One of the most frustrating things about being a toy collector is seeing an online review that makes you want to purchase the item yourself, only to find your local Toys R Us or Walmart or even specialist comicbook store doesn't stock the toy you want.
So where can you turn when the bricks and mortar retailers let you down?
You shop online, of course! But that's not without its own issues, too. Which is why we're proud to present the That Figures Online Shopping Guide.
Introduction (And Disclaimer)This Feature includes links to a number of online retailers I've purchased items from in the past. I've always experienced prompt, helpful and accurate service from each. However, please note that this is my personal experience only and your experience may be different. In other words, don't blame us if it goes wrong for you!
OK, with that out of the way, let's begin!
Ebay is pretty much the Daddy when it comes to collectables. No matter how obscure the object of your collecting-passion is, at some point, somebody, somewhere will have sold it on Ebay.
The site works like a giant swap-meet: people put items up for auction and visitors then make their purchases, with Ebay acting as the middle-man by handling the transaction and ensuring the trade goes-off without any hitches. It's a simple system that - on the whole - works.
I've never experienced any problems with Ebay's system but in practice it's not without its issues. Firstly, a lot of sellers seem to be under the impression that ''collectable'' equates with ''overpriced'' and imagine that just because they have a vintage toy from the dim, distant past of 2004, it's worth thousands of Dollars. So the first piece of advice I'd give is to shop around and not try to buy the first item you find. Look closely, compare the prices and don't pay over the odds. You'd be surprised how many $100 auctions can be found for a lot less if you simply keep looking.
Secondly, read the descriptions very carefully and make sure you know exactly what you're buying. Many items may be used, unboxed or incomplete, especially if they're vintage toys. Also, in the past unscrupulous sellers have used the public's desire for hard-to-acquire items to their advantage. The classic example of this was the buyer who assumed the ''Xbox 360 Premium Box'' he paid $800 for was a gaming bundle and not simply... an empty box. Thankfully these scams are rare but it's always worth taking the time to read the auction details properly. And remember to check the shipping and handling costs - many sellers pitch their items at a lower, more attractive price and then make-up the loss by charging exorbitant shipping fees.
(On a related subject, always view the seller's Feeback rating and comments, too!)
Another issue with buying from Ebay is the use of auctions. Many sellers bypass this and offer a ''Buy Now'' price, meaning you can simply purchase the item as you would from a normal store. However, if the item is rare or the seller is unsure of its value then an auction will be used. This means that the potential buyer must place bids and keep track of the item they're bidding on. The biggest problem with this is that some people will ''snipe'' meaning they come-in seconds before the bidding-war is over with a final bid that's ahead of the others or timed to snatch the item out from underneath the other bidders. They're not doing anything wrong, technically, but it can be an annoyance if they've previously not bid upon the item for sale. It's also worth noting that sometimes prices will be artificially driven-up by friends of the seller, so wherever possible use the Buy Now option and save yourself a lot of trouble!
Finally, although I've never experienced it myself, I've heard stories that Ebay's customer service is of the ''just sort it out between yourselves'' school of thought. Just be sensible and cautious and you shouldn't have any problems, though.
Pros: A wide range of items for sale.
Cons: Items can be over-priced, indifferent customer support, auctions are a pain.
Amazon began life as an online book retailer but over the years has expanded their stock to include DVDs, CDs and more. As a collector however, the most interesting aspect of Amazon now is their Merchant program that allows members of the public to sell items via Amazon and it's through these traders you'll find the toys you're looking for.
Like using Ebay, it's important to avoid paying over the odds. However, in my experience the prices set by sellers on Amazon tend to be more realistic. That's not to say you should immediately purchase the first item you see and you've no reason to, as Amazon provides links to other sellers with the same items, allowing you to instantly compare prices. Always use it before making your purchase: I've seen the same toy listed for $50 and $12.
Amazon employ standardised shipping rates (including some free shipping on certain orders) meaning sellers cannot do as they do on Ebay and charge you an additional fee for their items. Shipping times are generally good, with items usually arriving within a week or so of the purchase (although this obviously depends upon the individual seller, their location and the item you've ordered.) One service that's particularly good is the Fulfilled By Amazon system, where sellers can hand-over their stock to Amazon themselves and they will compile and ship your order. It's another level of security and offers additional peace of mind to buyers.
Just like Ebay, always check the seller's Feedback and customer comments. Although Amazon is a well-known and respected name, the sellers don't represent or work for them, so be cautious of sellers with poor Feedback and comments.
The biggest down-side to using Amazon is you'll find your selection a little more limited than you would at Ebay and sellers here tend to handle more ''mainstream'' collectables on the whole. Yes, you may find Micromen for sale at Amazon, but you won't find the Vintage/Limited Edition/Mail Away/Premium figures you would on Ebay.
Personally though, I've always preferred shopping with Amazon to Ebay.
Pros: Instant price comparison and fixed shipping rates
Cons: More limited choice than Ebay
Big Bad Toy Store - or BBTS - is a specialist retailer, offering toys, collectables, figurines, vintage pieces, accessories, busts and more.
BBTS is a great online store and was one of the first places I found that sold Microman. Indeed, I owe much of my collection to BBTS! They offer a good range of toys from a variety of lines and prices are - on the whole - competitive, especially compared to high street retailers (although obviously you have to pay shipping and handling.) However, they're not invulnerable to the collector mark-up issue and you may find some figures here are a little over-priced, especially when you factor-in S&H costs. My advice is to shop smart - BBTS regularly have clearance sales where items can be picked-up at a much lower price.
