@@bedfordshiremodeller4491 Does PCS Dejah Thoris 1/3 scale count? j/k No that is certainly good advise. Also found that by avoiding pre-ordering you normally can get a good deal later, especially if you buy Sideshow stuff. There Edition size is through the roof, if you wait a year, you can usually pick up the statue you have been eying for 10 to 25 % off easily.
The mistake I make is buying something that i missed out on or has been out of circulation for awhile and I pay premium prices to add them to my collection. Never fails
I’ve just done it with xm studios thing, but considering I live in North America, small edition size, AND there’s only 2 eBay listings at 1800 I don’t care lol
This is probably one of the best videos you've made. Its funny though, your number 1 mistake is one that doesn't necessarily apply to everyone. Personally I don't care about themes and just collect what I like. I don't care if my marvel and DC statues are mixed up as long as they are displayed well. On the flip side I do try to group by scale so things look good.
Agreed, I collect what I like. In fact some take the theme thing too far perhaps? For instance, there is a guy on UA-cam, I don't recall is name or channel, who loves to collect Venom statues. I mean, a couple are fine, but who needs 20 of them? They are all derivatives of each other!! LOL!!! (Settle down SF5, I am just having a bit of fun at Mr. X's expense. No need to come over to my house and beat me up in my front yard in front of my family.)
Understanding scales available, and find one that suits your space, budget, and stick to it. Else you get a mixed scale of statues you might not want to sell but don't look as good together.
1 year of collecting, 21 statues in and another 17 on PO. I was very specific on what I was going to go after and collect and have learned from collecting other things in my past. I've not sold one statue since.
This was a really good video. I definitely made my share of these mistakes over the years. Guilty of buying too much at once, impulse buys, and definitely no direction (my collection is a chaos of different characters and different scales). Also no room for these statues is probably the biggest one for me. I literally alternate statues for my display because of lack of room. One other mistake I'd add would be to keep the shipper box. When you first receive a statue, you're in love with it, but like you said, something better may come along or you're losing space so you have to trim some things down to justify the purchase. Buyers always want original packaging.
Great advice for any and all collectors! the biggest one is do not listen to what other people think YOU should have in YOUR collection!!! its your money and your collection.
Solid video X. A mistake I've made in the past is buying a statue just because I hadn't bought a statue in months, and had that itch. Your number 1 is right on the money. Have a theme or direction and stick to it.
My biggest mistake was buying a $2400 statue from a seller on EBay who wasn’t even a collector. The seller didn’t know the difference between Exclusive and Collectors edition (regarding Sideshow statues). The seller packaged it like crap. And now I’ve been in the middle of a return process that has lasted over a month, and I still have not received my money back and I even shipped the seller his statue back! This is an expensive mistake that I know I’ll never forget . 😩
I just started collecting and so far my biggest mistake was my first purchase being an impulse buy at a comic store. Got a cheap diamond gallery Thor that takes up too much space and some cheap dragon ball Z figures. My mindset was these are cheap and I can buy 3 for the price of 1 that is much nicer so I went with quantity over quality and I really like Marvel and Star Wars so after watching this video I’m only going to get marvel/DC and starwars. Thank you for this. And the sleeping on your decision before buying is the best tip in my opinion. Great video
GREAT VIDEO. I HAVE NEVER REALY REGRETTED ANYTHING I COLLECTED. LIKE YOU I COLLECT A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. COLLECT WHAT YOU LOVE, NOT BECAUSE IT IS THE NEW FLAVOR OF THE MONTH. OR WORST, BECAUSE MOST OF THE PEOPLE YOU KNOW HAVE IT. 👊🏽
There have been so many pieces that i start saying man i need that but then sit on it for a week or so and realize i have no room for it. All of what you say makes sense
I’ve recently bought my first two statues and now I’m waiting for their delivery in July. I put much thought into buying them and I’ve put a side two spaces in my room. I’ve gone down the horror side of collecting. With two Hammer horror Statues as my first. A video like this is handy. Cheers
Good advise Mr. X. I think most of use hardcore collectors have made most of those mistakes. Number 5 boggles my mind. I still can’t believe people post “which one should I buy, right or left?”
I need that Subzero in my collection. Great video man, I think people forget that collecting is a lifetime thing. You don't have to have a massive collection in one month.
My biggest mistake was watching this video with my headphones in and the broken glass sound at the end got me good. I paused the video and look over my statues making sure nothing fell but then rewind the video a bit back and noticed how big of a mistake it was lol
You gave some really good advice here! My biggest mistake was trying to buy everything I thought was cool with no direction or a lot of thought to display space. Basically Too Much Too Soon.
I've been a collector of one thing or another for many years. The biggest suggestion I can make is to really think about the focus of your collection. People will say, "Oh, I'm only collecting Star Wars, (or whatever). Well, what does that entail? All of Star Wars? Statues? What size? What brand? All characters? What about machines? Dioramas? If you don't apply a high detail of focus, you'll not only blow out your budget, but your collection will end up looking like a mess of stuff (unless you have a massive amount of room to spread it all out). Planning out what your true focus is can be tough and you'll end up coming across other things that you want and will miss out on. However, you'll be thankful for setting up a set of rules down the line. Not only will this keep the collection in check, but you'll end up with a collection you really appreciate much more since it will be items that you really do appreciate.
4 роки тому+1
For me, I don't need multiple pieces for a certain line. If I only like one LOTR statue from Prime 1, then that's what I'm getting. If I can only find one Alien statue that I like, then I'm happy with that. I just want one item of some movie that I really like. I don't need to collect the 2nd and 3rd tier characters to "complete" the line.
Very helpful tips Mr X, number 10 is so accurate and true. I’m new to the statue collecting game and I always wait until Sideshow announces the ES before I buy
@@stukavonferno8858 The reason the edition size matters to me, even if I like the statue is because If I ever come into a sitituation in life were I need money, I like to know that I can rely on the statue I bought to help me. Which is why if you ever decide to sell your statue you should be feeling an eternal conflict with yourself in which you really like the staute, but you know that it can help you finacilly, which is when edition size comes into play. I dont care about resale value . I care about value
@@ivanmaciel2578 Interesting point but a low ES won't help if the character isn't popular. Values fall and rise which is why I just buy what I like regardless of ES or popularity, in fact the more obscure the character is the more I'm inclined to add the piece to my collection. I genuinely hope you never have to sell a statue!
