Vinylmation Beginner's Guide - Display Ideas

Today's Vinylmation Beginner's Guide post will showcase some display ideas for your Vinylmation collection. My initial hesitation with buying Vinylmation was, "What do I do with them?" I thought their uniform shape made them look fantastic when displayed all together, not messy and tacky like some other types of collectibles I had seen displayed. I just had to figure out how.

My personal display has taken many forms and changed over the years as my collection has grown. I'll be sharing that in another post. But for this post, here are some ideas of different ways to show off your Vinylmation treasures.

Let's start with tabletop display ideas. These options can sit on dressers, shelves, bookcases, desks, media stands, and anywhere else you can think of, which is great if you don't want to have to buy new furniture to accommodate your Vinylmation. Aside from just placing your vinyls on these items, here are some ways to display your collection in a more tidy, organized fashion, and maybe even allow more to be stored in that same space. 

Shot Glass Display Cases

Shot glass display cases are often the perfect size for 3" Vinylmation and Jrs. Depending on the shape of the individual figure, this option will not work for Park Starz figures most of the time. Shot glass display boxes can usually house 24 Vinylmation, but some accommodate more or less than that. Target has a shot glass case/shadow box that would hold 28 figures and retails for $39.99. Shot glass display cases can also hang on the wall if you prefer (more on wall options later).

Multi Level Display Boxes

(Photo Credit: DizThruBrownEyes)

Another method for displaying vinyls that will fit on furniture items like desks and bookcases is multi level display boxes. This is a very popular option with collectors. Perfect for 3" and Jr. figures, these boxes can also accommodate Park Starz, unlike the previous option. If you're displaying 3" figures, 12-15 Vinylmation will usually fit in these boxes. Multi level display boxes are available for $9.99 at the Container Store. They can also be stacked on top of each other (as shown in the picture) so as your collection grows, you can move your display on to the floor to create a makeshift display case.

If your collection is too big for the options I've just mentioned, or you don't like those ideas, let's take a look at some freestanding display ideas:

Cube Organizer

Cube Organizers have the advantage of being as big or as small as you want them to be. 2 cubes, 4 cubes, 12 cubes, you can decide. Some models even allow for easy add-ons as your collection grows. One of the benefits of a cube organizer is that it can display every type of Vinylmation: Jr., 3", 9", and Park Starz (most of which are shown above). Some of the small cube organizers can even hang on the wall if you prefer. You could even incorporate the Multi Level Display box into this organization method. Cube organizers are available in several sizes and colors, at numerous stores including Amazon, Walmart, Target and Pottery Barn.

Display Cases

Display cases are another popular way for collections to showcase their Vinylmation. You can often move the placement of the shelves within the cases to allow your 9" figures to fit, as well as 3", Jr. and Park Starz. Again, you could even add Multi Level Display boxes. These cases give great visibility to your figures, and if you're able to place them in a location where you can see all sides of the vinyls, that would be perfection! Some figures' greatest artwork is on the back and you wouldn't be letting that go to waste. I've also seen some incredible things done with lighting in display cases, as well as turntables if you're feeling creative. If you want to take this route, I recommend IKEA. I love how theirs look and I think they're inexpensive.

Bookcases

This might be the easiest option, because there's likely to be a bookcase in your house already that you can re-purpose without needing to buy more furniture. Again, you can usually change the level of the shelves to accommodate 3", Jr., 9" and Park Starz figures. And again you could add Multi Level Display boxes if you wanted to. You can pretty much buy bookcases anywhere you can think of.

Maybe you had some form of wall display in mind. Here are some ideas on that front:

Shelving

Shelves come in all different sizes, styles and colors. You can also pick some up really inexpensively and add more shelves easily as your collection grows. Depending how you put them up and what size you buy, you can make sure your shelves will hold every size of Vinylmation. If your shelf is wide enough, you could also add Multi Level Display boxes. Otherwise, the more rows of Vinylmation you have on your shelf, the less you'll see them. (More on how I displayed my collection on shelves in a later post). I bought my shelves at Target.

Custom Shelving by Kasper Custom Creation

www.etsy.com/shop/kaspercustomcreation

If you really want something to show off your Disney Side, consider custom shelving. I've seen various sellers on Etsy over the years with all kinds of wonderful creations. They can make varying sizes to allow for 3" and Jr. figures, as well as some Park Starz. However, this option will exclude displaying your 9" figures. Putting several different styled custom shelves together on your wall would be like another collection in itself!

Of course, you're only limited by your imagination! (And maybe your budget!) These are all simply suggestions. I've seen and heard all kinds of things that I haven't mentioned here, as well as some really inventive creations that collectors have made themselves. If you have pictures of how you've displayed your collection that you would like to share, please feel free to send them my way! I'd love to see them! And maybe I'll post again in the future showing some of your pictures!

