What Best Advice Would You Give A Newbie?

[stratpack]

Keep the wife in the dark.
I mean reveal nothing....absolutely nothing. Your testicles will thank you

Is everything £20 in your house to? :lol:

Haha! You got it.

I make good use of the "Dubious Decimal Point Syndrome".
"There's no way I would spend £250.00 on a little plastic man, my love. It's £25.00. Obviously, they've got the decimal point in the wrong place." 8)

Haha :lol: either that or its "oh I've had those for years" carrying the implication of ownership long before, when you were still single, no kids and had money!

 

[ScruffyLookingNH]

All the points have been covered but a top 6 (tried 5 but couldn't miss the last one out) for me would be:

1) Get involved on forums (well, this one) and meet people: both here and at social events.

2) Don't be in a rush to focus on anything in particular but don't be in a rush to buy everything. Take your time and let your collection evolve around your tastes and your budget

3) Get down to FF and under no circumstances miss out on Saturday night. It's the ideal ice-breaker and Stu gives out free hugs whilst singing "It Started with a Kiss"

4) Pay the damned fees on PayPal transactions and never, ever do balance transfer/Western Union/cheque. Use PayPal. 3% is cheap insurance when dealing with the unknown.

5) Buy from every channel you can: Forums, fairs, Facebook, car boots, private adverts, eBay and real life auctions. Too easy to get in a rut and forget there are many ways of buying and selling.The leg work pays off. You'll see more overpriced bundles of stuff than you will bargains but you'll soon know what's worth what.

6) Whenever buying, through whatever channel, ask "Have you got anymore/anything else?" Had some incredible finds through these 4 or 5 little words.

 

[Woolyniner]

My wife calls each of my purchases 'a cheap piece of plastic', and it is worth remembering that despite it's sale value this is absolutely true, at the end of the day star wars toys are just cheap bits of moulded plastic.

So as many have said, have a budget you feel works for you and gives you the joy you are looking for. When you look at your early purchases on a shelf, just ask yourself is it worth the money you have spent? Get that balance between money spent and the joy of collecting, and with a good focus it will be all good.

I'd love to do the social side but home life just too busy at the moment, but that I'm sure that is a great reason to do the hobby too.

 

[Ross_Barr]

All great advice - especially the stuff about being patient and only buying stuff because you like it, not because it will be worth a lot.

The general advice I have kind of combines those: Spend at least a few months on the sidelines before making ANY purchase other than maybe a loose figure or two. I made so many purchases over my first year or so that ultimately didn't really fit with how and where I wanted to collect, and then I had to sell it on. It would be wise to spend a few months seeing all that is out there before going on a spending spree.

Also, general advice I would give (which took me a long time to figure out - I am still learning) is that if you should focus on items that will stand the test of time. That means avoid all ESB 31 back and later (through POTF, Ewoks, etc.) MOCs that have yellowed to a significant degree. The yellow, brittle bubbles are a ticking time bomb in my opinion. Focus on clear bubbles (although don't overpay!), loose figures, card backs, proof cards, etc. Stuff that will last and look as good on your shelf in 12 years as they will in 12 months.

Also, don't pay too much for any sealed MISB items. The tape has come off too many of those to justify the premium ascribed to MISB versus MIB in my opinion.

 

[SAVORY100]

All great advice - especially the stuff about being patient and only buying stuff because you like it, not because it will be worth a lot.

The general advice I have kind of combines those: Spend at least a few months on the sidelines before making ANY purchase other than maybe a loose figure or two. I made so many purchases over my first year or so that ultimately didn't really fit with how and where I wanted to collect, and then I had to sell it on. It would be wise to spend a few months seeing all that is out there before going on a spending spree.

Also, general advice I would give (which took me a long time to figure out - I am still learning) is that if you should focus on items that will stand the test of time. That means avoid all ESB 31 back and later (through POTF, Ewoks, etc.) MOCs that have yellowed to a significant degree. The yellow, brittle bubbles are a ticking time bomb in my opinion. Focus on clear bubbles (although don't overpay!), loose figures, card backs, proof cards, etc. Stuff that will last and look as good on your shelf in 12 years as they will in 12 months.

Also, don't pay too much for any sealed MISB items. The tape has come off too many of those to justify the premium ascribed to MISB versus MIB in my opinion.

Really like the MISB vs MIB comment, spot on IMO

 

[ScruffyLookingNH]

All great advice - especially the stuff about being patient and only buying stuff because you like it, not because it will be worth a lot.

The general advice I have kind of combines those: Spend at least a few months on the sidelines before making ANY purchase other than maybe a loose figure or two. I made so many purchases over my first year or so that ultimately didn't really fit with how and where I wanted to collect, and then I had to sell it on. It would be wise to spend a few months seeing all that is out there before going on a spending spree.

Also, general advice I would give (which took me a long time to figure out - I am still learning) is that if you should focus on items that will stand the test of time. That means avoid all ESB 31 back and later (through POTF, Ewoks, etc.) MOCs that have yellowed to a significant degree. The yellow, brittle bubbles are a ticking time bomb in my opinion. Focus on clear bubbles (although don't overpay!), loose figures, card backs, proof cards, etc. Stuff that will last and look as good on your shelf in 12 years as they will in 12 months.

