Toy Polloi's toy collecting tips

[@farminglittlepeople9623]

Older video that stills stands true today! Great advice Dave!😁👍

[@toypolloi]

Thanks 👍

[@gillster3744]

Toy Polloi' You helped me with my Collection these tips are so brilliant. Having Patience always pays off. Thank You Team Replay

[@toypolloi]

Happy to help!

[@MarvelandDC379]

Been collecting for 7 years and this is the best toy collecting guide video I've seen.

[@WolvesInferno]

Awesome video. After 22 years, I've finally managed to collect the entire M.A.S.K. collection. All my M.A.S.K. vehicles/playsets are 100% complete. I also collect TMNT, The Real Ghost Busters, Vintage Star Wars and The Thundercats.

[@ambassadorz]

WolvesInferno, i'm thinking of collecting all the M.A.S.K. collection too. What would you estimate your cost has been so far? It's so expensive on ebay.

[@soundwave6769]

@@ambassadorz for all of it £5k! well thats what my m8 wants lol

[@bensabella]

Great video. I agree 100% and I love the hunt. Years ago, my wife found a Boba Fett Action figure along with a half a dozen more figures at a yard sale for about ten cents each. I’ve recently began my quest to collect the original 92 Star Wars Action Figures from the first trilogy and even though I’ve started collecting them about 20 years ago, I’ve just started really searching thrift shops, yard sales and flea markets looking for the diamond in the rough. I always go to these places telling myself I probably won’t find anything but it’s worth a look. I’ve found a couple action figures and other Star Wars items for “The Solo Lounge” I created to display my finds. It really brings back memories of my childhood and makes for great conversation with guests of the lounge. I am also like you in that I am not looking for mint items. To me a mint item makes me sad that the figure was never played with 40+ years ago. I set up all my figures on a shelf for all to touch or see up close. I am 50 and I figure I won’t lose most of my senses until about 25 to 30 years from now so I have time to be patient and slowly build my collection for all to see and enjoy.

[@jackmehoff4010]

Your perspective on collecting is enlightening.

[@iodaspark]

These are Golden Tips! (Been practicing them myself for over 4 decades!)

[@leodetrick730]

Thanks!

[@toypolloi]

Thanks! Much appreciated

[@kenlagunzad]

I used to collect all new toys. Since i started following you, ive started collecting used toys and i am challenged by looking for the best looking used one and i enjoy cleaning it making it look fresh and almost new. But patience is really needed for this method, and its a lot of fun! Thanks Dave

[@80sfreak42]

Thank you...you're absolutely right...patience is vital..

[@plasticcinemaofficial]

It's nice to know that there are collectors that also uses the tip of being patient. It really wears off especially if the price is ridiculous. Love your videos mr.toy polloi keep up the good work!!! :D

[@toypolloi]

Thanks. Patience is the one thing you can't buy.

[@ia5662]

Great advice Mr. Polloi! Patience is definitely the greatest key in collecting and it also adds to a much more fulfilling feeling when you finally get "that" item. I must say 15 years, good on you! I had a 5 year journey waiting for a really cool role play set from Kenner's Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves line. It is a SUPER RARE sword and dagger set with sheaths. I have literally only seen the sword come up ONE time in 5 years and the second time, I bought the lot. Cost me $40, but to wait around another 5 years was not an option and it had a bonus that I didn't even know existed: a Robin Hood long bow role play toy with 3 original foam arrows! I couldn't believe it. The dagger didn't have it's sticker, but it was a really cool find. Now I'm waiting and waiting on the rest of the Hook Wave 2 action figures. They were only released in Europe from what I know and they go for unGodly prices.

[@toypolloi]

Sounds like a good price anyway. I've never looked at Robin Hood stuff. The film never caught my attention.

[@TheToyBoy1978]

do you know of the toys that join star wars & robin hood toys together? friar tuck uses a gamorrean guard torso arms & legs, the ewok village is also used as a sherwood forest playset & the ewok battle wagon also appears in the robin hood line, imaginatively also called a battle wagon! of course changes have been made with parts of the designs but its pretty cool i think!

