Hmmmm, that's an interesting idea. I wonder, will he be worth thousands MISB 20+ years from now.Originally Posted by rocman12
Rank 8 - Deluxe Member
Hmmmm, that's an interesting idea. I wonder, will he be worth thousands MISB 20+ years from now.
Rank 8 - Deluxe Member
I usually display the reissues in robot mode and the G1s in alt mode.But I don't get all the reissues - usually if my G1 toy is in good/complete enough condition I'll skip the reissue. But most of my G1s are toys from my childhood, so they've been thoroughly worn and I like to get reissues to "retire" my G1s from active play (and they just become display pieces while the reissue becomes the new play toy
). As for Metroplex, my G1 Metroplex is in reasonably good condition structurally but had some cosmetic wear. Also I don't have the missiles or Scamper's gun -- pieces which would be really hard to find on their own on the secondary market and are likely to go for some ridiculous price even if I could find them. I figured it was probably just easier and ultimately better value just to get reissue Metroplex -- also the chrome thighs and rubber tyres was another bonus as my G1 has the "stickered" chrome thighs (which are worn) and plastic tyres. Now of course, Encore Metroplex's RRP was 7000JPY which is about $80 -- so I thought I might as well get the reissue for that price. I had no idea that the Aussie Dollar would drop like a brick shiphouse at the time and significantly increasing the cost of the toy for me.
But honestly that was the only time that I really lost out on preordering (and it was just lousy luck due to factors beyond my control <shakes.fist.at.Lehmanns.Bros>). When I think about how much money I've saved from preordering a lot of other stuff, especially my entire eHobby collection, in the end I've saved more money than I've lost.
That's really hard to predict. My advice is to stick to buying toys because you genuinely want that toy. Most toys don't appreciate all that well, and if they do they would appreciate quite slowly -- if you want to invest your money you're better off making wise investments in the stock market and real estate.
Rank 8 - Deluxe Member
Toy investments do work
Rank 8 - Deluxe Member
!!!ROFL!!! Oh man, I remember when Beanie Babies came out people were obsessed with collecting them as investments! Everyone was predicting how these toys would go up in value, especially if you never rip the tags off! Har! I guess the bubble must've burst!
I think my daughter might have a Beanie Baby somewhere with the tag still attached (I intentionally decided not to remove it). Might as well rip that tag off now.
Rank 6 - Dedicated Member
You can't say the same for my Tetsujin 28, I like to see you get one at default price where it has gone up over 500%.
Like anything, it depends whether the company is willing to remake them.
One that might fall is the Gundam metal built 00 seven sword. At where I first saw it was cheap as $280, now is a decent $400. But yes Bandai does reissues but not on everything especially 70s-80s toys.
In the end though, is supply and demand. I am more of a collector for the toy not for investment. Others may like to keep in MIB but never known if there were missing parts or something is broken because it was never opened.
Rank 8 - Deluxe Member
If I want a toy, I'll buy it when it comes out at RRP or less. I'm not a fan of paying inflated aftermarket prices. If I were a collector of Tetsujin 28 I'd absolutely get that toy at the default price or not at all.
Rank 6 - Dedicated Member
There are things that cannot be rewind. In my case I wanted Gundam Seven Sword metal built and was saving for it at RRP. By the time I had funds it went above by $80, next thing it went to $150 and more. Yes I can live without. however we are limited by what we can get at the present time.
Being said, Tetsujin 28 DX when I first know this toy I am already a grown up and not a kid. I believe some of us tried to get our dad or mum to buy a $20 toy was already a mission on its own. Saying that this boy was probably at $89+ during that age. And trust me $89 at that time is probably worth $250+ in present. I only managed to obtained this because of a Japanese teacher I knew and email was JUST NEW. So in simple fact your theory cannot even be applied because the Toy was never released again. A MIB of tetsujin 28 easily goes over 2K. I obtained it non MIB at $400 and it was for me a one off at that time.
