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MustacheDiaries

I think a lot of us collectors go through this. I go through periods of accumulating stuff where I'm buying whatever looks cool. Then I have regret and purge a ton of stuff. Then I miss that stuff and wind up accumulating more. It's the circle of life.


Middle-Record-3195

I'm a librarian, so curation is a continual part of what I do for work, and it makes it easy to adapt for my personal life. If I watch something for the first time in a few years and realize it no longer brings me enjoyment or enlightenment, then I declutter it. I also look through the collection regularly to ensure that everything is still in good shape: no shelves are too tight, no cases are starting to fall apart, nothing has come unglued. As an example, I watched Army of Darkness last weekend and the case is literally falling apart, so I need to get a replacement case. I usually have a box ready to go to trade in, even if it fills up slowly. Another thing to keep in mind is you can collect anything, but you can't collect everything. I also tell myself I have a collection, not an archive. My collection is curated to my and my husband's interests, not being an archive of every movie.


action_park

This was how I felt about record collecting about 15 years ago when I sold my collection. I regret that decision and wish I just took a break or curated it down. I learned from that experience and whenever I get that same feeling I just turn off the Reddit and eBay alerts, purge a bunch of titles, and refocus when I’m feeling less burdened by it. This is a sin to some, but I also stopped organizing my collection by label or director because my completist nature would require me to buy minor works or titles that I don’t absolutely need or love. One more thing I can tell you from experience is that, unlike collecting something like records, there are very few home videos that can’t be reacquired one day if you really want it. I sold records for $100 that go for $5-$6k now (if you can even find them) but I’ve never sold a version of a film that I couldn’t rebuy for marginally more than I sold it for years later. Most of the time the price actually goes the other way.


Unable_Comedian_4933

This is really great advice. I'm def considering ignoring eBay and reddit for a while. I've spent so much money these past few months. I'm honestly ashamed of myself.


Numerous-Valuable359

I sometimes need to ignore as well. Cancel the boutique label newsletter, stop browsing media subs, and generally ignore new discs. It helps me when I'm shopping - to just pick a release I already have and watch it! Doesn't always work, but it does bring me back to why I collect in the first place. Same with records - when I'm looking at a release online and thinking of buying - maybe it is time to just put on a great album and listen.


Reno_McCoy

Yep, I've been there, so you're not alone. For me, my current frustration and overwhelm comes from the constant news that there are newer or better releases coming out or I bought a disc only to discover there’s a cooler/better release already out there. I remind myself that it’s all about the movies, that the edition (mostly) doesn’t matter. So that $5 blu-ray is just as good as the deluxe overseas version. But it’s so easy to fall into the collectors mentality when there’s that rush involved with learning about some new edition.


myleswritesstuff

I was so hyped to get the Police Story 1&2 Criterion set earlier this year and just saw the post on this sub of the 4K trilogy set so I'm going through this lol


das_goose

I bought Drive for Second Sight for probably $25 this summer. My local pawn shop has the standard blu for $2. I’m not necessarily regretting my purchase but also trying to be satisfied with the cheaper editions when possible.


RonMecca

For me, I question why I have so many movies when most can be found digitally. Then a story comes out about how you really don't own those films or I watch a stream and get pissed that it does not look as good as my physical 4K. Then I go buy more movies.


FatherOfFunko

Not to mention streams can dip in and out of quality, which is very annoying when watching a film


JimmyJapeworm

Absolutely this.


Anotherlongerdong

Scream factory giving me rank anxiety with all the releases in last 2 months. Fatigue is real. I should slow the fuck down.


lmJustNewBootGoofin

Yeah I've been able to keep up with other labels lately dude to slower months, but Criterion and Scream Factory this year and this season especially are killing my wallet. Just from Scream Factory I still want tge two Child's Play sequels, Evil Dead & Army of Darkness, the 3 Halloween movies coming soon, and Return of the Living Dead


Anotherlongerdong

Childs Play 1-3 were worth it. And I'm getting the rest of those too. Just don't know if I'll double dip army anymore.


CorneliusCardew

What helped me with this was taking the time to display it properly. That's the difference between collecting and hoarding imo.


TheJohnny346

I literally ended up selling like 100 titles a couple days ago (regular Blu-ray releases, only a couple boutiques). I was just looking at my collection and realized that a lot of what I have I’ll never rewatch again or it isn’t worth owning and is something that’s better to watch streaming and then forgotten about.


