My top new collector mistake: don’t buy characters you sorta like just because they might be cheap or something. Get the ones you want for a viable reason.
All this advice here is so true. Especially not buying three $10 figures when you could save that money for one $30 figure that you actually really want!
Lol I don't want to see figures suffer the same fate that so many others have. If I can save just one X-Man from getting sun bleached it'll have been worth it!
#1 for me is buying stuff that you don't usually collect because there is nothing to buy for some time. Like Fortnite or TMNT, Godzilla etc. Stick to your main lines and put your money away for when your favorite figures are available.
Oh I've got to admit I'm bad for this too. I love getting new figures so much that if I go a long time with no new Legends I'll just think "Well what else do I want?"
Thank you for saying something about people who buy up every figure to sell on Ebay... I watched a guy pull every DC figure off the pegs at a Toys R Us . He got banned from the store for being WAAAY too aggressive (blocking the aisle, pushing in front people, cursing, name calling)
Another mistake new collectors make is related to #9. Thinking that just having a figure still in the package means big bucks later on. It can of course but not if everyone else has the same idea. A MIP 1985 GI JOE Snake Eyes costs a hell of a lot not just because it's still in the package but because it was popular and well over 90% of the ones that were made were opened and played with. Where as almost ANY of the Star Wars Power of the Force figures released in the 90s are still going for pretty much what they cost at retail because Hasbro released a lot of them and many of them were kept in package when purchased so the secondary market got flooded and is still flooded to this day.
Yeah i'd say you're right. Just like with comics on the 80's /90's once people realised they could be worth something they started mass producing and looking after them perfectly hence ensuring that nothing new ever became scarce.
I agree with your comments regarding eBay generally but as someone that resells thrist store finds on eBay, I try to research what each item is, where it came from, if it came with accessories, etc. but I'm far from an expert. I don't think most sellers aren't trying to hide anything, we just don't know all the details. So, to make sure the buyer is able to determine if it's the right item for them, I personally take tons of pictures and invite questions. If I know accessories are missing, I do point it out but I might not know as I have 100s of items to research and may have missed something. But, check pictures carefully and ask questions. I never mind answering questions or sending additional pictures if requested. I personally want the buyer to be happy.
Hey man, by the sounds of things you're definitely one of the good guys when it comes to ebay sellers! Fair play for taking the time to research everything when you clearly have so much to go over too. Nice work!
I have no real intentions of getting into figure collecting, but it's still super interesting to get a perspective on what to do and what not to do. However, I finally pulled the trigger on getting a hold of a DMC 5 Vergil statue made of PVC since he's one of my all-time favourite VG characters, and was wondering if there was one way and one way only on how to display it. I was kinda worried about even leaving it out of its box, that it had to be in a certain environment, etc. I'm glad this was somewhat disproved here, and having it NOT sit in direct sunlight makes perfect sense which is also what I thought, so thanks for the confirmation on that! :D
@@DisplayingModelBehaviour No problem, you're great fun to watch! :D And absolutely! Went for the Kotobukiya version of the Vergil statue, since the other one was way taller, like 1/4, so I didnt have space. More importantly, it was also five times as expensive haha
My biggest mistake is that I won’t actually go hunting for figures when they come out a lot so if I miss it I’ll literally spend infinity money on the one i missed out on I need to start hunting more
My problem is that I had to wait decades for reissues on a lot of figures I wanted because of those people looking to get rich. 150-300 bucks on a 3 inch figure, come on guys… then they did reissues on almost all the characters across multiple shows that I wanted, so now instead of maybe spending a couple hundred at a time, I’ve spent over a thousand this year. I’m dying over here
@@DisplayingModelBehaviour oh yes, just been reading some of the other guys responses and wow there’s a lot haha!! I’m trying to keep my collection small but mighty but so many good ones are out there it hard to stick to your plan or even choose argghhh
agree with the buy now if you want it before the price goes up. but sometimes, in the case of DC Multiverse figures from McFarlane, you might wanna wait and check out official pictures and reviews.
Collecting action figures for money is a very big mistake.My brother was buying Hot toys and use to wait until they go up in value to try to sell them, only problem is nobody want to pay $600 or $700 for a Hot toys so they all stay on ebay at that price.The question is do action figure really go up in value if nobody want to pay more than the cost price.
My mistake is browsing for deals when I don’t have money to spend. Because you will find a deal… and you will buy it. Save yourself the trouble and only browse when it’s time to buy.
