busting the myth

[heroic_decepticon]

Over the past couple of days, I decided to do an 'ultimate G1 Transformers checklist', just so I know which boxes and which accessories I am missing from the G1 era.

The checklist contains all the 1984 to 1989 G1 Transformers like out of the catalogue checklists and also the 1987 to 1989 Japanese exclusives.

The checklist does not list the multiples I have, just the one best piece of each figure.

Today, I plugged in the prices of the corresponding figures and totalled them.

RESULTS...

I have as complete and MIB, 88.4% (of 1984 to 1989 G1 Transformers).
Total cost = $26,000 (approx)

The point in this?

The total cost is merely $26K, for almost 90% of the entire G1, each in C9 or better condition, C9 or better stickers, all complete with paperworks, all in boxes (also bearing in mind the premium prices I usually pay, and that I paid for pieces like C114 ($2000), D329 to D334 ($1800), C311 ($1400), C328 ($1200) and etc).

Remember the hypothetical questions about whether one should sell one's Transformers collection for $100,000? $200,000? $300,000?

Maybe not such a bad idea. Even at $100,000, it'd be a 400% profit, hypothetically.

Just a thought anyway. :D

[snaketales]

The total cost is merely $26K, for almost 90% of the entire G1, each in C9 or better condition, C9 or better stickers, all complete with paperworks, all in boxes

I still don't think that's going to be much help in convincing the wife... but thanks anyway :D

[kup]

The thing is - Has any of those ourageous 'Entire G1 Collection' Ebay auctions ever sold at the high price costs they ask?

[Deceptic_Optic]

What about the sentimental value of the collection now that is priceless

[Verno]

Then there is the 'handiness' and 'time saving' factor. They have prices of their own which have to be factored in. I'd hate to think how much time I've (wasted) spent on the net and eBay in the past decade looking for stuff and I've only got 100 figures.

[heroic_decepticon]

snaketales, I was not saying $26K is very little money, what I was trying to say is that, that's a lot less than what I imagined I had spent (and its good reason to go to my wife and say 'see, I didn't actually spend that much'). heh.


The thing is - Has any of those ourageous 'Entire G1 Collection' Ebay auctions ever sold at the high price costs they ask?

That's a very good point. Although I would have bought that entire US boxes MIB collection on auction for $1 million that that US woman was selling after her partner passed on from sickness (or some situation like similar), but subsequently (or was rumoured) to have been sold to eBay seller Raviscollectibles in the region of $70K to $80K.

If I knew that was the offer on the table (instead of $1 million), I would have bought it. Then sit back and never have to worry about eBay again.


What about the sentimental value of the collection now that is priceless

So true! How we value them is of course radically different from how much they cost us. Still, from a cost point of view, I was surprised that my stuff didn't cost me as much as I was imagining they'd cost.


Then there is the 'handiness' and 'time saving' factor. They have prices of their own which have to be factored in. I'd hate to think how much time I've (wasted) spent on the net and eBay in the past decade looking for stuff and I've only got 100 figures.

Completely agree with you there. I am growing rather displeased with every additional moment I have to spend on eBay (or online) searching for figures.

[Starscream212]

Congrats on the collection! its very impressive only 11.6% to go lol

In reference to the: (Buying a Collection in One Go) Vs (Hunting Them Down over Many Years) discussion

Personally i prefer to hunt for figures on eBay rather than buy it in one bunch, it may sound crazy, but i feel a figure/collection feels more significant if you hunted it down rather than buy them all in one go.

Does anybody feel the same? or am i crazy:confused:

Maybe the effect of 'the hunt' has not worn off in my situation, but when i look at my collection i feel that there is a greater sentimental value as i worked hard to acquire each figure rather than buy it in one go.

The fact that i don't have the kind of money to buy a complete collection of G1 or Beast wars collection may be a factor, Also being a university student means at times, i can have lots of spare time to search for figures
But personally apart from the actual figures, hunting for them at various stores or on eBay is all part of the fun when adding to my collection.

well thats my 2 cents lol

[GoktimusPrime]

In reference to the: (Buying a Collection in One Go) Vs (Hunting Them Down over Many Years) discussion

Personally i prefer to hunt for figures on eBay rather than buy it in one bunch, it may sound crazy, but i feel a figure/collection feels more significant if you hunted it down rather than buy them all in one go.