Vinylmation Beginner's Guide - Where to Buy on eBay

As part of my Vinylmation Beginner's Guide articles and my New Collector's Corner segment, I've posted about being alert to Vinylmation scrapper sellers. I thought it would be good on the flip side to post some suggested on eBay sellers to use. If you're starting your collection, eBay is a great place to find older figures at very low prices. Even seasoned collectors like myself can use eBay to go back and pick up vinyls you may have missed.

Here is a list of eBay sellers I have personally used and highly recommend:

• homelessjedi
• *where-dreams-come-true*
• theluckypennyllc

I highly recommend the above sellers because they have reasonable prices, free or low shipping costs, and their Vinylmation are in top condition. Vinylmation box sets from these sellers are unopened and blind boxes figures sometimes come with the box and foil included.

Homelessjedi is my absolute favorite eBay seller and I buy from him all the time. Whenever there's something I want, I visit his store first. He has a great selection, super fast shipping, the best prices, and he often runs promotions like buy 4 figures get 1 free which is a fantastic way to get your collection started! 

Here is a list of eBay sellers I have personally used and have been very happy with. The only reason I'm not listing them as highly recommended is because I haven't used them as much as the sellers in the previous list:

• jee-utsuri
• playbaseball06
• vinylagent007

This list is not to say that these are the only good sellers on eBay, it's just meant as a guide for people feeling unsure or even scared when buying on the secondary market. I have used these sellers myself and can personally attest to their trustworthiness.

I would also like to note that I am not receiving any benefit or kickback for naming these sellers as suggested places to buy from. In fact, I doubt they even know! From one Vinylmation collector to another, my aim here is to give honest, helpful feedback for the benefit of others. 

If you have any questions, as always, contact me or leave me a comment and I will be glad to try and help! If you decide to buy from a seller not listed here, I strongly suggest reading my article on scrapper sellers so that you can ensure you are not buying fake or damaged figures. 

Happy collecting! 

Vinylmation Beginner's Guide - Vinylmation Jr. Display Ideas

Vinylmation Jr. figures don't seem to be as popular as their 3" counterparts, and I think part of the reason for that is collectors not knowing what to do with them. For me personally, I was not initially drawn to Vinylmation Jr. due to their smaller size and attachment to a keychain. I like to display my 3" figures on shelves, and Jr. figures always seemed more difficult for me to display. 

If you are also wondering how you can display Jr. Vinylmation, look no further! I hope to give you some inspiration and ideas in this post. 

(Not my collection)

The most obvious way to house your Jr. Vinylmation is in a display cabinet like in the picture above. Ikea has some fantastic display cabinets for your Jr., 9" or 3" Vinylmation. The Jr. figures in this display case are then arranged on a multi-level display box (available at the Container Store) that fits within the shelf.

If you'd like to use the keychain to display your Jr. figures, you can buy or create a pinboard and hang your Vinylmation on the pinboard using thumbtacks:

(Not my collection)

Another great idea is to use a shadowbox for your Jrs, like in the picture below. You could even use this same idea with cubbies.

(Not my collection)

As for me personally, I am currently storing my Vinylmation Jr. until I can decide on the best way for me to display them. I will post later on how I store them and add a link to that post here. I also use my Vinylmation Jr. as keychains very carefully and occasionally in order to preserve them. If you would like to read about how to preserve your Vinylmation, especially Jr. figures when using them as keychains, you should read this post.

I'm sure there are plenty of other creative ways to display your Jr. Vinylmation that I haven't covered here, but I hope this has given you a good start and inspired you to think of your own ideas!

Vinylmation Beginner's Guide - Handle With Care

It's been a long time since I've posted a Vinylmation Beginner's Guide topic. Today I'm going to be talking about the extremely fragile nature of Vinylmation, because I don't think it's inherently obvious. However, just because this is aimed at those who are new to the hobby, doesn't mean it's irrelevant for those who've been in the hobby a while. It took me a couple years before I realized just how careful you need to be with Vinylmation.

(Photo Credit: Destination Vinylmation)

Vinylmation might look like plastic action figures and give you the impression that they are suitable for being played with like other toys. But that is not true. Disney describes Vinylmation as "collectible figures" and they mean it. They are not action figures or toys, they are collectors pieces, and there are many ways in which Vinylmation are incredibly fragile.

