JoeCanuck
General Section => Off Topic => Topic started by: morgardee on May 27, 2014, 08:14:17 PM
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Well I think it's finally happened. I'm loosing my interest in G.I. Joe. and toys in general for that matter.
Sure I'll go to the occasional toy show but in general I feel like I'm just going through the motions now and not really excited by much anymore in the way of toys.
Making customs has really lost it's appeal as well.
I've had the thought a few times now that if I broke down my collection and sold it all I could pay of my mortgage.
I have a few things already on Ebay. They have higher Buy It Now prices and my attitude has become if someone wants it I'll let it go but if not then the stuff can stay on display for a bit longer.
I suppose the last straw for me was the Zombie set. I was so unimpressed with it that it was an easy pass and think that broke me from the "gotta have 1 of everything" frame of mind.
That and the break from Hasbro. It's amazing how much more money I have now that I'm not throwing it at every new toy that comes out.
Anyone else ever feel like I'm feeling now?
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Already crossed this bridge. It's called life and priorities (family and work). GI JOE and toys are on the lowest end of the totem pole. Plus it's hard to get excited about the brand when Hasbro has taken a break from it themselves. And to be honest, Hasbro mailed it in with some of the crappiest figures they have ever made for the second movie line. Giving up being a figure completiest will liberate you.
Black major's customs are the only things I have a mild interest in. He sucked me back in with those female Cobra troopers. Hasbro's loss; they had plenty of time to cash in on this. Otherwise, I haven't spent that much money on toys in the past little while. I have passed on most of the US convention items this year; I can get them later on.
My goal is to get a couple of more curio cases to display the figures I want. But I have a 8 month year old that is taking up my time and I am loving it. So no rush.
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I've spent the past 2 months prepping ARAH figs for a big show here in June and it's sucking my desire to ever look at a Joe again. I cannot believe how long it takes to disassemble, say 8, Airbornes, take them all apart (if you can), clean the dirty ones, sort the parts according to discolouration, sort for damage, sort for paint wear, sort the screws by quality, sort the weapons for discolouration, sort the weapons for damage, assemble wepaon sets and bag, assemble and bag each fig, check current prices and fill out labels.
I'd have to charge $50 per fig for all the work that goes into them. It's no longer a labor of love but a huge pain in the ass!
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Already crossed this bridge. It's called life and priorities (family and work). GI JOE and toys are on the lowest end of the totem pole. Plus it's hard to get excited about the brand when Hasbro has taken a break from it themselves. And to be honest, Hasbro mailed it in with some of the crappiest figures they have ever made for the second movie line. Giving up being a figure completiest will liberate you.
Black major's customs are the only things I have a mild interest in. He sucked me back in with those female Cobra troopers. Hasbro's loss; they had plenty of time to cash in on this. Otherwise, I haven't spent that much money on toys in the past little while. I have passed on most of the US convention items this year; I can get them later on.
My goal is to get a couple of more curio cases to display the figures I want. But I have a 8 month year old that is taking up my time and I am loving it. So no rush.
If you ever decide to sell your Defiant, let me know! :)
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I suppose the last straw for me was the Zombie set. I was so unimpressed with it that it was an easy pass and think that broke me from the "gotta have 1 of everything" frame of mind.
Oh dude. Way to turn a hobby into a chore!
Completion-ism is terrible. Buy what you want! If you don't see anything you like, skip the wave!
As for your collection/mortagage. Keep what makes you happy. Get rid of the stuff you don't like.
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You're not the only one, Morg.
My interest in GI joe greatly declined a few years ago.
But this year, a month ago to be exact now, I decided that Gi joe and I are done, going forward. I'll keep what I like (or want to display). The rest, I will be bringing with me at shows, and not look back with any regrets. And as opposed to my doubles, if someone wants the items in my collection, they'll have to expect to pay the asking price or I keep them. Anyway, the way I see it, EBay's international shipping and brokerage standard costs have changed dramatically over these last years, that it makes the collectibles that you find at local sellers/ conventions look cheaper, provided that the price is the actual going rate for the item, and not something blown out of proportion.
As a collector, my habits also changed. I always said that I would never walk into a Thrift shop, mainly out of pride. Well, screw pride. I saved tons more money than I ever could imagine by going there, and not on collectibles, but on clothing and children's books too. And even found toys that I enjoy collecting for a mere fraction of what I used to inject into the hobby. I used to be a completist, but in order to keep up with the ever increasing pricetags, I knew I was going to hit a wall financially someday If I kept this up, and I almost did several times, so I had to accept to come down from that pedestal for good, and I feel really GREAT now. To the point that an incomplete action figure for 50 cents but in great shape makes my day.
