I look at it likes this, there are so many 3P offerings out there that I can't just get everything that I find interesting. Example, I'm super curious about UT Challenger's transformation, but I can't justify buying an $110+ figure (right now in my life) just to check out the transformation once or twice.

Each year adds more choices of representation for the same G1 characters, I just don't personally have the time / money / effort to research which version is the best version of the character. Hence, my interest and budget in 3P gravitate towards the more unique pieces that typically sees less representation.

Plus, the increase of prices on official MPs I really want (BW Megatron for example) is limiting my 3P pickups even more. I get there are coupons, sales, etc, but lots of discounted figures still adds up.

Each collector is going to have different habits and reasoning in collecting, so I hope this sheds some light on mine. Just my 2 cents.  

 

Sure, imo it just doesnt seem like there was a large sampling of figures that came out in 2018. Did anyone on the staff buy DX9 gabriel? Did any have a chance to even see it in person? Easily my figure of the year and I could write a page on why but yeah if there isnt a large sampling then there is just personal favorites out of the one or two figures a staff member bought.

I dont buy barely any official toys these days but out of what I did last year, siege sideswipe would have been my personal favorite out of about 10 figures. Is it the best official toy of 2018? Probably not, I didnt buy many official toys, but it was good to me.

Thats kinda how Im taking this list too. The best of a handful of purchases, not really the best of what was offered.

 

I just wanted to say "Amen." When I sell figures on ebay it is solely to make room and MAYBE recoup SOME of what I paid. In no way however do I expect to profit. As a collector who just uses ebay to reduce my collection when I need to, it's frustrating how little you have to put something up for to get any attention. People will think you are robbing them through high shipping costs when it's USPS actually calculating the costs and you just can't have the sort of inexpensive shipping China or big online retailers have. And it seems like every buyer wants to ignore the %15 ebay fee. I had someone email me asking me why my shipping was so high. I responded with "that's calculated by USPS based on weight, dimensions, and location." Their reply was "it should be cheaper."

Sorry, this just prompted me to want to rant about the realities of selling on ebay compared to the fantasy version anyone who has never sold anything on there think it is.

 

I think the future of 3p is about improving the masterpieces similar to what cloud 9 quakeblast did with ft quakewave. If 3p improved on what the official mp figures did, i think there\'s a market for that. They dont necessarily have to follow the transformation but just the head sculpt and head-shoulder-chest proportions and aesthetics. I think that would change the game because fans will no longer think of 3ps simply as placeholders.