The Energon Pub

I'm sure there are others in the same boat as me when it comes to collecting Transformers. There's alot you want, but you don't make enough money to buy everything you want. So here is my collecting strategy and would like to hear from others when it comes to this.

1st- I plan on setting an x amt of money to spend each month.

2nd- I plan on only going TF hunting once a month once I have said x amt.

3rd- I plan on only taking cash when I do go TF hunting. This will help me out by me not using any of my CC's and once that cash is gone, I'm done for that said month.

4th- If I can't find anything on that TF hunting day, then I plan to buy lots off of ebay. I find that buying lots will be a postive. I can get the ones I'm after and sell the ones I already have if I get one in a said lot that is the same. And once again, I will only use the said x amt for this too.

This is my new collecting strategy. I find this way, I can still collect without spending all my hard earn money. I work part-time in retail so I don't make alot to begin with. But I think this will work. I wanted to share with other fans to see if anyone else has their own collecting strategies.

This all sounds like good stuff.

I also have a limit but I don't often reach it as I've almost finished buying older figures that I want. I don't need to limit myself by taking cash cos I know shops in England will never stock too much for my wallet. No, I don't have a massive budget (It's small compared to others around here), it's just that Hasbro doesn't like Europe.

I have a limit in both finance and especially space. Therefore, I reduce my collection and only purchase:
-G1 figures or Reissue.
-All Ultra Magnus incarnations.
-Masterpiece Line (only G1 characters)

All other lines, I usually pass.

REMINATOR wrote:I have a limit in both finance and especially space. Therefore, I reduce my collection and only purchase:
-G1 figures or Reissue.
-All Ultra Magnus incarnations.
-Masterpiece Line (only G1 characters)

All other lines, I usually pass.

That's how I was going to be when I got back into collecting, but the DOTM line sucked me in. I got a really bad addiction to TF's.

Being that Im married and have house, car, etc...I get what I like first...and it depends on what month it is and how many week's in that month. Like this month is a 5 week month(pay wise)so all bills get paid first, then what the wife dont get I spend on toys.

My strategy is pretty simple(almost flowcharty):

1. Do I have money? If yes, Step 2.

2. Is it set aside for pre-orders? No, Step 3.

3. Am I using that money for non-TFs? No, Step 4.

4. Hunt. If nothing out in stores, to eBay for older things.

5. Return to Step 1 in 2 weeks.

My retail strategy is to take a $20 bill each payday and stick it in an envelope and set it aside. This is strictly Transformer money. Anytime I go out to Walmart or Target or wherever, that envelope goes with me. My Transformers purchases are limited by how much money is in that envelope.

Side note: this plan kinda fell apart earlier this year when it became apparent that holiday leftover stock and impending DotM toys were going to be a problem with RtS and Generations toys. Thus I started buying online. For online purchases, I have an overall personal limit that I put on my credit card each month Sometimes the limit would be broken if a lot of things release in a month or surprise costs come up (dentist, car, etc.), but it generally worked out.

In terms of online purchases, FansProject items are preorder on-sight. For older items, I prefer unopened, and I'll generally try BBTS before eBay, and on eBay, I set a hard limit for overall price (bid price can mean nothing when people try to rip you off on shipping).

Overall, it has all worked out pretty well for me, and collecting is something I'm going to miss with all of my money and focus going toward grad school (although you can bet the notInsecticons and Encore Devastator are preordered - can't miss those!).

As Mykltron says, there's rarely opportunity for a UK collector to go over-budget. At least by going to physical shops. Lately I've been pre-ordering stuff that's a "must have" as and when those pre-orders come in, so long as I have funds available at the time. I'll hunt shops for stuff I've missed the boat on as far as pre-orders, or see if there are any bargains. Every few months I'll see if there's stuff that's in-stock at my preferred online store and order a load from them.

I stopped buying the tiny transformers. I don't buy anymore legends,no more minicons. no more scouts/basics. I only buy like 4 new mold deluxes per year.

I most now only buy the bigger sized TF toys like voyagers,ultra's,leaders & masterpiece TF toys.

deathy wrote:I stopped buying the tiny transformers. I don't buy anymore legends,no more minicons. no more scouts/basics. I only buy like 4 new mold deluxes per year.

I most now only buy the bigger sized TF toys like voyagers,ultra's,leaders & masterpiece TF toys.

good for you lil buddy!

I have a horrible collecting strategy.

1) Check BBTS's vintage dept at least 3 times a day (even though I'm only looking for 2 figs)
2) Check BBTS's new arrivals dept at least 2 times a day
3) Check BBTS's preorders at least once per day.

If at any time they have a fig that's on my want list (which is rare in a movie line), then I buy it/preorder it. If they don't, then I'm happy.

I collect only figures that will fit in a Classics-style setting. I admit that my standards have slipped somewhat, and I may decide to rectify it at some point. But for now I'm enjoying the ride.

And yes, I am financially secure enough to do this. If I have to I will cut back/sell, but I'm in no hurry to do so.

Mkall wrote:I have a horrible collecting strategy.

1) Check BBTS's vintage dept at least 3 times a day (even though I'm only looking for 2 figs)
2) Check BBTS's new arrivals dept at least 2 times a day
3) Check BBTS's preorders at least once per day.

If at any time they have a fig that's on my want list (which is rare in a movie line), then I buy.

Have you tried Transformerland.com? I could get you a referral discount if you see something you like. (Protip: the owner only seems to be updating on Sunday evenings now)

My collecting strategy :

If there's no sale, dont buy it. sale/ repaint would probably come...

Sale : Screw it buy the everything they have! That's what i did for HFTD...

Japan/exculsives : If it's more expensive than the english counterpart, repeat step 1
If it's exculsive/ rare : i probably dont even need this....

Great topic!

I have a small collection, so I don't often get too many TFs in a year. In the last year or two, though, I have picked up quite a few more than normal (so much good stuff!) so I've attracted the attention of an auditor (my Wife) who accepts but doesn't understand my obession, especially when there are important things for our money to go towards, like house, car, food, and shoes... j/k!

I basically have a couple of Masterpiece and Alternator figs, and the vast majority are divded between Classics and Bayverse, Autobot and Deception "teams", roughly equal in number, and usually limited to the Voyager, Deluxe, or Scout class.

When I see a toy I have to get, it usually works like this:

1) Ask my wife
- If 'no' go to #2.
- If 'yes' go to #3.
2) Beg my wife
- If 'no' go to #4.
- If 'yes' go to #3.
3) Buy figure.
4) Weigh if buying the figure is worth the time in the doghouse
- If 'no' - game over.
- If 'yes' go to the doghouse.

So yeah, that's my method.