Is This Another Sign The Hobby Is In Trouble?

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

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[@jafar1967]

I read an article in the Economist and it specifically mentioned the statue market, quote "the statue market has taken a fat diarrhea dump all over itself and will continue to slip and fall as the economy worsens and the dookie on the floor remains slippery" end quote. Insightful stuff.

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

I'd buy that article for a dollar :)

[@MattMatt77]

I got a statue for $700.00+ shipping cost and can't sell it for $300.00 shipped.... That's a problem

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

Resale market right now is NOT GOOD!

[@CaliforniaSurfer-gc2xv]

yes. then scammers., shipping is NUTS

[@Astral_Dusk]

Yeah I've been seeing this. Great time to buy... if one had extra money to spend. Sign of the times for sure, even salaries of $70-100k are having to tighten budgets. At-least here in Austin. The super rare pieces can still name their price but might sit for most of the year. I did buy a rare Luis Royo piece I'd been scouting for years for half price, not just the rarity but a genuine favorite collection but man the old ones are more fragile too, requiring a hair dryer to carefully not snap more brittle parts and get things to fit.

[@thedermac]

Agree. I want to buy new statues but I can't sell the ones I need to sell to make space for new ones and I lose so much money when I do sell that it's just not worth it.

[@Astral_Dusk]

@@thedermac Yes, haha same deal here - holding on till things hopefully at least resurface to breaking even.

[@af6258]

Combination of price (including shipping costs) and space. I think most people have less room to display their pieces without it becoming crowded/overbearing, and resale value has plummeted. Less incentive to repack and ship etc. So you will see more and more people holding out for pieces they have a real connection to or trying to complete a line and that’s it. Unless something drastically changes, I don’t see another statue collecting boom happening anytime soon

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts! It's always great to hear different perspectives on the challenges collectors face today.

[@Astral_Dusk]

Yes, I'm seeing pieces that only came out a year or two ago that are reselling cheaper than their retail, insane wow - some even half off.

[@christopherjong1111]

I have definitely dialed it down on POs and had a change in direction when it comes to my collection. I have curated my collection to have only my favorite representation of a character versus multiple. This has helped me be able to say no to a lot of tempting purchases.

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

It's great to hear that you've found a way to focus on your favorites! Curating your collection can really make it more meaningful.

[@scottballard6268]

i think statue companies are producing some really, really good work and revealing alot of exciting things coming soon and im sure more amazing stuff not even thought of yet, problem is that prices are pretty much beyond reach anymore. the economy is so sketchy and prices of everything have gone up so much that imo who the hell can justify dropping 3k on a 1/3 scale piece that you put on a shelf and look at or 5 to 6 grand on a lifesize bust. i could do so many better things for myself at this point in my life with 5 thousand dollars. statues are a luxury item but i can no longer afford to sit in the lap of that luxury. you know what would be really cool and make way more sense?? paying my truck off or paying off a couple credit cards. how about putting some money away in savings. my hats off to those that can afford to drop 10k, 20k, 50k a year on statues

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

I totally understand where you're coming from! The craftsmanship in those statues is incredible, but the prices can be quite daunting. It's definitely a tough balance between passion and practicality.

[@reinaldorodriguez7314]

Totally agree with everything you said my friend 💯👍🙏

[@One_Of_Nine]

In all honesty, this hobby is on life support.

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

It's hurting for sure, but I'm optimistic we will continue to see new characters to created buzz and excitement again.

[@SolidLiquidFox]

Low ES are a reflection of the percentage of people that can buy and keep these pieces long term. Previous numbers were inflated due to ease of selling at a profit. It's time to realistically acknowledge that at these price points, not many people have the funds or space to accumulate these pieces.

[@bluscorpion]

I think the prices have gone up too fast, and the factories need to pull back some. For me, there's been too many redundancy. One company does Venom, the other do Venom. One company does The Batman, everyone else does The Batman! What about Penguin? That character has a TV show that spun off from the movie. Too many companies are competing over the same licenses instead of trying to expand. There are Marvel characters I love that either haven't been done, or haven't been done in a long time. I'm still waiting for those characters to come out, then I'll probably be done with collecting as well.

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

I completely understand your frustration! The market has become saturated with repetitive characters, and it’s tough for collectors when prices keep rising. Here’s hoping for some fresh releases soon!

[@babtanian]

Running out of space is a much bigger deal now. It means that a collector is either done or must significantly slow down, whereas before, running out of space simply meant that you moved to a sort of second phase of collecting whereby you steadily upgrade the quality of your pieces rather than filling it in, i.e. sell a piece to make room and replace it with a better piece, etc. With the secondary market being so bad, this method is no longer feasible. When you combine this with the steady increase in pricing for new releases, the hobby just can't sustain itself anymore, which relegates new acquisitions solely to a matter of disposable income, which... is something else in aggressive decline for most people currently.

