So hopefully this topic doesn't get derailed. But for the last year or so I fully got out of TF collecting. I know some of you may have thought about it as well. So being quarantined, I figued, I am down to answer any questions you guys may have on this topic in general.

As a back grounds, I have a pretty much a full US G1 TV cast release of G1s, Classics (or whatever), MPs. I also have a whole bunch of figures. All in all close to 1000. But the G1s get all the love.

I did keep em all, and have the G1 ones displayed and no one that ever came to the house and the man cave has ever bashed on the collection. They think it's more cool then anything else.

The hardest thing about quiting is looking at the newer G1 figures coming out and knowing that I could replace some. The main hold back, is that I feel like in another 3-5 years, there will be the newest most ultimate version of some other figure, and trapping me all over again.

So if you guys have any questions around this, would be more then happy to answer. If not, it's just good to drop by and see some regular faces. Hopefully you and your families are safe in this crazy ass time.

 

What was the story about why you decided to quit?

Are you collecting anything else?

Do you foresee yourself coming back to collecting TFs?

 

It actually wasn't a hard decision where I was debating back and forth. It just kind of happened naturally. I think when I finally quit is when the newest line of G1 transformers came out. In addition the third MP Optimus came out and everyone was saying how MP10 looked so out of date. Each one was the "prefect" version, which made me realize that what I had was already great. I didn't need or want the newest "great" thing. There is always going to be a better representation. No matter what. But how long can this go on for? Then I said forget it.

It was that, and the prices. I use to spend anywhere from $2k-$5k on transformers a year. I had the money for it. But now I look at it, and think of all the stuff I buy that isn't just a quick fix. More technology related items mostly. Got into gaming a bit. But mostly saving a lot of money.

Not really. I got a Jeep Wrangler last year, and I really want to do stuff to that now. At the very least, I need to buy a crank to take the top off easily and maybe buy a soft top to switch back and forth on between the hard top and the soft. That right there is 1 year of TFers with enough to possibly get a lift kit if I eventually want to do that.

Maybe. I love Omega Supreme, and Scorponok looks terrific. Maybe I'll eventually trade some of the extra MPs I have for them. But at this point, not really sure. I was debating maybe just getting the newest MPs. But at the moment, I have 15 detolfs and they are all full. Not sure what more I can do from there.

Thanks for the questions.

 

We’re you ever tempted to buy any more TFs after you quit?

 

I have to admit this has discouraged me many times. I bought Classics Jetfire, then Combiner Wars Jetfire, then Siege Jetfire. There are times I want to stop collecting new toys, get rid of everything in my collection post 90's, and just focus on 80's and 90's toys.

 

Do you jockey between hobbies like l do? I tend to compartmentalize my hobbies/interests and tend to go full on in whichever hobby l am.into at that moment.

I seem to cycle between playing music, collecting action figures/TFs, painting (oil on canvas), firearms/target shooting

Currently l am reentering a Transformers cycle.

So do you find yourself cycling through interests and hobbies?

 

I'm gradually doing the same thing. I'm not burnt out or anything; I'm just happy with what I have. I skipped a lot of Siege, will skip most of ER and only have a couple more MPs I'd like to get down the road. "Better" stuff will always come along, but I'm satisfied with where I am and expect that won't change anytime soon.

 

I just think that there's different types of collectors, in no particular order:

1. Some aim for "perfection" and are chasing the dragon.
   
2. Some are sellers that will sell the old for the new.
3. Some are completists, that must have it/them all.
   
4. Some are between the dragon and contentment.
   
5. Some are finalists that get to a point were they are content, but also hit a point where either they are fine with what they have, or can't justify continuing.
   
6. Some have a set goal, which once reached, will be in contentment.
7. Some are the ad-hoc collectors, that go for the individual figures, that has no set goals.
   
8. Some are bandwagon hoppers, will collect because they want to be "cool" and part of something, but tire easily and move on to the next "best" thing.
9. Some are financially unable to get all they wish they could get, so have to be picky.
10. Some simply tire of it, sell their collection and move on.

I would consider you as a 5 and a 6, you have your fill, still curious but find that it has gotten repetitive.

I do agree with all your points, as it is true that some characters have been overly done, and lots of drama at times over the "new and improved" flavour of the moment. As the years have gone by, there's been so many that could be the "best" version ever done, only to have the next one be very different, possibly superior.

Myself, I'm more a 7, an ad-hoc collector. I do NOT buy my collection in parallel to any series or media, I just get the figures that appeals to me. I don't have many duplicates of characters aside the most obvious ones, but that's due that I liked the mold/figure for it's own qualities.

I can say that until the combiners (the Dinobots are what really got me started to get more TFs that I ever did, especially as G1 updated versions) that I went forward in really wanting to get a structured collection in regards to G1 characters, not due to anything else other than I always did enjoy TFs and felt like they had finally, after so many years, start to get them right.

So with the series that followed, I would see some updates versions of figures that had never been redone before in any decent way, like the jumpstarters, the insecticons, the combiners, and so on. With Siege, it really was a case of, again, they are finally being done "right", and so on, and I've never bought so many so fast in all my years... These made me glad that I never did bother with so many series/figures, as this was, thanks to Siege especially, versions that are what I consider just about perfect for me (aside my usual rants of gaps and lack of accessories).

