Ever contemplate just stopping collecting?

You know that's silly talk. There's always a bunch of collectors willing to buy lots if they contain quality within the collection. But for me, I don't think I'm quite at that age where I'd consider stop collecting. The main reason for that is because I only buy 5-6 figures a month anyways which isn't much to me.

E11 was my breaking point. Spent months trying to find those figures when they first hit. Got to the point where hunting wasn't fun anymore. Mattel makes a great product, but the frustration and costs involved weren't worth it anymore, so I sold everything between here and ebay. I still like to look at pics of new/upcoming figs, but I don't miss collecting them at all.

No way. Figs are way cooler!

collecting cards is so not an equal alternative imo.

I'm with everyone else when I say just cut back a little. The guy that mentioned boxing them up for a week or two then seeing if you miss them, was solid advice. Then go from there.

Collecting is kinda in my blood I guess. My Grandpa collects coins and my mom was an antique dealer/shop owner. My parent's house is like a museum. I collected sports cards when I was young and growing up always collected memorabilia. Right now I'm just down to a few framed autographed pictures, balls, etc, my Dark Knight figs and my wwe figs.

I played sports in high school and a sport in college so it slowed down some. I didn't start up my jakks/mattel collection until after I was married. It all started with me selling my hasbro's on ebay.

This isn't the 40 year old virgin where some broad is gonna come in and talk yo into selling your action figs. Find a girl who likes you for you and accepts it. My wife is awesome about it and I know that there's probably 4 or 5 figs under our tree right now. Guys collects shot glasses, golf balls, etc. Just don't be too dorky about your collection lol. It's a healthy hobby. The only unhealthy thing is when it affects your finances.

Like I said in that other member's thread about it really being a strain on his relationship......women collect make up, shoes, purses, jewlery, whatever. The more you make, the more you spend. So it will always be an issue if you let it be. But I would never give up collecting if it meant I missed out on a piece of cooze. Theres plenty of fish; like I said, just don't be a geek over your figs.

Yup as Rob said. Figures dont really attract the ladies :3

Hahaha! Yeah, what he said.... Heh, I like this in' guy!

Don't let anyone get in the way of what you have a passion for, whether it be your hobbies, career, or life choices. If they don't harm you or anyone else, than keep on going. You will find someone, Terra. There is someone out there for everybody. If you truly care about your passion, you will find someone out there who can accept you for who you are, your positives and your faults.

I can tell that my fiancee gets a little iffy about how much I collect, so I told her I was cutting back on it and sold off a good portion of what I had. I told her that it is my passion and I could not give it up and she understood. She tells me all the time that if collecting figures makes me who I am, than why would she want to change the man she fell in love with?

Believe me, keep doing what you are doing and everything will work out in the end. If anything, your honesty up front with a woman can even be something that could attract her more to you. I told my fiancee the day we started to date each other.

Have faith my friend and follow your dreams. By overcoming those who try to crush your dream, you will have a great satisfaction when your life finally reaches the point you want it to.

Well, I have a lot to add to this as I quit collecting about 2 years ago.

It was definitely a gradual process. It started out about 8 years ago when I started high school. I realized I was getting older and couldn't do this forever. I was more interested in girls and being with friends, and I was ashamed of being a wrestling fan, let alone owning and playing with toys still at 14-15 years old.

I thought it was a bit excessive to have all these classic superstars of guys I never saw wrestle. Then it was "why do i need old outdated ttl's, r3's, and bca's", which then became "why do i need multiple versions of certain wrestlers, outdated attires, street gear figures, and figures of retired guys" Before I knew it, within a year I had shrunken a 300+ collection down to 50-60 figures. Then I started to realize I really only watched Raw and should only keep the guys on the Raw brand and the main SD! guys. Before I knew it I was down to 20 figures, and I'd get a new figure or update one once a month or so. During the summers when I had free time I allowed my collection to swell to 20 figures or so since I had more free time. But during the year I never had more than 15...most of time time cutting it off at 12 figures. I'd hunt every now and then, but most of trading and such took place online. I always felt so embarrassed sneaking around to buy figures, and being like 17 or 18 going into TRU/WalMart/Target...praying to god I wouldn't see anyone I know. Most of my friends thought I was just selling off my remaining stuff from when I was younger, and that if I bought something with them that was to resell for a big profit. The worst thing I ever remember was going to Target and finding Ra 16.5 Viscera (which I really really really wanted) right before going to a party...and having to hide it in my jacket at the party..being so fearful someone was gonna find it it. I remember once going to a TRU a few towns over and one of the workers (who I had gone to middle school with) recognized me and said "wait dont i know u"...and i lied about where I was from and what my age was. There where times when it was more so about the figures for me than about the actual wrestling. I'd be pissed if someone got hurt/more tv time/less tv time/fired/rehired/ etc...bc it meant having to make changes to my collection. I'd be embarrassed whenever someone mentioned wrestling figures, or my dad made a mention of it like jokingly or even praising my "business" of selling/trading. The bottom line is that when your start doing that sort of stuff, feeling that way, as well as sneaking figures into your house, constantly searching for figures, being paranoid at the post office that you're gonna see someone you know and theyre gonna ask why you're shipping so many boxes...you're an addict. If the hobby isn't something you are proud of and you feel other people would be impressed with...then just stop doing it.

I kept this rule from 2006 until 2009. Then after the summer of 2009 when it was time to go back to college, and Jakks was stopping making figures I kept just like 5 figures. I did start a small mattel collection...but I limited that to 10 figures at a time. Then I started staying the summers at college and just completely lost interest in collecting, not to mention wrestling. By 2011 I had only like 6 or 8 figures left and sold the remaining ones for a small profit on some, retail on others, below retail on the rest. My 12+ years of playing and collecting came to an end when I was about 21 years old.

Once it was finally over, I felt so relieved. It was like having such a big weight lifted off my shoulders. There was no worry about people finding out about a "nerdy secret" anymore. There was no more having to waste money on trades/new figures/custom parts/ etc. I could just watch wrestling casually, and enjoy it for what it was. I had a lot more free time that wasn't wasted on here trying to make a deal, look for new protos, or go hunting.

Collecting has no finish line, unless you put your foot down...you'll be a part of this viscous cycle forever; wasting money/time/etc. That's what I realized, and why I stopped.

In terms of finding a girl that accepts it (let alone embraces it), you won't...unless she collects something really nerdy too. I mean reading that thread the other night about a guy who was thinking of leaving his wife because she doesn't like his collection, or the other guy who was a stay at home dad and his wife was upset that he still buys figures...no offense to those guys but that's awful, you guys seriously need help if you would put little plastic men above your loved ones, or let it get in the way of a meaningful relationship.

Before people jump on me and say "well my mom collects this, or my grandpa collects that, or ..."...they probably collect things that are of universal value. Coins, antiques, sports cards, etc are incredibly lucrative businesses and actual investments...not little plastic men that were intended to be played with by children.

I'm sure this came off as incredibly rude, offensive, and what not to people here. But I was once no different than you guys, probably even worse. There are still times I wish I collected, there are figures I see like E11 Punk when it came out and some of those elites where I consider just picking up 1 or 2 figures...but I don't.

Take my advice bud, kick the habit. WWE is for essentially a kids show now anyways.

There's girls out there that don't care about that. I have collected since 96 and haven't stopped I own almost every mattel figure and my wife doesn't care. Why hide it if it's something you like do it if they don't like it then there not worth your time.