The Energon Pub

News Credits: 2 · Sun Sep 27, 2009 7:57 am

Just wondering if anyone else has this issue about when your collecting your childhood toys, is your better half is complaining about you having WAY too much stuff and no room to place it! I know before i got married i was collecting Starwars, but after the Transformers 07 movie came out, i was just amazed to see my favorite transformers went from cartoons to a live action movie!! I was shock and awe after seeing it and so i started my mission to stop collecting Starwars and start collecting Transformers again. For the 07 movie figures i have about 90% of it and not only that, i've began my search for my G1 stuff that has be stashed away at my mom's house for 25 years!! and i managed to find just about all of it. Now after seeing ROTF movie, i've started collecting them and some 3rd party stuff as well. But if seems each time i get something to add to my collection she gives me alittle grief about it and then it passes. But does everyone has this issue with their wife, fiancee or girlfriend?

Your thoughts and stories...

News Credits: 3 · Sun Sep 27, 2009 8:02 am

My girlfriend bought me Universe Hot Shot when I remarked that there was never a single store that ever had one...
So I guess... no... never had that problem.

News Credits: 609 · Sun Sep 27, 2009 9:00 am

Mine's really good about it mostly. She'll complain about it, but she never really makes an issue of it. I had to make a few concessions to get Noisemaze Production Type, but it's more than her car payment a month, so I understand that. She does appreciate that there are probably fewer than 500 in existance, and is suitably impressed.

She'll never buy my any for my birthday or Christmas or whatever, but that's probably OK.

Sun Sep 27, 2009 12:27 pm

I'm probably the luckiest guy on this forum. My wife's totally supportive of my hobby/obsession. She even helps me dig through the toy aisles when she gets dragged along. She also helped and even came up with the idea for my football signs. http://www.seibertron.com/energonpub/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=58887. we're trying to come up with a way to give em all santa hats and a christmas tree for when we decorate for xmas. She's awesome!!! :APPLAUSE:

News Credits: 5 · Sun Sep 27, 2009 1:21 pm

No, my wife's cool with it. Hell, she bought me an original Star Convoy before the reissue came out. When we were looking at houses, we were looking for an extra bedroom to be a display room. I think she's so understanding because she collects a few things too. Catwoman, Harley Quinn (she had a Harley tattoo on her shoulder when I met her), corsets and the female usuals: purses & shoes. As long as I don't buy a TF instead of paying a bill (again (:|

) she's fine with it.

News Credits: 198 · Sun Sep 27, 2009 2:39 pm

Occasionally when my wife sees a box from Asia that's marked with the price for customs, she winces a little or shoots a comment to me about it if it's 100 dollars or more. But for the most part, she's respected my hobbies. I may spend up to a thousand or so a year on figures, but my father-in-law pays more for his hunting lodge membership and golf in a year so she can't say too much. Plus, it helps when I pay all the bills.

Sun Sep 27, 2009 4:08 pm

My ex was amazing about it.

Bought me oversized KO Bruticus and a set of 32 G2 TF's for my birthday 4 years ago.

Also insisted on giving them their own room and used to enjoy watching Beats Wars with me.

Even told me she was disappointed she didn't get to see the 07 movie with me.

Will never meet her like again.

That said, if your mrs does give a bit of grief, it's not necessarily a bad thing. It means she's sensible. Which of us doesn't occasionally feel guilty about the money we've spent on them? They are just toys after all.

News Credits: 9 · Sun Sep 27, 2009 5:37 pm

Not from a partner but from my mum... and I don't live with her! Last time she visited she was a bit surprised at the size of my collection and got worried that I was wasting loads of money that could go elsewhere. I had to insist that I'd only added a few figures since her previous visit (kind of true, but may have played the number down a little) and that it's about the only non essential I spend on since I rarely drink. It calmed her down a bit but I know she'll flip next time cos I've just added two more shelves. Same amount of TFs on them but the extra wall coverage makes it look bigger.

News Credits: 10 · Sun Sep 27, 2009 9:04 pm

My wife is okay with it. I can't bring myself to tell her I spend $1500 on Victory Leo, Star Saber and Deszarus this week though!

The thing is, I usually offset big purchases like this with selling off bits of my collection. For example, last week I sold off Club Exclusive Nexus Maximus for about $175. plus I dug out a lot of items I will be selling in the next week or two (before the CC bill comes). They should balance out.

She would rather me have a few rare items I am excited about over hundreds of figures that are just there for the sake of having them. The amount of space my collection takes up is sometimes more of an issue than the money (although money matters too when it is over a $1000 purchase).

