A better bet are flea markets and garage sales, where you can sometimes find board games and dolls from the early 1900s. The good news is that prices at flea markets and garage sales are usually reasonable. Toy Shop magazine and other collector publications also carry advertisements for Simpsons items from dealers and other collectors. But prices rarely are bargains, even for newer items. In our experience, the Internet is the best source for Simpsons merchandise.
Collectors can find lots of goods for sale in notes posted on news groups or at Web sites.
Other possible spots to search are bulletin boards on America Online, where members often post items for sale. By far, the hottest spot to buy and sell Simpsons merchandise on the Internet is the eBay auction site. At eBay, collectors can typically scroll through lists of 600 or more Simpsons items. On eBay or elsewhere, comparison shopping is a good idea. Because both buyers and sellers are often unaware of the typical values for Simpsons items, prices vary widely.