[@ia5662]

darren mott I was aware of this! Green Arrow is Robin Hood lol

[@TheJadetiger1]

Thanks for all the great videos patience is a virtue I even had a buddy whom came across a case with 20 figures and it only costed me 40 buck but once I put the word out that I was looking again everyone started looking and I unknowingly of what my friends were doing

[@ellbee5139]

Man, the patience is hard, but it pays off. My "grail" for a while was the Hush series Nightwing, but MOC or near mint is always really expensive. I put in the time and found one in a lot and one in used condition, both broken, but broken where the other wasn't, so I had the parts to put together one proper, complete Hush series Nightwing. The second one is just waiting on me to figure out a few fixes (knee pegs, mainly), then he'll be either a "to play with" figure or, I dunno, passed along to someone else looking for a Hush Nightwing, who wouldn't mind that he's been fixed up. Probably the former. I enjoy owning a figure to display and one that I can take with me when I babysit, to play. The kids I sit for love that I'll engage with them like that, and I love that I get to 1. play action figure games and 2. don't have to worry about breaking a figure, too much, because it's already my "play spare."

[@davidweir3641]

would love a follow-up video to this, see if the tips are true in the current climate or if you have any new tips

[@toypolloi]

I would guess it will be much the same, as I still collect the same way. Patience is the big one always. Cheers

[@jackg.7745]

Be smart and patient. Very good advise. I was a little too old to play with Star Wars toys when A New Hope was released but my family gave me the toys for multiple Christmas' and birthdays. I was lucky to build a large (and mostly unopened) collection as a kid. I have stored and displayed my toys very carefully over the years and the original ones are still in great condition. I've added a lot of stuff over the years as well. Like you said, I'm taken aback when I see some of the prices on EBay. It's crazy. I see original weapons selling for more than the actual figures they go with. Now I'm constantly worried my wife might look up my toys value and start selling them on EBay!!!! Thanks for sharing.

[@davidpayne6947]

I've just started collecting old dirty incomplete Star Wars ships thanks for the videos

[@DeepVeinZombosis]

Couldn't agree more. I started my Star Wars collection in 1993 and I'm still searching for five figures, how's that for patience lol? And I'm nowhere near completing my Gi Joe, Transformers, Turtles or Zoids collections. Come to think of it, none of my collections are actually complete. If they were, I wouldn't know what to do with myself.

[@Jedi3671]

Really great video! Great tips and be patient is the tuffest one for me

[@raymondloya175]

Vary good advice I've found most of my stuff from 2nd hand shops love hunting 😎👍🏼

[@AlexaExtraordinaire]

I bought a huge box full of figures and ships from an old man back in 1995 and in there was two Luke in Stormtrooper outfit, two Yak Face, one Imperial Gunner, two Han Solo in Carbonite Chamber, Imperial Dignitary, Ev-9D9 and an A Wing Pilot, in fantastic never been played with condition, among tons of other stuff. I ended upp selling them off over the years and my "collection" is somewhat minimal right now, but I was never an avid collector, just a nostalgic vintage Star Wars lover. Not into the films as much but the Kenner toys have something special.

[@carlosescobar6973]

THANKS FOR THE INFORMATION AND GREAT VIDEO LIKE ALWAYS

[@simonfarrell6585]

Love your reviews, very informative, I paid £10 in a charity shop and got a bag of figures with contained two 1977 Jawa s & two Taiwan Boba fetts

[@junglemouse4585]

Very informative video! Amazingly helpful! Have a great day! :)

[@richardforbes8992]

Great advice couldn't agree more with being patient. It's taken me years to complete my childhood Star Wars figure collection complete with weapons. I researched what they were really worth and didn't pay more than that. There will always be another one soon enough. Some are going for crazy prices since the release of the new movie. Have never seen them in secondhand shops as the population here in New Zealand is just too small with not many figures to go around

[@toypolloi]

Prices are high at the moment. They will drop soon enough. They always do.

[@bogdancleja3435]

YYGhnnhuylla

[@BluejuiceT4]

Great vid as usual....i have just found a Taiwan Bobba Fett as a beater but he still looks great!!