This is one of the best videos for beginning collectors (such as myself) on what to avoid. My problem was jumping right in and not thinking first about where I would put all of my figures. I soooo much appreciate your advice Mr. X. P.s. Please take Wonder Woman from your bedroom and back to her original spot haha =)
Impulse pre ordering got me twice, ended up canceling them, I’m trying to find pedestals to display my statues on pre order but no luck finding some lol
So True on SOOO many points! My MAIN thing is that although I have an Amazing Collection that I LOVE. It has NO direction what so ever AND bottom line I have run out of room!😭🤣
My biggest mistake is not commenting 10 months ago haha...no seriously, I'm not long got into collecting and you have some great tips here. Thanks for posting
Hey John, great video on collecting. Haven't seen one of your UA-cam videos in a few months, had to brake way from outside influences in this game(no insult to you or your channel). Though I did happen to come across this piece because of the title and I think you truly nailed alot of crucial points to this collecting game. Also, don't worry about that Scarlet witch PO, she can easily go with an X-men collection that im sure you are still amassing.(i plan to put her right next to her dad) In closing Im gonna choose not to point out the mistakes I might have made in collecting but focus on making better decisions in the future,.. and this video is spot on to help anyone who might want to venture into or continue this hobby.
One of your best Top Ten videos yet. All of the points are simple , yet solid advice. Your top 10 advice in this video can apply to anyone literally in any collecting field, whether its collecting hats, toys, shoes , statues etc..
Hey guys this is one of the best guidelines video about starting collecting, in my case luckily I haven't bought many figures or statues but I always try to stay on the same line I want to collect so that I can get to enjoy my collecting more when I get to see it, for example I love collecting Bruce lee figurines and statues and I know that I might have better looking pieces than Bruce lee but I really don't care because I still like my Bruce lee collection better, trust me guys it is hard sometimes to passed on plenty nice looking statues but I bet you guys that I might be happier than any other more collectors that have more and bigger collection than mine, just remember people to collect no to accumulate.
Nice flow with this countdown video. Yup, I am new to the statue game and have so many on order. I actually slowed down from the first month. Number 1 is so true. I have been thinking about that lately and already have 1 piece that I know I will sell when I get it in hand.
I agreed on peer pressure. Just look at the Facebook community group of collectors. Believe me when I say there are lots of new or even seasoned collectors buying statues just because people said its nice. Worst, some new collectors that just joined blindly buying those grail pieces just for the sake of fitting in to the community, just for that few more Likes and admiration. Example, the Sideshow OG Hulk. Well for me, its not even worth USD$1000, I wont buy it even for that amount of $ and yet people are spending 3 or 4 or 5 times the amount trying to get this "grail" Personally I dont give a sh*t if people like what I liked, it is my piece and it stays with me in my cabinet which I am gonna admire daily. Another thing to note is also the secret groups out there, commissioners are expecting that you PO at least one of their pieces out of the 4 or 5 POs they put out; otherwise you are gonna risk getting booted out of the secret groups. Sadly, for custom pieces, this is the way it is.
Great info Mr X. I have a lot of nice framed artwork, which in itself is expensive! But I just focus on one character.... and one genre...there are so many great statues and lines! Hard not to want to buy everything! Love the channel! Keep collecting, I live vicariously through you.....
Thanks for your wisdom and honesty Mr .X, your channel definetly my 1st go to for honest reveiws and just good videos with the X style mixed in. Im totally at #8 atm. I have more PO’s then I have actual statues now. Told myself I would stick to batmans...then seen Q.S Wonderwoman 1/4 then seen J.L Blacksuit Superman 1/4 then...well you know the story. Sleeping on a piece has saved me some money anyway so thanks. Keep up the good work...shout out from little ol New Zealand.
I made a lot of mistakes along the years. But for me the most important thing is to learn from it. In the last year i downsized 80% of my collection and decided to keep one scale that fits my space. Buy what you like, don’t stress and plan ahead. This video is really good, thanks for sharing, Mr X!
Being about 9 months into this hobby. I havent really made any really bad mistakes yet. If anything I might be a little too hesitant. Missed out on a great piece and it sold out. But I'm glad I saw this video. Has alot of great advice for a newbit like myself. Thanks man
I actually don't really have a direction, I just buy pieces that I want. I also don't ever plan on selling any of my Statues. Pretty cool video though.
This video has been so informative man, I've only been collecting seriously for 7ish months and have already made a few of the mistakes you've mentioned, display space and going to hard to fast (I couldn't say "that's what she said" but I'll say "that's how I ended up a farther of 2) are the main ones. Great content as always dude 👍
Prime 1 Hush Poison Ivy has arrived and now sits atop my display case. JW, you are going to absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE her!! She is simply stunning!! One thing, be cautious with the vines wrapping around her body, as they can and will crack easily and send you into a spiral of dismay if they break. I had a close call, my wife telling me she didn't like the sounds of the crackling, so I backed off the gentle bending. As well, if those vines are pressing against her body (you'll understand once you get her in hand), I just cut really small tabs of the soft side of some velcro and stuck it to the vines, so that those vines do not rub against the green paint on her legs. Otherwise, not super difficult to put together. Score: Out of the fricken ballpark!! Cheers mate!
That is some great advice to all collectors. I think all of us collectors have made these mistakes when we first start out. Have you made a video of holy grails? I am interested in knowing what is your holy grail.
