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Just wanted some advice on which toy I should get first to start my collection, how I go about doing that (Should I go through eBay, BBTS, cons?), should I keep it in the box or not, etc.

I know that some of you would say "Just do whatever!", but I really need at least a tip to get off on the right foot.

Thanks!

I wouldn't start with a site like BBTS, as you're paying a premium for rare/imported toys. I'd start with your local Toys R Us, Walmart, and Target stores, and just buy whatever appeals to you. As time goes on, you'll develop a taste for what you like and don't like.

eBay is a great way to go "back in time" and get figures you missed out on. When I first started collecting, about half my purchases came from eBay. But again, don't pay a lot for rare figures when you're starting out. Get stuff that's cheap or reasonably prices (as close to retail as possible) until you know what you really like and dislike.

Don't bother keeping anything in the package. Vintage toys may be valuable, but current toys are a terrible investment. And a toy in the package is no fun to play with. If you find something you love so much you want to keep it in the package, buy two; one to save and one to play with.

Ask yourself what you really want first. Don't feel pressured into buying toys just because most of us do.

If you do decide to, start small. And cheap. It's easy to get overwhelmed with what's out there, not to mention the prices. Go look at the local stores, see what's out there, see what tickles your fancy. Once you see a toy you really like, get it. Make sure it's special and stands out as it should represent your tastes in general

For illustration, my first toys were RiD Super Optimus Prime, and Armada Sideways. I've always liked Optimus Prime (Ok, he was cheap), but I adore toys that switch allegiance. Even when a repaint does that, like Prime Wheeljack vs. Prime Dead End.

Ultimately, it's your call.

Well, first thing to do is just sit down and figure out what you like. A specific vehicle or animal you think is cool. Maybe even a specific colour.

Like, I don't go for the big name characters like Optimus Prime or Megatron. It's not that their figures are all bad or anything but they don't really grab me the way that Icepick or Claw Jaw do. I also prefer the smaller size classes because they are cheaper and they cost a lot less in shipping because I live in Sweden and our availability is kind of mediocre at times so I buy from online stores and eBay.

If you want something fairly current and not too out there I'd recommend DOTM Powerglide. It has a clever transformation scheme, good looking modes and is generally very transformer-y. Not a perfect figure but nearly as good as you can possibly get at such a small size.

TDK Akita wrote:Just wanted some advice on which toy I should get first to start my collection, how I go about doing that (Should I go through eBay, BBTS, cons?), should I keep it in the box or not, etc.

I know that some of you would say "Just do whatever!", but I really need at least a tip to get off on the right foot.

Thanks!

Well, you have Jazz/Meister in your tag, so you must like that character.

I'd recommend starting with him.

This is actually a great time to pick up the HasbroToyShop/TRU gift pack with the G2 colors deluxe Jazz, Optimus Prime, and cyberverse Thundercracker and Motorbreath. It was $29.99 the last time I checked, which is pretty reasonable considering deluxe figures are going for $15 a pop.

Unless you plan on selling the toys later, I'd also say you should open them up. Over time, boxed toys end up taking up a lot more space than unboxed toys. (For years, I was storing modern toy packaging in a closet...but I gave it all away when I moved. Now I throw out most packaging. Most box art is archived online somewhere, anyway.)

Don't go crazy trying to buy everything if you get bit with the collecting bug, though. Slow and steady wins the race.

Just a rule of thumb: Whenever you are about to drop a lot of money, ask yourself what else you could have bought if you saved your money, and whether you would have gotten more pleasure or use out of that other thing. One of the worst parts of collecting is buyer's remorse. When you are in the store, spending five, ten, or twenty bucks might not seem like much. At the end of the year, though, when you add up all of those toys you bought...you realize you could have bought yourself something bigger or nicer.

My kleptomania will definitely come in handy when it comes to collecting. I think one of these days between work and class when I have free time, i'll go hit up a Toys R Us or something. Super psyched about this, not so much since I got my first commission for the fuzzy stuff. Thanks guys.

IMO, buying toys makes me happy, and whereas its possible to look back over a year and see a huge dollar amount that could have bought something big ticket, you would have had to wait a year Instant gratification FTW!

As far as a good toy to start off with, personally I started off with Generations Wheeljack. I only started collecting after a 25+ year hiatus last weds. I picked him randomly from the stock they had. It's a killer mold and sturdy. Actally, all of the main Generations line bots are really great. Warpath and Kup along with Jack are on my desk at work

If you have been watching TF Prime, I recommend starting off with Soundwave if you can find one or PRID Bulkhead, both rock!

Welcome back to the fun!

Tresob wrote:This is actually a great time to pick up the HasbroToyShop/TRU gift pack with the G2 colors deluxe Jazz, Optimus Prime, and cyberverse Thundercracker and Motorbreath. It was $29.99 the last time I checked, which is pretty reasonable considering deluxe figures are going for $15 a pop.

I actually just found it on TRU's site. I'm gonna wait until I ace a test and reward myself.

jindrak wrote:IMO, buying toys makes me happy, and whereas its possible to look back over a year and see a huge dollar amount that could have bought something big ticket, you would have had to wait a year Instant gratification FTW!

As far as a good toy to start off with, personally I started off with Generations Wheeljack. I only started collecting after a 25+ year hiatus last weds. I picked him randomly from the stock they had. It's a killer mold and sturdy. Actally, all of the main Generations line bots are really great. Warpath and Kup along with Jack are on my desk at work

If you have been watching TF Prime, I recommend starting off with Soundwave if you can find one or PRID Bulkhead, both rock!

Welcome back to the fun!

I actually need to get into Prime. I honestly thought it was gonna suck since the trailer was awful to me, but I watched a couple of episodes on Netflix and I actually dig it. I'll pick up a Prime bot down the road, but first I have to get this Generations pack.

Ya, the generations gift pack has a MUCH better mold of Jazz with the only other one available in stores being Fall of Cybertron..which is really not a great figure. I don't want to say I hate it because its Jazz and a TF, but....it's really not great.

I thought I would hate prime too because I dont dig CG toons (child of the 70s-80s so cell animation is king) but is is actually really fun to watch.