I buy what I want and keep it.The day I buy it I assume it has no value- except to me. I have had several old trains repaired and repainted by Len Carparelli knowing full well I or my family will never get close to what I have in them. I just enjoy having items that look like they did when new. I suppose I could sell something but I never have. I am sitting here looking at an FM, a 2033(repaint), and a 1656. It makes life a little better.
That's what this hobby is all about, if you are happy great and you are correct you will probably not get back what you paid
I don't call it hoarding but like Marty, I look for good deals. When K-line was going out of business folks were selling the scale steam engines for really low prices. I bought a lot of them. Most for $400 or less. Even the Berkshires brand new. Their scale reefers were going for as little as $10. 
I was just stocking up, not hoarding. Don
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Pictures or it didn't happen. MJ Breen's cartoon comes close.
scale rail posted:I don't call it hoarding but like Marty, I look for good deals. When K-line was going out of business folks were selling the scale steam engines for really low prices. I bought a lot of them. Most for $400 or less. Even the Berkshires brand new. Their scale refers were going for as little as $10.
I was just stocking up, not hoarding. Don
I bought 10 K-Line die cast hopper for $20 each just because it was such a deal!!! Didn't NEED them but they are so nice and at that price.......
Every time I but something new (or new to me) it seems to push something else out. I have a bunch of stuff I am trying to sell this week at a local swap meet
Just remember......You can't take it with you when you go to that eternal beyond.
After having to clean out two lifetimes of accumulation from both my parents and in-laws I do not wish to place that burden on my boys, both live thousands of miles away. I have a rule, one purchase means one item sold. The "collection" is reviewed once per year. If it is in a box in storage it leaves. My other rule is do I want to pay to move it? I know we are moving in a few years, I doubt very much the next space will be larger. The hobby right now consists of older gentlemen selling to each other. Some do well at that but we are going to run out of older guys, then what?
MattR posted:Complete hoarder. It's unbelievable. I gotta change. Mostly trains but also bulldozers, graders, dump trucks ( the real things) etc. and anything else not nailed down. Then I pry it off if I can see use for it "someday". Coffee cans, boxes, broken shovel handles, blah, blah, blah...........
Matt I think I may come in a close second to you, but in smaller sized items. I have begun throwing things away (except trains and tools). I have a two car garage that has one narrow pathway from the garage door to the house. It's all usefull stuff, but I have outlived my ability to use most of it now. Anything I have that I have not used in the past five years goes in the trash. I just scoop it up and don't look through it much.
I have been on a mission to get rid of stuff. We have boxes of STUFF that we have moved three times including shipping it here. That's crazy. It's like a treasure hunt opening boxes that I had no idea what was in them and when I packed them. I have gone to the huge swap meet for three Saturdays here on the island. Made over $600 ever one of those days. I sell stuff cheap. DVDs $1.00, old movie one sheets, $25, lots of tinplate thing. The best part is...It's feels good. Vicky read a book about this very subject. They said "if it doesn't give you joy, get rid of it." I agree. Don
necrails posted:The hobby right now consists of older gentlemen selling to each other.
Describes almost every train show I've been to!
The hobby right now consists of older gentlemen selling to each other. Some do well at that but we are going to run out of older guys, then what?
Then trains will be really cheap, and the younger guys that are still interested will have a field day. 
My parents and both my brothers have passed and I am the last one left. I was the one tasked with dealing with their estates. No fun. I still have a lot of the "stuff". Plus, I have my own hoard. I was trying to reduce it all but now at 72 my body is saying no. I feel bad for my children that they will have to do what I had to deal with.
Disposing of things is a challenge. I hate the waste of the "throw-away" generation that fills the landfills with usable items. I try to recycle by donating to Goodwill, Salvation Army, 2nd hand stores, and metal scrap recycling yards.
At least now, I have stopped buying and bringing "MORE" into the house. But I still have to clean out what is still here. As for the toy trains....they are going to stay.
Paul Goodness
C W Burfle posted:The hobby right now consists of older gentlemen selling to each other. Some do well at that but we are going to run out of older guys, then what?
Then trains will be really cheap, and the younger guys that are still interested will have a field day.
This is already happening - go to any of the 2 rail meets and you'll tables of estates some being sold at liquidation not coming home with us pricing and some sitting there at look at my gold mine prices. The latter will get sold in a later estate.
I've been taking car loads of my stuff - SUV full of tubs - to meets moving stuff out the door. I keep the better items and stuff I like that also makes sense for my model RR'ing objectives. Everything else is departing.
This is already happening - go to any of the 2 rail meets and you'll tables of estates some being sold at liquidation not coming home with us pricing and some sitting there at look at my gold mine prices. The latter will get sold in a later estate.
I was recently at a show that had one table operated by the widow of a train person. Well meaning folks helped her set prices using a pocket guide, which resulting in everything being priced rather high. I was tempted to make her an offer on one piece, but I couldn't decide whether it was appropriate.
