Why Toy Collecting is Different from Almost Any Other Hobby

Scott Toy Guru Neitlich from Spector Creative takes a look at the unique nature of the Action Figure Collecting hobby and how we are dependent on factors completely out of our control to "win".

[ascensionindustries]

I always win at toy collecting because when I look at my collection, I feel incredibly fortunate to have these things I could never have as a child.

[shawnkarg]

As an adult I have been a very casual toy collector. Basically, just my favorite characters. I've never been a completist-I don't look down on it, I just get more enjoyment from watching the movies or cartoons again vs. collecting the toys.

[PaulsCollection]

I can really relate to this, sometimes the manufacturer just doesn’t complete the line and it’s frustrating. It’s difficult for other people outside the hobby to understand this but I think you nailed the point here. Awesome collection by the way!

[Tripledashhh_]

There’s a thing I always say “man me from 20 years ago would kill to have a figure like this” everytime I do it makes me happy to be reminded I worked hard to acquire all these great models.

[MIKEDUDE]

This is the reason i got into customs and that is now my favorite part of the hobby

[mariotovar]

I never worry about being complete. I buy what I want and can afford.

- The Disneyland Neighbor

[ToyKennections]

Scott, you totally hit the nail on the head with a lot of this! Soooo many collections felt this way, like with G1 Transformers never making an Arcee and some fans needing to improvise with 3rd party ones that may or may not fit with the line. Also how SW fans only got Tarkin in the retro wave, and the list goes on and on... well done man.

[transfan]

As a G1 Transformers fan, I've been in heaven as far as character sellection.

[ShyGuyPal]

Yeah, I personally learned to wait for one or two waves of a line before jumping in due to the collecting mentality. For example, I didn't start collecting Toy Story figures until I saw them including less popular characters (outside Woody, Buzz, the Aliens, etc.). It is really a wonderful thing when a toy line actually goes out of the way to make as many characters as they can, no matter how obscure they are.

[MrJtmendoza]

That classic Doc Ock figure has excellent sculpt! Those X-Men villains (Omega Red and Pyro) are so cool, very "toyetic". I am still trying to build my Batman rogues gallery, still on the hunt for some of them (i.e. Two-Face, Black Mask and Cat Man).

[figlectorjuanarasa]

Well, you have to admit that Hasbro is listening to action figure collectors and it is doing an amazing job putting teams together really fast and they are gorgeous. Every tweek looks better and better.

[ConvoyX]

Transformers and Seekers. I'm so glad that Hasbro was able to get so many of them made over the last few years. It really does make my Decepticon shelf look complete.

[PhantomHarlock]

i like TF G1 reissues. Back in the 80s I only have access to minibots, so getting the "real" ones is very cool.

[ivanriskin]

I don't want to go full budhism but you can win collecting action figures if you enjoy the ride. If you think that you can't win unless you have x figure or all the figures of a particular series or something like that, then you've just lose.
I also collect alternative comix and i've reached a point of feeling that what already got is more than enough and that's something to be proud about

[zerohhero]

Love that you touched on this topic for me collecting marvel legends is super fun especially when you don't know what new figures their going to show us, I'd rather just be surprised of what they bring and I could care less on how long it takes to finish a team, getting there is part of the fun man!

[VCUS]

The trick is to not be a completionist. I see tons of toy collectors with that mindset, and it only causes them to buy things they don't like, for the sake of completing a set no one but them will appreciate when they're dead. I used to be that way with Star Wars figures in the early 2000's, but now days I only buy the figures I like, and I don't try to organize them into thematic displays, or anything like that.

[rodrickadamginsburg]

The Hobby Lobby mention at the 9:55 mark is the advertisement used in my home of the Capital Region of Upstate, NY! I know this because of the B 95.5 fm, that’s one of our local radio stations and their tag is the one on this advertisement!

[superquad]

This video is one of the many reasons I love this channel.

[The_Cosmic_Yog-Sothoth]

*I'm happy not being a completist.* I have limited space on my shelves, so I only buy the figures I want and care about. I would never buy a figure simply for the reason of completing a line. I'm never about collecting a whole line, cuz I simply don't have the space nor money.

[MrRobosquad]

Coming to this three years late, but as someone who recently started collecting Transformers, other action figure-collecting still feels like a bit of a foreign world to me. Since I buy these for play (to transform, to photograph, etc.), while there are small (mostly current, if I like them enough) lines I've completed, I feel like I'm winning as long as I have fun playing with whatever I'm buying. What I don't enjoy (and I try to avoid it in the first place) gets sold. It isn't about putting together puzzles pieces of a display.