Were and How can I start Collecting??

I've had many people e-mail me asking for information on how they can begin collecting the Transformers. They asked questions like: How to get started? What figures are the best to pick up first? Where can they be found and purchased? I'll try to answer some of these questions in the paragraphs below and help you get started collecting the best Toyline ever created.

There is one thing I would like to point out before I begin. The only way to become a Transformers collector is to have knowledge about the toy line itself. You must know the different figures available, the prices they range today, condition awareness, and much more. It is impossible to just "start" collecting if you don't know really what origin the Transformers actually have. Therefore, first read through my site (of course....snicker snicker) checking out the introductions, box scan archive and reviews, and other pages. Then check out the links page and you'll be able to find directories to take you exactly where you'll need to go in order to learn more about the Transformers in general. Only then will you be ready to collect.

How do you get started? Well....as I mentioned above...getting started requires knowledge. After that you have to know where to look and what to look for. Then you need to have your own opinions on what to do next.

Many people have asked me what the best figure to pick up first is. One problem: there is no "best" figure to pick up first. Many factors come into play when determining which Transformers should be scooped up and which should wait.

You first need to decided what kind of collector you are going to be. Are you going for loose and complete stuff or are you looking more toward the lines of "sealed" (never before opened) figures. If you're into loose stuff you should have no trouble trying to find the figure you want. Many on the internet sell loose items and should have what you need at one time or another. If you're looking more into sealed pieces then your options are much smaller. They are a lot more difficult to track down.

The first thing to keep in mind is that you want to collect whatever you feel is attractive to you. If a specific figure catches your eye, go for that one first . If you have a favorite from the original television series, there's another possible "first buyer". This is the method of choosing what you like. Just get the figures you really like or think deserve a place in your collection!!

Price may also be a factor. If you can't offord a specific figure, is there another one for cheaper you may be able to pick up? Like I mentioned in the worth anything inrodution, the prices have increased on original Generation 1 stuff. Some BW and G2 suff is still available on store shelves for cost (especially since BW is still in production). Therefore you may even want to begin your collection by purchasing "at cost" items to get a pretty big chunk of the available figures. After that go for the more expensive and tougher to locate pieces.

So......where should you start? That depends. If you're looking into BW, MW, or G2 it's probably more beneficial to check around all the stores in the area which deal with Action Figures. BW stuff is still pretty widespread (aside from the first releases), MW stuff is usually still on Kay Bee shelves, and later G2 figures may still be spotted if looked for hard enough. After that your best bet is to look for any collectible toy places around your area that deal in 80's toys. You may be able to find some G1 or G2 stuff in that type of store. You may also want to search around at local flea markets to find some loose figures (though they may not be in the best of shape.....but it's a good start).

Any other tricks? Sure.....ask your friends if they have a box full of Transformers stuck somewhere in their house which they may be interesting in selling. You can usually get a crap load of figs this way if you play your cards right. Many people have them stuck in their basement or attic just waiting to be scooped up by us collectors. Sometimes an ad in the paper does trigger a few responses (although it didn't seem to work around where I live).

After that it's time to set off onto the Inernet. A few different routes can be chosen. One direction is to check out some action figure businesses on the 'net that deal with Transformers (check out the Transformers Web Page and you'll be able to find a bunch of these). Some of the places have a wide selection while others have very little. However, in terms of the Transformers, the stock is always changing so it's worth your advantage to check back often. You may also want to place an ad on the Transformers Newsgroup or the Transformers Marketplace Newsgroup. You can reach a greater number of collectors and fans through these (the action-figure newsgroup also has TF posts every now and then).

That's about all I can tell you about starting up on your collection. While there are other tricks of the hobby, I couldn't never cover them all on this small write up. If you have a particular question about something dealing with your collection.....drop me a line and I'll do what I can!! Good luck!!

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