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u/DoubleUG

r/hottoys
Image 1 — I got tired of surprise Sideshow payments, so I built an app that tracks them and turns my collection into holo cards and virtual display cases (Android testers wanted)
Image 2 — I got tired of surprise Sideshow payments, so I built an app that tracks them and turns my collection into holo cards and virtual display cases (Android testers wanted)
Image 3 — I got tired of surprise Sideshow payments, so I built an app that tracks them and turns my collection into holo cards and virtual display cases (Android testers wanted)
Image 4 — I got tired of surprise Sideshow payments, so I built an app that tracks them and turns my collection into holo cards and virtual display cases (Android testers wanted)
Image 5 — I got tired of surprise Sideshow payments, so I built an app that tracks them and turns my collection into holo cards and virtual display cases (Android testers wanted)
Image 6 — I got tired of surprise Sideshow payments, so I built an app that tracks them and turns my collection into holo cards and virtual display cases (Android testers wanted)
Image 7 — I got tired of surprise Sideshow payments, so I built an app that tracks them and turns my collection into holo cards and virtual display cases (Android testers wanted)
Image 8 — I got tired of surprise Sideshow payments, so I built an app that tracks them and turns my collection into holo cards and virtual display cases (Android testers wanted)
▲ 26 r/hottoys

I got tired of surprise Sideshow payments, so I built an app that tracks them and turns my collection into holo cards and virtual display cases (Android testers wanted)

Hey guys. This is my first post on here, so thanks to the mods for letting me share it. I hope it's a useful one for everybody.

I've been collecting since 2019 and bought my first sixth scale Hot Toys figure in 2022. Like a lot of people, I tracked what I bought in a spreadsheet. It held up for a while, until release dates slipped, plans got pushed, tax showed up on the last payment, tariffs went out of control, and a cancelled preorder left a deposit I never got back. After a few years the sheet was more hassle to manage than it was useful, and collecting started to feel like a chore instead of a fun hobby.

I've seen a few apps try to solve this, but none that fit how I collect. I work in software, so a couple of months ago I started building something for my own collection. It grew into an app I now call FigureWatch, and it's changed how I collect. I know what's coming out of my account months ahead, and I haven't had a surprise payment sneak up on me since. It's honestly made collecting more fun for me again. The full story, with more screenshots, is on my blog if you want to check it out: HERE

What the app does right now:

  • Every preorder, deposit and payment plan on one timeline, with a monthly budget and reminders before each payment
  • Sideshow-style plans with pushes, so you can see which payment you could move when a month gets tight
  • Screenshot your orders page and it reads the figures and payment schedule for you
  • Shipping, tax, tariffs and discounts split per figure, and cancelled preorders track what you lost vs what got refunded
  • Bring the spreadsheet you already keep: import it as a CSV, and export your collection back out anytime
  • Add a figure straight from a store page: tap Share in your browser and pick FigureWatch, or just screenshot the page
  • Your collection as holo trading cards using your own photos. Snap or pick a picture of your figure and it cuts it out of the background for you. Rarity is based on the edition.
  • Virtual display cases with risers, bases and nameplates that you can set up like your real ones

Where I need help:

I built this for my shelf, but I want it to work for everyone's. If something's missing or annoying, tell me. I read every request, and if it makes sense for most collectors it goes into the next update. Most updates arrive automatically, no reinstall needed.

A few ideas are on my list. Which would you want first?

  1. An iPhone version
  2. A community photo library, where collectors can share photos of their own figures for others to use
  3. A monthly recap: what you paid, what arrived and what's coming next

How to join the test (Android, about 2 minutes)

Google requires new apps to run a 14-day closed test before they go public on the Play Store.

  1. Join the tester group: https://groups.google.com/g/figurewatchtesters
  2. Opt in with the same Google account (works on your phone or a computer): https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.figurewatch.app
  3. Install it from the Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.figurewatch.app
  4. Add a few figures and keep it installed for the 14 days

If step 2 says you're not eligible yet, give it a few minutes after joining the group and try again.

Founding testers get their name in the app's credits, a Founding Tester badge, and 6 months of Pro when it launches.

A couple of honest notes:

  • Free, with a paid tier later. The app is free to use. Some extras, mostly the AI features that cost me money every time they run, will be part of a paid tier later. For now everything is unlocked for testing, and I'm looking for honest feedback on how useful it is.
  • Private, no ads. Your collection is private to your account, there are no ads, and I'm not selling anyone's data.
  • Your own photos. The app doesn't pull images from stores, so every card uses your own photos. Figures without a photo yet get a placeholder card until you add one.

I want collecting to be fun, not something you stress about every month. So what's the most annoying part of tracking your preorders right now? Or is there something else that makes collecting tough? Drop it in the comments, I'm happy to answer any questions. Bugs and ideas are always welcome at r/FigureWatch or through the Feedback button in Settings.

u/DoubleUG — 8 days ago