Basically, collecting Transformer toys is like collecting any other toy or action figure. Some see it as a trend, and for others, part of a growing urban culture. Transformers toys were the first ‘transforming robots’ (robots that could change their robotic shapes into other shapes, such as vehicles like cars, airplanes, ambulances, and many other shapes) in the United States in the mid-1980s. There’s a whole world and all kinds of related topics such as toy trade, market and price, demand versus supply, shortage and many more. For most fans like me, Transformers Generation 1 (G1) has been the best series of toy lines in the Transformers Universe and would actually be the best for those who intend to start collecting them as a hobby or investment.

This is due to the fact that most of the Gen 1 characters are said to have had the biggest impact and have stuck around ever since. Imagine buying Optimus Prime when you were 8 years old, not knowing how much it would be worth 20 years later and not giving much thought to putting it away.

Generally there are those who buy the toys as a hobby and those who buy them as an investment or even those who buy them for both purposes. For those who buy them for investment purposes, the condition of the toys remains an important factor in determining the price when (and if) they will be sold in the future. Those who buy them for investment purposes keep them as is, with the box intact and unopened, or they open them but handle them with great care. When open, make sure none of the accessories, which are usually small in size, are missing or parts are lost or damaged.

The shortage and the production number is also an important factor when the price is mentioned. Of course, a toy figure that is mass produced would not be as sought after and therefore would not be priced as high as limited edition releases. The limited edition could simply mean a release that has a different color scheme than the original or released as a commemorative edition (for example, in conjunction with the series’ 25th anniversary). Some of these limited editions come with a certificate of authenticity and are numbered accordingly, for example 1-1000 (a limited edition of 1000 toys produced).

Please note that Transformer toys released in different parts of the world may differ due to different releases in the US, UK, and Japan. Some of the same characters have different names. For example, Optimus Prime is known as Convoy in Japan. Many other characters are named differently in Japan and come in different packages (obviously with Japanese characters and all).

With the release of the 2007 live-action movie and its upcoming sequel, Transfomers: Revenge of The Fallen, demand and therefore prices for Transformer toys and other related products are expected to rise. For current collectors, keep an eye out for more of these toys and for potential collectors, this would be a great time to start collecting. If you’re not sure which toy to buy, just check out the many sites that are fan-based for some tips and a helpful Transformer Toy Guide.