GI Joe® FAQ:
On Collecting

This FAQ is about 12" GI Joes. Questions about Action Man and cheap Joe rip-offs have also been included. Most of these questions and answers come from alt.toys.gi-joe. Thanks to everyone who posted either a question or its answer!

If you can't find the answer here, you might check Hasbro's FAQ or post your question to alt.toys.gi-joe.

1. I'm just getting into collecting Joes. Can you give me some advice? If you are new to Joe collecting and are not sure what the new Joes look like, you need to be careful. There have been several reports from folks who have purchased the Classics and store exclusives only to find the box has been opened and the figure replaced with a different one. One report even indicated that the M1 and web belt with canteen were gone from their Battle of the Bulge figure and the figure was replace with what sounded like either a US Serviceman Memorial figure or HOF figure such as Flint or Rapid Fire. Know what you're buying! Carefully inspect the box. -- Karl Clapp

   For you other newbies to Joe collecting, the best advice I ever got was "Don't try to buy everything new or old. Create a niche and specialize by year, type, sets, etc. Hunt, trade, and learn about those items." It's much more fun and you'll learn more and not go broke trying to keep up by buying everything in sight. -- Brian FFerrario

2. What books can I use for price guides? I don't think any of the available books do justice to 12" Joes. All are speculative. You can write Cotswold and request a free mailed copy of their catalog or request one via their website. The have most new and vintage stuff in stock. I use this as the medium for prices. Some are more than I'd pay and other just right. -- Rick Sollers

3. Is the number 000000 a special WWII African American Joe? Did you get one of these on your WWII Afirican-Americans from Target? Apparently a lot of other people did as well. There is no way to know how many were produced with this number. It looks like the counter was not incrementing properly. So much for individual numbering for collectibility. So, unfortunately, the 000000 number means nothing in this particular (unless you like to collect misprints). It happened with the Caucasians as well. -- Mark

4. How accurate are the guides that specify the accessories for an "authentic" outfit? Not very. The guides describe most units but not all! -- JM

   Ever notice all the examples of Hasbro improvising with what they still had in stock? I once bought from a non-dealer/non-collector his original AT Commander he had as a kid and he was wearing a pristine Green Beret shirt & pants. He said that's how it came. Then the other night while looking through an old 1971 Sears Wishbook I saw an AT black adventurer (tan outfit, at dog tag & at chest sticker) but his shirt is a Japanese soldier's, even with the red patches. And I still swear my first Action Pilot came out of his box in tall brown boots. I have it on movie film. Just thought it was interesting." -- IbuuyGIJoes@aol.com

   I too have noticed the improvising. I got a British jacket and pants with my brown mp set. Never owned a foreign guy, but did get the clothes. -- Ryou11too@aol.com

   I know for a fact that some of the AT items included pre-fuzzy head accessories. I still have one of the items as proof! I have a very nice talking adventure team commander, in its C8 box with insert. The Joe is as close to C10 as you get; he's got RED hair and beard and is in a beautifully matching green beret uniform(jacket and pants), the jade green one. He came in short black boots with the regular AT tag and shoulder holster(black). I think the first Tomart's guide makes reference to this possible combination; the green beret uniform issued on early AT figures. I have proof that it did happen. I can't remember what year I got it though to confirm. --DMcKeee63@aol.com

5. Does anyone believe that custom made Joes are collectible and a good investment? For example, the German SS Soldier advertised in the current Toy Shop or Cotswold's elite brigade. Comments? Opinions?

   First, I don't collect for an investment. The rate of return is extremely poor and speculative at best. I prefer stocks and money market funds. Personnally, Cotswolds figures hold no value to me. I enjoy some of the accessories they provide, such as weapons and equipment, but the figures hold no interest. I believe GI Joe is collected by the vast majority because of sentimental reasons, not investment. Cotswold's figures fill a gap for the militaria collector. Those who enjoy the uniforms and equipment and could care less about what figure they're on. I do believe that these custom uniforms and accessories are collectible, but as an investment, you could do better on a passbook savings account. -- KKarl Clapp

   I don't really think that these figures, such as Cotswold's elite brigade, are intended for investment. They're designed for collectors that want to expand their collection for display purposes, or to fill a particular function. Say you have a uniform but no Joe to put it on. That's when you buy an elite brigade. -- TreekkerJoe

