[Primacron]

I write this after I've just received a big ole shipment of toys from BBTS. I should also add that I'm not worried about what I'm about to say, in many ways it's about time.

My main collecting focus is classics style Transformers and Marvel Universe figures. With Transformers, the new movie is coming along and so Generations is going to be on the back-burner. I realise Hasbro have said that the line will continue through 2011, but for me they are pretty damn close to having released every figure I might be interested in.

Similarly with Marvel, I feel I'm close to having every figure I might want. I reckon with both lines there's about 15 or so figures more I want but I suspect that we'll get them gradually - in each wave there might just be 1 figure I'm interested in. For me, I think the days of buying an entire wave are over.

There are other lines I collect - Thundercats, Infinite Heroes (whatever becomes of that), and I'll get the upcoming Mortal Kombat/Streetfighter figures. The thing about those lines is that there's only about 10 characters I'd like toys of, not the several hundred odd characters in Transformers and the Marvel Universes.

So, anyone else feel the same? How do you feel about it?

[optimus12380]

I wish I could say the same, but if it isn't something new to collect there is always a ton of vintage stuff I don't have but want to eventually get. So for me, it seems to be a never ending thing (at least, until I no longer have money in my collecting budget ).

[Johnnyakiba]

Yeah, that is why I am selling my stuff. (Thanks arkers!)

I have gotten to a point where I have collected what I've wanted and I've come to the realization that there is no true reason for it. Granted, there are a still a few things I want.

Marvel Universe - Silver Samurai, Guardians of the Galaxy, Nova, GLA
Transformers - DONE
Star Wars - ANY EWOKS
GI JOE - 83 - 87 Joes... that is it.
12" - Any MGS figs,

[proteus]

Im not sure where i fit into the whole collecting scale.....im more of a toy scavenger than collector,the majority of figures i buy are for custom or trade purposes,and the stuff i keep tends to be unusual (ie volcano-viper,weird little companion figures,other peoples customs etc) what i have looks more like an illegal toy rave than an actual collection,i think the key is ONLY buy the stuff you get that GOTTA HAVE IT FEELING from,otherwise you just end up with loads of stuff you look at and dont really want.....

[Tarquinius]

I have to admit..I think most of you know me as a newer collector, so I'm pretty freaking wild right now with my collecting.

For example, yesterday I just bought like 6 DCUC figures for no reason just to see what they were all about. Have some buyers remorse there....

I think though between my naiveness and trigger happy hunting, and some of the values I've learned from you guys, I'm able to kinda keep it under control and keep in mind what is really important (it will always be MU for me) and what isn't.

[Crazy Jetty]

My collecting is cutting back, partially due to lack of funds, and partially due to lack of interest.
Transformers for a few years has been on uninteresting grounds. I haven't had much excitement for the franchise for a long time, outside of niche interests. Killing animated killed my excitement. RotF put out almost nothing that I wanted. DotM has a total of four figures I want. Universe was about half and half. Generations and RtS survives my disinterest by putting out amazing characters like Skullgrin, Straxus, Kup, and Jazz. The amount of unexpected from those gets my dollar.

My purchasing of DCUC consists almost exclusively on character appeal. Blue Beetle? I'm there! Tir? Big pass.

When MU was announced, I had every intentions of getting every single character. But ended up buying nothing. My disinterest in the Marvel Universe had become perminant, I guess. I couldn't drum up any excitement for it, like I could DCIH.

DCIH I had every intention of being a completionist. Shoddy distribution saw an end to that. I never saw more than a quarter of them.

On the otherhand, my collecting is increasing in other ways.
I'm now hooked on Green Lantern, and have to be a completionist with every single DCUC and GLC lantern that gets released.
And in an unexpected way, thanks to how wonderfully good MLP:FiM is, I've ended up collecting all the main cast.
I fought and fought myself against it. But at $5 a pop, I can walk out with a character I really, really love without aching in the bank account, so long as I can tolorate a little embarrisment at the checkout.

[Snowflakian]

My collecting is cutting back too.

The transformers I collect are winding down to only a few left I need that they haven't made yet. MU is starting to slow down gradually to only 1-3 or so per wave I need to pick up, and the Thundercats line is about the only new thing I'm interested in.

Considering that Infinite heroes is gone from DC for right now, I don't have to worry about it, and the japanese lines I collect have long since ended besides the occasional candy kit I pick up.

So all in all?
I'm looking at maybe spending roughly $300 by the end of next January, then after that close to maybe $100 a year unless they start announcing some new stuff.

