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eBay Commissioned Survey
Intentional vs Unintentional Collectors
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• Display/Number
• Where Found?
• What's Collected
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A recently commissioned survey on the State of the Collectibles Market, and on Collectors in general, unearthed a few facts that I feel are especially interesting. And thanks to eBay, I'm able to share the survey and findings with you. If you're reading this, you're most likely an Intentional Collector, but do the rest of the findings fit you?

Sellers should finding these results especially interesting as it definitely could help when working on inventory or marketing.

The first question asked was -- Do you or does anyone else in your household collect anything?

If the answer was "yes", they were considered (for the purpose of this survey) an Intentional Collector.

If the answer was "no", they were given an explanation by the interviewer of what was considered a collection. If the respondent then answered yes after the explanation, they were considered (for the purpose of this survey) Unintentional Collectors.

Intentional Collectors

Collector Behavior

  • 40% are Serious Collectors
  • Search for specific items for collection
  • Accumulate valuable or unique items
  • Dedicate more space for collection at home
  • Consider collecting more exciting for their generation than their parents
  • More like to collect conversation pieces and because of the thrill of the hunt
  • Moderately emotional about their collections
  • More likely to keep collections locked away in a safe place display at home for decorative value
  • Collect because of family traditions or out of nostalgia
  • Is a Hobby for 15%, sports is the only more frequent hobby.

    • Collection Habits

  • Collect pottery/glass/porcelain; dolls, sports memorabilia; animal-themed items
  • Have more valuable collections
  • Start collecting earlier: at 18 years
  • Spend more on collections
  • Buy additional items in Regular, Specialty stores & Online

    		•  Unintentional Collectors

    Collection Behavior
  • Realize that they are collectors only when reminded
  • 22% are serious collectors
  • Only add to collections when come across new items
  • Interest in collecting comes and goes
  • Accumulate valuable or unique items
  • Collect because of family traditions
  • Use collections in daily life and often consider it best part of collecting
  • Only 3% mentioned collecting as a hobby, enjoy sports, reading, arts/craft work, exercise
  • More likely to perceive collector as a person accumulating sets of items that are alike

    • Collection Habits

  • Collect: home decor, books or movies, coins, autographs, paper & writing
  • Almost 80% have never sold/traded items from their collection
  • Have less valuable collections
  • Start collecting at 19 years
  • More like to buy additional items in Regular & Speciality Stores

    • Next >>   Who? Display? Number? ;    Where Collectibles are Found?;    What's Collected?

    Information/Graphs Provided by eBay

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