Vinylmation are easily chipped.
I figured that Vinylmation might chip if I were to drop one on the floor. But that's not all that can chip your figures. I made the mistake of placing my vinyls in small plastic bags (kinda like Ziplocs) and packing them in my carry-on to take to Disney. That was not enough protection. My poor little Nerd Figment arrived home with a chipped nose. So my first tip: if you're going to transport or store Vinylmation, they need to be bubble wrapped.

(My Nerd Figment with his chipped nose)

Vinylmation paint can transfer.
This might sound strange, but I'm going to illustrate my point. If Vinylmation rub against each other, paint can rub off one and on to the other. One figure will have paint missing, while another figure will have the first figure's paint smudged onto it. This can happen in instances like I mentioned above, when Vinylmation are stored together in a box without bubble wrap. In the same way, Vinylmation can pick up paint from shelving and other surfaces you store them on.

(My Constance portrait Vinylmation picked up a blob of silver paint on the back of her head)

One of the custom Vinylmation shelves I had made, transferred paint on to several of my figures. I didn't realize this would happen until it already had. This is a big deal because there's practically no way to get the extra paint off, without taking the original paint off with it. I'll talk about that more later on in this article.

(Constance also picked up silver paint on the bottom of her feet from the shelf)

Don't use Vinylmation Jr. as keychains
Vinylmation Jr. look like the perfect keychain: they're small, Disney advertises them as keychains, and they even include a lobster clasp to easily fasten them on. But if you choose to use them as a keychain, be prepared to watch them get damaged. As they rub against other objects like scratchy car keys, the contents of your purse, or even soft items like a fabric ID case, they will get scratched and the paint will chip off.

(My Goofy's Candy Co. Vinylmation Jr. that I used as a keychain - the chaser no less!)

I had heard this about Jr. figures, but decided that if I wasn't going to use them or display them, it was pointless to own them. So I thought I would minimize damage by attaching one to the inside zipper of a crossbody bag I owned. The only contents I ever had in there was a fabric sunglasses case, a fabric ID case, a fabric camera case, and a packet of Kleenex (because that's all that would fit in such a small purse). The above picture still resulted.

(Photo Credit: Destination Vinylmation)

Don't clean your Vinylmation with anything abrasive.
If you find that your vinyl has a mark on it, DO NOT use anything abrasive to clean it! Don't use cleaning products and especially don't use nail polish remover! They will remove ALL the paint from the figure and expose the base of the vinyl. I have read about people using Tide pens and Magic Eraser on their figures, but neither have worked for me when my vinyls have been marked. (I tried on a couple I pulled out of trade boxes that had marks and paint transfers). Those products didn't damage my figures, but they didn't remove the marks or paint either.

I hope this article has helped you to understand the fragility of Vinylmation and given you some insight into how to take good care of your figures. Don't make the same mistakes I did!

Vinylmation Beginner's Guide - When Is The Time to Buy?

I'm listing this as a Vinylmation Beginner's Guide post because I feel like this is most likely to be a question that new collectors have. However, this can certainly be an important topic for seasoned collectors too.

When is the time to buy Vinylmation? Now I don't mean when should you buy instead of blind box, because that's really up to each individual. You might only want to buy a certain number of boxes and see what you get, or you might not have any issue with how much it costs to get all the figures you want through blind boxing - because it's just that much fun! Or, you might save yourself time and money and go right in with a case. Again, there's no right or wrong, it's a personal decision.

What I want to talk about is when you should buy Vinylmation (after to deciding to buy over blox) on the secondary market. Should you buy when a figure has just been released? Should wait a few weeks? Wait over a year?

The answer to this question isn't simple. It really depends on the figure. But there are some general rules:

The longer you leave a common figure, the cheaper it will be. Villains #4 and Animation #4 were both released in 2013 and now many of the common figures are selling for $10 and under. The lowest I saw was $6. But some figures will hold their secondary market value. I noticed Flynn Rider is still selling for $15-$20 and Three Caballeros Donald from Animation #5 is selling for around $25. That part all depends on the popularity of the figure and what's available.

If a figure it still in demand, it will not get cheaper the longer you leave it. The opposite will happen - it will get more expensive. When Park #14 first came out, the Soarin' figure retailed for $20-$30. I thought that was a little steep and didn't get it right away. Well that figure is one of the most popular from Park #14, and now that the series is no longer being sold, the market isn't flooded with options. You can still grab a figure at $20 if you're lucky, but with only one or two figures listed at any given time on eBay, they're now selling for $30-$50.

The first series of something will usually increase in value. Again this depends on popularity. Animation #1 and Villains #1 are almost all $10 and under still. However Urban #1, Park #1 and Marvel #1 are more pricey than they were when first released. Park #1 being the most expensive because it's the most sought after.

