As some famous person probably once said, what’s the point in being a geek if no one can see you’re a geek just by looking around your room? Merch, collectibles, and gadgets are a fundamental part of geek culture, but when it comes down to actually buying things, it’s a whole different world filled with fakes, limited editions, and rare items.
From posters to plushies and from mechas to mochi, here are our top tips for you on buying merch and making sure you get exactly what you’re expecting.
Use Every Offer and Promo
Special offers are never a bad thing. Your local Walmart or Target always has a raft of special offers and furniture shops seem to have nothing but sales sometimes. This is no different in the world of entertainment as online casinos like MrQ put up several promotions all year round such as free spins and prize drops on certain games. For geek products, they are even more critical, not least because the price tags that come with all these specially licensed products can sometimes be eyewatering.
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Genuine merch and items from sci-fi, fantasy, or other similar franchises should always be bought at a discount if possible. Even at half-price, a lot of memorabilia is still extremely expensive, and any discount available is important. Look for things like clearance sales on Merchoid, and don’t be ashamed to check out Amazon or eBay, especially for less-niche items like t-shirts or basic posters.
Be Careful With Sellers
That advice to go to Amazon or eBay comes with a big warning label. While both sites do contain a treasure trove of great deals to find, they also contain many unscrupulous sellers who don’t have that collector’s pride in mind.
It’s common to either find cheap reproductions of official products, or sellers that appear to have genuine merch for remarkably low prices who then send something entirely different afterward. Bear in mind, the global value of the fakes industry across all types of products is higher than the entirety of most major industries, so you’re definitely going to see a few.
The rule to follow is a classic: if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. For smaller items like t-shirts, mugs, or that kind of thing, it can be worth the risk as it’s not a huge amount to lose if you end up with a fake. For things like collectibles or large items, always find a dedicated seller.
Always Ask For Help
Not sure if you’re looking at a real item or a dud? Don’t worry if you can’t spot the signs with collectible cards or figures; not everyone is an expert. Thankfully, the geek community does indeed have experts around and they are usually more than happy to help shoot down some scams. Take to social media, particularly Reddit, and post all the info you have on whatever you’re trying to buy.
You’re guaranteed to get responses, albeit of different levels of usefulness, but at least something to put you on the right track. Remember that, if in doubt, you can always trust your fellow geeks first, no matter which particular faction you belong to.
