How do you rationalize selling an item for less than what you paid?

[geopiper]

How do you rationalize or logic your way through the upside of selling items for less than what you paid? It seems silly, but hear me out. I'm beginning to think it's time for me to sell off some pieces from my various collections fund purchasing another item I want. It's not easy for me to let pieces leave my collections and it's not something I've done often. Once an item is in my collection, it generally stays there. I don't need to sell the items from my collections to generate funds for this other item. It's just that I think it's time to downsize some of my collections and it just so happens there is another item I could put the funds towards.

I'm struggling with the thought of "future me" regretting selling off some of my pieces. I realize most objects we purchase lose money the instant it is purchased. I feel like I'd be losing money selling for less that what I paid, but I've also heard that the money was lost to me the moment I purchased the item in the first place.

Thanks for hearing me out and providing your train of thought when selling items for less than what you've paid.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

The original money left a long time ago, this is new money in the bank. If the enjoyment of the item isn't valued more than what cash it can bring I assume off it goes.

Just a thought.

I don't usually rationalize getting rid of stuff I don't want or get much enjoyment from, often just give things away or toss them. I've sold a few pipes, given a few away. If I do a large sorting I'll probably send them off and have it done by someone else, wouldn't want to mess with a bunch of them.

Then again it's funny how if some girl dumped me in my younger years I'd be whining about all the money I spent on her, if I did it I was all about how much I was saving!

Regrets, I've had a few, but then again . . .

 

[dd57chevy]

What he said

 

[tracerbullet]

I don’t rationalize it nor worry about it. If I got enjoyment out of it ( whatever it may be) than it is “the price of doing business” as long as the price is fair I’m okay

 

[68748Joe]

I figure if a particular item is just gathering dust and I foresee me never using it again, or it’s not what I expected when I bought it, I’ll move it along to at least recoup some of my investment. Except with firearms. I’ve only sold a small handful of firearms over my adult life, and it always ended up with me regretting it. So for years, I’ve not sold off any of those. I’ll leave that for my wife to do at the estate auction once I tip over.

Joe

 

[captainsousie]

So, there's more than one answer to this in my opinion.

First, there's the "new item tax." If I buy an item new, it automatically loses value when it becomes one of my possessions. This goes for cars, collectibles, pipes, tobaccos I open and jar, guns, etc. this is just a part of life and need no fretting over. If I no longer like/need/want/require the item, I'll sell it at fair market value as secondhand.

Second, there's the "I let myself get something for more than it's worth tax." This happens. I don't do proper research and I pay too much. It is just silly sentiment if I hold onto it just because I can't bear to admit I ****ed up.

Third, there's the items I bought at or below market value and it's value declined. Again, it happens. If I don't want or like it anymore, it's only my own stupid pride that keeps me from selling it. I've learned over the years to make like Elsa and let it go in those situations and get what I really want.


It all breaks down, for me, to letting go of my pride or greed to allow myself to trade/sell for something I like despite what I originally paid.

I'm other words, a lot of it comes down to pride or greed and for me, those are no longer worth my time as I pass middle age.

 

[captainsousie]

Also, I have sales/gift regrets but at least I can say I owned the thing at one time or another. Often I've found the recipient likes it so much more than I did that regrets seem a bit silly.

 

[woodsroad]

Stuff will consume you and hem you in. Toss it.
I'm 62. My "rationalization" for selling stuff (at whatever price the market will bear), giving it away or tossing it is that, in short order, it won't matter, I'll be dead. Get rid of it now, turn it into something to want or need, or just enjoy the open space it once consumed.

FWIW, I type this as I'm cleaning out my office and eliminating hobby and work stuff no longer in use. I'll be offering up my tobacco books here as soon as I uncover my scanner!

 

[Chasing Embers]

I don't. Once I deem it clutter, it goes in the trash.

 

[AroEnglish]

A very timely thread for me; thanks for asking the question, @geopiper and thanks to everyone who's answered.

 

[coming to_falling too]

Hmm for me I think I just try not to get too attached to physical things. Easy come, easy go. If selling some things off means you'll get some enjoyment from another thing then I say go for it.

 

[Kobold]

I just feel like if I can get a little something back then that’s good enough. If I can’t get hardly anything back then I throw it away. Sometimes you got to cut your losses. Too much clutter stresses me out.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Too much clutter stresses me out.

I have the same problem.

