A few years ago I was sitting in the attic with a box full of loose LEGO. I knew I had a set somewhere that I thought I still had complete — but where exactly? And which set was it again? And was the part count still right?
At that moment I realized: I don't actually know what I own. And when I went looking for a tool to track that, I was disappointed in what existed.
What was available
There have been tools for LEGO collectors for years: BrickStock, Brickset, Rebrickable. All good at what they do, but for me they felt dated or limited. Too complicated for the simple things, or too limited for what I really wanted to know:
- What is my collection worth?
- Do I already have this set, or should I buy it at the flea market?
- Which parts am I missing in this second-hand set?
- How do I share my wishlist with family without everyone buying the same gift?
Plus, I don't only collect LEGO. Also board games, books, games. One app for everything — that didn't exist.
The idea for Collecty
I wanted an app that felt like I would want it myself: fast, beautiful, and just working. No forms with 30 fields to add one item. No separate spreadsheets. Just scan, add, done.
The first version of Collecty had one feature: barcode scanning to recognize products. Then came a collection feature. Then price comparison. Then lists. Friends. Workspaces for families. Set Completeness Checker for second-hand purchases. Step by step it became the tool I always wanted.
Why I'm writing this
If you're reading this, you might recognize some of those frustrations. Collecty is made for collectors like you and me. It's not perfect — I'm building on it every week — but it does solve real problems I had myself.
I also write here about everything I learn about collecting, pricing, second-hand buying and the world of LEGO. I hope it helps you, whether you use Collecty or not.
Got questions or suggestions? Feel free to email me at help@collecty.nl.