As a relatively new collector I learned the hard way that I had to fight the urge collect everything in a given line or scale once I have a figure from it. I am not rich by any means, but as this is the only hobby I put my disposable income into, I found that I was acquiring a crazy amount of figures very quickly and running out of space for them. Plus I started to have a small panic attack when I would look at the dozens upon dozens of figures on my shelves resembling refugees packed together escaping a third world country on a tiny boat.

I decided to abandon classics in favor of MPs (official and not). The idea was that there are fewer and the higher cost would be inherently self-limiting (LOL) But of course, even then they were piling up. So then I decided to only collect figures I actually had a real affinity for. Which unfortunately are mostly Autobots and as we all know the hobby is replete with offerings..

Prior to the MP focus I had also placed an embargo on collecting more than one figure of a mold and entire teams (gestalts specifically). With these restrictions in place and fair bit of recycling older bots for the new hotness, I have managed to contain my collection to one detolf and two small spill over shelves that are mounted next to it.

This brings me back to my question; what do you all do, if anything to limit your collection size?

 

I've started making out lists and sticking to them. If they aren't on the list, I have to walk away.

 

MP focused with a few notables -S1-2 and no combiners outside Devy.

Im picking up the main 7 TR Headmasters and a few MMC Reformatted for fun fidgeting figures.

 

"The List". sounds ominous.

that then begs the question: How do you decide what goes on the list?

 

for my collection,i only have three display spots (wreckers, decepticons and autobots) and i can't have more than a single version of a character at a displayed location. for example, my wreckers display can't have the FOC ruination set up AND have voyager whirl, and roadbuster at the same time, but i could have ruination at the combiners display.... i also have price restrictions, like a voyager's most highest price is $30 depending on if its rare.....

 

Off the top of my head, my two main rules are:

1. Shelf space. If I don't have anywhere to display it, I don't buy it for now. Explains why I still don't have a Metroplex or Fort Max.

2. 1 Bot, 1 Con. Always have to buy in pairs or at least get the opposing faction member as my next purchase. Keeps my collection even and gives me a chance to look at characters I never previously noticed. Example, UW Computron; I can either take the easy way and temporarily settle for Hasbro's Liokaiser as his counter or pick up 5 more Decepticons to offset him. Another example being TR Galvatron... need to get Sentinel Prime to go along with him.

 

My restrictions are currently at none but income. Getting married in a few months though so that will change pretty heftily though.

 

This reason is my primary focus. I collect a fair amount of 3P stuff. the Fanstoys Dinobots are amazing, but 2 can eat up an entire shelf themselves. I am currently deciding if I am going to abandon the group in favor of one member.

 

Masterpiece/3rd Party: Only 1 toy per character that's appeared in both the American and Japanese G1 cartoon continuities (if I find a better version of a character, I sell off the one in my collection to make room for the replacement). I'll also extend this to Beast Wars as more of those characters get modern treatments.

 

Not him, but for me it's usually good reviews and if it scales right and if it fits the collection

 

I probably need some restrictions . . . I collect CHUG w/3rd party augmentation (Wreckers, Dinobots) + any version of Rodimus. Whenever I get a new version of a character (e.g. the upcoming TR Astrotrain), the older one either goes on sale or in a bin.

 

-MP scale and quality only (APS-01U Movie Optimus or Battle Blades Bee for example)

-Minimum of 1 month waiting period past release for QC feedback (Apollyon didn't pass)

-Character not mold; if the character doesn't carry any significance then no buy regardless of how amazing the build is

-New purchases have to be funded by existing figures whenever possible. This rule was iron clad 2 years ago but now that I'm down to only a small handful of MPs and the 2 movie bots mentioned earlier it is safe to say that nothing gets added to the collection unless it really is a special piece.

Abiding by the rules above has made collecting very rewarding and relaxing. When I first started after the movie craze hit I had a terrible habit of just picking up whatever looked good without any long term sense of direction. Before I knew it I had a crowded cluster of CHUG, Unicron trilogy, movie, Alternator, MP, and 3rd party items and the hobby was becoming less enjoyable and more stressful. Space quickly became an issue and as my collection grew I found myself appreciating it less.

