Do toy forums help or hurt collecting?
 

Let me start off with this,back when I started collecting(05)I never went on the net other then to see what I could find on ebay,then I started checking out rebelscum and sandtroopers.com(big ups to them)I thought the sites were cool and informative,then I started noticing people posting about what they found and I was like wow,cool,I didnt know they were making a toy of that guy,it wasnt untill 08 that I joined an actual forum,but I must say,its cool to share your stories with like minded collectors,but then it also feeds the addiction,maybe its just that social media is the way we are heading and its now how most communicate,thoughI myself loathe facebook and the like,but as the title says,whats your thoughts on toy forums,do they help you increase your collection and knowledge of the hobby or do they hinder you by feeding the addiction?

I think both. It's a double edged sword really. It helps out fellow collectors in MANY ways, too much to list really. On the other hand it helps out scalpers find out what the new/hot toys are and when/where to be found. I think the latter less then the former though, forums do more good then bad but, such as life. Its better to have them than not at all.

I actually couldn't have said it better.

Definitely both.
Sometimes dealing with fellow collectors can get on your nerves as the internet shows all of humanity in every way good or bad imaginable. Sometimes that can make you question your own hobbies.

Sometimes it's awesome as they can help you find stuff, keep you in the know, and have a place to relax and chill with fellow collectors.

So yup, like said above, double edged sword.

And they already covered the scalper part above.

man,I totally forgot about the scalper aspect.

Here's my thing with scalpers. They wouldn't exist if there weren't anyone out there who were willing to pay their prices. Instead of going out and hunting and doing the ground work to get what they want at regular store prices, they choose to pay increases for them.

I think forums and toy sites definitely benefit the hobby. You learn so much more about the topic, you find out what's going to be coming out, you find out where to find them, and it helps feed the addiction. You also get to chat with other collectors and discuss topics such as this. Plus there are a lot of people who are willing to get figures for other people at store cost as well. So forums and sites definitely do good.

Agreed. I wouldn't be into half of the shit I'm into if it wasn't for this damn site and everyone's awesome pictures and reviews. I love the hobby though.

We can obviously discuss what is cool and what we want to see come out through forums like this, and it is a great way to find stuff you are looking for without dealing with the dreaded scalpers everyone is mentioning. By the way, if we just didn't pay $50 for a $8 figure, the scalpers would find something else to do. Its simple, really.

I don't think they have an impact one way or another.

If anything they help me to get the figures I want quicker by showing me where to look, but I would have purchased those figures regardless.