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Already crossed this bridge. It's called life and priorities (family and work). GI JOE and toys are on the lowest end of the totem pole. Plus it's hard to get excited about the brand when Hasbro has taken a break from it themselves. And to be honest, Hasbro mailed it in with some of the crappiest figures they have ever made for the second movie line. Giving up being a figure completiest will liberate you.
Black major's customs are the only things I have a mild interest in. He sucked me back in with those female Cobra troopers. Hasbro's loss; they had plenty of time to cash in on this. Otherwise, I haven't spent that much money on toys in the past little while. I have passed on most of the US convention items this year; I can get them later on.
My goal is to get a couple of more curio cases to display the figures I want. But I have a 8 month year old that is taking up my time and I am loving it. So no rush.
I'm happy I was never a completist. From the start, I always only collected what I like. That's why I still don't have Cover girl in my collection :-)
@ PETE: You said "He sucked me back in with those female Cobra troopers." Never heard about them? Do you have a picture?
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Black major's customs are the only things I have a mild interest in. He sucked me back in with those female Cobra troopers. Hasbro's loss; they had plenty of time to cash in on this. Otherwise, I haven't spent that much money on toys in the past little while. I have passed on most of the US convention items this year; I can get them later on.
I also picked up a few of his female troopers. I got the white and the blue with silver logo ones. I missed the blue with red logo. He should make a crimson set.
If he really wanted to mess with Hasbro he should slap a gold Cobra logo on the female troopers to mimic the 50th anniversary stuff. ;)
@ Martin, they are on Ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/the_black_major/m.html?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEFSXS%3AMESOI&_trksid=p2053788.m1543.l2654 (http://www.ebay.com/sch/the_black_major/m.html?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEFSXS%3AMESOI&_trksid=p2053788.m1543.l2654)
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I can take a picture tonight of the female troops I ordered. I got them in the mail the other day.
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Already crossed this bridge. It's called life and priorities (family and work). GI JOE and toys are on the lowest end of the totem pole. Plus it's hard to get excited about the brand when Hasbro has taken a break from it themselves. And to be honest, Hasbro mailed it in with some of the crappiest figures they have ever made for the second movie line. Giving up being a figure completiest will liberate you.
Black major's customs are the only things I have a mild interest in. He sucked me back in with those female Cobra troopers. Hasbro's loss; they had plenty of time to cash in on this. Otherwise, I haven't spent that much money on toys in the past little while. I have passed on most of the US convention items this year; I can get them later on.
My goal is to get a couple of more curio cases to display the figures I want. But I have a 8 month year old that is taking up my time and I am loving it. So no rush.
If you ever decide to sell your Defiant, let me know! :)
If I can't find a spot to display it, you will be the first to know. I restored pretty much of all the missing pieces for it. Still working on the stickers.
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Black major's customs are the only things I have a mild interest in. He sucked me back in with those female Cobra troopers. Hasbro's loss; they had plenty of time to cash in on this. Otherwise, I haven't spent that much money on toys in the past little while. I have passed on most of the US convention items this year; I can get them later on.
I also picked up a few of his female troopers. I got the white and the blue with silver logo ones. I missed the blue with red logo. He should make a crimson set.
If he really wanted to mess with Hasbro he should slap a gold Cobra logo on the female troopers to mimic the 50th anniversary stuff. ;)
@ Martin, they are on Ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/the_black_major/m.html?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEFSXS%3AMESOI&_trksid=p2053788.m1543.l2654 (http://www.ebay.com/sch/the_black_major/m.html?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEFSXS%3AMESOI&_trksid=p2053788.m1543.l2654)
I'm browsing with Firefox and I don't see the female troopers... when I'm using IE I see them... Grrrr!!! Must be a regional setting or something...
Anyway, I ordered them :-) too bad I missed the Blue trooper with red logo.
I know from a good source that Crimson and red shadows female troopers will be out by X-mas
Now back on topic, since I'm an o-ring collector and my collection is about 99% complete, I also lost interest... too bad o-ring are no more available, even in Convention exclusive, club exclusive, etc. Since the average GI collector is probable aged from 30 to 45... I think a lot of people will sell their collection within the next 5 years or so...
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I've not lost the interest, but I have specific items and ways that I collect. There just is no money at this time. I'm looking at the new 50th stuff and hope they will end up here in Canada. My wife would love to get rid of my stuff but I don't think that will happen. It's been with me for too long.
I wish there was more to discuss but I'm not the guy to do that. This has always been a casual hobby and always will, with spurts of real excitement and long lulls. Still for those who are thinking about hanging it up, I hope you guys will still be commenting here from time to time.
