Should I sell or should I go? - A musing

colay

Afternoon, all,

I hope you don't mind, but I just wanted to write this down for now.

I have too much stuff. Not just Lego, stuff. I seem to be bursting with things I keep, that 'may come in handy' and I hate throwing perfectly good things away and things that just need a small fix. (Yes, i know charity shops exist, but they don't and can't take everything). But, it has also made me think about my Lego. Since I was able to start buying more sets as a working adult, I did. I bought what I liked and wanted. That got a bit out of hand, when I started to buy 2 of everything, one to build and one to keep. Problem is now, I have no room to put out what I want to build, so now have 'two to keep' sat mainly in the loft, in the delivery boxes, not really doing anything. Some are now discontinued and therefore carry a value, some are new and worth less as they are newer, or like in the Classic Bat Cave, worth less. I don't fancy opening anything that has increased in value, hence my dilemma. I'm never, ever (unless it's a Lotto win) I don't think going to be able to display, build or do anything with all the sets I have, and now that the amazing Brickset tool tells you how much my stuff could be worth, I'm like 'damn dude, buy a car' LOL. But, then a car will depreciate and cost to run and, what's the point in money in the bank, if I don't spend it, but whats the point in Lego in the loft, if you're not going to build it? I'll admit, one of the whole reasons on buying the extra 'to keep' set, was to sell on for a hopefully future profit. So, when does that time come? I know no one has a crystal ball that can tell me if selling my MISB spare GT3RS has peaked in value or not. The Ferrari FXX that was bought for me as a gift, that I never got round to building, has now increased (allegedly) by over 600%, don't feel like I could ever open or build it!!!

I am always risk adverse, so never like to rush into anything, but now seems a good time, if I am to sell any/some/all of any Lego to do it, as it seems to have peaked an interest amongst all walks of life right now.

I've commented myself on posts of what to do if selling, so Im not after that right now, just wondering if anyone else is in the same predicament, been there before, and just wanted to get my thoughts down.

Anyway, thanks for reading and please let me know if any of you have ever been here before.

Cheers,

Mark

PS, one thing I have thought about doing, is, just having a set theme. UCS, Speed Champions, Monster Hunters, big cars (Sian, GT3, Bugatti) and helping me feel better about getting rid of the rest

https://brickset.com/sets/ownedby-colay FYI sets owned, if anyone wants to browse. Used means I have it open and out

Bumblepants

I have found selling some things off to be freeing and helps me justify buying new things. I say go for it, try selling one or two sets like the Ferrari FXX and see how it goes and how you feel about it.

mr_benn

This is definitely a highly personal decision, based on your own circumstances.

I've undertaken a pretty strong revision of my own Lego over the past two years.  I never, ever, bought with the intention of making a profit, it was always 'oh, I think I can use that', or 'great value for money, I can do something with that'.  

But as with everything, with life, work, children, family, and everything else, there isn't enough time, space, and even inclination to build absolutely everything.

I ended up giving away a LOT of reasonably low-cost sets to the wonderful Fairybricks about 2 years ago.  Gave me a warm fuzzy feeling but also a good bit of space back.

Then last year when we all got locked down, I started selling some of the high-value stuff, including gems like an MISB Emerald Night which, given I already have two that I've opened and built, I'd be idiotic to not have sold given what it goes for.  I've worked through most of that initial batch now - about 40 or so pretty large sets - and I feel great for it,  I don't miss anything.

If you don't want to open anything that's increased in value, sell it.  You'll always see someone sell another for more a week or two after you sell yours - but that's life - always a slight gamble!

I hope that you manage to work out what you want, manage to reclaim some space, and find the ability to enjoy the things that you keep.

Huw

I guess ultimately the time to sell is when you no longer enjoy owning it, or doing so has become a burden either space-wise or financially.

It doesn't sound as if you need to sell to recoup the money because you're skint, but due to space constraints and I think we all encounter that problem sooner or later. Some people build extensions, put some into storage, or just let it get out of hand at home, neither of which are ideal, of course!

I had a good clear out a few years ago and sold what I'll never get round to building or stuff I didn't really like to start with but bought so I was complete in something. I need to have another one...

CCC

Been there before (and still am there).

I tend to sell off anything I have new/sealed and I know I am not going to enjoy building it or be able to display it or don't care about it or even if there is a newer version that is better than the one I have. I also do the same with previously built sets. However, anything I think I might enjoy, or display on rotation, I will keep. Even if the price is high. The prices might be high for new/sealed sets, but then they are also typically high for the same excellent condition used sets, so opening an expensive set is not too bad if you build it, don't like it and decide to sell it after all.

colay

Huw said:

I guess ultimately the time to sell is when you no longer enjoy owning it, or doing so has become a burden either space-wise or financially.

