Your price tag... what your willing to pay?

[BoogDoc7]

Curious as to what you're willing to pay for stuff.

For me, there isn't much worth spending more than $1-$2 unless I know it's rare. Of course, I do a LOT more reselling on ebay and flea markets and here. It's why I buy so few lots on ebay, I think - most stuff is hardly worth the initial bid or shipping total.

The quick and dirty (prices don't include vehicles or playsets or rare figures):

TMNT - .25-.50/figure
MOTU - .25-.50/figure
GIJoe - .25-$1/figure, depending on quality. Willing to spend more if 82-85 and in good shape.
CORPS - .25/figure.
McDonald's - .01-.05 - I have a .25 box I sell these out of.
TF - older stuff, $1-$10; newer stuff, .25-$1.00 depending on completion/quality.
Ghostbusters - .25-.50
Star Wars - Vintage - $1 if I don't have it, .25-.50 if I do.
Star Wars - Post-1990 - .25-.50
Marvel Super Heroes - .25-.50
Super Powers - .25-$1, depending on quality. RARE to find any at all.
Pretty much everything else is .25 or so.
Boxful of unknown stuff - $5-$10.

When I go outside of the above price ranges, or just stick at the high end, I usually get burned.

Thoughts?

[den82]

I've learned my lesson quickly about not over paying for MOTU (for resell that is). If it's a figure I want for my personal collection, I'll spend over $2 for it.


I have a ton of McDonalds stuff, btw. Wasn't sure if people collected it, so I haven't sorted it.

[BoogDoc7]

About the only ones I grab are the transforming McDonald robots and dinos from the 80s- there's several people on this board that like those.

MAYBE the Mighty Morphin Rangers stuff.

Other than that, flea market fodder.

[shaxper]

I'll readily admit that my price tag is incredibly flexible based upon how badly I want it, what the going price is, and how much spare change I have to throw at it. There are toys I'd happily spend over $200 to get, but not many of them.

I recently paid $15 for a Mint on opened card Silverhawks Copper Kid and felt great about it because it usually sells for three times that amount, I've been wanting it for a long time, and I had the cash to burn.

[madmartigan37]

for mint and complete loose vintage (ghostbusters, ect) I usually spend 5.00

For vintage star wars loose no weapons 1.00-2.00, usually give these to my kids to play with. Complete mint figures usually around 10.00

GI JOE, 2.00-3.00/figure

[brcthrift]

If buying something for my collection I'll pay market rate. If its just trade fodder or to resell I like a profit margin of 10xs the purchase price.

[else3573]

I ndo it more like how much I spend a month (usually around 200-300 on toys. If I sell some on ebay, then I end up spending more. My ceiling for one item is arounf $100.00 (unless it's a big lot/set that I can keep what I like, sell of the rest and still break even) or if it's a vintage toy I've been really wanting over the years, on my want list, and is around the going rate for whatever it is I'm buying.

[bowspearer]

Well for me, i guess it's probably the following:

Carded M.A.S.K. toys- $100
Boxed M.A.S.K,. toys (must not have stickers applied of have been removed from baggies or inserts or not interested)- $200+
Carded Silverhawks- $100+
Carded DOE- $50
Boxed DOE- $50-$100
Boxed/Carded Transformers- Upto/over $100

[tfnut]

Aug 27, 2010 12:40:19 GMT -6 BoogDoc7 said:

Curious as to what you're willing to pay for stuff.

The quick and dirty (prices don't include vehicles or playsets or rare figures):

TMNT - .25-.50/figure
MOTU - .25-.50/figure
GIJoe - .25-$1/figure, depending on quality. Willing to spend more if 82-85 and in good shape.
CORPS - .25/figure.
McDonald's - .01-.05 - I have a .25 box I sell these out of.
TF - older stuff, $1-$10; newer stuff, .25-$1.00 depending on completion/quality.
Ghostbusters - .25-.50
Star Wars - Vintage - $1 if I don't have it, .25-.50 if I do.
Star Wars - Post-1990 - .25-.50
Marvel Super Heroes - .25-.50
Super Powers - .25-$1, depending on quality. RARE to find any at all.
Pretty much everything else is .25 or so.
Boxful of unknown stuff - $5-$10.
Thoughts?

I NEVER see things this cheap, even at thrift stores. Frankly, I don't see how you ever buy ANYTHING! LOL.

[BoogDoc7]

Honestly, garage sale prices and getting deals on ebay that no one else sees. You might be surprised at the collection that I've gathered with some of these standards.

[squirrellips]

Jan 29, 2011 16:18:09 GMT -6 @tfnut said:

Aug 27, 2010 12:40:19 GMT -6 BoogDoc7 said:

Curious as to what you're willing to pay for stuff.

