Collection End Game?

[fireball117]

I've found a second wind.

Discount outlets and 1/12th have kind of given me a bit of a shot in the arm. I'm happy to still dig around the bargain areas, see what's out there, sometimes it's something pretty cool. For example, the Black Series Endor Rebel Commando was 7.99. That's a fun figure. Lots of accessories. I saw it on a shelf. No preordering, no waiting, no wait list, no payment plan, no jumping through hoops. It's not paying the 275-350 range for a higher end 1/6th figure now. Obviously that's not the common case and you have to be a little lucky, but there's a nice range of Star Wars Black Series, Marvel Legends and GI Joe Classified that can be had for good pricing ( Ebay, loose lots, discount retailers, small trades, etc) to keep things interesting.

I don't think I am "out" but my list of wants in 1/6th have dwindled dramatically. I only had really four "grails" left. I was fortunate to remove one and got an amazing deal on a Durasteel HT Mando from @fireball117 . I still have him, he's great, and I found a loose Grogu at a good price too later to add to him. He was my only real "full purchase" since I've been back in the hobby. Thank you @fireball117 , wherever you are right now out there brother. There are only a few thing left in 1/6th I'd want or heavily pursue now.

What I think is pushing me out of 1/6th is not just the growing price points, and also more of a shift to quasi statues instead of actual action figures ( that point is where McFarlane loses me sometimes, he make some interesting stuff, no doubt, but his stuff is really more like a quasi statue instead of an real full fleshed out "action figure" ) but it's the "crowd funding" strategy used now. Pay upfront and we'll get you the figure in 18 months. Maybe 2 years. If it's a small brand, now I see it as a 50/50 coin flip where they might just steal your money and run. With something like GI Joe Classified or mainline Transformers, for the most part, if I order it, it's going to be delivered in a week or so timeline wise. There's brick and mortar access. Clearance potential. Online "big box" retailers. Larger trade potential. Better chance at loose lots on Ebay potential. 3rd party support. Smaller footprint. Dramatically less in total cost. And without all the drama that 1/6th now self creates.

I know of three people, who talked to me in private, within the span of the last six months, who have left this forum completely. They pre-ordered a figure from a brand and have been waiting five plus years now. They are gone and will never ever come back. They don't believe they will get their figure at all and I don't blame them. I can't do it, I can't ride through what's left of this hobby like that. I also can't handle when others attempt to gaslight me after they've stolen my money and my stuff.

When I'm occasionally in a Target or a Ross, if I want something, if I see something I like that's there, I can buy it right then. Take it home. Open it up. Mess with it Have a few laughs. I don't have to jump through hoops like timed flash sales, or intentionally limited runs to drive 75 percent of the collectors crazy or just the non stop typical aggrieved "pained artist" lamentations from art house brands as if they are doing you a favor by taking your money and failing to deliver. Don't get me wrong, brick and mortar and mainline release access is not perfect, but there are just way more ways to minimize the carnage than current 1/6th SOP right now. But that's just my perspective.

Meathook,

Wazz up! I’m still here alive and kicking! No problem, glad you still have him, take it easy and enjoy!

 

[potato]

I've found a second wind.

Discount outlets and 1/12th have kind of given me a bit of a shot in the arm. I'm happy to still dig around the bargain areas, see what's out there, sometimes it's something pretty cool. For example, the Black Series Endor Rebel Commando was 7.99. That's a fun figure. Lots of accessories. I saw it on a shelf. No preordering, no waiting, no wait list, no payment plan, no jumping through hoops. It's not paying the 275-350 range for a higher end 1/6th figure now. Obviously that's not the common case and you have to be a little lucky, but there's a nice range of Star Wars Black Series, Marvel Legends and GI Joe Classified that can be had for good pricing ( Ebay, loose lots, discount retailers, small trades, etc) to keep things interesting.

I don't think I am "out" but my list of wants in 1/6th have dwindled dramatically. I only had really four "grails" left. I was fortunate to remove one and got an amazing deal on a Durasteel HT Mando from @fireball117 . I still have him, he's great, and I found a loose Grogu at a good price too later to add to him. He was my only real "full purchase" since I've been back in the hobby. Thank you @fireball117 , wherever you are right now out there brother. There are only a few thing left in 1/6th I'd want or heavily pursue now.

