|
Post by dezzeh on Apr 23, 2008 13:27:08 GMT
Having just got back into the collecting game myself I know where youre coming from with the what to buy where and when. I was lucky in that I had quite a nice collection a few years ago before Idecided to sell it all off and knew what I was after. I personally have chosen to focus on one toy line at a time or figures that I want specifically before going out and buying any ramdon TF that looks shiny.
|
|
|
Post by danaustin1975 on Apr 24, 2008 7:19:16 GMT
Yeah, that's it isn't it, its best to have certain figures that you want to buy.
My list of vintage stuff to collect is;
the autobot cars dinobots scorponock predaking scourge cyclonus ultra magnus insecticons
That's it really, and if I can get all those without getting re-issues I will, I don't know if any of those are dead expensive, but I've seen the dinobots being ridiculously priced, so I might leave them till last, but thats the plan so far anyway.
|
|
|
Post by dezzeh on Apr 24, 2008 8:02:24 GMT
Watched a boxed Grimock go for £50~ on Ebay last night, not too bad I guess, though i'm a little out of touch with going proces still atm.
|
|
|
Post by SmellyFerret on Apr 25, 2008 21:28:22 GMT
I'd say your best bet is to start spending a few hours researching There are a few auctions out there that can catch you out - KO's sold as genuine etc, but if you regularly read some TF boards, see whats about on ebay and dont jump too quick you can just about counter them. KO wise - dont touch the cheap combiner teams.. The 'better quality' ones can be good - but I find them dissappointing as they are just not TF's! in fact the only KO's I have kept are some in the clear colours that I can 'pretend' are lunch time specials! (check else where on this site for some pics of lunch time specials!) There are also so many sub areas to G1: Box varients country varients Diaclone Jap 'box' style reissues Encore reissues TRU reissues G2 repaints of G1 figures - how about an orange devestator? G1 molds used in other lines - ruination/bruticus (who came in 4? colour sets!) Minibot variations E-hobby reissue repaints There are so many things you could collect its worth narrowing your list after you have purchased a few things or you'll end up broke! (I guess if you like Star wars though - you know that! ) Good luck and I'm sure if you are unsure about anything a post here can help.
|
|
|
Post by danaustin1975 on Apr 28, 2008 20:11:21 GMT
Thanks wraithchild666, your post is helpful. I didn't realise there were that many sub areas to collect, so it was interesting reading. I'm on this site to do a bit of research, my only point of reference so far is a G1 poster I bought, and its amazing, it has most of the original transformers on though it doesn't have prime and megatron. At first, when I saw the prices on ebay, I thought I'd have to stick with re-issues, but I only want around twenty bots, and I've seen most of them go for a lot less than £75, I saw hot rod and rodimus go for around twenty quid boxed, which is great as that's one of the main ones I want. I'm also watching a kup boxed for a BIN at £44.
Yes, I've noticed the combiners on ebay, usually from HK and no one bids on them, they do look cheap and nasty, but the originals on this poster I've got actually look quite good.
I'm certainly going to stick to certain bots I want, otherwise you are very right, it would be easy to end up with no cash lol. I'm on a budget as it is, so will be saving up for each bot. I've learned a few lessons from star wars in not overspending, and also burning out on interest.
I didn't realise there were auctions where sellers sold KO's as original, that's a shame thats happening, it happens in star a lot, and you have to be careful, and I'll just have to make sure the seller has a good reputation before I buy.
I got my first bot recently, a boxed Metroplex, which is amazing, massive transformer, I've heard it described as a 'charmless brick' on here lol, but I really like it, and I got it as I could see where £50 was going lol, rather than a smaller one.
So many transformers look so ace, I'm really excited about getting into this hobby, and any advice is of course very appreciated.
|
|
|
Post by SmellyFerret on Apr 28, 2008 20:42:33 GMT
The classified ads page on this board is also good - I've dealt with tranatlantic toys and it went very smoothe (and reasonable!), i'd imagine the other regular sellers would be equally smoothe too!
|
|
|
Post by danaustin1975 on Apr 30, 2008 17:11:57 GMT
On these classifieds do they charge top dollar for boxed G1? Sounds interesting. I'm on a star wars site with classifieds and their prices are mostly a lot better than even ebay.
|
|
|
Post by SmellyFerret on May 2, 2008 22:29:14 GMT
|
|
|
Post by danaustin1975 on May 16, 2008 9:16:21 GMT
What do you guys think about ebay auctions where there's a high BIN or high starting price? Are these usually representative of actual value/price?
