I've just come up with a theory that links the issue of Collecting Burnout and the "Bubble Bursting" on retro collecting. The link and connection between the 2 phenomena are.......*drum roll*.......idiots!

Here's a provisional formula:
* Dealing with too many idiots (eg. fellow collector trades gone wrong, resellers price jacking everything, scammers) => Burnout (collecting no longer feeling fun).
* If the collecting population has more idiots than it has normal-minded collectors => Bubble Burst!

What do you think of the formula? Are there any other constants or variables that should be added?
 

Another thread about bubbles, that's what we needed.

I think your theory sucks and it's not worth commenting on but my guess is that you know that and just want to stir the pot.

Lol..... what happen to you to come up with this formula?

He's just making some conversation, I doubt he is being literal with his comments.

Dealing with a scammer or two won't make you instantly quit collecting and sell everything off. However, it will sour you and may cause you to take a break or re-evaluate your priorities. I know I've been there and haven't gotten frustrated with a deal or two. You don't make any rash decisions but you do question how much fun you are having with the hobby.

There is no bubble. Supplies won't increase relative to demand unless collectors start dying and the next generation doesn't care. Over time, prices WILL trend up as supplies dwindle and interest remains strong enough. If some massive catastrophe like a solar flare or nuclear MAD sets us back to the Stone Age or something and you happen to survive then I highly doubt the suddenly cheap games will be high on anyone's priorities, including yours (hence, why they are suddenly cheap).

like when people describe their CIB as mint condition and send it in a bubble envelope.

Totally disagree on this one. I've experienced burnout plenty of times, during times in which idiots weren't in the game full-force.

Frankly I like Burnout but not after Burnout 3 Takedown, then the games just went to crap. The best Bubble game is Bubble Bobble 2 obviously.

z = 3y + 63x where z is bubble, x is burnout, and y is getting screwed over. Also, idiots have no effect on personal burnout. I experience it when I get too into something and then I get tired of it.

Burnout Revenge is the best one!   Paradise was okay, but I'm ready for a new one (or Revenge to be backwards compatible on Xbone)
 

Wasnt into paradise myself. I played a shit ton of Burnout 3 back then, need to try revenge 

Yeah, traffic checking kind of ruined Burnout Revenge. Fun game, but less exciting weaving through cars.

 

I am fully burned out because of assholes, not idiots. I would sell the whole damn thing, but only assholes have any interest with their jack ass offers. I am about one more asshole offer away from boxing the entire thing up and having a bonfire. I would get more enjoyment out of it that way than dealing with one more asshole.

Burn out definition: when someone gets into hobby and realizes they want it all or way more than they have, proceed to buy everything they can, using up all of their money then realizing that they made a mistake and then quitting collecting abruptly when they can't afford dinner.

I was kind of surprised how quickly the Burnout series came onto the scene, and then died out. Maybe they released too many games in a short time frame and players got burned out. Wonder if they'd be able to do a revival.

Hahaha, so true

i wish the bubble burst.... lower prices  

Funny you should ask..I believe I'm currently in a phase of burnout myself. Not severe enough to quit entirely or sellout, but the type of burnout where I know I'm still going to come back to the hobby, but just need a break from the hobby.

On reflection of why I'm feeling the way I am towards the hobby, it has nothing to do with family, work or financial stress. The reason I've traced back to a period of last 1 month where I've dealt with 4 idiots/asses all at once: 1. Fellow collector who I've dealt with many times, listed something on EBay, I won the auction, but then he decided to cancel the transaction, and stopped all communications with me, then relists the game at a BIN price for roughly $75 more.. 2. Another fellow collector who I've dealt with a few times, agreed on a recent deal with a substantial amount. I paid, waited for a few weeks, after not receiving the item and not hearing from him, I messaged him what's going on. He replied, saying he's unsure of whether to post it because he's having some regrets on selling... 3. A buyer from overseas making claims of not receiving item, despite me showing him the tracking number states package has been received. He then says it's at his local post office and they charging him custom fees and want me to pay for that... 4. A local interstate seller agrees on a private deal via PayPal gift. 3-4 weeks have passed, no received item. Seller states he's lost tracking number, pretends to have been trying hard to ring local post office. Now states he can't give me partial refund because he has no spare money. He was listing around 40 sealed PS2 games. Now all his listings have been taken off. I've concluded he's a scammer, so in this case, I'm more of the idiot!

Ahhhhh...... a string of bad deals can sour one altogether so I fully understand. I have been collecting since the late 90’s and I can tell you burnout is real and it happens. Just take sometime off and circle back. I have a few times but never sold anything. I can tell you selling on eBay since ‘99 the bad deals don’t go away and the more you wheel and deal they will pop up. As far as bubble bursting that has been around since collecting became Cool or a thing to do. If you have love for it no matter how many bad deals you run into you will come back to it. Don’t  let it discourage you


 

I get burned out with ebay shipping, especially gsp. Too much cost and then you get damaged games. It really takes the fun out of buying as now I worry games will show damaged.

I've been collecting heavily since 2007, I have never felt burned out. There have been periods where my collecting slowed, but that was mostly related to being low on funds or something, not soured on the hobby. I also haven't had too many negative experiences so maybe I'm lucky in that regard.

Give it another 10 or 20.
 

​Some people don't ever burn out and that is a good thing. The key I think it to really enjoy what you are doing and to work at pace that is entertaining but not draining. 
​I have had periods of burnout but I dabble in the extremes. 
 

I'm honestly not far behind you. Selling is an absolute nightmare. I am really starting to understand dumping entire lots to collectors or a pawn shop for a loss. Sadly, ebay is actually become more reasonable than selling locally... Basically has become a pick your poison scenario.

I've had a few local deals go bad as of late but I've met some really cool people over the years collecting NES. Sadly it's true the days of finding carts for a really great price are rare and I personally have experienced buying burn out. Even when buying burn out happens I still play my NES and still have fun playing the games just like when I was a kid. I remind myself this is supposed to be fun and have to tell myself if this mass of games I own losses all its value I still have all these awesome games that are entertaining. As far as a "bubble" goes...I don't know. If you look at collecting in general people have been buying items or their childhood back for decades and those popular / collectable items still hold value today. Will we see prices level off? Sure, but the days of finding a Panic Restaurant for $20 are long gone forever. When I talk with people at my local game store most of the "speculators" have moved on to the fourth gen consoles because prices are still reasonable. I ask why Xbox or PSII and generally get a slurry of answers, but rarely do I hear someone speak about the fun they had back in 2002 with that original system. I think if you are in it for the money this hobby can become a chore rather quickly and thus result in a quick exit from the hobby. Just my thoughts  

Whenever I think of buying a new game, I in turn think of all the games I have that I really should play first.