anyone else downsizing??? (2 Viewers)

[sammy719]

Hi all,

Received a lot of nice pms and emails about me selling of a large portion of my Normandy collection, got to admit fellas my collecting habits will have to change going forward... I do not want this to turn into a "pricing" thread but in the end I can't afford 70.00 figures or 300.00 vehicles any longer, life takes twists and turns all the time and you have to react and adapt, so I guess in my future I'll be the classic cherry picker collector, an a occasional armor piece here or there, but going to limit the ranges to just a few, getting away from the large scale diorams even though I'll keep a large winter display and my Stalingrad ones, but that will be it most likely going forward, either way, as long as I'm in the hobby itself and enjoying what I do collect be it just a few items every so month I'm ok with that, thanks again to all for the pm's...Sammy

 

[jazzeum]

Sammy,

I have tinkering with my collection for a few years. I went from the position that “I’m never going to sell anything” to the opposite side. In the end these are just possessions or objects and while I enjoy them, I never lose sight that they’re just objects.

I also agree that $70 for a figure is too expensive and I’ve passed on many FL figures because of that. I would have liked to purchase some of them but it’s not the end of the world.

Brad

 

[cnq]

I have been a "cherry picker" collector for 6 years . I like FL figures especially the Samurai range but when single Samurai would cost me $130 CA and other range ~$90 CA plus tax, my cherry pick buying stops almost to a stand still ^&grin . I may buy a single figure in couple months or so.....

 

[ivanmoe]

Hi all,

Received a lot of nice pms and emails about me selling of a large portion of my Normandy collection, got to admit fellas my collecting habits will have to change going forward... I do not want this to turn into a "pricing" thread but in the end I can't afford 70.00 figures or 300.00 vehicles any longer, life takes twists and turns all the time and you have to react and adapt, so I guess in my future I'll be the classic cherry picker collector, an a occasional armor piece here or there, but going to limit the ranges to just a few, getting away from the large scale diorams even though I'll keep a large winter display and my Stalingrad ones, but that will be it most likely going forward, either way, as long as I'm in the hobby itself and enjoying what I do collect be it just a few items every so month I'm ok with that, thanks again to all for the pm's...Sammy

Sammy, I hope those “twists and turns” don’t hit you too hard or last too long. I completely get your point about TS-$$$, but, in my case it’s other costs that are the killer. For example, my health insurance is going up $300 A MONTH in January and the DEDUCTIBLE IS DOUBLING. I ought to acknowledge that I’m lucky and can afford the increase, knowing full-well that a whole lot of people can’t. But, here’s the deal, Sammy. We’re talking about TS purchases. Well, what about the economy in general? What’s gonna happen when you start taking that kind of bite out of everyone’s discretionary income? There’s all this talk about a tax cut in the USA. Well, I’ve looked at the numbers and it’s absolute peanuts compared to the kind of price increases that are headed the way of the general population. I don’t mean to sound shrill, but taking that kind of money out of the marketplace is going to wreck the broader economy, it’s impact on toy soldier purchases, notwithstanding. Congrats on the outcome of your sale, and rest assured that you’re doing the right thing.

-Moe

 

[mikemiller1955]

For example, my health insurance is going up $300 A MONTH in January and the DEDUCTIBLE IS DOUBLING.

-Moe

Moe...
my renewal with BCBS...
for the same policy that I have now...
went down about $150 a month...

but my deductible...
which was $ zero this year went to $2,850.00 for 2018...

and my out of pocket went from $700 to $6,550.00 in 2018...

I'm gonna start buying plastics...^&grin

 

[marco55]

I understand this completely.My health insurance is going up but my coverage is going down.All you hear from Washington are these cuts but for most of us it will be eaten up by health insurance and I'm sure our new Governor will find a way to get some. :rolleyes2: I've cut down big time.Have a few kits to get painted and some 28mm figures to get painted but no large collections in the future.
Mark

 

[marco55]

Moe...
my renewal with BCBS...
for the same policy that I have now...
went down about $150 a month...

but my deductible...
which was $ zero this year went to $2,850.00 for 2018...

and my out of pocket went from $700 to $6,550.00 in 2018...

I'm gonna start buying plastics...^&grin

{eek3}{eek3}{eek3}{eek3}
Mark

 

[sammy719]

Sammy, I hope those “twists and turns” don’t hit you too hard or last too long. I completely get your point about TS-$$$, but, in my case it’s other costs that are the killer. For example, my health insurance is going up $300 A MONTH in January and the DEDUCTIBLE IS DOUBLING. I ought to acknowledge that I’m lucky and can afford the increase, knowing full-well that a whole lot of people can’t. But, here’s the deal, Sammy. We’re talking about TS purchases. Well, what about the economy in general? What’s gonna happen when you start taking that kind of bite out of everyone’s discretionary income? There’s all this talk about a tax cut in the USA. Well, I’ve looked at the numbers and it’s absolute peanuts compared to the kind of price increases that are headed the way of the general population. I don’t mean to sound shrill, but taking that kind of money out of the marketplace is going to wreck the broader economy, it’s impact on toy soldier purchases, notwithstanding. Congrats on the outcome of your sale, and rest assured that you’re doing the right thing.

