Images From The Hartman's Transformers Collection For Sale

Discussion in 'Transformers News and Rumors' started by Super_Megatron, Sep 6, 2006.

  1. Shaun_C

    Shaun_C The REAL One True fan Veteran TFW2005 Supporter

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    A member of this board once told me that some guy at a past convention bought all 5 G1 Predacons MISB.And then preceded to totally DESTROY the packages upon opening.As some sort of statement about those who keep their toys MISB

    So it's not that unlikely
     
  2. Black Convoy

    Black Convoy Proudly Peruvian Transfan Moderator News Staff

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    Would they change all the collection for a pair of magic beans???


    To be honest, I feel miserable...
     
  3. rework

    rework The Voice of Experience

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    1) How far back are we talking? Wouldn't be that big of a deal if you go far enough back. I do know people who opened toys when I started collecting - But that was years ago, back before the prices jumped up and it wasn't such a big deal. A $20 premium to open a sealed toy? That's believable. $200? Not so much.

    2) Can anyone give a first hand account of this? How about a name? I've been to every con since Rochester and have never heard of it. So forgive me if I doubt it really happned.
     
  4. Denyer

    Denyer Shooty Dog Thing

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    Many aren't -- once you get away from the big names that everyone recognises, MIB and MISB items aren't in the hundreds of pounds range. Packaging itself often isn't mint (overly pristine boxes being the first obvious sign of a scam, in fact.) Some figures have been heavily bootlegged, with people buying both knowingly and unknowingly, and it's kept prices on originals of those a bit saner.

    Those who plan to open are much less likely to discriminate between MIB and MISB though, as long as there's an assurance that the item is complete and in original condition inside the packaging. Plus it's not as if most people would damage/discard the packaging -- it's easy enough to reseal packaging to pass casual inspection or concern for those selling on, etc. Grading and similar artificial price-appreciation schemes aren't the commonest form of MIMSB on the market, either, even disregarding the way AFA aren't consistent with their own policies on boxwear and have been taken in by bootlegs.
     
  5. Octane

    Octane Soul Crusher

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    I HAVE opened MISB items: Grandus, Soundwave, Skywarp, Hardhead, Diaclone "Skids" (granted not MISB, but MIB unused) Laster, Braver, Gaihawk, Landshaker, & Japanese Micromaster box sets. Add those up and that some big bucks. Grandus was $400 alone.

    I have also been a member of the collectors club, and I think it is a waste of money.
     
  6. Roller

    Roller Keep on rollin'! TFW2005 Supporter

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    wow, this will probably be the first time that another dealer has a bigger booth than BBTS and outsells the BBTS booth.
     
  7. rework

    rework The Voice of Experience

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    The only 3 on that list that are a loss are the Skywarp, Hardhead and Soundwave. A sealed Soundwave should go for a LOT of money these days. Unsealed, not nearly so much.

    The Japanese toys, honestly are no big deal. It's not like there was much choice until very recently. No one bothered to import loose versions and when they did, the price was virtually the same as a sealed one. I've opened Overlord, Deszarus, GodGinRai (back before the re-issue killed the price) among others. I don't feel like I lost anything there. OTOH, I still regret opening BW Dinobot & Rhinox 10 years ago. Why? Because I've since picked up multiples of each loose - And now I don't have a sealed one.
     
  8. ams

    ams Generation All Veteran

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    FWIW, I have a complete set of Japanese G1, most of which were purchased sealed, then opened & stickered by me and the boxes sold for enormous amounts, sometimes recouping up to 1/3 the actual cost I paid for the figure.

    So it may not be the most common practice, but I want a collection of pristine items, not stuff that's been played with or resold on eBay from someone's garage sale.

    All of us have different wants from collecting, and different ideas about the 'right' way of doing things.
     
  9. rework

    rework The Voice of Experience

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    As I mention above, Japanese or other imported toys are in a different catagory. The same opportunity to buy them loose/near-mint/complete isn't there like it is for domestic releases. When they do come available, the prices are about the same as sealed ones - There's little sacrifice in value made when opening them.

    Opening a Japanese toys doesn't shock me. Neither does opening a bunch of sealed US toys years ago.

    You want to shock me? Open up a sealed Targetmaster Scourge in a nice box. Then I'll be impressed by your commitment to opening sealed toys. (I'll also be happy because it will increase the rarity of the one I have!)
     
  10. Denyer

    Denyer Shooty Dog Thing

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    People buy boxed and carded items and open them, and aren't paying hundreds or thousands for the privilege -- for some items, such as Throttlebots / Actionmasters / Firecons / Laser Rods / etc, they aren't even paying much more than the original RRP, inflation considered. It guarantees a decent condition figure.

    For example, a late release carded Inferno, costing less than the reissue:
    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Transformers-G2-Inferno-MOSC_W0QQitemZ230024414498

    European Classic Hero releases are another decent assortment, because people wanting boxed items generally also want the very first release.
     
  11. Acid Wing

    Acid Wing Senior Alien TF Member

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    Ahhh, thanks for the clarification, guys.:)  So, if that's the case, then I feel sad that my brother's turquoise G2 Grimlock is missing some teeth (one of our first G2 figs). X/