I've missed the last few York shows. There were people selling off estates at several recent York shows I did attend.
There is no question about it; I've got a lot of trains. 90% of them are on display shelves, 5% in boxes and 5% on the layout. I have more motive power and rolling stock than I ever envisioned but I do not consider myself to be a hoarder because everything I own I run. I like being able to go to the shelves and changing up engines and rolling stock at my leisure. I enjoy the diversity owning a lot of trains provides me. Its a luxury I never had as a child or a young adult so at this point in my life I have no qualms about indulging myself from time to time when it comes to one of my favorite hobbies but when I say I indulge myself I ensure its not at the expense of life's main priorities. All that being said, I really don't buy much anymore because I don't like the price tags on the modern stuff and room is now at a premium.
As I stated at the outset of this post I own a lot of trains but I am certainly not going to apologize for it to anyone and I reject the armchair psychologists among us who claim its a sickness. Finally, as far as my family having to deal with dispensing with my trains when I've passed to the other side they just might be able to make a few bucks out of it and they never had to put a penny into it; not too much to ask in my humble opinion.
............. I reject the armchair psychologists among us who claim its a sickness.
Really? Try reading a little: https://www.adaa.org/understan...-ocd/hoarding-basics
Of course, rejecting reality is yet another problem.....
From the link provided by MWB:
Hoarding vs. Collecting
Hoarding is not the same as collecting. In general, collectors have a sense of pride about their possessions and they experience joy in displaying and talking about them. They usually keep their collection organized, feel satisfaction when adding to it, and budget their time and money.
Those who hoard usually experience embarrassment about their possessions and feel uncomfortable when others see them. They have clutter, often at the expense of livable space, feel sad or ashamed after acquiring additional items, and they are often in debt.
That describes my friend and his basement to a "t".
Jon 
Hoarding most certainly is a mental condition. Not eating, wearing worn clothing and scrimping on basic necessities to feed the need to acquire should be a sign, but hoarders aren't wired to see that. They blame the house for being to small or filled up with useless junk like furniture. Many hoarders have adult attention disorder (ADHD) which simply means they can't get no satisfaction. On a daily basis they search for happiness, and even if found, won't even last til day's end. The most insignificant looking piece of garbage could be gold through their eyes. You can safely also throw depression in the mix. Separating them from their "hoard" could easily take them down the road to suicide, its that messed up.
Rich
Marty Fitzhenry posted:Many people buy dope, cigarettes, and booze. At the end of the day they may not have good health but do have empty pockets. If anyone gives you crap about buying trains, be nice, smile, then tell them where to go. Buy what you like and enjoy life. It is a short trip so enjoy yourself.
I am constantly getting behind people in line at the convienence store that are buying booze, cigs and lottery tickets.
(out of their food budget)
I am constantly getting behind people in line at the convienence store that are buying booze, cigs and lottery tickets.
(out of their food budget)
How do you know its out of their food budget?
I live fairly close to the Saratoga (NY) race tracks (flat and harness). The flat track is famous and a big deal. Both my wife and I know people who are very into gambling. Lottery tickets, the track and casinos. Most of them only spend discretionary funds. They don't buy trains.
My wife and I don't gamble. I buy trains and she likes doing things to the house. We only spend discretionary funds.
What's the difference?
My garage is full of trains because I don't have a basement. It is easy to get rid of stuff that is junk. You just toss it.
It is much harder to get rid of stuff that has value such as recent Lionel or MTH engines. Even if you get 25% of the original purchase price that can be a tidy sum if you sell 10 or more engines.
The TV show "American Pickers" is very interesting. I am amazed at how many people have barns full of stuff. Much of it is out in the weather and not in good shape because the barn roof leaks. Yet the Pickers always seem to find something of value in people's junk. Somethings the profit margin on an old motor or toy is just amazing.
NH Joe
C W Burfle posted:I am constantly getting behind people in line at the convienence store that are buying booze, cigs and lottery tickets.
(out of their food budget)
How do you know its out of their food budget?
I know because the food items in with the purchase were made with a SNAP card(which means they don't have enough of their own money for food). I see it at Dollar General almost every time there is somebody checking out in front of me.
Originally posted by New Haven Joe:
Somethings the profit margin on an old motor or toy is just amazing.
NH Joe
And how do you know the profit margin? For what I see on that "American Pickers" Show many of those picks are estimates NOT realized gross profits.
prrhorseshoecurve posted:Originally posted by New Haven Joe:
Somethings the profit margin on an old motor or toy is just amazing.
NH JoeAnd how do you know the profit margin? For what I see on that "American Pickers" Show many of those picks are estimates NOT realized gross profits.
And, the one Lionel SG set they bought went to auction at a loss.
ADCX Rob posted:prrhorseshoecurve posted:Originally posted by New Haven Joe:
Somethings the profit margin on an old motor or toy is just amazing.
NH JoeAnd how do you know the profit margin? For what I see on that "American Pickers" Show many of those picks are estimates NOT realized gross profits.
