Physical Media: Tips on Downsizing or Keeping Your Collection in Check

One of the biggest issues facing collectors of physical movies and TV shows can be space, and there are a lot of different factors that can lead to a collection feeling crowded or unmanageable.
Here are some tips on how to focus your mindset and reduce the bloat in your collection, plus some ways to save space with collections and smaller box sets.

[@dazjackson1972]

I saw a movie room tour the other day and the guy had multiple series collections of TV shows, of which he'd never seen a single episode. Why someone would go to the trouble of collecting every individual box set of Buffy, Angel, Alias etc without discovering whether or not he found them interesting, is beyond me. I personally don't duplicate, if I upgrade to Blu-ray the old DVD copy is gifted or sold. I also only keep things that I know will get repeat viewings. I have around 500 films and 3000 disks of TV shows - TV being my main area of interest.

[@iwatchDVDsonXbox360]

I only buy things i WILL re-watch, re-read or re-play.

[@tgif1345]

Great video Stefan! Everything you talked about in this video is something I've been doing and thinking about for my collection. I recently paired down my movie collection, VHS, DVDs, and Blu-rays, to my absolute favourite movies and TV shows, especially because I can't watch everything I own and most nights I end up gravitating to certain VHS tapes and DVDs over others. Because of that comfort factor that you talked about.

[@StefanHomberger]

Thank you. I'm glad to see this is resonating with people. I've done a lot of downsizing in recent years too.

[@tgif1345]

@@StefanHomberger You're welcome! Yeah, when you only have so much space, it's important to make sure you don't go over that limit. Which is also REALLY easy to do. Lol. Especially around this time of year.

[@pat727321]

only buy things you're going to watch repeatedly

[@StefanHomberger]

Absolutely. Personally, I never keep things in the collection that I'm not likely to ever watch again. Once and done for many movies and TV shows.

[@240clay98]

Thanks for the video. I have a pretty big collection and it always gets bigger right around this time of the year with all the sales going on. In addition to enjoying physical media I also enjoy the hunt and finding things at a great price.

[@StefanHomberger]

Exactly. The fun of the search is a big part of it. That's actually how I started selling on eBay and other platforms years ago. I was already in thrift stores and places like that, so why not? It also gives me the guilt-free freedom to buy a movie or show, watch it, and then sell it in our store if I don't like it or don't think I'll watch it again. Basically renting from myself, haha.

[@handyzee]

I increased my shelf storage by close to 40% by going hardcore with my discs. Cardboard slipcovers? extraneous packaging duplicating the art already on the disc cover label. Gone. then I bought bulk empty half-thickness DVD/Bluray thin cases. instead of a 14mm DVD/12 mm Bluray case, all discs got migrated to 7mm/6mm cases (yes, including double disc cases). Then I use a paper cutter to trim 1 mm off each edge of the case label so it can fit and still have the title centered on the spine.

[@dazjackson1972]

The slim cases are definitely a good idea - particularly for movies, which take up much space by virtue of being single disk (often). TV box sets are usually quite well streamlined these days, so not such an issue.

[@jeffphillips6795]

You hear it all the time records especially list of albums you have to own or movies, I buy what I’ll watch over and over or listen too

[@StefanHomberger]

Correct. I feel that you should always stay in the mindset that you are building a collection for YOU, not for clout or anyone else's interests.

[@jimpowers2257]

Great video….I love buying the blu rays that have multiple films on it. Saves soo much of shelf space. I find myself now only keeping movies I know I will want to revisit. The rest goes on Mercari.

[@TGApuleius]

I've been selling on ebay for over a year now, and even after moving 50 some-odd items, I'm still swamped. Having to leave a storage unit due to price increases and childhood things sent from my folks, I went from having a little too much to way too much. Unless you're selling bulk, it takes a very long time to move stuff.

[@TheNotoriousNemo]

lol, a big place that people forget to put their collections is...... the hallway! I have 3 billys with glass doors, i can fit probably 2 more billys and half shelves. Come on people, get creative!

[@bringbackmy90s]

such a great video, thanks bro

[@StefanHomberger]

Thank you!

[@matthewgaudet4064]

Quite impossible for me. Moving into a small apartment my larger apartment had several closets of laserdiscs. I hope i don't need to sell, throw away or put everything into a storage unit. My Star Wars collection alone of books, comics, and laserdiscs is huge. I have way more stuff than i need and more stuff than i even know about since much of it has sit in boxes unused for over 20 years. Boxes and boxes of DVD, and blu rays. Have very few games and vinyl records or cds, audiobooks. I've already downsized before as well given away a lot to charity, or friends and family of toys and books and comics and i still have too much. My Laserdisc collection is my lifeblood if i have to part with it i'll be quite upset. Considering collecting them was the only thing i did during the pandemic i really enjoyed. Outside of my anime blu-ray purchases.

[@williampeck844]

I'm curious, knowing how much you love The Thin Man, have you ever watched Hart to Hart from the '80s. it's very similar to the former, and you can't go wrong w/ Stephanie Powers and R J Wagoner. I don't know if you've ever seen it or would even like it, but I think you should give it a try, thank you for the video

[@StefanHomberger]

That's something I'll have to add to the watch list. I did see a few episodes, and don't remember liking it, but I was maybe 6-8 years old, so it might appeal to me more now. Thanks for the suggestion!