The quick and dirty (prices don't include vehicles or playsets or rare figures):

TMNT - .25-.50/figure
MOTU - .25-.50/figure
GIJoe - .25-$1/figure, depending on quality. Willing to spend more if 82-85 and in good shape.
CORPS - .25/figure.
McDonald's - .01-.05 - I have a .25 box I sell these out of.
TF - older stuff, $1-$10; newer stuff, .25-$1.00 depending on completion/quality.
Ghostbusters - .25-.50
Star Wars - Vintage - $1 if I don't have it, .25-.50 if I do.
Star Wars - Post-1990 - .25-.50
Marvel Super Heroes - .25-.50
Super Powers - .25-$1, depending on quality. RARE to find any at all.
Pretty much everything else is .25 or so.
Boxful of unknown stuff - $5-$10.
Thoughts?

I NEVER see things this cheap, even at thrift stores. Frankly, I don't see how you ever buy ANYTHING! LOL.

I can see still finding figures like that for those prices. I do almost every weekend in the summer at yard sales/flea markets. I've got box lots of 80's figures at auctions as well for $1 & $2 for a box full including MOTU, Turtles, Ghostbusters, etc.
It was easier to do in the 90's because there was more of it, but you can def. still come across decent stuff for pocket change.

[Megatron]

Yea I find it hard to believe I don't think you would find a POTF Luke Stormtrooper for under $50 (Example)

[tfnut]

Stay classy, Megatron. Maybe for about $62.43 if you frequent goodwill.org though, eh?

I guess I just don't see garage sale and flea market and local auction finds up here in Washington anymore because we're so inundated with vintage toy stores. There are literally a dozen within a couple hours drive from each other. And of course, they all have their minions out scouring for them. Considering our relatively low population, that's just bloody ridiculous. And that's WITHOUT counting comic shops that also deal in the occasional vintage toy.

[BoogDoc7]

We don't have a ton here in Central GA, or at least I'm one of the only guys who trolls the garage sales in my immediate area. I know a few other guys who collect, but I don't think they hit the sales like I do. We also have a VERY good flea market nearby, where people go more or less to do their garage sales.

[brcthrift]

Jan 30, 2011 21:45:10 GMT -6 BoogDoc7 said:

We don't have a ton here in Central GA, or at least I'm one of the only guys who trolls the garage sales in my immediate area. I know a few other guys who collect, but I don't think they hit the sales like I do. We also have a VERY good flea market nearby, where people go more or less to do their garage sales.

When I lived in GA the Atlanta Goodwill stores were goldmines. I mainly went to the one in Tucker and the one in Smyrna, and I found great stuff every weekend. GI Joes, G1 Transformers, Thundercats, Knock offs galore. If you find yourself in Atlanta you should check those two out.

[BoogDoc7]

Warner Robins stores have held the occasional gem - the Salvation Army occasionally puts out buckets with small toys for .05-.10 each, but I haven't seen that in a while.

[rawlin]

I pay a lot if it is in near mint - mint condition. And price does not matter as much if I am really after a figure.
When it comes to lower quality like c7:ish I wouldn't buy at all unless its for replacement parts like arms and legs. etc.
So I don't use to buy for low prices. Most stuff I buy is from eBay. As for Star Wars vintage a none rare loose and incomplete figure usually go for around 4$ here in Sweden. Rarer figures varies, sometimes they sky rocket in price.

[bowspearer]

It all comes down to supply and demand really. If you have access to the stuff at flea markets and garage sales, then sure, you're going to find stuff at way lower prices than ebay, but geography plays a huge part in things.

For example, when you have the kind of saturation that the US got with toys, you're likely to pull a runamuckduck and score a sealed power base for $10 for example. Meanwhile, here in Australia, for alot of the stuff, eBay is my only option, so I'm stuck paying over $200 for them.

I do find exceptions though. I find that US eBay bidders for example are less likely to buy stuff from international sellers due to shipping costs, so you can often soften the blow a bit that way.

Like is said though, reasonable prices are really dependant on geography.

[squirrellips]

Feb 4, 2011 4:19:45 GMT -6 bowspearer said:

It all comes down to supply and demand really. If you have access to the stuff at flea markets and garage sales, then sure, you're going to find stuff at way lower prices than ebay, but geography plays a huge part in things.

For example, when you have the kind of saturation that the US got with toys, you're likely to pull a runamuckduck and score a sealed power base for $10 for example. Meanwhile, here in Australia, for alot of the stuff, eBay is my only option, so I'm stuck paying over $200 for them.

I do find exceptions though. I find that US eBay bidders for example are less likely to buy stuff from international sellers due to shipping costs, so you can often soften the blow a bit that way.

Like is said though, reasonable prices are really dependant on geography.

