What do you NOT collect.

Small intro here:

We all are collectors, animal style XD
We all have amazing collections, big or small.
We have our wish lists and favorite brands and animals.
We all collect what we enjoy most and are happy when a new parcel arrives.


But what do you NOT collect?


There are so many different animals on the market, even dinosaurs, prehistoric life and fantasy figures.
But we don't collect them all, mainly because we are picky (Me too )

Me, for an example, don't collect prehistoric life.
Why? Because I don't have enough space, and because I don't have a 'click/bond' with them.

So what do you NOT collect and why?
This could be animals, brands, specific things (Colors, sizes, poses.) specific types of animals.
(Example: "I do collect tigers, except for the white ones")

Keep it friendly and respect opinions from others

hmm... good question, one I should ask myself more often

I don't collect Prehistoric life and in general I don't collect amphibians, reptiles and insects. So I don't buy them at all even when I see some for a very good price on a fleemarket.
But then I also have a different type of "I don't collect" which means I won't buy them but if I do find one for a very low price I do buy them. These animals include elephants, giraffes... now I think of it most of the animals which belong to this section are the larger African herbivores.      

I thinks this is a very interesting topic :)

I don't collect fantasy figures.

I rather not collect dinosaurs but I buy them anyway, pretending they are only for my son (but I enjoy them anyway and play together with my son)
I also don't really collect amphibians, fish and invertebrates (still I have octopus and salamander in my collection).

I try to concentrate on mammals, birds and some reptiles (but not all of them, I seem to prefer turtles, tortoises and some lizards than for example snakes, still I have some snakes too)…

I rather not collect human figures but sometimes I think of getting one or two more (having two already in collection)

For me it may be hard sometimes to say  exactly what I'm not collecting. For example, I try to not collect fish but when I see Colorata deep see fish set I feel very tempted.    I don't collect fantasy but even some dragons look really good to me. And so on…

I don't have any insect in collection yet but probably it's just a matter of time

And why?   This go too far into psychoanalysis   Some figures I find closer to my heart then others, for some I just don't care. It must be mix of memories, interest etc. Quite a complex subject I guess. (for example why preferring mammals and birds over fish? maybe just because they are more similar to us, or I just had more to do with them, observing them in everyday life, don't really know)

Because I mainly collect vintage Britains and similar 1:32 scale figures, I don't collect any of the newer large scale brands such as Schleich. If I get any in job lots (which has happened) I give them to the little girl in the family in a house over the street from me. I do have, again usually bought unintentionally in job lots, some newer figures which I've included in my collection, if they fit in with Britains style & size, or other brands I have. For example, as I have some old Elastolin & Lineol composition farm & zoo figures in larger scale, I'd keep any of the newer plastic figures in the same style if they came my way.
One thing you may not have considered fully in asking this question is just how vast is the range of animal toy figures & related items, such as farm people, zoo keepers and stables, zoo cages and other buildings for them to 'live' in which have been manufactured over the past century or so. A mega rich person with a large private 'museum' room in their home could only afford to buy and store a fraction of them, so everyone has to specialise. This becomes obvious when you look through the auction catalogues of world famous figure collections (usually farm, zoo & soldiers in various combinations), usually after the owners have died, comprising many thousands of figures. All are more or less specialised, and they had lots of figures they had NOT collected, including many figures which one might have expected to see, on the lines of, if he had items A,B,C,D & E, why didn't he have an F?

I obviously don't know if you, or any other younger (than me!) collectors who look at this thread have many current or old catalogues of various toy manufacturers, or relevant reference books, but I have quite a lot - and every time I buy another catalogue/book the more I realise how impossible it is to collect 'everything', even for those collectors who have already defined their collections comparatively narrowly, such as the member here who only collects toy cattle. You wouldn't believe how many toy cows have been made over the years.

Material: I don´t collect old "masse" figures, figures from glass, stone resin, pottery, lead, leather, wood, plush etc., I collect plastic (+/- celluloid) ones.

Size: I don´t collect too small (Schleich micro etc.) or too large (some Breyers) figures, although during time I got some very small Kabaya birds and very large Phat figures... This option seems to be slightly flexible for me in time...

Scale: M 1:32 is ideal for me (Britains, Jeol, Timpo, Elastolin...), scale-ignoring egg-figures are OK for me (Kaiyodos, Yowies...), so: I have no criteria set for the scale!

Taxonomy: I don´t collect dinos, people figures, buildings, etc. Though, good trees are acceptable for me. My main focus are terrestrial mammals and birds, so I don´t intentionally searching for whales, reptiles, fishes, insects etc.

Origin: I am not exclusive brand or entire lines collector so I collect only figures I like regardless the figure origin. Because I don´t have enough space, I try reduce my collection range to the wildlife (but some outstanding pieces from farm life I have in my collection too).

I don't collect prehistoric (unless it's super cheap from a yard sale or something).   

No smurfs.   

