Does your immediate family know what your game collection is worth?

[Flare65]

Just was thinking about this the other day.  I've got a few gems in my collection and have spent some serious money the past 15+ years.   The wife is basically clueless as the the value of it all and isn't a gamer by any means.  Same for my parents/sister & brother in-law.

If something happens to me, I just don't want my collection dumped on ebay for pennies on the dollar.  The wife has suggested taking pictures of it all and putting it in a word document on what the expensive games are so she could recover some of the investment.

I guess i must be getting older since I'm starting to think about this kinds of stuff.  At least I'm not 40 yet....

Anyone else have the same concerns?

[Mzo]

I'd rather my library be disseminated amongst my closest friends.  Hopefully with little violence.

I always joke around and say "Bury me with my games," like the guy in Sunset Riders.

As a side question, if you happen to have a giant library of games before marriage, has anyone considered a pre-nup agreement, just in case?

[bob]

We have it fully insured and games are itemized in my will.

[Flare65]

We have it fully insured and games are itemized in my will.

Seriously?

[xcrement5x]

My wife has an idea has a rough to the value of everything, but probably would need some help specifically identifying what is what are top dollar items.  I've told her to talk to a close friend of mine about it all if something happens to me, he would be able to help her out with it all.

[ToyMachine78]

My spouse doesn't know the value of items, but she does know how much has been spent on it... and isn't happy about it lol

[Tatsujin]

nope..If I say, I will die.

[xcrement5x]

nope..If I say, I will die.

Lol!  Because of the amount you've spent on it, or because they want to cash out your collection?

[HailingTheThings]

I'd rather my library be disseminated amongst my closest friends.  Hopefully with little violence.

I always joke around and say "Bury me with my games," like the guy in Sunset Riders.

As a side question, if you happen to have a giant library of games before marriage, has anyone considered a pre-nup agreement, just in case?

Hahahahahahaha.

[geise]

nope..If I say, I will die.

Lol!  Because of the amount you've spent on it, or because they want to cash out your collection?

Haha!  Probably a little of both.  Tats with all that you could probably put both your kids through college here in the States.

[esteban]

nope..If I say, I will die.

Lol!  Because of the amount you've spent on it, or because they want to cash out your collection?

Haha!  Probably a little of both.  Tats with all that you could probably put both your kids through college here in the States.

Hahahahaha.

Tats has to move it all to the US for it to be worth anything.  .

[FiftyQuid]

Are you kidding?  My wife comes home from the store all the time with stuff and when I ask her how much it cost I just get "Oh, I don't know."  It doesn't matter if it's a bag of carrots or a new car.

No one in my family knows what my games are worth.  The closest I've come is telling my wife is that I'm in the $2K range.  I'm not lying to her, but there are things she doesn't need to know.  I don't tell her how much I spend on a game and she doesn't tell me what her last pair of shoes cost.

[HailingTheThings]

Are you kidding?  My wife comes home from the store all the time with stuff and when I ask her how much it cost I just get "Oh, I don't know."  It doesn't matter if it's a bag of carrots or a new car.

No one in my family knows what my games are worth.  The closest I've come is telling my wife is that I'm in the $2K range.  I'm not lying to her, but there are things she doesn't need to know.  I don't tell her how much I spend on a game and she doesn't tell me what her last pair of shoes cost.

Fair enough.

[Miracle_Warrior]

I have recently liquidated everything I didn't see myself playing anymore or wanting to pass down to my kids for one reason or anohther.  At this point I have everything recorded in a database.  Because a lot of my stuff is Japanese, my wife won't have a clue as to where to even start if something were to happen to me.  I don't think she would sell my collection anyway, since my son has taken a real interest in it and I've taught him a lot about what we have and some of the significance of it. 

I have rough prices tied to everything in my database so that in the event my wife does sell my stuff, she has an idea of the relative value of each item.

[NecroPhile]

Nobody knows the exact value (not even me, really), but they know it's worth more than a couple hundred.  If they choose to dump it all on eBay in one big lot instead of trying to maximize profits, I won't give a shit because I'll be dead.

[CGQuarterly]

I don't even know what my stuff is worth.  I gave my wife a ballpark figure once of $10k, but I think that might be low.  I've scored a lot of awesome deals over the years, and I collect Apple ][ stuff and old Lego sets as well and both tend to be pretty valuable when you get in to the more sought-after stuff. 

I can understand some people being apprehensive about their wife knowing what their shit is worth (especially if it's because they're spending too much money or their wives want them to sell it all off and spend the money on something else), but it's important that they know.  What if you die suddenly?  If she thinks its all worthless crap, then it's going to Goodwill when she could unknowingly be getting rid of some of the most valuable stuff in the house.