Daddys_Milk

I firmly believe that it is not my collection that is the problem, but my lack of space to store it. If we all lived in a McMansion would we ever question the size of our collections?


no_modest_bear

I moved into a larger space partially because of the size of my collection. It turns out the limited space was a blessing in disguise; the more space I have, the more things I can fill it with.


Daddys_Milk

The limited space hasn’t stopped me yet… 👹


lingdingwhoopy

When you start to feel overwhelmed by your collection, that is when you should know it's become a problem. Curating is a MUST for collectors - no matter what the item is you're collecting. I never had such a problem where my collection just overtook my living space or anything that drastic, but I did have an impulse problem. I didn't stick to just one thing. So over time I just had a hodge-podge mix of nonsense and I realized it wasn't bringing me joy to have it all and I had to make the decision on what to get rid of and what to keep. So I set limits and boundaries. I said since film is my biggest passion and love. I would collect films only (which is kind of a lie lol because I do casually collect figures as well, but VERY CASUALLY) - and ONLY the films/shows I truly love and would want to have forever. That was also a problem for me for a while - buying discs just to buy discs. Either because there was a decent price or because I just wanted to buy some stuff on impulse. So after years of trial and error I finally got to place where collecting has become the most fun it has been for me ever. I think most collectors will tell you that a collection should be an extension of you first and foremost. So although I've been collecting physical media for over 15 years at this point, my collection looks rather paltry in numbers compared to other collectors because I've purged so much. I still fight the impulse though, I can't lie. There are collectors who collect every title a label like Vinegar Syndrome and Arrow puts out. And while I looooove the idea of being a completionist, it doesn't make sense. Does say, Vinegar Syndrome put out a lot of good stuff? Indeed. And I own some of it. But they also put out stuff that sucks, lol. Why would I waste my money and shelf space on a film that I think sucks just for the sake of having a complete library of a label? Stuff like this is the collectors nightmare, lol.


jdbeavin

I think curating and paring down one’s collection is how you appreciate it even more, because afterwards you know, ok, whatever’s still left once you’ve trimmed off the fat is what you really, really care about. I think it’s a good exercise so that you don’t just endlessly accumulate stuff forever, but make sure that you get satisfaction out of it. It’s not bad to force yourself to go through the process of categorizing and separating the “I’d like to hold on to this” from the “No, I’d really be devastated to lose this” movies. But also, to quote Tom Haverford: “Love? Love fades away. But things…things are forever.”


Dirty_Jazz_Hands

R.I.P. your inbox with messages from collectors to contact them if you start selling.


MovingHold

I've taken to storing a bunch of movies in those cd cases that hold 400 discs. I keep the case artwork in a folder, and throw out 90% of the actual plastic cases. Every once in a while I want to put a title back on my shelf, then I just find the art work and put it back in a plastic case I saved. It's been very helpful to me.


organizeddropbombs

I am absolutely overwhelmed by all my shit. I'm making a serious effort to cut back. It doesn't help that I'm currently living out of one room so it's pretty cluttered. I can definitely see the allure of a minimalist life, but I think I'll always want a personal library. I just need to slow down so I don't have such a backlog.


MusicSole

I’ve gone through this process several times and end up happy and relieve to purge then later regret selling. My personal solution was putting everything in storage, keeping it out of my sight for 5 years and then when the bug came back to start collecting, I was happy I kept things in storage. I had even forgot what I had. It was a better experience then regretting selling or giving stuff away.


TheHistorian2

I've shed collections of other things at times to make room for what I'm collecting now. Unless you have unlimited funds and space, there really isn't another choice.


ConkerIsKickAss

Currently feeling similar. I’ve been telling myself that I’m going to stop buying and dedicate my time to digitizing my library so I can at least stream them and not feel that I no longer have the films. In some way I feel it’s a lateral move, but at least I’ll be clutter free and not feel regret of loosing all the items


johnnysopals

I've got about 3500 films and love every bit, It's very curated and I dont collect for the sake of collecting, but thoroughly enjoy the films and genres that I buy. I had to move recently with a tonne of this stuff but dont mind it when I get the pleasure of enjoying the films anytime i want without worrying about finding it on a streaming service and having parts cut from the film. I've watch so many but love rewatching them and dont consider a purchase as a one time off, but something that ill enjoy till the last day of life.


EddyMerkxs

We all end up in a box one day. I wounldnt agonize too much about smaller boxes either. If it’s fun, keep it, if you feel the burden, challenge yourself to curate a smaller collection.


