barney
Guest
Apr 20, 2024 1:23:48 GMT -6
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Post by barney on Sept 3, 2005 10:45:23 GMT -6
This is such a big issue, personally i think ebay has helped figure collectors, by making toys more obtainable, but does more obtainable mean that the price of the item is reduced?
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Post by wraith on Sept 3, 2005 18:21:41 GMT -6
Without ebay, I wouldn't have about 99% of my toy collection.To me, it's a great tool for collectors.I really don't think it hurts the prices (unless we're talking scalpers) because a rare toy is still a rare toy, whether on ebay or in a store.It will still bring a good price from the right collector. All in all I think ebay has helped collecting, as some toy/hobby store would overcharge a lot on an item because they knew that you had little choice before ebay came around.Now, they are more willing to deal as the same thing can be found , with Patience, on ebay. Just my thoughts.
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sanfords2
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Apr 20, 2024 1:23:48 GMT -6
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Post by sanfords2 on Sept 3, 2005 18:30:34 GMT -6
I agree that eBay has enable me to buy some figures that I would never have come across otherwise. However, when I go to flea markets, dealers often raise their prices to correspond to what they found on eBay. I frequently hear, "I could sell this for $100 on eBay." My nonverbal response to this is, " Then why don't you?"
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Post by wraith on Sept 3, 2005 20:36:08 GMT -6
However, when I go to flea markets, dealers often raise their prices to correspond to what they found on eBay. I frequently hear, "I could sell this for $100 on eBay." My nonverbal response to this is, " Then why don't you?" That's one of my favorite replies too.LOL!The seller usually gets a confused look on his face at this reply. ;D
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Post by madmartigan37 on Sept 3, 2005 21:29:10 GMT -6
I think that ebay and the internet in general has done wonders for my collection, still I miss the days of going out and finding a star wars figure or vehicle that I did not know existed or had never seen before, now I can just log on and buy one any time that I want.
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Post by catgut on Sept 5, 2005 14:55:15 GMT -6
i got to say ebay has help for me (im unable to get stuff other ways apart from mail order and others help). mail order. dont sell what i collect
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Post by 10incher on Sept 6, 2005 9:13:06 GMT -6
That is exactlly what I tell people!!! I agree that eBay has enable me to buy some figures that I would never have come across otherwise. However, when I go to flea markets, dealers often raise their prices to correspond to what they found on eBay. I frequently hear, "I could sell this for $100 on eBay." My nonverbal response to this is, " Then why don't you?"
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Post by catgut on Sept 7, 2005 12:39:47 GMT -6
lol plus is also got me to get rid of some of my spares ,doubles and parts too (lol which i spend on ebay to get more ;D)
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Post by 10incher on Sept 7, 2005 13:52:28 GMT -6
Ebay has greatly helped out my collection. I won figures that I wouldn't be able to get anywhere else. Mind you because of Ebay, figure prices are going up and up for certain lines. You better buy what you want now, in 5-10 years, you will be paying allot more money as prices go up. I've already noticed it over the past few years. As sources dry up, the only people selling this stuff will be former collectors looking to make money off their original investment.
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henchman
Guest
Apr 20, 2024 1:23:48 GMT -6
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Post by henchman on Sept 26, 2005 12:53:45 GMT -6
Ebay has greatly helped out my collection. I won figures that I wouldn't be able to get anywhere else. Mind you because of Ebay, figure prices are going up and up for certain lines. You better buy what you want now, in 5-10 years, you will be paying allot more money as prices go up. I've already noticed it over the past few years. As sources dry up, the only people selling this stuff will be former collectors looking to make money off their original investment. I definitely agree with this statement. Alot of popular lines from the 80's are indeed drying up. With popularity comes demand and with little product to be offered on ebay when good stuff shows up prices skyrocket. We are actually seeing this with Thundercats right now.
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Post by 10incher on Sept 26, 2005 13:00:08 GMT -6
Also happening with Silverhawks, Crystar, Bravestar and a few others. I have been working on a few lines that haven't really hit with collectors yet, like Mighty Crusaders.
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Post by WishItWas1984 on Oct 13, 2005 2:49:34 GMT -6
I'm jumping in this a bit late but, has eBay killed collecting? Hell no! eBay is actually one of the major lifelines to this hobby that keeps it going. Without something like eBay, this hobby would suffer immensely.
In the beginning we had the collectors and potential collectors. Those who even tried, really didn't know much about what they were doing. There was no source for a checklist, or to obtain old figures. It was all very unorganized.
Then the Net came and gave the collector the tool to organize and move forward as a serious hobby. So we were all informed, but the suppy was still unorganized. Cons, garage sales, and flea markets were the resources.
