To answer your question OP,not ever.Sure you may lose interest but the desire is always there.I have known a few TFW'ers on here that called it quits like you,but the truth is those few that did still probably have 1 or 2 transformers they couldn't part with.So even if you "hang them up",there will always be a tf collector in you some where,just sayin.


Oh and almost forgot,tell your wife to tell them that she works with there are some figures that cost more than they paid for there new cars like a G1 Fort Max in MISB,or G2 Stunticons like a few years back on ebay.

 

i think this is a great thread.

before taking action, i think it's really important to get to the root of your decision.

if you're making this decision on the behalf of yourself - like you had an epiphany or something - it's going to be a lot easier to accept and also stick to.

if you're being forced by someone to call it quits... well, there's going to be a ton of resentment there.

if external factors - like the inability to pay bills, child support, food etc. - is a major player in the decision, you'll be able to do it, but most likely you'll 'relapse' when the conditions are right.

i think it's also important to know "when it's time" vs. "when it's the right time". again, these will be influenced by the aforementioned points.

it's really really tough though... once a collector always a collector. you may cease to actually buy toys, but you'll still continue to drool over them in your heart.

so when do you know it's time to hang them up? the answer for me is when the conditions are right. when my heart, my mind, and even my SOUL is ready, i will hang them up. but then again, that day may never come.

and i just spent a ton of time not directly answering a question.  

KO

 

I don't play with toys anymore and haven't displayed them for a long time.

I sold all my TFs about 2002 and made some fat cash.

A few years ago I received the 20th anniversary Wal-Mart Optimus Prime as a gift. It was 6 bucks, on clearance and he's on my desk right now.

But seriously, grown adults made fun of your wife because you make money off of toys?

I think this sums up my sentiments, courtesy of that Prime I mentioned:



Do whatcha like.

- Coeloptera

 

Bills always come first. Hobbies are a want not a need. You can always put toys on hold while you sort things out then come back to them later.

 

I've come to that point I think. There will be a couple things I'll keep, but I think it's highly unlikely I'm going to be buying much new stuff from here on out. It's been a lot of fun but I'm just not sure it's for me anymore.

 

Great thread! A few years ago if you asked me if I would ever stop collecting McFarlane stuff, I would have said no. I was in too deep. Now that mcf has stopped produing anything but halo and sports stuff for the most part, Ive fallen away from their merchandise and I'm actually trying to get rid of all of mine. It does not interest me anymore and there just isn't any new stuff. I don't think transformers will get to that point anytime soon, which is fortunate. I think it was when I was moving all that mcf stuff from my old apartment that I decided that it was time to hang it up on that line.

 

I understand when people are in need of hard currency so they sell their collection, but collecting something and then selling that off when you're not interested anymore, is something that is beyond my comprehension.

Why even bother collecting something in the first place, if you don't get any thrill from owning it in the first place? Unless it's collecting just for the sake of collecting.

I understand that someone will simply not be interested anymore in collecting tfs as new figures are not interesting enough or do not bring the same enjoyment as the ones before. I did that myself a couple off times, but I never even considered selling my tfs that were in my collection at the time. Why would I sell them? I enjoyed them at the time, I enjoy looking at them still, I enjoy re-arranging them in the display case.

 

First of all, "tittle".  

Secondly, college classmates made fun of her for that? Are you sure there wasn't anything more to it? I've never been made fun of for it and, while I don't shove it in anyone's face, I don't hide it. And I'm 33.

As to keeping the 'fire' going? I just ride the waves of what gets released. I'm not going to want every movie figure that comes out, and I'm sure as hell not dying to get a Deluxe Mudflap repaint and yet another retooling of Deluxe Bumblebee. I use that downtime to look at backfilling my collection or looking forward to new releases. Small doses are good for not burning out.

 

You should definitely quit. What other people say and think of you is the most important thing in the world! They are always right and you should devote your life to fitting in and do things that other people think are normal. If someone ever made fun of me or my wife for collecting transformers I would quit in a heartbeat. Ahhh, now I've made my sarcasm quota for the week. thanks

The majority of people act like sheep, happy to do whatever the other guy thinks is right. Individuality is a lost trait nowadays IMO.

 

Everyone says "you're never too old" but it really is true. When I went to Botcon 08, I saw plenty of older people. In fact, there was one couple who were in their 60s or so. If it's ok for them, then it's definitely ok for you.

 

The solution: join a gym.
At 6'1" and 234lbs people don't tend to take the piss out of me or my weird hobby.

(Except when I'm at Botcon and people mock me for looking for a local gym.)

This also solves another transformers collecting quandry, the whole "females finding hobby geeky thus dying alone" thing.

 

... i hord my toys so the most i do is stop buying for a while. it's like that for TF. stopped when G1 TF stopped airing cartoons and re-started when i got my MP starscream. I'll slow down once HasTak stop making classic figures or move away from G1. But I'll probably buy some old toys that ppl dump like binaltechs.

 

Do you still have fun with it? That's all that matters. If pieces of your old collection are no longer fun, get rid of them.

I go through all of my stuff somewhere between 6 months and a year, and I usually end up with a box or more of stuff that I don't really want anymore.

put it up online, and call it good.

 

you can slow down. but never stop.

 

No one can tell you the answer to your question, but the acid test for me on anything like this is simple.

Are you ashamed of it? If so...even a little, then it's time to quit.

Don't be ashamed of anything you do, whether it's fat chicks or buying toys. When I say don't be ashamed, you don't have to wear it on your sleeve either.

I love transformers, all my friends know I do, and even people that get close from my professional life know I FUCKING PAINT TOYS. But who gives a shit, hell I check this site more than my email.

 

To the OP:

1. Have your wife tell her classmates how valuable TFs can get.
2. Watch as they start gold-digging for toy collector beaus.
3. Laugh.

I won't quit until (a) I'm broke, (b) I'm pushing up daisies or (c) TFs die out.

 

Don't stop buy my Skystalker already!! J/K

 

Arneld048, Mate. It's one hell of a tough call to decide whether or not to actually sell off your entire collection. Sure you can make alot of money, all that mass of toys will be gone & certain people will be happy to see them go but - it all comes down to you. If it were me who had to make that decision, There's no way in hell I could sell them off. No way in hell. Because at the end of the day - I'll always be a big kid at heart.  

 

Well if this is not the common issue. It really does not matter what you collect as long as it does not run your life and you are smart enough to take care of bills first. Yes they are toys...... but so what. Back about 10 years ago I let these 2 girls I was dating convince me it was childish and dumped my whole collection which was not huge but I liked it.

They had a huge fight and broke up, put me in the middle making me have to choose which one, I saw both individually and lost both. In the end I was out 50 awesome TFs and 2 strippers.

Fast forward to now and my wife actually owns a Beast Wars collection and I'm hunting down what I gave up.

 

Quoted for truth.

...although my bills and my hobbies do conflict at times, perhaps I should be a little more cautious.