What I think is pushing me out of 1/6th is not just the growing price points, and also more of a shift to quasi statues instead of actual action figures ( that point is where McFarlane loses me sometimes, he make some interesting stuff, no doubt, but his stuff is really more like a quasi statue instead of an real full fleshed out "action figure" ) but it's the "crowd funding" strategy used now. Pay upfront and we'll get you the figure in 18 months. Maybe 2 years. If it's a small brand, now I see it as a 50/50 coin flip where they might just steal your money and run. With something like GI Joe Classified or mainline Transformers, for the most part, if I order it, it's going to be delivered in a week or so timeline wise. There's brick and mortar access. Clearance potential. Online "big box" retailers. Larger trade potential. Better chance at loose lots on Ebay potential. 3rd party support. Smaller footprint. Dramatically less in total cost. And without all the drama that 1/6th now self creates.

I know of three people, who talked to me in private, within the span of the last six months, who have left this forum completely. They pre-ordered a figure from a brand and have been waiting five plus years now. They are gone and will never ever come back. They don't believe they will get their figure at all and I don't blame them. I can't do it, I can't ride through what's left of this hobby like that. I also can't handle when others attempt to gaslight me after they've stolen my money and my stuff.

When I'm occasionally in a Target or a Ross, if I want something, if I see something I like that's there, I can buy it right then. Take it home. Open it up. Mess with it Have a few laughs. I don't have to jump through hoops like timed flash sales, or intentionally limited runs to drive 75 percent of the collectors crazy or just the non stop typical aggrieved "pained artist" lamentations from art house brands as if they are doing you a favor by taking your money and failing to deliver. Don't get me wrong, brick and mortar and mainline release access is not perfect, but there are just way more ways to minimize the carnage than current 1/6th SOP right now. But that's just my perspective.

shameful. very shameful. it's disgusting!

 

[shadows]

space for is even more of a luxury so i have thought about my endgame and will stop when my wishlist of 4 gets announced (Inart WW, Darkside Anakin, T-800 Tech Noir, JH Predator). After this, my 1/6 collection will be <25 figures and I like that. A small highly curated collection of my top characters.

 

[shadows]

Update - My waitlist converted for the Jazzinc Batwing - this the most expensive thing i've ever bought and is the pinnacle for me. I'm done for this year (hopefully). Nothing now except the 4 on my wishlist whenever those are announced this year and the following years.

 

[potato]

Update - My waitlist converted for the Jazzinc Batwing - this the most expensive thing i've ever bought and is the pinnacle for me. I'm done for this year (hopefully). Nothing now except the 4 on my wishlist whenever those are announced this year and the following years.

yo everyone 1 month into the year and this guy already claimed he's done for the year.

only time will tell. or you just silently buying more stuffs.

 

[shadows]

yo everyone 1 month into the year and this guy already claimed he's done for the year.

only time will tell. or you just silently buying more stuffs.

Yep I'm already declaring a stop for myself this year EXCEPT for my wishlist. I live in small flat so my display space is valuable. I'm about 8 months into this hobby and always planned to get in and get out, not stay collecting for decades. Within those 8 months i went hard on a mix of preorders and current releases. I'm already nearing my space capacity, but this month I bought the Inart Joker 2019 4 pack, and had other stuff in mind to buy to close off the collection, but that was all abandoned when I finally committed to the Batwing (opportunity cost).

Finally, my purchases have fulfilled all my most wanted stuff. I will do my best to stay disciplined and not deviate outside my wish list, inevitable good sh*t will always pop up but I need to resist that urge, at least for 1 year. You do you, I'll do me. If I break, I'll be the one the say here.

 

[MachoGeek80]

yo everyone 1 month into the year and this guy already claimed he's done for the year.

only time will tell. or you just silently buying more stuffs.

This reads like a Tik Tok comment in a mature thread.

 

[goatchumby]

Absolutely, I'm in the exact same boat with you. Other than my existing POs, I'm just waiting on these figures/statues:

UPDATE - Well, I guess that's it. COLLECTION COMPLE...

...