Some prices change throughout the year. That might sound strange, but this is what I mean. Holiday Vinylmation such as Halloween figures. Christmas figures, etc. are typically more expensive during that season. Easter Vinylmation right now in July are selling for $10-$15, but in March and April this year they were selling for $15-$20. Why? Because most people aren't looking to buy a Santa Mickey in July or a Halloween Mickey in March. But they will be when the season hits, so sellers will increase their prices.

Some vinyls will stay popular, others won't. Limited Edition doesn't necessarily mean that something will be popular and sell out. But sometimes it means exactly that. The Star Wars Weekends 9" figures seem to either hold or increase in value, but other sets sell now for much cheaper than the original retail price.

Some vinyls will become popular again later. Like I've touched on already with Soarin', the second the supply decreases, prices will increase. I can foresee this with Star Wars Weekend sets. Right now there's plenty of choice for 2015's sets, but this time next year I reckon they'll be back up.

The best thing to do is gauge popularity. That will tell you when the best time is to buy Vinylmation. But sometimes Vinylmation are highly unpredictable and that's easier said than done. My personal opinion is that it's best to play it safe. Buying a figure for $20 over retail is better than leaving it and paying $50 over retail down the line. But you're taking a risk that $20 over retail might turn in to $5 under retail if you had waited. It's a game that will take a very long time to perfect.

Vinylmation Beginner's Guide - What is Eachez?

Eachez Vinylmation are frequently being released. In 2015, we have had 7 new Eachez, which is more than one release a month. In my opinion, Eachez seemed to appear out of nowhere with no explanation. New collectors especially might be wondering what Eachez is and what it means, but even more seasoned collectors might still be scratching their heads. I hope in this post to tackle some frequently asked questions about Eachez.

1. How do you say "Eachez?"
It's pronounced how it looks. Say it like the word "each" and then add "ez" on the end. Like saying "peaches" but without the letter p.

2. Why is it called that?
Honestly I have no idea and I've yet to meet someone who does. Steven Miller, Merchandise Communications Manager with Disney, said on the Disney Parks Blog that the name Eachez was given to these figures by the Vinylmation design team. No explanation on the actual meaning of the name was given.

3. What is it?
The Eachez concept was first mentioned by Steven Miller, Merchandise Communications Manager at Disney, on the Disney Parks Blog in November 2013. However, it was merely a passing comment. The concept was described as being "a figure sold in a mystery box that the Vinylmation team is calling "Eachez". One is the more common figure while the other is more rare". Usually this means you have a 9 in 10 chance of receiving the more common figure, and a 1 in 10 chance of receiving the more rare figure, dubbed the "variant" in the Vinylmation community. But there have been some exceptions.

4. What is the Limited Edition size?
Usually 2,000 or 2,500 however some have been labelled as "limited release" as opposed to limited edition, meaning no set size was given.

Eachez are usually stand alone figures that are not part of a series. More often they are for an event such as the Food and Wine Festival, the year (2014, 2015), Run Disney, Halloween, etc. But some are connected to a series like the Spider-Man Eachez (to accompany Marvel #2) and the Star Wars Eachez to accompany the Star Wars series.

Sometimes the more rare variant figure has a different design, such as the Independence Day Goofy figures. Other times it's a different figure entirely, for example Easter 2015 Eachez.

I hope this post has cleared up some confusion on Eachez Vinylmation. If you still have questions, I'd love to try and answer them! Leave me a comment.

Vinylmation Beginner's Guide - "Scrapper" Seller Warning

I'm writing this as a Vinylmation Beginner's Guide post because I think it's particularly important for new collectors who aren't quite as savvy on fake Vinylmation (not to cause offense there, that was me just over a year ago) but there are still seasoned collectors out there who aren't aware of "Scrapper" issues, which I'm discovering more and more.

First off, just what is a scrapper anyway? This isn't an official term, hence the quotation marks before, but this is a name given by collectors. Scrappers are Vinylmation figures that have not passed Disney's quality control. Perhaps they're missing an accessory, have been painted wrong, or the design was cancelled and the figures were not produced, leaving some discarded prototypes.

When these figures are thrown out, people trying to make a quick buck will scavenge for them, find some, and sell them on eBay. Sometimes this is obvious, but in other cases it's harder to tell, as I'm about to show you.

All of the figures below have been listed by eBay seller mangoflavorcm who's registered in Hong Kong. DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM THIS SELLER!!! By no means are scrappers always from Hong Kong, nor does that mean scrappers can't be sold from other locations. However, 99% of the time scrappers do come from Hong Kong sellers, because the figures are made in China and are therefore easy for them to get hold of.