My flight stand figures are the worst for falling over. If one falls they all fall cuz most are symbiotes and they have lil grabby tendrils all over and they take out half the shelf when one starts falling
Yeah I will definitely collect smarter by not collecting them all but some of those BAF get me and my money. Newbie here, great advice. Yeah the shipping to Italy is a beotch for sure. Good points on ebay shopping, some scammers have tried with me but I didn't fall for it. Thanks man
@@DisplayingModelBehaviour Yeah it's generally a miss. The one near me is Animetoys, cool shop but they don't seem to be that interested in getting the preorder collectables nor updating their website. Thanks amazon globally lol
My biggest mistake was not focusing on what exactly I truly wanted and focusing on that. I would bounce between toys, comics, various franchises...it was chaotic. Once I re-evaluated what made me the most happy and "sparked joy" as they say, it became faaaaaaar easier and much more joyful. Also, I don't feel the need to be a completionist, which helps a LOT, lol.
She’s Spider-Woman in the Ultimate Universe but more importantly she’s a female clone version of Peter Parker whom Johnny Storm was hot for and kissed and who took the name Jessica Drew which I though was hilarious
I agree it totally sucks when you go into a shop and at the register the cashier says , oh I just sold 12 of these to another customer this morning; or the wave is there, but the one figure you want most is missing. However, I sometimes buy two of the "hot" figures if I stumble across them and then trade them for the "hot" figures I'm missing. I feel bad if there's only two left on the shelf; but if I hadn't done it I wouldn't own the retro Hawkeye, the 2 pack Pyro, or the Apocalypse Psylocke & Multiple Man figures. Still looking for Bishop btw...just sayin'. lol
I can appreciate buying the figures in order to trade. That's kind've a like for like sort of thing so no one is getting ripped off. I shall allow it! :) We don't have many retail stores that sell Legends besides the dedicated comic book shops. They often do a 1 per customer limit on high demand items which is nice to see.
I know you were just using her as an example, but Original Spider-woman is a classic character...she had her own long running series in the 70s (well, about 50 issues😌). Technically, one of the first Spider-Man variants/spin offs. Would love to see her redone. No, I don't want to pay £50 either 😊
Marvel legends series 6 juggernaut the one with the comic in it and long arms I had it as a kid and want it again and toys era the unstoppable tank juggernaut
Lol lol omg everything you said was sooooooo right... Iv sold figures and seen them back up for double. I always fall for a sob story... I loved lovedddd this video!!! You are a action figure Jesus... Keep it up brother 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
My biggest mistake is allowing my nostalgia to dictate how much im willing to spend on something (usually comic books) the little kid in me needs to shut up simethimes. Lmao😅
"Sold as seen" doesn't necessarily mean that the item has a defect or its broke. It usually means that what you see is what you'll get. If the photo of item shows only the figure and no accessories, then you're only going to get the figure.
@@DisplayingModelBehaviour Yeah, I don't blame you. It's always best to have your guard up. I've also been disappointed by some advertisements that didn't mention specifics about the condition of action figures. The worst one was when I purchased a Marvel Legends Sinister Six Spider-man that stated it was in good condition with the exception of a loose neck joint and ab crunch. After receiving it, it turned out that the swiveling forearm peg was sheared off and crudely fixed with a small plastic round tube glued in place of the peg. As shoddy as the repair was, it did its job in keeping the forearm together. So whenever I purchase a loose figurine online now, I never hesitate to send the seller a laundry list of detailed questions. LOL.
My biggest mistake has been selling off a collection (spawn) and then realizing it was a mistake, and buying them all back at double what I paid originally.
I felt like I had to get all of the G.I. Joe Classified figures until I bought the Kimbo Slice Roadblock, damn I hate that figure but felt I had to get it to complete the set. However what I don't do is army build, I just like 1 of each.
