Whether you're new to action figure collecting or want to increase your buying sense, it's wise to gain as much knowledge as possible about buying and preserving the value of your collection. Collecting begins with buying, and the smarter a shopper you are, the more likely you'll end up with a collection with lasting value. Here are some basic tips to find great figure collectibles for your favorite comic book hero, sports legend memorabilia, music legends figures, or whatever appeals to you.
Start with Knowledge
Learn as much as possible about action figures and collecting in general. Read magazines and use the Internet to find out how other collectors find valuable items. Gain access to little known secrets by speaking with action figure collectors in online forums and newsgroups. Subscribe to a few newsletters or e-zines that offer weekly collector tips and resources.
And don't stop there...narrow your research to certain action figures you'd like to collect. For instance, if you want to start a SCI-FI collection, research items such as Star Wars action figures, Transformers toys, Star Trek figures, etc. Perhaps you want to focus on movie memorabilia. In this case, you might consider Avatar movie toys or Harry Potter memorabilia. The key is to research specific categories of interest to find the best information about your desired items.
Save Your Money
Instead of buying up every item you find, save your money and be patient as you shop for action figures. At first glance, it might seem that an item is rare and will never be available to you again, but waiting a bit might give you something even better. Successful collectors understand the importance of shopping around and researching before taking that dive into their wallet!
Watch Out for Scalpers
Scalpers operate by purchasing a large number of highly advertised or low-run collectibles off the retail shelves, and then selling them at two or three times the retail price. Though this practice is technically not illegal, it does cause the after-market pricing of action figures to be extremely high. The best way to avoid scalpers is to monitor local stores to see if this might be happening in your town. Or, simply buy your items online and compare retail pricing before you shop to be sure you're getting a fair price.
Willingness to Share
Be friendly to other collectors and don't be afraid to share good buys or valuable information with others. They might return the favor some day and help you obtain a hard-to-find item. Other collectors are simply enjoying their hobby as you are...they are not necessarily competitors. It's a big world out there, and many folks just enjoy certain figures!
So the next time you find out where to buy some rare Star Wars action figures, or a great site to buy affordable McFarlane figures, share your good news with others online or even those who live just around the corner! You might even decide to start an online newsletter revealing tips on collecting sports legends memorabilia, or figures of music legends or comics such as DC Universe or Marvel legends. Whatever your hobby, I'm sure there are hundreds (or thousands) of people on the Web who share the same excitement.
Use these tips to find great buys on action figures and save time and money by shopping online!
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