Well I have been selling transformers and action figures on ebay for about 2 years full time, no other job.  I was selling over 4000 dollars a month worth of mostly transformers.  Right now I am down to about 1500 or so.  Boxed items arent going for nearly what they used to.  I used to be able to sell a boxed Sky lynx for about 350 dollars, now I can buy one for 90 if I look long enough. 

 

I dont know if anyone collects star wars but when the new figures for the trilogy re release came out it was a boom for about 5 months, then ALL prices dropped.  Im expecting Transformers movie to boost sales for a month or two and then totally bottom out.  Im kind of hoping for that because I want to find some cheap afa figures.

Sorry this was so long.

I am sure that it is b/c of the post Christmas lull, but I want to sell some stuff and I should wait. Oh well, I can be patient.

 

Interesting thread.

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/agree

 

I read an article once stating that the best time to buy (commercial goods) was between February and September. Between October-January the Christmas season makes prices soar. This is not only cost-wise, the article also said postal workers/delivery men tend to be more careless with shipping during the Holiday season because their workload is so much greater->more packages are received in battered/damaged condition.

 

~X

Market is saturated, collectors pretty much got all they needed or know it's better to wait.

Yeah the movie is gonna make any character attached to it huge sellers, and transformers in general will probably go up a decent notch.  Unless it bombs, I'll see it five or six times though to help fight that though:)

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Sounds like a good plan. I just might have to try that myself.

In all honesty, the economy is what's really pushing this whole thing.

 

 

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That's a major factor.  On top of that,the reissues have also hurt the secondary market badly.

 

Think about  what the Predaking reissue did to the going rate on an orignal Predaking, it used to fetch $300 - $350 and that could be for a plastic version.

 

It's not just on toys that have been reissued either  A decent Targetmaster Scourge would'be set you back around $120 five years back, now it's not a push to find one for $75.00. Uncertainty about what is being reissued seems to have made people slow to invest money in almost any TFs.

 

I suspect however that the downward trend was already there before the economy took a hit. Transfans are getting older, having kids, they have mortgages to pay off.  So, less money to spend on old TF's...

 

If that's the case, then the state of the economy just exagerated an already present trend.

 

As for the future.....  i think the movie will cause things to fluctuate a *bit*. 

 

Sellers will try to increase prices on pretty much everything they can. Some of those who jump on the bandwagon will start paying inflated prices,  but a lot will drop out after they've obtainted the 'key' characters in the movie, or ones they remember from the cartoon...

 

Overall, in the long run, I'd guess prices will stay about where they are, or will get lower.

Think it is the economy and a combination of the other factors as well.

 

If people got money, they spend it. It is also a matter if somenoe is married or has a girlfriend.

 

I spend a lot of money on Transformers but if I had a girlfriend a year from now, I could no longer do that.

 

The reissues do hurt a lot. Well if you want to sell a toy. I mean I pre-ordered Blaster so why would I pay a lot of money for an old but in decent condition Blaster if I can get a minty fresh one for a reasonable price?

I agree also, my collection has been able to skyrocket in size in the last 6-9 months.

 

lol... I'm fortunate I'm one of those transfans with little to spend money on besides TFs (bills managed and g/f that understands and supports the obsession). 

I agree also, my collection has been able to skyrocket in size in the last 6-9 months.

 

lol... I'm fortunate I'm one of those transfans with little to spend money on besides TFs (bills managed and g/f that understands and supports the obsession). 

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Same here. My collection has gone from 260ish to 550 w/in the last 12 months (almost all G1 and BW). I have a girlfriend that mostly supports what I spend $$ on and definitely understands the obsession, so that helps, but lower prices on most things really do help alot.

 

Now I have to direct you to my most recent purchase...

I just won a complete Fort Max for $320 shipped, a price lower than Brave Max is going for and the lowest I have ever seen it. I was very suprised no one else sniped it, but I think that is a price I can live with (go tax return time!!!).

 

Overall, I am positive the prices are going down, for all sorts of reasons. That's ok, I can wait until the movie comes out to sell some stuff.

I dunno. I've seen a constant downward spiral on prices. I've also seen some pretty rare figures here and there. More frequent than usual.

 

In all honesty, the economy is what's really pushing this whole thing.

 

The seller is either going broke, lost a job, having a kid, got a medical bill, etc. Has to sell the collection piece to make ends meet (and as we all know), a hot TF commodity can go for beaucoup bucks.

 

This right now is a buyer's market. People are desperate because they need money, and with the economy as it is, they'll take nearly anything. A buyer can make a good deal in a time like this.

 

Hell someone on here just won an entire set of G1 Dinobots (complete I believe) for a little over a $100.00 (not including the shipping).

 

It's the economy, and not a seasonal thing. Prices will go up around Tax time because more people will have returns and want to blow money. Or it may not go up much at all, if they're like anyone I know...that money's going back into a Credit Card bill, or mortgage.

 

The economy gents. The economy.

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TOO CLOSE TO HOME'D.  :redface

 

I'm selling all my stuff, and having a hell of a time getting what I'm asking for things, which is already lower than the Ebay prices from six months ago.

 

And, I am in fact selling everything in order to pay the mortgage, as well as spending some on musical equipment.

Of course, what are you guys considering cheap?  I am cheap myself, so I might still consider them high.