Question about buying figures in public...
 

I'm 21 and about 6'2". When you look at me, you would think that buying figures would be the last thing on my mind. And I have great paranoia about going into a store and picking up any action figures for my collection when I know I'd probably be bumping into some little kid to find what I want. I used to do it all the time when I was young and I put a stop to it when I was about 16, but I've spent the past two years getting back into collecting and I have a really strong desire to walk into a Toys R Us or a Target to start buying figures, especially with the Star Wars Vintage Collection and the second Marvel Legends line being available. So my question is for those that do purchase figures at stores. How do you pull it off? I almost think it would help if I picked up a few normal items at first, such as groceries, home supplies, or a few clothes. But I know there's always going to be a social stigma towards adults that still collect figures, so how could I buy figures in public and not look like some sort of hermit guy?

How to pull it off? Go in, find the toys you want, and buy them! It really is that simple. Don't care what other people think. Just enjoy yourself and enjoy your hobby. There's no shame in it.

You seem like some one who is fit. I don't think anyone would dare say anything to you anyways, so don't worry about it.


Quoted for Truthz0rz.

I worried about this from about the age of 15 to around 21 or 22. Then I decided I just didn't care. I enjoy toy collecting, and there's no reason to be ashamed of it.

Just brassneck it mate,dont be sheepish it will show straight away,confident and proud is the key,when you reach the till make sure you have plenty of eye contact,AND NEVER EVER be afraid to approach staff if you cant find what you want. Toy collecting is a LOT more frowned upon/stigmatised here in the UK than the states,so if us Brits can do it,you can too!!

That all sounds great and I'd love to be able to just walk in somewhere, buy figures, and not care if anyone sees, but I still feel this uncomfortable sensation that everyone is watching me and wondering what the hell I'm doing in the kids section looking through figures. The only way I can see myself doing it is if I have something to distract other people, like if I get someone to call me at a specific time, and when I answer, I head to the toy aisle and start my browsing, and while I look I carry on a false conversation about what some imaginary kid wanted for his birthday and how I can't find it so I just choose something else to bring back. I think if it looked like I was buying a gift for someone it would be a lot easier to do. Which seems odd to say considering how ridiculous that plan sounds.

Trust me. No one cares that you're buying toys. There are plenty of adult collectors in the states (Assuming that's where you are. Forgive if otherwise).
And if anyone does say something negative to you about it, like some nosey cashier, tell them (politely) to mind their own business.

But like I said, no one really cares. And on top of that, it can be a fun experience when you stop caring about if others are looking down on you or not. I've helped hopelessly lost parents get what their kids want, and I've had fun conversations with other collectors and kids.
But anyone who'd be snobbish to you, look down their nose at you, or judge you are hopelessly shallow, and their opinions shouldn't matter to you.

Nicely put CJ!!!

yeah man i don't think anyone cares as much. when i picked up laserbeak and ravage from TRU last year, this little kid just started talking to me about the 3rd TF movie which i wasn't planning on seeing. just all too happy to tell me who the new characters were and which toys he bought with his own birthday and christmas money and who dies in the movies and i was talking about the g1 incarnations back in the day. then this elderly lady came around who was buying for her grandson and started asking us questions on who to buy and which version of those characters to get. ended up buying another toy to get the promotional movie pass to go see it.

also swapped emails with this other collector guy after we talked about articulation over the course of 2 stores. and this other collector was sad that i'd gotten to the flame on torch and wwhulk first so i let him have the wwhulk. ah needs mah flame on torch.
other times it's simple polite chitchat or trying to race eachother to the toy aisle due to quiet competition and seeing the same people while doing the exact same toy run.

but mostly it's walk into store, greet the greeter, beeline to toy aisle, sift through toys, sift through toys again, stand around for a few minutes, sift through toys again then check other aisles, leave. unless it's find toys, stand there for few minutes debating which ones i need based out wallet, then if there's multiples, check for paint apps, then pay and leave.

i think only 1 cashier gave me a semi hard time but it was at target and there's always other cashiers.

I remember a few years ago going into TRU. I'd been looking for Animated Arcee for a couple months with absolutely no luck. Walked around the corner, and bam. There she was, and she was the last one. There was another collector standing nearby (who had the second to last one in his hands). I let out a squeek, snatched her off the peg and clutched her to my chest.
The guy standing next to me couldn't help but laugh.
Not mockingly laughing at me, but because he understood that sensation of finally finding something that's *really* hard to find, and that you *really* wanted.