Scrapper

Here's one of the more obvious examples of a scrapper. This vinyl is clearly incomplete, unfinished and pretty dirty. It also looks to me like the arms are the wrong way around. The seller has actually labelled the vinyl as "unfinished" and in "used condition" but has still opened the starting bid at $7.99 for a piece of junk. You may have guessed that this figure is supposed to be the White Rabbit from the Alice in Wonderland Series:

Real Thing

Unfortunately, scrappers get worse. Here's an example of a type of scrapper you can often find, a scrapper comprised of various parts from different Vinylmation figures:

Scrapper

This figure has been listed as an Urban #6 figure, but really it has the body of Urban #6's Sunny Day figure, with the head of a Cutesters Too figure and the arms of something else entirely.

   

Real Figures

And finally, here's an example of a more subtle scrapper, see if you can pick up what's wrong with this figure:

Scrapper - can you guess why?

If you couldn't spot it, don't worry, I think it's only possible to notice if you're familiar with the original figure. Here's how King Mickey from the D-TOUR series is supposed to look:

Real Figure

Now you can see, he's missing the buttons on his sorts and his crown accessory. What's more, this seller has 99.8% positive feedback with a feedback score of over 4,950. Who would suspect any issues?

When looking for a scrapper, check if the full details of the Vinylmation are in the listing title. For example "Mickey Mouse figure", "Urban Series" or "Holiday 2" as opposed to "Urban Series #3 Cookie Jar". If the details are incomplete or non-descriptive, it's probably because the figure is a mix of figures so they don't want to be specific. Google image search the title or the series to see if the figure for sale matches any real Vinylmation in that series. Or type the title into Chasing Vinylmation (e.g. "King Mickey" or "Urban #6") to see a 360 picture of what the figure should look like. If it doesn't match - it's a scrapper.

Park #5 Scrapper Hybrid: Arms from the Abominable Snowman and body from XP-37 Space Cruiser (with the head the wrong way around!)

I don't actively look for scrappers, but sometimes I see them being sold on eBay when I'm searching for other things. As I find shady sellers, I'll add their names to this list.

Known eBay Scrapper Sellers:

• mangoflavorcm
• sinodolls
• toyhouse6

I hope this post didn't scare you, especially if you're new to the hobby, but I hope it has educated you on some of the shady stuff for sale out there. Don't cut corners assuming there isn't something wrong with that cheap vinyl with free shipping from Hong Kong because it could be a scrapper. Even if they have great feedback, people don't always realize what they're buying! And lastly, please feel free to leave me a comment or email if you have any questions. I'm by no means an expert, but I will help where I can :)

Vinylmation Beginner's Guide - Price and Value FAQ

For today's VBG post, I wanted to answer some frequently asked questions I've read and heard asked by new collectors, specifically regarding the value and pricing of Vinylmation. All these questions link together, so if you have questions about how much vinyls cost and what their value is now and in the future, I hope these answers will help.

Q: Does a retired vinyl go up in price?
It's not a given that a retired vinyl automatically goes up in price once it's retired. This depends completely on each individual figure and its desirability/popularity in the collecting community. Several figures from the retired Cutesters series sell on the secondary market for $10 or less, whilst retired Park #1 figures will sell for upward of $100. The prices of retired vinyls depends entirely on 1. the popularity of the figure and 2. the availability - how many are being sold at any given time

Q: Do vinyls that have been out a while drop in price?
Usually yes, but this is not an automatic rule. Often vinyls that have been out for a while, regardless of whether the series is active or retired, drop in price because collectors already have them. The desirability decreases (because they're already owned) and more people have them to sell (because they've been out a while). For example, Wild West Pluto has been released for 8 months and originally retailed for $12.95, but now you can pick him up on eBay for $7 or less. However, if a vinyl is popular it will sell for potentially a lot more than original retail. For example, Ariel is the most popular figure in The Little Mermaid series and often goes for over $30 on the secondary market, her original retail price was also $12.95

The craziest sold listing I've seen on eBay - a Park #13 chaser variant sold for $1,000

Q: Why are some vinyls really expensive?
It's true, some vinyls get into crazy money, just take a look at the above picture. In summary, it's supply and demand. A lot of people want Marvel #1 Vinylmation figures, but at the same time a lot of people are selling them, and so they're going for between $20-$40 on eBay right now. Whereas the high demand for the Wild West Mickey Variant is not being met with a high number of people selling. I've only ever seen about 5 of these figures listed on eBay. As a result, high demand and little availability is causing these figures to sell for $200-$300. Compare this with the High School series, which is not a popular series, and was overproduced. These figures sell on eBay for less than $5, half their original retail price

Q: How much are Vinylmation worth?
Again this all depends on the individual figure. Is it popular? Is it readily available? I mentioned before about Marvel #1 being very popular, and so on the secondary market these are "worth" an average of $20 despite starting with a retail price of $12.95. I also mentioned how High School is not very popular and so these are "worth" more like $5 despite an original $9.95 retail price. Some people will trade common with common since technically all vinyls are worth $9.95/$12.95/$14.95 unless they're a limited edition or combo set. However other people are very in tune with secondary market prices and judge the vinyl's value based on that. Therefore people will only trade chaser for chaser, variant for variant, or multiple commons for a more popular common.

