Collecting Habits

DialgaBritesMom

DialgaBritesMom

I tooadally promise it'll be toooadally fun!!
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Are you very focused in your collecting habits? How do you stay focused--what is your "routine" so to speak?
Or do you find yourself shifting from day to day, or week to week, or month to month (etc…) regarding what aspect of ponies you “needâ€, and spend most of your pony hunting time on? And do you then inexplicably lose focus on that, because something else has caught your eye? And then (eventually) do you shift back to something that you had abandoned? For instance my current obsession (defined by what I absent mindedly search for on Ebay “just to see what’s out thereâ€) is G2s (a returned interest that had waned for a while, until I spotted the WEdding Carriage on Ebay for a price I was willing to pay). About 2 weeks ago it was Pony wear (something I didn't originally think I'd *ever* be interested in!) At some point last year, it was Petites. In between it was the Blind Bag G4s. Sometimes, it’s a specific pony (and if I don’t find her—in the condition and at the price I’m willing to pay--, the obsession might fade but return later).
What draws you to a specific pony or aspect of pony collecting in the first place when you find your focus shifting? A random picture or discussion? A sales thread on the forums (that's often my catalyst)? A “you might find these items interesting†ad on Ebay (another catalyst for me)? Have you changed your mind about certain things (like me and the Pony Wear; in fact, Petites are also a surprise development *lol*) or specific ponies or pony types and added them to your search terms?

Etc. :) Just... open discussion, if you will, of whatever you want to share regarding your collecting habits.
 
I collect what I want when I want it. Lately I'm trying to finish off some sets, but I'm always hunting for more Brazilians and other variants, and a while ago I HAD to have all the Mommy Charms. Once I had them, I moved on to wanting to finish up my plushes, and soon I'll try to get some more ponywear.
 
Right now my only must-haves are in G4. At the moment I'm hoping for FS Dashie and Twilight now, and for blind bags. The interest in G4 has bled over a bit into previous gens, though only to the point of curiosity. Aside from it being the show that's mainly driving my interest, it winds up keeping things simpler for me; there's relatively little out there in the G4 line, so I guess it's kind of what it was like for early G1 fans, eagerly watching to see what comes out next and when it might be within reach (and come to think of it, I guess the international-only ponies are this generation's mail-ins?) My focus within G4 is the characters themselves (playsets and accessories don't really grab me), and within the characters it is largely the ones featured in the show...though now and then a non-show pony will take my interest too. Lily Blossom, f'rinstance, who's a pretty little thang.

As for prior gens, there's just such an overwhelming variety that, at this point, I'm not sure if I'll really dive into them heavily or just decide that the token few I can scavenge at thrift stores and such are enough to sate my curiosity about the history of the franchise. That's not any sort of condemnation of pre-FiM ponies--I just don't do well with things that require too much catching up to get into. Like...I know the Sandman comics are supposed to be good, but I refuse to touch them since, good grief, have you seen how many back issues there are?
 
Hulkbow - yeah, I hear ya. There's too much G3 stuff out there for me, so I'm whittling away at my collection until I only have those which interest me. Mainly the originals (because I remember how cool it was to see ponies again), ones given as gifts, rares & HTF's, and special editions. In addition to any with stars/moons/planets/celestial things on them.
 
I lean toward ponies that strike some personal chord with me. For example: I am a grad student, and Twilight is clearly Celestia's grad student. I got Puzzlemint because of her puzzle piece cutie mark; I was recently diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome and the puzzle piece is often used as a symbol for the autistic spectrum.

Sometimes it is purely aesthetic. I got Serendipity (and will hopefully get Baby Explorer on eBay - wish me luck!) because they have hot air balloons on their rumps like Lofty does. I got UK Hopscotch because her colors matched my persona, and I plan on adding more to that collection as time goes on. I think I'm going to keep the bait Moondancer I just got because her colors are so striking.

Beyond that... I'm just starting out. Who knows what'll happen as time goes on. :)
 
MyLittleLofty said:
For example: I am a grad student, and Twilight is clearly Celestia's grad student.
Click to expand...

Twilight's personality was no small part of what drew me into the show originally. Studious, nerdy, not really into what everyone else was doing--both because she wasn't trying to be part of the popular crowd, and because she was sort of going against all the preconceptions I had of what MLPs were into. "All the ponies in this town are CRAZY!" was probably what sold me on her. :-D She's now the patron pony of my computers (and AJ's in my truck, Sweetsong keeps residence on my guitar amp...)

But I digress.
 
@ my little lofty i have AS too but i did not know till i was 16!

for me collecting began when i was 3 years old and first ran into mlp. I remember that they had the carrying case and about 5 of the first ponies. so i picked up any i could find at the flea markets to add to my collection. Then high school came and they were stuffed in a tote and placed in the attic. Years later we cleaned out the attic and i found them and fell in love again. So now i am trying to find everyone i do not have while trying to place a monthly budget for buying mlp and other stuff. In all my collection is focesed on second hand gen one ponies and gen one no one would want. IE: tails missing , symbol rub, very bad regrind! ( you should see my caramel crunch she is purple with regrind so bad she has a light pink haze all over her) , hair cuts, and even pony cancer. I love the ones that have been played with i just wonder what kind of stories were made while they were being played with. :383:
 
My love for individual ponies seems to come mostly from the show, but some ponies just captivate me based on appearance or interesting backcard story.
My wish list, and its accompanying explanations, basically sum it up.
I basically buy any pony that interests me and that I can afford, usually via eBay, but increasingly from here.
I just need to stop blowing all of my bi-weekly allowance from my Dad on ponies! I have been for a little while, so I've been even more broke than your typical broke college kid! I have been getting some pretty wicked deals, though, LOL.
 