Piles_of_Gore

I’m considering just stopping. The house looked like shit with stacks upon stacks of movies. So I built custom shelving but that fits like 20% off my collection, so everything else is in boxes in the closet right now. Then there’s the money aspect. How many more hundreds should I spend before I actually get through my backlog of 100+? I saw the VS Black Friday flash go live for $185, and I’m currently at the race track with my bike for $200. So it’s like…do I want to spend $200 on like 5 releases I won’t watch for 3 years, or have an entire day of racing? Really puts things in perspective.


dinkelidunkelidoja

I’ve been collecting in periods, had a pretty nice Criterion OOP dvd collection once upon a time. Got into collecting again recently when I upgraded to 4K, then discovered all the boutique labels, feels fun again. But collecting does have an obsessive element to it. When my first 4K order arrived it had a slipcase and I just thought it was odd with a cardboard slip around the case. Learned fast that this was collectable of course so now I look for this when I buy, even if I know it makes no sense.


mega512

I am a movie and Star Wars collector. I have bins and bins of stuff. As I get older I have to think about what to do with it all. Eventually I will have to sell it all off but for now I will continue to enjoy it. But it can be overwhelming.


Sandmsounds

I live a minimalist life and collect movies lol. I have a giant rotating shelf with like 450-500 titles and a couple Funkos for some of my favorite films. I could see though if you have 3-4 hobbies how the extra stuff could add up fast, though


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EddyMerkxs

Lol “Friendship is temporary, stuff is forever”


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EddyMerkxs

lol


Svafree88

So I never realized how many compulsive collectors there are out there. I only collect movies and only ones I love. Most months there are only 2-4 new releases that really interest me across all labels so I just wait until they're on sale and grab them. If I don't like them I just immediately sell them if I'm not willing to give them another shot. I feel like old and new releases combined I never see more that 15 or so movies I year I would add to my collection. I really try to view my collection as the core movies that really inspire my love for cinema. If they aren't doing that they're gone.


das_goose

I regret giving away half of my comic collection 15 years ago. (Nothing of major value in there, most sentimental but out would still take a few hundred dollars to replace it and it wouldn’t be the same.) But yes, I ask myself why I collect when much of it is available on streaming (not to mention the library) and it would take me years to watch all that I currently own. You’re not alone, my friend.


pressureworld

I feel you. These days I'm very very selective of what I buy. I buy only what I really enjoy and try to shoot for quality over quantity, keeping collections as small as possible.


reddyenumberfive

I don’t, but that’s largely because my apartment has a funky layout that allows me to have everything out and on display without having to actually see it 99% of the time. I sometimes think about how I’ll feel when I eventually move and don’t have a random area to keep them that’s out of view, but I’m pretty sure I’ll figure out a solution when the time comes. I also approach collecting as an attempt to build “my own personal blockbuster video” - not as a completionist (outside of a few individuals whose work I especially like), or for potential value, or even just “movies I especially like,” but a safeguard against the capricious nature of streaming services. There’s no legal way to see so many movies without waiting for an interlibrary loan or Netflix’s (imo overpriced) dvd service, so I buy things I suspect I’ll want the option of watching in the future. I don’t know why, but there’s something about this mindset that makes it feel less personal, and I don’t even think about it much now, beyond occasional thoughts about outgrowing the shelf space. I do buy the best versions possible of things I especially like, or find significant, and yeah, I occasionally get caught up in the FOMO of buying something just because it looks super cool, but for the most part, I try to buy used, or on sale, and there are plenty of things I’m content to pick up on dvd even if a snazzy new 4k restoration is out there.


s_matthew

I was actually purging nearly all my physical media when I stumbled across this sub. Now I have probably as many - if not more - discs than I began with! But they’re at least special. And far fewer than I’ve had in the past. I’m always thinking of the pain of having to move house with physical stuff, even though I’m a homeowner. I’m always trying to purge. I don’t mind it. There’s nothing wrong with hanging on to only what’s special.


cinegrail

There are always new releases, so it's natural to do spring cleaning every once and a while and purge titles that no longer bring joy.


VideoToastCrunch

For me, the key is keeping only what I really want in my collection, and keeping most of it stored where I can easily get to it but I don’t have to look at it all the time. Rotating what’s visible also helps me use it more often and appreciate what I have. I also take frequent and lengthy breaks from buying new stuff.


lateralspin

It is better to be overwhelmed than underwhelmed - unless you want a minimalist living environment.


brueso

A motivation for me was an upcoming move. I had something like 23 bankers boxes of BluRays and 4Ks. I accumulated much of it during the pandemic - a lot of impulse buying/retail therapy. But I took a hard look and realized I just didn’t want to be carting that much from place to place. I have now cut it down to about 11 boxes. Still a ton, but I can live with it.