Very true. Location, I think, has a lot to do with prices. I'm from USA & very very rarely buy on ebay at all, and even when I do, I think I only purchased from international sellers once or twice. The higher shipping and money conversion always throws me off.
Also, as you said, some things are a lot more plentiful in the US and even certain states and even cities, than compaired to say Brazil.

[3 3/4"collector]

Aug 27, 2010 12:40:19 GMT -6 BoogDoc7 said:

TMNT - .25-.50/figure
MOTU - .25-.50/figure
GIJoe - .25-$1/figure, depending on quality. Willing to spend more if 82-85 and in good shape.
CORPS - .25/figure.
McDonald's - .01-.05 - I have a .25 box I sell these out of.
TF - older stuff, $1-$10; newer stuff, .25-$1.00 depending on completion/quality.
Ghostbusters - .25-.50
Star Wars - Vintage - $1 if I don't have it, .25-.50 if I do.
Star Wars - Post-1990 - .25-.50
Marvel Super Heroes - .25-.50
Super Powers - .25-$1, depending on quality. RARE to find any at all.
Pretty much everything else is .25 or so.
Boxful of unknown stuff - $5-$10.

there is no answer to that really. for me it doesnt go by toy line or whatever, it goes by specific figure. also alot of lines i dont really care about anything other than the figure itself, but some lines or some figures i definitely want the little accessories. likewise some lines i want that are pretty rare and expensive i simply wont bother with like the knickerbocker lord of the rings. but other lines that are rare and overpriced i go ahead and bite the bullet on.

but honestly, and i mean no offence. the prices you list it sounds like you dont buy what you want so much as you just buy stuff because its really cheap flea market junk..

i literally just gave hundreds of figures away to some friends just because i want the crap out of my way. i only buy figures i want now. i absolutely dont buy boxes full of stuff real cheap hopeing theres a gem or 2 in there because i just dont want all that junk in my way and i dont want to just throw it away either, but im also to lazy or busy to turn around and bother trying to resell it for pennies. i sometimes see people do these ebay auctions where they have 1000 figures and start them all at 99 cents or even 1 cent. but they are all lame figures no one wants like potf2 figures. and i always think even if someone makes a $1 bid on that figure its not worth the trouble of taking a picture then writing out a description going through the steps of listing it then writing out an address label and driving to the post office and standing in line and waiting and then paying your ebay fee just for a $1 figure. i am far to lazy to go through all that trouble when i could make more by just working a few hours of overtime.

[BoogDoc7]

I get your point, but I have a pretty good local flea market where I can go to unload a good portion of this stuff from anywhere .25-$3/figure. It's fun, and essentially a good way to pay for the stuff that I do want when I am willing to shell out the money for it. If I keep to the above pricing, more or less, I at least don't LOSE money, and am able to make some pretty good scores and actually profit here and there.

[else3573]

@ TF Nut. what area of Washington? I'm down in Longview, and the only vintage toy stores I know of are in Portland (Billy Galaxy), and Gasoline Alley in Seattle. Not that I doubt you, just wanted to know of some others so I could check em out.

[tfnut]

Okay, there's Lynn's ToyStable in Tacoma (great store, great lady!). There's another store about 3 miles from her place that I forget the name of. There's also the Pacific Run Antique Mall that Lynn has a stall at. There's a place in Woodland that I forget the name of (stopped in on a lark when I saw an R2D2 sign). There's a place in Olympia that I forget the name of (I'm bad with names ). There's Amazing Heroes in Kirkland. There's BobaKhan's in Everett (another great store!). There's 2 other places between Everett and Seattle along the I-99 corridor that I forget the name of. There's the Star Wars Toy Shop in Aberdeen. I'd forgotten about Gasoline Alley, thanks for that one! There's a place in a mall... I can't even remember which mall, it wasn't very good hunting there.

That's off the top of my head. There's a few more that are eluding me at the moment. ToyStable is DEFINITELY worth a trip, she has a WIDE range of nearly everything imaginable (plus a TON more that she doesn't have out... be sure to ask if you're looking for something specific!). BobaKhan is pretty Star Wars-centric, but has a decent selection of other stuff too. AmazingHeroes has a wide selection as well. If I didn't know better, I'd think he was BillyGalaxy's long lost brother (for numerous reasons...) The Woodland place was pretty Star Wars centric. The nameless places were mostly SW & GI Joe.
Hope that covers it for you I originally found most of the nameless stores advertising on Craigslist. If they haven't migrated their way out of my GPS, I could probably get you their addresses if you PM me. They just didn't have enough of interest to me to be added to my regular list of haunts..

[else3573]

Cool, thanks for the info. Much appreciated. I had no idea there was a store in Woodland. I kn ow there's a ton of Antique stores in Kalama, one that I went into had some cool older toys (but I'm talking tin toys and advertising toys for the most part, a few soakies, etc.)