I've personally never had much trouble with most toys (Occasionally getting someone who insists on asking me if it's for a son I don't have, and looking at me dissapprovingly if I answer no). But I seem to get the chatty or snobby types every single time I try to buy one of my favorite MLP:FiM characters. :rolleyes:
That's not to try to put you off Timone... it means I do understand how you feel. it's given me a bit of a complexe with that part of my collection.
But like we've all said, you just have to own it, and not care about what people who don't matter think.

Yep, I agree with all these comments. I have kids of my own so it's easy to pretend I'm buying toys for them if I have to, but, for example, I'm in Toys R Us EVERY Friday. My kids go to TRU about once every three or four months. I know the store so well that I help the customers more than the employees do (especially around Christmas time when it is chaotic, the employees are new, and you get the aunts and Grandmas shopping that aren't familiar with the merchandise). I go Fridays after work and I'm in my work clothes and people often mistake me for an employee (even though my work outfit is blue and has my company name clearly embroidered on the front).

If you enjoy collecting, just do it, don't worry about others. There's probably more people out there in the same boat as you are.

Rarely have I ever had a negative comment. Most of the time if I ever converse with someone at the store about buying stuff it's a person lost and confused that I help, or a cashier who says something like "that's neat" or "do you collect these or something?"

The cashiers are paid to be happy to take your money, so they probably won't dis you. Most customers won't care or are in a hurry. Worst case scenario, if someone says something, tell 'em your nephew has a birthday coming up.

Yeah I just walk through the isle looking for whatever I came to get, grab it, and then go through the checkout. I'm 22 and 6'2" btw so I'd say where in the same boat in that respect. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. Trust me I've gotten some snide comments and looks from plenty of assholes and they don't bother me in the least. I'm usually too happy with my purchase to give a damn anyway.

Avoid the three S's in store aisles:

Scalpers. The evil guys who sell toys for way more than retail.

Soccer Moms (Well the bad ones.) The ladies who will argue with you about picking up a toy that their child wanted.

Scoundrels (If you're gonna ask to get stuff from the back.) The employees that misjudge collectors and think of any excuse to keep you from getting figures.

But to be serious, if it's you, it's you. People probably won't judge you about what may or may not be your hobby. They'll probably think your picking it up for a younger kid anyways.

That's about it.

For the record, I'm 6 foot 7 and 330 pounds. I'm also 41 so maybe they think I'm buying stuff for kids, don't know.......don't really care........

Collecting aside, most people would just assume you've got a kid.
It's not like you collect something shameful like Care Bears or Hello Kitty...though I'm sure it happens (Tiberus collects My Little Pony and Shockwave is a Bratz fiend).


Besides, it's STAR WARS! You can honestly be proud you lived long enough to see good articulation of that line!
Many a collector has succumbed to despair trying to pose the old Kenner versions...
Many brothers in collecting lost.

Big Hank indeed...how do people get so tall. I'm not even 6 feet :(.

If I see a kid looking at what I'd like to be getting, I just wait until they're done, then go for it. I definitely wouldn't want to take something that a kid wanted right from them, but no qualms if its there on the shelf. They are there to be bought... preferably by me.

I laugh at the kid thing. If it is a harder to find figure and they want it. I usually talk to them and pick up another figure [like Dr Strange] and give them a quick lesson on who his is, and so on. "OMG HE DOES MAGIC! MOM I WANT HIM!"


*Snicker*.

I also have numerous times been asked if I'd like a gift receipt. Sometimes I say no, sometimes I say sure just because it's easier.

I wait til the kid turns around and donkey punch 'em............

I KNEW IT!!!! Like i can talk though,its getting harder and harder to resist those bloody Toy Story Buddy packs,bastards at TRU even dropped the price £3 AND restocked to tempt me even more!!! Ooooh Twitch you cute lil spikey mace carrying grasshopper you will be mine....and those lil peas in a pod too....dammit......

i usually say no thanks, i'll be tearing this toy open in the car.

I will say timone317 that I do know where you're coming from. Or did I should say. I used to collect statues, Bowen/Sideshow and the like, but getting married, buying a house, and a new baby has made that too expensive for me. So I've started collecting MU & DCUC (luckily I haven't let myself buy any Star Wars figs yet or I'd be boned). I felt bad going into the toy aisle much like yourself at first. But I want to collect likenesses of my favorite characters damnit! If I have to go to the toy aisle to do so, then F it. I've gotten over it fairly quickly and don't think people care or think twice about it a majority of the time.

However, when I do get sideways looks I want to tell the people to give me a couple hundred bucks and I'll buy a Thor statue.

the only place is i feel wierd/awkward finding toys is marshalls/tj maxx. that place, in my area anyways, are mostly a womens store. plus the selection for toys is crap. Otherwise, everywhere else is fine.

and that they can f*ck themselves... I want to tell them that too. But only the turds that feel they have any right to judge me. because they don't...dumb turds