"COLLECTIBLES" - A blessing or a curse!

[FancyThat]

I wouldn't say it's just due to TBT bells... someone posting around a lot or someone who can do something for them (whether signatures or art) does make it a bit easier despite the fact that there is only so much you can do to earn them. And I'm sure if people could buy them [with real money], many people would considering some sales that have happened.

That said, I think the issue is in the stock being limited. Even though there's a lot of mentions of being a lot of work, only the admins are in control of the store and it'd be less work if nothing had to be restocked/nothing was limited. Nobody would be constantly asking when something is going to be back because nothing will ever be gone in the first place.

And they are called Collectibles, not a privilege. While I'm not saying they can't feel that way (they obviously do to some people--as I've said previously, I could care less if everyone had everything since it doesn't remove any "value" of mine--it's special because of how I earned it, more existing shouldn't have any effect on that), this is on a forum for a game where collecting is a thing--there's even a badge for getting so many different items in your catalog. And while there are some exclusive items (which, you can still get a large amount legitly by just deleting a character, remaking them, and re-getting said item), it's a guarantee it'll be there again next year and it's not a limited stock. And the things that are limited stock do not really matter since the stores are individual to each person. The only issue would be if you share a copy of AC and most people I know do not.

Continuing back on the previous line of thinking--the item that really started the frenzy, so to speak, was a Pokeball who's slogan has been Gotta Catch 'em All. Literally just two things that shout "COLLECT THEM ALL" which really ingrains it.

I don't feel I wasted anytime with my collectibles. It and replying to PMs and occasionally a post are the only reasons I'm still here. Eventually I may go forever like many other sites I collected things on, but I always still pop in every so often. No regrets since each is special to me, even if some get tainted.

I agree, it would be much better if the shop was just permanently stocked with current items and any items like pokeballs if they ever come back were permanently stocked for the limited time. and I think it would really help with all the arguments and things that seem to be going on lately and would be much fairer to members who are just starting out with them. I don't think many of us would be at all bothered because as you say our collectables are no less special because someone else has the same ones. You'd still have exclusive event collectables that you had to earn and possibly weren't available in the shop like the dusty scroll and lantern from Halloween.

 

[f11]

I agree, it would be much better if the shop was just permanently stocked with current items and any items like pokeballs if they ever come back were permanently stocked for the limited time. and I think it would really help with all the arguments and things that seem to be going on lately and would be much fairer to members who are just starting out with them. I don't think many of us would be at all bothered because as you say our collectables are no less special because someone else has the same ones. You'd still have exclusive event collectables that you had to earn and possibly weren't available in the shop like the dusty scroll and lantern from Halloween.

Like do you mean unlimited stock for like 5 minutes?

 

[LyraVale]

I agree with you guys, I don't need the collectibles to be exclusive. I just think they're cute, and I want 1 of each. I don't care if the rest of the world has them too.

I'm not an aggressive collector like that, because even when it was less expensive, I wasn't rolling in them. I have fond memories of the Easter ones, because that was such a fun event. (It was a busy and hectic weekend!) And the other memories I have are on a couple of them that were gifted to me by generous users (BiggKitty and Party Poison), or my friend gave me a bunch of TBT that allowed me to buy from the shop...those are the things I remember when I look at my collectibles.

But I can see how the game of it might be really fun for some. They like to hustle. They like to feel clever and see the collectibles as a badge of how skilled they are at negotiating etc.

IDK how we can make sure to keep both types of collectors happy. But I really hope the admins don't give up on it, since it's a really great feature of this site.

 

[FancyThat]

Like do you mean unlimited stock for like 5 minutes?

No like permanently unlimited, as the pear and orange are. Everything currently in the shop available all the time in an unlimited quantity and limited time items like the Pokeball available for that period of time in unlimited quantity. I wouldn't mind everyone having the same collectable as me as mine is no less special to me. And I'd like the chance to own collectables without having to spend IG bells on TBT and driving up the price of TBT.

You'd still have your event items as they are, so those wanting exclusive rare ones still have access to that. Just an idea I like that will unfortunately probably never happen.

 

[f11]

No like permanently unlimited, as the pear and orange are. Everything currently in the shop available all the time in an unlimited quantity and limited time items like the Pokeball available for that period of time in unlimited quantity. I wouldn't mind everyone having the same collectable as me as mine is no less special to me. And I'd like the chance to own collectables without having to spend IG bells on TBT and driving up the price of TBT.

You'd still have your event items as they are, so those wanting exclusive rare ones still have access to that. Just an idea I like that will unfortunately probably never happen.

ehhh. I think if that happens it makes them not collectibles anymore, since eveyrone will have them.

