1. Stay in touch:
Knowledge is powerful! Find and Use as many sources of information as you can. Toy collecting magazines, internet newsgroups and even friendly conversations with toy store employees are great places to start! Do as much background research as you can for a particular item. This will better your chances are for finding it.
2. Have patience:
Patience is rewarded, if you have to have everything immediately as it becomes available, than you're probably in the wrong hobby. The easiest way to get ripped off is to jump at the first chance you see a "rare" item for sale. Knowing where to look and when is key. Being at the right place at the right time has it's advantages. Most all collections of "hard to find items" were bought at retail prices or very little over.
3. Realistic expectations:
The definition of a collectible is how much another collector is willing to pay for a particular item. That's why price guides exist. The biggest misconception by most people is that these so called "price guides" are taken as "gospel" for what an item is actually worth. Nothing could be farther from the truth!The intention of price guides are to supply collectors with a basis of what an item is potentially worth to other collectors at the time. More often than not, collectors will seek out cheaper prices for an item than what's listed in a price guide.
4. Act Civilized:
The best way of getting what you want is to treat people, whether it be store employees, fellow collectors, or even people holding a garage sale, in a friendly manner. Competition plays a major role in collecting, but as the old proverb goes, you catch more flys with honey...In addition, people will like you and be more apt to help you find what you're looking for.
5. Have Respect:
As a collector you will find yourself spending most of your free time in stores looking for "hidden treasures". Keep in mind that while you're on a scavenger hunt, the store employees are working hard. The best way to annoy an employee, or manager alike, is to tear through the isles like a whirlwind leaving a trail of destruction in your wake.
6. Be Generous:
A main problem of toy collecting these days are "hoarders" who buy all of the short packed or limited edition figures they can find, thus leaving nothing behind for the next guy. As you gain experience through the years, you'll find that the majority of collectors look down upon this practice as an act of selfishness and disrespectful to other collectors.
7. Make an Effort:
Along with rule #1, comes the responsibility of sharing information you gather with others in the collecting world. Please do your part in contributing towards the cause.
8. Above All... Have Fun!:
Whether you collect for play-value, display or investment purposes, the key to this wonderful hobby is to have fun doing it.Recently, I've seen people more concerned with obtaining a toy for it's potential value rather than the joy that it brings to them. After all we are talking about toys not stocks and bonds.I guess what I'm trying to say is, if toy collecting is more of a burden to you than a pleasure... maybe it's time you took up crocheting or something.
9. Keep the Faith:
Obey the rules to the best of your ability, then I'd say your future experiences in action figure collecting will be good ones! YOu will probably encounter a few disappointments along the way, that is inevitable... but for the most part, you will maintain a healthy collection and a healthy attitude about collecting for many years to come!
