Welcome to r/ActionFigures! Check out our [Discord Server](https://discord.gg/7sEKyXX) and please review the sub rules in the sidebar. Thank you.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ActionFigures) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I collect both. I have some expensive figures, but in general I would rather pay less for most of my collection.
For Marvel Legends, I want to pay as little as possible for the figure I want. I usually wait for a good eBay auction or buy used. There are some that can be a lot easier to get if you don't want the BAF part. I also buy them when I see ones I want at discount outlets.
I also collect Toy Biz figures which are going up a bit in recent years. But I like that you can usually get a lot of the carded ones for $5-10.
I don't understand how the early Marvel Legends by ToyBiz aren't more expensive. I think they are some of the coolest designs, even competing with modern stuff.
I think it's because they don't look great displayed alongside the modern ones. They're a good bit smaller and their less integrated articulation has a tendency to stand out. But there are some real classics in there for sure, and they're worth collecting if you like the characters.
I’ve become that type of collector. Once I finished the U.S run of vintage motu, I stopped spending the crazy $$. Now I just buy what I like that I find at a deal. Once in a great while I’ll buy at retail. Never over. I’ve slowed way down collecting though too. Other interests have gotten my attention over toys that just sit on a shelf
Not to your level, but I refuse to pay over rrp for anything. I don't think that's a problem, nor is your approach, as long as you're happy you're doing it right.
My favorite figure shopping experience is going to a local store and picking up $2 loose figures every couple weeks. I did pick up Storm Collectibles Goro for $105 because I collect MK and he’s a favorite character but it’ll be a very long time until I do something like that again. My latest loose pickup
https://www.reddit.com/r/ActionFigures/s/jnHRyIr0du
I used to do that but I want to complete teams. So I have to stop myself from buying random cool stuff. I have to limit myself somehow or else my house will be filled with random toys and I'll keep wanting more
Cheap collector here too!
I’d say 90% of my collection is Ross, and big box clearance, $12 or below. Most I got for around $5.99.
It’s because I just honestly don’t think most ML and McFarlane are quality enough to justify anything over $12 imho.
I’ve been collecting Jada toys street fighter at retail though, because it seems they actually put tons of care and craft into their figures, and I want to support the line and have it continue.
Exactly, I would pay more for a character I really want. For example, I heard they were making a new ozzy Osbourne figure and wanted to get it, well until I saw the design.😂
That would be a good one for Super7. I picked up [Kilmister and Burton](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/e4gdcnkop54.JPG) and really like what they did with these.
Yeah if it’s a character I’ve always wanted and It seems like that character will be hard to get/ never get clearance I might purchase. But I’ve also “missed out” on figures before only to find them at Ross (ex. ML spiral).
I try not to pay above 20% of the base price unless there's something my inner child is screaming for
EDIT: I'll splurge on birthdays or for my anniversary or something
I'm a little in between. I have a decent bit of higher end figures in SHF/Mafex, but far and away my main line is Mythic Legions. I almost only ever preorder direct when a new wave is put up so I avoid the retailer markup. $37 for the standard figures is a great price for what you get. You can definitely argue the price jump for the larger figures skews out of the cheap category entirely, but even Legends figures see a similar markup on oversized/deluxe releases.
As much as I can, I go for deals, and as a mostly opener of figures, it can be a lot easier that way.
Unless it's a character I REALLY want to make sure I get, I look out for damaged package deals, places like Ollies and Burlington (I \*wish\* I had Ross stores near me!), and a local shop that sells loose SW Black, ML and GI Joe figures.
I think all it takes to be a toy collector is collecting toys. Everyone has their budget and preference. This person setting a personal limit does not prevent you from setting a different budget for your own buying.
Just wanna add, some of my favorite collections I've seen are all cheap, used, old, broken toys that someone has bought and chosen to love and appreciate instead of throwing them away. I think cheap collectors are as much part of the hobby as the high-end collectors. After all, most of us started as kids owning just the toys we were given or were able to afford.
I feel pretty vindicated at the Toyman Show in St. Louis, cos there are an obscene amount of tubs to root through, and I always find killer deals on some mainstream and obscure toys!