Good advice. I personally have your number one as my main commandment...having a direction. You’ll save yourself a lot of headaches, space, and money. I only collect Alien and Predator stuff. Nothing else. Do I like superheroes? Yes. Do I like other lines? Yes. When I see a new awesome Batman statue for example, I try to convince myself to get it...but then my number one commandment kicks it..Alien and Predator only...and I pass. Having said that, since my mancave is relatively small...I have almost reached the point of having to stop out of necessity because I’m simply running out of room. I can only fit two or three more statues and that’s it...I’m finished buying. I’m not anywhere near your league on spending, but have still spent around $50K on my collection, that’s still quite a lot for a lot of people. Heck, I have spent nearly as much restoring my classic 64 1/2 Mustang too...so that’s near $100K of frivolous toy spending. Good thing I’m not married. My girlfriend hates my statues but loves the Mustang, so it’s all good, lol. One advice missing from your video...I’d tell collectors not to buy statues on credit. Only buy when you have disposable income. The last thing in the world you want to do is get in debt.
I generally am not a fan of your non-review videos. I really enjoyed this video. It was highly enjoyable and provides some great insight from someone deep into the hobby. Thank you for sharing!
Great list Mr. X! I started collecting figures and statues back in late 2016 - early 2017. I pretty much committed most of the mistakes you listed and had to learn the hard way. I hope future collectors see this video and take note of it.
I can't say that i have made mistakes on my old collectibles which i used to collect, but at the time in the early '00's i was at toy stores and comic shops hunting for cool action figure lines like: Spawn, Hellraiser, Tortured Souls, Twisted Wizard Of Oz, Trigun, Vanpire Hunter-D, Pumpkin Head, Lady Death, Alien Queen, Fast and the Furious 1/25 scale diecast street racing cars, and Devil-Man and few others or not several lol. Neither of course were high end collectibles but were fascinating and different because of how cool the arts of those collectibles were. Now as far as the direction of each placement of my old collectibles goes were indeed challenging where it wsd over crowded that i used-i kid you not a drawing desk i used to display all of my figures on and placing boxes which some of the figures came with on top of one another to stack all of my figures as high as i can in a formation while they're all against the wall for support to prevent from collapsing on one another. It was insane if i still had pictures of them the way they were displayed i would email you the pictures Mr. X, and show you you'll be amazed on how a collector like myself at the time can display with less on so little space with a drawing desk in a bedroom with no shelves, when after all at the time i didn't care too much to look into getting glass cases or shelves when all i ever did was to rely on my drawing desk but like i mentioned it was overwhelming when my desk couldn't hold much of the collectibles which i then took all of them down and stored them away for good and thought to myself no more collecting figures enough was enough and that's when it hit me that i got bored of it after so many years in the early '00's I stopped. It was too much and too expensive where I had to stop hence #RESTRAINT. But it was good for a while when it lasted and had fun being that i was new to the collecting figures game at the time besides comics of course. I can't imagine collecting high end collectibles as statues goes when they were and yet still are expensive to purchase when i myself couldn't afford them needless to say to stay away from when i personally would probably be in trouble lol even if i bought at least one that of course is how it all gets started not one but several statues to collect which would be out of control and dangerous and mind you i only collected reasonably priced figures imagine statues? No way lol #Addict. At least i can say that i was smart enough to keep away especially when i didn't know what was hot at the time when there weren't UA-cam channels like this one where one can show off their collectibles like yourself Mr. X, to share what was trending and what wasn't at the time. You live and you learn as you get older and wiser you'll know exactly what you want done properly as collectibles goes and where to display them but most importantly planning ahead finances wise and budgeting before diving into collectibles in general. Keep up the great work Mr. X.
Excellent points Mr X. Especially number 1. I know what I love but also know my finances and space. My favorite movie franchise is Alien, my fav game franchise is The Legend of Zelda, my favorite hero is Batman.. so I stick with those! I branch out a little bit, but I know limits!
Couldn’t agree more with this list. I don’t have 1/4 the pieces Mr. X has but all of these problems crop up IMMEDIATELY when you start collecting. It’s especially true about the themes. A lot of people don’t think about that and it’s one of the things I did manage to avoid. Any time ive wanted to start a new line of collecting, I have taken inventory of how much space I have, pieces available, and what the investment is going to be. It basically left me with collecting only Marvel, Mortal Kombat, and now I’m just starting to get into Star Wars. I’d love Batman and his villains but there’s just no space
great advice. the same applies with omnis/comic collections. when i first got into that hobby, i went broke trying to obtain everything and then once i got around to reading some of the titles, learned that i didn't care for them and wound up selling a ton of books. it's all about curating your collection around what you like. i know some don't like them but i really enjoy the 1:10 transformer statues and that's what i collect and display at my office.
Another great informative and insightful video. This is exactly what I'm going through right now with some of the things you mentioned. The main one is not pre-ordering straightaway and thinking about it for a few days. As well as, trying to buy a few statues etc. Keeping it limited to certain things.
Thanks for taking the time to make this video. If I ever do start my own collection, I believe this is all wise and helpful advice. GOD Bless You and the X-Fam as always Brother!
Amazing video, and personally very timely as I just started collecting. Thanks for sharing your experience! One principle I try to keep is: don’t be afraid to walk away from a good deal. Sometimes I want to pick something up just because it’s a good deal.
I mostly collect movies and figures and I have only been collecting 3D printed statues for a year luckily the prints are actually the most affordable, and worth it. Everything you have said has made me rethink my way about my collectables and movies. I agree with social media... I will consider your words of wisdom. See. I am an honest person I don't know or watch dragon ball so I never watch or comment on those videos or if there are pieces I don't really know anything about I will avoid as I don't want to sound stupid or lie about how I feel. So I comment on the ones I know about or will feel ok getting involved in.. see the reason you are one the best people on here you are helping others with your experiences. This world has just lost good genuine people over the years glad people like you are still on this platform and planet spreading wisdom to the masses. My biggest mistake is recently I have had not alot of money but I borrowed in the same month over £65 for an action figure £89 for another figure and £127 for that Friday the 13th scream factory release to the UK. Because the figures are normally worth between £150-250 each and you can only get the whole collection of F13ths from the US. So put myself in abit of a pickle but it is all being sorted my mistake is spending money I don't have. Take care Mr.X stay safe to you and the family
I started collecting back in 2015, lord of the rings was the one that started it all. But I also started buying different franchise movie statues and some were not even that good, but I used to have Hottoys I sold them all as that was too much. But my collection has gone through three different directions, but with an endgame goal, it went from three pieces per line with hottoys which added up to 24 pieces and more, then 2 pieces per line which was 15 pieces, and this month I did a statue collecting cull where went down to 7 now and it will be 9 pieces, just because boxes piling up has put me off collecting much these days. I’ve just gone with a less is more approach these days, and it does feel more satisfying knowing exactly the endgame to take it in now, but I’ve PO the queen studios 1/4 scale ledger joker early on, so sometimes there is acceptions
The biggest mistake I made was to pay too much attention to fanboy reviews. These guys tend to spread their enthusiasm and passion, their taste becomes yours for a short time and they talk you into buying crap. The only good judge to a piece is you, and often your first impression is the one which will stick in time. Thanks for the awesome video!
