Pressing "Reset" - selling off the collection :(

[vinito]

Before I pull the trigger I though I 'd post here and see what you's folks think about this. I know somebody else very local to me who has had to do this and I figger it's probably not all that rare.

The regrettable subject today is... selling off your collection to help get the financial situation in order.
 
Things have got pretty tough and I'm really fatigued about stressing to catch up. It isn't that bad in total, or at least it doesn't seem like it should be, but I just can't seem to make any headway after more than a year of trying, and medical bill collectors are becoming pretty aggressive lately. (total bastards. Don't get me started on that one - I could go on for hours)

I have 7 games all together, and they are in various stages of condition.

One has been pretty well restored (DE "Secret Service") so it could be sold at any time, though really it's one of the funnest of the collection.

The Twilight Zone is the most valuable of the collection, and it's is also fun of course but in different ways (less adrenalin and more synapses I guess). I have some parts that would make it very nice - NOS set of plastics and re-manufactured translite, cabinet decals and clock housing. But I'm kind of thinking maybe just re-do the crogged cabinet and apply new decals and leave the other stuff as an option to the next owner, and if they don't want to mess with it I could sell the parts separately... anyways... I won't really miss it that much once it's gone. It's a great game, but no nostalgia with it for me.

Another is "on loan" at a family member's house and likely will not be sold, mainly because it's worth more in fun than it ever would be in money.

The remaining 4 are EMs which all need a little TLC to make them worth more for selling - just cleaning and basic shop job I'm thinking.

Well selling these games would ease up the stress for at least 4 to 6 months, and maybe for good if things turn around just a little.
Maybe a little background is in order here. I'm not really a pessimist, but I am a realist and I can read between the lines usually better than most, and I don't see things turning around to the good side ever again. I was hopeful that our new administration would move the right way, but honestly I think they are just a shinier version of the same machine. I don't think any good will come of this, and actually I feel that things will actually accelerate in a downward spiral.

So considering this gloomy perspective anyways, it seems that owning my own pinball collection is an unimportant thing. I hope I am wrong, and I'm willing to let other folks bet on a better future and be the steward of my pinball machines.

Funny thing is, I quit smoking a few weeks back and I'm in a generally much improved state of mind. Much more positive and seem to have an excess of energy compared to before. So I'm glad I kicked the habit otherwise I might be in a dismally gloomy state of mind regarding the future.

So anyways... I'm getting ready to put a couple machines on the market pretty soon, and while I'm waiting on phone calls for those I'll be cleaning up at least four others to get them ready to sell too. This will clean me out of pinball but give me some much needed financial stress relief. Has anybody else here done this, and what are your thoughts on it? Any regrets? Do you have any thoughts on a "balanced" outcome? I don't feel that I'll miss the machines all that much (not like a kidney or something) and if things turn around someday it seems like I could collect several in pretty short order if I wanted - they seem to be up for sale around here often enough, and for fair prices.

Any opinions on either side are welcome.

[Extra Ball]

I used to be into antique clocks in a big way years ago, restoring, collecting, selling. Then oneday my wife got t-boned in a car accident, we couldnt collect insurance, and we lost income. I sold my entire collection to get us through it. Thing is I still like clocks, but have no desire to build a collection again. I guess times change us, and we are sometimes forced to move on. But you are right, its easy to build a collection of pins again, but know that you may not find some titles easily.
Goodluck

[ddstoys]

I keep telling my wife that if times get tough ill sell my collection to keep us going. You have to do what you have to do i hope all goes well for you

[Strangeways]

I keep telling my wife that if times get tough ill sell my collection to keep us going. You have to do what you have to do i hope all goes well for you

Same with me.

First things that should go are the luxury items, that are nearly almost "hobby" items. In these uncertain times - you have to look ahead and be realistic. Having said that - we have not YET seen the "Global Meltdown" here in Australia as bad as it is in the USA. However, our CEOs have been giving themselves brown paper bad bonus' for years. I remember a company I used to work for had an annual budget of $11 Million - and we struggled. ONE of the directors gave himself a $6 Million "bonus" - yet the signs were there that profits were no where near what they used to be. Our department was culled from 76 to 34 heads the next year - nearly ALL of middle-management.

The businessmen that started all this crap are STILL enjoying themselves on their luxury yachts and penthouse suites. 

[pinnies4me]

Times change, and so do we. Needs change, and because you Vin are clearly looking at the world with eyes open, you can see that there may be greater needs than playing a game in a home collection. Not long ago I negotiated an exit from my former partnership, knowing full well the risks of times ahead (I actually believe the large firm will be at risk in the next 18 months, so it was for the family's financial safety that I did what I did). I mentioned to my wife that there's plenty of saved up $ in the games if that was ever needed - I think she nearly fell over - as did I when she told me I was **not** selling any of them.

As Nino mentioned, we have not seen anything of what many other countries have experienced - we're throwing chunks of cash at half the population in an effort to stimulate things (despite the negatives, there is an effect from what's being done, part of the reason why we haven't seen things as bad as others). But I agree - there is worse to come, much much worse than most would appreciate. People talk of the 1929 Great Depression. But they don't realise that 1929 was just the historical trigger date - things weren't bad (save for those that lost directly in the crash) until 1931, and then really 1932. We're only in late 1930 by comparison. The next few years may mirror 1930-32. And then perhaps again years of stagnation before things recover. Maybe selling off now is not a bad idea.

[goodolddays]

Gday Mate ... so sorry to hear your situation has turned so bad.. I already know if our family's financial situation took a turn for the worse the 1st thing to go would be my pins. As you said they can always be replaced when the pendulum swings the right way again.

Wishing you and yours the very best for the future