[@CristianoMiami13]

I agree with you. I use to have so many preorders but this year I have only prime 1 Michael Keaton Batman duo , JND Christopher Reeve Superman duo and the jnd Michelle pfeiffer catwoman duo. I have cut back and trying to sell my older statues and I’m losing money on selling. Honestly that’s why I’m not buying much because the resale value is so bad now.!!

[@annmarie6675]

The last statue I bought was The Winter Soldier 1:10 Scale Statue by Iron Studios and that was purchased in 2023. I haven't bought anything recently. Cost and nothing being super exciting to me has caused me to stop buying unless there's something I really want.

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

It sounds like you’re being really thoughtful about your purchases! It’s always good to wait for something that truly excites you.

[@SolidLiquidFox]

Companies abused the goodwill and fandom when times were good. Mass producing crap with high ES and bad QC. It may be too little to late to adjust now. People that move on rarely come back with the same enthusiasm to spend almost 1K for the average piece. It also doesn't help that pop culture as a whole is not producing new good content that is timeless and endearing. We are approaching 10 years to MCU when it was good.

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

You've hit the nail on the head! It's disheartening to see companies take advantage of fandom without delivering quality. Hopefully, they’ll realize that true fans deserve better!

[@OGTrainerRed]

I used to have double digit POs but I’ve dialed it back with only 3 at the moment. As a big marvel collector I have been sticking to sideshow because they continue to expand the x-men line while keeping prices reasonable. It would be nice to see them do some different characters for example the fantastic four.

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

It's great to hear you're focusing your collection! Sideshow has done an amazing job with the X-Men line, and I agree, expanding to the Fantastic Four would be a fantastic move!

[@LUISSCS813]

I just bought XM Studios Flash because of their discounts. I’m looking for pieces that I want at a discount because of this market. It will come back but the statue companies have to stop the recycling of the same characters. Unless they want to make popular pieces in a different scale. It doesn’t make me as mad when they do that as some others.

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

It's great to see you're taking advantage of the discounts! The market does fluctuate, and it’s interesting to hear your thoughts on character recycling. Hopefully, we'll see some fresh pieces soon!

[@wilsono.4920]

What is keeping me from buying is the resale market. I have very limited space and when new statues that I am interested in are released, I look to sell what I have to make room and purchase the newly released statue. I have a have a Captain America Infinity Saga Statue from Iron Studios I would love to sell. Its sitting in its box still. The fact that I cannot sell it has me think twice of purchasing another. Love your channel!

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

It's definitely a tough situation when space is limited! Maybe consider joining some collector groups where you can find like-minded folks who might be interested in trading or buying?

[@kybernetic8]

I think Sideshow is pumping out really cool stuff this past year, lots of interesting announcements. Haven't slowed down one bit. XM Studios, on the other hand, eek. Worried about them. For me, I have been buying pretty similar rates to last year in terms of dollar amount, but the pieces are more expensive, so less overall in numbers. Happens when you get big Prime 1 pieces.

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

Sounds like Sideshow is on a roll while XM is stuck in traffic! Hopefully, they can hit the gas soon and catch up!

[@B_Dub3]

Ngl, the theatrical experience of comicbook movies and the hype surrounding them was the catalyst for this hobby taking off so big in the first place. Without the studios making good decisions I see multiple statue companies shutting their doors in the coming year. But I have no inside information, just looking at larger global events for my predictions

[@vividcollectibles]

Most companies have significantly slowed down except for Sideshow. They continue to release new pieces regularly and are getting them into the collector's hands relatively quick. Almost all other companies have not announced much or have slowly gone away from 1/3 except PCS. XM has been extremely quiet and that's a little concerning at the moment. I'm not sure whether they are gearing up for a big 2025 or are simply in trouble. Only time will tell.

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

You've made some valid points! It's interesting to see how Sideshow is maintaining their momentum while others are slowing down. Let's hope for some exciting announcements from the other companies soon!

[@CaliforniaSurfer-gc2xv]

SSC has EX 1/4 for DC, SW, Marvel. and those are the BIG licenses. Yes some super great stuff too PUT MONEY Riddler sells a SUPER BUNCH I THINK a RAG sell like Hot Cakes

[@chrislim5643]

Definitely slowed down a lot and the resale market is horrible too. It was bound to happen. These are statues we are talking about. Space was always going to be issue eventually. Actually this is a great time for buyers cos they can get some really great pieces for a steal. It’s funny cos I was just watching a video on graded comics being a dying hobby too.