To sound extremely cheesy...with eBay the trilogy is complete. It gives us the ability to utilize the knowledge the Net gave us, and the desire we bring to the table ourselves.
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zod
Guest
Apr 20, 2024 1:23:48 GMT -6
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Post by zod on Oct 29, 2005 13:24:38 GMT -6
eBAY IS A COLLECTOR'S DREAM. HERE IN VIRGINIA YOU CAN'T FIND CRAP ANYWHERE. EVEN THE FLEA MARKETS ARE TAPPED OUT. BUT FORTUNATELY WE HAVE A TOY AND ANTIQUE SALE TWO HOURS AWAY EVERY FEW MONTHS AND THAT HELPS. bUT eBAY IS RESPONSBLE FOR MY COLLECTION. THE ONLY THING I CAN'T STAND IS WHEN SOMEONE CHARGES TOO HIGH A PRICE FOR SHIPPING. EX: $10.00 TO SHIP A COUPLE OF GOBOTS THAT WOULD COST $3.75 PRIORITY. ASSANINE AND STUPID!!!!!
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Post by 10incher on Oct 31, 2005 14:38:53 GMT -6
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tank1976
Guest
Apr 20, 2024 1:23:48 GMT -6
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Post by tank1976 on Dec 13, 2005 22:04:01 GMT -6
I would have many parts of my collection w/o ebay and the internet. I would not know about the info for toys. It has more than just built collections it has educated us .
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vintagenate
Guest
Apr 20, 2024 1:23:48 GMT -6
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Post by vintagenate on Dec 14, 2005 14:13:05 GMT -6
I wouldn't have my collection without eBay. It's what got me back into the swing of things. Seeing that I actually could pick up the toys I had when I was a kid blew me away. From there it was just forking over the money for them.
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retro
Garage Sale Scavenger
Jan 24, 2014 13:46:26 GMT -6
Posts: 37
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Post by retro on May 5, 2014 11:16:55 GMT -6
EBAY IS GOOD IT HELPS US ALL COLLECT NEW THINGS OR THINGS WE MAY BE MISSING FOR THINGS WE ALREADY HAVE JUST THE PRICING MAY NOT BE REASONABLE AT TIMES BUT EVERYTHING WORKS OUT GOOD IN THE END FOR ALL
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Post by dwitefry on May 9, 2014 11:44:38 GMT -6
The way I figure it eBay can be useful but isn't guaranteed to be. The complaint against the bay that gets me is "it's made things too easy, everything's on eBay", mate I'm trying to buy large Chap Mei beasts and he-man knock-offs, no it hasn't and no they ain't.
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Post by waywardmonk on May 9, 2014 17:10:37 GMT -6
eBay has primarily helped me by giving me an easy avenue to sell items when I've picked up some things I don't want or am trimming down my collection. It has helped me find and discover plenty of new things and there is still some thrill of the hunt in finding a figure I'm looking for for a good price, but eBay gets you in the immediate gratification department. No more annual toy shows or occasional flea markets/garage sales. It was much more exciting to bring home treasures from these intermittent excursions. Now I track auction every day and miss the more leisurely pace of old school collecting.
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Post by BoogDoc7 on May 17, 2014 13:35:53 GMT -6
Helped the regular collector, somewhat hurt the seller. Common figs we found out were VERY common (ie Star Wars figures), and market pricing drove down prices on common figures.
It also didn't do much for the market of figures in less than C-8 condition. Most collectors are looking for the best-condition figures, so commons (unless they are popular with customizers, like GI Joes) are hard to sell unless in bulk.
Not that I am down on it - it's the way the market works.
That being said, it's overall improved the market as ANYTHING is available, for the right price. Collectors who would never have the ability to finish their collection - or even know HOW to finish - now are able to get what they are looking for at a truly honest price.
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Post by spockoda on May 17, 2014 21:15:17 GMT -6
Other collectors have the right to feel however they feel, and I respect that. If you really think about it it is greed that has killed collecting. Greed by the toy companies, speculators, etc. Blaming eBay for the overall decline of collecting is akin to the 1950's when they blamed comic books for juvenile delinquency in my opinion. When you look at the toy aisles nowadays it reminds me of baseball card collecting. A glut of product, the average joe with an average pocketbook can't keep up with it all and finally stops caring. The collectors whom have paid the price the most for all this are the collectors that truly enjoy figures, not just driven by the idea of future profit. I feel you can enjoy figures whether you open them or not open them. In my own individual case I open everything but that's my personal choice. In closing, I don't believe you can really say eBay is why the hobby has declined as it has over the past six years.
