How often do you buy transformers used or pre-owned on eBay, or pick them up at yard sales?

 

It really depends. Generally, I aim for MISB, but if it's an especially rare item that I won't find in box for a reasonable price, I'll go used.

 

It depends on the age. I typically only buy used if it’s a lot more expensive to get it new, but I am not opposed to buying used and have done so many times including on these boards.

 

I am (for the most part) an open the package guy. If I find a character loose and complete, I have no issues grabbing it. I am happy to add the figure at a lower price.

 

Never.

 

Me too. I hate buying used and avoid it like it's the rust plague lol.

 

Lol. I will buy open if the contents are unused. Usually only for G1 though.

 

I've bought some. I don't see them pop up at swapmeets or yard sales often and they're usually either broken, or something I'm not interested in when I do.

As for online yikes. Those prices keep going up. So I don't do that often either.

Them being used does not bother me in the least.

One kind member sold me a Soundwave for my boyfriend for Christmas my first year here.

I found a few sweet deals online for my daughter and boyfriend.

I snagged a Slugslinger at the swap meet.

 

I've only ever purchased one second hand Transformer (excluding parts bots), that's boxed G1 Jetfire many years ago.

 

I buy em rarely. I usually make sure it's an adult collector and that the condition is great for the toy

 

At this point, it's used only for me.

 

I almost always buy used unless I'm getting something newly released in stores. 99% of the time I go for loose as well. I'm just going to rip anything I buy out of the packaging if it's unopened, so I prefer to leave sealed stuff for the people who might want to keep it that way. (Also, because loose figures tend to be cheaper and I am all about saving money where I can.) I've gotten most of mine on ebay, but I did buy some on offerup for my Rescue Bots custom project and actually got a pretty great deal on them. I've also picked up a couple at conventions and thrift stores in the past, though I haven't actually come across any in thrift stores in a few years.

 

Truth be told, I've actually bought quite a few second-hand Transformerseither from online marketplaces or from visiting physical hobby stores. As long as the figure itself was still in good condition (with no missing parts), the price was reasonable and it's a figure I truly want, I usually won't mind getting second-hand TFs.

 

I'll buy used when I get the chance, especially if it's a figure I know is out of stock in most places or absurdly priced on eBay. It's worth mentioning that I'll only ever buy used figures from other members of this particular community.

 

A fair amount.

Siege Greenlight, Mirage, Decepticon Mirage, 1 Refracktor, Centurion
Power of the Primes Dreadwind and Blackwing
Titans Returns Chromedome, Hardhead, Highbrow, Brainstorm, Skullcruncher, Fortress Maximus (actually 1 incomplete headless Fortress Maximus and 1 damaged Fortress Maximus)
Unite Warriors Computron, Defensor
Thrilling 30 Sandstorm, Whirl, Roadbuster, Skids, Skybyte
Generations Drift
RotF Lockdown

Just won a bid on a lot with Rotf Bludgeon, Generations Skullgrin and Straxxus.

 

About 3-5% of my figures are from other board members. I would probably never buy a used figure off EBay or Amazon or anywhere other than TFW or from an IRL friend\acquaintance.

 

I prefer MIB/MISB, but I'm not gonna hesitate to buy a used copy that costs less if it's complete. The older figures get, the more I'll consider only looking at used figures, since it's rare to find MISB figures from RotF and lines preceding it. Not impossible, but they're often going for much higher prices than their used, loose & complete counterparts. Gotta make compromises somewhere, and since I'm never going to just keep a figure in a box on the shelf, MISB doesn't appeal to me outside of knowing that it's "fresh" from the factory and any QC problems were there from the beginning.

 

If it's a good figure and in good shape, why the hell not... packaged or not doesn't matter, it's coming out anyways. And usually you can check them out first too, so you can look if any issues.

Lots that are older that were missed at the time, and getting figures that would otherwise be insanely priced, it's a no brainer.

Of course I prefer that they are complete, but some are just junkers for fodder.

Hell, I have a desk full of used figures right now that I have to figure where I'm putting them

 

I pretty much only buy used when I go to a toy show or something like that, and never anything "new", pretty much always G1, Beast Wars and the occasional older classics/generations figure. Very occasionally I'll look for something on eBay or a local shop, but man, when I do go to those things, I go a bit hog wild. Managed to find a few of my Beast Wars grails last month at a town-wide yard sale with a whole street for toy collectors. Got me a Tripredacus, original T-Wrecks, Lio Convoy, Polar Claw and G2 Laser Prime. I can't wait for my local show to start back up again.

 

Mainly its just the scalped figures i buy used if i find em for an actual fair price. Beggars can't be choosers, as they say