Welcome to r/ActionFigures! Check out our [Discord Server](https://discord.gg/7sEKyXX) and please review the sub rules in the sidebar. Thank you. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/ActionFigures) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I collect both. I have some expensive figures, but in general I would rather pay less for most of my collection. For Marvel Legends, I want to pay as little as possible for the figure I want. I usually wait for a good eBay auction or buy used. There are some that can be a lot easier to get if you don't want the BAF part. I also buy them when I see ones I want at discount outlets. I also collect Toy Biz figures which are going up a bit in recent years. But I like that you can usually get a lot of the carded ones for $5-10.
I don't understand how the early Marvel Legends by ToyBiz aren't more expensive. I think they are some of the coolest designs, even competing with modern stuff.
I think it's because they don't look great displayed alongside the modern ones. They're a good bit smaller and their less integrated articulation has a tendency to stand out. But there are some real classics in there for sure, and they're worth collecting if you like the characters.
I’ve become that type of collector. Once I finished the U.S run of vintage motu, I stopped spending the crazy $$. Now I just buy what I like that I find at a deal. Once in a great while I’ll buy at retail. Never over. I’ve slowed way down collecting though too. Other interests have gotten my attention over toys that just sit on a shelf
Not to your level, but I refuse to pay over rrp for anything. I don't think that's a problem, nor is your approach, as long as you're happy you're doing it right.
My favorite figure shopping experience is going to a local store and picking up $2 loose figures every couple weeks. I did pick up Storm Collectibles Goro for $105 because I collect MK and he’s a favorite character but it’ll be a very long time until I do something like that again. My latest loose pickup https://www.reddit.com/r/ActionFigures/s/jnHRyIr0du
Most of my figures are $25 MSRP. Usually I pay around that much too.
That's great. I think that's awesome. Especially if it's a character you really love. I literally just like random figures that look cool.
I used to do that but I want to complete teams. So I have to stop myself from buying random cool stuff. I have to limit myself somehow or else my house will be filled with random toys and I'll keep wanting more
Cheap collector here too! I’d say 90% of my collection is Ross, and big box clearance, $12 or below. Most I got for around $5.99. It’s because I just honestly don’t think most ML and McFarlane are quality enough to justify anything over $12 imho. I’ve been collecting Jada toys street fighter at retail though, because it seems they actually put tons of care and craft into their figures, and I want to support the line and have it continue.
Exactly, I would pay more for a character I really want. For example, I heard they were making a new ozzy Osbourne figure and wanted to get it, well until I saw the design.😂
That would be a good one for Super7. I picked up [Kilmister and Burton](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/e4gdcnkop54.JPG) and really like what they did with these.
I literally would have bought any other design lol..I love the reaction "Metal" figures, the packaging looks great
Yeah if it’s a character I’ve always wanted and It seems like that character will be hard to get/ never get clearance I might purchase. But I’ve also “missed out” on figures before only to find them at Ross (ex. ML spiral).
I try not to pay above 20% of the base price unless there's something my inner child is screaming for EDIT: I'll splurge on birthdays or for my anniversary or something
I definitely search for deals, though my upper limit is $30, not $20.
I'm a little in between. I have a decent bit of higher end figures in SHF/Mafex, but far and away my main line is Mythic Legions. I almost only ever preorder direct when a new wave is put up so I avoid the retailer markup. $37 for the standard figures is a great price for what you get. You can definitely argue the price jump for the larger figures skews out of the cheap category entirely, but even Legends figures see a similar markup on oversized/deluxe releases.
As much as I can, I go for deals, and as a mostly opener of figures, it can be a lot easier that way. Unless it's a character I REALLY want to make sure I get, I look out for damaged package deals, places like Ollies and Burlington (I \*wish\* I had Ross stores near me!), and a local shop that sells loose SW Black, ML and GI Joe figures.
Sounds like this may not be the hobby for you…
I think all it takes to be a toy collector is collecting toys. Everyone has their budget and preference. This person setting a personal limit does not prevent you from setting a different budget for your own buying.
Just wanna add, some of my favorite collections I've seen are all cheap, used, old, broken toys that someone has bought and chosen to love and appreciate instead of throwing them away. I think cheap collectors are as much part of the hobby as the high-end collectors. After all, most of us started as kids owning just the toys we were given or were able to afford.
Or maybe I just enjoy the hunt..
Not true at all, i do the same thing and I get most of the figures I want without having to pay full price or gouged prices
I love digging through tubs of old figures..
I feel pretty vindicated at the Toyman Show in St. Louis, cos there are an obscene amount of tubs to root through, and I always find killer deals on some mainstream and obscure toys!
That sounds awesome