I have over 40 walkmans that i have bought over the years but i wouldn't necessarily call myself a collector.
As i was growing up i could only watch and drool as i saw people who were working buying things that i would love to spend time/money on!
When i was old enough to do a paper round(1981),i saved and bought my first walkman. I could only afford a Ferguson FM stereo one at the time but at least it was a start!
Over the years i have 'graduated' to 'decent walkmans'!
There were many walkmans i saw that i admired but couldn't warrant purchasing as i wasn't earning much money and there was nothing wrong with the one i was using!
Also,i was more interested in building myself a decent home stereo to make recordings to play on these walkmans as i don't buy pre-recorded tapes.
Anyway,all i was saying is i have acquired some good quality walkmans along the way but as soon they gave any problems i just simply purchased another one as i figured they would be uneconomical to repair.
Does this make me a collector or a serial hoarder?

I think if you own even a few personal stereos and appreciate them, then you're a collector.

I have to ask; have you bought any lately? There are not many new cassette walkmans out there--right? Or do you buy used? Or the new mini disc, digital, etc?

@dinosaur

A collector is someone who tries to get as much things as possible from one or several certain type/s or serie/s.

He always has a more or less strong connection to the things he collects. Maybe he is fascinated or devotional, maybe he just wants to complete something or he is even obsessed.

It is obvious and very clear that you are no collector at all. You buyed them to use them and switched to the next one when the actual on made problems.

But there are two main differences between you and many other "users". First thing is, you kept them all. And second thing, you had a wish to get other or even more walkmans which you could not afford.

This qualifies you with a 99% + chance to get a serious collector in very near future. Another evidence is, you are a member of this board and even posting.

Many collectors started to collect things simply because they could´t afford it in their childhood. They are just fulfilling their childhood dreams. And other ones that could afford or at least got many things they wished try to get them back just to feel like a child, naive and absolutely lucky.

You will see that this will happen to you also very soon. Welcome to the community !

That wasent really collecting them.
But you were buying and using them.
You were part of the new throw away society.
At least they dident go in the trash.
But you have accumulated a collection.
Like the average person that buys records and tapes to listen to are not collecting them.
So now you can add more to your collection of what you have.

.

.

.

.

Thanks for the replies!
Thinking about it again,i feel that i appreciated Walkmans rather than collecting them but,as i STILL only record on tape i feel that when i see a particular Walkman now i have to collect it,as,just like decent blank tapes they are becoming rarer by the minute!
So,it may have taken a while but i now have some Walkmans that i have bought but have still yet to christen!
I believe NOW i am becoming a collector!