I mainly buy Schleich, and some CollectA horses (for model horse showing), but other brands have made their way into my collection so it's hard to be truthful about that anymore

I do collect Breyer horses, but I don't collect the creepy kids toy models, like the "Wind Dancers" and "Pony Gals."

jarda wrote:

Material: I don´t collect old "masse" figures, figures from glass, stone resin, pottery, lead, leather, wood, plush etc., I collect plastic (+/- celluloid) ones.

Size: I don´t collect too small (Schleich micro etc.) or too large (some Breyers) figures, although during time I got some very small Kabaya birds and very large Phat figures... This option seems to be slightly flexible for me in time...

Scale: M 1:32 is ideal for me (Britains, Jeol, Timpo, Elastolin...), scale-ignoring egg-figures are OK for me (Kaiyodos, Yowies...), so: I have no criteria set for the scale!

Taxonomy: I don´t collect dinos, people figures, buildings, etc. Though, good trees are acceptable for me. My main focus are terrestrial mammals and birds, so I don´t intentionally searching for whales, reptiles, fishes, insects etc.

Origin: I am not exclusive brand or entire lines collector so I collect only figures I like regardless the figure origin. Because I don´t have enough space, I try reduce my collection range to the wildlife (but some outstanding pieces from farm life I have in my collection too).

I can copy your text but only in the material i also collect Masse and sometimes small!! Resin figurines (but i am also not so happy with this  ).

And i dont like puzzle animals with strange visible lines   

And i am not so much interested in farm and extinct animals     But i have a few and buy sometimes too  

here is also a similar topic   

https://sts-forum.forumieren.de/t2677-which-animals-figurines-or-brands-do-you-collect?highlight=what+you+collect

I don't collect dinosaurus, but never say never  

A good question Karin.   

My simple answer is I don’t collect anything I don’t like!   

I have a preference for animal figures that are painted so I don’t buy self-coloured animals. This is one reason why I sold on my Airfix OO/HO scale zoo animals and zoo set.

Also I don’t buy animal figures that don’t fit into my current collection scales - I don’t like large plastic animals.

Animals have to be realistic too - so I don’t want to include cartoonish animals.

I don´t collect fantasy figures, but they are nice.  

i dont collect human figures, fantasy figures (except dragons and monsters), cartoony animal figures (but i have very few), farm and zoo buildings/cages/fences, one colored figures, non-plastic figures.

i collect basically all kinds of animals: extinct/extant, domestic/wild, vertebrates/invertebrates.

I only collect horses so... I don't collect anything without neighing  

Why? I have to admit there are some cute animals (specially baby wild life animals) but I'm a horselover (I stated collecting because I'm a rider) so now my goal is having as horses as I can and after that... who knows?

I try to steer clear of resins and clinkies/clankies (china and metal models) because of breakability and generally being harder to customize or repair.
Sizewise I prefer small to midsize models, the biggest I'm comfortable with is about 1:12 though I occasionally make an exception for trad scale Breyers. The size issue is the main reason I don't collect sauropods, elephants, or cetaceans.
On the whole I try not to collect sealife, pets, or farm animals (excepting horses, the odd bull, and the more outlandish sort of pig).
Oh, and I don't collect juveniles regardless of order. No foals, hatchlings, puppies or calves.

... then there's the one exception to all these rules: Anything hippo, regardless of size, material, or condition is sure to find a home with me.  

I don't collect deluxe size models and generally larger scales than Schleich, Mojö, CollectA etc. And not smaller scale than them either. - and models not made of plastic. 

Ha, I have a hard time "not" collecting anything I like.   For me, I really don't collect fantasy figures, dinosaurs, or ocean life, people or accessories. Why? Simply because these figures typically cost more than most animal figures, and I don't enough space for everything that is collectible. I will not buy something that does not represent the animal at all (though I do collect animals with charm, if that makes sense). The people and accessories depends on if I like them or not, and the accessories I will get if I want an animal that is included, otherwise I would skip over it.
On a side note, I have recently told myself that I may collect a few dinosaurs and ocean animals from CollectA and Safari ltd. eventually, but only the ones that I really like and remind me of my childhood of watching documentaries etc. on TV, so I can't resist.   But mainly that's what I don't collect sesriously.

There are so many that I don't collect that it is hard to say.
From materials I am not an enthusiast of wood, glass or ceramics.
I don't like also hollow cast with the exception of lead.
I dislike puzzles, it doesn't matter how good the figure is or how discretive are seans.
I don't collect human figures of all kinds, farm people, soldiers, western, knights, etc.
No buildings or accessories.
I don't like figures larger than the regular of major brands or smaller than 1:32 but that's far from being a rule.
No dinosaurs, large sized sea life, arthropods, small reptiles, amphibians but there are some good exceptions.
No farm animals or pets either.
All these animal series I don't collect due to lack of room and money, actually I would love to collect most of them.
Though, no interest at all in Fantasy figures, I find some dragons particularly beautiful but I don't feel special interest in them.
I also don't have a particular atraction for high valued figures, if there is a banal but good representative of a species that I can get for little money, I don't have any interest in getting a high valued counterpart. I know it is paradoxal regarding collecting hobby.
I don't collect catalogues except Mojo.
I don't collect keyrings or any other promotional things related with animal hobby.
I am particularly interested in Susanne's comment here once we know she doesn't collect almost anything.

