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The Toyark › Toyark Spotlight › How Do You Keep Track of Your Collection?

How Do You Keep Track of Your Collection?

Posted on August 16, 2011at 4:20 pmby Deefuzzunder Toyark Spotlight

Like many of us on this site, you are most likely reading this because you are a fan of toy collecting. You may have a collection with 100 pieces in it, or maybe it is closer to 1000 pieces. Some of us may know exactly what is in our collection at any given time, but some of us can lose track of some things as our collections begin to grow (or as we begin to age and get forgetful). So how do you keep track of it all?

That is the focus of today’s Discussion Point taken right from our forums, thanks to a thread posted by our very own KshatriyaNZ666. What do you use to keep track of the items in your collection? Do you use some sort of specific software solution? Make use of another website dedicated to keeping lists of such nature? Or maybe just an old fashioned spreadsheet? Head on into our forums and sound off! Let us know what works for you and why!

Discuss on the Toyark Forums› Views: 9282› Credit: KshatriyaNZ666 of the Toyark Forums!

Discussion / Comments (Jump to this Thread on the Forum)

  1. KshatriyaNZ666's AvatarKshatriyaNZ666says

    08-15-2011, 11:44 PM

    I was wondering if anyone knows any good free sites or software that allows you to keep track of one's figure collection.

    I've yet to make an actual record of the toys in my collection. Which I guess has to be odd, seeing as how it feels like I've been collecting for forever...

    So any good suggestions?

  2. roadrevenge's Avatarroadrevengesays

    08-16-2011, 12:24 AM

    I know there is Dash Collector-ActionFigures: For Action Figure Collectors to Buy, Sell, Manage, and Value Their Collection

    its free for the most part. they have removed a bunch of features on the free side, and now wants you to pay for them (ex. figure value). Also I find it hard sometimes to find a figure to add to your collection because some people add wrong pictures and wrong discriptions thus finding the one you have poses a bit of a problem.

  3. KshatriyaNZ666's AvatarKshatriyaNZ666says

    08-16-2011, 12:42 AM

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by roadrevengeView Post
    I know there is Dash Collector-ActionFigures: For Action Figure Collectors to Buy, Sell, Manage, and Value Their Collection

    its free for the most part. they have removed a bunch of features on the free side, and now wants you to pay for them (ex. figure value). Also I find it hard sometimes to find a figure to add to your collection because some people add wrong pictures and wrong discriptions thus finding the one you have poses a bit of a problem.
    Wait, so the figures have to be registered on the actual site in order for them to be added to your collection - you can't upload pics/info for a certain figure yourself?

  4. skullshine has no avatar!skullshinesays

    08-16-2011, 01:21 AM

    You can add info and pics, if I'm not mistaken.

  5. roadrevenge's Avatarroadrevengesays

    08-16-2011, 01:26 AM

    you can edit the info, and add your pics, but if your not the first one to add pics then someone elses pic will show up first.

  6. omega145's Avataromega145says

    08-16-2011, 04:00 AM

    Just use Microsoft excel or word and make a spreadsheet and add pics that way. Or use openoffice if your a cheap bastard like me.

  7. atomicsmurf's Avataratomicsmurfsays

    08-16-2011, 06:00 AM

    ^ lol

    I use MS word, and Flikr.

  8. Optimus Vader's AvatarOptimus Vadersays

    08-16-2011, 06:38 AM

    I use Excel, but this app isn't bad if you collect Marvel figures and have an iPhone..

    Free iPhone checklist for marvel universe - Toy Discussion at Toyark.com

  9. Deefuzz's AvatarDeefuzzsays

    08-16-2011, 02:31 PM

    At one point I actually had used some old fashioned notebooks to keep tabs on my items. Eventually that evolved into an HTML page of my entire collection, but I brought that site down many years ago.

    I did have a Battle Beasts Collection app for my iPhone back when I used to use one. Now I have no record of anything.

  10. docfairday has no avatar!docfairdaysays

    08-16-2011, 03:24 PM

    For me being as close to a completest as I can be I keep track of my collection through my want list. If it's not on there then i probably have it. What's crazy is when I do set aside time to take inventory and realize I have been selling things I didn't have in my own collection. That is what recently happened to my 80s Joe stuff. I was selling figures I got in lots thinking I had them in my own collection. now I need to try and find some one who has what I need for a decent p[ricce or hope it shows up in the next lot I buy.

    by the way I collect the following lines
    GI joe 1982-1992
    GI Joe modern if it is a remake of a vintage figure
    He-man vintage
    He-man classic
    She-ra vintage/classic
    Voltron vintage (have 3 subs for the new stuff)
    Thundercats vintage (still deciding what scale to collect in the new stuff)
    MASK
    Silverhawks
    Star Wars vintage
    Star Wars galactic heroes - only need a few mroe troup builders then I am done
    WWE Rumblers
    ATeam vintage both scales
    Ghostbuster vintage (trying to decide if I am going to get the new stuff... being this far behind makes it hard)

    yeah all of that on a youth directors salary.

