JoeCanuck

General Section => Off Topic => Topic started by: akpayne on July 25, 2005, 08:40:42 PM

Title: Collecting days gone?
Post by: akpayne on July 25, 2005, 08:40:42 PM: This is more of a rant, and something I realized today.
I got nothing to collect anymore.

Star Wars
The huge amount of US star wars exclusives drove me from collecting that toy line - I know only pick up figs I really really like, and so far that is averaging about 2 per year.

Transformers
Only really ever "collected the alternators line, and since they are not showing up at retail in Canada, this line is basically dead to me as well.

Lord of The Rings
Now that the movies are done in the theatre, and the fact that the last two TRU's I was at had none-zip-nill on their shelves, I am guessing that my LOTR action figure buying days are gone as well.

GiJoe
Can't get these in Canada, and I am really hard pressed to pay a huge amount of money extra to get them shipped to me, add that to the fact that if you don't jump on them the moment they are available at etailers that will ship to Canada they sell out.

Marvel Legends
The line only releases two waves a year - I do buy these, and will continue as long as I can, however the last batch of chase figures has been impossible for me to find, and again I find I am going to eBay to pay more and complete the ones I miss.

Wresting Figures.
Was never really into it, but since I got no other options??

I got so desperate lately, that I even went out and bought all of the Fantasitc Four Movie figures - and I am not really a big fan of them - never really liked movie character version for my comic book action figures.
So why am I still looking at TRU's, why did I got there today? am I still even a collector if I know I won't be able to find what I want to collect?
I got money in my pocket and nothing to buy?
Toy companies are you listening!!! I have money and I want to trade you it for some merchandise!!!!!

Is anyone else hitting the same wall that I am?
Title: Collecting days gone?
Post by: Tattoo Shane on July 25, 2005, 11:00:53 PM: And therein lies the problem of being a modern toy collector. With vintage, there's always something to find!
Title: Collecting days gone?
Post by: Jon S. on July 25, 2005, 11:52:07 PM: Try the Sota Street Fighter toyline or the Jazwares Megaman stuff.

While the Megaman figures aren't exactly "posable" (their joints pop and the limbs fall off if you try to move 'em too much) they look great on your shelf. The Street Fighter stuff was made with Marvel Legends compatibility in mind, so they're a great way to compliment your collection.

The Toy Biz WCW line also goes great with your 6" figures. But they're becoming harder and harder to find.

Last resort.... NECA action statues?
Title: Collecting days gone?
Post by: morgardee on July 26, 2005, 09:03:58 AM: Quote from: ""Jon S.""
The Toy Biz WCW line also goes great with your 6" figures. But they're becoming harder and harder to find.

The only thing my WCW figures are collecting is dust nowadays...
Title: Collecting days gone?
Post by: Pete The Greek on July 26, 2005, 09:25:05 AM: Other than GI Joes I have to get from the States, I am not missing much IMO for new toys in Canadian retail. TF Alternators I will get from the States as they are worth it. I will wait until some collector that has bought them already and wants to unload them. I also did buy the TRU TR exclusives, and to this day, I am still pissed off I paid full retail price for these items when most of them were put on sale. I am sure this line is dead. I am not sheding a tear though.

I also buy the odd McFarlane Sports figure but only for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Pittsburgh Penguins (well it's only been Mario Lemieux so far) and Pittsburgh Steelers. I looked thet other day a Legends Franco Harris and Big Ben will be made this year. Yes!!! I also bet Sidney Crosby for the Penguins will be made as well. The problem with this line is that figures I like are freaking gone when they hit retail, especially Maple Leaf figures. I am having a pain in the ass time finding Willie "Pops" Stargell from the MLB McFarlane legends line.

