Buying & Collecting Bobbleheads... Helpful Tips

Are you considering collecting bobbleheads?  Do you already collect bobbleheads and looking to add to your collection?  Or maybe you just want a bobblehead of your favorite player?

I've been buying and collecting bobbleheads for a while now, picking up one or two when I find a good deal.  I'm a huge Detroit Red Wings fan, so I collect Red Wings bobbleheads.  I've built a collection of over 40 different bobbleheads, all in great condition.  It takes time and patience, especially if you want to find that good deal and save money.  Bobbleheads can be expensive, UNLESS you know where to look and when to buy. 

Here are some things I've learned, that might help you out as well:

1. When searching on eBay for bobbleheads, do a search for "bobble" and for "bobblehead".  Sellers list them differently in the auction title.  Searching for both options will increase your chance of finding the one(s) you want.
2. Before you start buying, in your mind, set a price limit that you want to spend on each bobblehead.  Be realistic, but also dont't be afraid to think a little lower.  I limit myself to under $10 (only exception might be a really rare bobblehead, which I know will cost a bit more).  Don't get discouraged if you don't see the one you want for an amount under your limit.
3. BE PATIENT!!  It can take a little time to find what you want at the price you want.  I've waited as long as 4 months for several bobbleheads.  It can be nerve racking at times, but in the end, it pays off.
4. ALWAYS check the shipping charge.  I personally try to avoid buying bobbleheads if the shipping method is UPS.  It typically costs a few dollars more to ship via UPS versus thru the post office (USPS).  I like the auctions that allow you to enter your zip code in and have it calculate actual shipping charges for you.  It's usually cheaper (assuming the seller didn't exaggerate the weight of the bobblehead, which I've found rarely to be the case), saving you money!!  $5 to $7 is pretty normal for bobblehead shipping.  If you find it for less, that's an extra bonus for you!!
5. Typically I make it a point to send the seller a message asking if the bobblehead comes from a smoke-free environment.  I'm a non-smoker, and don't appreciate the smell of smoke on my bobbleheads.  So, I won't buy it unless it comes from a smoke-free location... no matter how badly I want it.  PLUS... smoke leaves a grey-brown stain on most items, especially bobbleheads.  This doesn't make the bobblehead look nearly as nice, and they really look terrible when sitting next to a new, clean one.
6. In general... don't be afraid to ask the seller a question about the bobblehead.  If something isn't clear in the auction description, you should ask before buying.  There's nothing worse than buying something that you "thought" you wanted and having it end up NOT being what you wanted because of a vague or non-descriptive auction.
7. Pictures are worth a thousand words... heard that before??  I won't buy a bobblehead unless I can see a picture of it.  Several pictures (from various angles) are even better.  It's nice to know what you are buying!

Those are the main rules I follow when I buy bobbleheads.  It has helped me save hundreds of dollars, not to mention some of the great buys I've scored!!  I've picked up bobbleheads for as little as a dollar each.

One really good, and rarely used, option for getting really great deals on bobbleheads are on those auctions that end with NO bids!  If I find a bobblehead that I want, and it has no bids, I'll keep an eye on it but not place a bid.  In the chance that it ends without a bid, I'll then send a message to the seller and ask if the bobblehead is still available.  If it is, I then make the seller an offer for it.  Your offer should ALWAYS include the cost of shipping, and state that in your offer.  I often make offers of $7 to $9, which means I'm typically getting the bobblehead for $1 to $3, and the rest is shipping.  I call that a great deal!!  If the seller accepts, then to comply with eBay rules, he/she lists it on eBay for the agreed upon amount (usually Buy-It-Now), sends you the link for the auction, and you buy it right away at the great low price!!  If the seller says no to your offer... oh well.  You aren't out anything and you at least tried.  You'll find another one!!

I use that method quite often, and typically my offers are accepted 30-40% of the time.  Might not seem like a great success rate.  But my offers are usually pretty low, and if they accept... I WIN!  If they don't, oh well... move on to the next auction!

These methods and tips are great for anyone collecting bobbleheads because they can really be time and money savers. 

Hopefully you find this guide to be helpful in your bobblehead collecting quest!