-Moe

Thanks Moe, One of the great things I have going for me is my health insurance, we pay into a unionized insurance plan it has got to be the best insurance I have ever had, as far as the toy soldier world I'm the last butcher standing as Wayne seems to have left the hobby/forum sadly, we make decent coin but not at the rate of the way prices are rising (along with everything else mind you) again I'm just glad to have a small part of this hobby, Lord knows there are many who can't afford clothes, food, meds and I thank God I have what I have.

 

[TomNT]

As you know Sam I'm also downsizing my collection and I'm doing it for several reasons. One is obviously the cost as prices on figures and vehicles have gone up considerably over the years and the Australian dollar has fallen against the US dollar which is the currency that toy soldiers are priced at. My collecting interests have also changed as I'm now after more detailed tanks and vehicles at reasonable prices. The JJD Jagdpanther and Figarti Panthers in my opinion fit my requirement in both detail and price. I'm also impressed with the quality and prices of the new Britains WW2 figures and even though the releases are few and far between, I'm happy to wait as it gives me more time to save the funds for when they come out. The same can be said with JJD vehicles, future WW2 figures and Figarti armour. I'm also impressed with the Kronprinz WW2 figures both in quality and price and I have been getting a few of them lately.

The other reason I'm downsizing is that I just don't have the room for more stuff and I have realised that the collecting is getting a little out of hand. It's a great hobby but my tastes are changing and I rather have less than more in my collection.

Tom

 

[Poppo]

One question is downsizing;does it mean selling?I think so. The second question is not buying anymore, or just sometimes.It is 2 different things. My colletion is big enough for me, for my historical interests and space. I will never sell because what I bought I really like. Just recently I exchanged in a shop some of my del prado figures that I bought at the very beginning for other hachette, also cheap figures, so I gave away the only figures I didn't enjoy seeing. I only have dioramas and I would never break any of them because I like them all.About the prices....Well, I can tell you that many hachette and del prado are same quality as KC (they are made by KC, by the way). And for dioramas often you need a not so detailed piece, but the right pose. And I like to create "out of the beaten path" dioramas, because the manufacturers' production for the biggest part of collectors( mainly anglo-saxon) are about themes in which I am only seldom interested in. And with modifications and repaints, I can create a unique diorama, for example I am currently doing a dio about the an uprising in french Morocco, 1912. And a rather big one about the retreat of italian alpini from Russia, winter 1943. No dealer will probably do those series ever. So, my biggest fun if to search , to modify a figure and this is not expensive.Then make the landscape. As you see, if you have time and passion, you can have a big fun spending not so much money...:tongue:

An example below, the atlantic wall. KC did bunkers with bombing impacts on them,but I wanted it before the D-Day, so no impacts, and I wanted a big one , and I made it. KC soldiers for the atlantic wall were soldiers with weapons and everything, the stereotyped equipment.But in a bunker,not fighting, you don't wear it. So I modified some cheap del prado alpini; the result is not historically perfect, buy it is closer to reality , in my opinion, than manufacturers items. And really cheap.

 

[Andanna]

Poppo, admirable deviation from the mainstream of our hobby. I would be very interested in seeing your dioramas. Perhaps, one day, you could open a thread with photos.

 

[ivanmoe]

I'm also impressed with the quality and prices of the new Britains WW2 figures and even though the releases are few and far between, I'm happy to wait as it gives me more time to save the funds for when they come out.

Tom IMO, buying several WB sets a year seems a lot more like “collecting” and a lot less like “void-filling.” The average, middle-class person doesn’t have to commit ritual, credit-card abuse to collect a range or two. After ten or twenty years, he ends up with a nice collection. Perhaps that’s part of the company’s philosophy that gets translated into its approach to figure releases.

-Moe

 

[ivanmoe]

Moe...
my renewal with BCBS...
for the same policy that I have now...
went down about $150 a month...

but my deductible...
which was $ zero this year went to $2,850.00 for 2018...

and my out of pocket went from $700 to $6,550.00 in 2018...

I'm gonna start buying plastics...^&grin

Ouch! What’s crazy is how wound up people got about $4 a gallon gasoline. I know that it’s a terrible burden to a lot of drivers, but what’s going on with our “unaffordable healthcare” system” is exponentially (and quantifably) worse.

There are whole classes of Americans who are falling into a regime such that they avoid trips to the doctor because of the high deductible and OOP expenses. Yeah, they have health insurance, but can’t use it because of the up-front cost, EVEN IF THE PLAN ITSELF IS HEAVILY SUBSIDIZED OR FREE, as under the Obamacare system. Then, when, they end up in the hospital, the cost is just that much greater. Even people who are on Medicaid are screwed because a lot of doctors won’t see them.

I’m eligible for VA healthcare, but haven’t wanted to partake because of, frankly, convenience. The “local facility” is forty miles distant and the waits too long. I mentioned that I can afford the changes coming in January, but the experience has me looking at alternatives. A fella can buy a lot of TS with three hundred bucks a month.

-Moe

 

[Larry Allen]

Interesting thread, Sammy.