I immediately realized my collector mistake once galactus (haslab) came out and I backed it bc prior to that I was HEAVY into marvel selects and mainly collected hulks (still do) but when galactus came out I IMMEDIATELY realized omg I want to make a cosmic display and then I started looking at what I collected so far … I’ve also been exclusively an NRFB collector (bc of my living space MAINLY) but when galactus came out I really found my niche for collecting I barely even look at other figures the same now it’s insane #galactusdisplaybuild
I went to Target not too long ago searching for NECA TMNT, came back with only a Netflix WFC Wheeljack But that figure still kicks ass, I wasn’t expecting much… but… damn
I have almost 0 of these problems because I only collect what I find in yard sales, flea markets, thrift stores and such. I'm just happy with whatever I end up with. Might be damaged, might be missing pieces. Picked up a whole box of 90's Predator/Alien, Godzilla and miscellaneous for 3$ the other day at a thrift store 😊
Yer tried that one and yet somehow the goal keeps changing!😂 it’s not my fault it’s all these toy companies making newer and better lines…… I’m only human haha
@Wayne Blackwell hey, coincidentally a British team just came out called "The Union" (it premiered during King in Black and I have the first 2 issues!). Britannia was the leader(RIP) but she died in the 1st issue! The other members (so far) are Union Jack, Snakes, Kelpie, and The Choir. It's pretty cool and if ur lucky u should still be able to get issues 1&2 out now. I have the variants of those issue, also! Happy hunting!
Don’t get a bad figure just because you like the character. Make sure it’s a good figure too, with decent sculpting and enough articulation. If you do want the bad figure because there are no other options for that character, get it at a discounted price.
@@DisplayingModelBehaviour yeah, I was guilty of it in the past. For example, when the first GOTG movie came out, I bought the ML Star Lord figure because there were no figures of him before. The figure was pretty bad though, his face looked nothing like Chris Pratt, the helmet was the wrong color, and the plastic felt “gummy”. Fortunately, for the sequel of GOTG, Hasbro made a much improved Starlord figure. But i still kick myself for buying the first one.
I totally identify with Mistake #1. When buying Spidey figures, I'm always nervous around Spider-Girls/Women thinking if I buy one, I'll wind up with the whole Spiderverse.
I know what you mean Devin. In my miss-spent youth I was definitely prone to spending more than I had. It's taken me this long to finally learn to exercise a little self control!
Biggest mistake is overpaying for figures I only overpaid for the Walgreens Mystique and the Nimrod three pack but I tend to wait on some stuff to go on clearance
I recently got the old kaine Parker marvel legend for 91 canadien dollars which is like 55-60 American and ur own of the best things I’ve ever bought no regrets
my # 1 advice (not a mistake): know what you are collecting, narrow down your scope and don't collect just for collecting. -Bayformers first movie studio series transformers and decepticons. CHECK -Marvel Legends X-Men 90s cartoon (the ones in the intro) CHECK -Marvel Legends MCU Avengers (the ones in the avengers video game) CHECK -SH Figuarts, Revoltech, Figma shonen jump characters (my favorites) CHECK That way you don't waste money and time with figures you don't need. (that end up in a box in the closet)
My number one mistake was not properly researching what to buy when I started. I ended up spending a lot more for figures without doing the proper research first.
I 100% agree with #10 I see so many collectors talking about wanting to have every figure in a line or wanting to complete a set. They basically fall into this rabbit hole where they feel obligated to have a big collection or everything in a line. Then what happens is something that they ACTUALLY want is announced and they realize that all of their space is taken up by figures that they “wanted”. That’s when they sale some of them.This can easily be avoided by setting intentional limits and only prioritizing characters that you love. I don’t have all the characters or figures from certain lines, but I got the ones that matter to me so that’s more than enough. It helps to have a practical mind when approaching this hobby.
wow this actually is a great advice for me. Ben 10's Bandai Alien Collection Wave is so huge and if I do what you're saying it'd be more affordable and enjoyable i guess. No need to collect every character or every variant of a certain character. Just get the ones that matter u the most
I AM actually almost done with X-Men! Every X-Men-related team I have only needs maybe 1 or 2 more characters? Technically, the Spider-Man list is running pretty low too, but that's more likely to always find something else. (Running out of money too. This pandemic situation is becoming a real issue... >_>)
I hear you brother, this lockdown has finally reached breaking point for my finances. I was living of my Disney contract money this last year and supplementing it with bar work. Now the pubs are closed they old money bank is running dry. Hopefully things pick up soon!
I’ve been collecting toys since 1994 and the biggest lesson I learned over the years (that wasn’t mentioned in your list) is putting too much stock in other people’s opinions of your collection. Never buy something you don’t really want just because you think other collectors will be impressed with it. This is especially prevalent with the “gotta get it before everyone else, then brag about it online” collectors.
It's very true man that being part of a community can have it's problems. I've definitely bought figures that I might not have if I didn't see people getting so excited about them online.
