Collecting Strategy for Combiners

Perceptor · Post by **Perceptor** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 4:57 pm

Question for all you G1 collectors out there. Last year I completed my 1984 & 1985 G1 collection, which also includes Bumper (aka Bumblejumper) and Reflector (not Microx!) BUT - in doing so I did not need to get Devastator, becasue I already had a complete, basically mint condition, one from when I was a kid.

So I'm looking into the 1986 series now, particularly Bruticus, Defensor, Menasaur and Superion... and my question is: Is it cheaper to buy these guys complete, or to buy complete sub-figures, or just to buy figures and parts individually?

I realize that buying them part by part can be time-consuming, but that's OK. (I'm a collector after all!) But what is the most efficient way MONEY-WISE? I'm guessing that the Complete Gestalt all at once is cheapest, given that with most '84's and '85's the accessories often cost well over half what a complete figure did, an the figure with no accessories was usually close to half. (From my own records, it looke dlike you can save 10-20% holding out for completes.)

What do you guys think? What the most cost-effective way to approch these guys? (I should also mention that most of the buying will be done on eBay, if that makes a difference.)

(Don't bother telling me not to buy on eBay. Take that as a given.)

Thanks!!!

S0und_wave · Post by **S0und_wave** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 5:15 pm

Personally I Try to buy the Complete Set so I can avoid the pain of tracking the other pieces down.

Dirge · Post by **Dirge** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 5:48 pm

i go for the individual figs complete cause its more fun that way

Rattrap · Post by **Rattrap** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 5:58 pm

I usually go complete on Combiners, since tracking down accessories and kibble is time consuming and expensive.

Banzai-Tron · Post by **Banzai-Tron** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 7:04 pm

You'll usually come out cheaper getting them all at once... the shipping & handling will eat you alive, otherwise, even if you do find decent deals.

Post by **trance** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 8:59 pm

Complete usually works best, but sometimes you can get a good deal on one missing a small gun or two, and then tracking them down individually (the weapons usually aren't much to ship)

Bumblebee · Post by **Bumblebee** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 9:16 pm

depends i been working on bruticus for over a year and just got him completed thanks to Dirge and got another 95% thanks to him also but the fun is the thrill of the hunt lol unless a great deal on an encore one comes about.......

Perceptor · Post by **Perceptor** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 7:57 am

Thanks guys! I figured complete would be cheaper but seeing those $150-$180 starting bids / by it nows made me think twice, and want to confirm.

VERY GOOD POINT about the shipping costs, Wheezel. Although I always include shipping cost in my comparison shopping, for some reason it didn't dawn on me: 1 Shipment vs. 5 Shipments vs. MANY Shipments. Yeah... That would pretty much do it, even if you did get good deals.

Scrapper · Post by **Scrapper** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 5:14 am

Dirge1 wrote:i go for the individual figs complete cause its more fun that way

I agree.
After all,you can begin from searching for your favorite characters(if you like also members team toys)and then you can create the combiner as final crowning achievement

at the end of the research.

Honestly,at the moment I don't buy whole combiners also for another aspect:the figure is very expensive and if I choose a very safe shipping(I always do it)I should surely have to pay a lot to customs.

Jose · Post by **Jose** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 6:10 am

Getting the complete set will always be cheaper, considering shipping and time. However, you may not have all that money at once to afford it.

If I only have little budget available, my strategy is to get started by the toughest figure in the set. If I'm looking for a Devastator, I focus on getting an excellent Hook. Bruticus, a Vortex. When I got a Menasor, I did in this order: Dead End and Wildrider, then Motormaster, next a Breakdown and I ended with two Dragstrips. It took me a couple of weeks getting it by parts and actually was cheaper than one in similar condition. I guess I'm lucky...

Commander Megatron · Post by **Commander Megatron** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 12:43 pm

Defo the complete set!

Galvatron · Post by **Galvatron** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 1:19 pm

COMPLETE!!

Ironhide · Post by **Ironhide** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 4:52 pm

Dirge1 wrote:i go for the individual figs complete cause its more fun that way

I 2nd that.

Also, I think the time you want to involve to get a complete Combiner is essential.
You can get real good deals on separate figures.

For example, I got my complete Devastator for $170 in one go, but the he was absolutely mint.
For my Superion I've shopped around for mint figures, and so far he's cost me $75, but I'm missing Slingshot.

I'd say shop around for the condition you REALLY want, it'll take (much?!) longer, but it won't necessarily be costlier.

Then again, if you just want the complete Combiner and don't really care that much about mintyness, buy it complete for sure!

Bumblebee · Post by **Bumblebee** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 2:14 am

think the only one i will prob go after complete will be a g1 devestaor tho think i spent more for my energon surperion maximus then i have on either one of my 2 g1 combiners

Perceptor · Post by **Perceptor** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 8:07 pm

Well... I took the plunge and picked up a 99% complete Bruticus. (My first non-1984 / 1985 figure other than Reflector.) I THINK I got a good deal. It included:

All 5 combaticons, with accessories. (Definitely the "metal chest" versions of Onslaught, Blast Off and Swindle. Not so sure about Brawl (just metal treads?) and Vortex (who looks all-plastic).) The only thing it was missing was Vortex's "Glue Gun." The only other goofy thing was that it came with two Right Feet. (And no left foot.)

Also had: Tech specs for all five combaticons, a decoder, the instruction book for Onslaught, card-backs for the other four (two complete, two with the specs cut out), and an issue of Marvel Comics "The Transformers" #32. (Oh yeah - and Onslught's stickers weren't applied, but an unused sticker sheet was included.)

For this I paid $108.50, including shipping. Hopefully I can pick up a Left Foot and sell off the extra Right for about the same. Then I just need Votrex's gun.

Seemed like a "Fair-to-good" deal to me. What do you think?

Thrust · Post by **Thrust** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 12:17 am

Well buying a complete set would be my first choice, but I usually bought 2 or 3 incomplete sets that between them included everything needed. Then I just sold off the extra pieces and made some money back. I would say its more expensive to buy a piece at a time as well as more time consuming, but your more likely to get exactly what you want.

Ramjet · Post by **Ramjet** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 2:44 am

Thrust!?!

Razorclaw · Post by **Razorclaw** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 3:46 am

Thrust!?!

Commander Megatron · Post by **Commander Megatron** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 4:34 am

Thrust!?!

Welcome back!!!!

Post by **Time Traveller** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 6:56 am

Holy seekers batman!
Where've you been?

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