DO COMPANIES CANNIBALIZE COLLECTORS OR DO WE DO IT TO OURSELVES?

www.bigbadtoystore.com/Produc...

[@charlestonjew7587]

48 bids at $5,298 for a Vintage Yak Face, not even MINT, is insanity.

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

A carded Yak usually goes for $10k if minty and AFA

[@Scotty-Z70]

in the last 3 years my grocery costs have MORE THAN DOUBLED. the news says 7% inflation. BULL. prices have doubled. I have to decide: toys or food.

[@drewlovelyhell4892]

There are more factors to food prices than inflation.

[@Scotty-Z70]

@@drewlovelyhell4892 like sending billions of dollars to Ukraine? Yep. Like printing fake money? Yep.

[@TrevorToonArt]

​@@drewlovelyhell4892Yeah it's Bidenflation

[@totalrobot]

@@drewlovelyhell4892 It doesn't matter what the ancillary factors are. The MAIN culprit is this Obama 3rd term administration and you KNOW IT.

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

True it is between 14 and 30%

[@turtleboy4111]

I feel like it happened to fanstoys.

[@drewlovelyhell4892]

They seem to under-produce. They are desirable products, but they sell out fast.

[@charlestonjew7587]

@@drewlovelyhell4892 I can kinda see both sides though. Shortly after release, they almost always go on sale for up to 25% off. After that, then they skyrocket as they're no longer available. FT does do second runs and repaints on some stuff though. Soundwave and Galvatron comes to mind.

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

They have always played some games to maintain the premium pricing during lulls in demand

[@happiaxxident]

My Walmart stopped carrying MOTU for nearly a year but started stocking Turtles of Grayskull and Origins Cartoon figs.

[@lonedragon3261]

My local Walmarts stopped carrying them a year ago too, but they still only have the regular TMNT, no crossover. And the tags for G.I. Joe Classified are gone now too, so I guess that is out.

[@happiaxxident]

@@lonedragon3261 Ouch. The struggle is real.

[@lonedragon3261]

@@happiaxxident I get 90-95% of my collection online anyway. Masterverse never got past Wave 3, Classified was pretty much only Snake Eyes/Scrap Iron/Croc Master and the first couple of waves of Retro Card. Closest Walmart got nothing mainline after Lady Jaye, other nearby Walmarts only got Shipwreck and Rock n Roll after that wave. Though I did see a Cobra Officer one time.

[@lonedragon3261]

@@happiaxxident Transformers is usually a year behind, never gets the last wave or 2 of any year, only Dinobots I've seen on the shelf are all Sludge...and they're still there. I find most of what I need to be SS Voyagers, which they have a tag for but I have never seen stocked.

[@happiaxxident]

@@lonedragon3261 Word. I noticed that too. My walmart just got G2 legacy evolution.

[@brianwilkes6558]

Unfortunately, the lock down is what caused this. It forced big box retailers to focus more on online sales due to no foot traffic in stores. They found out doing it this way is more profitable for them verses the old way of ordering. Look at what waves went to ROSS. Now they can better control their inventories through pre-orders and not have to guesstimate their orders at the beginning of the year, during ToyFare. Now, with lack of inventory readily available like there was pre 2020, we as collectors are suffering from this.

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

2020 did change collecting and now were seeing a crash while companies will over course correct in a negative way

[@arghmic]

This is why I’ve refocused to only a few toy lines and sold all my other stuff down to literally a few items (my favorites are left of those non focused lines). I don’t even look at toys in the stores anymore it’s all online at BBTS, Sideshow, Giantoy and ShowZ…. Honestly I wish companies disclosed what their customers intentions are for each line. Example: NECA…with Dinosaurs: “we plan to make the entire main cast…”or they could say “we are making only x,y and z” This would help is out as collectors so we would know whether to dive in, pass or sit and wait.