Also, don't pay too much for any sealed MISB items. The tape has come off too many of those to justify the premium ascribed to MISB versus MIB in my opinion.

Absolutely agree on the yellow bubbles and "MISB" stuff. Didn't even occur to me to say that because I don't collect those for that exact reasons: they're guaranteed to fail totally in our lifetimes. Whilst the value of items in the future should not be the motivator I think it unwise to spend good money on items that are guaranteed to be worth a fraction of their purchase price today, such as those mentioned above.

 

[yoda]

So what is the best advice you could give a newbie starting out right now?

My best advice for a newbie would be, don't rush it... Last year Andreg came in like a wrecking ball and burned out within only a few months never to be heard from again! DON'T DO IT!

I even remember Andreg any word on the guy? I think I joined around the same time as him.

 

[Hooch]

I think everything said above is pretty much my thoughts
One thing I did notice is a few have commented 'don't be a cock'. That is true but for those who are new to the forum and are more used to FB 'don't be a cockwomble' :lol:

 

[darth_daddius]

Collect what you want and try to identify certain runs that are achievable with the budget you have. Satisfaction of completing a certain run without breaking the bank is a nice feeling.

And fly casual.

But not too casual..

 

[darth_daddius]

...

4. Let it go. If something comes up and you have to eat beans for 3 months to buy it - LET IT GO. Almost nothing in SW collecting is unique. Even if it is, only buy it if you can afford it.

No way! Beans are good for you - fibre, low in fat, healthy. VERY under-rated. Nothing like a nice hot bowl of beans with buttered toast whilst looking at your new acquisition.....

Just sayin'
Pat

 

[maxf]

...

4. Let it go. If something comes up and you have to eat beans for 3 months to buy it - LET IT GO. Almost nothing in SW collecting is unique. Even if it is, only buy it if you can afford it.

No way! Beans are good for you - fibre, low in fat, healthy. VERY under-rated. Nothing like a nice hot bowl of beans with buttered toast whilst looking at your new acquisition.....

Just sayin'
Pat

You mention toast and butter... these are unaffordable in my scenario

 

[Mr-shifter]

I would tell them they are here to enjoy collecting. As soon as it starts to become stressful or upsetting or you are causing yourself misery because of financial hardship it's time to step away from things.

 

[maxf]

I would tell them they are here to enjoy collecting. As soon as it starts to become stressful or upsetting or you are causing yourself misery because of financial hardship it's time to step away from things.

That's excellent advice. This should be fun! Some deals can quickly become like pulling teeth - those are the ones to walk away from!

 

[darth_daddius]

...

4. Let it go. If something comes up and you have to eat beans for 3 months to buy it - LET IT GO. Almost nothing in SW collecting is unique. Even if it is, only buy it if you can afford it.

No way! Beans are good for you - fibre, low in fat, healthy. VERY under-rated. Nothing like a nice hot bowl of beans with buttered toast whilst looking at your new acquisition.....

Just sayin'
Pat

You mention toast and butter... these are unaffordable in my scenario

Yeah well, the bread is stale - hence the toasting - and the butter is stolen from McDonalds.....

How is that new acquisition though?! Awesome.

Pat

 

[indianawars]

So what is the best advice you could give a newbie starting out right now?

My best advice for a newbie would be, don't rush it... Last year Andreg came in like a wrecking ball and burned out within only a few months never to be heard from again! DON'T DO IT!

I even remember Andreg any word on the guy? I think I joined around the same time as him.

You would probably remember those videos he would make in the LA thread... The ones where he would cut open boxes with a massive carving knife :lol: Also, he had hundreds of last 17 loose figures he wanted to trade for boxed / MOC items. The last time I spoke to him was way back in Jan.

 

[Andreg]

Initiate collection, go ALL IN and then ALL OUT. Shove away the goodies and put collecting into hibernation-mode. Once that smell of vintage plastic hits your nose again, or when you're being called upon, then you harvest power and go back at it like never before. Now, it's time to go full retard.

indiana, lejack, Scruffy, yoda

I'm back.....

 

[yoda]

Initiate collection, go ALL IN and then ALL OUT. Shove away the goodies and put collecting into hibernation-mode. Once that smell of vintage plastic hits your nose again, or when you're being called upon, then you harvest power and go back at it like never before. Now, it's time to go full retard.

indiana, lejack, Scruffy,

I'm back.....

:lol: great to see you back no point taking the foot off the pedal just yet!

 

[indianawars]

Initiate collection, go ALL IN and then ALL OUT. Shove away the goodies and put collecting into hibernation-mode. Once that smell of vintage plastic hits your nose again, or when you're being called upon, then you harvest power and go back at it like never before.

Honestly, my friend, welcome back It's good to see you posting again!..

 

[Dannywhiteley]

Buy the best you can afford from the start otherwise it's constant upgrading. Quality not quantity all the way.

 

[robpmarsh]

1. Join this forum
2. Attend a few meet ups/FF/Celebration
3. Ask questions
4. Buy what u like.....you'll eventually figure out what you want to focus on.....takes longer for some, not so long for others