Owning everything PJ obsession...becoming a bit much

halv

So a few weeks back Cd Universe had the Live on Ten Legs box set on sale for $39. A pretty good deal. I didn't buy the box when it first came out, just got the cd, but I have been regretting it a bit as I would like the vinyl. After some shipping issues it ended up not showing up and I am getting a refund, but they are giving me the option to buy it again at the same price. However, I'm starting to wonder if I am just blowing money on this stuff. I mean in the end it's all about the music. I have the cd. Vinyl is great but do I really need it for every single release??? When does it become too much. I have a bunch of bootleg dvd's I've paid a few bucks for, cd's filled with demos' shows, vinyl singles, etc, etc. Who has the time to listen or watch all of this? Not to mention all the t-shirts and posters I don't have enough wall space for.

I think I need to join a Pearl Jam merch support group!

DS1119

I know exactly what you mean. That's why now I only purchase things I can flip on Ebay.







































kidding :P

just dave

I wish i had alot of the vinyl, and wish my show count was up from 9. I have a few vinyls, wish i had binaural and no code as they are my fav albums. i love art rock posters and own the book, but i am not going to spend on posters i don't like. I don't have any posters only those in the book.

i just don't have the cash that some have.

i'm a horrible fan

BinFrog

Don't let it get to you. Collectibles are fun if you can afford them, but don't let it stress you out. Some people think that missing out on a limited availability release is the end of the world. Examine your priorities. It's fun to have rare stuff, don't get me wrong. But it comsumes some people.

I have a lot of collectible PJ items, and I missed the boat on others. The music is what means the most. The other stuff is just supplemental fun. If you go broke doing it, you won't enjoy it. All things in moderation. I guess having a family now puts some things in a different perspective, but I've given up thinking I need to have everything. I've got a good collection, but I'm never going to open a PJ museum. And no-one thinks any less of me if I pass on a limited item.

Leyna Minai

Just think of it as a hobby, and expensive hobby, but I think most hobbies are!
Enjoy all of the things you have! I don't think you'll regret it
It makes me happy to see all of my Pearl Jam items. so I will continuously buy it!

Suziemay

BinFrog wrote:

And no-one thinks any less of me if I pass on a limited item.

Or so they tell you.

Kidding!

I, too, am guilty of the PJ merch obsession. I'm trying to bring it down a notch just because I feel like I've gone off the deep end since Alpine, but like BinFrog says, I'm not stressing out too much about it either way (whether I get something limited or if I get it whether or not I should have).

Just know that you're not alone!

PKTrekGirl

There are days around here when I'm actually glad I have limited funds and live in Alaska. Buying single-record vinyl or vintage posters on ebay for $250 is completely out of the question for me, and traveling to shows is even more out of reach, financially. So it is easy for me to opt out of alot of the angst that goes on around here centered around limited edition vinyl, older vinyl, posters, or ticketing.

I would love to attend a show, especially. But I really doubt I'll ever be able to afford it. Not when it's a struggle to keep all the bills paid. I have purchased some things from 10c when I have a bit of spare cash...but always at original price or less - preferably when there is a sale. If I can't get it for the original sales price or less, it's out of my league. I've not used my ebay account in a few years, and I don't think my Paypal account is even open anymore.

In a general sense, that is a bit depressing...but it does relieve me of a lot of the seemingly weekly frustrations around here, when people miss out on this or that thing. I feel bad for others...but not really for myself.

I've found some pals around here who have also opted out of the merch craze (for the most part), for one reason or another, and those new friendships are worth alot more to me than a benny or a poster.

My advice: Just keep focused on what you came here for to begin with. It's about the music and the people. The rest is just 'stuff'.

halv

You are all right....just keep it fun. I've set some limits in the past that I stick with. Only buy posters from shows I've been to, never buy anything on e-bay, etc. Super pumped about my PJ Twenty vinyl showing up though! Tomorrow should be the day and got a great price on Amazon.ca. Patience can pay off sometimes to. Got the Ten Box Set at 50% a year later.

PSUS2H

Looking for a white backspacer, so yeah, hook line and sinker.

