The Energon Pub

Seibertron's own GetterDragun Has brought up an interesting topic, in another thread, on the subject of the Transformers toy collector and stages of Addictive collecting, here is what he had to say on the subject:

GetterDragun wrote:It sounds like you are at the "into it" stage (which comes after "aware of it" and "getting into it") and not the "obsessive" stage. After the "obsessive stage", one usually enteres "boredom". I am between obseesive and boredom. I'm started buying everything that had a TF name on it (though for some reason, G2 and Beastwars never took priority), and now I guess I had too much and am starting to scale back out of boredom. Though certain figures still peek my interest, especially anything that is new that is related to G1.

What stage are you? Have you become addicted?

To view the original thread and context of this statement click here:
http://www.seibertron.com/forums/viewto ... art=0&sid=

I love collecting transformers but I know I' not addicted, mainly due to my selective buying practices. I only get characters that I like and I don't get multiples of said characters.

Since May, I've spent over $200 on Transformers action figures. That doesn't include comic books and an animation cell. I'll probably spend another $50 on action figures before the month is out. Before May, I spent zero.

I don't doubt that it's addictive. But then again, I have an addictive personality (mostly when it comes to shopping)... so I'm more inclined to not keep spending habits in check.

Given my buying habits and my big time enjoyment from Transformer collecting I'd say I'm dangerously close to the addicted side of the scale.

Well as for me, I had become Highly addicted to buying up most anything comic book/Movie related that I fancied, over time I amassed a Huge collection, which did not include the transformers, it has only been the last 2 years or so that I have been back into Transfomers, not counting my brief stint with Armada back in the day, before that It was G-1 in the 80s..

So what I've decided to do was sell off most of my collectibles that are not Robotech, DC, and Guyver...after which i will try to complete the few characters I want for my Transformers collection...

But I don't feel addicted, at least, not yet???

My problem is that Transformers is not the only thing that I had collected.
I collected so many things and finally I burned myself out.

I still buy things occasionally (like the GIJoe 25th figs and new movie TF's) but I have cut back significantly.

I know someone that was literally addicted to collecting toys. This guy bought what seemed to be EVERYTHING that hit the shelves.. He since has completely gotten out of collecting.

I did it as a hobby to keep me busy. Of course now that I am in the 501st that takes up my time so collecting has taken a "back seat".

Cyber Bishop wrote:My problem is that Transformers is not the only thing that I had collected.
I collected so many things and finally I burned myself out.

I still buy things occasionally (like the GIJoe 25th figs and new movie TF's) but I have cut back significantly.

I know someone that was literally addicted to collecting toys. This guy bought what seemed to be EVERYTHING that hit the shelves.. He since has completely gotten out of collecting.

I did it as a hobby to keep me busy. Of course now that I am in the 501st that takes up my time so collecting has taken a "back seat".

I used to live in Bossieur City....I may have spelled it wrong.. but the Red River Crawdad parties rule!!!

I hate the fact that I collected all the other things that at the time, I was sure I wanted, and got addicted to the Hunt... but when I'm inventoring the toys and collectibles which are to be sold on eBay, I feel like I don't want to give them up.. even though I know I need to..besides, I don't want to get burned out like that guy you know.. that could have very well have been me, and giving up collecting because of burnout is just horrible, might as well buy a plot and have the casket picked out...

Yeah.
Like I said I still pick things up on occasion I just don't have that "gotta have it" mentality any more.

There are thousands of toys in my house that range from my complete TF G1 set, complete Star Wars figure set (3' 3/4" figs) from 1995 - 2002, McFarlane NFL complete sets series 1-7, Godzilla vinyl, Sota Street fighter, Doctor Who, DC Direct, Marvel figs, etc.. etc..

The chase became too much for me (as did the prices).. Now I limit what I buy.

Past addiction. I should be committed!

i'm not addicted...



i could quit anytime i want...




really...

I've spent about 2k in the past 6 weeks on TF's alone. I'd say I was becoming addicted!

I did sell 1 of my guitars to help fund the new hobby though, so that helped. I funded 1 hobby with the other ... a novel concept!

However, I did halt my plans to own 2 of every alternator. I'm selling/trading off the MISB doubles to focus on acquiring what I don't have from that line.

Also, I picked up a ton of Cybertron stuff ... which I talked myself into selling/trading. Most of it is gone now.

If I wasn't caught up to the movie and classics line, one could be certain that I'd still be out there on hauls every other day.

I'm proud to say that I haven't entered a toy store since Sunday (5 days ago)

I have everything that I need, for now. Just a couple figures to acquire before I'm totally complete to the current releases of the lines that interest me.

Addiction is FUN!

At this point the bots I am looking for are becoming more and more rare as most of the main lines I own.

Most of my collecting now is focused on exclusives

im still a collector fortunately!

I've been collecting Transformers for over 20 years now, and I cycle between the Obsessed and Bored stages quite often.

Several years ago when the Masterpieces and Takara Book Reissues came out, I was full blown obsessed and bought pretty much anything I could get my hands on. I built up a nice collection and recaptured many of the G1 figures I lost when I was a kid, ending up with about 400 figures. I lapsed into Boredom when the reissues faded out at TRU and unfortunately the Armada and Energon series didn't capture my interest like RiD did.

I was slowing picking up steam at the beginning of this year as I caught up on the Binaltech and Alternator figures I had missed and then the movie tossed me back into full blown Obsession. Thankfully for my pocketbook the movie figures have been a letdown but I'm steamrolling my way to completing BT and Alternators and have my heart set on the MP Skywarp release.

I'm sure I'll slowly fade back into boredom before the end of the year with no new Classics releases, the wait for the next MP announcement and my BT line finally completed.

Cyber Bishop wrote:Yeah.
Like I said I still pick things up on occasion I just don't have that "gotta have it" mentality any more.

There are thousands of toys in my house that range from my complete TF G1 set, complete Star Wars figure set (3' 3/4" figs) from 1995 - 2002, McFarlane NFL complete sets series 1-7, Godzilla vinyl, Sota Street fighter, Doctor Who, DC Direct, Marvel figs, etc.. etc..

The chase became too much for me (as did the prices).. Now I limit what I buy.

I feel exactly the same way you do, your a kindred spirit no doubt, and that is also what happened to me.. So I limit what I spend, but having been behind the curve ball, so to speak, on the whole Transformers collecting, I have to negate stuff I bought to get what I really like, and when it comes down to it, I have finally found out what properties I really am into..

On a side note....I used to live in LA until about 1987, we then moved to Guam, and then to SD...and then i made it here to VA, I miss the public broadcasting network down there, if ya'll don't know it, there are hugeass Conventions and fans of Doctor Who in the deep south..I miss being able to see it regularly, cable doesn't have BBC on it, so I'm forced to buy the DVD's when I have the quan..also there is so much new merchandise out for it.. So I really need to just sit back and control my greedy little addictive collector inside of me..and thank God I don't have the Doctor Who goodness here to enjoy...

I think I'm addicted, but due to massive spending sprees in the past several months, I think I'm mostly caught up. I've also completely denied any sort of completionism. I only collect certain characters, and only good versions of them, and that is that, unless something cool and unique comes out. In that way I've limited it a bit, but my collection is still gradually growing. I've gotten most of my grails by now, but there are still quite a few figures I missed out on. When I catch up on those it will be a relief, I'll only have new releases to think about.

So, I'm a conscious addict, in that I don't just go out and buy everything compulsively.

i know im addicted cause all i wanna do is search for bots.