 

[Prof Gallows]

No like permanently unlimited, as the pear and orange are. Everything currently in the shop available all the time in an unlimited quantity and limited time items like the Pokeball available for that period of time in unlimited quantity. I wouldn't mind everyone having the same collectable as me as mine is no less special to me. And I'd like the chance to own collectables without having to spend IG bells on TBT and driving up the price of TBT.

You'd still have your event items as they are, so those wanting exclusive rare ones still have access to that. Just an idea I like that will unfortunately probably never happen.

That would make the shop pointless. Within a week or two everyone would have every single shop item, and if we kept the ability to own more than one, people would have tons of the same item. The demand would disappear and it would just make them some boring novelty.
If you could always have access to it and always know you could get it would you be as interested in it? And after you had it would you be interested it still? Probably not, and neither would a lot of people. So there wouldn't be any point in making any more because it would get boring.

And again, as I've mentioned numerous times before, we aren't responsible for the whole in game bell trading for on site bells. We never wanted that. We wanted people to post and to earn those bells so they could buy those items and be able to show that they were an active member of our community. But obviously it didn't work out that way.

 

[Danielkang2]

I totally agree with Gallows the reason collectibles are so sought after is because they are limited and when you see someone sell you immediately buy them. Other forums have collectibles that are unlimited and last for a short time and basically if you have the bells you have the collectible and collectibles are not popular at all on that forum.

 

[FancyThat]

That would make the shop pointless. Within a week or two everyone would have every single shop item, and if we kept the ability to own more than one, people would have tons of the same item. The demand would disappear and it would just make them some boring novelty.
If you could always have access to it and always know you could get it would you be as interested in it? And after you had it would you be interested it still? Probably not, and neither would a lot of people. So there wouldn't be any point in making any more because it would get boring.

And again, as I've mentioned numerous times before, we aren't responsible for the whole in game bell trading for on site bells. We never wanted that. We wanted people to post and to earn those bells so they could buy those items and be able to show that they were an active member of our community. But obviously it didn't work out that way.

True, I just feel a bit sorry for some of the new users who can't get collectables unless they pay lots of IG bells. It wouldn't bother me tbh if the shop was like that but then I already own things like a chocolate cake and wouldn't buy another, I can see how that would affect the shop sales. Maybe if buying was limited to a few per person and bigger re stocks were implemented or something, to give others with lower internet speeds or awkward time zones a chance during restocks. I do appreciate the points about the shop only being one part of the forum though and of course mods have more important things to worry about. It just seems these conversations always go round in circles.

I haven't brought any TBT yet, just commenting that it seems to be the only way to get certain collectables. I'm considering it for the future.

 

[Prof Gallows]

I haven't brought any TBT yet, just commenting that it seems to be the only way to get certain collectables. I'm considering it for the future.

Posting is a good way to land you bells. For that post you made 7.5 bells. You can also do services like making signatures or avatars or anything creative if you're good at that. Some people even do like in game services like clearing trees or arranging flowers for BTB.

Honestly the whole in game to on site bells thing seems like the easy way out. You're not actually earning any of the on site bells you're getting.


Also we do bring back collectibles like you're suggesting. The candies are brought back every year and we tend to include a new item or two for that year exclusively but those are more badges than anything. You gotta earn those through certain conditions, no bells involved.

 

[Chibiusa]

No like permanently unlimited, as the pear and orange are. Everything currently in the shop available all the time in an unlimited quantity and limited time items like the Pokeball available for that period of time in unlimited quantity. I wouldn't mind everyone having the same collectable as me as mine is no less special to me. And I'd like the chance to own collectables without having to spend IG bells on TBT and driving up the price of TBT.

You'd still have your event items as they are, so those wanting exclusive rare ones still have access to that. Just an idea I like that will unfortunately probably never happen.

I don't like that idea. Although it would make things easier for newbies and more "fair" to everyone, it defeats the purpose of the exclusivity of collectibles. I look at the ones like the normal cake and oranges and I don't want them because anyone can get them. I feel like the same kind of thing would happen if the admins made every collectible currently in the shop equivalent to what the orange and cake are like now.

 

[Danielkang2]

Also the cakes are limited but do you restock them as soon as they sell out?

 

[FancyThat]

Posting is a good way to land you bells. For that post you made 7.5 bells. You can also do services like making signatures or avatars or anything creative if you're good at that. Some people even do like in game services like clearing trees or arranging flowers for BTB.

Honestly the whole in game to on site bells thing seems like the easy way out. You're not actually earning any of the on site bells you're getting.