Will they release new versions of these characters at some point? Of course, but these will be hard to one-up them for many years, and at that point, I would have to be seriously impressed by anything new, but I don't believe that Hasbro will manage to do it, not with the price increases, the higher plastic but at the price of the gaps and lack of proper accessories.

But in turn, I have skipped so many and have not a single regret, so even now, some I am skipping as they still don't fit what I'd consider good enough, or "right" for me to bother (then again, some characters/figure hold no interest to me anyways).

I consider that after I have managed to get the main characters and figures that I do want as part of my collection, I will return to the ad-hoc purchases, and if Hasbro continues their approaches, probably go on to other robots, as I am not a TF collector, but a science fiction (transforming) robots and spaceships and the likes collector... TFs simply have been an excellent resources, and I do absolutely love them.

And on top of that, I found that Hasbro's lackings, have pushed me to customize, and also get 3rd party accessories, something that I really believe that Hasbro should never have caused, and something that I never though I'd felt as needed as it does, but at least, I am enjoying it. I do hate that it can result that you'd doubling the expenses for that one figure to what it is/should be, but including the fact that the price increase by Hasbro is simply bad to start with.

Oh well... I think that many do hit that threshold of "ok, that's enough".. I know that I am heading there, and Hasbro's failings are a big part of my sentiment.

 

I'm actually on the same situation, particularly considering the new direction of the "Masterpiece" line but in practice this direction in not working, the cheap plastic used, the exaggerated use of panels, figures tend to break really easy. Eventually, a completely new direction in the line would not be a surprise to anyone.

 

I'd like to reach an endpoint in the next five years. I've identified what I'm looking for in Transformers, which helps me avoid buying figures just because they're on the pegs. The only regret I have is passing up on some legitimately good toys, but I've found I have to be ruthless. If it doesn't fit the criteria, I don't buy it. In the past I could've made exceptions, but I'll be 50 in five years, and it's time to bring this to a close.

 

That's OK, I think that's where I'm headed as well. While I might have more room in my new home, I still think my collection is mostly complete. I might replace some figures here and there or sell some off, because when I moved and I had soooooo many boxes, I questioned if I really need SO MUCH STUFF. When I unbox everything, I will try to find out if there's maybe more to streamline what I own. If I were to only add to my collection, I would run out of home some day   So I might only get a few figures here and there to add to it and maybe get rid of others if a more favorized character comes around and I don't have room for it. Something like that.

 

Ha, yes. Still tempted now. I look at Omega Supreme pretty frequently and the whole Siege line interests m.

I do have to say, collecting Animated and G1 was the best experience for me. You know your done, and you know you have the definitive edition of said toy.

For me I have never been able to sell my older versions, I always think i will want it back.

Well, not so much. TF collecting was my primary hobby. I mean I game occasionally, but I am not a collector or anything of that sort. The time I saved with collecting has mainly gone to gaming, but nowhere close in terms of hours.

TBH, if you take a break for a while, these things won't annoy you as much. For me, the price is pretty much the only thing that still gets me. But that was always the case. When I look at the fact I could buy a pair of Amazon Echo Buds for $50 less then Omega Supreme, it makes my decision easier. I mean, i would love Omega, but at the same time, I will play with him 3-10x max, and he'll sit on a shelf next to another 500 really cool other figures as well. The Echo buds I will use every day.

Yeah, well, I went through a good 1000 figures and I still missed out on some cool ass toys. So that will always be the case.

Yeah, I have to agree. There will NEVER be enough space. I have a huge basement, but I can't use the whole thing to just display my TFers, no matter how tempting it is to do. It's just sad that there are figures in storage that are not seeing the light of day.

 

Three questions, if I may:

1. Would you do it again?
2. Does it still make you happy?
3. What do you regret about your collection?

Thank you!

 

I'd like to be a 2, but it's hard to sell old toys.
I currently only collect MPM and movie OSKO toys, but if I had the space and money I would like to restart a CHUG collection in similar manner...

 

I tend to go with the philosophy of "would I ever want to sell/get rid of it?" before I buy and will pass.

The exceptions are if I get an amazing deal on something that I don't really care about and might consider selling/trading it for something that I did want later on. Trouble is, most end up in the "heck, I've changed my mind and very glad that I did get it, let's open this puppy up" situation.

I will get duplicates that I'll keep in box, when I have a figure that I really enjoy a lot and find another copy really cheap, and my paranoia of breakage will make me get it. I should clarify that I do this for non TFs stuff too and it saved me a lot of headaches every time I did... example, printers, have one that I really like and paid a few hundreds (then the model is "old" and ends up on liquidation at 1/4 of the price so I grab one). So I use it, and have lots of cartridges, and it then it breaks.. so I pull my "back-up" out and go on my merry way very glad I did.

I've had a few TFs that ended up breaking on me, and I was quite glad that I didn't have to hunt another (that would probably be overpriced with scalpers prices by then) when I did have a backup.

 

What was the last TF you bought?

And I'm...pretty much done with collecting on a whole. I will always buy a new Cliffjumer, Wheeljack, Starscream, and Hot Rod, though. I have my favs and i don't really need more other than that.