[Gladys]

Hi All

I am having a "little blue" trouble here as my collection of smurfs grow...I have no idea how to track them ??!!!

I collect variations as well and with a young daughter in tow (10 mths old), I can't be going through my drawers every time I need to check if I have a particular smurf or its variation

I would be eternally grateful if someone could advise me as to how on earth do I keep track of the smurfs I have ?? I would hate to see it grow so big that I have no idea of my own collection


Gladys

[Rachel]

Hi Gladys, I personally used to use a Der Schlumpf Katalog and tick off the smurfs as and when I got them. If I had a variation I would tick the exact smurf but to start with I just used to mark each page as there is a little tick box in the corner. I would use pecil so if I got it wrong it was easy to correct.

At the moment I am using my website but will be going through the whole collection very soon to check I have everything up to date and I haven't missed any smurfs.

[Smurf1303]

At the present I have a book in which I write each version as it arrives - several years ago I stuck in pics of all the smurf, 5 to a page.

However, this is getting a bit unwieldy so I am not building a DB to keep track but not making much progress now my leave is over

[eggie smurf]

I use Microsoft Excel in a spreadsheet form showing the date purchased, the price, the value, smurf number, name (if it's a variation) and the condition. That way I can look the smurf's up by their number and see if I've got it and if it's in good or bad condition.

[Gladys]

I was thinking of keeping a database via Excel as well but the keying in of all smurfs is such a daunting job !!!

How do you keep your smurfs to check if it is in a good or bad condition ? Currently I need to do a physical check and that slowed me down alot and as a result there are many a times when I missed bidding on an item as I was unsure of my own's collection's condition On a related issue, how do you rate your smurfs ? I normally keep whatever condition I have of that smurf and only do a replacement when I have a similar piece on hand. Yet this method also means that I may miss some of them and end up actually keeping duplicates of the same smurf but of different condition.

I have tried checking to see if there is a database of smurfs that could be used such as TY beanies babies but it seems as though that smurf is not that hot to have someone create a database for usage

[eggie smurf]

Gladys, I personally write down what is "bad" about the smurf - for example, paint missing on nose or fingers, etc. or marks on the smurf or if it's overall scuffed. If I can't find any marks or rubs, I consider that "good"....if it's perfectly white on the hat and pants, and absolutely no dirt, I consider that "mint".

Also, one of our members here, Pauli, has an excellent Microsoft Word document on his website -- here is the link: http://users.utu.fi/pataka/smurflist_variations.doc

and if you wanted to keep a checklist by hand (not computer), you can print out this checklist from mv.com:
http://www.mushroomvillage.com/smurfs-f ... small.html

I have not found any blank excel checklists online though - if anyone knows of them, maybe they can direct us there. I typed all mine in from the beginning which was a LOT of work and not much fun.

[Syd Smurf]

I have 2 ways of recording the smurfs I have. The first one is very similiar to MV's checklist except it also has a box for Promos, raws, sockels, fakes, fake raws & others (like large smurfs or minis). This is just a tick box though and doesn't record the markings though.

So I therefore use a print out which was based on Der Schlumpf Katalog which includes tick boxes next to each variation/description and I also record the paint dots with this method as well. It involved a lot of printing as a lot of smurfs use an entire A4 page (some 3 pages) as I have also included the raws, promos, sockels, fakes etc also with each smurf. I use this everyday when looking to purchase new smurfs so I don't buy the same ones.

I also write down every smurf that I have coming as it can reach over 300 and be 2 months before I receive them (sometimes longer) so it's good to know what I have coming so I don't purchase the same smurf again.

I could help with some sort of system in recording the variations if you like. Just send me a PM with what details you would personally like to record and I will have a look at how this can be achieved.

[Gladys]

Hi guys

All of you have been great ...as usual...

Appreciate the offer, Syd, of getting up a system but I do feel bad to put you to it since it's my own collection afterall and I shouldn't be troubling others esp since all of you did it yourself, I am sure i could as well *finger and eyes crossed*

I am interested in what you mentioned of having a printout based on the Katalog. Can I know where you get this ? Maybe I could use that as a start and refine it as I go along.

Thanks again everyone, I really am grateful for all these suggestions !!!

Cheerios
Gladys

[Syd Smurf]

I am interested in what you mentioned of having a printout based on the Katalog. Can I know where you get this ?

Hi Gladys

I put it together by translating the Katalog and then typing it all up. There is no other place you can get this at this stage. It took about 3 weeks to do and many hours but it was a great base to start with. However you could do the same with your collection and build it up as you add more.

I am willing to offer you advice and ideas on how to achieve a good system so if you want help then just send me a PM and we'll take it from there.

[Syd Smurf]

That looks very impressive Tam....I think this was an interesting question to ask by Gladys just to hear how everyone records their smurfs. I like how your one totals the amount of smurfs you have as you enter a new listing Tam....that would save me counting a lot of ticks....lol

[Fram]

For the moment, I only list them in the Katalog IV. Condition is either good or bad, and as long as it's complete, it's good
I have entered some of my other collections into MS Works, but the trouble is that no one else uses it, so I cannot export it very well. I have once made an Excel from a MsWorks, but it was a lot of trouble to get it right.
I'l probably start a database once my Smurf cabinets are made (way in the future), and the info I'll need is: Name, Cat n*, variation N*, markings, condition, Cat value, purchase price, estimated resale value, special (i.e. a box that says promo, sockel, sharpener, ...), and remarks. This is for all loose Smurfs, for the Supers you'll have to add things like box and so on. I don't know if I'll include the mold number, perhaps not, as I don't collect these separately (yet).

I'll probably make a list of all markings separately, so I don't have to describe the exact Bully marking all the time, but can just say Bully mark 1, 2, ...
Perhaps such a list can be made here on the board, like we have Dyar's lists of boxes, playsets, ...?

[Rachel]

WOW, I am well impressed with everyone's high tech methods of keeping records. I found my sheets of paper yesterday where I had scrawled (in pencil ) down everything before packing the smurfs away. Maybe I really should think about making up an up to date database for the collection. It certainly would make life easier and quicker to check markings, condition etc. Cheers guys.

[Gladys]

WOW !!! I am really really impressed

I never knew that there are so many different ways and things that one look out for while collecting something as simple as smurfs !!!

I am also very very impressed by the sheer amount of work that goes into a collection, seems that I am not the only nutty person here though my hubby do think that I am definitely nuts to be crazy over something small & blue

A great big THANKS to all who had shared. I am really very very grateful for all the unselfishness and sharing that I had encountered in this forum


Gladys

[attombomb7]

oh my


so far all I have is my display and cardboard boxes

I havn't done any record keeping.. except maybe my website

[Bunno Smurf]

Well my hubby wrote me a computer program that you can put a pic of the smurf in and check off its markings, paint dots ect and give it a catalogue number etc so you can sort them all and search for them too. I can print off a list of smurfs acoording to any of the criteria in the program...ie condition etc.

But as I am pretty lazy/busy I only did about a hundred smurfs.

The easiest way for me was to make my wanted list on my website...I listed all the smurfs and now just delete them as I get them. So basically it tells me what I need to be looking out for rather than what I have...which makes life a lot easier for me

[Gladys]

Hi Linda

You are SO SO SO LUCKY

Hmm...maybe it's time to go whisper in my hubby's ear while he is asleep as well

Gladys