The MP reboot was the turning point. I couldn't justify spending the money on the updated Prime and Starscream especially when I had so many versions of those characters. Once MP-17 was revealed however that all changed; Prowl was my favorite car bot as a kid but I never owned one. The Alternator and Classics versions were disappointing to say the least, to me they were easily the among worst figures from both lines. After selling those to help fund MP-17 I looked at the rest of my collection for a moment then the eBay selling binge began. I was able to switch to the MP reboot without spending a dime out of pocket  

 

Money.
Space.
A desire for personal growth.

 

No Decepticons, except for a few exceptions, and it has to be a character I like or remember fondly. I'd much rather track down a Deluxe of someone I like and want in my collection as opposed to buying entire waves just to have them all. There's gonna be several TR figures I skip for these reasons, just as there was in CW - didn't buy a single Decepticon from that line, and the only complete combiners I bought were the Protectobots and the two later Autobot teams.

 

I have a couple of things that come into play when looking at which bots to buy:

1) IDW Comics. This is my G1, so the bots featured here are more heavily sought after than others. Can't wait for Chromedome & (hopefully) Nautica. Also why I'll never own a Prowl.

2) Try to limit molds. I'm not a mold snob, but unless there's a reason for me to, I try and limit the number of figures in a given mold as a way of limiting my desire to collect everything. So far the worst offender has been Rook (& Brawl & Nosecone.) Otherwise I managed to limit my CW collection pretty well due to this.

3) Try not to repurchase figures I have. I'll be skipping TR Brainstorm as I have the Voyager version from Generations. I do have several FOC/WFC bots that will likely get replaced (Shockwave/Soundwave), as well as Blitzwing once his remold of TR Megs is out.

4) Make a list, and try to stick to it. I managed to find TR Masters Wave 2 this past weekend. I had told myself I only wanted Apeface, and while it was tempting to grab some of the others, I held off.

I will stick with themes however - I picked up Skullcrusher despite not really having any attachment to him because 1) Decepticon, and I need more, and 2) beast mode. I'll be picking up Mindwipe for similar reasons - but not Weirdwolf. Just not that interested in his mold & colors. Maybe if I find him cheap. I'll also pick up TR Soundwave - which means I'll pick up Laserbeak and Ravage to accompany him. Would love a Ratbat as well in a future wave. (But not Frenzy or Rumble.)

So yeah, not sure if this post actually makes any sense, or just ended up being me rambling, but that's how I go about picking out which bots I'll buy. And yes, sometimes Impulse as well - I dont' think I planned on getting Blurr, but when I saw him in store, he looked better than expected, and I couldn't resist. Haven't regretted the purchase yet.

 

I've got a cap on my collection at 200 figures: each robot counts as 1 figure so no cheating with combiners or Minicons.

I also have a budget I try to stay within yearly and sell figures off or donate them.

 

I won't pay more for a 3rd party MP than I would an actual MP from hastak... I also won't pay scalper prices, so if I can't afford it, I don't get it.

 

-MPs only
-Will never buy anything bigger than Skyfire (apart from combiners, which I keep uncombined most of the time)
-Only one version of a character
-It's got to fit on my shelf

 

I stick to G1 characters.

I collect MP of all Season 1 guy and most of Season 2. Only select Season 3.

Those I don't need or want MP of will be Classics, but for them to be Classics they have to have toon or toy deco and be G1 based in appearance, not be IDW or anything else.

Also, I am selective in character choices...example... Skids, I have zero connection to...I don't even need him in my collection, nor do I need many Rebirth and Japanese continuity characters. Basically my focus is on Seasons 1 through 3 and mainly Throttlebots, Autobot Headmasters and say Runabout and Runamok.

I have a few movie toys across all the first three movies, but they are in storage and I don't plan to add more to them. I'll watch new media, but unless a figure looks amazing, I don't feel need to buy it. My collection is G1-centric.

 

Budget, I keep a "discretionary budget" for all non essentials every month of $40. This is for everything from books to video games to transformers. I recently quit my addiction to Star Wars X-wing miniatures and have been buying Titans return instead.