Comments on: Choices – Toys or …

By: stcardinal

stcardinal — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 22:39:21 +0000

Thanks for this article, having to decide whether I buy toys or food is something that I have to do daily. Usually in the end, toys get the cut or I try to find ways to acquire them cheaper. I’ve been pretty good at deciding what figures I must buy now in order to save or save for later when I can get them cheaper. While I’m not on foodstamps, which I am grateful for, I’m not exactly high rolling with my two pack of ramen a day meals either.

By: chad

chad — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 23:47:32 +0000

could not agree with the article more. for the way things are one must be gratefull for what we have and if it includes being able to buy the must have stuff and maybe also ones hobby in balance more power to one.

By: superfriend

superfriend — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 22:37:59 +0000

I’ve been thinking about selling some of my stuff too. But lots of people go on vacation during August, so I’ve been holding off until Sept.

By: superfriend

superfriend — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 22:36:34 +0000

I haven’t cut my comic buying yet. I even started buying Green Lantern because I wanted to know about of all the different Lanterns. And I’m buying Blackest Night (but not the minis). Then again, DC helped by ending Trinity. That was = to 4 books a month. Blue Beetle was canceled and then merged with Booster Gold. But I’ve added the new Adventure title (I realized I missed the Legion after reading “Legion of 3 Worlds”.) So I figure I’m about where I was before.

By: superfriend

superfriend — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 22:31:26 +0000

Wow. 20$ each for DCUC. I feel 12$ is too much. (I got the two I picked up on line without the CNC piece for 10$ each shipped.) I know after the price increase goes in I will hardly buy any at all.

By: Spilldog

Spilldog — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:34:12 +0000

I feel your pain, guys. I’ve cut back on my comic-buying considerably. I’ve even resorted to selling off about half of my vintage comic collection at my local comic specialty shop just to make ends meet. I’ve done the same with my action-figure buying. The price of action figures suddenly shot up right after ToyBiz handed the Marvel Legends line over to Hasbro (who ruined the line, I might add!). I religiously check out this website and various action figure periodicals to see what’s coming out soon, so I can “map out” what I will buy. Time was when I would buy a whole wave of Marvel Legends or DCUC in one swoop, but not anymore. Now I only buy the figures of characters that I absolutely love. I’ve also found that some retailers, like Target and Toys-R-Us are actually cheaper on action figures than Wal-Mart. $8 for those 3.75-inch Marvel Universe figures is a bit too rich for my blood! And $14-$15 for Hasbro’s Marvel Legends (with their poor quality) is highway robbery! I’ve already told myself that once I get my hands on the DCUC Joker figure in the upcoming Wave 10 (Wal-Mart exclusive), I’m done buying action figures… but I know I’m lying to myself. I’ll never stop buying them. I may cut back, but I’ll never stop collecting. What a hobby!!

By: Lt. Clutch

Lt. Clutch — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:15:20 +0000

I’ve had to cut down on figure and comic purchases for the same reasons you mention, Erik. I also don’t frequent fast food places anymore and my arteries must be truly grateful for that. I remember one guy who sold his collection during a dry financial spell because “he couldn’t eat his toys” in order to survive. So yeah, I would choose meat and shoes over my hobby of choice if things got to the point where I had to make such a decision.

As Chip said, we gotta appreciate what we do have, ’cause you never know what lurks around the corner…

By: JANMUGAR PRIME

JANMUGAR PRIME — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:00:42 +0000

You know Erik and Chip, you are not the only ones with that kind of after thoughts.

I believe it’s what i could call, “The responsible Man inside the small boy we all have”.
I live in a beautiful country named MEXICO, and about three months ago, i could afford to buy 5 DCUC figures for approximatedly MX$1500 (US$100) and wanted to get more.
I have a 3 year old pretty daughter, who just happen to start pre-school this year. and I pay monthly that same amount of money for her school.

I think the Collecting biz for some of us has become a luxury in some ways, The Thinking of buying “Toy Exclusives” or “Limited editions” or “Re-paints” are out of my list. Even the retail items have become harder to find and the ones i have found, i cannot afford anymore.

I thank GOD that i have a job which helps me to get food, cloth and school to the ones i love. And i hope in GOD for better times, that could be like the old times.
I think you know what i mean.

Peace,
Juan Jaime.

By: superfriend

superfriend — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:25:18 +0000

Hah, actually, I usually broil chicken and its usually nice and juicy as long as I don’t over cook it.

By: Tony C

Tony C — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 20:14:55 +0000

Forget the food stamps and the $11 Zipps, i think the saddest thing here is that you’ve just now discovered “the practice of marinating meat.” You’ve gotta be in your 30′s or 40′s, and that my friend, is a lot of dry, tasteless chicken. After that first bit of sweet, sweet teriyaki tickled your taste-buds, your world must have exploded into color a la “The Wizard of Oz!” You’re a crazy-man SuperFriend!

By: superfriend

superfriend — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:36:22 +0000

11$ – “Starter” sneakers on an end cap at Walmart. Interestingly enough, they were more when I was there the other day and they had been moved off the end cap to the middle of an isle.

By: superfriend

superfriend — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:23:33 +0000

I always wanted to try out that 3D sidewalk chalk …

By: Newton Gimmick

Newton Gimmick — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:06:35 +0000

You must wear old man shoes. LOL. Seriously $11 shoes? Anyway good post. I definitely have had to cut down on some stuff and consider myself lucky to be able to get all that I have.

By: bnjmnrlyr

bnjmnrlyr — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:05:00 +0000

I’ve been trying to teach my son this very lesson for the past few months now (he just turned 7 yesterday) as we opened his “first” bank account.

There have been a few tantrums in the store and some sassiness at home when he doesn’t come home with that new book/Wii game/Bakugan toy but it is starting to sink in.

My aunt has also introduced the family to the idea of “toy recycling”. Every 6 months or so each house boxes up some forgotten toys and passes them on to the next house. The kids each get a box of “new” toys to play with and it doesn’t cost us anything but the gas as we travel back and forth, but that is negated by the increase in family time among all the cousins. I guess she used to do it with other new-mommies when her children were first born and the kids always looked forward to that next box of goodies and getting something back after it had been passed on became a bit of a treasure hunt bonus.

Every now and then, its nice to have a reminder that I don’t have it as bad as I might make it seem and there is always someone worse off than me. Thanks for the heads up.

I think the sun is shining and there is a box of chalk in the garage. Hopscotch seems like a nice way to finish the day …

By: Chip Cataldo

Chip Cataldo — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:00:39 +0000

I know that I’m probably more guilty than anyone of not looking at what is around me and being most appreciative of what I have. I have work than brings in more money than my expenses, I live in a place that allows me free time in the sunshine, and I can collect toys & comics as well as put food on in my coffers. We should appreciate what we HAVE and not what we don’t have.

A thoughtful blog, Erik…thanks for posting it.

Peace,
Chip