[@campbellruleV1kiwiGI]

That’s great advice mate. & a great video too.

[@KatrinaLeFaye]

Where did you get that giant B1 Battledroid? Oh and the toys I end up collecting are only ones I had in childhood. Maybe weird, but even it isn't the original, they tend to bring back memories I didn't know I had forgotten.

[@toypolloi]

I've had the battledroid for about 20 years. I will do a video on it one day.

[@rommelperdiz6557]

That's a great point of view vintage toys doesn't necessarily mean undesirable rather it has a history on them which adds fun to collecting.

[@simonworleycreative6636]

Well done for another excellent and very informative video Dave. I must say as a part-time toy collector clawing back my childhood I adopted the same strategy when I started collecting vintage Star Wars action figures 4 years ago. I noticed then that auction prices were getting silly. I know it's a vintage Star Wars collecting hot potato but where do you stand on reproduction weapons and accessories?

[@toypolloi]

They are crazy at the moment. Repro doesn't bother me. I can see why people don't like it. But I am not prepared to pay the high prices that are charged for original weapons. And things like at-at chin guns are so hard to find.

[@abednigochow4220]

Thanks for your good advice. Its really helpful. I'm currently looking at a Vintage B-Wing on ebay but the price is really high. But being patient will surely paid off in the end.

[@toypolloi]

It will. I rebuilt two recently for much cheaper than you can buy them complete.

[@phillines6297]

Great video again Mr Polloi!

[@novax-ig9yt]

Nice, common sense tips for collectors who have more time than money! I dig it!

[@No1.OriginalTrilogyStarWarsFan]

Good tips, managed to get the rarest Tri Logo Boba Fett from a Carboot for 50p and a heart mint Luke Stormtrooper with the helmet for a £1. Problem with our local car boot sale is a first class a hole goes and is nasty with it tries to buy everything even offering more then the asking price some times when your buying every one hates him. Other great find was a large vintage Boba Fett for £1 .

[@toypolloi]

You get people like that sometimes. It's a shame. Good finds otherwise.

[@damonk3674]

Hello I've bought a millennium falcon and it's come today. However the front leg handle is slightly loose when in the up position. Any tips on how the repair this please MR GENIUS. Thank you Damon

[@toypolloi]

Check out my many videos on the falcon. I think I cover pretty much everything in those. Cheers

[@johnwild8336]

Well said. You have to decide if you collecting for a hobby or an investment. If you purchase out of love of the hobby you can hardly be regretful. Many in toy collecting for investment should put their money in the market. Toy collecting or hobbys in general are poor investments, but good for the soul. Thanks for sharing.

[@toypolloi]

+John Wild I never started collecting to make money. It's just the fun of the toys I like. And I would never get enjoyment out of spending huge amounts on any of this stuff. It's just plastic after all.

[@mauriciolirabosio6863]

Patience is truly the answer. I found a complete childhood collection of Star Wars figures for 60 USD. 10 years after starting Star Wars.

[@daveg4738]

I purchased last year a well played with Space:1999 Eagle which is missing a few bits.Have you ever done a re-furbish of a space 1999 Eagle?

[@toypolloi]

+Dave G Yes. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3eQnoOoordofdk

[@daveg4738]

+Toy Polloi Not the Dinki one..The large mattel eagle.Have you ever worked on one of those?

[@toypolloi]

+Dave G ah. No. Not something I own. Would love to get one. But you don't see them often in the UK.

[@DRAGOINTHEHOUSE]

@@daveg4738 I am selling a ship lazer rifle, if your interested let me know .

[@therestorationofdrwho1865]

Do you have tips on maintaining toy accessories that are unopened and toys that are pretty much new without damaging them? Things like stickers that are in a plastic envelop with old tape that's all dried up and hard.

[@toypolloi]

I clean vintage MOC figures with lighter fluid. I don't have much boxed never opened toys. Can you post some pictures of the toys with the problems on my facebook page. Cheers

[@darylp37]

Dave, first, love the videos! Second, I’m in the states so it appears that e.m.a plastic weld and humbrol paints are UK brands? I don’t know. Anyway, if you feel like fooling with it, and have the time, I’d like to get your opinion on what brands I can pick up here, that would be the closest to those you use. Thanx in advance, and keep up the good work!