[@Phil.Ritchie_]

What are your 5 preorders?

[@nightwingx6]

I'm definitely still interested in the hobby. For me, it's a matter of limited space in my home. I'm also practicing discipline and not just pouncing on everything I see. But I'll know when the right piece comes along to pounce on!

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

It's great to hear that you're still passionate about the hobby! Finding that perfect piece can be so rewarding, and practicing discipline is a smart approach. Keep an eye out for those gems!

[@Prime-oj5yq]

I still love the hobby but I have slowed down this year. Every day life is just so expensive. I’ve really been enjoying what PCS has been doing and I’m collecting there 1/3 Tmnt line. Super excited for LBS and po there Spider-Man. I wish prime 1 would do more DC 1/3. I still think they are the best in the business when it comes to quality and detail.

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

It's great to hear that you're still enjoying the hobby despite the challenges! Collecting can be a fun escape, and those TMNT pieces sound amazing!

[@CaliforniaSurfer-gc2xv]

Ant has lots new stuff in the works Casey 1/3 1/4 MS 1/4 1/3 Spidey Classic 1/3 Frack Castle 1/3 Many FAB. Vader, Spidey, Thanos, TMNT, Transformers. Kurt Barlow bunches of others Palpy Darth Sidious on Throne Darth Vader 1/3

[@dadcollector5575]

I still love the hobby! The people in the hobby are the best! Sideshow, tweeter, head and legendary beef all have been really fun! Everyone does what they can. Let’s just take it for what it is and have fun with it!

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

It's fantastic to hear your passion for the hobby! The community truly makes it special, and having fun is what it's all about!

[@Mrod]

I completely agree with you, Chris. This year I have only bought one new piece, which was Prime Justice buster , and all of my other pieces spot this year have been old used pieces that I have been on the hunt for. I purchased 10 statues off the secondary market to avoid shipping and they were also pieces that I have been trying to hunt down. I only have one pre-order on my list and that is Prime 1 Harley who laughs, besides her, there’s nothing I’m really excited for besides seeing the release of Riddler and Lobo who Frags

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

It's great to hear you're on the hunt for those special pieces! It sounds like you've made some solid choices this year, especially with the Prime Justice Buster. Collecting older pieces can be so rewarding!

[@Mrod]

Yeah, it’s been a good year in collecting for sure! After watching your room tour, I knew there were some pieces I had to add to the collection! So happy with my prime 1 deathstroke, Talon and Bane! Truly incredible pieces 🔥

[@Yosemite25]

For me: Only video game statues (1/4 & 1/3) , never buy as an investment, throw away all my boxes, have Cook and Becker artwork on the walls.. all for a great game room. Almost full, and when I am…… done.

[@nyrmala7383]

Customs are a better bang for my bucks. I dont want to repeat myself over and over but the main brands are on their downfall. Mass production, poor resale value, extremely high prices and shipping costs, recolors/scale downsizing, all of this is contributing to making them fail sooner or later. You missed a statue, no worries another Batman or Sups will come soon after, or a recolored version. And if you bought it but you're not satisfied with the paint, no worries, we will reissue it at full cost with the good painting this time and a middle finger for you. Nothing is unique anymore, besides customs. And if it's not unique, then it's not worth it

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

You make some solid points! The rise of customs really highlights the issues with mass production and how it affects collectors. It's a shame that uniqueness is becoming harder to find in mainstream offerings.

[@CaliforniaSurfer-gc2xv]

remember Ant stated these licensors aren't putting up with custom anymore

[@Fr33climb]

Just bought my first statue since picking up my Prime1 Nightwing a few years ago. Got the new Sideshow Hulk for my Avengers line. Just gonna keep waiting for the specific ones that fit the lines I collect. Can’t keep buying just for the sake of buying.

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

That's awesome! It's great to hear you're being selective with your collection. The Sideshow Hulk is a fantastic addition to any Avengers line!

[@Fr33climb]

@@BatmanStatueCollector Praying we will one day finally see the Catwoman Hush to complete my Hush line.

[@despitewisdom]

I have The Penguin from SS on my Wishlist because I am expecting it to go to low stock with the release of the show, but it hasn't happened yet & it's a really good-looking piece.

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

The Penguin is definitely a standout piece! It’s always a bit nerve-wracking waiting for stock to drop, but hopefully, it will happen soon with the show’s release.

[@jamesauerbach2782]

have said this FOR YEARS in your FB group and now you are also. The companies have outpriced the average buyer and made it almost impossible for people to enter the hobby at a realistic price point. With the exception of a few wealthy individuals it is totally a rich person's hobby now. AND the resale market is in the toilet making matter worse. MANY new releases are NOT selling out regularly. skyrocketing prices, less demand, NO resale market - it is bad for the entire industry.