"Sold As Seen" isn't necessarily nefarious. A lot of the time the seller doesn't really know what they're selling, and might not remember what's missing, so it's just kind of a way of covering your ass JUST IN CASE.
That's very true, I appreciate that some folks might simply be selling stuff they're unfamiliar with so yeah I would add to that advice that it's important to do your own due diligence so that you know what you should be looking for.
The tips about the sunlight are crucial for any new collector. Made that mistake in my early collecting days too now I have figures with weak joints and faded paint
@@AceGoodheart Depends on the heat where you live and the plastic and rubber used for the figure. There are reasons why the Spider-Man Classics Morbius is difficult to find with a well-preserved face.
I can’t stress the importance of pre orders. The initial ultimate battle armored lost predator pre orders on BBTS sold pretty freaking quick, I’m happy I didn’t hesitate.
Sauron might be worth it but it depends how much the remaining figures cost nowadays. he's a pretty amazing BAF and i don't see him getting re-released as a deluxe anytime soon (unlike say Venompool or Joe Fixit who will likely show up again)
Here is one for yo WATCH WHAT CHEMICAL PRODUCTS YOU PUT ON YOUR LEGENDS OR AROUND THEM!! Most people must already know by now that cigarette smoke does smell damage as well as I found out physical damage now to legends figures but amongst other than that any sort of chemical or smoke or anything of that sort should be something you very very cautiously put around here figures because chances are these figures are somewhat cheaply made and a lot of stuff can really really f*** with the paints damage the figures and just corrode them overall A big example would be acetones are nearly universal nail polish remover sometimes use to fix joints and stuff but that's super glue one other things could be detrimental to damaging a paint job or making it too sticky or if you're trying to look for a permanent fix for something you better look for a solution that's not in a really gunk everything up or even at worst case damage everything else around it I've had a particular ant problem in a while back and made the dumb mistake of taking bug solutions as well as a can of all spray or two and spraying everything down and fear that something was going to lay eggs inside my figures biggest mistake I've made in my life and it's cost me a good 3,000 in damages!! Jason point be careful what chemical products are around your figures because chances are a lot of chemical products even something as simple as a f****** window cleaner at this point I'm assuming for little things bleach or hell even wood polish and stuff might be detrimental to damaging your figures the especially careful if you're a diorama maker because I know stuff like pledge and stuff is used in making dioramas so make sure that's not going to have a negative effect on your figure best bet is if you're using paints spend the extra dollar and go grab some paint sealer or some clear gloss paint don't risk using pledge or window cleaners or anything on your legends whatsoever for fixes because it chances are it could damage one of your favorite toys and with some of these toys going up in price chances of getting those back could be detrimentally a mind fucking journey so don't make the same mistake I do if you fumigating your house or something stupid like that for one I tried to find more natural ways f*** these bug solutions and s*** man they are f****** terrible to everything even a flat screen TV can be ruined by it that should tell you something so be careful when you spray that mosquito repellent next time around your s*** because I most guarantee it will damage it and leave it looking like a nasty cluster f****** white speckled s*** that being said that's my biggest experience and tip to any collector whatsoever your figures are not immortal and chances are a lot of the elemental stuff will damage the living hell out of them Be extremely careful or like me you might end up having a mental phobia created because of it which is something I've had to personally weirdly go to therapy for... Fuck biggest mistake of my life lol
Man thank you so much for that information, that's some seriously good advice and stuff that I didn't even consider. You might have saved a lot of people a lot of money. I'm so sorry you had to learn the hard way but you're a hero for making sure no one else has to go down the same route!
Biggest mistake 1 : THE FUCKING DEADLY AND SILENT KILLIN SUNLIGHT. I'm trying to accept the fact that one has to accept that the figure will deteriorate one way or another if it is displayed. And yeah, your figure could be "in the shadows", without the sun touching it directly... and yet it will still suck the color out of it... It's sad, but one can't expect a 20 bucks toy to be eternal, nor a 200 bucks one either. But one can still make the biggset so I've just created a mancave to work and protect my figures lol. And yet, I still know, the artifcial light will still do its thing, my figures will lose their color nonetheless, and I have to accept that. Nothing is eternal unless you keep it in the box and never display it and even then it can deteriorate.
That's actually a very zen way of looking at it. Just accept that the figures will never last forever and enjoy them as much as you can, while you can!