The only other issue I have with BBTS is they'll often sell-out of items very quickly without restocking. And on a related note, BBTS often seem to use their ''Pre-Order'' graphic in place of the ''Sold Out'' logo. Their Microman Wrecker Sigma sets, for example, have been available for ''Pre-Order'' for over three years now, yet the set in question was released in 2007...
My tip is to check the site regularly. New items arrive daily - including vintage toys - and their range is wide.
Pros: Prompt delivery, good range of toys
Cons: Limited - and at times uncertain - stock levels
As the name may suggest, Smalljoes is a site specialising in GI Joe figures. Or at least it was until they expanded their stock to include a number of other 3 3/4'' and military toy lines. As well as GI Joe, you'll find Microman, Marvel Universe, Lanard and more for sale here.
Smalljoes is another site that helped build my Microman collection. Although their stock of my favourite Japanese line is now somewhat depleted (well, I did buy a lot from them!) the site is still a great resource for other toys. For example, they're always up-to-date with the Marvel Universe lines and from what I can gather, their GI Joe range is excellent, too.
Pricing is generally in-line with most other online retailers, but keep in mind that - like most other online stores - you'll have to pay shipping and handling fees on top of that. Their shipping prices however are no worse than anywhere else (for example, the price of shipping a Marvel Universe single carded figure to a mainland US address of $4 is cheaper than the shipping fees Amazon would charge.)
Smalljoes' service has always been excellent and along with BBTS it ranks as one of the best online retailers I've dealt with.
Pros: Good stock and prompt, friendly service
Cons: Limited range of toy lines
If you're looking for obscure Japanese toys, then you can't do much better than visit Hobby Link Japan. HLJ started as a model-kit retailer but has expanded to include figurines, action figures, Gachapon toys, Keshi collectables and more.
HLJ's range is wide, sometimes baffling but if you're a collector looking for a specific Japanese toy, chances are you'll find it here. Although their Microman range is depleted (again, down in part to me) they still have a superb range of toys, books and more.
Prices are a little higher than other places and keep in mind shipping from Japan takes longer and costs more (usually around three to four times the US-equivalent). But then again, HLJ's stock is so specific that chances are you won't be able to find most of these items anywhere else. It's worth taking a look at their site just to see the incredible collectables they have for sale. Just don't blame me if you wind-up bankrupting yourself!
Pros: Amazing range of toys and collectables
Cons: Expensive prices and shipping
Another site dealing specifically in Japanese toys, Toy Tokyo has the advantage (for US visitors) over HLJ of being based in the USA.
Toy Tokyo has a good range of toys and is particularly well-stocked when it comes to ''designer collectables'' like Kubricks, plush toys, blind boxes and vinyl pieces. I was able to locate some extremely rare Microman toys here, for example, which I'd not seen anywhere else. Their prices are in-line with other sites and their shipping costs aren't as bad as HLJ's but they're still a little steep compared to other sites (I believe it was somewhere around the $8 mark for a Microman figure to be shipped.)
It's worth noting however that their stock is not tracked in real-time. Toy Tokyo has a number of outlets, each with their own inventory, so items listed on the site may have already been sold. I must also add that I've only ever used the site once, although I have to report that the experience was completely painless and they did indeed deliver what I'd ordered on-time and at a good price.
Pros: Japanese toys without Japanese shipping costs!
Cons: No real-time stock updates, very collectable-focused range
Onell Design is the home of the Glyos figure range. You won't find GI Joes, Marvel Universe, Microman or any other toys for sale here but as I'm a big Glyos fan and the Glyos toys are the biggest underground thing since the Morlocks, I wanted to include this link so you too could experience these toys for yourself.
Onell Design's online store offers a range of Glyos figures and accessories. As well as seeing regular waves of figures, the site also carries custom ''drops'' - figures hand-painted by the Onell Design team and released in limited runs. These drops normally sell-out in a short span of time and are always highly-anticipated by collectors.
I've looked at the Glyos range before, but for those who've never experienced them, the toys are a kind of fusion of Lego with Monster in my Pocket: small, durable toys that can be popped into pieces and reassembled to make new characters, creatures and even vehicles. Along with this dynamic is a clear (heh!) Henshin Cyborg/Microman influence that just adds another layer of coolness to the toys.
Glyos toys represent excellent value for money, with figures starting at just $4. Shipping is also relatively low, with orders under $8 shipping for just $3 within the US. Shipping times vary, however, depending when you place your order: Onell Design is an independent company with just a handful of staff that not only handle the design and production but also the sales and shipping. So if a new wave is released and they're inundated with orders, you may find it takes between a week to 10 days for your parcel to arrive.
One thing that's worthy of note is the level of personal service and the generosity of Onell Design: every single order I've placed has not only come with a hand-signed thank you but also an extra figure or accessory. Although I'm not saying you should ever, EVER take the generous nature of the Onell crew for granted, don't be surprised if you find a little addition in your order.
Pros: Great pricing, superb customer service
Cons: They only sell Glyos toys (if that counts as a Con!)
And...?
Obviously, this is only a small selection of the online stores that are out there. I'm sure every collector has his or her favourite places to shop. But if they're not listed here, leave a comment below!
This my friend was a great guide and a few of those sites i will have to check out for future Microman buying. : )
ReplyDeleteGlad it was useful!
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