Right now I'm super focused on petites :) Which ended up with about 85 duplicates. There's still a few more I need, and I'm sure I'll end up with even more doubles since I tend to find petites in groups. Last year it was sea ponies, and I managed to get all of them (babies, their floats, adults and shells, even the year 3 set) with the exception of the Italian Maristella variant. I definitely have my phases.
 
I'm pretty chill wth my collecting habits, although sometimes I see something I've just GOT to get (generally I have to via online order, which is always a bit awkward cause my parents have to guide me through it) and my dad and I ride our bikes to the flea market every other week. Its really cool to see what you find there, not just ponies. For instanse, my dad got a bike tire worth 40 bucks once for 1 dollar; the thing was brand new too! To tell the truth though, I'm kinda've getting interested in barbies, I used to love them when I was little, and everytime I see one now I'm like "hmmm"
 
I am a strict G1 collector. Though have been sneaky and bought myself a G4 Lily Blossom. She was just begging me to get her! But, with G1, I just choose one pony at a time. As soon as I get that pony, I choose another from my wishlist, and the hunt is on. :) Right now, it's Bright Eyes.
 
Avaind said:
I am a strict G1 collector. Though have been sneaky and bought myself a G4 Lily Blossom. She was just begging me to get her! But, with G1, I just choose one pony at a time. As soon as I get that pony, I choose another from my wishlist, and the hunt is on. :) Right now, it's Bright Eyes.
Click to expand...

Wow, now that's what I call discipline!! :icon_smile_lachuh:
 
I started out dedicated, lost my way for a minute and was just buying any and every pony I liked lol, then I refocused and went back to my list, starting running out of items on it, so I started another list, and now neither are complete, but I started a nirvana list as well, to help me have new thing's to look for if the other two list's are at a stand still :)
 
Avaind said:
I am a strict G1 collector. Though have been sneaky and bought myself a G4 Lily Blossom. She was just begging me to get her!
Click to expand...

And another falls victim to the pretty girl's charms. :3
 
HulkbowSMASH said:
Twilight's personality was no small part of what drew me into the show originally. Studious, nerdy, not really into what everyone else was doing--both because she wasn't trying to be part of the popular crowd, and because she was sort of going against all the preconceptions I had of what MLPs were into. "All the ponies in this town are CRAZY!" was probably what sold me on her. :-D She's now the patron pony of my computers (and AJ's in my truck, Sweetsong keeps residence on my guitar amp...)

But I digress.
Click to expand...

If it weren't for Twilight I would not watch the show; save Luna I'm really not all that interested in the other characters.

My FS Luna and Celestia flank my TV. Normal-sized Luna and Twilight (and Lucy Luck) keep vigil on my bedside table and blind bag Twi hangs out in my car. :)
 
My collecting habits are pretty relaxed at this point.
When I first got into collecting, I was on a frantic mission to
Re-buy all my childhood ponies. Now,years later,thanks to ebay,
Awesome trading post members, and the MLP fair, there's
Maybe 6 ponies I still need. I also have fallen for some
Non childhood ponies. So now I'll casually check ebay now
And then for the last stragglers I need ( I'm ALWAYS hunting
For a decent priced edgar, or a cutesaurus under $70)

I'm also collecting whichever G4's catch my eye
(I seem to have aquired a G4 pegasus army)
 
ok i just bought a bunch from several people here and on the arena and realise i need to make a monthly budget. On top of that i also order off rons rescued treasures and toy stable. I see ponies i don't have and i have to keep telling myself we are just LOOKING NOT BUYING TODAY ! SIGH but them my brain goes BUT ... BUT .... WE DO NOT HAVE THAT ONE YET !! .... then i say NOT TODAY and it descends into a crazy spiral

and this is how i must be :cat_5: looking but wanting to pounce
 
invaderhorizongreen said:
ok i just bought a bunch from several people here and on the arena and realise i need to make a monthly budget. On top of that i also order off rons rescued treasures and toy stable. I see ponies i don't have and i have to keep telling myself we are just LOOKING NOT BUYING TODAY ! SIGH but them my brain goes BUT ... BUT .... WE DO NOT HAVE THAT ONE YET !! .... then i say NOT TODAY and it descends into a crazy spiral

and this is how i must be :cat_5: looking but wanting to pounce
Click to expand...

Psst! Hey buddy...wanna buy a pony?
 
I am a selective collector, whereas I only collect Summer/Windy/Argie Wingers. Their condition doesn't matter to me, I am willing to repair/rehair/rewing them if needed. I have a strong attachment to these ponies from my childhood! I've been collecting for almost 3 years, and have stayed exclusive to the wingers.
For my daughters, I buy them pretty much any pony I can find! We have G3's and G4's including play-sets. My kids adore MLP's, and I love the thrill of finding them new ponies.
 
I too strictly bought G1's when I was collecting. I really focused on the Pegasi family. I remember having Skydancer as a child so that was one of my first pony purchases. And then when I got into International collecting I was hooked! Still focused only on the Pegasi, Medley, Heart Throb, Skydancer and Firefly. Other than that, things would catch my fancy and I'd want them, particularly G1 merch. I bought a cute little porcelain plate that was originally part of a set that includes a bowl and cup although I was never able to find the other pieces. I'd like to get into the porcelain figurines, I just could never afford them. Merch is always fun and its an added bonus to me if it features Medley!
 
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