Agree, there are too many sell out on youtube, who won't criticize a bad statue, because they don't want to upset there sponsorship from that company. I always write my honest opinion about a statue after watching a review. Sometimes that comment is super negative, but I would rather speak the truth, then go along with the flow.
Great video. Awesome advice and not reaching out to those that have experience is a mistake. Don't be afraid to ask for advice. I've actually reached out to you regarding a certain company. Getting advice and a recommendations helps prevent a big mistake😊. Thx for the video
The displays point is really true, for me I did buy 1 piece which I definitely don't have the room for. I am still studying so when I get out of my parents house I'll have the space and I knew this thing would be gone at the time of me leaving the house so I bought it. Obviously this is an edgecase though I realize that. It's still a really valid point
Picking a direction will be a hard one for me. I have a Spider-Man next to a kid Goku next to Tintin next to Pennywise. All of then have different sizes, and I love the fact that they look so wrong and messy next to each other.
I remember seeing that video from the Batman Statue Collector and it was helpful. They have amazing statues for just about every IP you can think of, and when you enjoy a half dozen or so of those; it can either get out of control quickly, or you end up with virtually no theme or focus. From that video, I decided that I would collect Star Wars and Marvel only and also limit myself to 1:4 scale. The scale limitation hurts more than the franchise decision because there are some amazing 1:3 scale pieces and amazing 1:1 busts I'd love to have, but I think Chris was right... the focus does eliminate some of the stress involved in making decisions about what you're going to acquire, and how to finance it.
I definately made most of these mistakes. Thankfully, I’ve compiled a collection I am proud of and am content to live with without adding too many more additions. But the biggest mistake not to make is giving your statues to a family member for free. I gave my statues to my next of kin, thinking they simply loved them as much as me and wanted to keep them in the family, only to find out that person sold them to make a personal profit. I still feel robbed and betrayed. Hopefully, my next family reunion won’t be a re-enactment of the Red Wedding.
Very informative video. I was falling too hard and too fast. Every waking minute looking for something to buy. Specifying a direction you want your collection to go in is key for people on budget.
Wise words! 👍🏻 definitely alll advice(s) are true, not only for beginners! My biggest mistake was surely changing direction too often in the past 🙈🤣 but I am clear on that one now 👍🏻 that certainly helps to stay satisfied with all that cool stuff coming out in every brand / theme etc
Definitely impulse buying is a big thing, and for me I’ve seen items low on stock then start to worry constantly if it’s going to sell out then you buy without thinking about financially it and that then becomes a worry, so just think before you make a move
Amen to your #1 - I can marvel at a fellow collector's latest addition on social media or UA-cam and not feel the pressure of adding to my collection which consists of only Superman statues (in the classic suit). Great list.
I’m working on that right trying to pick a path I want to collect. Definitely Star Wars as I have already started and wanna do a horror and transformers display as well
Picking a direction is definitely the hardest when dealing with statues. For the most part, they’re all awesome. I have zero interest in manga and some of the Prime 1 studio pieces are incredible. Thanks for e content!
I absolutely love these videos. I'm brand new to collecting (First PO is X-Men vs Sentinels 1, 2 and 3) and am learning so much from you, Gem Mint and a couple of others. Thank you for providing great information like this, as well as amazing content regularly!
Thank you for this video. I'm very new to this world and knew nothing about it until recently. All i want to collect is that Thanos Bust (my favorite character) that you have. . That is soooo cool, but now it's only available on ebay for like $4k or more. Wish I knew of this hobby when Thanos first came out. I'll just keep watching the movies I guess, lol. Have a great day!
My biggest mistake is being poor and trying to be a collector..
Mine too.
Same here but still going for it
@@xellosmetallium8519 Only buy what you can afford don,t go getting yourself in debt forra statue as it,s not worth it
@@bedfordshiremodeller4491 Does PCS Dejah Thoris 1/3 scale count? j/k No that is certainly good advise. Also found that by avoiding pre-ordering you normally can get a good deal later, especially if you buy Sideshow stuff. There Edition size is through the roof, if you wait a year, you can usually pick up the statue you have been eying for 10 to 25 % off easily.
The mistake I make is buying something that i missed out on or has been out of circulation for awhile and I pay premium prices to add them to my collection. Never fails
Yep; I've done that more times than I care to admit. It seems like I joined the party a year or two late.
I’ve just done it with xm studios thing, but considering I live in North America, small edition size, AND there’s only 2 eBay listings at 1800 I don’t care lol
I'm glad I started with a clear idea for my collection, DC & video game characters. Start slow and it will grow!
That's what she said!
Exactly what I decided too :D
Same here. I’m enjoying my choice as well
This is probably one of the best videos you've made.
Its funny though, your number 1 mistake is one that doesn't necessarily apply to everyone. Personally I don't care about themes and just collect what I like. I don't care if my marvel and DC statues are mixed up as long as they are displayed well. On the flip side I do try to group by scale so things look good.
Bang on, 'collect what I like', It's the true collectors path!
Agreed, I collect what I like. In fact some take the theme thing too far perhaps? For instance, there is a guy on UA-cam, I don't recall is name or channel, who loves to collect Venom statues. I mean, a couple are fine, but who needs 20 of them? They are all derivatives of each other!! LOL!!! (Settle down SF5, I am just having a bit of fun at Mr. X's expense. No need to come over to my house and beat me up in my front yard in front of my family.)
