What d'you think will be the apex of PSB collectibles value?

[lalolalo]

I just got to think about it since I was reading some posts on the collectors discussion forum about the yes box.
And I wonder how much and for how long can the value of some collectibles raise.

Will there be a time when suddenly my collection doesn't worth a penny? Or at least less than what I spent on it?
I mean, my niece doesn't even know who the Pet shop boys are. What would it be the value of my collection if contemporaries don't know who they are.
That's why for example I always open my items, because I might be the last one that enjoys them. And that's of course the reason why I don't buy twice of something.
If my nepehws or nieces wanted to sell my collection... who would buy it? People with enough money probably already have most of it, and other wouldn't spend much on a band that's probably long gone.

If you ask me, other than the Being boring 12" (That I specifically instructed my family they must cremate me with it) the rest of my collection will probably be stored somewhere until one of my nephews sell it for a couple bucks, or even donates them.

Check for example this guy who started selling his collection these days. He's got really expensive rare items. Is anybody buying them? Who would pay 900 for a Pet shop boys umbrella in 10 years?

So, my question is:
Do you think there will be a point where PSB collectibles start drastically losing value?
Am I kidding myself thinking I will sell my $2000 vinyl in 10 years if I got sick and need the money?

[Gabby]

It's like anything - the prices fluctuate depending on supply and demand. Something is only worth money to a person who wants to buy it. Scarcity helps of course, but if a market gets flooded that item is of less value.

Autographs are also a good one - if someone was famous and autographed only one thing their entire career, then passed away, the value of that one autograph could be huge. If that person signed everything all the time, they devalue their own autograph.

I love my PSB signed stuff, but it really doesn't increase the value of anything of theirs anymore.

The Yes VF boxset is limited - and would increase in value if you owned another Yes boxset and destroyed one of them (because you're making that item even more scarce).

I think PSB are etched in history now, so I don't think there's any danger of them really being forgotten (sure some people will not know them, but there'll be others who will continue to remember them).

My collection is something I don't enjoy as much as I'd like, mainly due to lack of time/life not allowing for it. Hopefully, if I make it to retirement, I'll be able to properly enjoy those items like I did as a teenager. That's the plan anyway!

[lalolalo]

It's like anything - the prices fluctuate depending on supply and demand. Something is only worth money to a person who wants to buy it. Scarcity helps of course, but if a market gets flooded that item is of less value.

Autographs are also a good one - if someone was famous and autographed only one thing their entire career, then passed away, the value of that one autograph could be huge. If that person signed everything all the time, they devalue their own autograph.

I love my PSB signed stuff, but it really doesn't increase the value of anything of theirs anymore.

The Yes VF boxset is limited - and would increase in value if you owned another Yes boxset and destroyed one of them (because you're making that item even more scarce).

I think PSB are etched in history now, so I don't think there's any danger of them really being forgotten (sure some people will not know them, but there'll be others who will continue to remember them).

My collection is something I don't enjoy as much as I'd like, mainly due to lack of time/life not allowing for it. Hopefully, if I make it to retirement, I'll be able to properly enjoy those items like I did as a teenager. That's the plan anyway!

I'd like that last bit as another thread. "Do you really enjoy your collection as much as you want?"
I have to say I really do.
I've just discovered that Discogs app feature where you shake your phone and it randomly proposes an item in your collection. I'm using that a lot.
Also I sometimes listen to every release of the same album just for fun.
I work at home so I've got plenty of time for listening to my records.
And I don't have kids, that's a plus.

[dbaseboy]

This is a very good question and one recently posed to me (due to dealing with a probate). I unfortunately don’t enjoy my collection as much as I used to purely because of time and commitments. Being a teenager definitely gave you more freedom. I do struggle with the idea of downsizing. There are some valuable items too but for now, like Gabby, I hope to enjoy the fruits of my PSB collection in retirement. I think I’ll reflect on this more; of where I’d like the collection to end up after my passing. A museum perhaps?

[Leonidas]

Of course your collection will go up in value - no doubt about that. Do generations of young people care about the group who came out in the 60’s called The Beatles - probably not but their rare stuff has ridiculous prices. The PSB are World famous. Wait when PSB are no longer active - their prices will go up much much more. Enjoy your collection and make sure your family knows what it’s worth.