[esadajr]

If they choose to dump it all on eBay in one big lot instead of trying to maximize profits, I won't give a shit because I'll be dead.

there you go

[esadajr]

they only know it is worth a ton to me in terms of fun. I don't have anything valuable as in "videogame bubble" valuable (I think).

If anything, I'd be more concerned as to making sure people who appreciatte the stuff get it.

[MotherGunner]

What if you die suddenly?  If she thinks its all worthless crap, then it's going to Goodwill when she could unknowingly be getting rid of some of the most valuable stuff in the house.

This.  My wife also knows a ballpark figure.  Does anyone know what happened to the collections of the recently deceased members?

[esteban]

Answer: No.

[Tatsujin]

nope..If I say, I will die.

Lol!  Because of the amount you've spent on it, or because they want to cash out your collection?

Haha!  Probably a little of both.  Tats with all that you could probably put both your kids through college here in the States.

Hahahahaha.

Tats has to move it all to the US for it to be worth anything.  .

hahaha... trüe on all levels

[CGQuarterly]

What if you die suddenly?  If she thinks its all worthless crap, then it's going to Goodwill when she could unknowingly be getting rid of some of the most valuable stuff in the house.

This.  My wife also knows a ballpark figure.  Does anyone know what happened to the collections of the recently deceased members? 

I don't know, but I've actually thought of leaving instructions for someone (my wife or a friend) to come to the forums to get help in distributing my stuff.

[MotherGunner]

What if you die suddenly?  If she thinks its all worthless crap, then it's going to Goodwill when she could unknowingly be getting rid of some of the most valuable stuff in the house.

This.  My wife also knows a ballpark figure.  Does anyone know what happened to the collections of the recently deceased members? 

I don't know, but I've actually thought of leaving instructions for someone (my wife or a friend) to come to the forums to get help in distributing my stuff.

Except that though unlikely, there is still a chance someone here might take advantage of a mourning and emotional wife.  I would add specific usernames and ensure transactions results are made public if possible.

[PCEngineHell]

Just make a will, but don't inform anyone of the value of anything outside of the will, ever. It is no ones business what your stuff is worth in advance. All it will do is generate issues right after you die, if not prior in your marriage and with your rebellious problem teenagers looking to score quick cash, let alone with family members bickering amongst themselves on who gets what with cash signs in their eyes after you die.

 And also, state in the will that anything game related will need to be properly re-evaluated for current market values by a professional, since going rates can change from year to year. State also to be sold by a professional with references and experience in game sales, with the money from the sales going to whomever it is you choose in the will.

[CGQuarterly]

What if you die suddenly?  If she thinks its all worthless crap, then it's going to Goodwill when she could unknowingly be getting rid of some of the most valuable stuff in the house.

This.  My wife also knows a ballpark figure.  Does anyone know what happened to the collections of the recently deceased members? 

I don't know, but I've actually thought of leaving instructions for someone (my wife or a friend) to come to the forums to get help in distributing my stuff.

Except that though unlikely, there is still a chance someone here might take advantage of a mourning and emotional wife.  I would add specific usernames and ensure transactions results are made public if possible.

That's what I meant.  Leave her instructions to seek out a particular person.

[geise]

Can you really put a price on nostalgia? 

Apparently so:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cotton-Fantastic-Night-Dreams-Brand-New-Sealed-US-Version-Turbo-Duo-Turbo-Grafx-/161228012755?pt=Video_Games_Games&hash=item2589f03cd3

[wildfruit]

When dreamcast is down with the hipsters then i'll be rich

[HailingTheThings]

Can you really put a price on nostalgia? 

Apparently so:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cotton-Fantastic-Night-Dreams-Brand-New-Sealed-US-Version-Turbo-Duo-Turbo-Grafx-/161228012755?pt=Video_Games_Games&hash=item2589f03cd3

That guy has re-listed that game so many times... He just doesn't seem to understand things.

[jeffhlewis]

I've got a sizable renter's insurance policy in case of emergency, and everything I own is well documented.

I've thought a lot about this though - in the event of an emergency, how the hell would you convince an insurance company that a bunch of old games are worth north of $10,000? I could see that being a major issue.

[Opethian]

I have instructed the executor of my last will and testament burn all my video games as they are worthless. see you in hell fuckers!

[esteban]

I have instructed the executor of my last will and testament burn all my video games as they are worthless. see you in hell fuckers!

Awesome. 

[HailingTheThings]

I have instructed the executor of my last will and testament burn all my video games as they are worthless. see you in hell fuckers!

Wow. lol

[NecroPhile]

It's not as hardcaw as it sounds, seeing as Ope's collection consists almost entirely of obi strips.  They'll burn like... well, paper.