[@toypolloi]

Thanks. For paint you could try Vallejo. I use those more now as Humbrol are not easy to get in the UK anymore. I'm sure there are other makes of plastic weld that will do the same job. Cheers

[@nicholasdickens2801]

I think some folk forget it should be: fun.

[@davebolter9111]

Sir, I just bought a couple of Mattel Landram's (Canadian release..), and need some assistance on removing the top laser turret off the top of one to put on another.. I thought they'd just pop off, but I don't want to pull too much. Any assistance would be valuable and greatly appreciated. :)

[@zartan7779]

The pirates are cool loved that show . I love buying junk g1 transformers and rebuild them .

[@nikosstavrianos1405]

Thank you for the great tips!! Also how much do you think i should pay for a complete mint 70's millennium falcon with the original box?

[@toypolloi]

+Nikos Stavrianos As little as possible. Current prices are way too high. And be patient.

[@nikosstavrianos1405]

Yeah, you're right.I should wait before spending a ton of money on just one ship.I'm sure that i'll find something cheaper in the long run.Thanks for the advice!

[@timothyward8695]

Was the Tri-logo Boba Fett packaged or is there some kind of indicator on loose examples that reveals them to have been in Tri-logo packaging?

[@CarBootCollectors]

+Timothy Ward the Tri-Logo Boba is a lighter blue, I think it may have different COO marks but the colour is the giveaway.

[@toypolloi]

+Timothy Ward He is a very light blue compared to the grey of the normal fett. Easy to spot.

[@timothyward8695]

+Toy Polloi I never knew that. Thanks!

[@timothyward8695]

+Car Boot Collectors Thanks!

[@jrex9199]

Great advice, thanks for the great video.

[@alexgarnett5373]

Great tips thanks! .. I'm off to the charity shops!

[@MrLowdog5]

Hi, I was wondering about your DE-Yellowing tips, How do you de-yellow a larger toy that has yellowed like a Power booster from Mattel's Hot Wheels. also, Would you be able to re-create decals for this same item?

[@toypolloi]

You can use hydrogen peroxide cream for larger items. I don’t collect hot wheels so haven’t done any decals for them.

[@martinholloway8477]

@toy polloi dunno if it's in your local area but will you be going to Maidstone vintage toy fair?

[@toypolloi]

+Martin Holloway Not my area, but looks like a good show. I hope you find some good toys!

[@martinholloway8477]

+Toy Polloi I did I found a wampa, taun taun and hoth Luke all for £14. do you know any way of dealing with with the yellowing of wampa?

[@alexking506]

where did you get the yak face

[@toypolloi]

At a toy fair. A lucky find.

[@alexking506]

thanks

[@terrenprime]

I been collecting for about 25 years and I’m the same way. The most I’ve spent was 180 and that killed me a little inside. I see other collectors on KZbin spend big money on mib graded toys any I get it but it’s not for me. I also feel the same about reselling toys. I only gets toys to resell when I can get them for 1-10%of their value. Then I can sell them for less then 50% ,most of the time I just trade. Selling on line is sometimes to much work.

[@picnicfxr8528]

Wise words Dave. I almost spent £100 the other day on the bay of Evil!! Just to get a hoth play set and Probot play set mint. In hindsight I'm glad I didn't. Now I need to find it in a rough condition to do up.

[@toypolloi]

+Jon Aspinall That's the best way to do it. And it is much more rewarding.

[@brianflincher4577]

It's good to find cheap toys at flea markets and I have found some great rare items, some that ebay didn't even have. I found an unopened 1985 rambo flashlight and it was the only one i have ever seen anywhere, out roaming around or on the internet. That being said I still buy the heck out of toys on ebay, it's pretty much the gold standard for a collector like myself.

[@toypolloi]

You can always find bargains on ebay if you look hard enough, I use it a lot. But I much prefer being able to rummage through a box somewhere in the real world.

