"Who's had success reducing your oversized collections?" Topic

And how did you do it and how did it feel? (Yes, struggling to do so myself.)

I sold collections in Facebook groups, ebay and here. Tons of stuff to concentrate on just a few types of games/scales. Felt Great!

I sold everything a few years ago. May have been over the top, but I just felt weighed down by a 35 year collection. I am now concentrating on a few periods, and enjoying it more. I sold all my books one year at a local con. Sold the rest the next year at the same con. I don't know how much stuff you have or how long you have had it, but you might look at any collection you haven't gamed with in 5 years and just sell the whole thing.

Ebay, TMP, friends, convention flea markets, etc.
I never got what I thought they were worth in terms of time and energy spent, but it did let me keep the house and feed myself.

Now I am down to AWI and Flames of War. I sold off a LOT of stuff.

I have to a small extent. I have about 2000 (leaving me with around 15,000 now) fewer miniatures than I did three years ago. And there will be further overall reductions.

Some time back, I realized that I had core interests/periods (which mostly existed by the time I was 12), and secondary interests for which progress frequently got pushed back for core interests, or only progressed because others in my group favored them.

I realized that for the most part, the secondary projects were never going to reach the table top, and began selling off the figs and whatnot. It took a couple of years, and during that time, I was still growing my primary interests, so my total collection still grew a little.

Once the secondary interests were mostly gone, and I began to recognize that I was nearing my space limit in the house, I further identified those things which I had simply lost interest in, were redundant due to multiple scales, or otherwise had been reduced to back burner projects for some reason. I then began selling off most of those. This is where my collection actually began to shrink. I still have a little of that to get rid of, maybe another 1000 figs.

The next step of further narrowing those core interests that I'm going to pursue is coming, as I still have space constraints that are a problem, and I'm simply not going to live long enough to do all of the things that I would like in my core interest areas. I expect that this will end with a reduction of at least 3000-4000 more figs, though I currently have need to purchase almost a thousand more figs for my core projects, though some of those figs do not yet exist.

Basically I identified what style of games I most preferred, what periods I was most passionate about, and then Ebay was my friend. I don't regret having gotten rid of any of it, and feel some sense of relief, as there is less pressure to rush through things.

What a horrible thought! I will leave that job to the executor of my estate.

I can't see anything other than a house fire doing the job for me….

Once you sell some figures and the cash starts rolling in makes it easier and easier to sell more figures.

I use my blog to sell redundant figures and have had good success with this method.

I once sold 10,000 28mm Napoleonics to one buyer at an attractive price and used the funds to kick start my AWI figure range. I later repainted new Napoleonic armies to replace the old ones. In most cases, I figure that I can always replace the old figures with new ones over time.

I donated 9 cases of military history books to a historical society.
Gave miniatures and rules to my nephew and grand nephews.
Threw out yellowed rpg and miniature rulesets.
Stopped painting and collecting miniatures because of numerous physical problems.
I STILL have waaaay too much stuff!

Concentrating on ImagiNations using various boardgames and rpg's. I can get 4-5 players together next month for that.

Working on timelines, campaign notes and a revamped S1889 airship build and combat system.

Binge watching so many series I can't keep up. Have to do a moratorium to get my head together.

So There.

I've spent the last two years selling my deceased best friends collections (forty plus years in the making). I'm almost finished. The proceeds went to charity.

I used eBay, friends, table sales at shows and contacts made elsewhere.

I'm starting to thin out my own collections as well as expanding some of them too. I intend to only keep those that I hope to use in the next few years. It is an never ending task that someone else will have complete for me.

I made the decision to reduce the scales I collect, and genres I want to own. I only have 15mm and 6mm collections now, which has reduced my terrain requirements as well.

I am still very tempted by 28mm occasionally, but if I wait it mostly goes away…

Fortunately, my friends locally have collections that provide games in genres or scales I don't have anymore.

Brian

If I'm having some trepidation about selling figures, per Bill McHarg, I apply the Five Year Rule to the decision making process and I find that this brings some clarity to the decision.

I've tried to cull the collection down to a few periods: SYW, AWI and 1806 Napoleonics. I also keep my Late Roman army for something completely different in the collection. I don't plan on adding any new historical periods going forward. In a couple of instances, I have painted 1-2 units to use in one of my game colleague 's games. The troops quarter at his house on a permanent basis.

Sold off my 30-40 year old fantasy figures on eBay last winter. Most of the pile was unopened blisters too. I was satisfied with the return.
Mike

Sell items on TMP, eBay. I have had snags trying to cull it down. In fact within the past 2 years my collection has almost doubled. I have culled a few periods/scales.

Culled
28mm Moderns
15mm Moderns

Attempted to cull 15mm Ancients, 6 & 15mm SciFi and a few others but I kept coming back to them. However since picking up One Hour Wargames by Neil Thomas & began heeding the advice of Bob Cordery, I've decided to collect any period/scale I want since my armies now are small.

I don't understand the question

Ended up having to give most of the collection away to youth clubs, etc.

I don't understand the question

Neither do I.