Q: Are chasers the most expensive Vinylmation?
Typically, yes they are. But again this varies between chasers. Some chasers are more desired than others and of course there's always the influence of supply and demand. Urban #3 Watermelon chaser sells on eBay for between $20-$25. That's more than your average Urban Redux vinyl sells for, but it's on par with some Marvel #1 commons - sometimes less than what you'd pay for one of those figures. But the Furry Friends Cheshire Cat chaser sells on eBay for $150-$200, far more than any common. Therefore chasers aren't necessarily the most expensive figures, it's all down to the popularity of each figure.


If you have any more questions about Vinylmation, price related or otherwise, please leave a comment and I will try to answer them in another post :)

Vinylmation Beginner's Guide - New Collector Blues

For today's Vinylmation Beginner's Guide post, I want to talk about something I call the "new collector blues" and how to look at the bright side.

I remember when I first started seriously collecting. I'd discovered Vinylmation and my interest shifted from thinking they were cool and picking up a couple that I liked, to realizing that they were 3" Mickey shaped memories of my childhood at Walt Disney World. There were so many that I wanted and I wanted them now!

I started to build up my collection via eBay, since everything I wanted at that time was retired, and soon enough I had ran out of funds to keep going. My collection had reached around 10 Vinylmation at this point (I had not yet made a budget for Vinylmation) and I was pretty upset that my teeny tiny collection had reached a plateau, while I was noticing online that other collectors had a Vinylmation collection hundreds strong.

Now my collection has increased to almost 100 vinyls and when I think back to those early days, I feel a little sad that I didn't soak it all in at the time. I want to encourage new collectors not to feel down about your collection as you start out. Don't feel the new collector blues!

My early collection - circa January 2012

If you're looking at other people's collections and thinking "mine's not that great" or "I wish I had that many", here's what I want you to start thinking instead:

Think of all the excitement ahead of you!
Remember the adrenaline rush you got as you opened your first blind box? Remember the excitement you felt when you received a longed for vinyl in the mail? Remember how awesome it was to finally pick up your favorite character at the Disney Store or D-Street? Don't forget that! The more vinyls you have to add to your collection, the longer you'll create these wonderful memories as you build your collection

Be happy that you found the Vinylmation hobby
Even if you only have 3 vinyls, think of all the happy memories they bring and how much you love them next time you wish you had 300. You found this great hobby and it's not going away any time soon!

Enjoy your mail days
Now my collection's gotten bigger, I'll go through periods where I won't buy vinyls (shock horror!) just because I have most of the ones I want. Sometimes there are slow periods where not a lot of Vinylmation sets are released, or out of what is released I just don't want many or even any at all. During these times I miss the excitement of mail days. The anticipation of waiting on that vinyl to arrive, the fun of opening it, and the thrill of that figure you wanted finally being part of your collection. Don't take it for granted

Collections like this are what made me feel the new collector blues

Don't rush it
I definitely wanted to grow my collection as quickly as possible, but in rushing, I made some mistakes. Sometimes I wish I had paid more attention to the going rates for vinyls on eBay, so I didn't end up paying too much for a figure. I also wished I'd prioritized what I wanted better and looked at how frequently figures are listed on eBay. I bought one figure as soon as I saw it and then didn't have any money left to get a different figure that took weeks to appear again on eBay. That's why I suggest reading this Vinylmation Beginner's Guide post to help with that

Step back and look at your progress
Sometimes having just 5 figures can be more meaningful and special than owning hundreds. You might run out of space and have to pack some out of sight, which takes away the purpose of having them in the first place. You might stare at a wall of 100 figures and see them blur together, instead of seeing the memory and magic each individual figure holds. It's also fun to look back at say 20 vinyls and remember that time when you only had 4, and to think of everything you went through to get those up to 20.


I hope these tips help you lose the new collector blues and feel joy and excitement in your collection - no matter how many vinyls you have!

Vinylmation Beginner's Guide - Keeping Up with Releases

For today's Vinylmation Beginner's Guide post, I'm going to help you navigate the world of Vinylmation releases, which can seem very overwhelming and confusing for the new collector.