Out of all of the points, the sunlight ones terrify me. Fortunately I got some good positioned shelves and quite thick curtains. My tip is regarding army building. Always Pre-order. Stormtroopers/Clone troopers are a pain to get a hold of.
Great video... I can see I wasn't the only one doing the same mistakes. That's why I got rogue as soon as she was available and that is why I have a budget. I also suggest collectors to do a list of characters they want (specially if they don't exist), because it eventually is going to be made, that way we don't loose ourselves on figures that are being constantly released and we think we need them just because they are new and well made (we always have to think: do we really need this figures?). I think by making a list like this we can get ahead of the toys manufacturers and not letting them decide for us what to buy, but rather wait for them to release what we want, because they eventually will(I'm looking at you Hasbro). Cheers.
So true Gastao, there's something kinda nice about knowing that we've all been there and had the same experiences and often the same mistakes that go along with them. Making a list is definitely a great suggestion and something I do too.
Mistake number 10 yep started wanting todo man of steel and BvS then the Snyder cut whice turned into the Snyder verse lmfao then turned into me creating a massive modern day justice league lmfao
Another great top 10, Dave. When you said you got into the legends for the women, for some reason, I shouted out a Ric Flair " Woooooooooo! " Lol. Keep up the great work 👍
Sometimes I gotta say though a random miss-match collection can sometimes be really fun to go through. I'm very happy having incorporated some Neca in to my shelves.
@@DisplayingModelBehaviour Yeah, I personally don't care about sticking to one brand or theme, I buy what I like because I like it. And if some of my collection seems random... Who cares right?
Put in the pre-order, and you will never be done, really hit home for me. I can't tell you how many figures i regret not pre-ordering. That secondary market can be brutal. And if you're a completest, pic 2-3 lines, and cherry pick your favorites from the rest.
one mistake i made when i started collecting power ranger figures and toys was assuming that the higher the price the better the product, not true, on ebay most sellers tend to price things based on what price they've seen that thing go for on ebay, which means sometimes you're paying only a couple of quid for your favourite bits, but then hundreds for your poxy white ranger yellowed by age not screen accurate saba, as a collector it is up to you to decide if you think the price is fair for what you want, supply and demand on ebay gets weird because sometimes even when a product is popular and frequently being sold that doesn't mean the prices comes down, often it's the opposite, when a niche item that is rare, vintage etc that doesn't often show up and when it does it just sits there for months on ebay, the sellers usually whack up the price thinking some poor sod will accept it, don't fall for it, with patience even the rarer stuff will be obtainable for a fair price. also everyone's obsessed with retro shit being flawless condition, you can save a lot of money collecting if you are one of the few who doesn't mind your toy being previously played with.
That's such a good point. Sometimes you really have to be collecting a while to know what things are worth and how pricing works. Some of that understanding an knowledge can really only come with time.
The number 1 mistake I've made collecting action figures is being inpatient. I end up spending extra to have figures NOW! Rather then waiting a little bit until I can actually afford them or buy them at retail.
Not checking multiple retail sites for a figure you want to order. Case in point, I bought that deluxe Archangel off Amazon for $44, only to see later that BBTS had it for $32.
good tips, been collecting since toy biz ML when I was still in school, those Toybiz Baf days are gone..Hasbro's been mass producing these figures like Mcnuggets & kept on reissuing old ones, rarity is not it was, unless its a Multiple man right David.?...lol!
Dude! I spend my life looking at my figures thinking "They'd look so much cooler with a black wash." But I can't bare for them to not be 'Mint' condition! Toxin in particular is begging for a black wash!
thank you for the video i just got my fist marvel legends yellow daredevil 46 year old big kid and i have awesome wife lets go ahead on what ever my thing is
A tip I'd like to share for online buying, especially eBay, check who the courier company is. I've had packages go "missing" several times due to a certain UK courier.
Buy what makes you happy if you don’t you’ll have a room full of crap you hate if you’re gonna collect as an investment do your research before you get bent over
In México we used to call them "muñecos" ( kind of "dolls for boys", even if we are talking about Emma Frost, for instance), and they were cheap. But as soon as we upgraded the term to "Action Figures", the price went up 10 times. Hence, to bargain and get good deals, we have to denigrate the AF by saying: how much for this "doll for boys"? Once the deal is closed, we can make the peaces with the AF at home, the same way you did it with your Spidey : )
