What rules do other people use when they catalouge their collections?

[BigTransformerTrev]

I always read the Actionmaster partners bio as having personality so I think they count.

Yeah, thats pretty much the kind of thinking I've been using to catagorize my bots. Suppose it depends on the Action Master though.

*Push-Button (Mainframe's partner) definetly has a personality so I count him seperate.

*Jazz's turbo-board or Bumblebee's helicopter pack don't have personalities so I don't count them (actually come to think of it - I dont even have them lol)


I can understand Gok's point about the rules for collection comparison and discounting 3rd party products - especially if Hasbro has been involved in the discussion. Apparently Hasbro is giving strong consideration to banning all 3rd party products at Botcon next year! But as he and many of you have said, for our own personal collections, it's up to us

[theheretic]

It all seems really technical :-S Plushies count but mighty muggs don't? Only licensed items count too? Oh well. No pre transformers or go bots, even though the go bots where officially taken into the TF world as an alternate universe. Personally I feel as long as it transformers (and isnt a drone), licensed or not it counts, with the exception of cheap KO's.

[GoktimusPrime]

It all seems really technical :-S Plushies count but mighty muggs don't?

That's what the majority voted for.

Only licensed items count too?

Yep. Because otherwise the product simply isn't part of the Transformers brand.

No pre transformers or go bots, even though the go bots where officially taken into the TF world as an alternate universe.

Yes, and the Go-Bots who are produced and marketed by HasTak as part of the Transformers universe do count as Transformers (e.g. BotCon Bug Bite, eHobby Gobots, Fracture etc.) Even canonically the GoBots didn't become part of the Transformers universe until after Classics Megatron had inadvertantly caused the destruction of the Gobot universe and some of the Gobots had fled to the Transformers' universe as interdimensional refugees, integrating themselves into Cybertronian society.

Also, if you're going to let people count non-TF toys that have been integrated into Transformers like Gobots and let them count the Tonka Gobots, then a similar argument could be made for other such toys, like Star Wars, Marvel heroes, G.I. Joe, Garibo, Disney, iPod, Nike, USBs, Bathing Ape, Pepsi and other franchises that have crossed over with Transformers at one stage or another. So people could use the same rationale to include their Kenner Star Wars toys, Toy Biz Marvel toys, G.I. Joe toys et al. as part of their "Transformers" collection.

Personally I feel as long as it transformers (and isnt a drone), licensed or not it counts, with the exception of cheap KO's.

If that's how you want to personally count it then go for it. But for the purposes of the UCM anything not officially part of the Transformers Brand doesn't count. And remember that UCM rules cannot be changed otherwise the results from previous surveys becomes incomparable, which defeats the core purpose of the UCM in the first place. The UCM isn't saying "This is the best way to count," because there's no such thing as a "best" way to count toys. It's simply, "This is a way to count if you want to compare collection sizes and conduct comparative surveys." Outside of this context it doesn't matter how you want to count your toys; count however you want.

[theheretic]

I just held a survey and everyone voted on a new way to count transformers collections where everything I previously said is now used... It is called the ICM, Infinity Counting Method.

Please note that I only surveyed myself, but I was in total agreeance with myself :-)

[Slag]

I just held a survey and everyone voted on a new way to count transformers collections where everything I previously said is now used... It is called the ICM, Infinity Counting Method.

Please note that I only surveyed myself, but I was in total agreeance with myself :-)

At least everyone agrees on something.

[5FDP]

It all seems really technical :-S Plushies count but mighty muggs don't?

I keep it simple and don't count either If I went by the UCM method, my collection count would be a great deal higher however it's not about how many I have that's important to me but do I enjoy what I own.

[Sharky]

it's not about how many I have that's important to me but do I enjoy what I own.

thats exactly right.. and in all instances i like not knowing how many i have!!
(man i still got to find my storage box from 1988/89)

[griffin]

I agree... it's the collection as a whole that has any significance or value. Keeping track of numbers is only for the benefit of non-collectors who ask, and for seeing how each year of purchases compares to previous years (for me).

[GoktimusPrime]

I just like knowing how many I have. I first started counting/cataloging my Transformers collection in 1985 (I made a spreadsheet on our Commodore 64!). Of course a common counting method isn't necessary for this.

Having a common counting method has helped me:
1/ Compare my collection count with others who have chosen to use the UCM
2/ Determine the average size of a Transformers collection - I've wanted to know this since 1996!

How people want to count their collections (if at all) is up to them. You only need to use an agreed upon method if you want to compare your counts or participated in the survey project... beyond that it doesn't matter.

[theheretic]

I keep it simple and don't count either If I went by the UCM method, my collection count would be a great deal higher however it's not about how many I have that's important to me but do I enjoy what I own.

That's very true. It's all about enjoyment for me too. Especially considering my count would be pretty low :-)