   I think a toy has to be played with to have any long term value otherwise there is no nostalgic attachment which why lunkheads like me are shelling out big bucks to reconstruct my childhood toy box. Most kids under 30 today would rather have a big transformer or a box of straight armed 3.75 inch Joes than an Action Sailor in the box unless of course they were just going to turn around and sell it. I think that's why the HOF and 30th Anniversary are doomed, nobody cares about them except for disappointed investors. -- Don Thhompson

   I agree that it had/has to be played with to get the sentimental value. I also agree that today's boys would rather go with the 3 3/4" format, primarily because they are more articulated that the HOF and HOFA. I believe that will change with the 12" Collector's Series. These guys are as articulated as the originals and with a greater range of motion. Not to mention they are supposed to be in a fairly reasonable price range. If Hasbro (Kenner?) follow up with uniforms and accessories, I think they will do well with kids as well as collectors.

   As far as the HOF and HOFA I was personally very disappointed in these. They are best left in the box to collect dust as the limited articulation and range of motion do not allow for any real displaying. You could never do a diorama with the HOF'ers. I have one HOF and one HOFA figure purely as examples. The only reason I would consider a 30th Anniversary figure would be for the box. But why pay $75-$200 for a repro box when you can get them for $20. I do believe Hasbro could have done MUCH better with the 30th Anniversaries (they should have beaten Levine and Michlig to the punch), but they are making up for the mistake with the Collector's Series. -- KKarl Clapp

6. As I collect more and more of my favorite Joe's I find that I am running out of space in my display cabinet. Do I unbox them, or, does unboxing them affect the value from MIB? Go ahead and unbox them, and enjoy them. Yes, unboxing them will in some inexplicable way, affect their value, but the stuff that was made in the last 10 to 20 years is not going to be but so valuable. You have to understand that in the last 20 or so years, lots more people are saving MIMB stuff than used to. So this stuff is never going to be rare. You will derive a lot more entertainment and enjoyment from these things loose. When you sell your collection, I can tell you that the money you get will be paltry compared to the joy you could have had. I'll say it again. The best value is play value. -- Blair

7. How do product boxes get damaged? By greedy scalpers? The screwed up boxes are TRU's fault, not Hasbro's. It happens at the distribution centers when the cut holes in the cases and put the price tags on before sending them out to the stores. -- Kevin Johnston

8. Does retouching the hair on a painted head Joe devalue the figure? Anytime you touch or "retouch" a collectible or antique item you detract from the value as a collectible or antique. That goes for firearms, furniture, and GI Joes. Cleaning him up is one thing, but repainting, even a touchup will detract from the value. -- Karl Clapp

   As far as Joes are concerned I am sure there are elitists who require there Joes to be 'untouched'. But as for me, I have no problem fixing bald spots with a dab of paint or reflocking an AT Joe, and I routinely paint vintage guns and vehicles to suit my tastes (or my sons wishes). Of course I would never sell or trade a Joe without disclosing any known modifications or restorations. I will say this: If you buy a bald AT Joe and have him reflocked ($15) you will get twice what you paid for him even if you disclose his new hair plants to the buyer and you will love the results of the new hair job. Likewise I am sure there are plenty of collectors out there who own restored Joes and think they are unretouched. Know what you want out of Joe collecting. If you are planning on repainting Joe just to sell him don't do it unless the current paint job has plenty of rubs. If you are painting him because you want to display him then are you displaying Joe as an antique collectible or are you displaying him because Joe looks so damn cool? If the former then don't paint him, if the latter then paint away and have a blast. -- Matthew E. Mehlich

9. Are these stress cracks in vintage Joes really as common as I'm hearing they are? Do minor stress cracks affect the condition and value of vintage Joes? Should I really worry about (minor) stress cracks when purchasing vintage Joes? Yes, they effect value. To what degree is the question. Knee cracks, the most common, don't effect value much in my opinion. But upper shoulder, wrist, elbow, and large cracks in the calves, certainly effect my perceived value of a figure. To some degree, it's a matter of personal preference. Most people don't mind a crack or two, but if multiple parts are cracked, I know I would feel that the figure is less valuable. It's up to you. What can you live with? -- Kevin Merkley

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