Collections...what is the point?

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Comment by Blue Snow on August 15, 2012 at 10:10am

If you're crazy for hearing your husband's message about selling his albums, so am I because I heard a similar message from mine. I also feel it honors our husbands to get the most we can for their collections. Do some research, I think there are specialized places online other than eBay where you can sell albums like you've got.

I don't get why people think eBay is so expensive to sell stuff. Local auctioneers and estate people charge a higher percentage for their services and no one grips about what they charge. With local auctions and estate sales you do less work yourself and get rid of stuff quicker; with eBay you do more work but get to keep more of the profits and get a larger pool of bidders plus you can do it a little bit over time. I thought about a local auction but decided it would be too hard to see all my husband's stuff go at once. I'd feel as empty as what the garage would be and it was the right choice for me. Selling a little at a time has been like walking down Memory Lane. I remembered so many special days and times when my husband had brought home and hung up this or that. Also people don't realize that some local auctions are actually a combination of 2 or 3 people's stuff. You don't have to have a whole house full of stuff to arrange for an auction. I got a quote on doing that and it came in at 29%. E-bay is closer to 18%.

Comment by Joyce on August 15, 2012 at 9:28am

Oh honeyspuddin:  I don't think you're crazy, I think you did hear him and he was telling you that selling them was okay.  Hugs!

Comment by honeys(puddin) on August 15, 2012 at 9:08am

OK I have to share something here.  I know that you all will be the only ones who think I'm not crazy.  I hope.  Yesterday as I was cataloging his albums on discogs.com where they give you the value of other like albums being sold I swear in my head I heard him say to me "If you have to sell them then at least get the most you can for them"  I don't think he ever told me that in life.  I don't think I put those words in his voice in my head.  I swear he just spoke to me!  When I "heard" those words I stopped immediately and thought about it and shook my head like "what?!?"  I don't know what that was about.  Sigh.  A day in the life of me.  I have had a yard sale, thrown away trash, donated to charities and even craigslisted a few things of mine mostly but will eventually start doing some of his things.  Ebay I think is charging too much these days for certain items will need to be ebayed for the larger audience.  Gives me something to do:)

Comment by gcortez55 on August 15, 2012 at 8:42am

Ur on the right idea I think w/ selling it and saving the ones u want. He loved and enjoyed them in HIS lifetime. They gave him joy when he was here. Selling them will not erase any of the joy he had with them. :-)

Comment by Blue Snow on August 14, 2012 at 7:08pm

I'll tell you what my husband's collections have done for me. I paid off the $30,000 left on our mortgage by selling off his collectibles and I'm still not through "decluttering" his stuff. I cringe everything I read about widows just throwing out their husband's stuff without first finding out from someone knowledgeable if what they have has value, especially when so many widows struggle financially. I've pledged myself to a year of e-Baying post-my-husband's-death and I have not been sorry.

Comment by bj628(Bonnie) on August 14, 2012 at 6:34pm

I also am trying to declutter... saving a few things that were from my grandmother & my parents..

 He was quite a "collector" we have been having yard sales, giving some things away.. etc.. I have 2 boxes to take in to a consignment shop. have thought about E bay.. but someone now said they have raised their fees, and postage is expensive.  Taking photos of favorite items  and letting go.

Comment by bad ass widow on August 14, 2012 at 6:02pm

I have decluttered and un-collected for awhile now.  One, because I am seriously lazy and hate dusting and Two, I need to make my life my own now and that includes making my surroundings my own.  I put into the context that if there was a fire in my home, what would I save.  Obviously I would save my daughter and my animals.  I would not take a second to run to the attic to collect the unicorn collection or the favorite book.  Those can be replaced.  I will have my memories of those.  Pictures are something very close to my heart and I have started putting them all on disks that I have put in the safe deposit box, so that I can still enjoy them if the worst were to happen.

Comment by honeys(puddin) on August 14, 2012 at 1:51pm

He loved his collection.  Played the albums regularly.  It was his passion.  He would close the door and play it as loud as he wanted and I let him because I knew it made him so happy.  Had a bunch of favorites displayed on the walls in his mancave.  Those are coming down too.  Everything I need to remind me of him is in my heart.  I'm cleaning house so the kids won't have to deal with things when I go.  I just found out my new son-in-law has a record player and likes albums.  I may entrust him with some of Honeys favorite.  Maybe.

Comment by kimkirt (KK) on August 14, 2012 at 1:40pm

I had read an article years before my husband died about how kids are left to deal with the "stuff", the collections as you say. The article basically said to keep it if you enjoyed it out on display, but putting up stuff in the attic for later or whatever, well, it just leaves a lot for people to deal with after. I, too, and dealing with lots of "stuff" my husband kept. Coolers full of NASCAR collectibles, I don't really want it, my son doesn't really either, but my husband loved it. How can I put a price on his memories and things he loved? But I don't want to keep it up in the attic for someone else to deal with either. HUGS to you, I loved your sentence that you will start investing in memories and experiences instead of material items. Those can never be given away!