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Post by figurecollector on May 18, 2014 6:28:11 GMT -6
I think that there are a lot of items that are well less than C-8 that sell on Ebay when there would not be a market for it if the only alternative would be garage sales and flea markets.
People would not take the time to take items to these venues and sit all day for a few dollars that they might get and would dump the items in the garbage.
Ebay has enlightened some as to the fact that there are valuable items sitting around that they otherwise would not know has a value to someone. It provides for some insane pricing when they have a C-1 version that they want to sell for C-10 pricing even though it may not have a box or accessories.
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Post by bowheadwhale on Jun 10, 2014 13:01:48 GMT -6
When it's too easy to do something, we indeed may lose interest doing it. This is why I don't buy toys anymore through Ebay; I use it only for things I absolutely cannot get in any other way.
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jughead
Garage Sale Scavenger
Jun 19, 2014 14:30:36 GMT -6
Posts: 35
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Post by jughead on Jun 23, 2014 13:54:19 GMT -6
I personally think the thing that has hurt collecting more than anything is the increasing shipping rates.
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cmc1214
Garage Sale Scavenger
Aug 17, 2013 18:32:32 GMT -6
Posts: 34
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Post by cmc1214 on Jun 28, 2014 15:01:52 GMT -6
I personally think the thing that has hurt collecting more than anything is the increasing shipping rates. This is true for sure. And as far as new stuff for me I just won't spend that much on a figure. I bought some Motu classics and almost regret it at the price..
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kpn1138
Forum Lurker
Nov 13, 2014 15:46:43 GMT -6
Posts: 10
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Post by kpn1138 on Nov 14, 2014 11:00:05 GMT -6
I think it has reduced the values of some lines. I am a Star Wars collector anf Ebay has been a great recource for keeping me current as well as assisting me with completing my vintage 12 inch line.
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Post by 3 3/4"collector on Nov 15, 2014 14:11:33 GMT -6
I got my first computer for Christmas in 2000. from 1990 till 2000 I spent insane amounts of time typing up and making copies of wants lists and mailing them to toy stores advertised in toy collecting magazines. then occasionally getting a reply with a few items and prices, having no idea what the item actually looked like conditionwise, then making long distance calls to talk to someone about them and in the end rarely got anything. there was really nowhere around me to look for stuff it was endless frustration. ebay absolutely made my collection possible, and I still find 90% of what I want on ebay for cheaper than anywhere else. im not a seller so I have no opinion there but when I do have extra stuff I don't know where else I would sell it at.
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Post by sharpfork on Nov 19, 2014 9:23:57 GMT -6
Maybe it's what I collect but I've recently turned away from ebay. Japanese, Brazilian, and other foreign toys that go for $100s on ebay can be had for mere peanuts off of YJA, Mercado Livre, etc... For collecting foreign toys you need to go to that countries market place for the deals. Only part of that which sucks is finding a middle man or auction service- but even then, after all the fees youre still saving a ton of cash compared to ePay prices...
For example I bought the Morfus Jiban toy (repainted Tcats Monkian with a newly sculpted head) from mercado livre for $45 total- I could resell this to a US Tcats collector for $500 easily.... Would I though? No, because the person that buys it will then try to sell it for $600, then the next guy $700, and so on. If Id ever want the figure back in my collection it would be impossible unless one turns up on a brazilian auction site for cheap again, but by that point the Brazilian sellers will see how much it's selling for with US collectors and then every market is ruined. Sometimes toy collecting (especially rare and uncommon pieces) is like a disease.
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Post by spockoda on Dec 9, 2014 19:18:21 GMT -6
One thing about ebay is not many sellers seem to look around them. The same figure someone is asking $40 for another seller is asking $8. So, which auction are you going to be interested in? I do agree that ebay has reduced the secondary market value of some lines by making "rare" items not so rare after 30 sellers start offering the same stuff. However, I feel it has also falsely blown prices on certain lines higher than, in my opinion, they should actually cost. Dragonriders Of The Styx being a decent example of what I am talking about there. A lot of it has to do with perceived value. There are lines I would like to collect but high ebay asking prices scare me off, MOTU classics being an example of that. I am simply not in a position to hand someone $125 for a carded Beast Man figure.
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Post by dogpoopwalker on Dec 30, 2014 16:58:27 GMT -6
I recently went on ebay after having not been on it for awhile. There were always fake Star Wars stuff, but I was astounded to see the fake stuff that they have now: fake foreign and bootleg items.
Also lots of fake Clash of the Titans, which is a line that I don't think even that many people are collecting.
That's the main reason that has turned me off Ebay. I can't trust people there, and it's only gotten worse.
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