Something's Weird Right Now With SDCC Gleek

[WishItWas1984]

Ok. I've been wanting an SDCC 2009 Wonder Twins box since...well, 2009.

But I've focused on other stuff, unfortunately, since the price is now at $75 at the cheapest.

NEVER though. NEVER with Gleek. I've been following eBay auctions SINCE 2009! It's one of my favorite searches. And when Gleek is added the price skyrockets.

Understandable since the little dude was so scarce that not everyone at SDCC got one for their Wonder Twins.

However in the past week or so, a FLOOD of Gleeks is hitting eBay from one seller. The dude is putting them up for auction, lots of 5 w/ Buy it Now, sometimes putting up reasonably priced Buy It Nows.

It's crazy! You look at finished auctions and in April loose Gleeks were going for $50-80 each. This guy put so many out there that he's getting between $15 to $30-ish.

I lost 2 auctions yesterday trying to snag one in the teens. Collectors seem to have figured out this is happening and prices look like they are leveling in the low to mid 20s. He has one Buy It Now for 1 (with a stock of 4) going for $24.95 w/ free shipping.

I just snagged one.

But I'm dying to know how this happened. Usually stuff like this is due to an old supply being unearthed. But these are SDCC exclusives from 2009 where Mattel themselves didn't have enough at the convention and sold out on their own site!

[Meatybat]

The terrible things that go on at that Mattel booth will make a boy a man. One of the guys probably slipped someone a full case and they sat on out of greed and is now getting low dough . They actually sold 15 of them for $13.95 .

[WishItWas1984]

Jun 17, 2012 10:34:28 GMT -6 Meatybat said:

(snip) They actually sold 15 of them for $13.95 .

Yes! That is likely what happened. Something shady. Not surprised at all.

And yeah, so many sold at $13.95. Dude, looking at finished auctions and seeing ones NOT SELL for $9.99....I was getting ill. I totally should've jumped on this the second it started, but I've always ignored Gleek since I figured the price would just skyrocket as usual, regardless of starting bid.

Still really happy I got one for $25 though. Never thought I'd ever own one.

[madcow]

I believe the story is that only part of the shipment ever made it to SDCC. The rest were found later on after the con. Mattel I think gave a bunch out over at the Fwoosh boards and the rest probably found their way out the backdoor.

[WishItWas1984]

Jun 17, 2012 18:00:23 GMT -6 madcow said:

I believe the story is that only part of the shipment ever made it to SDCC. The rest were found later on after the con. Mattel I think gave a bunch out over at the Fwoosh boards and the rest probably found their way out the backdoor.

If that's true, I would imagine someone got canned over that. Basic business would dictate you hold some for Matty contests or to increase relations w/ toy blogs, but first immediately take the rest and get them on MattyCollector.com to make some money.

If they "disappeared", I figure whoever's job it was to keep track of that did not enjoy the outcome.

Now unless it was basic theft that they couldn't prove. Damn. Still adds up to something shady going down. lol

[madcow]

Jun 17, 2012 19:32:13 GMT -6 WishItWas1984 said:

Jun 17, 2012 18:00:23 GMT -6 madcow said:

I believe the story is that only part of the shipment ever made it to SDCC. The rest were found later on after the con. Mattel I think gave a bunch out over at the Fwoosh boards and the rest probably found their way out the backdoor.

If that's true, I would imagine someone got canned over that. Basic business would dictate you hold some for Matty contests or to increase relations w/ toy blogs, but first immediately take the rest and get them on MattyCollector.com to make some money.

If they "disappeared", I figure whoever's job it was to keep track of that did not enjoy the outcome.

Now unless it was basic theft that they couldn't prove. Damn. Still adds up to something shady going down. lol

This IS Mattel we're talking about. None of their business practices have made sense for years.

[Meatybat]

Jun 17, 2012 18:00:23 GMT -6 madcow said:

I believe the story is that only part of the shipment ever made it to SDCC. The rest were found later on after the con. Mattel I think gave a bunch out over at the Fwoosh boards and the rest probably found their way out the backdoor.

Yeah I heard they( Fwoosh) got a case from Mattel in a " Whoops , looks what we found " right at the end of show moves. They also won the over sized Anti-Monitor that year , if I remember correctly .

[3 3/4"collector]

yeah ive been watching awhile myself and finally got one. wonder if i will ever get the twins to go with it?

[turnbolt]

I think Dan from Action figure insider won that anti-monitier. But, they did slip out the back door. Its how I got mine.

[else3573]

It's kind of lame for the seller to put em out all at once like that. I mean, it's great for those who want some, but flooding the market drops the value for those that paid alot for him. *and I can't believe how much the wonder twins are going for now, especially since you could buy them on Mattycollector after sdcc (without Gleek). Wish I had picked them up, i thought about it but bought some other things, can;t remember what. I picked up that Starro pack which has dropped in value a different year..(and the Hot Wheels wonder woman plane, and the SHS 3 pack). Wish I bought the big Galactus instead...

[WishItWas1984]

Jun 19, 2012 16:53:31 GMT -6 else3573 said:

It's kind of lame for the seller to put em out all at once like that. I mean, it's great for those who want some, but flooding the market drops the value for those that paid alot for him. *and I can't believe how much the wonder twins are going for now, especially since you could buy them on Mattycollector after sdcc (without Gleek). Wish I had picked them up, i thought about it but bought some other things, can;t remember what. I picked up that Starro pack which has dropped in value a different year..(and the Hot Wheels wonder woman plane, and the SHS 3 pack). Wish I bought the big Galactus instead...

I agree on regretting not grabbing the Twins. I definitely did not gamble right on that one. They were $40 on the site right? At auction they go for double. With sellers looking for a bit of a payday on all the Buy It Nows.

However I have no problem with this guy flooding the market with Gleeks, and I'm not saying that because I just got one for $25.

The Gleeks just being in existence has already screwed the value of those sold for $60-100 previous to this. Only 4 things could've happened:

1) They get destroyed. Current value remains
2) They stay boxed and never see the light of day. Value remians
3) They flood all at once and value drops
4) They come out at a very slow trickle, squeezing collectors for an artificial top dollar for as long as possible until demand subsides.

I much prefer they don't get destroyed and get into collector's hands at the real market value. The old buyers are already screwed, better to stem the flow caused by a bunch of douchebags. (provided this was intentional)

Now, as much as I don't want to see more old buyers of the Twins get burned, part of me would love a truck to pop up by accident so I can have another shot at getting them at $40. lol

[10incher]

Bought one myself, it came in the other day. Read on another forum that a few people suspected they were knockoffs or re-casts. After having it in hand, pretty sure its a legit figure.

[WishItWas1984]

Jul 18, 2012 16:19:29 GMT -6 10incher said:

Bought one myself, it came in the other day. Read on another forum that a few people suspected they were knockoffs or re-casts. After having it in hand, pretty sure its a legit figure.

Oh yeah, even from the photos I can tell these were the real deal. It's one thing to repro a simple weapon, a bubble or a cardback. Another thing entirely to repro a functional, detailed figure with full paint.

And lets say someone had the time and the talent to pull it off. With all that effort put into it, they wouldn't flood the market, screwing themselves out of all that profit.