[@The1queencollector]

Great tips, another one is to find fellow like minded collectors and trade if you can, find missing parts for toys is hard and expensive, I have saved myself and other collectors a lot of cash by doing this.

[@toypolloi]

+The Queen & toy collector Yeah, helping out other collectors is something I try to do as often as I can.

[@CuteFluff8]

I can't buy local! I live in a small town of 6500 P.O.P. so online shopping for me but I try to be patient for a good price.

[@GoliathAngelus]

I always go to fleamarkets and in one of them i picked up a lot of original MOTU figures. All from the eighties and all an Euro per figure. The only one that is missing is Skelletor. I never had them as a kid. Sometimes you need some luck. Last year and the year before i picked up a Tonka truck. One from the eighties and one from the nineties almost brand new

[@currybum6034]

So about 5 months ago i bought my holy grail,complete G1 skorponok with no sticker damage and in amazing condition.i got him for £90 along with buying Octane (complete too) aswell as warpath and wheelie for around £30. Was that a good deal? (Forgot to mention i am 15 and have round about 35 G1 transformers :D)

[@toypolloi]

+Curry Bum If you are happy with them, it sounds good.

[@MrCrazyhater1]

amazing video!.

[@brianartillery]

Some really good advice there. I recently managed to get a near complete set of 'Black Hole' 3.75 inch figures, over several months. I loved (still do) the movie, but, in 1979, the Mego figures were stupidly expensive. I now have them all, save the 'Humanoid' and 'Old B.O.B.' figures, which were made in tiny numbers and now, of course, ludicrously expensive. I don't have them. Does it matter to me? No. Life's too short. I'm happy with the ones I have. I'll keep looking, of course, but it's not important. Nice to have, but not important.

[@toypolloi]

That is the best way to collect. There are many figures I want that are out of my price range. But you just never know what you will find over the years. You may just get lucky. But there is no way I am spending a fortune to get one tiny figure. I'll just be patient.

[@StarWarsObsessed]

Thanks for the great tips.

[@Esvald]

Ah the joy of flea markets: Browsing through a random toy box to find General Grievous Wheelbike for like 2$. Missing the turret, but otherwise perfect condition, and my Grievous fits into it. Too bad that flea market closed, a lot of my collection came from there. Including a pretty damaged Obi-Wan's Jedi Starfighter. I can't seem to find anyone who has the wing parts for sale on its own, so for now I use it as a battle damaged, crashed one in my Clone Wars display. Nice to see someone else pointing out the value in damaged vehicles as well :) As far as less-known action figure lines go, it can be a hit and miss. I for one knows no one who is into collecting Chronicles of Narnia action figures, but those things are pricey on ebay, especially Susan and Lucy. And I have never really seen Narnia figures outside of ebay ever. Ah well, as you said, patience. One day I might find a good deal on them, from somewhere who doesn't know the value. Great video, helps a lot even for long time collectors.

[@mariomiranda4073]

awesome tips! Thanks!!

[@michaelmurray1971]

Wise words, patience is a virtue

[@dylan7478]

I was reccomended your your channel by baremetal and I am genuinely addicted - I'm in for a binge watch for sure. The Battle Droid in the background is amazing, is there a video on it yet?

[@toypolloi]

+Dylan Leayr Glad you are enjoying my videos. Make sure to subscribe to be kept up to date with all my latest videos.

[@toypolloi]

There isn't a video on the droid. But maybe I should do one, its quite cool, and nearly 20 years old.

[@Miniaturegeek]

That's how I found this channel as well. :)

[@jimsbooksreadingandstuff]

I came over from baremetal, too... I love hunting in secondhand toy shops, fleamarkets and boot sales....the thrill of the hunt...sometimes you strike gold...sometimes you find nothing....

[@toypolloi]

+jim holroyd Thanks for coming over. Hunting in the wild is way more fun than eBay.

[@MrPalaofaFox]

Great video!!

[@bgddyphil]

good advice!

[@oddpodshow]

great tips :)

[@SecretOfMonkeyIsland784]

Good video and tips, like your logo as well very cool. My only question is whats with the fairly recently added American voice overs at the start and end of your videos, they dont quite fit in when your British ha ha.

