Its really funny how perceptions can change in a short period of time. I remember when I first got into vinyl. When I first researched this new found interest I couldn't get my head around how people could spend xxx amount of $$$ on one single piece of vinyl. My first vinyls where purchased with a bit of reluctance but I really wanted to see first hand what the allure was. There's just no describing what you feel when you have these treasures in your hands. It's like you loose part of your sanity and you dispense with practicality all together and come up with any justification for the next purchase. 8 detolfs later I find myself droping 60-200 + on my next must haves like I was printing money outta my basement.

I was watching Toypunks Vol 1 and everytime that part where Carl says "to me the American dream is not getting somewhere. It's buying as much shit as you can and having as much extended credit as possible" I'm like RIGHT ON! ...ME! Mr. 60$ for a Skull what?!!! $$$+ for A Chaos what?!! That was less than a year ago. It's weird but Im somehow comfortable in this new skin..Madness

so true!

You should see some peoples faces when I tell them how much I've paid for something, even if it's at S7 retail or lower!

My wife had a hard time getting it too, but she understands somewhat. She mainly writes it off as " things made in smaller #'s + hand made/hand painted = more $$$" since we used to print shirts for a while.

If someone asks now, I just lie, I don't need a "you're crazy" and than have to explain to them and than have them still not understand and say "you should sell it all and buy a PS3" type conversation.

lol!

What kind of has surprised me is that I've gone from thinking a $50 piece of vinyl was ridiculous 3 months ago, to spending, uh, I think my record is $400 in a day on two pieces? I think I've gotten the "I need to catch up!" feelings out of my system so it's going to level off a bit... I hope...

I work with people who go out on the weekends and spend 2-3 hundred clams,eating,drinking and partying and most are broke when monday comes and have terrible hangovers and not a damn thing to show for it..I just take my extra money and buy toy's,but I have to be honest this weekend I really blew my budget(BIGTIME) about $400 bucks over my monthly budget and it's only the 7th of Jan,but I said screw-it,still have a little fun money left over from X-mas..

this stuff is indeed a costly addiction.

hanging out with you guys on this board does not help!

two years ago when Flynn first showed me his Ghostfighter, I was shocked at how much they cost. I think I replied: "$60 dollars???? but it doesn't do anything....it's just a piece of vinyl!! For $60, I can get a die-cast Soul of Chogokin figure with tons of weapons and missle firing shit....!!"

Brian was polite and didn't throw me out of the store, but I think he already knew what was going to happen.....

So hard to tell what's real and what's not in that photo...heehhee

bastard! lol

they are all bootlegs. I only buy blanks

If you can touch them, they're real!

DUDE! . . . you need a bigger workstation or less toys . . . PM me, I think I might be able to help with the latter!

Sometimes I'm a bit embarrassed by what I spend on toys - and I'm the lightest of lightweights around here! But sometimes when I look at a whole bunch of figures on a shelf I do a little simple math and it astounds me that I've spent that much on a few plastic figures. But yet here I am...

I really don't like to do the math or look at a collection of bills.

But is it any worse than say people who buy a brand new car every 2-3 years?
Alot of people do that, along with car loans and other malarkey.

To me, that's ridiculous and insane. Each to his/her own.

I've been collecting toys in one form or another for nearly 10 years . . . luckily I suck at math! . . .

I'd love to hear a total investment figure from somebody like Pogue and / or Muton....

we won't even think about B.Flynn

MyGod!! Kirkland, that is some heavy duty stuff you have there!! JESUSCHRIST! That sure put's my CRACK habbit to shame!

Liquid, there is some perception out there that this is because you don't actually buy any toys.

edit: laughing face made it seem like I was mocking you. Not the case...!

I don't tell people who don't appreciate this hobby how much anything costs unless they ask. Value is relative. I have a friend who thinks nothing of spending tens of thousands of dollars on art on impulse, but he can afford that, and it brings him tremendous pleasure and recognition. My dad and older brother used to take some heat for putting a lot of their expendable income into antique car restoration and muscle car customization. Same deal. They loved their hobbies and didn't spend beyond their means. I think that's the main thing to remember regarding this admittedly expensive hobby. I was impressed by a board member who said that he doesn't have much to spend, but he's happy if he can buy just one RxH piece a month. Good attitude. It should be about what you can do on your budget, not competition with other collectors. (I can hear the collective "yeah, right" LOL.)

I wouldn't take it that way. No worries. hahahha.

Value is relative, but I think some people like to throw around the costs of things to impress others. This jacket cost me such and such. Feel the leather. Etc. Maybe to fill some empty need or to get validation or whatever.

I'll never discuss prices or even give friends a hint. I'm just too private about that and it seems too awkward.

Some people spend beyond their means which is sad because one day they'll wake up and go "what was I thinking?". To get "recognition" (that word stood out to me) or participate in an endless online arms race? Sad.

Initially, I too went through the "that's an insane amount of money for a toy" phase, which was quickly replaced by the "gotta have anything and everything" phase.

However, as time went on I realized that the whole "competition" aspect (as Xoco put it) was absurd. The things I have now - whether JP or Western - actually mean something to me, rather than just taking up space on a shelf. (Has anyone ever seen Diner, where Shrevie talks about his record collection?)

I think it's a good thing that my budget has gotten tighter over the past year, as it forces me to think much harder about why I want a certain toy, rather than simply impulse buying (although I must say that the relatively limited runs of certain things lends itself to that type of buying habit).

I'm happy to say that the friends of mine who have seen my collection have been able to appreciate it for what it is, rather than putting a dollar value on it. And, thank God, my wife gets almost as much of a kick out of it as I do.[/i]

I only tell people how much I paid for my toys so they'll understand that it's expensive and not try to touch & play with it.

And Kirkland, that setup is crazy.

Toybot, I love your setup, being surrounded by toys must be fun. You're not cursed like me because I don't want any dust/dirt/humans to touch the vinyl haha.

As for people criticizing us for spending that much on toys, they simply don't understand how much we love this stuff. It's no different than spending $65 on a ski lift ticket or $100 on a fancy dinner; you don't need to justify spending money on things you love. My coworkers keep joking on how I need an intervention every time a package arrives at work but if we have nothing better to spend it on and we're willing to make the sacrifices I say go for it.

Collections are collections. If you have the collector's gene, money is the last thing on you mind. If you don't have the gene, you just don't get why people would spend money on anything.

The bottom line is if you're happy with what you have, then it's all good. If you build massive debt from collecting, you may need a reality check. My only rule is put food on the table and pay the bills. After that, let the paypal flow.

I am a dj so if anyone gives me crap about my SB stuff I just am like um its vinyl, some of its by pushead who has been killing every skateboard design and record cover since the eighties and the shit is rad then compare it to a colored disc which everyone likes and have them compare the vinyl quality. Then I go check out this zipface, hold it up to the light and show them the vinyl actually starts to turn green in a lit room from its toxic glow, if they still aren't impressed I bust out the hairdryer and make one super squishy because everyone gets a kick out of that. I have a tiki mug collection, vinyl records, dvds bla bla bla so I think everyone is used to me being eclectic, I also buy a new car every couple years or so and drink a lot, but I usually get comped, I do tend to eat out everyday and I spend 100 on clothing a week. If I was to cut back I could afford way more toys but I think I stay well balanced, I still get crap for getting a package or three a week and I don't even think I am that bad.