Affording the good stuff ??

[Frunkstar]

I kidnap immigrants & sell organs on the internet to fund my addiction with it being worse than crack, but don't tell anyone - DoH!

Got a woman & 3 little droogies but they want for nothing & my collecting addiction is fed by what I make or trade, sadly its never enough once your in deep :lol: so make the most of doing the loose run before you hit the kessle run.

 

[Jez]

I started loose, thinking "it'll never happen to me", now i'm selling my immigrants to Frunkstar for half their value!!

 

[KesselRunPDX]

Just to get a relatively new collector perspective, it's kind of hit and miss depending on what you're looking for. I started about a year ago when a friend was moving and decided to give up his collection, and naturally he contact me about it. That pretty much started my current focus of completing the various vehicles that came in the collection, and I'm pretty close to finishing what I have now.

Thrift and hobby stores are your friend, at least to my experience. I found a hobby store about half an hour away that sold some completed vehicles but mainly had a huge supply of not complete ones they were willing to part out. I thought I would have to pay quite a bit for the parts but I think the most I spent was $30 on one lot of parts.

eBay I haven't really jumped into yet. I was really lucky recently when I picked up a complete B-Wing (no box though) for $16, including shipping. I'm a little leery of trying to find parts on there though, since I'm never sure if they're repro or not. And of course the various parts I'm missing are some of the harder to come by ones (like the Jedi Training Ball/Arm for the Falcon).

Check garage sales for people getting rid of collections, craigslist (does that exist over in the UK/Europe?) can be a decent place as well, but most of the time you run into people who fall into the "vintage star wars stuff is worth a lot, I'll charge through the nose for a bunch of non-rare loose figures missing their equipment!"

I have found some decent stuff at various Goodwill's around town (again, don't know if it exists across the pond), and when I do get around to putting my wanted list up on here or RS I'm sure I'll get some replies, but like others have said, most of it is looking for good deals, check with people on here for opinions on price/value, and have fun with it!

I'm not on MOCs or MIBs yet, but I'm sure I'll head there eventually, lol.

 

[edd_jedi]

I haven't bought MOCs regularly for years, but went through a stage about 10 years ago where I was buying high cost (£100+ figures) on an almost daily basis. I had a full time job and was living with my parents and paying no rent at the time, so although it used up a huge amount of my money, the way I saw it it was better than spending it on beer/cars/women etc. At the time it was a good investment (which I lost, but that's another story.)

Now I do live on my own and am saving each month, so definitely couldn't afford (or want) to spend so much any more.

 

[weasel]

Yeah I can pretty much second that.

 

[BlueDog]

I reckon the "good stuff" is highly relevant to where you are in your collecting phase, when I started out everything to me was good stuff. I would get excited about finding a loose Vader without a weapon in those days. I'm now entering my MOC phase and still get chuffed about scoring a beater carded figure that most collectors of high end stuff wouldn't blink at. I'm sure as time goes on and I plunge into that first real top dollar purchase things will change but in the end it's all relative to what makes you happy and gives you that collecting buzz.

 

[sith-smith]

I think you're right

In a way I miss the early days of collecting when I didn;t spend so much, but got way more excited about things. I loved the carboot sales, would spend about £5-10 and got masses of stuff!!

Even the early days of going to collectors shops and shows would be great just picking up a basic ship/playset or figures to complete the basic set.

The jump to carded figures began to change all that. What finally killed it was the jump from Kenner to Palitoy :roll:

 

[weasel]

But you don't REALLY need two Kidneys AND two Lungs though Gary!

 

[sith-smith]

Just as well!!

 

[greedodidntshoot]

The happiness is in the hunt, like most collecting hobbies. Don't get me wrong, its about the memories for me too, but the best part is in the seeking. Just enjoy what you can get your hands on and be creative when you come upon things that you think you can't afford - I have made crazy offers for things (on places like eBay) that have actually been accepted.

 

[sith-smith]

There's definitely something in the thrill of the hunt. In fact there are several aspects to this hobby.

The hunt
The saving
The displaying
The sharing of picture/viewing
The discussions...such as this one
The nostalgia
The hiding of the price from the girlfriend/wife
The accomplishment and joy of completing a goal

If you can get into all of the above, and no doubt others that I've missed. I think you have a great hobby

 

[timbo72]

I guess a big part for me is the nostalgia, taking me back to the early 80's on a Saturday afternoon in the toy shop....spending ages choosing a new figure

 

[Joseph_Y]

I've hesitated at replying to this thread as I'm sure someone will accuse me of bragging or being elitist, regardless of how honest my reply is. :roll:

The original question of how do collectors afford the good stuff? For me there have been phases on how I've been able to play the collecting game.

A large majority of "the good stuff" I have or have had (sold a lot off..get to that later) was purchased in the 90s before prices got too crazy, and when Non US items were typically selling for less than US items. I afforded nice items because I got in early and didn't have much for bills at that stage in my life. I also bought collections, kept what I wanted, and sold the rest to help my collection pay for itself. Working the hobby is a very helpful thing.

In the late 90s to mid 00s (06 to be precise) I was able to buy the good stuff, because my business was thriving, and my expendable income was something I'd kill to have now. ****, I'd kill to be earning just what my toy budget was in those years. But, thanks to a fire burning my shop down, and the new location when I found one, not being anywhere near as busy, I'm earning about 1/4 what I previously had been.

After the fire I had to re-prioritize my collecting, Bootlegs won out,and that has lead to how I can afford to buy "the good stuff" now, it's by selling off my former licensed collection. Picking up deals when I see them and flipping them for profit, to be spent on more items for my collection.

Since May 22, 2006, I've ONLY spent money on larger purchases that wasn't earned from selling other toys twice, once in 2007 and at CV. That's how I can afford the good stuff now, and how I keep my collecting from taking my bill and mortgage money.

Cheers
Joe

 

[Dr_Ball_MD]

I sold my loose vintage due to money problems last year but seriously considering collecting them again this year , all about the hunt

 

[jedi_masters]

Got a wife , 1 daughter and another on the way, mortgage, loans, usual bills. Reason why my purchases are so sporadic. Usually my purchases happen around my birthday and christmas when I get money.

 

[edd_jedi]

I think you're right
In a way I miss the early days of collecting when I didn;t spend so much, but got way more excited about things. I loved the carboot sales, would spend about £5-10 and got masses of stuff!!

In the early to mid 90s I paid £10 or less for dozens of MOCs. That was pretty much the going rate of, say, a £30 figure now (which there are a lot of.) I specifically remember buying tri logo Nikto and Klaatu for £7 each from a market. Good times