How much is YOUR collection worth?

cutiebunny · Post by **cutiebunny** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 2:26 pm

Hmmm...I'd have to go with the 10K to 50K range. I've kept accurate details on the closing prices of the artwork I've purchased. Really, until 2006 when I went to my first con, my expeditures were very moderate. But, whenever I go to AX, I always spend more than I would ever need to do on YJ. Not that I'm complainning - there are so many things there that are well worth the price tag.

I have to agree with Sensei's post though, concerning perceived value of the item and the value we associate with 'the hunt'. It would be difficult for me to place a price tag on how much many of the items that I own are worth to me, and even more difficult for me to figure out how much to sell the item for.

duotrouble · Post by **duotrouble** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 2:52 pm

It's just like adding up all your debt. You're much happier NOT knowing the bottom line.

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 2:52 pm

Interesting comparison.

duotrouble · Post by **duotrouble** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 3:01 pm

graymouser wrote:
Lets just say that I blew past the $50,000 mark sometime in 2004.
WOAH..... Shocked
Don't be too impressed. I know several collectors who can blow that number out of the water. Most are lurkers or are too shy to say anything, but they're out there.

Yeah, I'd say it's easy to blow past 50K. The poll really needs to go higher to get a more accurate idea of people's collections when you consider many cels out there are in the 4 digit mark. Consider a Ghibli collector.

Still I refuse to add up my collection. Just thinking of the average price of a Gundam cel and knowing I have 3 pages of 9 . . . yup! Not adding.

Post by **sensei** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 4:11 pm

miz ducky wrote:When I read all these posts, all it tells me is that you've spent more than what you want to think about, and therefore don't want to answer the question.

I've consistently stayed within budget, always paid off my credit cards, and rarely regretted the money I spent on any given lot I won. That said, I see no reason to keep a running total of the money I spent, and therefore any answer I give would be meaningless. In other words, I have better things to do than to say "I spent $9,527 on my collection." (I just pulled that figure out of a hat. Actually, I have no easy way to come up with a total, but "Between $5000 and $10,000" seems right to my gut, so I voted for that figure.)

A collection is worth what it means to the collector, and much of that meaning is intangible. I have faith that it's worth (in cash) at least what I paid for it, and more than that as a collection as many of the items are related items that I've been able to reunite after a lot of watching. (One lot I got today reunites sketch sets for two adjacent cuts in my favorite Inuyasha episode.)

But primarily the fact that I feel that it was money and, what's more important, time and effort well spent, seems to me to trump any flaunt value that a dollars-spent amount would provide. Sorry, miz ducky, I think that's a positive statement, not, as you imply, a guilty-minded evasion of the issue. If I'd felt guilty about my association with this hobby, I would not have read this thread and certainly would not have responded to it.

Gonzai · Post by **Gonzai** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 5:26 pm

Well said Sensei!!

As for my answer - its what he said!!

duotrouble · Post by **duotrouble** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 5:48 pm

sensei wrote:
miz ducky wrote:When I read all these posts, all it tells me is that you've spent more than what you want to think about, and therefore don't want to answer the question.

Sorry, miz ducky, I think that's a positive statement, not, as you imply, a guilty-minded evasion of the issue.

My reaction is similiar to sensei's. I don't regret spending the amount of money I have over the years on the art in my collection. I just don't want to brag and say "hey, I had this much extra money to blow on cels." I was taught never to discuss money with anyone. If you want to estimate how much you think I've spent over the years, I can't stop you. But I won't come out and announce it. To me, that's the same as telling you how much I make a year or how much I paid for my house. It just isn't going to happen.

Cloud · Post by **Cloud** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 5:48 pm

Only just? What would you rather be doing?

Belldandy16 · Post by **Belldandy16** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 7:22 pm

sensei wrote: (One lot I got today reunites sketch sets for two adjacent cuts in my favorite Inuyasha episode.)

oooh, what'd ya get?

i always love to see Inuyasha stuff.

toonybabe · Post by **toonybabe** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 10:33 pm

I just went through my gallery and quickly added up what I remembered paying for each cel. I was too lazy to go through all of my reciepts (which I need to organize) to get the exact figures. Some of my cels are probably worth more than I paid for them, and maybe a couple of them worth less. I think I fall towards the upper end of the $5,000 to $10,000 range. It might not seem like much compared to other people here but considering that I have only been collecting for a little over two years, I feel like its a lot of money to have spent in that time! A couple of cels were X-mas/birthday presents but 90% were paid for by working over the summer, in-between going to school. I can't imagine how my collection will grow when I get a "real job" and am not buying with a college student's budget.