[@josephmonroy3865]

One of the biggest issues is manufactured scarcity. Apparently, the Hot Wheels versions of Bumble Bee is one per case. WHY??? Figures that you want or need come in two or five packs you don't want. Everything is an exclusive. Hasbro has issues. Collectors can be a problem as well. Some people only want one. Some want two to display various modes. Some want three so they can have one unopened. They you got the scumbags who kill the fun by buying more than needed to scalp later on. Target and walmart employees who hide figures kill the fun as well. Lots of issues all around.

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

Yes they have to make something hard to get to show the line is still hot and you must buy everything when it comes out or you may miss out

[@miragexl007]

Yup, I keep going back to a big bad toy store and just canceling orders little by little.. Gotta start evaluating more on how to start selling most of my stuff.. Fees, hassle etc. . A little overwhelming For how much I have. Did local last year.. Sold about $20000 worth, bulk lots in many cases.. In person which was pretty cool, nice people. What a hassle for collectors on both ends now.

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

Yep it is a good feeling to unload some old stuff to make room for new and pay for it

[@alkiviadesgeorgakis209]

Couldn't agree more on what you said. What I see is that this hobby started for kids back then and evolved to an expensive and time consuming hunt. We are fueling that, not the kids with their parents money. Yes we overpay stuff by a lot and that's not counting the secondary market. At the same time the pool is so small that if the necessary amount is not met, small business like super7 will go bankrupt. Audience changed , the business model changed.

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

Yep the collector market is shrinking every day and that plays a huge role in the prices going up

[@Roadpigjohn]

Well this is true and there's no way to stopping it Mike. Some of the collectors in some cases are not willing to pay for as the example Super 7 figures from any of their lines and then they get canceled. The other way around is if we go to ebay and some figures just sky rocket in price...🙂☕️💡👍

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

Most figures can be fund for $10 more on Ebay but a few just go parabolic

[@davidliskey3553]

Part of that super powers problem is Walmart, i saw at least a dozen of those Black Manta on the pegs at Walmart in Red Bluff California, however that store is within maybe 10 miles of the distribution warehouse

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

Yep location affects availability for sure

[@yellowgut]

I agree, trying to hunt down classified and origins figures has turned me off collecting at the moment, and I’m not even a completionist!

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

That got me to taking it easy and not stressing being a completionist either

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

Times changed the way people buy what they like. Toys are no longer toys to play with but more like collectibles. Most kids nowadays aren't even asking their parents for a toy.

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

True and most of this hobby will die with us sadly

[@frankierivera5451]

Mike ,Shredder is on pre order still on EE grab it asap

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

Thanks

[@Hurricanelive]

I just want pre orders to have a large enough window I can place an order and not have to sweat if another shipment is coming, having to hit the first 5 mins of that one. And it's pre orders these days that I have to use to get what I like 9 out of 10 times because stores don't stock and because of low moq pre-orders of quick product turn around/release fomo schedules even that's stress inducing. If it's one of the cheaper sublines I might pick it up in store, but the stock is terrible, but it's great when there is nothing to buy for 1-2 months, I love a spread-out release schedule, I love 8-16 figures a year when QC is top of the list. I love when a company is shilling half their figures in a failing retro line I don't nor will ever support because that saves me money. I'm going to choose to believe however they will triple down on pricing because they aren't going back to post 2020 pricing. They like the stay multiple times ahead of inflation model and they will ride it till the bubble bursts or they lose the big spenders offsetting the people leaving the hobby or going to cheaper solutions.

[@2006chunming]

I use too collect Marvel Legends and I use too always check my local Target and Walmarts where I use too shop. I got lucky maybe 2 times and found figures that were recently released and reviewed by Famous KZbinrs. Someone told me that alot of the Stock goes to certain states or cities 🤔..so I literally bought everything on-line. I just didn't have the time to be driving around to different places in hopes that I found figures. I remembered call my local Target and asking when do they get the shipments? Cause I thought maybe I was going in too late 🤔 And people maybe bought 2×3 copies?..