[@toypolloi]

I'm a worldwide channel :) And its a take on the old star wars toy adverts.

[@jimsbooksreadingandstuff]

I collect diecast cars and I have the same wabi-sabi approach, a few chips and missing packaging is not an issue...and it is much cheaper ...

[@GladiatorBrig]

More to your point when you give in and spend too much you have buyers remorse. When that sets it you don’t enjoy the toy as much and it can sour the collecting experience.

[@kingshearer2]

I collapsed when you said you payed £1.50 for Yak Face I'm okay now have had a cup of tea and calmed down. £1.50 is probably cheaper than what he originally cost! My charity shops are very collector savvy and you never see Star Wars toys going cheap so I still use ebay 99% of the time although I am patient which is great advice.

[@toypolloi]

+kingshearer2 Yeah, my Yak was a bargain. But I have also found last 17 R2's for about the same price. I guess it depends on the area you live. The charity shops around here just re-sell what they get, no cares on if it is collectable.

[@kingshearer2]

Good on you mate, I may have to move down saf!!

[@pollyg562]

i agree i can never understand how something in mint condition can cost twice the price as the same item with a tint scratch,it just dosnt make sense

[@toypolloi]

+Polly g Some collectors are just desperate to have that perfect toy. But it's not for me.

[@specter2451]

What an incredible deal on your yak face! 1.50 is a good deal for any vintage Star Wars figure in good condition, and yak face, while not at rare as the artificially inflated American market wants you to think he is, is still a pretty rare figure compared to others!

[@DoomKickTV]

Great Video man!

[@bgddyphil]

I'm a gijoe guy but I use all these tips and tricks!

[@toypolloi]

+phillip powers That's great. I am sure there are many who do. I'm hoping this will help the ones who don't.

[@bgddyphil]

+Toy Polloi my fault. sorry sir

[@mercoid]

To me, collectors who are only interested in mint items are spiritually bankrupt. I suspect that to them, the nature of the items they collect ranks a distant second place to the fact that it is “mint”. In this case it is the monetary value or the very fact that it is a thing that is “mint” that appeals to them. The items themselves could be anything.

[@80sfreak42]

Super powers, secret wars, he man, visionaries, gi joe, thundercats, silver hawks, inhumanoids, captain power, sky commander's, dino riders, Tmnt, bravestar.. the 80's had the best toys..

[@brianstevenson2249]

Found a Vintage Carded Battlestar Galactica Lucifer on a decent card for $1.00! Flea market in Pearland TX. Guy didn't know it's value

[@toypolloi]

Great find!

[@missionpassed4584]

I very regrettably gave my dad my star wars figures to sell back in the 90s now I bought them back off eBay between 10-20 pounds only the main characters Han Luke leia etc only had the empire versions when I was a kid

[@huntingfortoyswithjulissa695]

great advice

[@MrFennstar]

Patience is like a bad word for collector's.

[@toypolloi]

+MrFennstar Not for me. It's the best part. The hunt!

[@anitahamlin2411]

Your collection is like Rudolf the red nosed reindeer's land of misfit toys!

[@toypolloi]

It's good to have a varied collection :D

[@tomgriffiths2622]

Right, id love to get a yak face

[@steammachine3061]

The problem with patience is that people rarely are lol. Too many people with an I want it now mentality. There's zero challenge if you can. Just throw. Unlimited money at anything and have it straight away. It defeats the fun of the chase.

[@toypolloi]

I see collectors without patience all the time. And they just throw money at getting it all now. There is no fun in that for me.

[@shannonsmith6011]

Amen brother!!!

[@andrewboreham6661]

you the man :)

[@michellefortt3857]

Pirates of dark water !!!!!!! 😍

[@BigJimBoylesLab]

No figure left behind!!

[@bladerunnersn]

Same as me David lol

[@chrisTHEGRIDward]

My collection are wabisabi (( #voltron))

[@toypolloi]

Nice!

[@Anastasia2048]

A ship with broken and missing parts? It's completely useless now. Hhhheeeeeeee!!!!!!!!