Also Transformers are okay to miss out for popular characters as Takara reissues them after some time? I don't think anybody is a FAN of buying above RRP however there are toys that do not longer exist and your high price offer will not cut it, in simple terms sentimental value for your own, but not just your own, but about maybe a significant amount of collectors that appreciates the Toy and wants one and cannot obtain one.
I have a number of Takatoku Orguss toys, Takatoku have been long gone but they made quality toys during that time. Now to apply your theory of paying RRP which was $19.90 for a scale1/40 Gerwalk Nickkick and Orguss Orgroid at that time is fine though, but I seriously doubt you can make the exact toy and sell at this price with the same amount of material used.
Being said I didn't ever saw a 1/40 Olsen Special nor a standard Nickick during my time, not until ebay was created. You can even travel to Japan now and you will not find these toys even at premium price.
In simple terms, by going with your style of application to toy collecting, you are limiting yourself to what you have at RRP on shelves. On the other hand, I could pay $50 more for something harder to get and appreciate the toy and appreciate it even more when you can't buy it with money.
Lastly, this is Australia, NOT Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong or Japan. Tell me is easy to get anime toy mecha from Target, BigW or Kmart and even TRU. I remembered I have to buy MG Gundam kits from Singapore and bring it over myself till Perth had hobby shops started to bring in and trust me, they are not at RRP prices.
In the whole scheme of things I am not even someone who look at my Tetsujin 28 and see a big price tag, it was the detailed internal mechanics that I couldn't believe that toys made during that time are so much better than what some Samurai power ranger is made today.
Also a big factor today is Toys that are made for collecting as opposed to Good quality toys that were well made and became a collector's item. For example YOTS Omega Supreme < a toy made for collecting
Last edited by drifand; 2nd August 2013 at 03:41 PM.
Rank 8 - Deluxe Member
Sure, but I probably have more limited needs/wants than other collectors. For the most part, my collecting style hasn't changed much since I started collecting Transformers in 1984 -- if I want a toy, I go to the shops and buy it.
Pre-Transformers don't interest me in the slightest because I never saw them in stores when I was growing up... and since I didn't grow up with it, they hold no sentimental nostalgic value for me. That's also why I don't collect Japanese G1. I lived in Japan during the time of Beast Wars, so G1 was long gone by then (most of my early BW toys are Japanese versions simply because that was what was available in local stores for me). Most of my Japanese G1 toys now are reissues.
If I want a Japanese exclusive toy, then I'll get it from a Japanese based online store like HLJ.com or Amiami or Amazon Japan. These places give discounts for preordering too. I personally have contacts in Japan who sometimes help me get stuff I can't find in online stores.
Okay, but I personally don't view any toy - no matter how well it's made - as being intrinsically worth more than its original retail price. If anything, it's probably worth less than its RRP because Australian RRPs are inflated, but I accept paying Australian RRP for toys because I really don't like online shopping (I greatly prefer shopping in brick and mortar stores). When you're paying inflated aftermarket prices for non-current toys, what you're paying more for is the scarcity of the toy rather than for the basic value of the toy itself.
Let's look at eHobby Astrotrain for example. A cursory look at eBay shows this toy selling for US$400!I preordered this toy before it came out and paid 3000JPY (about AU$35) for it. So the basic value of this toy is $35. When you pay $400 for this toy you are paying and additional $365 for its scarcity. But then some might argue that I'm paying too much for toys too by paying Australian RRPs. A lot of people prefer to shop online because even with postage it still works out cheaper (or at least on par, but they get the toy sooner). For example the US RRP for a Deluxe Class Transformer is US$13 (AU$15). When I buy the toy from say Kmart for $25 I'm paying an additional $10 just for the social experience of physical store shopping - which I do enjoy, so I've been willing to pay for it. But others might find it tedious and just skip to ordering it online, especially with the high Aussie Dollar making importing toys even cheaper.