And, the one Lionel SG set they bought went to auction at a loss.
I m sure that most of the things sold in the "Pickers" store are T-Shirts and pictures of them self.They are not that knowledgeable on a lot of items that they buy like Steam whistles, gum and nut machines are a example. They are usually getting these from the people they visit for a low price and there selling price is either way too high of not high enough. I m sure this show is staged The pricing is reminds me of the Storage war show. But to be clear I still watch both and the Pawn Star show, reason to learn negotiation for a price either selling or buying.
redjimmy1955 posted:I just have a single carport....but to HAVE A GARAGE! and these fellas have theirs crammed nearly the same as that cartoon. of course the cars are for the driveway. today on the snowy/sleet day..........the 60's muscle car out there.........no tarp.............nuttin! brings tears to these eyes
That, to me, isn’t so much an obvious sign of hoarding. On my street, I’ve seen every garage open at one time or another. My wife and I are the ONLY house that keeps cars in the garage. Sure, we have tools and cleaning stuff/etc along the walls, but her Subaru has room on the left, and my WW2 Jeep is to the right. We even have space in between (which will come in handy when I do the annual spring fluid check/oil change on my Jeep prior to the show season). No other house on the street has room for any cars, and they’re all 2-car garages.
We bought a shed out back and all the random stuff, lawn mowers and such goes back there.
Clutter and hoarding are two different things. But people around here view their garages as a place to house the clutter, apparently.
I'm a hoarder I can never get ahead and clean anything up, rooms are full, garage is full, carport is even worse, I don't know what the answer is I guess I have a mental problem. But reading these threads about hoarding, collecting, buying, I know I'm not alone.
The only part of our block of land that is organised and not a mess is the layout room where I run trains once a week, now that is organised, everything else in my life is a mess. I was once a very disciplined professional soldier, everything had it's place, now I'm an undisciplined professional civilian and nothing is in place. The photos only show part of the mess the garage is packed with boxes of trains so are the left side of both the photos and under the layout. I hate it.
Roo.
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Roo posted:I'm a hoarder I can never get ahead and clean anything up, rooms are full, garage is full, carport is even worse, I don't know what the answer is I guess I have a mental problem. But reading these threads about hoarding, collecting, buying, I know I'm not alone.
The only part of our block of land that is organised and not a mess is the layout room where I run trains once a week, now that is organised, everything else in my life is a mess. I was once a very disciplined professional soldier, everything had it's place, now I'm an undisciplined professional civilian and nothing is in place. The photos only show part of the mess the garage is packed with boxes of trains so are the left side of both the photos and under the layout. I hate it.
Roo.
Dear Roo
I have seen MUCH MUCH worse. I think if you had someone helping you organize, you could get it done in a weekend. Then, hold a big sale. You might be surprised how much cash you could get.
Not wanting to address a private issue in such a public place, but if you feel there are deeper issues driving the hoarding, there is plenty of help out there for that too.
Does anyone watch the "pickers" tv show? We need to start a version for "train pickers" or maybe a new thread here???????
Does anyone watch the "pickers" tv show? We need to start a version for "train pickers" or maybe a new thread here???????
Those picker guys give me the creeps. Can't stand them.
Maybe somebody can explain the difference between a picker and a bottom feeder?
CW, the amazing part is they claim they make a profit on "stuff" and I wonder "who would buy that" let alone for that price? Like maybe 90% of the items on antique roadshow!
Consumers. From our childhood we're led to believe that getting things will make us happy. Desire to be happy is endless. Does the stuff have to be endless? True happiness comes from inside ourselves. We can enjoy what life has to offer but with a little sanity applied
i dont have anything new on the ups truck today, and i am bored
C W Burfle posted:Those picker guys give me the creeps. Can't stand them.
Totally made up show. I know a guy they filmed a segment with and every part of it was scripted from long before they showed up.
Totally made up show. I know a guy they filmed a segment with and every part of it was scripted from long before they showed up.
I have a feeling that all the "reality" shows out there are scripted.
I watched Pawn Stars and Storage Wars for a while.
IMHO, they ran their course a while ago, and are no longer of any interest to me.
My wife still likes the house hunting / flipping / fixing shows.
I think I use the hiking to get away from all the material things that you tend to collect at home, out in the bush you have what's in your pack and that's it, I hurt my back this time so had to come back early. The blokes were happy I was back early meant we had another train session I just finished unpacking and they turned up at least I had all my clothes in the washing machine before they arrived!
Alan, thanks for the advice there are procedures in place to help veterans in Australia, lots of things, I try to stay away from them as much as possible men are supposed to be tough, not true. Roo.
If being a hoarder means having more trains than you can run, then yes, I am. I have about 50 locomotives, over 100 freight cars and the same number of passenger cars. No duplicates, just a large closet full of trains. I still need to get shelves built to display them or something. I have several Lionel standard gauge cars that are over 100 years old and a passenger set that is fast approaching that age.
