Action figures are usually preferred by boys but they are also loved by the adults who seek a way of connection with their childhood. Whether you want to collect your favorite movie characters or comic book hero, action figure collecting can be a very fun, rewarding and possibly profitable hobby, if done right. In the following articles we will give you some basic guidelines that will save you time, money and make your collecting more enjoyable.

What action figures to collect?

How to Care for your action figures

Where to buy Action Figures

What is an Action figure worth?

Before you start collection action figures, you need to take some time and think about why you want to collect action figures and what type of action figures you would like to collect. People usually collect figures for two reasons: to make money and as a hobby.

Collecting action figures for profit.

Although most veteran collectors recommend not to look at action figures as a financial investment, if done right, collecting toys can become a very lucrative business. If you are looking to take your action figures collecting to a new level and start making money, we recommend reading this article.

Collection action figures as a hobby.

What kind of action figures should you collect? Buying everything that is hot on the market or getting different types of figures does not mean you have a collection. A collection of action figures is a series of toys that have a certain common theme. Here are the 3 most important things you should take in consideration when starting an action figures collection:

1. How to theme your action figures

In order to have a great collection of action figures, you need to ask yourself questions like what kind of movies you like, what sports you watch, what is your favorite comic book? Answering these questions will keep you focused and it will give you an idea of what kinds of action figures are best for you. Eg: if you are a sports guy, you may take in consideration collection McFarlane Baseball figures. If you love sci-fi, Star Wars and Star Trek action figures are the way to go!

2. What is your budget?

Action figures are relatively cheap but you need to keep in mind that usually, the older an action figure is, the most expensive can become. Every action figures series may have one or more rare (and expensive) toys. Before you start building your collection it is recommended you do your research and find out if you can afford buying the desired figures. Buying new/second hand, mint, boxed/unboxed will also have an impact on the final price. As a general rule, if you are on a budget stick with second hand toys and only buy new when you really like something.

3. Action figures size.

Remember that in order for you action figures to be considered a collection, they all must share some common traits. Besides the theme, action figures size (or scale) also plays an important role. Ideally your action figures will have the same size; otherwise some of you figures will be bigger than others, which can only degrade your collection

Any serious collector needs to know how to properly care for his/her action figure collection. Natural things like dust, sunlight and even the oils and grease on your hands can lead to the degradation of you collection. But there’s good news! With a proper guidance and a little effort on your part, you can care for your action figures, making them last longer and maintain their value.

Here’s a lost with things that you should avoid, in order to have a “healthy” collection:

1. Keep your collection out of direct sunlight. Sun’s UV rays can have a negative impact on your action figures as the plastic can crack or become faded. Make sure you keep you collection as far away from direct sunlight as possible.
2. Avoid high temperatures. One of the biggest enemies when it comes to preserving your action figure collection is a high temperature. Heat can soften the plastic and in extreme condition can even misshape or melt your action figure! It is recommended that you display or store your figures at a comfortable room temperature.
3. Avoid humidity. High moisture in the air can cause corrosion or loose joints. If you action figure is loose, it will be difficult to maintain its proper posture. The paint on you figure can also peel off when exposed to a high humidity. Also, it is not recommended to store your collection at in rooms with too little moisture, as this can cause you action figure to crack or ever rot.
4. Protect your collection from dirt and dust. Although dirt and dust do not have a huge negative impact on your action figures, it can definitely make your collection less attractive. Remove dirt by rinsing the figure in warm soppy water.
5. Don’t handle you collection too often. As we have already mentioned the beginning of the article, action figures are also vulnerable to the natural oils and grease secreted by our skin. If possible, try not to play with your figures as often as you would like (tough thing to do sometimes:!) or when you do, handle your collection with gloves or a cloth.

How to store and display your action figures

There are several ways you can store or display your collection, preserving the life and value of your action figures in the same time. One of the most popular option is a plastic shell case. Although this type of case resembles the original packaging, it is made from a higher quality plastic. It comes if different shape and sizes and can hold a large variety of action figures.

Display cases, Re-sealable Containers and Re-sealable bags are also a good choice when it comes to storing or displaying your collection. They are cheap, hard wearing, easy to handle and come in all shape and sizes.

Summary

The best places to display or store you collection are rooms with no direct sunlight, average humidity and normal room temperature. Once you find the perfect spot, prolong the life of you collection by storing your action figures into a container, and regularly cleaning them.

Collecting action figures can become a very lucrative business if done right.  The number one rule you need to follow In order for you to become successful at making a profit selling/buying action figures is this: know the value of the action figure(s). In this article we will give you a basic guide that will help you determine what the price for a specific figure is.

The process of finding out how much a specific action figure is worth contains 2 steps:

1. The condition of you action figure.  In order for you to determine the shape you action figure is in, you need to consult a grading table . Without getting into too many details, a high grading score means that you action figure has very few flaws which makes it more expensive. A popular strategy used by many expert collectors is to consult a grading table BEFORE they actually buy the action figure. This can definitely increase your chances of selling your figure for a higher price. Tip: After the purchase make sure you care for your investment so it does not decrease in value.
2. Determine the price. Once you figure out the condition of your collection, it is time to find out what the going rate is. This is a longer process and it requires a little of effort on your part, but failing to research the price can lead to a loss in profit and in some cases no profit at all. You also need to understand that the prices in the collectibles market fluctuates and your research can only give you a rough estimate of what the real price is.

Where to check for prices for an action figure?

There are many places where you can check what the going rate for a specific action figure is.

Our number one recommendation is to read an action figure price guide.

These types of guides are trusted and used by hobbyists all over the country. Other sources of checking the prices for action figures are of course you local store, or more convenient, online stores. Amazon,  entertainmentearth, toywiz, cmdstore.com, toysrus.com and walmart.com carry almost every possible action figure you can dream of. With an impressive number (over 200,000) of live auction, Ebay.com is also an excellent source of find out that the value of a figure is.

One other method worth mentioning is asking the opinion of veteran hobbyists. Chances are they are full of knowledge which can only contribute to your success. A good place to meet other hobbyists are conventions or if you prefer a more convenient way look for discussion forums in your specific niche.