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I actually bought only the ones that i liked....which happened to compose about 90% of the entire toyline. By keeping what I like only, I actually meant keeping what I'd like to keep, to keep some memories, like Shipwreck and Lightfoot per instance and the Mean Dog. The rest, will go eventually, as It came through my doorstep.
I've never been a fan of the Flagg so that one never made my collection. Never did. Never will.
I simply came to a point in life that having a collection is not that important as it used to be, and I can emotionally afford to part with it.
I still enjoy collecting small things, and not the same way as I used to. I just take more interest into what my kids enjoy right now, and that's the way it should be.
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I still enjoy collecting small things, and not the same way as I used to. I just take more interest into what my kids enjoy right now, and that's the way it should be.
Exactly. I use to think my son would be interested in Joes, but he's not. So that's a major part of git me thinking 'Why am I doing this?".
The new FFS wave 3 is about to go live and I'm on the fence about ordering it. BTW, I suspect the 13 mystery figure might be that female fighter pilot from the Night Force set a few years back. She was a new character and Fun Publishing had said the next 13th free figure would be something a little more desirable.
Back on topic, I've got a few pieces on Ebay right now just so I can buy more guitars and amps. I've found my interest in making music again. It's more satisfying them painting custom figures and leaving tucked away in a drawer. ;)
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you mean Freestyle from last year? Who was in a two-pack last year
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you mean Freestyle from last year? Who was in a two-pack last year
Freestyle and Chuckles.
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I'm in a lull with this stuff too, but I'm not going to sell off my collection. I like the modern stuff too much.
I'll just resign it to storage tubs for the time being and wait for a time when my interest surges again.
I AM going to sell off some vehicles and such at an upcoming swap meet here though, just to unload some of it and clear up some household space.
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Done.
I have a lot of stuff to get rid of, but the writing is on the wall.
My belief is that we (ARAH fans/collectors) are heading into the same situation that the 12" guys had after ARAH. We are not going to be the focus going forward, if the brand is to survive. That means GI JOE has to reimagine itself once more to try and connect with a new generation.
With that belief, the lack of any movement by Hasbro, or the fandom (look at all Joe boards, they are stalling/dying big time), and it is dawning on me that I just don't have the same interest as I used to have.
I like the 50th anniversary stuff coming out, but I won't be picking any of it up. I am going to keep a small amount of stuff, but I am getting out. I don't even bother with the comics anymore.
As for the boards, well this site has all but died, as much as it pains me to say that. We have a couple of threads that have picked up recently, but there have been days with only 1 or two posts at most. Other sites are doing a bit better, but that isn't saying much.
Time marches on, we as a fandom are fairly old for the "80's boom" of collecting and we haven't had the luck of Star Wars or Transformers where the brand continues on fairly well with either continuing stories of the same universe, or reinvention. However, outside of 12" and Star Wars collectors, we are probably the oldest (avg. age) group collecting. That was bound to eventually catch up to us as well.
Anyway, long rambling story, short. I'm never going to be 100% out, but I'm not going to be buying anymore and I think I'll be just lurking on sites for the most part from now on.
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Glad I'm not the only one. Love Joe, but it makes no sense to have tubs and tubs sitting in storage. In an ideal world I would sell the HTF stuff on-line and would love it if someone took the rest of my collection (minus the pieces I would be keeping for myself) off my hands for a decent price.
That said I have shifted my collecting to Star Wars. Both of my boys love or loved it. My older boy did play with Joes but he has more of a fondness for SW and even TF over Joe.
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I should really send y'all my want-list. ;D
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Got my first GI Joe at 6 years old, The Mobat with Steeler ... since ... GI Joe has always been special for me and will probably collect till I am 100 years old if I live till then :)
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For me the interest is still going on, Last year I started to collect action figure and I wanted to collect GI Joe in only a year I had nothing and now I have over 150 figs. During this year I learn many stuff and get better knowledge I always discover something new that is maybe the reason why I still enjoy collecting Joe. I realy like the hunt for new find that is the most exciting part of this hobby.
I am still new is this hobby, but maybe in couple of years when my collection will be almost complete I will think like some comment previously.
For now I only get what I like and I dont have to be a completis I just want to get what I like and maybe a day be able to make a big display in my room of all my find.
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I should really send y'all my want-list. ;D
I'm also thinking about this :-)
I know Dave has some great Bronze Bomber :P
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Hey guys, I just wanted to say hello to everybody. Been awhile :). As for my interest in joe, kinda waned, but the 50th stuff is pretty cool. I actually sold a bunch of stuff, need to sell more. I preordered the 50th but missed the vamp/night landing.