Understanding scales available, and find one that suits your space, budget, and stick to it. Else you get a mixed scale of statues you might not want to sell but don't look as good together.
1 year of collecting, 21 statues in and another 17 on PO. I was very specific on what I was going to go after and collect and have learned from collecting other things in my past. I've not sold one statue since.
This was a really good video. I definitely made my share of these mistakes over the years. Guilty of buying too much at once, impulse buys, and definitely no direction (my collection is a chaos of different characters and different scales). Also no room for these statues is probably the biggest one for me. I literally alternate statues for my display because of lack of room.
One other mistake I'd add would be to keep the shipper box. When you first receive a statue, you're in love with it, but like you said, something better may come along or you're losing space so you have to trim some things down to justify the purchase. Buyers always want original packaging.
Great advice for any and all collectors! the biggest one is do not listen to what other people think YOU should have in YOUR collection!!! its your money and your collection.
My collection goes in all directions. It’s tuff when you start collecting and have to decide which pieces to buy.
Solid video X. A mistake I've made in the past is buying a statue just because I hadn't bought a statue in months, and had that itch. Your number 1 is right on the money. Have a theme or direction and stick to it.
My biggest mistake was buying a $2400 statue from a seller on EBay who wasn’t even a collector. The seller didn’t know the difference between Exclusive and Collectors edition (regarding Sideshow statues). The seller packaged it like crap. And now I’ve been in the middle of a return process that has lasted over a month, and I still have not received my money back and I even shipped the seller his statue back! This is an expensive mistake that I know I’ll never forget . 😩
They say it takes a BIG man to admit your mistakes ... if that's the case then Mr. X is the Ron Jeremy of high-end collectibles! THANKS Mr. X!!
got suckered into statue collecting due to the awesomeness of these pieces.
I just started collecting and so far my biggest mistake was my first purchase being an impulse buy at a comic store. Got a cheap diamond gallery Thor that takes up too much space and some cheap dragon ball Z figures. My mindset was these are cheap and I can buy 3 for the price of 1 that is much nicer so I went with quantity over quality and I really like Marvel and Star Wars so after watching this video I’m only going to get marvel/DC and starwars. Thank you for this. And the sleeping on your decision before buying is the best tip in my opinion. Great video
GREAT VIDEO. I HAVE NEVER REALY REGRETTED ANYTHING I COLLECTED. LIKE YOU I COLLECT A WHOLE LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS. COLLECT WHAT YOU LOVE, NOT BECAUSE IT IS THE NEW FLAVOR OF THE MONTH. OR WORST, BECAUSE MOST OF THE PEOPLE YOU KNOW HAVE IT. 👊🏽
There have been so many pieces that i start saying man i need that but then sit on it for a week or so and realize i have no room for it. All of what you say makes sense
I’ve recently bought my first two statues and now I’m waiting for their delivery in July. I put much thought into buying them and I’ve put a side two spaces in my room. I’ve gone down the horror side of collecting. With two Hammer horror Statues as my first. A video like this is handy. Cheers
Good advise Mr. X. I think most of use hardcore collectors have made most of those mistakes. Number 5 boggles my mind. I still can’t believe people post “which one should I buy, right or left?”
Those bug the shit out of me.
Def some great tips! Thanks!
I agree I do all those things especially buying statues when I have no room for them
I knew I had a problem when I sold my wife off for a few licensed dragonball resins .. 🦩🦩🦩🦩
I need that Subzero in my collection. Great video man, I think people forget that collecting is a lifetime thing. You don't have to have a massive collection in one month.
My biggest mistake was watching this video with my headphones in and the broken glass sound at the end got me good. I paused the video and look over my statues making sure nothing fell but then rewind the video a bit back and noticed how big of a mistake it was lol
You gave some really good advice here! My biggest mistake was trying to buy everything I thought was cool with no direction or a lot of thought to display space. Basically Too Much Too Soon.
I've been a collector of one thing or another for many years. The biggest suggestion I can make is to really think about the focus of your collection. People will say, "Oh, I'm only collecting Star Wars, (or whatever). Well, what does that entail? All of Star Wars? Statues? What size? What brand? All characters? What about machines? Dioramas?
If you don't apply a high detail of focus, you'll not only blow out your budget, but your collection will end up looking like a mess of stuff (unless you have a massive amount of room to spread it all out). Planning out what your true focus is can be tough and you'll end up coming across other things that you want and will miss out on. However, you'll be thankful for setting up a set of rules down the line. Not only will this keep the collection in check, but you'll end up with a collection you really appreciate much more since it will be items that you really do appreciate.
For me, I don't need multiple pieces for a certain line. If I only like one LOTR statue from Prime 1, then that's what I'm getting. If I can only find one Alien statue that I like, then I'm happy with that. I just want one item of some movie that I really like. I don't need to collect the 2nd and 3rd tier characters to "complete" the line.
Very helpful tips Mr X, number 10 is so accurate and true. I’m new to the statue collecting game and I always wait until Sideshow announces the ES before I buy
Why does the edition size matter if you like the statue? Seems to me you're thinking about resale value before you've even bought the piece!
@@stukavonferno8858 The reason the edition size matters to me, even if I like the statue is because If I ever come into a sitituation in life were I need money, I like to know that I can rely on the statue I bought to help me. Which is why if you ever decide to sell your statue you should be feeling an eternal conflict with yourself in which you really like the staute, but you know that it can help you finacilly, which is when edition size comes into play. I dont care about resale value . I care about value
@@ivanmaciel2578 Interesting point but a low ES won't help if the character isn't popular. Values fall and rise which is why I just buy what I like regardless of ES or popularity, in fact the more obscure the character is the more I'm inclined to add the piece to my collection. I genuinely hope you never have to sell a statue!
Thanks for these words of wisdom. I think buying a character you have a connection with is better than buying a statue because it only looks cool
As someone who is new to statue collecting this was very helpful. Thanks for posting!
I tend to impulse buy, but have corrected this with recent purchases.