When I first got into collecting, I didn't know what was out there. I had no idea what vinyls had already been released, what was currently being sold, or what would be released in future... but it seemed like every other collector in the Vinylmation world already did. Without this knowledge, it was hard for me to decide what my collecting strategy would be. What would I collect? How would I prioritize and how should I set a Vinylmation budget? I didn't know over the next few months if I'd be interested in 1 or 100 figures!

So for this post, I'd like to offer my advice on how to learn what's already around and what's coming your way in the near future. This info should help you establish your collecting habits and budget and help you prioritize what you want to buy first.

If you get on top, you also won't be caught out by sudden instant sell-outs of a Vinylmation you really want, or be cheated by vinyls advertised on the secondary market as "sold out" or "retired" when there's still plenty in existence.

A past and retired release from 2010 - Urban #5 3-D Mickey

Past Releases - for every series that has already been released (both active and retired) I would recommend heading over to Vinylmation World and taking a look at their checklists. They have a text and visual checklist that notes every series already released, from the first year of Vinylmation's existence in 2008 right up to today. The list also includes when each series was released, which will give an indication of the status of that series, either active or retired.

Currently active - Park Starz #2 was released in May 2013

Current Releases - to check if a series is still an active release or whether it's been retired, I would recommend heading over to Chasing Vinylmation and typing the figure you're interested in into the search box. By clicking on the figure, you'll see several stats about it, including whether it's active or retired. If the figure is retired, it's possible that it's still being sold in stores or outlets, but has definitely stopped being produced. If it's no longer being sold in stores, that means the retired figure has stopped being produced and has sold out. Your only option then is the secondary market such as Amazon, eBay or trading. However, if the figure is active, this means it's still in production and being sold in stores/online.

Future Releases - learning about future releases is a little precarious, as Disney have been to known to give little to no notice on a series' release date, to change release dates (mostly pushing them backward with little or no warning), to be wrong about how a series will be sold (such as advertising that a series will be available online when it isn't), and being wrong about retail prices (like with the Park #12 sets). I'm not trying to be negative about Disney here, just warning you to expect surprises.

Park #13 is coming soon

There are several ways to learn about what to expect in the world of Vinylmation:

• Visit Disney Parks Merchandise Vinylmation page, this is a Disney official website that lists information on Vinylmation series including release dates, limited edition sizes (where applicable), retail prices, retail locations (e.g. in store, at the parks, online) and also includes 360 images of the figures. The only downside to this website is that notice on upcoming series is anywhere from 6 weeks in advance to 1 week in advance, so check back often
• Check out the Disney Parks Blog for sneak previews of Vinylmation series. We've been teased with the Marvel #1 series and the Park #13 Tower of Terror series by merchandise manager Steven Miller
• Visit unofficial Vinylmation websites created by fans, like this one right here! I strive to bring Vinylmation news and previews as and when I find it. I follow several news outlets on Twitter, I visit numerous Vinylmation websites daily, and I keep tabs on the Disney Parks Blog and Disney Parks Merchandise websites. You can see links to recently released series and upcoming releases in the sidebar on the right hand side of this page. You can also search for my posts on releases by clicking the tag "Releases" in the could on the right hand side of this page, which will bring you to a list of posts highlighting a new figure/series release, complete with date of release, retail price and retail location

I hope this has given you a great place to start with researching Vinylmation releases both past and future. For more info on starting your collection, you can also check out my post on How to Collect Vinylmation, my post on where to buy Vinylmation and how much they cost, and for more information specific to new collectors, search the tag "Vinylmation Beginner's Guide" in the cloud on the right of the page.

Until next time... collect what you love!

Vinylmation Beginner's Guide - Don't Be Fooled by eBay

For today's Vinylmation Beginner's Guide post, I want to talk about how eBay can be misleading, especially to the new collector, and how you can safeguard against being fooled online.

There are many eBay listings that advertise a vinyl as "Limited Edition", "Rare", "Hard to Find", and/or "Parks Only". There most certainly are limited edition Vinylmation and some sets and series are only available at the parks (for example the 2013 Poster Art Series). I would take more caution when a listing says "rare" or "hard to find", as these terms are much more subjective. Coveted and retired figures like Creepy Wallpaper from Park #1 are not as common as a new release figures, but I still wouldn't call it "rare" or "hard to find", since you can pretty much find at least 1 listing for this figure on eBay at any given time. It's my personal opinion that sellers include these words to attract more attention, not to give you bona fide information.

However, when a Vinylmation is listed as a limited edition or parks only figure, this is not always true. Sometimes the seller makes a genuine mistake, some figures start out as park only but then make it to the Disney Store online and/or to Disney Stores and outlets. But other times this is intentional to get more bids or a quicker sale.

