Make no mistakes. Action figure collecting is not a hobby only for kids. Adults have found great value in collecting these formidable characters. You might even start grabbing up every action figure you can find. What you like and what you don't like about specific action figures will ultimately determine what your collection will consist of. Here are some good ideas to help you start an action figure collection.
Try to narrow down your specific reason for beginning the collection. Are you in it to make money or are you looking for something to share with a child or other adults? Are you simply collecting to have fun? Whatever your reasoning, it should help you determine how to proceed. For example, collecting for money will entail much more research and searching than just collecting to help your grandchild complete a set that he already has.
Collecting Your Favorite Action Figures
The best way to begin is by collecting your favorite action figures. You more than likely know where to find these figures, and you are probably familiar with their actual price versus what it might be worth to others based on its popularity and availability.
The selection available today is truly amazing. New action figures are hitting the market all the time. Most action figures available in the past were based on cartoons and comic books. Now there are many action figures available based on different characters from movies, music, TV, and sports. Try to collect the figures which appeal most to you.
Collecting Action Figures in DemandCollecting action figures that are popular is a good idea, even if they are not your favorites. This is especially true if you are collecting to make money. If half the little girls in America knew how much vintage Barbie dolls were going to be worth one day, they would have kept her in a box and placed in a safe place for years.
The eBay Action Figure Buying Guide is a great resource for determining the value of your action figures, and keeping abreast of what is popular on the market at any given time. You can also compare winning auction prices to see what people are willing to pay for specific action figures, to give you a basis on what you can charge for yours.
Searching for Action Figures
If you have decided what action figures you want to begin with, there are numerous places you can search. The retail department stores, such as Toy 'R' Us, Wal-Mart, and Target always have a huge selection of toys. Of course, eBay will usually have over 100,000 current action figure related auctions at any given point. You can find newly released figurines and some of the really hard to find ones on eBay, too.
Some of the best deals you may ever find are at garage sales. The prices are usually very low and some people do not realize a treasure when they put it up for sale. The key is to research the figures and know the ones that are worth more. You may stumble across some that are worth a lot of money, and you might be able to pick it for next to nothing.
Action Figure conventions are a great place to look for limited edition items. You can search on Comicbookconventions.com to find one in your area. This is also a great place to meet other enthusiasts who might be willing to wheel and deal with you. Some of these people can end up as lifetime friends. The conventions are a lot of fun to browse through with your child, too, if they are interested.
No matter why you start an action figure collection, it is sure to provide you with years of enjoyment. It's always fun to look back at the figures you have already collected and find the other ones you have been searching for. Collections like this can really be a wonderful stress-reliever too.