This is one of the best videos for beginning collectors (such as myself) on what to avoid. My problem was jumping right in and not thinking first about where I would put all of my figures. I soooo much appreciate your advice Mr. X. P.s. Please take Wonder Woman from your bedroom and back to her original spot haha =)
Impulse pre ordering got me twice, ended up canceling them, I’m trying to find pedestals to display my statues on pre order but no luck finding some lol
Same...I have canceled 4 POs this week...
Love your advice Mr.X. I've made many mistakes. Number 1 is my biggest mistakes. I've collected too many lines and got space problems.
Mr X,your advices will help beginners and current collectors before buying new sculpt..
So True on SOOO many points! My MAIN thing is that although I have an Amazing Collection that I LOVE. It has NO direction what so ever AND bottom line I have run out of room!😭🤣
My biggest mistake is not commenting 10 months ago haha...no seriously, I'm not long got into collecting and you have some great tips here. Thanks for posting
Hey John, great video on collecting. Haven't seen one of your UA-cam videos in a few months, had to brake way from outside influences in this game(no insult to you or your channel). Though I did happen to come across this piece because of the title and I think you truly nailed alot of crucial points to this collecting game. Also, don't worry about that Scarlet witch PO, she can easily go with an X-men collection that im sure you are still amassing.(i plan to put her right next to her dad) In closing Im gonna choose not to point out the mistakes I might have made in collecting but focus on making better decisions in the future,.. and this video is spot on to help anyone who might want to venture into or continue this hobby.
One of your best Top Ten videos yet. All of the points are simple , yet solid advice.
Your top 10 advice in this video can apply to anyone literally in any collecting field, whether its collecting hats, toys, shoes , statues etc..
Really helpful! Thanks for the advice. Just recently started getting into statue. But still will keep my 1/6 hot toys.
Hey guys this is one of the best guidelines video about starting collecting, in my case luckily I haven't bought many figures or statues but I always try to stay on the same line I want to collect so that I can get to enjoy my collecting more when I get to see it, for example I love collecting Bruce lee figurines and statues and I know that I might have better looking pieces than Bruce lee but I really don't care because I still like my Bruce lee collection better, trust me guys it is hard sometimes to passed on plenty nice looking statues but I bet you guys that I might be happier than any other more collectors that have more and bigger collection than mine, just remember people to collect no to accumulate.
Nice flow with this countdown video. Yup, I am new to the statue game and have so many on order. I actually slowed down from the first month. Number 1 is so true. I have been thinking about that lately and already have 1 piece that I know I will sell when I get it in hand.
I agreed on peer pressure.
Just look at the Facebook community group of collectors.
Believe me when I say there are lots of new or even seasoned collectors buying statues just because people said its nice.
Worst, some new collectors that just joined blindly buying those grail pieces just for the sake of fitting in to the community, just for that few more Likes and admiration.
Example, the Sideshow OG Hulk.
Well for me, its not even worth USD$1000, I wont buy it even for that amount of $ and yet people are spending 3 or 4 or 5 times the amount trying to get this "grail"
Personally I dont give a sh*t if people like what I liked, it is my piece and it stays with me in my cabinet which I am gonna admire daily.
Another thing to note is also the secret groups out there, commissioners are expecting that you PO at least one of their pieces out of the 4 or 5 POs they put out; otherwise you are gonna risk getting booted out of the secret groups.
Sadly, for custom pieces, this is the way it is.
Planning the space and getting too many at once. At one point I had boxes stored in my bedroom before getting a storage unit lol
Great info Mr X. I have a lot of nice framed artwork, which in itself is expensive! But I just focus on one character.... and one genre...there are so many great statues and lines! Hard not to want to buy everything! Love the channel! Keep collecting, I live vicariously through you.....
These are super excellent tips! I’m new to collecting statues and have already made some of the mistakes you mentioned here.😓
Thanks for your wisdom and honesty Mr .X, your channel definetly my 1st go to for honest reveiws and just good videos with the X style mixed in. Im totally at #8 atm. I have more PO’s then I have actual statues now. Told myself I would stick to batmans...then seen Q.S Wonderwoman 1/4 then seen J.L Blacksuit Superman 1/4 then...well you know the story. Sleeping on a piece has saved me some money anyway so thanks. Keep up the good work...shout out from little ol New Zealand.
Lolol yea I feel you with getting sucked into social media
I made a lot of mistakes along the years. But for me the most important thing is to learn from it. In the last year i downsized 80% of my collection and decided to keep one scale that fits my space. Buy what you like, don’t stress and plan ahead. This video is really good, thanks for sharing, Mr X!
Being about 9 months into this hobby. I havent really made any really bad mistakes yet. If anything I might be a little too hesitant. Missed out on a great piece and it sold out. But I'm glad I saw this video. Has alot of great advice for a newbit like myself. Thanks man
I actually don't really have a direction, I just buy pieces that I want. I also don't ever plan on selling any of my Statues. Pretty cool video though.
This video has been so informative man, I've only been collecting seriously for 7ish months and have already made a few of the mistakes you've mentioned, display space and going to hard to fast (I couldn't say "that's what she said" but I'll say "that's how I ended up a farther of 2) are the main ones. Great content as always dude 👍
Prime 1 Hush Poison Ivy has arrived and now sits atop my display case. JW, you are going to absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE her!! She is simply stunning!! One thing, be cautious with the vines wrapping around her body, as they can and will crack easily and send you into a spiral of dismay if they break. I had a close call, my wife telling me she didn't like the sounds of the crackling, so I backed off the gentle bending. As well, if those vines are pressing against her body (you'll understand once you get her in hand), I just cut really small tabs of the soft side of some velcro and stuck it to the vines, so that those vines do not rub against the green paint on her legs. Otherwise, not super difficult to put together. Score: Out of the fricken ballpark!! Cheers mate!
Can’t wait!!!!
Your choice of video music reminds me when I'm put on hold waiting to speak to my credit card company.
That is some great advice to all collectors. I think all of us collectors have made these mistakes when we first start out. Have you made a video of holy grails? I am interested in knowing what is your holy grail.
