So then.....what honestly gave one the desire to buy it in the first place?! I don't get that!

Now, yes, I have sold off one of my collections: one, and only because I absolutely can't stand the show that the collection was based on anymore, so I figured there was no point to continue collecting the pieces; and with no point, why would I even want the collection anymore.

And some time back( virtually 10 years ago), I did sell a lot of my collection because I feared I'd never have the room for it...only to then buy it back deciding I was gonna find room, no matter what.

With the exception of that one collection, I've never sold off any other collections. Maybe one or two pieces here and there, but never, never my collections; I just wouldn't be able to justify it to myself...I worked so hard to compile them, why would I want to get rid of them?

Do I want more toys? Sure...but I'm not gonna sell the collections I have to get 'em!

Maybe they enjoy the hunt for the objects more than they enjoy owning them?

I've been collecting die cast Routemasters, my entire life. One day, I was looking at them, asking if I would sell them, to pay for a trip to London. I came to the conclusion, that I wouldn't do such a thing, and that I would work a third job, if I want to go, that badly.

I had a collection of Transformers (early series). I eventually unloaded them.

1. I kept them boxed up and never really played with them.

2. In spite of #1, they were slowly deteriorating.

3. Having moved twice, I accepted the value of "uncluttered" my life of stuff I really didn't value enough to keep.

I have a large collection of classical music cds that I have procured over the years. As much as I have obtained these, I have donated a number of them to the local library and sold them to the used record stores.

Part of the thrill is obtaining the item. Also, for me, is the curiosity of what the item contains. On a lot of things this wears off rather quickly.

I sell off some of my stuff whenever I feel I have too much. I don't like having too much stuff that I don't use. I do enjoy looking at my collections. If I noticed anything among them that I never really liked or used they stick out like a sore thumb. I usually place them in a box which I'll try to sell later when I have the time.

I go through my closet regularly to declutter as well. Having perfectly good stuff that I don't use seem to add to my stress. We donate big bags of stuff rather regularly.

I usually get around that by not collecting to begin with. Why collect stuff just to have it? It seems to be a very VERY common behavior, and it really seems kind of... primitive...

they love there collections but im sure they love having electricty and running water more. bills pile up cashing in the collectables is fast money

I have sold a few dolls in order to pay a bill before, but I don't do that anymore because I miss them. Now I just find some doll customizing work to make the money I need. It isn't hard to find, and I can make someone else very happy by fixing up their dolls. It would have to be a very big emergency for me to sell one of my current dolls because most of them are customized and have very personal significance now that I have put my own stamp on them.

Maybe they lose interest in them?
I collect various thing and when they start to clutter and I no longer have an interest in them I'll put them away. I don't really sell my stuff. I'm a bit of a hoarder.

profit

I don' know....maybe I just don't see it the way others do.

I mean....I see my prize catches as my "trophies"; my collections I painstakingly worked to build, and all the effort that went into compiling them means a lot to me.

Like I said, a few pieces here and there maybe, but one thing to understand with the toy community is they sell their collections en masse which I utterly fail to understand completely.

I can understand if bills have to be paid--though once that collection is gone, bills will still keep on a-comin', and once you sell that collection, your collection is gone.

Why not, if you've got the money? I don't so I don't.

Other people aren't as attached to their stuff or their money.