[Opethian]

yea I threw out the games a while ago all I have left are empty cases and obi strips. I can be a total collectard with none of the guilt!

[MotherGunner]

So long as Opeth is playing in hell, I guess I'm with you!  Btw, I saw Opeth on their last show in the U.S. in Santa Cruz.  Helluva show.  That was my 3rd Opeth concert too.  Can't wait until they come back around after their new album is finished!

[Joe Redifer]

Does my immediate family know what my collection is worth? Hell, I don't even know what my collection is worth. Maybe $1000?

[ToyMachine78]

Does my immediate family know what my collection is worth? Hell, I don't even know what my collection is worth. Maybe $1000?

Riiiiight..... Were talking inflation adjusted dollars Joe. Lol

[roflmao]

I'm with Joe here.  My wife probably doesn't know what the collection is worth because it's never been a "collection." This is stuff I play regularly and has never been an "investment."

She does know I have a ton of it, and if I were to ever kick the bucket before her, it probably wouldn't last long.  And I wouldn't give a damn what she sold it for.  As NecroPhile posted, I'd be dead.

[Psycho Punch]

Come to think about it, I would have many other things to worry about with my brain turned off to worry about something I can't take to the heavens (if it exists). It's funny and sad at the same time, we can have a top collection but one day we will have only the dust of our bones and a wooden coffin on our "collection".

Not to sound like a depressive guy, but what's the meaning of life anyway? If I'm a super collectard or if I am that super radical guy who does montain climbing, bungee jumping and that crap once a week, in 100 years what I did is going to be irrelevant. You might think that's a little off topic but it really isn't.

[roflmao]

Not to sound like a depressive guy, but what's the meaning of life anyway? If I'm a super collectard or if I am that super radical guy who does montain climbing, bungee jumping and that crap once a week, in 100 years what I did is going to be irrelevant. You might think that's a little off topic but it really isn't.

Where I'm at right now (can't say things won't change) is that life is more about experiences than stuff.  I'd much rather spend time doing something new or fun with people I enjoy than purchasing something for a shelf.  In the end, all the rare shit you've (I've) acquired doesn't mean squat.  Spending your life *doing* meaningful things that you can look back at holds more worth to me.

[TheClash603]

I've got a sizable renter's insurance policy in case of emergency, and everything I own is well documented.

I've thought a lot about this though - in the event of an emergency, how the hell would you convince an insurance company that a bunch of old games are worth north of $10,000? I could see that being a major issue.

My renters insurance does not cover collectibles, so you may have a problem if yours is the same.  My renters insurance does cover the replacement value of "video games," and in discussing it with the insurance agent this is kind of a flat rate per video game.  You should give your agent a call for peace of mind sake.

In my experience anyone that has had lost stuff due to flooding, fire, theft, etc. is always screwed by the insurance company.  I expect that I will be able to get some $ back, but realistically, I do not believe it would be near the replacement value.

At the end of the day, I agree with the Professor's assessment.  Wife/gf/family doesn't need to know about something they don't quite understand, but do your best to explain in a will.  While you are alive you don't want the games causing any conflict.  When you are dead hopefully the will takes care of everything, but if not, you're dead...

[thesteve]

Simple answer, no.....and neither do i 2

[jeffhlewis]

I'm going to request that my coffin is filled with copies of Alex Kidd. Like packing peanuts.

[esteban]

I'm going to request that my coffin is filled with copies of Alex Kidd. Like packing peanuts.

[RoyVegas]

Everything Turbo that I own is kept individually in USPS flat rate boxes with price tags attached.  I monitor prices and change them hourly based on going eBay rate.  That way if something happens to me, my family can get top dollar and not have to worry about packing or shipping.

[roflmao]

You should create an app to do that for your you, Roy. You'd make oodles.

[Tatsujin]

rolfnaolol!!!

[mossman43]

When I bite the dust my stuff goes to my daughter. She might only be six, but she has enjoyed looking for games with me and plays retro much more than new gen. If you ask her what happens to daddy's games when he gets old...she replies "I take it and keep adding games and then give it to my kids when I'm old" to top it all off, you ask her "Bonk or Mario?" She says "duh..Bonk"

[roflmao]

to top it all off, you ask her "Bonk or Mario?" She says "duh..Bonk"

[HailingTheThings]

When I bite the dust my stuff goes to my daughter. She might only be six, but she has enjoyed looking for games with me and plays retro much more than new gen. If you ask her what happens to daddy's games when he gets old...she replies "I take it and keep adding games and then give it to my kids when I'm old" to top it all off, you ask her "Bonk or Mario?" She says "duh..Bonk"