The Sad Truth About Swap Meets and Collecting Nostalgic Things Today
I’m having a really challenging time justifying collecting anymore.
Now bare with me, whether you’re a nostalgist like me, or someone that is thinking about starting a collection of something like video games, vinyl, toys, cds, dvds, comic books, trading cards, or whatever brings you joy, this is either going to make sense to you now, or it will one day when you’ve been collecting as long as I have (Since the early 1980s).
By the way, what do you collect? Let me know in the comments — I’d love to know!
Do you remember when hitting up the local swap meet or flea market felt like you were stepping into the Cave of Wonders in the cartoon Aladdin? When you could roll up with twenty bucks and walk away with a stack of comic books, a handful of vintage action figures, and maybe even a classic video game or two? Yeah, those days feel like ancient history.
And so this last weekend’s swap meet adventure really got to me, and got me feeling a certain way. It made me feel like the thrill of the hunt has turned into a long, dry spell. Swap meets and flea markets, once the stomping grounds for hidden treasures, are now flooded with people offloading their old clothes, ugly furniture, and random kitchen appliances. The good stuff—video games, comic books, trading cards, anything dripping in nostalgic value—is almost nonexistent. And if you do happen to stumble across something worthwhile, the price tag will make you feel like you just walked into an antiquities dealer boutique rather than a bargain-hunting pawn shop. I really struggled on Saturday morning. Granted, the swap meet isn’t back in full force because of the weather, but I’ve been around all the swap meets here in San Diego, and there just isn’t much to be excited about. Even the CD finds I made aren’t enough to take me out my sad spell, I suppose. I always seem to find CDs for sale. No one seems to really care all that much about them.
So, where is all the good stuff going? Well, if someone has a decent collection, they’re not bringing it to the flea market anymore. They’re selling directly to dealers, online auction houses, or even social media groups where they can get top dollar. And let’s be honest—some dealers are fair, but many are slapping a hefty premium on nostalgia. Prices are inflated not just because of rarity, but because of the emotional attachment they know we have to these items. We’re not just buying an old NES cartridge—we’re buying a ticket back to Saturday mornings in 1988.
Scalpers are out and about all over the place and they hoard and upsell at premium prices. I see this all the time in the video game segment of collecting. I recently saw a Reddit post from a popular “Reditter” that made a specific video game’s prices skyrocket on eBay and Mercari. It’s insane what is happening in the collectibles market.
And then there’s the biggest buzzkill of all—the insider game being played at flea markets. If you think you have a shot at finding that hidden gem by getting up early and being first in line, think again. Vendors are scooping up the best finds before the gates even open. I’ve literally watched regular folks unload boxes of retro games, only to have a vendor swoop in, buy the lot, and mark them up five minutes later. After a while, you start recognizing the same faces, the same dealers, and even the runners they send out to do their bidding. It’s like watching a rigged game unfold in real time.
The result? If we’re being honest, the entire experience of collecting has become less and less enjoyable over the last few years. I’m sure for anyone that has access to collectibles and maybe just in it to flip collectibles, they see this differently. But if you know me, you know my perspective is about the experience of collecting and enjoying the hobby and the collectibles themselves, and it’s not about reselling or flipping collectibles.
So is the thrill of the hunt fading for me? That’s hard to say. It’s still early in the year and I want to see how the spring cleaning and better weather season impacts swap meets and garage sales this year. But I have to admit, I’m feeling a little jaded. I am planning on attending a few more conventions than usual this year, so I’ll have my pulse on the entire ecosystem as a whole, and I’ll share my thoughts with you at the end of the year. But if I’m being completely honest with myself, those victorious moments—when you score that long-sought-after piece for a steal—are becoming rare.
IS COLLECTING DEAD?
Has the golden age of collecting slipped away? It’s hard not to feel like what’s left is an over-commercialized, high-stakes market where the essence of nostalgia has been corrupted in some way. I hate to say it, YouTubers are also contributing to the hype and increase in cost of things. I am a content creator also, but I’ve seen YouTubers with very large followings post about how much they flipped things for and I believe that has to impact a little.
At the same time, I’m a hopeful and positive person. I know the younger generation is also starting to understand that physical media is important, and that’s a win for all of us as we see more digital items produced in tangible formats. I’m hoping it’s all cyclical, but that’s hard to tell right now because we are on the bridge of physical to digital life. So, only time will tell.
So, to my fellow collectors—what are you doing out there? Are you feeling the same frustration? Are you narrowing down your collecting choices, focusing on one or two categories instead of going wide? Are you collecting less altogether? And most importantly, how are you finding joy in the hobby despite the shifting landscape out there?
Maybe the answer lies in adapting—moving to online communities, trading with fellow collectors rather than chasing overpriced deals. Maybe it’s about shifting the mindset, appreciating what we already have instead of chasing what’s increasingly out of reach. Something I keep saying to myself is to refine my current collection, make my studio more cozy, and enjoy what I have.
Sound off in the comments—how’s collecting treating you these days?
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Hey friends, I’m John, and many of you know me as That 80s Dude and the author of Nostalgia Nation. If you’re viewing my content for the first time, first of all, welcome! * My newsletter/channel is a variety publication that explores nostalgia, collecting culture, physical media, and I occasionally drop fun interviews with special guests and retrospectives about films or shows we loved from back in the day. Thanks for checking out this post, and if you enjoy it, I’d be grateful if you upgraded from free to subscribed (for less than a cup of coffee a month) to show your support.
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