I have just recently started selling off the pile and have sold quite a bit, but I still have a prodigious amount to unload. I will not get rid of it all but am focusing on keeping mostly smaller scales and things I know I will play.

Oversized collection? [blink] [blink] [blank stare]

What is considered an oversized collection?

Been collecting since I was about 10/11. When I joined the Marines, and my folks moved, everything was thrown/given away. About 8 years worth of cards, comics and figures. Been reestablishing the collection ever since.

I have a 2800 square foot house. The attic is loaded with gaming stuff. Bought a 12X20 foot shed. Filled that up. Had a 2 storey 16X16 foot shed built as an all purpose game shop. The upstairs for figs and table. Downstairs for library and reference. Already filled. Still collecting. If I became immortal, I would not have time to paint everything I currently have. I am beginning to catalog everything. I have already informed the wife/kids, that if they sell the collection for anything near value, they should be able to buy waterfront property and retire.

Again, I ask. What is an oversized collection?

"He who dies with the most toys wins." The wife thinks I am in for the running. Me, not so much…..The collection grows.

I rarely sell anything and generally regret what I did sell.

I have noted that anything sold is immediately replaced, so now I use available shelf space as the limiting factor for new purchases.

I have even rebased stuff just so it takes up less room, so it frees up some shelf space.

Electronic books have revolutionised my book storage, and have dumped tons of old paperbacks. Only to fill the space up with military history books which don't lend themselves to Kindle.

I reckon you are either a horder or you aren't, and if you are, you need to find ways to manage it.

I've had culls at various times and have generally been pleased that I've done so. I have another stalled collection to get rid of – I'll use ebay again although I have had some success at B&B sales at shows.

Periodically I would offer grab bags of better quality 28mm figs at $50 USD for 50 minis. The trick was that they would be sight unseen as time is my most precious commodity currently. Once I got past the people who could just not wrap their heads around that the deal was weighted by the lack of interaction…I dumped a ton of minis. People made out like bandits. I reclaimed space. Everyone involved benefitted.

I still need about 5 more waves of that to clean out the rest of my 28s though…

In '13 and '14 I sold off about 8000 painted 28mm figures and 500 ships to pay down my wife's medical debt and also to fund a trip for her to go to a family reunion. It felt very good.

Once you sell some figures and the cash starts rolling in makes it easier and easier to sell more figures.

So true!

I have a spreadsheet where I rate my figure/ship collections:

1. never sell
2. sell if no action/use after 4 years
3. sell if someone says they are looking for said
4. on the block – sell if selling other stuff
5. sell, no further interest

Most of my 2,4 and 5 is gone. Just some 1 and 3 left.

I have three kids 6,4 and 2 so I have very little time to game.
I have decided to focus on a few periods (Naps, ACW, WW2) and only two scales 15mm and 6mm.
What I do now is keep an eye open to add painted pieces or large lots of unpainted lead. I then sort through the unpainted lead to fill gaps and trade on the rest.
My boardgame collection is still growing but I have moved a few projects that weren't going to see the time required to complete them.
I'm generally happier when I can reinvest the funds into one of the priority projects.

David

So, the miniature scale you've chosen is too large, and you are wanting to switch to a smaller scale?

That's the only option that makes any sense in this discussion.

I very rarely sell any of my painted figures but unpainted I have sold off quite a bit. Board games and rules as well.

I've used eBay the most since it reaches a global market and usually gets me the best return. I never bemoan the fact that I might not get what I think they are worth. The market decides what the items are worth. Sometimes I get less, sometimes I get a lot more and just scratch my head. Over all, it evens out.

Selling items off is a major PITA.

Sold/selling a lot on ebay, and a little here and there thru TMP. It feels very liberating, but I have to constantly fight myself from buying mountains of lead and getting into new/additional periods. I am thinking about some DBx or skirmish stuff to scratch that itch.

When I was getting ready to move I finally accepted that the dozen or so boxes of RPGs I moved into the attic eleven years before were never getting used again and started selling them on eBay and at convention auctions. I funded a fair sized 15mm sci-fi army and a large 28mm WWII collection for three nations. I still have some left over in storage, but the bulk of the valuable stuff is gone and I don't miss it at all.

I have sold some minis before. Got rid of a big set of Epic 40, armies when I was laid off work. I still have some eras that I need to get rid of them, ie MAW, 10mm WW2 and 20mm WW2.

Since I can't play with them because one of the groups I played with fell apart and will never play with them again. So, they need to go because of surgery, I need to sell them them, but will have fond memories of playing.

The one era I will not sell is my 15mm ACW. There are too many memories associated with them, especially games with my daughter and nephews.

Now I have 6mm ACW and Napoleonics. Do I regret selling, no. I need to thin out my minis.

I've sold some stuff at the Enfilade B and B, but honestly, if there are half finished or even half started projects I'm not going to complete, I've taken to giving them away to those who will use them.

This serves two purposes:

1)It means I'm free of them, and I feel that much less pressure to worry about getting them done or find a place for them in my fairly crowded storage areas.