I feel a little sheepish and a little proud...it just makes me realize how dedicated I am to this hobby! Now I am more picky as to what I buy and I feel like I am not spending as much as when I first started collecting.

But its so true, what many AB members have said on this thread: to me they're priceless!

Post by **JWR** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 10:40 pm

I have not taken the time to break down just the cels for I have collected so many different items over the years.
Cels , Comic Art , Watches , Statutes , Books , Firearms Ect.
I can say that for everything I do have a rider on my home owners insurance for $300K .

iwakuralain16 · Post by **iwakuralain16** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 10:41 pm

I know we are discussing what your collection is worth... and as most people have said, priceless. Also from other threads especially with the issue with the chick from ebay, a cel's value may be more for one person and less for another. I think a better way of phrasing this question is "how much have you paid for your collection?". I know alot of people do not really think about selling and thus really don't know the true value of what they have. I know I have paid hundreds for a few cels when I know others may not be willing to pay half of that or less because they are not the best scenes. It all just really depends on the person and how much they are willing to spend on that cel. I dunno.. just throwing my two cents out there.

I am not sure how much my collection is worth... I am between the $10K-$50K mark... I stopped counting how much I spent a year ago and I was already in that bracket... I have not kept up since. I keep track with the cels themselves... I just don't really keep a running total. I dont want to know.. ~_~ lol

kizu · Post by **kizu** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 11:27 pm

I just insured my collection for around 35K, a modest number I think. Some of the collections I see online must be worth so much more... Anyway, I based that on pieces that I am most likely keeping for the long haul. The rest, well there was no point insuring if I was going to cull them in the next few months. That is if I ever get around to it.

I'd also say that with regards to culling or getting back what I paid, adding up all the P/L from all the sales/trades I've done in the past, the return was on the positive. Pieces that were C or D grading level or from a less popular series tended to sell for a loss (or hardly break even) but it was far outweighed by profit from prime cels or popular series/characters. Off course my "keepers" I'm not worried about recuperating their cost since I have "enjoyed" them and enjoy keeping them... Plus the keepers tend to be the ones most inquired about so there's already a buyer in the event of an unlikely release.

Cordelia · Post by **Cordelia** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 6:53 am

I'm in the $10k - $50k range. I don't tell others how much I've spent because they'll juz think I'm crazy for blowing so much on plastic

I know some collectors say that they enjoyed the hobby and the cels are 'priceless' but surely all collectibles have a monetary value? If someone offers say...ten times....or twenty times the value of your cels, would you sell them?

Shampoo · Post by **Shampoo** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 9:04 am

duotrouble wrote:
sensei wrote:
miz ducky wrote:When I read all these posts, all it tells me is that you've spent more than what you want to think about, and therefore don't want to answer the question.

Sorry, miz ducky, I think that's a positive statement, not, as you imply, a guilty-minded evasion of the issue.
My reaction is similiar to sensei's. I don't regret spending the amount of money I have over the years on the art in my collection. I just don't want to brag and say "hey, I had this much extra money to blow on cels." I was taught never to discuss money with anyone. If you want to estimate how much you think I've spent over the years, I can't stop you. But I won't come out and announce it. To me, that's the same as telling you how much I make a year or how much I paid for my house. It just isn't going to happen.

DT and sensei couldn't have said it better.
To me its a very personal matter, and even then in our old threads
covering this very topic I only gave a broad range.
I still remember when some asshole logged on beta just to poke
fun/ridicule folks who spent X amount on cels/sketches.

Not to say anybody on this thread would do that, BUT it has happened
before and reminded me how the phrase of "money matters
are personal" hit home.
>_<;;

As for how much I've spent, I've really lost count about 2 yrs
ago. I went ahead and voted in my estimate thou

Anime-Beta TNG

How much is YOUR collection worth?

How much are your cels worth