I collect the most of what comes in my way, if I like the figures: Wild and farm animals, horses, people and elves (Bayala and Arelan). Disney comic figures from Bullyland are also a part of my collection.

At the moment I do NOT collect dinosaurs because most of them are so big, and cost much more than the smaller animals. (But I have a few that I could not resist to buy. )

I do NOT collect buildings, trees and farm accesories, heroes and knights, because I have not enought space, and they are quite expensive.

And I do NOT collect the smurfs, because I do not like them.

Perhaps I will not buy some of the new Schleich horses this year, because they are too strange looking. I have used to buy all the new Schleich horses previous years.

Roger wrote:

I am particularly interested in Susanne's comment here once we know she doesn't collect almost anything.

Oh me too!

Hmm, didn't expect so much members would comment    
It is so much fun and very interesting to read what member don't collect.
It gives you a whole new few about animal replica collections

I almost forgot what I don't collect...
- Smurfs, nope. I don't like them...
- Animals that have a larger scale than the major brands (Schleich, Safari, Mojo, etc.)
(I do however collect big animals, whales, elephants, some dragons...)
- No knights, no castles, no knight related things. (Just like the smurfs, I don't like them.)
- No farms, stables, big buildings. (No room for them.)
- No glass, wood, led. Let me just say I only collect only plastic, pluche and ceramic/resin animals.
- I must have some connection with the figure, I my mind I must scream: "OMG!! That is what I want, now!!"
- No prehistoric life and most dinosaurs.
- No insects.

I think that is it XD

NightLioness wrote:

- No knights, no castles, no knight related things. (Just like the smurfs, I don't like them.)
- No farms, stables, big buildings. (No room for them.)

Not many people do have room for castles, farms, & other buildings, and the only reason I can collect them is because I live alone and can be a classic eccentric old English guy, and fill my house with them. They do take up a lot of storage space.

However, the fact that most people can't collect them, because they have families to consider or live in a small apartment, is an advantage for me on eBay and at toy fairs, because it means I can buy most of them at a reasonable price, sometimes real bargains. The only buildings which regularly go up to really high prices are the Britains/Hugar and Elastolin/Lineol ones.

Roger wrote:

I am particularly interested in Susanne's comment here once we know she doesn't collect almost anything.

     So I am   

What I do not collect? It is a very interesting question. That's why I still didn't answer.       

The easy part of the answer: I don't collect horses, Farm animals, insects and pets. I don't collect Fantasy figures. I don't collect soldiers, Western or medival figures. I don't collect figures with tags.

Less easy: I don't collect everything from a single brand, I don't collect everything from every brands, I don't collect every species if I don't like the models, I don't collect a model I don't like, I don't collect a model because it is expensive and rare.

Even less easy: I don't collect banknotes alas   

Conclusion: If I don't want to collect everything or a brand or a specific animal or... Am I really a collector?   

P.S. Maybe what can pinpoint a collector is exactly this question: What you do not collect?   

Roger wrote:

I am particularly interested in Susanne's comment here once we know she doesn't collect almost anything.

Add me to the list!    

Animal_Figures_4U wrote:

Roger wrote:

I am particularly interested in Susanne's comment here once we know she doesn't collect almost anything.

Add me to the list!    

me too!

I have just begun my collection with birds, bats, and antelopes. It could be too early to say what I do not collect, but for now...

I will not be collecting non-plastic animals (an exception could be made for owls). I am not particularly interested in vintage-type figures with the paint worn or an unrealistic appearance. I generally like the species to be distinguishable. Depending on the animal, I do not like them too small or too large. I'd accept a tiny bird over a tiny antelope, or a large antelope rather than a large bird, for instance.

Horses, people, farm animals, Smurfs, and buildings do not have much chance of entering my collection. Pets, marine life, reptiles, amphibians, dinosaurs, fantasy creatures, and insects probably won't either, but it's always possible for some particular figure to enchant me.

I had all of these in the past, so it's not that I dislike them. It seems I prefer new types of animals for this collection I am starting anew. I haven't owned many bird, bat, or antelope figures before. They seem fresh and exciting to me.

Then, there are some animals that I do not plan to collect, but one or two figures could tempt me eventually. For example, I do not collect elephants anymore, but they are and have been my favorite animal since a child. If I find a special one, I may not be able to resist. Just one… 

I could also be in trouble if I keep eyeing the wonderful manatees, tapirs, tamanduas, sloths, and other unusual creatures I am fond of. Octopus, kinkajou, loris, aye-aye? Who knows what would happen if I encounter them at a store one day. I would pick them up to admire them, but would I be able to put them back down?  

I don't collect Prehistoric animal figures, they are so good, but I can't start with another collection XD

Animal_Figures_4U, I also like that cange of breyers but I don't have any of them XD