How do I get over my fear of selling stuff?

[Axtman]

I have a bunch of stuff just lying around collecting dust. How do I get over my fear of selling it and letting it go?

[OldDog52]

Right now it's useless stuff collecting dust. Selling it will be "Found Money"!

That line of reasoning always works for me. I try not to have sentimental attachments to "stuff".

[Muddslide]

Yeah, it's just "stuff" after all.

I collect music and movies and a few books. I have a pretty minimal collection of instruments/music gear. I try to keep it minimal, but that's partly because I'm always on the move. I have never lived in one state for more than three years in a row, even though I've lived in some states more than once.

It's nice to have "stuff" around to keep you occupied, keep you from being bored, keep you from getting bummed out when you are down, etc. But as "zen" as this sounds, it is really true that in a sense your possessions own YOU more than you own them.

I had a friend in college who could fit everything he owned--everything--into an army duffel bag and a backpack. He also had a little suitcase full of music tapes, a little jambox and an acoustic guitar. He could literally pack up and pick up and move carrying everything he owned on his person in one trip (which he then piled into his one other possession--his car.)

That made a pretty big impression on me.

I read of some modern anthroplogist who said that in the Western World there were really two paradigms to which people subscribed.

One is the consumerist path in which people just acquire things and consume goods.

The other is the experiential path, where people focus more on living and DOING instead of owning and keeping.

Of course, nobody is all one or the other, and leaning towards one path doesn't preclude you from going down the other path a little, but I think he had a point.

[Unrepresented]

When trying to sell stuff, I find it most effective to divide up labor between various assistants. You'll want someone to hold the stuff. This should never be the same guy who is selling the stuff. Ideally you have another gentleman available to ensure your business transactions are within accordance of all potential overseers. As long as you're spreading the risk among a large enough base, and all parties are properly trained on their respective roles, your concerns should be minimal.

[bassrique]

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

When trying to sell stuff, I find it most effective to divide up labor between various assistants. You'll want someone to hold the stuff. This should never be the same guy who is selling the stuff. Ideally you have another gentleman available to ensure your business transactions are within accordance of all potential overseers. As long as you're spreading the risk among a large enough base, and all parties are properly trained on their respective roles, your concerns should be minimal.

That sounds like a fustercluck. Wait, ... that's shctick, no?

[jmattbassplaya]

+1 to the "found money" stance.

It's actually really easy once you see your PayPal account magically go up in cash

[Bongolation]

I don't fear selling stuff, I just fear dealing with the idiots and grifters and general undesirables who answer ads.

It's a perfectly normal and healthy reaction.

Occasionally I luck out, but it's not something I want to try to do often.

[lowfreq33]

I had a huge collection of comic books I had considered selling for quite some time. Never got the chance, they were all ruined when we had a flood. If I'd sold them I'd have gotten a couple grand. Ended up getting nothing.

If you aren't using something get rid of it. The cash will be a lot more useful than a dust collector.

[Phil Smith]

Originally Posted by Axtman

I have a bunch of stuff just lying around collecting dust. How do I get over my fear of selling it and letting it go?

You have to figure out where the fear comes from and it can be some event that happened in your life that has turned you into a "hoarder".

Harmless Pack Rat or Compulsive Hoarder?

[NOT]

If they're just collecting dust, you do not really need them. Once you sell it, you will quickly get over it.

[Joe Gress]

How many times have you used it over the last year? Less than 5times? More than 5 Times?

Less than, you can easily borrow it if you really need to. More than, I'd prolly keep it.

Not used at all? Sell it man. Money in the bank or pocket is useful all of the time. Or save it for a rainy day. (emergencies, surprise gifts to entice sex, blow, etc...)

[Ayce]

Originally Posted by NOT

If they're just collecting dust, you do not really need them. Once you sell it, you will quickly get over it.

Or that's when you find out you needed it after all.
I had my gear that I hadn't used since 97, and lugged it all over Southern ON for 11 years, never really used it. Got into another hobby, and sold it all for computer parts, etc. Now I want to get back into playing, so I have to get some new to me gear to restart with. D'OH!

[hover]

I've been on an incredible "purge" lately. I have reservations much as you, but I seriously hate clutter more. I HAD an attic full of utter crap until recently...if it wasn't "memories-grade" stuff, and I hadn't looked at it in more than a year, it got yard-saled. Not to the tune of big money, but I was able to get some other stuff paid.

I have a bunch of surplus gear I just wanna off too, as I want to build a "birthday bass". Just need to do it, you know? As everyone has said, it's just stuff. if you just don't have emotional attachment to it, don't make yourself into a new episode of "hoarders", that shizz is sad. Make some coin.

[Dirk Diggler]

If you sell it, most likely if you later decide you miss it, buy a replacement, most times cheaper. That's what EBay is ideal for.
Now if you have a custom made bass or something I can understand the concern, but a production model, sell it now there should be no fear.
Dirk

[MJ5150]

I have the same problem. I could dig up some tool in my shed that I hadn't touched in five years, and make up a legitimate reason I had to keep it. I had to get help from someone else, my wife and a buddy, to sell those type of items. It involved detaching myself from the emotional reason I had the item and realizing I could buy another one if I absolutely needed it again. I think what helped for me too is we agreed I could keep some items, so it wasn't like I had to ditch everything.

Like hover, I have been on a purge lately too. Once you get going, it's easy to start blowing stuff out. It is actually a very liberating experience, at least it was for me once I got over the fear.

-Mike

[HEIST]

My rule is if I haven't touched it because I have not found use for it for two years, I'd let it go.

[Lindsay]

Originally Posted by Muddslide

I read of some modern anthroplogist who said that in the Western World there were really two paradigms to which people subscribed.

One is the consumerist path in which people just acquire things and consume goods.

The other is the experiential path, where people focus more on living and DOING instead of owning and keeping.

Of course, nobody is all one or the other, and leaning towards one path doesn't preclude you from going down the other path a little, but I think he had a point.

Interesting post - makes you think.

I like to think I'm 50% consumerist and 50% experimental, but I fear I'm actually 80% consumerist.

I can't sell either. I suffer terrible seller's remorse from the gear I sold in my teens. I do, however, like to store my accumulated stuff efficiently and well, and that helps to offset the root problem.

[MakiSupaStar]

This thread is a thinly veiled attempt for you to brag about all stuff you have. Well we're not asking what you got. Nope.














So uh... What you got?

[hrodbert696]

Move. Several times in quick succession. After a couple of moves, you won't even bother taking the stuff out of the box, and you'll be swearing at yourself, saying, "why do I have to haul this **** AGAIN?"

Turned me from a pack rat into an eager seller of anything I haven't touched in a year.

[guy n. cognito]

Just watch one of those Hoarder shows on TLC. If that doesn't make you want to sell some stuff......you might have a problem.......