It doesn't sound as if you need to sell to recoup the money because you're skint, but due to space constraints and I think we all encounter that problem sooner or later. Some people build extensions, put some into storage, or just let it get out of hand at home, neither of which are ideal, of course!

I had a good clear out a few years ago and sold what I'll never get round to building or stuff I didn't really like to start with but bought so I was complete in something. I need to have another one...

I think this is my big thing and why I wanted to write it down I guess, is that, the whole world scenario (although I think there is light at the end) is meaning Im not enjoying a lot of things right now and am wondering if it is a state of mind, along with the other reasons. Certainly, full boxes are a space burden, for sure LOL.

I had a 'tidy up' of the house over Easter Weekend and took Tuesday off. It did make me feel better, so wonder if as others have said too, maybe I try and get rid of a few

colay

Bumblepants said:

I have found selling some things off to be freeing and helps me justify buying new things. I say go for it, try selling one or two sets like the Ferrari FXX and see how it goes and how you feel about it.

Wanna buy an FXX?! :)

Bumblepants

colay said:

Bumblepants said:

I have found selling some things off to be freeing and helps me justify buying new things. I say go for it, try selling one or two sets like the Ferrari FXX and see how it goes and how you feel about it.

Wanna buy an FXX?! :)

Nope! In fact, I think I will probably thin out or sell off my Speed Champions collection in the next year or so. I like them but it doesn't fit with my main interests and ultimately are just taking up space in a closet.

BooTheMightyHamster

I know how you feel, @colay.  In order to have some decorating / house stuff done, I've had to extract all my Lego from the loft and various other hidey holes and put it into storage, temporarily.  It's depressing to see how much of it is still sealed despite the fact that I've bought it all to build, not sell.

Having said that, if that UCS Sandcrawler of yours is sealed, and you're willing to let it go for a reasonable price, then I could probably make room for one more set...

nwr122

@colay, I've been having a very similar dilemma to you. Ultimately, as many have said, its a personal decision. I've at least started tagging which of my collection I would sell off when I decide to, focussing on keeping key themes that interest me and letting go of things which are unlikely to see the light of day and unlikely to rise astronomically in value. The latter point is the bit that make over-think, what if it suddenly increases in value after I sell it but that's life.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do

colay

BooTheMightyHamster said:

I know how you feel, @colay.  In order to have some decorating / house stuff done, I've had to extract all my Lego from the loft and various other hidey holes and put it into storage, temporarily.  It's depressing to see how much of it is still sealed despite the fact that I've bought it all to build, not sell.

Having said that, if that UCS Sandcrawler of yours is sealed, and you're willing to let it go for a reasonable price, then I could probably make room for one more set...

Yeah, I'vejust been up to get out some loose stuff to look at sorting, and I'm like, how much is here? Maybe if I shelve it, then it may help, but then Im into money to make shelves, that then defeats any object of selling it LOl

Here's a deal, if I do sell of a Crawler, you're first in line! :)

colay

nwr122 said:

@colay, I've been having a very similar dilemma to you. Ultimately, as many have said, its a personal decision. I've at least started tagging which of my collection I would sell off when I decide to, focussing on keeping key themes that interest me and letting go of things which are unlikely to see the light of day and unlikely to rise astronomically in value. The latter point is the bit that make over-think, what if it suddenly increases in value after I sell it but that's life.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do

The one thing I vow to do, if I do sell any, is to then not look at any values. What's done is then done, I normally spend 6 months on planning a purchase (drove my Mrs at the time nuts when deciding on the TV, but wen I was spending alot of money, it needed to be right) but,you dont look at values after you buy it, as thats life isnt it?

colay

Just came on to say that, I'm going to try some loose stuff I have and make the sets up and any loose MFs I come across, may make a start on selling. I have just found a #sh118 https://brickset.com/minifigs/sh118 and looked him up on here, so, there you go :)

Found a few animals and dinosaurs too (but no goats) :)

Redbullgivesuwind

I am having a similar issue at the moment. I am in the process of moving house and while I packed up my lego I had a bit of a realisation that I have far too much just sat as parts in random boxes everywhere. I always tell myself oh I build this amazing MOC or use it for something. But then never get round to it. While we were having the process of buying drawn out due to solicitors I put a couple of sets on display and really liked how they looked. Now I am wondering if it is worth going through and looking at each set and seeing if I want to display it. This is also compounded that aside from the UCS sets I am starting to fall out of love with the Lego Star wars sets. But then I am fighting the hoarder part of me that cannot bare to let anything go.