2) It also means I can find a good home for minis where they will likely be painted more quickly and also be appreciated.

Works for me and I don't regret it a bit.

I sold stuff/traded figures I need to get rid of because of moving. Downsizing forced me to to become ruthless about what I want to keep. I'm a 28mm Victorian wargamer. I centered things on my 28mm Colonials/Darkest Africa figures. I kept my painted 28mm Samurai/Koreans/Mongols. Got rid of my unpainted 28mm Trojans and Greeks and painted 28mm ECW. I also got rid of my painted 28mm GW High Elf army. I also got rid of my 28mm Modern Afghanistan figures, too.

I could get rid of some more. I want to keep my painted 28mm armies and 15mm SYW collection. I did make some forays into 30mm Warmachine/Steampunk armies. I also have the res of my 28mm British Colonials/Darkest Africa to base, prime, and paint.

But I did get side tracked by 28mm Spanish American War and 28mm Riel Rebellion figures. I got a sweet deal on those figures. I'll eventually get around to painting them. But they are down on the bottom of my painting queue. It'll be lucky if I get them in four years… ugh!

I think this thread touches a very current nerve in many of us (and for those who don't grasp the concept with very large collections, be assured, you will).

For point of reference, I have only 15 mm figures (other than an odd one here or there that snuck in with lot buys. But I have over 30,000 of them and more than 2/3 of that is unpainted.

I have focused on three periods to keep for sure: AWI, Old West, and my semi-pulpish colonials (not painted yet). And I have sufficient ACW, Pirates, and FIW already painted that I'm holding on to for now. It is the eight other periods I have to talk myself into parting with. The rational responses so far help. Psychologically, I know I'll be glad to let them go; emotionally, I quaver at letting them go. And I'm normally ruled by my rational side but for some reason this is bigger challenge than I'd expected.

Periods to part with: Vikings, Robin Hood (might keep), Musketeers (might keep), Indian Mutiny (very large number of figs with some few painted), French Foreign Legion, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, and Boxer Rebellion. And, again, all in 15 mm.

I know my sanity is around here somewhere, I just can't remember where I put it.

Mainly flea markets at conventions. Some thru TMP Marketplace. I don't bother with ebay anymore.

TMP first.

Bartertown second.

I've rarely had to go to eBay. Too expensive anyway.

DM

I had started to sell off a few things after I got married because I knew my life was changing and wargaming was already becoming less important to me. At least the idea of mega-games that I played as a younger man back in the 90's.

But when the opportunity arose to make a cross-country move within the company I work for, I had no more time to arrange to sell off any more of my collection. So I ended up giving away my FoW Germans, my 28mm Hittites I had painted for WAB, and my 15mm SYW and Napoleonics to friends.

I really don't regret giving them away, as the money I would get from selling on eBay was never quite worth the time, and I got a chance to bless my friends whose company gave me so much joy over the years. Most of my gaming now is skirmish games (Ganesha G.) and DBA, and I can concentrate on painting the smaller armies that suit my glacial painting speed.

It helped that I was already in the mood for downsizing as I have been reading a lot about minimalism in general, and comments around TMP in the last few years, notably from Kallman and Sam Mustafa. From what I read on this thread, my collection was already small in comparison.

Honestly, with an eternal perspective in mind, I feel much lighter after having dropped figures and projects that I knew I'd never have the time to enjoy. 10-15 years ago, the idea of parting with any of my painted figures would never have crossed my mind. Now I am glad that I did.

I have been going through a prcess of working out which collections I actually use and the types of ames I actually enjoy.

I ave sold my large Darkest Africa collection which I had used once in 5 years and which I had a lot of fun with, but decided I wasn't going to use enough. I have also sold on my 15mm ECW army some of it painted when I was 16 – now 52!) Again it hadn't been used that much…

I am switching to 54mm for a lot of periods as I like the bigger figures (I started because it was something not related to what I do for a living and kept the hobby fresh).

My major storage problem has been scenery for too man periods and scales…

Mike

I'm hoping to emigrate to the US next year, get married to my American fiancé. I decided to sell off everything war games related. Thought it would be hard to do, but I've found it very liberating. My massive 54mm WWII collection is selling well on ,,Ebay, my equally large 25mm Napoleonic collection is nearly gone, 25mm WOTR army went quickly, 54mm Romo-Carthaginian armies all went. My WW1 aircraft game may test my selling abilities! Weirdly, the only thing l can't bring myself to sell is my Space Hulk set-up?

John

A number of years ago I traded a well painted 350+ figure Front Rank Russian 7YW army for approx 1500 painted Napoleonic figures on Bartertown. Great trade, smaller space used.
3 years ago, after putting them on TMP, LAF and Bartertown I sold a large collection of superbly painted WW2 figures and vehicles on E-Bay.
I broke them into lots, took lots of pictures and posted them.
The only real headache was packing and mailing.
I made a lot more money selling in lots rather than the whole group.

If you are looking to save space, trade down. Otherwise sell in lots.
No regrets, as our group had no other 7YW armies. They were not all that interested in WW2, skirmish either.