Related so much to just scrolling through websites to see what’s available 😂
Good advice. I personally have your number one as my main commandment...having a direction. You’ll save yourself a lot of headaches, space, and money. I only collect Alien and Predator stuff. Nothing else. Do I like superheroes? Yes. Do I like other lines? Yes. When I see a new awesome Batman statue for example, I try to convince myself to get it...but then my number one commandment kicks it..Alien and Predator only...and I pass. Having said that, since my mancave is relatively small...I have almost reached the point of having to stop out of necessity because I’m simply running out of room. I can only fit two or three more statues and that’s it...I’m finished buying. I’m not anywhere near your league on spending, but have still spent around $50K on my collection, that’s still quite a lot for a lot of people. Heck, I have spent nearly as much restoring my classic 64 1/2 Mustang too...so that’s near $100K of frivolous toy spending. Good thing I’m not married. My girlfriend hates my statues but loves the Mustang, so it’s all good, lol. One advice missing from your video...I’d tell collectors not to buy statues on credit. Only buy when you have disposable income. The last thing in the world you want to do is get in debt.
I generally am not a fan of your non-review videos. I really enjoyed this video. It was highly enjoyable and provides some great insight from someone deep into the hobby. Thank you for sharing!
Just started down my collection path. Great things to keep in mind in this video
Great list Mr. X! I started collecting figures and statues back in late 2016 - early 2017. I pretty much committed most of the mistakes you listed and had to learn the hard way. I hope future collectors see this video and take note of it.
I keep forgetting to put on pants. Not sure if that is a mistake or not.
Thanks for the beginners guide. These are always useful and welcome.
I can't say that i have made mistakes on my old collectibles which i used to collect, but at the time in the early '00's i was at toy stores and comic shops hunting for cool action figure lines like:
Spawn, Hellraiser, Tortured Souls, Twisted Wizard Of Oz, Trigun, Vanpire Hunter-D, Pumpkin Head, Lady Death, Alien Queen, Fast and the Furious 1/25 scale diecast street racing cars, and Devil-Man and few others or not several lol.
Neither of course were high end collectibles but were fascinating and different because of how cool the arts of those collectibles were. Now as far as the direction of each placement of my old collectibles goes were indeed challenging where it wsd over crowded that i used-i kid you not a drawing desk i used to display all of my figures on and placing boxes which some of the figures came with on top of one another to stack all of my figures as high as i can in a formation while they're all against the wall for support to prevent from collapsing on one another.
It was insane if i still had pictures of them the way they were displayed i would email you the pictures Mr. X, and show you you'll be amazed on how a collector like myself at the time can display with less on so little space with a drawing desk in a bedroom with no shelves, when after all at the time i didn't care too much to look into getting glass cases or shelves when all i ever did was to rely on my drawing desk but like i mentioned it was overwhelming when my desk couldn't hold much of the collectibles which i then took all of them down and stored them away for good and thought to myself no more collecting figures enough was enough and that's when it hit me that i got bored of it after so many years in the early '00's I stopped. It was too much and too expensive where I had to stop hence #RESTRAINT.
But it was good for a while when it lasted and had fun being that i was new to the collecting figures game at the time besides comics of course. I can't imagine collecting high end collectibles as statues goes when they were and yet still are expensive to purchase when i myself couldn't afford them needless to say to stay away from when i personally would probably be in trouble lol even if i bought at least one that of course is how it all gets started not one but several statues to collect which would be out of control and dangerous and mind you i only collected reasonably priced figures imagine statues? No way lol #Addict. At least i can say that i was smart enough to keep away especially when i didn't know what was hot at the time when there weren't UA-cam channels like this one where one can show off their collectibles like yourself Mr. X, to share what was trending and what wasn't at the time.
You live and you learn as you get older and wiser you'll know exactly what you want done properly as collectibles goes and where to display them but most importantly planning ahead finances wise and budgeting before diving into collectibles in general.
Keep up the great work Mr. X.
Always appreciate these type of videos. It helps us new comers to the community
Excellent points Mr X. Especially number 1. I know what I love but also know my finances and space. My favorite movie franchise is Alien, my fav game franchise is The Legend of Zelda, my favorite hero is Batman.. so I stick with those! I branch out a little bit, but I know limits!
bringing the flutes out
Exactly what I've been thinking to myself since I started collecting... But it makes it official when you say it :)
Enjoy the lists.
I can't afford to collect statues, but if I could, I would stick to characters that I love and grails only.
Great tips!!! Thanks for the video. #1 is something fortunately I knew from the outset.
This man speaks the TRUTH. All very good advice and tips!
Couldn’t agree more with this list. I don’t have 1/4 the pieces Mr. X has but all of these problems crop up IMMEDIATELY when you start collecting. It’s especially true about the themes. A lot of people don’t think about that and it’s one of the things I did manage to avoid. Any time ive wanted to start a new line of collecting, I have taken inventory of how much space I have, pieces available, and what the investment is going to be. It basically left me with collecting only Marvel, Mortal Kombat, and now I’m just starting to get into Star Wars. I’d love Batman and his villains but there’s just no space
great advice. the same applies with omnis/comic collections. when i first got into that hobby, i went broke trying to obtain everything and then once i got around to reading some of the titles, learned that i didn't care for them and wound up selling a ton of books. it's all about curating your collection around what you like. i know some don't like them but i really enjoy the 1:10 transformer statues and that's what i collect and display at my office.
Another great informative and insightful video. This is exactly what I'm going through right now with some of the things you mentioned. The main one is not pre-ordering straightaway and thinking about it for a few days. As well as, trying to buy a few statues etc. Keeping it limited to certain things.
Thanks for taking the time to make this video. If I ever do start my own collection, I believe this is all wise and helpful advice. GOD Bless You and the X-Fam as always Brother!
Amazing video, and personally very timely as I just started collecting. Thanks for sharing your experience! One principle I try to keep is: don’t be afraid to walk away from a good deal. Sometimes I want to pick something up just because it’s a good deal.
Great tips! May have made one or two of those mistakes! Still learning!