Does anybody feel the same? or am i crazy

I would put myself in the "Hunting Them Down Over Many Years" category, although the majority of my Transformers come from toy shops and department stores. A minority comes from fairs or eBay. I don't even have an eBay account! :)


Maybe the effect of 'the hunt' has not worn off in my situation, but when i look at my collection i feel that there is a greater sentimental value as i worked hard to acquire each figure rather than buy it in one go.
There's a lot of sentimental value in my collection since it represents the last 25 years of my life; my childhood, adolesence and adulthood. And yeah, toys acquired post-childhood also represent stuff I worked to get.

IMO the journey is more important than the destination. That's why I was mightily impressed when griffin hit his 2500 mark; not just because it's an incredibly huge number of Transformers that also thematically coincides with the Transformers' 25th anniversary (although that is damn cool), but because I know that it's been a 25 year journey for griffin to reach this destination. Whether you have 100 Transformers or a 1000 Transformers, to me it's the adventure that you have in collecting them that matters more.

Purchasing nearly all of G1 = $26000
25 years of dedication and passion to Transformers (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?t=6335) = priceless

:)

[heroic_decepticon]

hmmm... I think we're analysing 2 distinct issues here.

issue 1: buy in one hit vs over the years
I'm not saying that it's any better (or worse) to throw money at the issue and buy all the Transformers a person wants in one hit. Certainly, it is more fun to slowly build one's collection and that its the more about the journey than the destination.

What I'm saying is this - there are other things I'd rather do. Like Screamer212, it was real fun for me back in Uni when I had lots of time, but now, there're other things I'd rather do. I'd rather chat with my wife over a nice cup of coffee than thraw eBay for the next 'bargain'. (of course when said wife is sleeping, I can come and have a chat on OZformers, now you won't begrudge me that surely :D)

issue 2: my estimate cost for 88.4% of G1
It's just that. I'm not saying its a lot of money, or very little, that's a question of perspective. All I'm saying is that I'm intrigued to find out that it cost me a lot less than I imagined it would/should have cost.

[heroic_decepticon]

Gok,

It's not about the number either, whether its 100 or 1000. Not really bothered in the least about that. That's why I've never deigned to count my collection in any official or unofficial way. I know the ballpark number of TFs I have - but its just a that, a number. Personally, I'd attach more significance to quality than the number.

I get the 25 years dedication thing.

Don't forget that like you, I, too, was there in 1984 when G1 hit the shelves.

Like many others, I too rushed home from school to catch More Than Meets the Eye Part 1 when it first screened. I dragged my mum to the newsstand every Monday night to buy me a copy of Marvel UK. I cajoled my grandmother to travel an hour on the bus and to pay $18 for the TPB version of Marvel's Transformers Universe. I also almost died to acquire Motormaster. (http://heroicdecepticon.blogspot.com/1987/06/stunnin-asthma-story.html)

The memories are priceless. The experience(s) are priceless.

Dedication arguably isn't. Dedication to a self-serving cause (which collecting is), isn't priceless. It's not priceless because it is a value that you ascribe to an action that you can resolve to take, for-your-self.

[5FDP]

It's not about the number either, whether its 100 or 1000. Not really bothered in the least about that.


Personally, I'd attach more significance to quality than the number.

I couldn't agree with you more on both points.

People collect for many different reasons and no two people are the same. If I wanted to have over 1000 figures, I would. If I wanted to only collect every variant out there, I could do that too. The only restraining factor is budgetary constraints but they can generally be overcome if you want something bad enough.

For me, the satisfaction is collecting the toys and characters that I am interested in rather than having a thousand 'junkers' just for the sake of saying that I have a whopping collection count. At the end of the day, do what pleases you and nobody else.

My comments are not intended to disrespect any individual or made in direct relation to the collecting habits of any board member past, present, or future :)

[GoktimusPrime]

My comments are not intended to disrespect any individual or made in direct relation to the collecting habits of any board member past, present, or future
The same goes for my comments too :) We are all passionate and dedicated to this hobby/fandom in different ways, which is what makes us all fans (remembering that "fan" is an abbreviation for "fanatic" :)).


Dedication arguably isn't. Dedication to a self-serving cause (which collecting is), isn't priceless. It's not priceless because it is a value that you ascribe to an action that you can resolve to take, for-your-self.
By price I meant monetary value. There certainly is value in dedication, without which such a venture would be arguably meaningless. And that would go for both self serving and non-self serving ventures, e.g. dedicating yourself to a life of charity or service is something that would be valued by yourself and/or others (e.g.: medals for military service). What I meant was I don't think you can place a defined dollar-value on something like your passion, dedication and love for Transformers.