Mr_Cross

I've had many phases to my collecting. As a kid my obsession was Space LEGO. As a teen it was 2000AD comics. When I came back to collecting LEGO in '99 it was Star Wars, and I had hoped to collect one of everything (and duplicates to sell on) from the start...
...that inevitably didn't happen when I got married and bought a house. Being incomplete took the shine off collecting it and so I restricted it to OT only and for a while that was okay until I found myself buying the third identical x-wing.
I reached a rationale a little while ago - I like building with LEGO, I don't really display it (nor do I intend to ever have more than one or two models on a shelf going forward), what I'd like is a build room with immediately accessible parts - My new approach is, I only want LEGO I can use, make my own models with - or still have an emptional attachment to (classic space). If I "accidentally" end up having a set I can't open because it's worth an inflated price, I'm going to sell it. If a set is very valuable because of a figure I don't care about - I will sell that figure... ultimately I intend to have no unopened sets. I might have some that are eventually going to be sold if I've decided to chance a speculation, but budget is tight so I suspect I will just try to get what I want from now on.
I'm currently trying to sell my full collection of 2000AD - it's complete up to April 2017, and amounts to x15 35L Really Useful Boxes full of virtually unsaleable, extremely niche comics! Trying to rid myself of crazy sentimental hoards of junk.
William Morris said, have nothing in your house that you don't know to be useful or don't think is beautiful, or something like that - I don't hold with it 100% but it's a helpful extreme to consider when probing what you think you might get rid of!

Redbullgivesuwind

Mr_Cross said:

William Morris said, have nothing in your house that you don't know to be useful or don't think is beautiful, or something like that - I don't hold with it 100% but it's a helpful extreme to consider when probing what you think you might get rid of!

My fiance keeps quoting Marie Kondo at me. The issue is I think they are all beautiful and bring me joy in the hoarder side of me! I must learn to let go as Yoda says. Although, that pushes Anakin further down the dark side so not sure it is wise.

bricktuary

I'm heading to a similar place, I definitely have too much Lego and not enough time, but most crucially not enough space.

One simple example is an old Technic Unimog #8110. Looks like a lovely set, but I have a lot of lovely sets, and it seems mad to have it sat in the attic. There's no way I'd buy it for the £250 or whatever it's worth in the aftermarket - if I could click my fingers and swap it for cash I would, but then selling is such a hassle.... and again, I don't have enough time to do fun things like build Lego never mind chores like packing and posting heavy boxes of Lego!

Maybe when the UK opens up again I can sort out some face to face sales or exchanges. Something's got to give - it's close to being one in, one out....

FireFox31

You could have some fun thinning your collection by pitting one set against the other in a bracket challenge! Compare two sets, keep the one you like more, sell the other one. Fill the initial seeding randomly, by piece count, or by theme.

Having too much stuff is a mental burden. Selling the sets "just to keep" would ease that burden and put money in your pocket. Don't worry about getting maximum value because a little more appreciation won't pay for the time you spent worrying. And honestly, LEGO doesn't appreciate as much as some stocks (or Bitcoin). There are better investments.

Huw said:

I guess ultimately the time to sell is when you no longer enjoy owning it, or doing so has become a burden either space-wise or financially.

This is excellent advice.  Sounds like the stuff is a mental burden.  Turn it into cash in the most time-efficient manner, because time is money.

colay

Do you know what the silly thing about this is??

I'm sat on the R2-D2 page waiting for it!!!!! Where's the face palm emoji?!

Maybe all my fun in Lego isnt in the Lego, but the purchasing?! Maybe I need to sell the Lego for help! :)

panchox1

Sell it, then buy more to fuel what you actually enjoy, then sell it again!

MinifigInSpace

I'm very picky with what I buy, so my collection is not too extensive. But after reading all these stories, I am getting concerned with how to handle my LEGO collection in 10 years from now. I have been buying LEGOs since 2009, and doubling what I have now will land me in a heap of storage trouble. I'm accepting a lot of advice from those who have been collecting longer than I have. Thanks guys!

I only have two or three actual LEGO sets put together (Saturn V, Crystal King, and the bottle from the "Ship in the Bottle"). All the rest were built once (or twice) and have been parted out for my MOCs. But here's the problem: I rarely demolish my MOCs!  My MOCs have now invaded my space everywhere, from a bookcases to desks. Selling them it out of the question. I often take my smaller MOCs and half-disassemble them into storage containers, but even those are getting full... 

But back to the topic. My trouble is getting rid of parts I find useless. I sometimes trade with other builders locally, but I have one storage container that keeps filling up with random parts I don't use. 

Like many others have said, it's best to keep what you want and sell what you don't like/use anymore. After all, there's an excellent chance that the set you don't want anymore could bring joy to another builder   :)

daewoo

You can always sell bulk parts.  People usually charge per pound and they sell in all the various online marketplaces.