I mostly collect movies and figures and I have only been collecting 3D printed statues for a year luckily the prints are actually the most affordable, and worth it. Everything you have said has made me rethink my way about my collectables and movies. I agree with social media... I will consider your words of wisdom. See. I am an honest person I don't know or watch dragon ball so I never watch or comment on those videos or if there are pieces I don't really know anything about I will avoid as I don't want to sound stupid or lie about how I feel. So I comment on the ones I know about or will feel ok getting involved in.. see the reason you are one the best people on here you are helping others with your experiences. This world has just lost good genuine people over the years glad people like you are still on this platform and planet spreading wisdom to the masses. My biggest mistake is recently I have had not alot of money but I borrowed in the same month over £65 for an action figure £89 for another figure and £127 for that Friday the 13th scream factory release to the UK. Because the figures are normally worth between £150-250 each and you can only get the whole collection of F13ths from the US. So put myself in abit of a pickle but it is all being sorted my mistake is spending money I don't have. Take care Mr.X stay safe to you and the family
I started collecting back in 2015, lord of the rings was the one that started it all. But I also started buying different franchise movie statues and some were not even that good, but I used to have Hottoys I sold them all as that was too much. But my collection has gone through three different directions, but with an endgame goal, it went from three pieces per line with hottoys which added up to 24 pieces and more, then 2 pieces per line which was 15 pieces, and this month I did a statue collecting cull where went down to 7 now and it will be 9 pieces, just because boxes piling up has put me off collecting much these days. I’ve just gone with a less is more approach these days, and it does feel more satisfying knowing exactly the endgame to take it in now, but I’ve PO the queen studios 1/4 scale ledger joker early on, so sometimes there is acceptions
Haha I'm kinda guilty of not figuring out where a statue will go before I ordered it :P
The biggest mistake I made was to pay too much attention to fanboy reviews. These guys tend to spread their enthusiasm and passion, their taste becomes yours for a short time and they talk you into buying crap. The only good judge to a piece is you, and often your first impression is the one which will stick in time. Thanks for the awesome video!
Agree, there are too many sell out on youtube, who won't criticize a bad statue, because they don't want to upset there sponsorship from that company. I always write my honest opinion about a statue after watching a review. Sometimes that comment is super negative, but I would rather speak the truth, then go along with the flow.
Great video. Awesome advice and not reaching out to those that have experience is a mistake. Don't be afraid to ask for advice. I've actually reached out to you regarding a certain company. Getting advice and a recommendations helps prevent a big mistake😊. Thx for the video
Great list, should help others avoid the mistakes us collectors make.
It would have been nice to see this video 5 years ago! Ditto, made all these mistakes and continue to do so today!
Really good instructions. I also believe you should choose also what Studio you buy from. For me is mostly Prime1studio!
The displays point is really true, for me I did buy 1 piece which I definitely don't have the room for. I am still studying so when I get out of my parents house I'll have the space and I knew this thing would be gone at the time of me leaving the house so I bought it. Obviously this is an edgecase though I realize that. It's still a really valid point
Picking a direction will be a hard one for me. I have a Spider-Man next to a kid Goku next to Tintin next to Pennywise. All of then have different sizes, and I love the fact that they look so wrong and messy next to each other.
I remember seeing that video from the Batman Statue Collector and it was helpful. They have amazing statues for just about every IP you can think of, and when you enjoy a half dozen or so of those; it can either get out of control quickly, or you end up with virtually no theme or focus.
From that video, I decided that I would collect Star Wars and Marvel only and also limit myself to 1:4 scale. The scale limitation hurts more than the franchise decision because there are some amazing 1:3 scale pieces and amazing 1:1 busts I'd love to have, but I think Chris was right... the focus does eliminate some of the stress involved in making decisions about what you're going to acquire, and how to finance it.
I definately made most of these mistakes. Thankfully, I’ve compiled a collection I am proud of and am content to live with without adding too many more additions. But the biggest mistake not to make is giving your statues to a family member for free. I gave my statues to my next of kin, thinking they simply loved them as much as me and wanted to keep them in the family, only to find out that person sold them to make a personal profit. I still feel robbed and betrayed. Hopefully, my next family reunion won’t be a re-enactment of the Red Wedding.
Very informative video. I was falling too hard and too fast. Every waking minute looking for something to buy. Specifying a direction you want your collection to go in is key for people on budget.
Wise words! 👍🏻 definitely alll advice(s) are true, not only for beginners! My biggest mistake was surely changing direction too often in the past 🙈🤣 but I am clear on that one now 👍🏻 that certainly helps to stay satisfied with all that cool stuff coming out in every brand / theme etc
Hey man you live and you learn, I’m glad you made this vid
I troll through Ebay all day hoping for better prices, it’s engrossing and I need to stop. Lol
Definitely impulse buying is a big thing, and for me I’ve seen items low on stock then start to worry constantly if it’s going to sell out then you buy without thinking about financially it and that then becomes a worry, so just think before you make a move
Amen to your #1 - I can marvel at a fellow collector's latest addition on social media or UA-cam and not feel the pressure of adding to my collection which consists of only Superman statues (in the classic suit). Great list.
I’m working on that right trying to pick a path I want to collect. Definitely Star Wars as I have already started and wanna do a horror and transformers display as well
Picking a direction is definitely the hardest when dealing with statues. For the most part, they’re all awesome. I have zero interest in manga and some of the Prime 1 studio pieces are incredible. Thanks for e content!
Great advice. You should refresh/reshare this video every so often so your new subscribers see it.
Thanks for the great advice! I am just getting started by doing my research so this is good to know.
I always like your humor! Referring to yourself in third person is also funny! 😁
Recently I’ve contained myself and only collect Dc and marvel statues but only at a cheap price
I absolutely love these videos. I'm brand new to collecting (First PO is X-Men vs Sentinels 1, 2 and 3) and am learning so much from you, Gem Mint and a couple of others.
Thank you for providing great information like this, as well as amazing content regularly!
Thank you for this video. I'm very new to this world and knew nothing about it until recently. All i want to collect is that Thanos Bust (my favorite character) that you have. . That is soooo cool, but now it's only available on ebay for like $4k or more. Wish I knew of this hobby when Thanos first came out. I'll just keep watching the movies I guess, lol. Have a great day!