You could place a monetary value on all the toys and merchandise etc. that I've purchased, but I don't know if you could place such a value on my love for Transformers. All the endless hours that I've played with my toys, watched videos and DVDs and read comic books over and over again, drawing fan art and interacting with other fans (e.g. fan meets, conventions, cosplay etc.).

And if there could be a monetary price for my 25 years' of dedicated passion and love to Transformers... how much do you think I could sell it for on eBay? ;) :p :D

[5FDP]

So... how many years have you been a fan for Goki?

Sorry, I just couldn't help myself :D ;)

[GoktimusPrime]

So... how many years have you been a fan for Goki?

Sorry, I just couldn't help myself :D ;)
Well played sir. :)

[Sky Shadow]

The memories are priceless. The experience(s) are priceless.

I agree completely. As many Ozformers know, I buy and sell bits of my toy collection all the time. One doesn't lose those memories or experiences by selling the toys - they still exist. It's just that once I've held a Transformer in my hands, played with it, transformed it back and forth, that's all I truly need. I achieve nothing by amassing a massive toy collection - it takes up space, reminds me how much money I've spent and just depresses me. There are my favourites and weird recolours that I doubt I'll ever part with, but my Transformers collection's still well and truly hundreds of toys bigger than I'd like it to be.

On the other hand, I know I'd never sell my Marvel UK and US comics. So each to his or her own. :)

[5FDP]

On the other hand, I know I'd never sell my Marvel UK and US comics. So each to his or her own. :)

Everyone has a price... what's yours? :D

[Sky Shadow]

Everyone has a price... what's yours? :D

Hmm... I have a few doubles (I know I have spares of some of the Target: 2006 issues), but the rest I wouldn't part with. Plus they're so pre-loved and crumpled and have been read so many times that I doubt anyone else would want them. :)

[GoktimusPrime]

The memories are priceless. The experience(s) are priceless.
Yes, this is along the lines of what I mean when I say that things like dedication and passion etc. are priceless. Essentially sentimental/emotional value. :)


I agree completely. As many Ozformers know, I buy and sell bits of my toy collection all the time. One doesn't lose those memories or experiences by selling the toys - they still exist. It's just that once I've held a Transformer in my hands, played with it, transformed it back and forth, that's all I truly need. I achieve nothing by amassing a massive toy collection - it takes up space, reminds me how much money I've spent and just depresses me. There are my favourites and weird recolours that I doubt I'll ever part with, but my Transformers collection's still well and truly hundreds of toys bigger than I'd like it to be.

On the other hand, I know I'd never sell my Marvel UK and US comics. So each to his or her own.
For me, and I can't speak for anyone else, my Transformers are like the toys in Toy Story... they're not just things I've played with since I was a kid. We've been through a lot together and they feel like friends. And I still do occasionally play with even my oldest toys. :) For me, the idea of parting with one of my old toys is like abandoning an old friend, like the way Jessie was abandoned by her owner in Toy Story 2. That's not to say that I never part with my old Transformers, I do, but if I do I make sure that it's going to another fan (e.g.: I sold my original G1 Perceptor to Rampage).

[heroic_decepticon]

And if there could be a monetary price for my 25 years' of dedicated passion and love to Transformers... how much do you think I could sell it for on eBay? ;) :p :D

now, one issue with that is that you don't have an eBay account... :D


By price I meant monetary value. There certainly is value in dedication, without which such a venture would be arguably meaningless. And that would go for both self serving and non-self serving ventures, e.g. dedicating yourself to a life of charity or service is something that would be valued by yourself and/or others (e.g.: medals for military service). What I meant was I don't think you can place a defined dollar-value on something like your passion, dedication and love for Transformers.

You could place a monetary value on all the toys and merchandise etc. that I've purchased, but I don't know if you could place such a value on my love for Transformers. All the endless hours that I've played with my toys, watched videos and DVDs and read comic books over and over again, drawing fan art and interacting with other fans (e.g. fan meets, conventions, cosplay etc.).

Yeah, I agree with that. Dedication certainly has value (because value is quantity subjectively ascribed in accordance with individual beliefs), but value does not equal or equate to being 'priceless' (because a 'price' is an objective measure of quantity).

I was just trying to reconcile that in my head. Anyway, I think I getting into semantics.


Hmm... I have a few doubles (I know I have spares of some of the Target: 2006 issues), but the rest I wouldn't part with. Plus they're so pre-loved and crumpled and have been read so many times that I doubt anyone else would want them. :)

sir, if you have a spare Marvel UK #184 (Space Pirates - Part 3) (http://tfarchive.com/comics/marvel/?s=uk_181_190) that you would like to sell me, you would be my eternal hero!