 

[sablebrush52]

How do you rationalize or logic your way through the upside of selling items for less than what you paid? It seems silly, but hear me out. I'm beginning to think it's time for me to sell off some pieces from my various collections fund purchasing another item I want. It's not easy for me to let pieces leave my collections and it's not something I've done often. Once an item is in my collection, it generally stays there. I don't need to sell the items from my collections to generate funds for this other item. It's just that I think it's time to downsize some of my collections and it just so happens there is another item I could put the funds towards.

I'm struggling with the thought of "future me" regretting selling off some of my pieces. I realize most objects we purchase lose money the instant it is purchased. I feel like I'd be losing money selling for less that what I paid, but I've also heard that the money was lost to me the moment I purchased the item in the first place.

Thanks for hearing me out and providing your train of thought when selling items for less than what you've paid.

When I started packing for my move a couple of years ago, letting go of my "treasures" was very difficult. Collectors collect, they don't disperse. As I began the process of culling, every single thing I got rid of felt like a little bit of weight off my shoulders. After a month I was in full get "rid of it' mode. I certainly didn't want to spend $$$$ to move stuff I didn't need.

And the point here is that it's "stuff". It's not attached to you, you're attached to it. It's the "stuff" addiction.

I don't miss the books I gave away, nor the LP's, DVD's, CD's, cameras, furniture, nor any of the myriad items that had built up in the garage. I gave it all away to various charitable organizations, or to the Brand Library, which is an art and music library, and took a tax deduction for the value of the donations. Much simpler than dealing with a bunch of flaky people.

I've begun to cull the pipes, not the Barlings, yet, but other pipes that I don't smoke. I'll offer them up here first at pretty modest prices and what doesn't move will go on eBay.

The cellar is next. I've already privately sold off some tins to members that I know here at bargain prices.

Anything that you're not using is dead weight and eventually will go in the trash when you shuffle off this mortal coil. Your family is not going to deal with it. Think of that as a total loss, not a partial loss. Ask yourself, which is better?

 

[Streeper541]

Three things I know about money;

Once you've spent the money it's gone.

If you're not using something you've purchased it's worthless.

Value may be guided by the market but it's determined by the situation.

 

[telescopes]

How do you rationalize selling a pipe for less than you bought it. Price divided by number of smokes you had with it. Is it cheaper than the same number of quality cigars you would have had to smoke to equal the cost of the pipe even with the tobacco? Ultimately, enjoyment has its own value. Everything else you get from the sale is icing for the next cake.

 

[jguss]

The issue we’re talking about is emotional; for most people losses aren’t really felt until they’re realized. By hanging onto an item, whatever it may be, we avoid facing the reality of a loss. By selling we have to acknowledge it. This perspective isn’t universal but it’s pretty damn common. I often find it easier to gift something; that way the notion of profit or loss is irrelevant. Of course that’s just rationalization but then what isn’t?

 

[wyfbane]

Up until Feb 5th (when I made my order), there was a battle of the blends option on P&C where you got a tin of Plum Pudding and a tin of Bengal Slices for $27.99. $13.50 per tin was a decent option so I got 10 pairs. I just looked and all the good battle options are gone now.

 

[sardonicus87]

"No low ballers, I know what I got".

Reality is, very few things appreciate in value, most depreciate.

Value in modern capitalism is relative. Rare doesn't make something more valuable... the most unique thing in the world is worthless if nobody wants it enough to pay for it. Age? Also doesn't matter. That's what dictates value... what people are willing to pay (at least in part). If people value rarity or age, that will increase value.

Even if something is unused, it still isn't new. Everything degrades over time even when not used, so even if value was determined solely by quality or effort put into the thing, it would inherently be worth less.

Never mind that if you buy something new, you "know" where it comes from, it's history, etc. Even if something is a month old and you're buying it second hand, you don't know if the person dropped or damaged it, etc. In other words, it's riskier.

If anything needs justification, it's trying to get what you paid for something when selling it used, not NOT getting what you paid for it.

If you're trying to square yourself with it... that's how you "logic" it. That and understanding that feeling like it's "a loss" is an emotional, non-logical feeling. Cognitive bias is inherently often not logical. Knowing the logic and feeling like it's a loss despite "knowing better" doesn't change anything, you can't "logic"-away feelings.

It's just learning to accept loss and not become emotionally-attached to things. You can't eat your cake and have it to, do you regret having eaten fancy foods? They're gone, you can't eat them again. Same thing here.

 

[dottlejockey]

I always endeavor to get a good deal. I rarely buy new anything (save for underwear). This helps as you're likely to cut your losses if/when it comes time to sell. But when that time comes, let it go. Get something else that floats your boat and smoke with joy.