I've seen Kup for instance go on auction (MIB) for around 20 odd quid, then a BIN at forty four pounds - is this something to watch out for? Do sellers often want to get shop prices for their items, or want more than ebay prices?
I've seen a Jazz, MIB at a starting price of 50 and BIN at 90, yet I also saw a MISB Jazz at just over a hundred - optimistic sellers? Or maybe I should be a bit more cynical?
I saw quite a few MIB transformers go from around 20 - 30 quid on auction, but on BIN's and starting prices from sellers, they want a lot more.
Cause I haven't got a lot of cash, I'm looking to get the better deals, so I want to be aware of things like this, and if its something to look out for when buying, or not a usual representative element of the market.
Any thoughts anyone would be appreciated.
|
|
|
Post by Phill on May 16, 2008 12:22:17 GMT
BIN's don't always relefect the value of an item, they're just there to appeal to the people who don't want to go through the bidding process.
I don't think I've ever used a BIN on any of my auctions, but will often buy items with them if I feel the price reflects what I'm willing to pay.
|
|
|
Post by danaustin1975 on May 16, 2008 19:53:51 GMT
Oh that's why, I guess it does save worrying about winning something. ATM there's a Mirage boxed at a BIN for 50 quid, I haven't seen an auction for this one yet, so am still unsure as to whether I want to pay for it, bearing in mind I might be paying extra.
I think generally I'm going to stick to the approach I've had with star wars, basically sticking to auctions unless there's a BIN that I'd be willing to pay.
My first transformer recently was Metroplex MIB which I payed 44 quid for on a BIn, on second thoughts I doubt I'd get all my money back on it, but I wanted it.
Thanks.
|
|
|
Post by Swoop on May 16, 2008 21:04:15 GMT
My first transformer recently was Metroplex MIB which I payed 44 quid for on a BIn For that price, you either got a bargain, a KO, or a Metroplex body with no accessories and a box that's probably been used as a football. I hope it's the first option.
|
|
|
Post by danaustin1975 on May 16, 2008 23:18:31 GMT
It was a MIB, original G1 for 44 quid. It's complete, instructions and all the parts, the box has a bit of shelf wear and a small tear but other than that is fine. Did I get a bad deal? It was my first transformer and the KO's were cheaper boxed, but postage always brought it up to around the same price I'd be paying for the original one, so I thought I'd get the original instead.
|
|
|
Post by SmellyFerret on May 17, 2008 8:52:39 GMT
seems good to me! (if you like the toy!)
|
|
|
Post by danaustin1975 on May 17, 2008 11:12:49 GMT
As soon as I saw the auction for Metroplex, I was like 'wow' that's a hell of a robot lol, and now I've got him I'm really happy with it. Though I heard someone on the boards refer to it as a 'charmless brick' haha, I found that really funny cause I kind of know how some people might dislike it. I just reasoned, I'm going to pay around 50 quid for a transformer, so its better to have something that looks like it was 50 quid lol, rather than maybe a standard autobot car, and as I'm new to Transformers it wouldn't be as big an impact, though I dare say there will be a LOT of people who regard that as herasy lol. I'm looking forward to gradually getting some more over a period of time, its just I've shot myself in the foot liking original boxed ones, the most expensive sometimes, and 60 - 90 is way out of my league, I don't mind the odd 50 toy, but not all the transformers at that price. If anyone knows of any boxed transformers that go cheap, please let me know, I'll look out for them on ebay, I've seen Rodimus, Hotrod and Blurr go for in the twenties. I've just bought this auction, it was a BIN at 35 which seemed very reasonable considering what it was, on the auction title it just said autobot mirage etc, nothing else, then I happened to look at it (as I like mirage) and it was boxed! Also it was a starting bid at 25 with no bids on it, I assume because people saw the photo of a loose mirage and assumed it wasn't boxed? Anyway, I bid on it in the closing seconds and won it! Is this a bargain, I've seen the same item at a BIN at 54. cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=270236390676&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=017The down side is the postage is double what I'd pay if I bought it from the UK, its from dreaded Canada lol, but then again, it still works out quite cheap I guess. The box is in nice shape though, looks very clean. I don't know much about Transformers as I'm new to this, but is this a good deal, it seems like a good deal to me.
|
|