When it comes to collecting, serious fans can spend some serious dough adding their favourite characters, accessories, vehicles and add-ons to their collection. Spending money you don’t have takes the fun out of collecting and it can become a dangerous addiction kind of like gambling if you’re not careful.

We began collecting a few years ago. Most of what we collect we get at a fraction of the price. No, we aren’t special. We are just smart shoppers!
Watch for local and online sales! You may still pay a bit but you’re getting the latest. Also, look for the sales both online and off. We got a few collectable Christmas gifts through these kinds of sales. 

It’s a win or lose situation with eBay. You can get great deals but like anywhere else you have to shop around. You have to do your research on what your buying and the seller from which you are buying it. Beware if you notice the images look like stock images off the net (like those you’d find on store websites), the description is brief or nonexistent, the price is too good to be true and check if the buyer has a lot of negative feedback. Those signs are red flags to back the page up and keep shopping around. 

Buy and sell marketplaces are great resources as well. You can often find mint (never opened) or slightly used collectables and often the price can be negotiated with a local seller; after all, we all know what it costs to collect the best of the best! 

Buy and sell groups are popping up all over Facebook from transformers to Star Wars, Retro toys and dolls, I’m pretty sure there’s a group for everyone. People post what they’re looking for and what they’re selling privately to sell among like minded collectors. 

Dollar stores often sell overstock, old stock or slightly “defective” brand name toys. By “defective”, I mean it could be as simple as the plastic capsule ungluing from the back card, the figure still in tact. It might not be the newest releases but you could find figures you didn’t even know you needed for a fraction of the price. 

Used shops (like Salvation Army or Value Village) might have something someone got rid of. You never know unless you go in and browse around. I’ve seen posts from people who got some sweet deals, even if they are a little used.

During the summer months, garage sales can be a steal when it comes to finding used collectables. Most people don’t know or don’t care about the value be it monetary or sentimental behind collector toys and probably just want to get rid of what they think is just old junk.

You never know unless you go! 😛

Good luck on your hunt for your next collectable gem!