That is a good idea, I enjoy art (was my college diploma, art, design and media) and I made my signature here, and I've made things for games and art for videos. It's something I might look into . A lot less hassle than dropping lots of bells for small amounts of TBT.

- - - Post Merge - - -

I don't like that idea. Although it would make things easier for newbies and more "fair" to everyone, it defeats the purpose of the exclusivity of collectibles. I look at the ones like the normal cake and oranges and I don't want them because anyone can get them. I feel like the same kind of thing would happen if the admins made every collectible currently in the shop equivalent to what the orange and cake are like now.

I brought the plain cake even so, I think it's cute . If they ever bring in the arranging collectables thing I'll sit it next to my choc cake on display.

 

[Skyfall]

I throw this out as a thought exercise rather then a suggestion but what if ingame conversion to tbt is completely outlawed? And the shop is always stocked but the prices are raised way up? That way people who end up with the "rare" collectible are the active posters. So yellow letter is always stocked but costs like 5000 tbt. Would that solve the issue, that is, it's still exclusive but achievable.

 

[Danielkang2]

But first there would be no such thing as reselling as everything will have a set price. There will be no price fluctuation either.

 

[KarlaKGB]

Clearly you all need to experience the world of hat trading on TF2/Dota 2 where you literally have items worth tens of thousands of dollars

 

[LyraVale]

I throw this out as a thought exercise rather then a suggestion but what if ingame conversion to tbt is completely outlawed? And the shop is always stocked but the prices are raised way up? That way people who end up with the "rare" collectible are the active posters. So yellow letter is always stocked but costs like 5000 tbt. Would that solve the issue, that is, it's still exclusive but achievable.

I like the idea of outlawing in game conversion, but I don't think it's possible. People sell items, villagers, and services for TBT. They could find a way around it. I thought of this too, but it seems there's no way to police that.

I really think the best solution is to put a limit of how many people can have of one item. It's worked with the birthstones, people still want them. They still get traded.

 

[toastia]

I like the idea of outlawing in game conversion, but I don't think it's possible. People sell items, villagers, and services for TBT. They could find a way around it. I thought of this too, but it seems there's no way to police that.

I really think the best solution is to put a limit of how many people can have of one item. It's worked with the birthstones, people still want them. They still get traded.

But...I want all blue candies!

 

[LyraVale]

But...I want all blue candies!

Oh. Yeah I forgot the people that like to display 10 of one thing. :c
Ugh, there's no solution to please everyone.

We do kind of keep going around in circles. It's almost funny...it reminds me of Parks & Recreations town hall meetings...

 

[Skyfall]

Oh. Yeah I forgot the people that like to display 10 of one thing. :c
Ugh, there's no solution to please everyone.

We do kind of keep going around in circles. It's almost funny...it reminds me of Parks & Recreations town hall meetings...

Hmm, yeah, what happens to the market place? Ok, thats not the solution then either. .

 

[Jennifer]

ehhh. I think if that happens it makes them not collectibles anymore, since eveyrone will have them.

As long as they can be collected, they are still collectibles. The only thing this does is remove the elitism, honestly. Why should everyone having them make yours not worth it? Everyone will have them one day regardless.

Prof Gallows - I know I still would be, but you guys have heard my feelings on it plenty. I will never understand the view of wanting them just as bragging rights/because there's only so many versus liking the items for what they are. And for those who do like the latter, that wouldn't be in issue.

I feel most of the issues come from the people who act like the former and it's the latter who end up suffering for it. And if a new user comes and does really like the items for what they are, it's something they will immediately be slapped with knowing they can't get. I've seen people spend thousands of dollars on a site to catch up only to get screwed over by the further elitism or items that can only be gotten through narrow-minded judging or skills not everyone has.

The only thing all the limited elitist stuff does is make me not want to be apart of it at all. I would actually like collectibles more if it wasn't for that.

Collectibles =/= Exclusive. It's just what people seem to want them to be and I honestly can't understand why.

Could make it unlimited for one and that to buy more than one, there'd only be certain stocks and/or they would have to buy it through others, but that obviously wouldn't work out either.

That said, these kind of things can't just be something thrown in for fun unless you get rid of the serious part of it (IE: Making certain stocks and certain ones only gotten through certain things). These kinds of things will always cause issues so if you ever want to do them, you need to also think of the community and not just laugh at how crazy it is. You can't make it into a big thing and then go on about how it's not a big deal because if it wasn't, it would never have been developed this way in the first place. Why put more thought into something when you don't really care about it in the first place?