News Credits: 30 · Mon Sep 28, 2009 9:08 am

My wife is fine with it as long as I stick strictly to Transformers. At one time I was doing Star Wars, Transformers, and Thundercats all at once. She wasn't too pleased with that so I dropped it to just TF. She has her own hobby to though, she collects DC Direct and Anime figures so we work it out

Mon Sep 28, 2009 9:53 am

Speaking as wife who is a TF fan herself with a TF fan husband I'd say this... take it how you will. These would be my rules to men with non TF loving other halves. Again not hard fast rules just my opinion of how to limit issues you might have.

1) Be sure your not spending necessity money i.e. (Bills, Food, Savings) money on collecting.

2) If it's truly disposable income spend it how you like, just make sure she gets her fair share of it too.

3) Make sure your collection is kept in tidy manner and not over taking your living space.

4) Be sure she has her own space as well where she doesn't have to live with your collection 100 percent of the time if she doesn't like them the way you do.

5) If you have a collection that over-loads your living space time to decided what needs to go. If your tastes have moved away from Star Wars perhaps it's time to for sentimental reasons pick few choose SW pieces to keep and selling the rest to make room for your TF tastes. At the very minimum ensure you store away any collection pieces that are overwhelming your display space.

6) If it's not shared collection, be sure that it's you that takes care of the up keep of the collection. In other words proper display space, shelves or cases, not stacks of stuff in corners. Keep the collection dusted on a regular bases!

7) Every once in while skip your TF purchase and buy your wife a spa treatment (something equally focused on her pleasure). Or use a sell off from your collection to buy the spa treatment. OR spend some extra time doing something on the 'honey-do' list believe it or not for chicks little stuff like taking out the trash makes us nearly as happy as getting dozen roses. Believe me most of us do notice the little efforts you make. In turn I will say that she should be doing the above as well if not see option 'A' below.

If you do these things and your wife still is harping, I'd say few possible things is going on.

A. You married a controlling shrew and need to consider moving on.
B. You aren't really truly following these rules your just making out like you are...
C. There is some other issue that really is what is coming between you and it would be best get it out in the open before you have to take the later part of option 'A' advise.

Sounding off as the female POV on this issue.

Classy

News Credits: 5 · Mon Sep 28, 2009 12:31 pm

My wife is hot and cold about it, she was really pissy about it for a while but recently she seems to have changed her point of view. She was a HUGE fan of New Kids on the Block back in the day, and now that they are touring, she gets to got to concerts and I get to display my TF's, for the first time since before we got engaged. I wouldn't call her supportive, but rather accepting-neutral. Basically the deal is that whatever money she spends on concert tickets, I get to spend on TF's.

News Credits: 1 · Mon Sep 28, 2009 2:02 pm

Why yes, just the other day I was complaining to that barefoot bi---oh, wait a minute, I don't have a wife.

Okay, so I was yelling at my girlfri--no, don't got one of those either. Huh. Wow, guess I'm one of the few here that remembers not all TF fans have schlongs?

Okay, how 'bout my Significant Other? Nah, he doesn't care. He did say, the last time he was over, that having that many Starscreams stare at him while he slept was a little...unsettling. But he respects that what I do with my money is my business. And he actively supports other of my hobbies (firearms) so, I'm keepin' him. He even watched the '07 movie so he could understand my crazy fanfic and slash. (Oh, we are so keeping this guy).

As for when I was actually married, I have to say my HUSBAND was the real buzzkill. Complained all the time about what he called my 'sick obsession'. And that I should 'grow up'. And 'not embarrass him in front of his friends' and to 'hide those stupid f***ing toys' when his friends came over. So, yeah, I do know what you're saying, but can we not make this a sexist 'damn those wives' thing?

HK, Starscream watches me sleep.

News Credits: 9 · Mon Sep 28, 2009 2:48 pm

I have to say that my better half is great as far as my collecting goes.

She understands that being a fanboy for TF's and assorted stuff is part of who I am. When we moved in together, she was the one who volunteered that we needed a second bedroom/den for my collection/computer set up.

She hasn't complained about any of the weird packages that appear from eBay actions or BBTS. She was the reason I have not only the Music Label Soundwave but also the Rumble/Frenzy headphones to go with it.

That said it's a two-way street, and I in turn respect her collections of stuff as well. Between the two of us, our combined collections of toys/novels/manga/dvd and other stuff combined with the amount of space given to the three cats wandering about our apartment, we could fill a place twice the size. (of course that would require both a larger space and a few hundred dropped at Ikea for addition display shelves.)

Mon Sep 28, 2009 8:35 pm

My girlfriend spends as much on her beanie kids and their exclusive as much as i do on transformers. plus she got me the universe collectors club seacons for my birthday, so she understands my obsesion.

