How much is too much?
- Thread starter Galadrin
- Start date
Greater Harlequin
Serf
Fascinating discussion and as a seller in the past of a significant amount of very collectible minis I am only too well aware that there are plenty of people willing to spend £50 to £200 on a single figure if its rare enough. Will I pay those sort of prices myself? It's unlikely that I will, mainly because there aren't any figures that I want for my modest collection that fall into that category. Would I pay that sort of money if a figure turned up that I don't have, but want...... probably. For the odd 'final brick in the wall' paying over the odds is acceptable in my view as the average cost of the collection is barely affected. Would I be willing to repeatedly pay that sort of money..no.
I am trying to acquire quite a few RT figures I'm missing and Nurgle Chaos Renegades in particular are causing me some difficulty and expense. Most I've paid is £12 and I feel that was too much but lifes short and I wanted that figure.
I have to say that on the general question of value, the reality is that the market will dictate. It doesn't matter what we think, supply and demand will over rule anything else. Yes we can sell each other stuff for less than market prices if we are feeling generous, but sadly I fear that human nature will also generally over ride good intentions. How many times will you sell something for 50% of what you can sell it for on evilbay? I will often give figures to close friends or sell for below market value and they do the same for me. Is that really sustainable outside of close friendships however. In any event none of that will affect the pricing on Ebay in what is a global collectors market.
This leads me to my main question that I would very much appreciate views upon. Has the GW collectors market reached maturity or will we see continuing inflation in the prices paid for these little lumps of lead?
I was selling unreleased confrontation figures for £10 to £20 each 2 years ago but see they are now fetching £50 each. Will that be £500 each in another 20 years time?
I am trying to acquire quite a few RT figures I'm missing and Nurgle Chaos Renegades in particular are causing me some difficulty and expense. Most I've paid is £12 and I feel that was too much but lifes short and I wanted that figure.
I have to say that on the general question of value, the reality is that the market will dictate. It doesn't matter what we think, supply and demand will over rule anything else. Yes we can sell each other stuff for less than market prices if we are feeling generous, but sadly I fear that human nature will also generally over ride good intentions. How many times will you sell something for 50% of what you can sell it for on evilbay? I will often give figures to close friends or sell for below market value and they do the same for me. Is that really sustainable outside of close friendships however. In any event none of that will affect the pricing on Ebay in what is a global collectors market.
This leads me to my main question that I would very much appreciate views upon. Has the GW collectors market reached maturity or will we see continuing inflation in the prices paid for these little lumps of lead?
I was selling unreleased confrontation figures for £10 to £20 each 2 years ago but see they are now fetching £50 each. Will that be £500 each in another 20 years time?
Greater Harlequin
Serf
Unlikely. In my "other life" as a record collector and occasional vinyl flipper, the market for things seem to drop suddenly and not recover as the fad passes and tastes move elsewhere. Its the bubble syndrome.[/quote]
I suspect you may be right but a lot of collecting is driven by nostalgia. I think nostalgia is what is driving the current interest in Oldhammer and Rogue Trader and increasing demand is pushing up prices of figures on the secondary markets. A little voice in the back of my mind keeps pointing out that there are a lot more people yet to rediscover the GW dreams of their youth and I think we may yet see further inflation, particularly in relation to rare items or those which are in high demand . Of course knowing for certain about future trends in such matters would be highly advantageous
I personally take the view however, that hobbies are for enjoyment not financial profit and that speculation is generally something to be avoided at all costs. My 1200 cd collection was certainly amongst the worst investments I've made but I've enjoyed the music immensely.
I suspect you may be right but a lot of collecting is driven by nostalgia. I think nostalgia is what is driving the current interest in Oldhammer and Rogue Trader and increasing demand is pushing up prices of figures on the secondary markets. A little voice in the back of my mind keeps pointing out that there are a lot more people yet to rediscover the GW dreams of their youth and I think we may yet see further inflation, particularly in relation to rare items or those which are in high demand . Of course knowing for certain about future trends in such matters would be highly advantageous
I personally take the view however, that hobbies are for enjoyment not financial profit and that speculation is generally something to be avoided at all costs. My 1200 cd collection was certainly amongst the worst investments I've made but I've enjoyed the music immensely.
Auretious Taak
Vassal
It does get down to one simple fact - demand for the models is increasing as more people seek out the older models so there is more competition for the same number of models which drives up the prices. At the same time, patience does hold into it and you can get below what the more common averages are with that patience, but sometimes we are talking 6 to 12months plus. Throw in people breaking into it all make judgements based on what they see out there and what they find as averages and sometimes those prices are way off and overpriced. This also drives up the average price. The sad reality is that no matter how low and 'normal' this community keeps model selling prices between themselves, as the demand increases, so too will the prices and the hobby will get more expensive, especially as the models get older. A Great Spined Dragon is expensive as it is, in a decade when it is 40 years old or 2 decades when it is 50 years old? Yeah, stuff is going to get more expensive.