I am not "downsizing" ... more like ... :rolleyes2: tightly focusing one one or two areas.
Anyone who knows me will know that the K&C USMC and the K&C JN series are garnering my full attention ... and dollars.

However, I have been downsizing in many other collection areas.

I am (was) a model ship builder but have been selling the kits as well as the finished models to fund the Toy Solder world. I was a book collector and have reduced that inventory by 50% so far. Things like that!

Also I have found many other areas that my money was not being well utilized. Why spend $100's of dollars a month on Cable / Dish when I only watch a few shows / week. But that is just me.

Luckily, the Navy has been a big help in my medical costs for many years, but that is nearing an end ... {sm2}

--- LaRRy

 

[sapper]

I will be buying less from now on. Fortunately I don't have any health or health care problems at the moment but do have space issues and feel the financial pinch. One of my problems from the past has been building large dioramas but now I will focus on smaller and less figured scenes. I can concentrate on more detailed and realistic work that I have been doing lately. That will require less housing as I do like to have all my figures in realistic settings. Have posted some of my larger displays that will remain on permanent viewing. The Zulu diorama has been enlarged further with no recent photos. If I could not display my collection and kept them in their boxes I would give the hobby away. I will be posting lots of threads of recent work next year and one diorama within a couple of weeks.
Hoping all the best for the Forum members and your continued presence in this hobby. Regards Sapper.

 

[desk11desk12]

Moe...
my renewal with BCBS...
for the same policy that I have now...
went down about $150 a month...

but my deductible...
which was $ zero this year went to $2,850.00 for 2018...

and my out of pocket went from $700 to $6,550.00 in 2018...

I'm gonna start buying plastics...^&grin

At the risk of being a "Debbie Downer" suffice to say "I with my payments and coverage was as good as yours.

Carlos

 

[desk11desk12]

Hi all,

Received a lot of nice pms and emails about me selling of a large portion of my Normandy collection, got to admit fellas my collecting habits will have to change going forward... I do not want this to turn into a "pricing" thread but in the end I can't afford 70.00 figures or 300.00 vehicles any longer, life takes twists and turns all the time and you have to react and adapt, so I guess in my future I'll be the classic cherry picker collector, an a occasional armor piece here or there, but going to limit the ranges to just a few, getting away from the large scale diorams even though I'll keep a large winter display and my Stalingrad ones, but that will be it most likely going forward, either way, as long as I'm in the hobby itself and enjoying what I do collect be it just a few items every so month I'm ok with that, thanks again to all for the pm's...Sammy

Sammy:

I know the feeling, between 2013-2015: I sold off 80% of my HUGE COLLECTION. It was very difficult for 2 reasons: Making the decision and the work it took to sell them.

I still buy but it's been paired down to between $1-2K/ year, which forces me to prioritize during a time of great innovation and enhanced quality.

But in the end, I'm happier and the space recovered is incredible!

Carlos

 

[King & Country]

Sammy:

I know the feeling, between 2013-2015: I sold off 80% of my HUGE COLLECTION. It was very difficult for 2 reasons: Making the decision and the work it took to sell them.

I still buy but it's been paired down to between $1-2K/ year, which forces me to prioritize during a time of great innovation and enhanced quality.

But in the end, I'm happier and the space recovered is incredible!

Carlos

To each his own however...After Saturday's London Show purchases...I am 'upsizing' my collection...I bought several great sets and singles from multiple suppliers and enjoyed every minute of it!
Best wishes and happy collecting whether you're 'down-sizing'...'up-sizing' ...or merely side-sizing'...
Andy.

 

[BHogan]

To each his own however...After Saturday's London Show purchases...I am 'upsizing' my collection...I bought several great sets and singles from multiple suppliers and enjoyed every minute of it!
Best wishes and happy collecting whether you're 'down-sizing'...'up-sizing' ...or merely side-sizing'...
Andy.

I'm with Andy on this. Following December's K&C dispatches, I ordered both sets of Canadians from the Battle of Hong Kong and the two sets of the Old Guard at rest, with a free figure of a British Second World War infantryman to boot!

Brendan

 

[Warrior]

Seems like every couple of months, someone starts one of these threads.

What to collect and how much to collect is a personal choice, we all have a certain amount of disposable income and we all have to do what's best for us, buy what we can afford and stay within our means.

The part that I don't get is if price is starting to become a barrier, what does selling what you already have bought and paid for solve? You bought it, enjoyed collecting it, having it, possessing it, now you sell it?

I've been collecting 20mm toy soldiers all my life, I switched from plastic to metal about 15 years ago, I love every item I have, would never, ever considering selling any of it. I still buy figures, vehicles, terrain an add to my various collections. I enjoy the hobby a great deal, I love it as a matter of fact, space is not an issue for me, the basement is mine, it's all mine for my collection.

All I can say is collectors come and go in all hobbies, some stay in it for life, others are here for awhile then fall off the grid, some come back, others never return.

It's a personal choice; if you are fine with unloading your collection and are happy that you now have SO much more room (for what, I have no idea), then at the end of the day, that's all that matters.

Best of luck to all of you no matter what you decide to do.