MATTHEW TIBBITTS - PEZ COLLECTORS

What's your name, where are you from?

My name is Matthew Tibbitts and I’m from Temecula Ca but I'm currently living in Rocklin Ca, USA.

How it was born this passion? When and why did you start collecting? You remember your first PEZ dispenser?
My passion for pez started when I first found a small assortment of Halloween Pez dispensers at a garage sale. I then later found out there were more to the set, and then it never stopped from there. After finding the star wars set mint in package I researched on eBay and found more. My very first dispenser was Slimy Sid from the first holloweeen series.

How many PEZ dispensers you have?
I have too many to count, I haven’t taken the time to count each one individually.

Which is your favorite PEZ dispenser?
My favorite Pez is the Batman with cape no feet. It's my favorite Pez dispenser because there is no other dispenser with a cape attached to the dispencer like it!

How did your family and friends react to your hobby and your collection?
Most of my family and friends enjoy hearing about my pez collection while some others think it's weried, insane, or a waste of time. Sometimes I show people my pez room and think it's cool, but very quickly get bored because they don't have the connection like we do to them. Others see it as pieces of plastic that do nothing and take up space. At the end of the day I respect others opinions if they don't like my pez collection and move on.

Do you have some rules for collecting? You collects only PEZ dispensers or any PEZ products?
There are no rules to collecting. Collect what you like and enjoy! But I try to set boundaries on how much I'm spending on Pez dispensers.

Where do you buy them? You sell too?
I mostly buy my Pez on eBay. As I have found Pez a lot cheaper on eBay then through private collectors. I also buy some through the pez Facebook groups. I always try to search for the good deals. I buy, sell, and trade but sell very few mostly to help out other collectors that might be needing to find something particular. I'll trade overseas sometimes to Pez collectors in Canada or Austria. Mostly I buy in the U.S as shipping prices constantly get higher.

Generally, you have a maximum value of money to give for a PEZ dispenser? (optional).
I'm not sure how to answer this question.

What is the maximum amount you offered for a PEZ object? (optional)
The most I've paid for a pez was the pop pez red hair girl from the pez visitor center (I bought it on EBay) for $147.

How can you manage the various dispensers that come out only in some countries?
I manage getting dispensers outside of the U.S by Pez people in the pez Facebook groups that can get it or just wait till they hit Ebay.

Of the PEZ dispensers that already exist and you do not have, which would you like to have?
There are many dispensers that I don't have. I would like all the soft heads. I would like some cow B's. All the die cuts. All the circus pez with no feet. Getting all the knights and Ring Masters would be cool. I would like to get a Casper pez no feet some time and getting some of the Bicentennial pez set. Also a Funko Pop Pez, pez pal blue hair boy would be nice.

Which characters would you like to be made as a PEZ dispenser?
I would like to see the show the walking dead or the rain that are officially licensed products. Also a Minecraft creeper would be cool with Steve and the animals. Also a new Godzilla since they made a new movie would be cool with all the monsters!

Do you think PEZ factory could be more innovative in some dispensers? Why?
I'm glad you mentioned this question. Yes Pez corporation has been a bit lazy I think as they like to stem swap dispensers and stamp names on the stem that they have already, just to save money I guess. Like the Mario pez set and peanuts and the lion king sets. It's laziness and boring. Funko with there new pop pez are more creative with their designs and molds I think. As Funko goes a lot into the past as Pez looks more for future designs.

How do you store them? The dust, is a problem to you?
I display all of my Pez in a book shelf and on custom made wood shelving. Dust is a problem for me, but that's ok it adds to the vintage feel :)

Do you have any project related to the hobby?
I have many projects I do for Pez, I blog on pez related topics at welcomepezheads.blogspot.com and I YouTube on Pez also as the "Pez collection". I don't do many art projects but I will spray paint a few pop pez for fun!

There is a massive wave of new characters performed by Funko, with the Pop! PEZ. How do you see this change in PEZ collecting?
I love the idea of the new pop pez, it adds more texture and design behind the dispenser. Funko does a good job paying attention all the way to the big details and to the small details on the dispenser. For example the star wars pop pez Logray looks amazing I think because if the attention of detail. I feel like the pop pez has changed collecting in a positive way in that the chases increase the value of the item after they hit the stores. Funko Pop Pez chases seem to keep value while pez for example finds space guns in a warehouse and sells them and then the value decreases because of more space guns being available. I think Funko is finding there sweet spot and they know there killing the game, and there not stopping any time soon, so don't expect them to go away any time soon. I think it's a positive for collectors, but a fail for the pez company as Funko takes most control while pez candy watches the show.

The PEZ Gatherings / Conventions, have you ever been to any? What do you think about them and what could be different about these meetings?
I have never been to a Pez convention or gathering, but I want to some day in the future. I think it's a positive thing and a great way to make new friends that like the same thing as you. I have never been to one so I can't say what could be different or improved as I don't have any experience with that behind me. I might want to get a gathering started some day after college. I'm thinking of moving to San Antonio Texas in the future as that could be a great opportunity for a new job and to start a gathering and slowly move up to a convention over time and with some help.

What advice would give to a new PEZ collector?
Advice I would give for new collectors would be to start out small and then work up to the higher priced ticketed items. It’s easy to buy something fake and over pay as a new collector. Buy more expensive items later after years of gaining experience before buying something that hurts the bank. Because once you pay the seller, there’s no going back, and it’s hard to re sell pez for the same value sometimes when you buy them as prices of some pez change over time. With more experience comes more wisdom and knowledge and then you know what is good and not. Also it’s important as a new collector to establish pez friends that you can trust verses Ebay you don’t know who is behind the screen always. Ebay buyers don’t always describe items as they could have flaws. Big names like Jeff Rosenberg, John Laspina, Jason Ulrich, Willy Rodriguez, Brian Truman are one of many great Pez sellers that you can trust.

In addition to PEZ, collect anything else? What?
I mostly collect pez, but for years before even collecting Pez I collected smashed pennies. I used to buy these whenever I would go somewhere new on vacation. I would have endless amounts of books filled with pennies from knotts berry farm, to New York and all the way to disneyland ones.

Can you spend a day without thinking in PEZ?
No, I can't.. Pez is always on my mind. I'm always thinking about Pez. I always check everyday what's going on in the pez community on Facebook or search eBay and watch Pez items and score deals the last second.

Thank you Matthew! :-)

> Matthew Tibbitts Blog welcomepezheads.blogspot.com 

> Matthew Tibbitts YouTube Pez collection