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My enthusiasm has waned over the years but I still enjoy GI Joe, it is more that I am content with the collection I have and am not actively seeking too many new things out. The sdcc and con exclusives are infrequent enough and I cherry pick from that. But I have moved on to collecting other areas, and unfortunately they are higher end toys :(.
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You're not the only one, Morg.
My interest in GI joe greatly declined a few years ago.
But this year, a month ago to be exact now, I decided that Gi joe and I are done, going forward. I'll keep what I like (or want to display). The rest, I will be bringing with me at shows, and not look back with any regrets. And as opposed to my doubles, if someone wants the items in my collection, they'll have to expect to pay the asking price or I keep them. Anyway, the way I see it, EBay's international shipping and brokerage standard costs have changed dramatically over these last years, that it makes the collectibles that you find at local sellers/ conventions look cheaper, provided that the price is the actual going rate for the item, and not something blown out of proportion.
I am starting to feel the same way about g.i joe lately as the rest of you guys.
For me the " completist " is strong within me and ill explain why. I only started collecting g.i joe a meer 3 years ago so its still relitively new too me. But if youv seen one one youv seen em all, am i right guys ? Anyway the thing that really kills me about being a completeist is: I KNOW THAT THE FIGURE I JUST ORDERED IS A PEACE OF CRAP, BUT I HAD TO ORDER IT BECAUSE IF I DONT, I CANT FINISH MY COLLECTION !!!....OR I KNOW THE THING I JUST ORDERED IS 300$ PLUS 86$ SHIPPING BUT. . I HAD TO HAVE IT TO FINISH MY COLLECTION. Sure i was able to keep strong willed while collecting 25th ANN. Where ( lets say 1 in 7 is a peace of junk ) that i can handle. And then the new more realistic figures of P.O.C with the awesome lowlight, dusty, moneybags destro, shock trooper, shadow tracker, rock viper. We didn't mind having to collect the 4th crappy wind kick versions of snake eyes and storm shadow and peg warmmer destro ( small price to pay for a completist for such an awesome series of figures )...
Then we hit RETALIATION and everything changed.... I remember when i saw the first wave it def. made me take a step back and say " I have to collect this crap now ! " Then they give us a slap in the face with the awesomest set of figures in 2 years with the wave 3.5 stuff and the eaglehawk. BASICALY making every completist go " WHATS THE POINT, I MIGHT AS WELL GO HOME AND PUT ALL THE FIGURES AND VEHICLES I DON'T REALLY REALLY REALLY LIKE UP FOR SALE "
But there are ways around feeling like this about joe's folks. ONE WAY; Don't try to be a completist of ALL things g.i joe. Pick a certain series ( NOT RETALIATION, LOL ) and just try complete that one.
Another way would be, back away from the g.i joe table for a while. Don't sell'em, dont trade'em, dont give em away. Just dont think about them, leave them right where they are stored ( hopefully there not in your face all day everyday cluttered around your big screen and on strings hanging from the ceilling in your living room ) and then one day when you do descide to return to the g.i joe game you will be super pumped you still have'em.
As a collector, my habits also changed. I always said that I would never walk into a Thrift shop, mainly out of pride. Well, screw pride. I saved tons more money than I ever could imagine by going there, and not on collectibles, but on clothing and children's books too. And even found toys that I enjoy collecting for a mere fraction of what I used to inject into the hobby. I used to be a completist, but in order to keep up with the ever increasing pricetags, I knew I was going to hit a wall financially someday If I kept this up, and I almost did several times, so I had to accept to come down from that pedestal for good, and I feel really GREAT now. To the point that an incomplete action figure for 50 cents but in great shape makes my day.
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Another way would be, back away from the g.i joe table for a while. Don't sell'em, dont trade'em, dont give em away. Just dont think about them, leave them right where they are stored ( hopefully there not in your face all day everyday cluttered around your big screen and on strings hanging from the ceilling in your living room ) and then one day when you do descide to return to the g.i joe game you will be super pumped you still have'em.
Hey '3400, I know this reply comes rather a little late as I have just read your reply tonight. I also would like to add to your comment that my joes are stored away and I really took care of packaging them carefully. Unfortunately I discovered that even with the greatest of care, many of my favorite items tend to break while stored away. It wasn't until I discovered that my Skystriker missile tabs broke off that I decided that it was IT. I'd rather sell something that is just going to break if I leave it alone. I'd rather make money off it, then not getting to enjoy it as I should or as I once did. I know one day I'll get a chance to swim back full throttle into the hobby. So when that time comes, I know I'll be able to get them back again, or at least most of them. That's another way of seeing it.