[Gabby]

This is a very good question and one recently posed to me (due to dealing with a probate). I unfortunately don’t enjoy my collection as much as I used to purely because of time and commitments. Being a teenager definitely gave you more freedom. I do struggle with the idea of downsizing. There are some valuable items too but for now, like Gabby, I hope to enjoy the fruits of my PSB collection in retirement. I think I’ll reflect on this more; of where I’d like the collection to end up after my passing. A museum perhaps?

A museum is actually a good idea - especially for those items that really are known to be extremely rare.

I guess I am lucky that I have a child who has already expressed interest in inheriting my PSB records, so even if they offer nothing more than sentimental value to them, that's really good enough for the mid-long term.

Short term I do absolutely want to give my collection more of an airing. My wife and I keep talking about having our "vinyl dance party" (basically that means just grabbing discs and playing them for fun). Hopefully there will be some quieter times where I can make that happen. To be honest though if I want to listen to Yes on vinyl, I'll crack open the standard vinyl disc - I wont just play the BoxSet versions for giggles.

[tottenhammattspurs]

There is at least three yes box sets that are incomplete or broken. I’ve seen the individual vinyl for sale, a broken Perspex box and just the signed insert all at different times.

[Pinhead44]

There is at least three yes box sets that are incomplete or broken. I’ve seen the individual vinyl for sale, a broken Perspex box and just the signed insert all at different times.

That doesn't necessarily mean that there are 3 less sets though. When my Electric box set arrived, some of the polystyrene had got stuck to just one of the vinyls with glue.I contacted the Vinyl Factory, and sent photographs, and they sent 1 replacement vinyl but didn't ask for the damaged one to be sent back, so they must hold back other copies of the vinyl for these instances.

[Leonidas]

A damaged one here and there is irrelevant. How many thousands is the Yes VF worth? I’m guessing you’d put it on the market for £7k. Not bad for I believe a £300 purchase. That’s why I was hoping for a VF Nonetheless version. I would buy 2 because it’s a great investment.

[joepsb]

I doubt you would get 7k for Yes VF
If need to think about selling mine if that was the case
I thought I had a good collection till I saw images of rare stuff from i think it was Doris and Pethead 72

[oakey]

Will there be a time when suddenly my collection doesn't worth a penny? Or at least less than what I spent on it?

I think it's very likely such a day will come. As with any collection, its monetary value is determined by the demand for the artist. This demand of record collections is likely to diminish when the artist or act stops all activities or dies. But even then, there is still a hardcore fanbase that will buy and sell stuff. Until that fanbase ages and eventually dies as well. Then there may be demand still, but a lot of collections are being sold as well, making the supply possibly higher then the demand. For legacy acts, fanbases get smaller and smaller every year of course.

Still there is a lot of demand for acts like the Beatles or Elvis, but that fanbase is really aging quickly too (and McCartney is still active of course). €7000 for a single item may be the value for some items, but if there is nobody to pay that price then the actual value is a lot less. We currently live in a time when vinyl boxes (or any vinyl record) is highly valued and appreciated, but I will tell you this vinyl wave will blow over. Remember the days when CDs where a premium product (and you could pick up any vinyl record for under €1)? Now CDs are practically worthless, as there is no demand anymore.

So not sure whether buying a Nonetheless VF box set now will turn out to be a good investment in 2040. It was for Yes in 2009, a time when vinyl was a lot less in demand (and bought) than nowadays, but in hindsight that is always easy to say. Buying a VF box can still be a lot of fun though or a nice to have item ( I personally do not buy these overpriced items though but understand others will find them appealing).

I recently read a newspaper article about somebody who inherited a lot of money some years ago. He treated himself to a new Porsche (which was considered throwing his money away by his friends), but invested most in stocks. You can guess the end of the story: The Porsche turned out to be the good investment of the two, as it was worth a lot more these days, while the stock had lost much of its value So he joked that he should have bought more Porsches instead of the stock investment. But again, hindsight of course...

