You can find some GREAT finds at goodwill if you dig around a bit: among my finds:
Fischer-Price Kermit Doll (1976/77)..25 cents
Fischer -Price Animal Puppet ...........50 cents
Knickerbocker Oscar the grouch doll....$1
Knickerbocker Herry Monster doll.........$1
Hasbro Baby Kermit..............................75cents
Hasbro Baby Rowlf...............................75 cents
Hasbro Baby Piggy...............................75 cents
Hasbro Gobo Fraggle............................75 cents
Direct Connect Rowlf.............................50 cents
Applause Ernie doll with RUBBER head and hands..$1
Applause Bert doll with RUBBER head and hands......$1
Applause12" posable Kermit doll..........................50 cents
(This one still has its ORIGINAL price tag of $25!!!)
Applause 18" posable Kermit doll........................$1
Eden 20" Kermit Xmas doll.(red bow tie and checked vest....$1
Toy Biz Muppet treasure Island Kermit Doll...................75 cents
LARGE size TALKING Baby Sinclair (DINOSAURS) doll..$2
(PERFECT CONDITION!)
Early 1980's COLECO CAT IN THE HAT stuffed doll...$1
Late 1960's ALBERT ALLIGATOR FROM POGO figure..10 cents
(Those go for at least $40 today!)
Early eighties KENNER STAR WARS R2D2 figure (special edition with retractable middle leg)...............................................10 cents!
And from Yard sales/ Flea markets:
Fisher-Price Miss Piggy Puppet....$2
Fischer-Price Piggy Dress-up doll.....75 cents
Fischer-Price Scooter...................25 cents
Fischer-Price Fozzie Handpuppet......50 cents
Hasbro Mokey Fraggle................$2
Hasbro Boober Fraggle..............$2
Hasbro Traveling Matt Fraggle...........$2
Direct Connect Mini-Fozzie doll..........25 cents
Direct Connect Animal doll..........25 cents
See How patience can pay off? Can you imagine how much this all would have cost if i got it off EBAY?? Oh, I admit i may have "Splurged" a little when i've been at collector's shows and comic conventions, But I always make sure never to pay more than a FAIR price and often,(SIXTY BUCKS for an old TOMY Fraggle doll is NOT what I consider a FAIR PRICE) a seller will drop the price with a little haggling..
Advice:
If you MUST buy something at a collector's show or comic convention:
Make sure the item is RARE enough to be worth a little extra:
(For example- never buy those McDonald's Muppet Baby holiday dolls for $10 each cause i see them EVERY TIME i go to a flea market or yard sale for 50 cents each, tops! SIGMA items, on the other hand....)
Engage the seller in a friendly conversation: Some sellers actually have a real interest in the background of what you might be interested in and might actually offer to reduce the price a bit for you. (A form of polite haggling) If he makes an offer, consider it. If you still don't want to pay and he won't bring it down any more.. politely decline , thank the seller for the offer, and move on.
If you go to a multi-day event and see something you'd like, take a chance and try not to buy it the last day of the show..In fact, wait until a few hours before the show ends. Some sellers often offer last-day discounts (especially if they need to try to break even on what they paid to rent their space) In fact, if something you haggled for before is still there, maybe the seller will be a bit more willing to reduce the price a bit more now. ALWAYS BE FRIENDLY AND POLITE. (I got a good deal off a Selich ZOOT figure this way)
Smig