PKTrekGirl

halv wrote:

You are all right....just keep it fun. I've set some limits in the past that I stick with. Only buy posters from shows I've been to, never buy anything on e-bay, etc. Super pumped about my PJ Twenty vinyl showing up though! Tomorrow should be the day and got a great price on Amazon.ca. Patience can pay off sometimes to. Got the Ten Box Set at 50% a year later.

Yep - it's good to have some clear guidelines for yourself - items you will and won't buy, in order of priority. And I agree - patience is sometimes the key (especially when it comes to non-limited items).

For example, I happened to have a bit of spare money earlier this year when they had that bootleg sale, and I was able to get a large chunk of my 'wishlist' items for a discount - IIRC, it was, like, 20% off or something! Getting the bootlegs is my #1 top priority, in terms of merch acquisition (after any new albums that come out, of course), so for me, that was an awesome sale! Music first.

As for posters, I've stayed away from them, as a rule. In fact, there are only 2 that I really want - I'd love the Edmonton poster because it goes with some existing art I have in my house...and I'd REALLY love the EV Detroit poster because I'm a big Red Wings fan. I doubt I'll be able to get either one (I would imagine the EV one is practically unattainable - and certainly not in a price range I'll ever be able to afford)...but oh well. It would be cool to have (that EV Detroit poster might be my 'Holy Grail', I suppose) but if I never get them, no lives will be lost. There is no possible way I could afford posters at a ridiculous mark-up, and that's that. Not if I want to have gas to put in my car to go to work. So I'll just have to do without.

abhijeet

I buy t-shirts, wear them out and throw them away. The rest is just meaningless to me.

The only thing I'm really attached to is the music, to be honest... only on CD and DVD, at that.

demetrios

I'm been visiting many times The Rehabilitation Centre for Pearl Jam Fan's with help on my Pearl Jam collecting addiction but they haven't treated my illness since '91.

beeswax

buy it if your heart really says "i want it"

i own all regular albums. well, of course. some vinyl, bootlegs, videos, posters.. but all those items mean something to me. the poster and bootleg to a great evening. the vinyl from my favourite songs.. to me, that what it's about. not about having it all.

i have this old ten-collectors-box and recently noticed how dirty is is and thought "oh my, what a bad collector are you!" but i don't care, cause i wouldn't sell it anyways. it's just part of the memory.

though i sometimes like to buy pearl jam stuff i don't necessarily need (deluxe edition, eg), just to support the band and the team. sounds naive, huh?

i also don't go to every show. i probably would if i had the time/money. but in the end, even one show makes me happy. and it's not a contest, right? though i have the feeling some people think it is..

and i think poison idea were right. record collectors are pretentious assholes :P

iOnlyownMymind

there's people that feel they need to buy it all to be a true "hardcore fan and that it has to be from 10c to support the band. Please, the band gets compensated no matter where you buy the shit and they certainly aren't hurting for money. The $25 tshirts + shipping and $70 bluerays + shipping is them knowing they can sell whatever no matter the price tag. Its getting out of hand, never used to be this bad.

demetrios

iOnlyownMymind wrote:

The $25 tshirts + shipping and $70 bluerays + shipping is them knowing they can sell whatever no matter the price tag. Its getting out of hand, never used to be this bad.

The shirts were pretty much like this for years (that I know buying from the club & at the show's). And the Blu-ray release was the first (well second after Ed's Water On The Road release) of it's kind with the 10club & Pearl Jam. Well, a first 3 disc set. If they made a gazillion of these Deluxe Edition sets think Amazon & Best Buy (and all those retail stores) would be selling them much cheaper then the $70 dollar 10club price?

Exclusive is a bitch! That's what out of hand. All these "exclusive" to one certain country. Excluding any other country. With contests, with offers, with services. Take the Toronto Night 1 '11 official audio bootleg. It's available "exclusive" to google music which isn't available for Canada residents. A show, played in Canada, not available for Canadians. Now isn't that a bitch? THAT is getting out of hand.

LeatherMosquitoMan

I have way too much PJ shit. Way, way too much...

And i'll keep buying more..

The Oracle

LeatherMosquitoMan wrote:

I have way too much PJ shit. Way, way too much...

And i'll keep buying more..

that.

Just CD's, DVD's do me (+ 1 PJ20 book). A man's gotta know his limitations...thanks Clint....