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

True the higher volume store will get several cases and others will get 1 or none

[@Scotty-Z70]

MOTUO at my walmart: wave 1 and the naked stratos wave. that was it. We only got wave 1 of Masterverse. nothing more.

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

I hear that more than Walmart being plentiful

[@twirkwiggler]

What is your other channel?

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

Check it out www.youtube.com/@financialindependence1012

[@35TheDarkknight]

Its getting difficult to get a good deal..

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

I think many collectors wait for a sale or clearance and will just end up seeing SOLD OUT

[@35TheDarkknight]

@@tydiriumhanger1320 During Christmas BBTS has great deals

[@leyenda6149]

I am not understanding the definition of cannibalization in this context. Can someone explain to me in simple terms?

[@frankierivera5451]

I got lucky getting the black manta from EE wave

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

I have trouble with EE preorders but should have

[@junktea1]

I’ve slowed my collecting and waiting on some orders from Japan. I’ve moved onto a new hobby - remodeling my house and my fish tank. I kind of enjoy it instead of amassing plastic. I might buy a few more Newage legends and that will be it unless I see more missing link 🔗

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

It is good to take a break sometimes

[@Scotty-Z70]

just get the Spinmaster Toys Black Manta. Done.

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

Interesting

[@drewlovelyhell4892]

OKC.. so you're in Oklahoma? 🤔

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

Yep I love the low cost of living

[@frankierivera5451]

McFarlane is coming out with black manta again but the black version

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

Cool thanks

[@ericfudurich7944]

I made my move on retro collections and games. No stress no preorders.

[@tonesdad0408]

Just expensive as fuck games 😂😂😂

[@ericfudurich7944]

@@tonesdad0408 yeah they are, but they be can't changed, no internet and emulation is the absolute worst way to play those games. Try GoldenEye on gamepass then try it on N64, you'll be blown away.

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

Retro gaming can be fun to collect

[@ericfudurich7944]

@@tydiriumhanger1320 yep it's nice to just plug and play, nothing extra. Emulation is just so much worse.

[@dannyvestal299]

Bidens AMERICA..Som bish..3 TIME WINNER TRUMP 2024! Please GOD...Only thing PRO AMERICANS HAVE LEFT!!!

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

Politics do play a role in prices. Energy policy that lowers oil and gas prices helps the entire economy

[@miragexl007]

toy collecting.. ughh. I got lost in it for the last 10 years with misb... Now older, The economy, along with companies taken advantage of our great leader's/governments actions... Ive backed off collecting hugely... And now I have a huge collection I'm thinking/stressing about selling.. way too big to think about

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

Now is a tough time to sell

[@miragexl007]

power rangers. I agree absolutely. Lol. The turtle human crossover is stupid.. But I can see shredder. Pin pretty cool if any. Anyway , i'm really trying to get strong and almost stop collecting. But I have thousands And thousands of misb toys. I gotta figure out how to go about selling now after 10 plus years of collecting. Prices I just stupid now, Availability is just getting ridiculous and unpreording tons of stuff in the past.. Getting old.

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

Yep it is getting hard to find the deal and takes the fun out of it

[@thebigdb1]

I have a question.. I really don't collect Masters of the universe stuff that much anymore, but is the reason why the selection so horrible for him in because of the fact that Mattel is intentionally trying to do everything that they possibly can do to ruin the brand because of the fact that universal is going to end up getting the license in the next year or two? Devalue the brand so when universal gets the full rights to the franchise, that it's been so defamed that it's not worth anything and people don't want to buy the product? Is Mattel intentionally sabotaging it so that universal doesn't get an investment out of it? I wonder about that... I personally think that elements of 3D printing or producing your own molds eventually it's going to be the next step in collecting because of lack of availability of certain items. Sounds strange but it's actually cheaper to buy the equipment and do the molds at home than to actually buy the item retail it believe it or not. You might have to invest in some equipment, but once you have the equipment the actual cost of producing these things is actually dirt cheap. Most people don't realize or know that. Part of the problem is that you have people in positions of power that have no idea what the heck they're doing and are driving the companies into the ground. Look what's going on with Hasbro. All the layoffs and stupid mistakes they're making in terms of production. Not the fans fault, but the idiots are running these damn companies.

