Nerd Base

Attended a challenge event hosted at Nerd Base, Battlesbridge. The staff were friendly, welcoming and extremely knowledgeable about their products. The store looks small from the outside (and the door has been hand painted by staff) but inside is Tardis-like in its proportions. It is full of displays of modern and vintage collectibles, toys and cards. The group of us attending had a fantastic time, and wouldn't hesitate to return for another event in future. Thanks for hosting such an enjoyable event - it was definitely worth the travel.

This is the aladins cave for collectors!!! I could have spent all day looking around. Massive shop filled to the ceiling with collectibles. Give yourself plenty of time. Very friendly knowledgeable staff.

An Aladdins cafe of incredible old toys and games from your childhood. A great atmosphere and really good fun.

Nerdbase has plenty of stock – comics, manga, Funkos, and collectibles – but the experience left me disappointed. - Staffing & Service: There were three staff members on duty – one by the door and two behind the tills. The shop wasn’t overly busy, so one till would have been enough. The rest of the shop felt unattended, with no one available to help on the floor. - Funko Pops: Pops are crammed into Kallax units with little care, including chase variants and more expensive pieces. Many boxes are damaged yet still full price. It feels like Funkos are being neglected, especially compared to other stock. - Books & Comics: Graphic novels and manga are piled haphazardly into shelves, while comics are stuffed into battered longboxes or cubbies, making browsing untidy and frustrating. - High-End Collectibles: Hot Toys are locked in glass cabinets behind the tills. Understandable given their value, but it makes browsing awkward, especially if it’s busy. - Online Transparency: I phoned about an item posted online only hours earlier, only to be told it had sold the day before. Why post it then? It feels misleading. Prices also aren’t shared openly online, which makes it look like they’re just trying to draw people into the shop. - Stock Priority: It’s clear Pokémon cards are the shop’s main focus, with other items – especially Funkos – left behind. That’s fine if Pokémon is the core business, but don’t let the rest of the store suffer. - Tip for Buyers: If you see something you want, phone first – they often hold items back for callers Overall: Nerdbase has lots of items, but it’s poorly presented and lacking in transparency. To improve, they need to: Treat and store stock with more care. Reallocate staff to customer support. Be transparent about prices and availability. Balance focus beyond just Pokémon. Until then, it feels frustrating rather than enjoyable for collectors.

Love this shop! A treasure trove in the middle of Essex for vintage and modern figures! Large collection of Anime collectibles as well with a reasonable price tag. It’s hard to find a local shop that has a wide range of anime figures stocks on hand, usually go online for these stuff and wait for ages. I’m so glad I’ve found a shop that’s nearby.