If you enjoy buying action figures, you might want to try collecting them as a hobby. Not only would it be enjoyable, but you can make it into a profitable hobby as well. Since you are now an adult, you can basically buy anything at the toy store without asking your parents! Before you jump into this hobby of collecting action figures, you should follow our advice on how to start your action figure collection. Sit down and write a list of which action figure characters and brands that were your favorite to collect from your childhood. Classic and vintage action figures have accumulated value over the years. So if your mother kept all your old toys in the attic or closet, you might find yourself some wonderful surprises. Do some research and find out the history of these figures. With this information, you can decide a plan of action. For example, you enjoyed collecting Transformers toy robot action figures when you were a child during the 1980s. However, you might not be so quick to collecting the entire toy series of the original Transformers because that would require a huge financial commitment. In the current economic situation, this may not be possible with many new collectors. If this is the case, you can try out another strategy to collecting by researching the trends with action figures and go from there. Transformers have been revived through popularity of the new movie series. A sequel is currently on its way to be released so you should make plans on buying the new series of Transformers action figures that will be released. Search for some limited edition versions of the action figures as the value of these will increase faster than the mainstream versions. Thanks to our great technology, resources and information have improved though the Internet. In these times, action figure collectors can share and find items they are looking for at a much faster and efficient rate. However, unfortunately, the Internet has also encouraged scammers to sell unauthentic or cheap replicas of the original action figure collectibles. So use caution when buying online, making sure you get enough information and photographs to examine before making a purchase. Never be afraid to ask questions if you are the buyer. If the seller is legitimate, he will have no problems giving you detailed photos and additional information about the product they are selling. Always use a reputable online company to make your payment so in case there is a dispute, the company can mediate for a fair solution. In addition, many online venues that sellers use such as eBay and Overstock have online profiles and feedback systems where buyers can see the seller’s past history. Even though the Internet is a great source, don’t forget that brick and mortar stores are still a great place to discover great deals on action figure collectibles. Also, speaking with the staff or owners at these stores will give you more insight into collecting than simply reading about it online. Building personal relationship with these seasoned collectors will help and guide you on your way of becoming a professional collector.