Not that I mind at all, I'd love some time to rest my collecting to let my funds recuperate.

[Primacron]

Quote:

Originally Posted by proteus

what i have looks more like an illegal toy rave than an actual collection....

Awesome.

I think it'll be interesting to see how Hasbro/Mattel/Bandai/NECA/etc try and get more of our money.

I think my main weakness is going to be the increasing number of third party Transformers - Insecticons and Broadside from FansProject, Hearts of Steel Shockwave and Insecticons from Mastermind Creations, Reflector from Perfect Effect, Hybrid Dinobots from Justitoys, Constructicons from TF Club. The list is pretty long and getting more and more expensive.

[DrewBlank]

I've gone the other way, I guess. I finished a web site last week to post my collection online, I've been photographing toys trying to fill it out, and I've been shopping for cheap office space to move my collection out of the house. I plan to spend around $800 on custom shelving before the end of summer, so my super heroes can all stand around on skyscrapers, and I'm looking for a clever way to display the pirate ships. I took on extra work this spring so I can spend my summer finishing my vintage action figures. I can't promise that I won't be back on here in a couple of years selling my collection, but for the moment, I'm not winding down.

[Tarquinius]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrewBlank

I've gone the other way, I guess. I finished a web site last week to post my collection online, I've been photographing toys trying to fill it out, and I've been shopping for cheap office space to move my collection out of the house. I plan to spend around $800 on custom shelving before the end of summer, so my super heroes can all stand around on skyscrapers, and I'm looking for a clever way to display the pirate ships. I took on extra work this spring so I can spend my summer finishing my vintage action figures. I can't promise that I won't be back on here in a couple of years selling my collection, but for the moment, I'm not winding down.

Oooo I've been looking for a website. What do you use?

[Shin Densetsu]

I am. Toys take up space, and shit I don't like accumulates, so I'm being more picky this year. The benefit:

• I get stuff I like
• Save money

Starting last year or so I decided that before I make a toy purchase, I'll see if it fits my criteria:

Will I like this thing 10 years from now or more?

If it doesn't meet that, I usually leave it on shelf. There are many toys from my childhood that I never got tired of. The 1/55 VF-1 series designed by Takatoku and later continued by Bandai for example. G2 Laser Rod Optimus Prime. Stuff like that.

[DrewBlank]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tarquinius

Oooo I've been looking for a website. What do you use?

Drupal mainly, but it caused the archive pages to bloat so I had to make an HTML template based on the Drupal page. Spambots kept attacking the comment system so I had to disable all of the registration and interactive features anyway.

And to keep this partly on topic, I've noticed prices on 1980s and 1990s dropped a lot over the past few years, that says to me more people have been selling off their collections and fewer people have been buying.

[AndyCR75]

As long as the Marvel Universe/ tie-in's still exist and I still have the $$$...I'm pushing forward!

[Dylan in Oregon]

I only collect MU.

[trebleshot]

I've pretty much reduced my collecting habits to mostly Transformers, but I will still pick up an MU or Joe figure from time to time.

There are several reasons I've cut back. First and foremost, I started a family. Second is space issues, partly due to sharing it with my wife and kids. Lastly, I've started losing interest in most other toy lines. Pretty much any other toys I buy now is a character-driven or a gimmick purchase (only bought it to try out the gimmick, i.e. Bakugan).

On a side note, my Transformers collection has its own set of rules that I follow and it will probably be the only toy line I will continue to collect indefinitely.

[swbruni]

I have been cutting back alot...gears of war and some transformers but no more star wars of miss. stuff....

[Optimus Vader]

Yup. This is probably my fifth year of collecting toys and I think over the past year or so I've found my niche. I'll probably buy about 5 DoTM toys ( a Shockwave, Leader Ironhide & Sent Prime), whereas I bought half of the RoTF line, then didn't give a shit about most of the figs after a month. Same with TF Animated.. I bought a ton and then sold them all. I started collecting DCUC and MU's last year and with my TF collecting experience I've been able to limit my buys (except DCUC Mercury because I needed that Bane limb) to only the characters I want.. skipping the characters who look awesome, but I just have no clue who they are.

[skullshine]

About the only thing I collect with any regularity these days are DC Direct's World of Warcraft figures. Never played the game, but the figures are great. Otherwise, I just purchase whatever random figure interests me, provided that the cost isn't to inhibitive. As optimus12380 already said, there's always something older to pick up when new figs aren't cutting it. I think that's why I've refrained from selling off most of my current collection and venturing into higher end collectible territory.