Collection Of CD’s The Xavierite
No matter how big or small, some people have a desire to grow a collection of objects. It can be specific, such as Hot Wheels, Marvel magazines, and baseball cards. However, it doesn’t have to be something kept away in a protective packaging. It could be clothing brands like Supreme and Nike.
This hobby can start out harmless or quickly become intense. I find beauty in how much commitment and patience people have to grow their desired collection.
As I was talking with a friend the other day, the topic of Hot Wheel collecting came up. I shared how big my dads collection was; he has three big boxes filled to the brim with cars.
Every time he visits the store, he digs through more than a hundred cars to find the most valuable ones of the bunch. He’s gentle with the packaging so it stays in mint condition.
From my dads’ words, “Taking care of them like this helps increase their value, and the price will skyrocket!”.
Sports card collectors keep tabs on the performance of athletes, so they can match the value of the card to the value of the player. With a simple search on Ebay, a 1992 Upper Deck Micheal Jordan card is selling for $990.
That price can widen eyes, but to collectors it could be a good investment in the long run. Profit is a strong motivator for collecting, but it takes real trust in a player to spend so much money.
It takes dedication to be up to date with players, perseverance to find your dream card, and optimism toward investing.
Though these kinds of collectors are concerned with making money, there are some collectors who purchase items out of pure interest.
In a recent interview with Dave Bautista, he shares his collection of lunch boxes and insights about being a collector. Bautista shares, “I collect things because they hold a connection, I think it’s a nostalgia thing…”.
I similarly collect vinyls because different albums hold nostalgic value to me. Record stores might not always have what I’m looking for, so the hunt can last a while.
Sure it could be an easy purchase online, but that pales in comparison to the satisfaction of coming across the record by chance. The time and energy put into the search gives the item more value.
When I finally got my hands on Tyler, The Creator’s “Wolf” vinyl, I felt elated. It pushed me to keep looking for my dream records.
People grow a stronger attachment to the item and yearn to search for the next. Although these buyers aren’t looking to sell, they are still careful with their collection.
Music lovers wouldn’t want their vinyls stored the wrong way, which would ruin how they sound. CD’s are also handled gently to lower the chance of scratches.
This way they can maintain their collection for their own enjoyment. Collectors are willing to spend so much, when it doesn’t benefit them financially.
Their passion shines through with little details like time dedication and handling the item with care.
Aside from monetary gain and passion, collecting also comes from a place of hysteria. Earlier this year many people went crazy over Stanley cups. This is a popular brand of reusable water bottles that come in a variety of sizes and colors.
People waited outside till doors opened to get a special colorway. When Target dropped the pink Stanley, fights broke out. It’s interesting to see how heated people get over not having a certain item.
Having the ability to purchase Stanley cups was a way for people to represent their higher social status. Stanleys became a symbol of the fact that they can afford expensive items.
This could also apply to expensive clothing brands such as the one’s I mentioned earlier. Having these items could make you appear to be of a higher class.
It starts to get concerning when people are collecting to impress others and not for their personal liking. Purchasing heaps of items because they’re trending eventually becomes harmful to landfills and bank accounts.
No longer trending items, no longer serve their social status. Then, it’s trash. This cycle of consumerism is extremely harmful for our environment.
Collecting is a beautiful art because it demonstrates our commitment to our passions, and how people cherish the little things in everyday life. But, when the intentions of collecting don’t come from the heart, the items end up holding no true value.