It’s the thrill of the toy hunt that we enjoy…
… more than the physical possession of the actual toys. Do you agree with this view?
Take the above toy for example - She will be the Exclusive My Little Pony offered during the upcoming San Diego Comic Convention (SDCC) 2010 (17-18 July). Every year during the SDCC, there will be special exclusive toys made available to collectors and everyone will clamor for the chance to own them.
Like the hordes of toy collectors around the world, I want to acquire the SDCC exclusive toys of the toylines that I already collect. Every year once the online photos of the various SDCC exclusive toys are made public (or in some cases, leaked out), the fans and collectors get very excited and claim that they want to buy these and those toys etc. They will talk, discuss, think and dream about those toys until the day they get them. It’s a never ending annual cycle.
One of the most fun parts about toy collecting is finding your method to acquire the toys you want to collect. Some of us make at least weekly trips to the, flea markets, local departmental stores or collector’s toy shops to hunt for the toys. When we find the toys we want, we feel like we have struck the lottery and go home with the newly purchased toys. We feel very pleased with ourselves, like we are the happiest persons on earth. But for long will this ‘happiness’ last? Well, it varies according to the individuals, LOL!
For toys that not available locally, sometimes we get a local toy dealer or local collector’s toy shop to order the toys for us, and then we go and collect them when the stocks arrive. But most toy collectors are very internet savvy, so they order or hunt down the toys online themselves. In this way, they get to enjoy the thrill of the hunt. Again, the toy hunting game goes on and on.
Of course you also feel a sense of ‘pride’ where you can tell other collectors that you own such and such a toy, and at a very good price too. Then what happens to those toys of pride afterwards? They mostly sit in ‘cold storage’ somewhere in your home while you chase after the next new and exciting toys, right? Relax, you’re not alone in this toy collecting hobby. Everyone had more or less gone through these phases, and are still doing so, LOL!
My nephew (the one who calls me a geek) asks me why can’t I just prepare a toy check list and put a tick beside the toy name each time I spot them in the shops or departmental stores? Can’t that just count as ‘collecting’ the toy without having to fork out money for it and not having subsequent clutter issues at home? After all, I can’t use the toys like practical items. It’s the thrill of the hunt that matters, isn’t it? Now that’s some food for thought.
So is this true for you as well? That the thrill of the hunt excites you and makes you feel happy? More so than buying and owning the toys? Will my nephew’s toy ‘collecting’ method work too? Feel free to share your comments here!
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At least a “No” for me. If I want that toy to be physically displayed on my shelves, I would do whatever I can to get it.
Hi deSMOnd,
My soul is weak and I must also have the physical toys in my possession, even if most of them end up in storage and out of view!
I hunt all over the place to look for the toy with the most flawless paintjob, and follow up on leads on internet forums of the latest sightings of new toy waves. The thrill is in finding exactly the toy that I want at the end of the day, literally.
I need to touch my toys. Imagination does not work with me.
Hi Tommy,
Welcome to my blog, and well said!
Your nephew’s toy ‘collecting’ method can’t work. Because if you spot something you like and not able to buy it that feeling is really bad. :p When next time you want to buy it and its gone you will have to pay higher price through internet or dealer. But do buy in moderation there is no need to collect every series. Try not to spend too much.
That above pony looks nice.
Hi Hippo,
Good advice, thanks!
omg! I totally do this! I’m a Transformers collector. I open many of them, but often I don’t. None of my SDCC TFs are open. They just sit in storage. Sometimes I buy a TF and I don’t open it for months, but I “hunt” for it the moment I know its out there. Its like I enjoy the hunt more than the toy, LOL. anyway check out this entry on my blog. I totally get what you’re saying in this post. http://transformersrollout.wordpress.com/2010/07/31/more-toys-blaster-pre-order/
Hi Hsunami Prime,
Thank you for visiting my blog!
At the end of the day, we wonder why do we keep repeating our such actions in a neverending cycle for so many years, LOL!