I collect music, and buy CDs, LPs, blurays, musicassettes, singles, 12"es etc, but I have no children and my younger family members will have no interest whatsover in the physical items or the acts that I collect. I don't mind, because I do not see it as investment, but something nice to own and play. I also play everything: even the most expensive box I open and play: that's what music is for (keep in mind though I rarely buy a box over €80). I do not keep items sealed or in mint condition (but I treat them all carefully, which makes I can still enjoy vinyl records I bought in 1986 or CDs I purchased in 1988).

You can already see diminishing demand for acts like Prince or Bowie: once highly collectible (still to a certain extent), but it's not too difficult to pick up an out of print and limited 30 year old CD from the Black Album for less than the original selling price at the time (discogs lists a median price of €12) not even taking inflation into account, which nobody would have thought 10 years ago (when both Prince was still alive and CDs were still purchased by many). Same for Very/Relentless: I think it was expensive and hard to find at its release, selling for the price of a double CD a the time, if you could even find it in a store (in Dutch guilders fl. 60 or more probably, some €30, corrected for inflation €55 even) and you can find it now for a median price of €17 on discogs. And then there's the reissues: as soon as such an item is reissued, it becomes much less rare and its value decreases (even though the reissue is not the "original", 90% of collectors appreciate it the same). This is the case with Bowie: the estate is re-releasing everything, even (previously) rare bootlegs and demos. And Bowie's most recent career spanning box sets did not sell, which is the reason they stopped at the end of the 1980s with those.

Personally I also do not have any interest to own the very first editions of the PSB CDs or vinyls. I like to have all the 12"es or albums on vinyl if they are reasonably prIced, but I will not pay excessively for the original Alternative LP box, so I don't own items like that. I would buy it when it gets reissued (same for Relentless).

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

Do you think there will be a point where PSB collectibles start drastically losing value?

A market for collectibles requires (1) interest in the items, from (2) people who can afford to buy them.

I think it will be a while yet before the fans start falling off the perch en masse.

Now CDs are practically worthless, as there is no demand anymore.

You'd be surprised. I've sold and posted 509 CDs on my Discogs store since it started just over two months ago. One advantage CDs have over vinyl is that they're cheaper and more robust to post.

Retro.

[oakey]

I also sell and buy CDs online, and there is certainly a demand for some titles, but TBH how many did you sell for more than the (original) retail price of €20 (not even taking inflation into account)? That would be revenues from an investment.

For every CD I sell for a few Euros I have literally hundreds that aren’t worth anything (I often buy CD lots, keep what I want to keep and sell off the rest).

But like vinyl, CDs will also make a comeback, albeit as part of a niche market, as streaming will not go away.

And yes, the fanbase is getting older and smaller, but also have more to spend. Whether this will last until the age of over 70 or 80 is the question. Interests come and go. None of the 70+ people I know does anything other than streaming or only listen to the radio. And this includes people who had audiophile hi end record players in the 1970s and and extensive record collection and bought a lot of CDs in the 1980s and 1990s.

So I am not talking a short-term loss of interest, but who knows what the demand will be in 20 years when the PSB are no longer active or dead, and many of us here are too. Time flies.

And who will sell our collections after we’re gone? They will end up in a thrift store at the worst or in the hands of a record store (who will pay a bulk amount of a few hundred Euros) at best. Don’t think many of our heirs will have the time to list every individual item on discogs or eBay.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

I also sell and buy CDs online, and there is certainly a demand for some titles, but TBH how many did you sell for more than the (original) retail price of €20 (not even taking inflation into account)? That would be revenues from an investment.

Not many when compared to original market price, but most of them I picked up at bargain basement prices myself.

That said, they're priced to sell... I only intend to keep about 30% of my CD collection (and about 99% of my PSB collection ). I think of it as a CD collection in reverse.

Retro.

[negative_0ne]

i'm in a similar situation. no family, or friends that have an interest in the same music.

have tons of collectibles, and originals.

never planned on selling them, but someday maybe i will, and some lucky collector
will be able to get a ton of cds, records, and cassettes, all in one big package.

i've seen several collections show up on ebay, and auction houses. so there is always a market
for items. and pet shop boys are a popular band, so there's no shortage of people.

of course, you could always list it on the forums here, as there are plenty of people hear,
that understand the value, and are still collecting items.

i'm actually still getting more, but just out of habit, i pretty much have everything digitally,
which is a lot more useful, to actually listen to the music.

the physical items are just for show mostly nowadays to me.

later
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