Common Mistakes New Collectors Make — and the Psychology Behind Them

Collecting should be fun, but blind boxes, limited editions and social media hype can make spending feel more urgent than it really is. Here are some common mistakes new collectors make and the psychology behind them.

Buying Too Much Too Quickly

A new collection can feel exciting because novelty grabs our attention and creates a strong sense of reward.

That excitement can make every item feel essential. A good rule is to wait a few days before buying. If you still want it after the initial buzz has faded, it is more likely to be a genuine favourite.

Confusing “Limited” with “Valuable”

People often want things more when they seem scarce. This is known as the scarcity effect.

Words such as “limited”, “exclusive” and “rare” can increase desire, but they do not guarantee future value. Demand matters just as much as how many were made.

Chasing Secret Figures

Blind boxes use unpredictable rewards, which can make them especially exciting. The possibility of getting a secret figure encourages people to keep trying.

Set a spending limit before opening boxes. Once you reach it, buying the confirmed figure may be cheaper than continuing to gamble on duplicates.

Continuing Because You Have Already Spent Money

This is called the sunk-cost effect.

Collectors may keep buying because they have already spent £50 or £100 chasing a figure. But previous spending is already gone. The better question is: “Would I spend more on this now?”

Buying Because Everyone Else Has It

People naturally copy others when they are unsure what to choose. This is known as social proof.

Seeing the same figure repeatedly on TikTok or Instagram can make it feel more desirable, even if you were not interested at first. Ask yourself whether you truly like it or simply feel left out.

Assuming Everything Will Increase in Value

Collectors often overestimate how much future value an item will have. This can be influenced by optimism bias, where people expect a better outcome than is realistic.

Some figures rise in price, but many sell for less than retail. Buy because you enjoy the item, not because you assume it will become an investment.

Completing Sets You Do Not Really Love

An incomplete set can feel uncomfortable. This is linked to the completion effect, where unfinished tasks or collections stay in our minds and create pressure to finish them.

You do not need every figure. A smaller collection of genuine favourites is often more satisfying than a complete set containing designs you do not care about.

Ignoring the Full Cost

Small purchases are easy to underestimate, especially when they are spread across several orders.

Postage, import fees and duplicates all add up. Tracking your spending for one month can be surprisingly revealing.

Forgetting That Collecting Should Be Enjoyable

Collecting can become stressful when it turns into competition, chasing or fear of missing out.

FOMO (Fear of missing out) works by making a missed opportunity feel like a loss, even when you never truly wanted the item. There will always be another release.

Set a budget, take your time and choose items that still make you smile after the hype has passed.