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts! It’s always great to hear from people who are passionate about the hobby and want to see it thrive for everyone.

[@CaliforniaSurfer-gc2xv]

shipping is a crime

[@orenwolfox6885]

Hobby is great, its shipping thats the problem. the shipping is also something they tend to play with and it doesnt seem to be true cost

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

I totally understand your frustration with shipping costs! It can be so unpredictable sometimes. Hopefully, things will get better in the future!

[@mohandes0good]

Statue hobby is Like my stock market guru said” Buy high Sell Low”

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

Yep

[@IrcnStark]

Sideshow is the only company putting out great statues in a variety of scales at good prices, imo. I'm still interested but focused on collecting lines and/or the ultimate version of certain characters. I'm disappointed XM seems to have vanished because I wanted to go all in on their X-Force line with matching bases. That's what gets me about this hobby. There's no "stick to it." Which I understand, things need to sell. But if PCS can make a line with a 50-150 ES to complete it, why won't other companies? How hard is it to finish a line?! Lol

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

I totally get your frustration! It’s tough when favorite lines don’t get the love they deserve. Let’s hope more companies step up to the plate and finish what they start!

[@davidfernan4]

I got priced out, I am now doing omnibuses.

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

Man those are expensive too LOL

[@davidfernan4]

@BatmanStatueCollector organic priced books has good discounts. I can get 7-10 for the price of prime 1 statue pre 2024 prices

[@leomanteca4685]

Yes.

[@98godzilla]

Man, to be honest I used to be a pretty good collector, but now everything is so high I can't even save money to buy a statue...

[@darthrasheed8248]

I’m not leaving the hobby, but I am taking like a year off buying. Need to recoup and people don’t want to pay when you sell. Some people are selling a $600 piece for $200

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

Taking a break to recoup sounds like a smart move! It's always good to reassess and make sure you're getting the most out of your investments.

[@CollectorZown]

Batsy Awards, pretty great idea :)

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

This will be our 5 annual!!

[@chestersmith1615]

I’m about done collecting I’m planning preorder Lbs Wonder Woman and Jay Sia said he will do a She Hulk which probably won’t go up for preorders until next year So I have to save up in my savings account so I can pay cash on that preorder But after She Hulk I’m completely out of space And going on 71 and Sharon going on 72 we can’t afford to keep collecting

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

It sounds like you're making some smart decisions about your collection! Saving up for those preorders is a great plan, and it’s completely understandable to reassess space and budget as we grow.

[@bullseye8841]

Outside of purchasing the Prime1 1/4 Superman I have stopped collecting. I'm too much of a collecting perfectionist (scales need to match, art styles need to be similar, absolutely no damages, etc) to enjoy the hobby. lol Plus the return on sales is non-existent. It's always a loss.

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

It sounds like you've put a lot of thought into your collecting journey! Finding that perfect balance between enjoyment and perfectionism can be tough. Hopefully, you'll find a way to enjoy the hobby again in the future!

[@desertjane]

Ive been priced out of prime 1 and all others. Sideshow be the most reasonable with price and shipping. Imma have to catch prime 1 and the other from 3rd party people cause they be wanting to much😂😂. Sideshow be having way too many deals and promotion. They just have too many chance and ways to get statues for great prices

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts! It’s always great to hear from fellow collectors about their experiences with pricing and deals. Happy hunting!

[@bradwinlovell3449]

Statue of the year has to be the RDJ life size bust.

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

Sorry to say we do not allow customs in the voting, but it is a fantastic piece.

[@bossroster3807]

Blue falcon

[@JorgeTrujillo-hj8kd]

Slow down. Lots of pre order

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

Glad to hear you have some exciting things on the horizon.

[@CaliforniaSurfer-gc2xv]

Loved collecting with 200.00 PF 10.00-20.00 shipping resell and make money a 1,000 for PF shipped then glad that you get 1/2 that

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

Those were the days!!

[@CaliforniaSurfer-gc2xv]

I BAILED SSC is the KING Cheapest and AWESOME SCULPTS

[@BatmanStatueCollector]

They continue to deliver hit after hit!!

[@CaliforniaSurfer-gc2xv]

Love PST too. It's that SSC WINS Love to buy some SSC, PCS stuff but with no sales I BAILED., say I sold my say 30,000 in statues, I'D BUY a few.. But also it's that you take a bath on NEW statues too. AWWWWWWWWWWWWWcollecting is RUINED

[@CaliforniaSurfer-gc2xv]

Ant stated he have his Darth Vader at NYCC. and he showed his new TMNT dio. I