Sorry folks, looks like I'm never getting out of this hobby.

 

[a-dev]

 

[DEADDACK_33]

I have a hard time imagining myself sustaining the excitement from preorder to placement on my shelves.

Same for me. I was buying 1/6 figures on a regular basis only a couple of years ago, but somewhere along the line my excitement got zapped and I'm not completely sure why. In 2023 and 2024 combined I only bought three 1/6 figures.

While my interest in 1/6 figures has dropped off sharply, I am more interested in statues and would like to expand that part of my collection. However if I do go that route, I can't see myself buying anymore 1/6 figures and my existing 1/6 collection would likely have to go to make space. I'd have a hard time letting go of some. I'm not sure what I want to do or what I should do

 

[Lokki]

Same for me. I was buying 1/6 figures on a regular basis only a couple of years ago, but somewhere along the line my excitement got zapped and I'm not completely sure why. In 2023 and 2024 combined I only bought three 1/6 figures.

While my interest in 1/6 figures has dropped off sharply, I am more interested in statues and would like to expand that part of my collection. However if I do go that route, I can't see myself buying anymore 1/6 figures and my existing 1/6 collection would likely have to go to make space. I'd have a hard time letting go of some. I'm not sure what I want to do or what I should do

IMHO statues are super lame - compared to figures. Statues are expensive, take up huge amounts of space (display and box storage), only have one fixed pose, one fixed (mostly sculpted) load-out, extremely limted customization, depending on which company you buy from - low quality portraits (compared to 1/6), and low quality resemblance to actors (YMMV) - they are imposing with great shelf presence - but again, that comes at the expense of space!

If you're bored with figures - you WILL get super bored, super quick with statues! Guaranteed.

I'm getting out of statues - so I'm speaking from experience - but you do you, and good luck

 

[a-dev]

I'm an action figure man through and through. But ironically I do so little with them that they might aswell be statues Nothing very elaborate pose-wise, I pick one and it'll stay that way for years. And I rarely swap out accessories.

 

[Wor-Gar]

I have been soul searching the nearer I get to 50 years old and I have realized that once I hit 50 I will pretty much be done with collecting 1:6 figures.

The above comment was near 3 years ago... so are you done?

 

[pixletwin]

The above comment was near 3 years ago... so are you done?

Well, no. But 21 figures a year has become 7 a year. So I’m definitely slowing down.

 

[DEADDACK_33]

IMHO statues are super lame - compared to figures. Statues are expensive, take up huge amounts of space (display and box storage), only have one fixed pose, one fixed (mostly sculpted) load-out, extremely limted customization, depending on which company you buy from - low quality portraits (compared to 1/6), and low quality resemblance to actors (YMMV) - they are imposing with great shelf presence - but again, that comes at the expense of space!

If you're bored with figures - you WILL get super bored, super quick with statues! Guaranteed.

I'm getting out of statues - so I'm speaking from experience - but you do you, and good luck

All valid points in support of collecting figures over statues. I don't necessarily disagree with anything you said, other than statues being super lame

I'm also speaking from experience as in addition to my 1/6 figure collection, I own a pretty good amount of statues from companies such as Sideshow, Prime 1, Weta, and Chronicle Collectibles. So I've been enjoying the best of both worlds for a while now and feel there is a better value in statues.

With statues, you don't need to worry about a hand peg breaking off, a joint becoming loose, a hood staining a plastic head sculpt, and unless it has soft goods, you don't need to worry about materials breaking down and flaking or falling apart. Other than dusting, there is less maintenance with statues.

The space required to display isn't a big deal as I have limited space anyway. Some things are always in storage while others are on display. So I've gotten used to rotating things around and actually have more space dedicated to statues than figures at the moment. I'm fortunate to have a seacan for my collection storage, so storing the large statue boxes isn't a problem.

The freedom to pose figures is definitely an advantage, however there is something to be said for the simplicity of setting a statue on its base and already having something with major shelf presence that doesn't require any tinkering. Just set and go. Plus, my poses often end up looking pretty static and boring, so I'm okay with someone else doing the posing for me.

But at the end of the day it's all subjective, so I appreciate the input and as you said, you do you. Also, what statues are you planning to sell?