Taffius
Sith Lord
Hi all,
After posting "My starting 9": http://www.starwarsforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=35565#p472040
Members commented that annual updates seemed too long so I have agreed to post monthly updates, plus lessons identified as a new collector and not having figures since the 00s.
After more than a month collecting I have learnt so much. The sources of information within here and on the internet is amazing now, however having listened to recent advice from other threads and on The Vintage Rebellion podcasts, I thought I would add my experiences and advice too to add a little value to the post, over the small size of the collection so far!
1. Weapons - if like me you want good condition figures to build a loose collection and you have set a standard of the figures having original weapons, then purchasing figures with their original weapons in the first instance, usually costs less than obtaining just the weapons after (hence why I have an AT-ST driver and B-wing Pilot with no weapons at this time!).
2. Condition and state - if you feel you need more information on the condition of a figure or its state then ask. Explain you are new as sellers and other members often freely provide such information with understanding and perspective. If you do not smoke and do not like figures that smell of cigarette smoke then ask if the figure smells or been exposed to smoke or items you might be allergic to.
3. Advice - waiting and researching not only provides a calmer approach to purchasing what you want, but enables you to make a more self informed decision on what you really want as an end state. Outside of this forum and on other media sources, not all weapons are real. Not all figures are vintage. Not all claimed variants are actually variants.
4. Patience - it is easy to get swept up in the excitement of a sale page or post and feel its the last of the item on the planet. Its not. Within a month I have already seen items come around and around so set your standard and price you want to pay and wait.
5. Payment - if you do not know a person and paying via PayPal then consider paying via the "sales or goods" option instead of the Friends & Family option. Payment of such fees means you could de-risk a purchase and/or have piece of mind as it is normally associated with the PayPal protection scheme. Fees are normally 4% of the agreed price plus 20p. In the scheme of things, most items at the lower end of the loose figure spectrum only cost pence to pay via such method.
Anyway I hope the above invokes conversation and/or provides a bit of advice that at times I wish I could adhere to or have had a little earlier in my collecting period (its only been five weeks!).
Image attached is my 9+9 within its new home. Its an Edwardian display stand that I hoofed my antiques out of for something better.
I should think that it wont be long before an "exploding" detolf cabinet is required! :lol: Its been moved from a South facing room to a North facing one. The stand is also covered by a £3 Star Wars plastic table cloth I purchased to make sure there is no light exposure on the collection during the day.
The collection "loose" includes some baggies. I purchased a card back too. Thanks to all on here and other media sources for your help, assistance, support and advice that I have been warmly afforded. Its a great place to be!
After posting "My starting 9": http://www.starwarsforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=35565#p472040
Members commented that annual updates seemed too long so I have agreed to post monthly updates, plus lessons identified as a new collector and not having figures since the 00s.
After more than a month collecting I have learnt so much. The sources of information within here and on the internet is amazing now, however having listened to recent advice from other threads and on The Vintage Rebellion podcasts, I thought I would add my experiences and advice too to add a little value to the post, over the small size of the collection so far!
1. Weapons - if like me you want good condition figures to build a loose collection and you have set a standard of the figures having original weapons, then purchasing figures with their original weapons in the first instance, usually costs less than obtaining just the weapons after (hence why I have an AT-ST driver and B-wing Pilot with no weapons at this time!).
2. Condition and state - if you feel you need more information on the condition of a figure or its state then ask. Explain you are new as sellers and other members often freely provide such information with understanding and perspective. If you do not smoke and do not like figures that smell of cigarette smoke then ask if the figure smells or been exposed to smoke or items you might be allergic to.
3. Advice - waiting and researching not only provides a calmer approach to purchasing what you want, but enables you to make a more self informed decision on what you really want as an end state. Outside of this forum and on other media sources, not all weapons are real. Not all figures are vintage. Not all claimed variants are actually variants.
4. Patience - it is easy to get swept up in the excitement of a sale page or post and feel its the last of the item on the planet. Its not. Within a month I have already seen items come around and around so set your standard and price you want to pay and wait.
5. Payment - if you do not know a person and paying via PayPal then consider paying via the "sales or goods" option instead of the Friends & Family option. Payment of such fees means you could de-risk a purchase and/or have piece of mind as it is normally associated with the PayPal protection scheme. Fees are normally 4% of the agreed price plus 20p. In the scheme of things, most items at the lower end of the loose figure spectrum only cost pence to pay via such method.
Anyway I hope the above invokes conversation and/or provides a bit of advice that at times I wish I could adhere to or have had a little earlier in my collecting period (its only been five weeks!).
Image attached is my 9+9 within its new home. Its an Edwardian display stand that I hoofed my antiques out of for something better.
I should think that it wont be long before an "exploding" detolf cabinet is required! :lol: Its been moved from a South facing room to a North facing one. The stand is also covered by a £3 Star Wars plastic table cloth I purchased to make sure there is no light exposure on the collection during the day.The collection "loose" includes some baggies. I purchased a card back too. Thanks to all on here and other media sources for your help, assistance, support and advice that I have been warmly afforded. Its a great place to be!
