The Six Stages of Collecting

[humby248]

Stage 3 for me.

[The Baron]

Stage 4, with no intention of progressing to 5 or 6. I also have a stage 2 on the go.

I also think there should be 4a - Customising.

[Sundance]

yeah, but you can't customise comic-books or plushies can you?

[Nobunaga]

Crikey... Stages 5 & 6 seems so depressing!
I'm not sure if being at stage 2 still is embarrasing or exciting. It's certainly lots of fun, to the dismay of my wife

[Lady Jaye]

I go from stage 2 & 3 to 5 & 6 back and forth all the time.

For me the hunt is more interesting than the catch. One of the reasons I hardly ever buy on eBay anymore. eBay is just cramming in a high figure and wait untill you get it. I get a higher rush from finding a complete figure at a booth sale for a pound than winning an auction.

[Nobunaga]

I get a higher rush from finding a complete figure at a booth sale for a pound than winning an auction.

I wish I had your luck at finding AF figures and vehicles. I just can't seem to find any anywhere other than on Ebay

[Lady Jaye]

I was not saying I am running into them all the time. But the moment I do find something, it is so much more exciting than simply 'buying' stuff on eBay!

When I was a little boy I had limited pocket money, but a high craving for figures. I could spend hours in my local toy shop deciding which figure to get. The rush when walking out of the store holding that little treasure was priceless. And I am not even talking Christmas. That was really an exciting period! Will I finally get the tank?

Nowadays, having an income that is more than sufficient, I can easily buy anything my heart desires. It is nice to have some money around, but bottom down there is hardly any rush when I simply 'buy' something. For instance, recently I bought all the ROC stuff in one go. It didn't do anything to me rush-wise.

That's why I prefer the hunt, it is something you cannot buy with money.

[The Baron]

yeah, but you can't customise comic-books or plushies can you?

D'uh.
http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/store/001/index.html

[Thundershot]

Hi Jaye,
you're spot on about the thrill of finding stuff unexpectedly, a large percentage of my stuff has come via car boot sales & charity shops too. I'm lucky to be in a job that allows me to travel around a fairly large area, so I know of lots of little charity & 2nd shops that are tucked away in small side streets & local market towns.

That's not to knock online auction sites, as no way on earth would I of been able to pick up a Blue Snaggletooth or the Star Fleet toys I own without the help of ebay.

[Chopper]

Well. You will NEVER find AF in Aussie, or even series 1-3 Joes as they were never released here (or NZ). But Action Man is different. I scored 5 MAM in the last 2 months from charity shops for a pittance and have to agree, its much more satisfying than ebay. Mind you those card backs I got were VERY exciting.