  11. biggs33's Avatarbiggs33says

    08-16-2011, 03:24 PM

    The iPhone Marvel Universe checklist is pretty good, but there are mistakes and missing pics. For example the last wave of Spider-Man figures still are listed by Hasbro's placeholder names, but most of them had name changes by the time they got released.

  12. Tiberius's AvatarTiberiussays

    08-16-2011, 03:32 PM

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by roadrevengeView Post
    I know there is Dash Collector-ActionFigures: For Action Figure Collectors to Buy, Sell, Manage, and Value Their Collection

    its free for the most part. they have removed a bunch of features on the free side, and now wants you to pay for them (ex. figure value). Also I find it hard sometimes to find a figure to add to your collection because some people add wrong pictures and wrong discriptions thus finding the one you have poses a bit of a problem.
    Yea I just tried it out, 25 bucks for a year isn't bad, just not something I am obsessed with. But it's all ready for when I am. Thanks for the site man!

  13. grayman has no avatar!graymansays

    08-16-2011, 03:40 PM

    I use an Excell spreadsheet that I made and have refined over the years to keep track of my items. I try to update it daily. It's a lot of work, but it saves me from buying duplicates and from going crazy looking for items within my collection. I haven't found anything online that is as effective.

  14. ciberw0lf has no avatar!ciberw0lfsays

    08-16-2011, 03:40 PM

    I collect whatever looks cool to me, so I have a bit of everything. I use shmax.com for my transformers, but I'd love to find something similar that I could use for everything.

    I'm kinda surprised that HISS Tank, TFW, Toy Ark, and Thundercats.ws haven't pooled there collective people into building some kinda service for collectors. I'd be down for helping make that happen.

  15. omega145's Avataromega145says

    08-16-2011, 03:52 PM

    Anyone want to post their preformated excel spreadsheets?

  16. jamesmruddy's Avatarjamesmruddysays

    08-16-2011, 05:19 PM

    Spread sheet via OpenOffice.

  17. roadrevenge's Avatarroadrevengesays

    08-16-2011, 05:21 PM

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ciberw0lfView Post
    I'm kinda surprised that HISS Tank, TFW, Toy Ark, and Thundercats.ws haven't pooled there collective people into building some kinda service for collectors. I'd be down for helping make that happen.
    I agree, I would help out. All my collection is MOC and I take pictures of each figure in a light tent so the background is white (no wood table backdrop, or wallpaper, etc. lol). Not to nag on anyone elses pics, But I believe mine would be up there with good picture quailty.

    As for my collection, I have all my pictures in their respected folder (ex. Marvel Universe 3.75, Marvel Select, Player Select, Spider-Man 3.75, etc.) and I have just a simple list on MS Word.

  18. AndyCR75's AvatarAndyCR75says

    08-16-2011, 05:43 PM

    photobucket. per my signature.

  19. behindthemask's Avatarbehindthemasksays

    08-16-2011, 05:46 PM

    I use the app on my ipod which keeps Marvel legends, universe, xmo, spiderman etc, it's free, easy to use, I can check off what I have, how many I have and put in the condition of the item, pretty handy, it's not as up to date as I'd like but it;s free. I'd say simply get a list of what's available/made and then just copy/paste it into notepad and then go through your own collection and add a checkmark or have it beside it,

  20. Solrac333 has no avatar!Solrac333says

    08-16-2011, 06:06 PM

    Now that I have my own house, I need to keep track of my collections. That's gonna be fun.

  21. nccollector's Avatarnccollectorsays

    08-16-2011, 07:27 PM

    I use Microsoft Office Access as the database, then export the fields to Excel and access the spreadsheets on my Blackberry. I have all Marvel, DC, Halo, Nascar, Diecast, Misc. I have each one with name, series, size, desc. and photo.