I like paying for toys. I don't like paying for scarcity. As a result, I always try to buy my toys when they are NOT scarce. Now this is all my personal set of values which suits my personal circumstances. I'm predominantly a collector of current toys, not a collector of old toys. If I were a collector of old toys, then sure, that would alter my perception. But I'm not.
Rank 6 - Dedicated Member
You would have looked at things differently if Takara refused to reissue toys.
Also there is a difference in quality when is made in Japan and made in China.
Like said, Nobody here wants to buy above RRP. But like a few of us here in the forum who will not risk missing out like MP Soundwave would have jumped on it if it was just $30 more for a confirmed purchase.
I am never a fan of beast wars transformers so I have total no regards for them. In fact, I have no regards for most Transformers toys if they don't interest me at all. The Masterpieces are imo a different category where engineering had improved.
Also if Bandai were to reissue the T-28 DX today you think it only goes for $89? for a tall giant? Doesn't make sense, and Bandai will close down if they do that. I would expect an easy price tag at $300. Guess what? People will snap it up even myself.
Again is all about supply and demand, its not as simple as I only buy at RRP, as it doesn't work that way for every toy. HLJ and amiami could release the toy for order within one day and sold out if you missed it. Anything is possible.
In fact, friend of mine mailed me a Gundam FIX toy reissue and is preorder starts that day at Amiami, and I logged in to find it at sold out status. I was only lucky to place an order at HLJ. and Like it or not RRP is not the same RRP as amiami which was cheaper.
By all means I am not encouraging to buy toys at 500% nor even 10% increase. Its how demanding and scare the toy is that causes the price rise. An reissue would means the toy price would drop.
Is simple logic, not just for toys, when you buy land for 75K 10 years ago in Australia for 500ms you think I can buy 1 now at the same price at the same location? My point exactly. You are limited to what you can buy at RRP. Even if you buy a house now, someone can bid to pay higher than you and get it while you miss out and look for another house within the same means.
Saying this, maybe one day you decide to sell your collection. You found out Takara is no longer reissue the masterpieces. Would you honestly sell MP 13 at RRP to us or at a profit? also finding out that everywhere else is at lets say 40% higher? Again cause and effect, supply and demand.
Also I understand your style of collecting current toys at RRP. Yes the important thing is NOT to miss out. I do not disagree with this. It will be very interesting if MP13 was entirely sold out and Hasbro now tell you guys "Sorry folks the order we put in will not come in we apologise blah blah blah......". I think you either look for alternatives but whether you be willing to pay 10% more you will be wondering about your beliefs that you may or may not choose to break.
It is easier I admit for your current Hasbro toys, but not for Japanese imports that do not even make their way to Australia. HLJ and a lot of sites do not hold certain toys that you wouldn't even know they exist unless you are in Japan. And for that fact we all know MP1 and 4 for Japanese imports the optimus prime looks correct with the correct long smoke pipe.
Remember What is current now may not be current in one month. So what is RRP to you now is not RRP in the following month. Everything follows in supply and demand quite simple really not rocket science, I believe everyone here knows it.
Being said MP13 is one character that even casual collectors wants. Demand = more, thus the current prices. If you can grab one at TRU at RRP of course I would. But my question is, what if you couldn't? Will $30 more kill your dream of a toy that you want?
Last edited by drifand; 2nd August 2013 at 09:57 PM.
Rank 10 - Admin
Discussion of personal perspectives of toy values isn't resolvable, so should be avoided... it is like why people collect toys
- some do it for fun, some do it for investment
- some keep them sealed, and some open them
- some are prepared to pay any dollar amount, and some are only willing to pay Retail or less.
Reasons for each are personal and can be mentioned to enlighten others, but people shouldn't try to convince others to change that behaviour, nor should people keep mentioning their preferences over and over again, as it can lead to others feeling like they are doing something wrong by not following that preference.
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