Amassing a collection of one type of item is a fairly common occurrence in many people, whether it be commemorative stamps or books. Studies show that 33-40% of the population in the United States collect.

The motivation to collect can come from many different sources, Anderson Pitts, a sophomore education major and figurine collector says, “It’s incredibly rewarding because it’s always something to work towards. I fully understand that I will never have everything, and that’s the beauty of it.”

The chase often being the reward in and of itself for collectors. For others it comes from familial ties, Liet Parentau, a sophomore environmental studies major and record collector says, ”Since I was a child I’ve always had an affinity for music, which I can accredit to my father.”

The process of collecting can vary from item to item, with some things being nearly impossible to come by. A larger barrier to entry for a lot of collected items is the cost. Noah Roebuck, a sophomore computer science major and card collector says, “It’s expensive, unfortunately. It’s fun! But very pricey. It takes a lot of luck and a lot of patience. Some days you get something really good, worth potentially thousands of dollars, and other days you get absolutely nothing.” This idea of the chase in collecting is one mirrored across many collectors today, with vintage rare items being sought after.

There are many different websites and forums dedicated to collecting things. Discogs, a website for vinyl collecting, has listings from all across the world of innumerable artists. Websites like Discogs and eBay allow people to list their items for auction or outright purchase. This exchange amongst collectors doesn’t just stay online either, stores like Wuxtry Records in Athens allow customers to trade records with the store itself. This social aspect of collecting through trading allows people to interact with others they never would have otherwise.

“My favorite part of collecting is being able to talk to a wider variety of people with even wider interests. Whether it be anime, movies, superheroes, etc. Everyone has their thing and sharing that verbally with a backing physical item, it makes for great conversations.” – Anderson Pitts, a sophomore education major

Collecting is, more than other things, a sentimental act. Parentau says, “What I really enjoy about collecting records is being able to hold on to one of the things I enjoy most in life.”