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

Mattel had so much product going on clearance months after release and could not move product hardly at all. Then they dropped production drastically and most sell out and it looks good from the corporate side

[@drewlovelyhell4892]

I heavily used Ebay from 2003 to 2016. But I got scammed by Chinese sellers too often, and abandoned the site. Now I stick to BBTS, HLJ, and ShowZ. The scam culture in China is absolutely shameful.

[@sidearmsalpha]

I remember the scams being a big problem before but it's been a few years that I've had it happen to me. I stick to sellers that have a lot of positive feedback that is 100% or very close to minimize the risk.

[@drewlovelyhell4892]

@@sidearmsalpha There was a new scam where sellers would sell dozens of small items to get their rating up, then when they seem trustworthy, will sell several very expensive items, but simply abandon their account without sending the items. I never buy from sellers with less than 95% positive views, but even the 100 percenters can rip you off. Also there was a seller I bought several HotToys figures from over a few years, and I thought I could trust him. He offered me a discount and the option to pay one third down if we did the deal off of Ebay. Of course, he never sent the figures, denied a refund of the deposit, and wouldn't reply to my emails. Why he would screw over a loyal customer, I don't understand. Every time I was scammed on Ebay, it was Chinese sellers that were the culprit.

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

It does seem better but I avoid those China sellers on Ebay. Showz is very reliable and usually way cheaper

[@drewlovelyhell4892]

@@tydiriumhanger1320 Oh, and look, my comment was deleted. I don't know why I bother. YT deletes half of my opinions.

[@eyedestroyeverything9953]

When toy companies started catering only to the old collectors instead of kids I knew it was over , collecting used to be a cool thing to do with extra cash but in this new world you gotta be rich to keep up . Another cool thing destroyed for the sake of “nerd culture”,whatever that means .

[@TrevorToonArt]

Kids aren't into toys. This isn't the 80's. Kids are into digital media on their Ipads.

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

Yep it seems we are that last of the great collectors and this hobby may end with us

[@elcowabungahe-man6156]

I personally quit buying motu I just buy what I can afford and like

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

That is the best way to collect

[@gregarcher8177]

Walmarts are doing away with DC Multiverse too.

[@FFFFPPPP]

No theyre not. WM’s in my area restock all the time. They have exclusives coming out and there are two new ones in stores right now.

[@gregarcher8177]

@@FFFFPPPP yeah and it sucks for me, now I gotta go to the next town over to look for the exclusives. I've noticed they also got tons of black series, some new but lots of old figures like the deluxe Mando from like three years, how is this possible.

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

It really depends on the volume of the store what items they will stock

[@thetitan914]

I think mostly what we're seeing is a good example of the difference between Capitalism and Corporatism. Which is just faming the flames of the rise of the independent creators. Hail to the Iron Age

[@tydiriumhanger1320]

I support indy creators because they make what I actually want to collect but the price is high

[@thetitan914]

@@tydiriumhanger1320 an unfortunate trade off. At least for now.

[@FFFFPPPP]

Where are getting these statistics? 20% are doing this. 80% are doing that. Youre pulling numbers out the butthole. Shredder isnt sold out. He hasnt hit in your area. I live an hour or so from you and motu tmnt is just now hitting WM here.

[@Toylytics]

Come on, it’s well known that 73% of the statistics quoted on the internet are made up.

[@dementedrabbit]

Currently in stock on Amazon at retail pricing as well. A quick search on the web found me quite a few places with either stock or preorders still active for normal pricing.