Poison_Us
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 27, 2009
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- 3,230
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- The land of Great Cheese and Beer
For those who just joined our club, you may have read this article by one of our members in the latest newsletter. It's fairly relevant to the hot discussions that are going on now about secrets, money and such. I have refrained from being engaged in them as I would rather hear everyone's points of view....I couldn't add anything that hasn't already been said.
But with that, I have decided to copy the words of John (no bible verse here) for all to consider....but it's something we have all faced in our bottle collecting history...even us of just collectors of almost 5 years (how time flies). I'm not posting this to take sides, or point fingers...everyone has a part in this hobby, digger, collector and dealer alike...and I respect you all....as if it wasnt for all parties, we wouldn't have most of our collection. And now, a few words from John (sorry in advance for any type-Os).
Where are the young people?
An often asked question, at bottle shows, is where are the young people?
I would like to offer my thoughts on that question. First, bottles in any category are expensive! Most collectors want the better bottles, so supply and demand forces up the price. Most young people, starting to raise families, paying a mortgage, etc., just can’t compete.
I know this statement will get a negative response but here goes. I believe that many of our present collectors and their greed is our biggest problem. Today we constantly look at price guides and/or ebay to see what a bottle is “worth†and that is the selling price we want regardless of what we paid to purchase the bottle.
Many have changed from being a collector to being a dealer. Many have lost their enthusiasm for sharing and promoting our hobby to using their knowledge and connections for a source of revenue generation.
When I first started collecting, many years ago, most of the old time collectors were more interested in promoting and encouraging new collectors then they were in the almighty dollar. If they got a deal on a bottle, they shared their good fortune, and you got a good deal.
Our present day hobby is fast becoming who has the most money, not in the true beauty and enjoyment of the bottle itself, nor is the history of the bottle. Many now hardly take time to enjoy their latest purchase before it’s on a shelf and they are off looking for another conquest.
My conclusion, for what it’s worth, if we truly want an answer to why young people are not participating, look in the mirror!
If you want to help change this, then maybe we need to get back to promoting our hobby and give the starting collectors a break. Watch their faces light up, and share their enthusiasm. Remember we had that “child like†attitude when we first started.
Fortunately, there are still a few collectors left who say, “I don’t have very much invested in that bottle, so I can give you a breakâ€. We need more of those types!
Which type are you?
But with that, I have decided to copy the words of John (no bible verse here) for all to consider....but it's something we have all faced in our bottle collecting history...even us of just collectors of almost 5 years (how time flies). I'm not posting this to take sides, or point fingers...everyone has a part in this hobby, digger, collector and dealer alike...and I respect you all....as if it wasnt for all parties, we wouldn't have most of our collection. And now, a few words from John (sorry in advance for any type-Os).
Where are the young people?
An often asked question, at bottle shows, is where are the young people?
I would like to offer my thoughts on that question. First, bottles in any category are expensive! Most collectors want the better bottles, so supply and demand forces up the price. Most young people, starting to raise families, paying a mortgage, etc., just can’t compete.
I know this statement will get a negative response but here goes. I believe that many of our present collectors and their greed is our biggest problem. Today we constantly look at price guides and/or ebay to see what a bottle is “worth†and that is the selling price we want regardless of what we paid to purchase the bottle.
Many have changed from being a collector to being a dealer. Many have lost their enthusiasm for sharing and promoting our hobby to using their knowledge and connections for a source of revenue generation.
When I first started collecting, many years ago, most of the old time collectors were more interested in promoting and encouraging new collectors then they were in the almighty dollar. If they got a deal on a bottle, they shared their good fortune, and you got a good deal.
Our present day hobby is fast becoming who has the most money, not in the true beauty and enjoyment of the bottle itself, nor is the history of the bottle. Many now hardly take time to enjoy their latest purchase before it’s on a shelf and they are off looking for another conquest.
My conclusion, for what it’s worth, if we truly want an answer to why young people are not participating, look in the mirror!
If you want to help change this, then maybe we need to get back to promoting our hobby and give the starting collectors a break. Watch their faces light up, and share their enthusiasm. Remember we had that “child like†attitude when we first started.
Fortunately, there are still a few collectors left who say, “I don’t have very much invested in that bottle, so I can give you a breakâ€. We need more of those types!
Which type are you?