So how can you find out if a vinyl you want really is parks only, limited edition or retired? I would suggest the following:

1. Start by visiting Chasing Vinylmation and searching for your figure. Let's say you want the Orange Bird from Park Starz #2. When you search for your figure, you'll see that it's not a limited edition and also that it's still active, meaning it's still in production and being sold. If you wanted Oswald from the 2013 Poster Series for example, you would see that the rarity of that figure is 1:2013 meaning it has a limited edition of 2,013
2. So now you know if the figure is active, retired, common or a limited edition and if so, the size. Your next step (if it's not a retired figure) is to check out the Vinylmation section of the Disney Store online. If your figure is listed here (like Park Starz #2 is) then you know it's not a Park Exclusive. But if you don't see it (like Oswald) it's likely to be exclusive to the parks
3. You could also do a good, old-fashioned Google search to find info on your figure. What's the going rate on the secondary market? Has it been retired? When? Are they still being sold online/in store/at the parks? Is it a Park Exclusive? Limited Edition?
4. If a series/figure has been retired, it's likely to be more difficult to get a hold of than an active figure you could pick up or buy online. But this isn't a general rule. A search of eBay's completed listings (both sold and unsold) will give you an idea of how often that figure is sold and for how much
5. You can also see a good, extensive list of Limited Edition and Exclusive figures and sets over at Vinylmation World

I hope this helps with buying vinyls on the secondary market. Until next time... happy collecting!

Vinylmation Beginner's Guide - How to Collect

Today's VBG post will cover how to start collecting: deciding what to collect and building up your collection. For me personally, I liked way more vinyls than I could afford or store, so receiving tips on how to form a strategy for collecting (aside from "buy the ones you like") was extremely useful.

Tip #1 - To some people this is just common sense, but I think it still needs to be said. Collect what you love! Vinylmation is such an unpredictable and changing hobby (in terms of value) that I would not advise collecting what you think will turn a profit later down the line. Each person is different, but the point of collecting vinyls for me, is to have a hobby, connect with other people, and have a great display of figures that I will never get tired of looking at. They hold so many memories for me.

Tip #2 - Decide your size. Will you collect only Jr? Only 3"? A mix? Making this decision, or creating certain rules for yourself can definitely help save money and space. Be prepared to spend more on 9" vinyls, Limited Editions and Combo sets.

Tip #3 - choose a strategy. There are probably endless strategies to formulate, but here are some suggestions:

• Choose one, two or three series where you love many or most of the vinyls and collect those series exclusively. For example Park and Urban. That's not to say you should buy all the vinyls in that series, but you could limit yourselves to collecting vinyls from those series if there's tons that you love and you need to limit your spending and/or space
• Collect the vinyl (or couple of vinyls) that you love from multiple different series. Maybe you liked a lot of vinyls but loved only one vinyl from Cutesters, two from Urban, and a couple of open windows. You could limit yourself to no more than 3 per series
• Collect only your favorite characters. Some people collect only Stitch vinyls, or Toy Story characters. Others collect their favorite characters in multiple series, such as Villains, Animation, Lion King
• Or like me, you could decide to collect vinyls that have a sentimental meaning to you

Tip #4 - Don't feel obligated to complete a set. If you're limited on money and space, don't feel pressure to complete a set if you can't afford it or can't store it.

Tip #5 - If you don't love a vinyl, or you like the idea of a certain vinyl, but don't think it translated well to the Mickey canvas - don't buy it. This has happened to me a couple times where I love the ride so much, that when I've seen it as a vinyl, I've felt almost a duty to buy it. Make sure you love it enough to add it to your collection.

Tip #6 - Set yourself a budget. It can be tempting to buy quite a few vinyls that you really like, especially when you're new to collecting, and then find yourself strapped for cash when a new series that you love is released. Keeping track of upcoming release dates and setting yourself a budget can help you collect vinyls more evenly and help you refrain from going overboard on your spending! (It can also help to decide if you'll blox or buy from the secondary market before you set a budget)

As for me personally...
I collect for the memories these vinyls represent. I collect only what I absolutely love and I have no intention of ever parting with my vinyls, so I don't think about their future value. I only buy vinyls to add to my collection, not to sell on. I have never completed a set and I would only do that if I loved them all. Since I collect for the memories and sentimental value of vinyls, I mostly collect Park Series vinyls and only deviate from that rule if vinyls in other series relate. (For example Urban 5 Popcorn).

I also try to stick to only 3" vinyls. I don't really like Jrs because they're on keychains and I don't actually like all that many 9" so they're not too tempting. I stay away from those mostly for space. They would end up in a closet!

Please leave a comment telling me how you grow your collection!