Star Wars toys didn't do anything for me. I just bought some clone troopers and Vader from the ROTS line for mini display. I have yet to take them out of package. Marvel Legends, wrestling figures and other toys lines, I have no interest in. Toys sure look like they are dying, mostly because of the video game industry. Kids would rather

So most of my money when it comes to new toys as gone to GI JOEs. But now I am burned out keeping up the line and have given up.
Title: Collecting days gone?
Post by: Jon S. on July 26, 2005, 10:34:42 AM: Quote
The only thing my WCW figures are collecting is dust nowadays...

Well, if you wanna unload any of 'em... :D
Title: Collecting days gone?
Post by: Spillspleen on July 26, 2005, 10:34:51 AM: This has been my problem for some time now. I hate the hunt for new stuff. That is why I eBay alot and collect old action figures...hence my site about action figures...these older lines can be collected with ease. Sometimes I find figures mint on card that are 20 years old and get them for the original reatail price...who could not like that!
Title: Collecting days gone?
Post by: Pete The Greek on July 26, 2005, 12:27:40 PM: ebay....for new stuff...is where I draw the line. Vintage and foreign figures are great for me but I wouldn't buy anything off ebay if it was just released in retail. I think it defeats the purpose and helps scalpers.
Title: Collecting days gone?
Post by: morgardee on July 26, 2005, 01:02:29 PM: I don't know Pete. I've managed to buy some of the newer Joes off ebay cheaper than cost. I will bid as high as cost, but not more so if people try to scalp and loose money, fine by me.
Title: Collecting days gone?
Post by: Pete The Greek on July 26, 2005, 02:35:43 PM: Depnds on the shipping cost. Some sellers that take a loss will mark up the shipping cost to re-coup.
Title: Collecting days gone?
Post by: akpayne on July 26, 2005, 04:36:24 PM: But buying from the US, even with our Dollar up lately still doesn't add up, once you factor out the cost of shipping and then Customs adding their handling fee and tax on top - I know the option to get around that works for some, but really why should we have to go out of our way, lie to customs, get gouged on shipping, simply to buy Collector Toys.

Maybe it's just the heat getting to me, but man, toy collecting in Canada feels like it is at a low point.
Title: Collecting days gone?
Post by: BHMike on July 26, 2005, 06:44:47 PM: Quote from: ""akpayne""
Maybe it's just the heat getting to me, but man, toy collecting in Canada feels like it is at a low point.

You need a trip to Bounty Hunter Toys. ;-)
Mike
Title: Collecting days gone?
Post by: Redmao on July 26, 2005, 08:59:28 PM: Quote from: ""Pete The Greek""
Toys sure look like they are dying, mostly because of the video game industry. Kids would rather
.

I think that parents don't want to spend on action figures their kids will throw away after a week. With all the crazyness around the world, people tend to keep their cash to build a bomb shelter and gather rations to survive...or kids are simply tired of playing after the age of 6 and they want to see Pg-13 and up movies and play gory video games. They have to be able to read, count and write perfectly as they come out of the kindergarden nowadays so they don't have the time to be kids anymore.
Title: Collecting days gone?
Post by: Scramble on July 27, 2005, 01:36:12 PM: I remember a kid at the school brought in a Transformers pack-in flyer with some of the currently available figs. The other kids surrounded him like it was the first time they'd seen toys. I really think toys are just out of favour these days with kids.

Between video games and trading card games, kids have other things keeping their attention. But the kids certainly were interested in the Transformers, so maybe when the TCG market bottoms out -which it looks like it's bound to this year if things don't change- toys will get a resurgence.

Star Wars is about the biggest hope toys have right now. The kids didn't register Phantom Menace of Attack of the Clones, but boy did Revenge of the Sith hit the school in a big way. I had kids playing Jedi vs Sith games all over the yard, they were talking trivia. One kid was lying on his stomach with an arm and both legs folded to ,look like they'd been sliced off. But even then, I don't think these kids were rushing to Toys R Us.

I think the lower birth rate has a lot to do with it. When I was young, at least, I could play Joes or super heroes or whatever with my brothers, or with any number of kids on the street. Now, kids will only have one or two friends nearby. And it's easier to play a video game or card game with one kid than a big game of toys.