I was wondering why everything was so much more expensive since absense from the fandom. I figured it was because of the movies. I didn't expect things to be so overly inflated as they are. I was especially surprised by Wheeljack's Lab, but I figure if sellers like him can make money on it, then so be it. If it didn't make business sense, they wouldn't be doing it. Mind you, I haven't been in the marketplace since M*O*T (Ministry of Toys) was still on ebay, and before the movie came out.

 

I agree with this.

In my area, there's a sort farmer's market/flea market/vendor place that has a dude with a little toy shop. He has a ton of TFs, many of which are G1.
He also charges ludicrous prices - generally he's wayyyy over what it would cost for a mint-er figure on ebay plus shipping.

But I've got a buddy who will just blindly buy anything. Oh, is the a loose Quake with no accessories? Only $40?! SURE!

 

All I know is if I lose my job, I can sell my G1 collection on ebay and make my house/car/bill payments for a couple months.

Of course,.. I might not make next months bills on time because of this months G1 purchases. Oh the irony... 

 

I'm comfortable knowing that a few things i have can sell in an emergency.

 

I can see where you're coming from. Rarity only makes it desirable if it's desirable. I know that may be your presupposition, but there are quite a few things that are "rare" but don't bring in a pretty penny.

Gettin' ready . . . .  

Tuner Mudflap continues to take me to skool.

 

*facepalm*

'we' as in the people reading this thread on TFW, not 'all' as in everyone in existence in the universe and all dimensions.   If you gotta split hairs that fine to make your point, then you're not really making any point at all.

 

The very basis of G1 collecting is overpaying for items. People need to stop dictating how other people should spend their money.

 

I will give you all a chance to redeem yourself. I need Apeface, Skullcruncher and Snapdragon. Sell those to me at reasonable prices and all will be forgiven. REPENT YOUR SINS!

 

I can understand vintage items being expensive, there should be some cost for difficulty in finding something. What I question is the level of expensive as of late. Especially when you look at ones that have been reissued, yet it doesn't touch the original's price at all, except on occasions where they jack the price of the original even more.



Which brings me to reissues. I can understand why an anime accurate Astrotrain costs a ton. Limited numbers of a version of the mold that I'm pretty sure was never done before. But Hound? There are TFC Hounds MISB going for more than the original MISB. What. The. Hell? Same with the TFC Minibots set. $250+? You can't even use the animation accurate head argument since the Encore rereleased that same mold with the S3 Minibots minus Hubcap. Was there a limited production run on the reissues? And why is TM Hot Rodimus cheaper than Rodimus Major?

 

And here I thought "CHUG" killed G1.

EL OH EL

 

I call shenanigans. You never purchased those. You're standing in the store!!!

 

Smoking has steadily decreased from over 40% in 1965, 30% in 1985 to less than 20%. If we stop overpaying for prices then Hasbro will have to target the same new group like big tobacco did. . .the kids. Oh the humanity.

Seriously though, awareness about overpaying is good and all but there's several huge differences between tobacco and plastic crack that jump out. First, smoking's a health hazard. Second, the campaign to get people to reduce smoking was able to hit a large target through television and other media.

I realize this is not the conclusion the OP wanted when you started this thread but the bad news is that the new movie will continue to draw more people in, the majority of who don't surf the boards, and the prices will continue to shoot up. Stock up on your G1's while you can. There's a storm coming and we don't know how long it's going to last.

 

Lucky for me we've had so many official reissues and unauthorized reproductions over the last several years. The last time I bought a "real" G1 figure was probably sometime in 2004. And I learned my lessons about future availabilty, loading up on extras of stuff I really liked when I could do so.

 

The free market laughs in your general direction

 

Oh snap! You got me! I forgot to post a photo of the receipt! That means I must not own any Tuner Mudflaps and especially these!


(yeah, you really got me, though  )

I would say that it would THRILL me to see one AFA graded high (90+) and in a few years actually go for a pretty penny. Pretty penny as in >+$ than a G1 figure. Those Jumpstarters are just a lot more rare, though. Anything post-G1 has a tough hill to climb