News Credits: 3 · Mon Sep 28, 2009 10:36 pm

My wife's ok with it to a certain point I guess. I have had a few collection throughout our marriage, but since we have moved to NC, and I live a stones throw from the NC State Flea Market, I have aquired expensive toys for cheap. She probably thinks I'm crazy, but I have shown her the value of some of the pieces I get for cheap, and I guess she's Ok with that. I did recently get some Japanese Superlink/Micron Legend toys this week. A few weeks back, I found some Beast Machine toys that were too high at BBTS, but at the flea market were at least 5 times cheaper there.

Though I don't think she was happy when I spent $150 for my CC set before I found out about the reissue, she said I could have gotten RID Prime and Magnus for way cheaper.

However, I may surprise her and get that Lawson's Movie Prime for $249 becasue she is a fan of Prime and Jetfire from ROTF (we saw the movie together), and she does collect Arcee toys. So there is a silver lining after all. However, she does not like the ROTF Arcee.

Fri Oct 09, 2009 2:17 am

ive had 2 ex's that tried to get me to stop collecting. 1 ex supported it. and my current gf supports it and buys me some as a suprise.
think im gonna marry her :grin:

News Credits: 1 · Sat Oct 10, 2009 1:40 pm

bvzxa wrote:My wife's ok with it to a certain point I guess. I have had a few collection throughout our marriage, but since we have moved to NC, and I live a stones throw from the NC State Flea Market, I have aquired expensive toys for cheap. .

The flea market at the Fairgrounds in Raleigh? Right by the $1.50 theater and three minutes from Baja Burrito? 'Scuse me a minute while I tear up with nostalgia.....

Yes, that flea market is an awesome place to find stuff--unless it's hip and in, and everyone thinks they can turn a profit off it. I remember a bajillion idiots selling Beanie Babies....

HK, we need more cool flea markets. And more places where you can buy a burrito the size of your head.

News Credits: 2 · Sat Oct 10, 2009 3:26 pm

My wife will complain about me having to many toys and no place for all of them but then on gift giving occasions she buys me toys lol. like for my bday she got me TF2 Leader Megs and Prime. She also bought me Unicron and Primus when they both came out along with a ton of other TF and non TF toys since we have been together.

News Credits: 668 · Sat Oct 10, 2009 4:08 pm

No, my girlfriend is not only supportive, but she's bought me a few as well.

That being said, not every woman (or significant other, let's be fair here) is as openminded.

If they can't accept you as is, then perhaps you need to find someone else. Because if it's TransFormers today, God only knows what it'll be next week, or a year down the road.

For most of us, this is a hobby, but it's controlled and not insane. (We've all had those moments, gotten over them/through them and worked out the kinks) At that point, it's JUST a hobby, not a way of life, and it shouldn't be bitch worthy.

I know it sounds simple, and it's easier said than done, but seriously, if your mate makes you choose them or your hobbies, you have a problem. Especially if your hobby is harmless (and most of us know to pay a bill and put food and other needs first, before a want.)

If they take away what brings you joy in one part of your life, what other bits of happiness will they take from you? If collecting toys is that big of a deal to them, what won't be?

Sure, it can be embarrassing to some folks (I mean, it is toy collecting and we're adults) but if you love that person enough, it doesn't matter.

Be more concerned that they're drinking, sleeping around, abusing drugs, etc. This is truly a harmless hobby in the right hands, and could even make a profit in the long run. Not every hobby can make that claim.

Even if your relationship is a case of opposites attract, and you both have nothing in common except your undying love for each other (it happens!) it's easy enough to suck it up and overlook it because the person is more important than your perceived faults you think they may have.

I think we can all agree that if we were asked to choose our spouse (or S.O.) over our collecting, we'd choose the person, not the possessions. And I'm not saying you should....at least not in all cases.

If you meet someone and you know their quirks before you get married, attached, whatever you want to call it, you've agreed to accept them as is. You can NOT change a person unless they wish to be changed. Forcing them to is a horrible idea and will backfire.

Take them and love them as they are. Collecting is a small price to pay if you're happy in all other aspects.

Or, you can be stupid and selfish and throw away something wonderful over something so silly. The choice is your's.

News Credits: 1 · Tue Oct 13, 2009 3:54 am

Never had a problem with my BF with his dvd and vhs collection as well as his motorbike so he never had a problem with my collecting of TF, MLP, etc. The family on the other hand is a mixed bag. Dad can't talk as his motorbike cost more than all my collecting put together. He has on-going costs like insurance, rego, maintenance etc.