[bowspearer]

Feb 21, 2011 9:20:32 GMT -6 @tfnut said:

Okay, there's Lynn's ToyStable in Tacoma (great store, great lady!). There's another store about 3 miles from her place that I forget the name of. There's also the Pacific Run Antique Mall that Lynn has a stall at. There's a place in Woodland that I forget the name of (stopped in on a lark when I saw an R2D2 sign). There's a place in Olympia that I forget the name of (I'm bad with names ). There's Amazing Heroes in Kirkland. There's BobaKhan's in Everett (another great store!). There's 2 other places between Everett and Seattle along the I-99 corridor that I forget the name of. There's the Star Wars Toy Shop in Aberdeen. I'd forgotten about Gasoline Alley, thanks for that one! There's a place in a mall... I can't even remember which mall, it wasn't very good hunting there.

That's off the top of my head. There's a few more that are eluding me at the moment. ToyStable is DEFINITELY worth a trip, she has a WIDE range of nearly everything imaginable (plus a TON more that she doesn't have out... be sure to ask if you're looking for something specific!). BobaKhan is pretty Star Wars-centric, but has a decent selection of other stuff too. AmazingHeroes has a wide selection as well. If I didn't know better, I'd think he was BillyGalaxy's long lost brother (for numerous reasons...) The Woodland place was pretty Star Wars centric. The nameless places were mostly SW & GI Joe.
Hope that covers it for you I originally found most of the nameless stores advertising on Craigslist. If they haven't migrated their way out of my GPS, I could probably get you their addresses if you PM me. They just didn't have enough of interest to me to be added to my regular list of haunts..

And this is why prices in the US will never be comparable with international prices.

[tfnut]

Errr... are you saying international prices are much cheaper? Maybe I should travel abroad, lol.

Though, like I said, from what I know of the US, this sort of concentration of vintage toy stores is highly unusual. I'm not sure why so many toy nuts have congregated in this area, and then chosen to open up shop. I mean, do even MAJOR metro areas like L.A. and N.Y have THIS many vintage toy stores?

[muckmonster87]

i'm always buying up TONS of stuff at thrift shops and flea markets in baltimore, i find stuff almost every time i go out. almost everything i own i got for $0.05-$1. the few exceptions (mostly ebay purchases) are paid for by selling flea market/thrift store finds on forums and ebay. i end up making way more selling toys than i spend buying them, so i'm happy!

[countzackula]

I wish I didn't have to rely on eBay so darn much...as far as I know, no major flea markets in my area. Garage/yard sales are usually only in the summer and usually only have old, true crapola! Bah! Plus, I hate going in people's yards and stuff...sometimes I think I have social anxiety disorder! Just creeps me out (to a degree). As for thrift stores...never tried 'em...always thought they were truly meant for the "less fortunate", so always felt bad about venturing in to look for toys. Eh, I'm weird that way. If I can get stuff for dirt cheap either in person or online, then great...if not...well, if it's something I want bad enough...whatcha gonna do?!? Eh, I've always been bad with money, anyway. Maybe I'll bite the bullet and start searching for thrift stores around the area. I'm sure there's a few around where I live. I'd much rather pay old-crap prices for old-crap items!!!

[bowspearer]

Feb 22, 2011 1:31:07 GMT -6 @tfnut said:

Errr... are you saying international prices are much cheaper? Maybe I should travel abroad, lol.

Though, like I said, from what I know of the US, this sort of concentration of vintage toy stores is highly unusual. I'm not sure why so many toy nuts have congregated in this area, and then chosen to open up shop. I mean, do even MAJOR metro areas like L.A. and N.Y have THIS many vintage toy stores?

Actually I was saying quite the reverse. Furthermore, even when you have a sparse concentration of stores, there's other things like the Kane County Fair, which more than make up for it.

Australian currently has maybe half a dozen bricks and mortar stores and in April, a 3rd regular collectors fair will be starting up.

Besides that, there's virtually nothing besides eBay and the really rare flea market find.

[tfnut]

Well in that case bowspearer, I'm not really sure why a high concentration would keep prices lower? It actually makes it MUCH worse, because it's far more difficult to find vintage stuff at thrifts, garage sales, flea markets, and the like. All those stores have their friends/customers out looking for stuff for them, so there's virtually nothing to be found unless you are lucky enough to be there when it's put out.

And the surplus of stores doesn't really cause a price war or anything, because this is the internet age. They always know the rough value, and can hold out for a reasonable approximation of that.

So, it makes for a nice and expensive shopping day. Sometimes I *love* that I am blessed enough to have so many stores to choose from, and can shop for pretty hard to find things IN PERSON. But after 3 years of busting out at the various cheaper options (even though I go to A TON of them), it has gotten kind of frustrating.