  22. ferndog1980 has no avatar!ferndog1980says

    08-16-2011, 07:35 PM

    I have, original G.I. Joes, G.I. Joe 25th Anniversary, JLU's, Marvel Universe, the original Voltron Pilots, A voltron masterpiece, Original Super Powers, Banpresto Robotech transformable valkyries about 4 inches each, The Original Robotech pilots, Star Wars Vintage collection (new versions, not the originals), hotwheels diecast Batmobiles 1:50 scale, Diecast 1:64 Scale Batmobiles (any brand as long as they are different batmobiles), the 3.75" movie maniacs, Starling Lineups Raiders & Lakers, Mcfarlanes Raiders & Lakers, 90s xmen figures, wwe 3.75 build n brawl figures, Saint Seiya original 4" Diecast figures, and 1:64 diecast famous TV and Movie vehicles.
    The way that i keep track is I have a packaged image of every item with the price that i paid for typed on the jpeg, in a folder by each collection. Then i have all of those folders in 1 folder Called My collectables. That's it.
    I am up to date with all of my collections. I am just waiting for things to get released, like the last JLU packs, Marvel universe and Star Wars vintage collection. The rest is done!....But i have yet to see the 3.75 Street fighter figs, those might be an additional collection, depending how they look.

  23. flywheels's Avatarflywheelssays

    08-16-2011, 08:53 PM

    I've been using Shmax.com for my Transformers collection. I haven't really kept track of my other collections, but I'm thinking of using Google Docs to whip something up to put on my toy blog.

  24. KshatriyaNZ666's AvatarKshatriyaNZ666says

    08-16-2011, 09:04 PM

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by omega145View Post
    Anyone want to post their preformated excel spreadsheets?
    I'd absolutely love that - it'd be nice to have a decent step-off point with a pre-formatted one!

    And, wow...did NOT expect my name to be splashed up front and center on the Ark's home page. It's just "whoa", I'm pretty dang new here. But I have to say I'm grateful though - thanks Deefuzz

    And didn't expect so much helpful feedback in this time-frame as well. So thanks a lot to all you guys too. I tried out that Dash website, it's pretty neat, aside from the occasional duplicates that are cataloged, along with totally messed up images - who decided to put a DC Direct Blue Lantern Flash pic for the DCUC Blue Lantern: Flash figure? Humorously, it's the same thing with CnC Arkillo and his DC Direct counterpart.

    Though the issue is that I also collect a decent portion of Japanese action figures/toys as well, and most of those seem non-existent on that site (of course...). So I think I'll couple that site together with logging my collection in a spreadsheet. That's where a nice pre-formatted spreadsheet would come in handy, 'cause I'm hapless at where to even start (with categories, grades, etc.)

    Everybody's listing their lines, so I guess I'll do it too:

    -Marvel Legends (+Icons, Showdown, etc.) (ToyBiz/Hasbro)
    -Legendary Comic Book Heroes
    -Marvel Universe
    -Spider-Man (+Classics, Origins, Movie(s), etc.)
    -Marvel Select
    -Diamond Select Minimates (Marvel, DC, Indies)
    -Shocker Toys' Indie Spotlight
    -Star Wars (3.75" mostly)
    -GI Joe (started out with Pursuit of Cobra)
    -Transformers (Movie(s), Generations, RID, etc.)
    -NECA (mostly Player Select)
    -DCUC (along with whatever the "rebrand"/"relaunch" will be called)
    -DCU Infinite Heroes (I only own like 2...)
    -DC Direct
    -Green Lantern Classics
    -LEGO BIONICLE/Hero Factory
    -Play Arts (+Kai, etc.)
    -McFarlane (Halo/Halo: Reach)
    -Masters of the Universe Classics
    -Mobile Suit Gundam (American Bandai)
    -Gundam Fix Figuration (think that's what it's called)
    -Bandai's Robot Spirits/Damashii
    -Bandai's D-Arts
    -Max Factory/Goodsmile's figma (+Nendoroid)
    -Kaiyodo's Revoltech
    -Various Model Kits (Bandai Gundam/miscellaneous aircraft)
    -Jazware's Mortal Kombat (one sole figure - yay....)

  25. Primacron's AvatarPrimacronsays

    08-17-2011, 12:58 AM

    Funnily enough I was just updating my spreadsheet last night.

    I use it to keep track of what I own, what I want to sell, what I have duplicates of, where the item physically is, what I intend to buy and what I want, etc.

    I have about 40 different categories as columns then a list under every category heading. Probably not much use for anyone else as it's not particularly sophisticated and very personalised!

  26. There are more replies on the Toyark Forums.

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