The MLP Arena

Pony Talk => Pony Corral => Topic started by: Khoufu on January 19, 2018, 11:30:37 AM

Title: Why are some ponies so expensive? Specific examples?
Post by: Khoufu on January 19, 2018, 11:30:37 AM
I'm honestly curious why some ponies are so expensive, G1 mail-order aside. Sweet Scoops? Mimic? Cutesaurus? G3 Portobella? Etc.
I'm not complaining about price, I'm genuinely curious.
Title: Re: Why are some ponies so expensive? Specific examples?
Post by: DappledHazel on January 19, 2018, 11:40:49 AM
I'd like to know that too. I'm guessing they're not as common as the other ponies. They weren't as popular as the other ponies so not as many are around?
Title: Re: Why are some ponies so expensive? Specific examples?
Post by: LadyMoondancer on January 19, 2018, 11:49:29 AM
Because there are less of them around, and/or because they're very popular.  :)

A lot of the more expensive ponies are mail orders, which are less numerous than store sold ponies (generally).
Title: Re: Why are some ponies so expensive? Specific examples?
Post by: Taffeta on January 19, 2018, 01:32:32 PM
Mimic is 20 years of collectors overcharging each other for her. I don't know where it began, but she was already going for a silly amount back in the late 90s, so it just formed a habit.

I think it also follows trends and sudden ebay bidding wars and whatever. Supply and demand, mostly. It's when store ponies supersede mail order releases that things get a bit crazy...

Sweet Scoops is mail order ;) so that explains that ;)

I wasn't aware Portobella was that expensive O.o.

The one I don't get is G4 Starswirl. I get that she has limited distribution and I also get that she's pretty. But I don't get why someone was selling her for $200 around Christmas. And I genuinely wonder how long she'll hold the $80 pricetag, too. Is she the G4 Mimic? Answers on a postcard...
Title: Re: Why are some ponies so expensive? Specific examples?
Post by: Khoufu on January 19, 2018, 01:39:45 PM


I wasn't aware Portobella was that expensive O.o.

The one I don't get is G4 Starswirl. I get that she has limited distribution and I also get that she's pretty. But I don't get why someone was selling her for $200 around Christmas. And I genuinely wonder how long she'll hold the $80 pricetag, too. Is she the G4 Mimic? Answers on a postcard...
Thanks for your input. Portobella isn't THAT expensive, but she's still like $30 while most g3s are like $5-10
Title: Re: Why are some ponies so expensive? Specific examples?
Post by: Jorgito93 on January 19, 2018, 03:43:22 PM
Mimic is 20 years of collectors overcharging each other for her. I don't know where it began, but she was already going for a silly amount back in the late 90s, so it just formed a habit.

I think it also follows trends and sudden ebay bidding wars and whatever. Supply and demand, mostly. It's when store ponies supersede mail order releases that things get a bit crazy...

Sweet Scoops is mail order ;) so that explains that ;)

I wasn't aware Portobella was that expensive O.o.

The one I don't get is G4 Starswirl. I get that she has limited distribution and I also get that she's pretty. But I don't get why someone was selling her for $200 around Christmas. And I genuinely wonder how long she'll hold the $80 pricetag, too. Is she the G4 Mimic? Answers on a postcard...
Wait what, 200 dollars ? Damn, i should buy all the Star Swirls i see since she isn't that rare here, might make some money to buy other ponies.
Title: Re: Why are some ponies so expensive? Specific examples?
Post by: lovesbabysquirmy on January 19, 2018, 04:16:43 PM
G4 Star Swirl - limited distribution, mostly in Europe/Great Britain

G3 Portobella - TRU exclusive, therefore limited distribution and higher prices at retail

G1 Cuteasaurus and Mimic are fan favorites so they always climbed in price

G1 Sweet Scoops - mail order, self-explanatory

MOST expensive ponies are a mix of fan favorite and mail order ... once you pay $50 for Mimic, you gotta make at least $60 when you sell her, once you pay $60 for Mimic, you gotta make at least $70 when you sell her, once you pay $70 for Mimic....  yeah, see how that happened!  ;)
Title: Re: Why are some ponies so expensive? Specific examples?
Post by: Mareacooda on January 19, 2018, 07:19:15 PM
I feel popular and demand determine prices....  I see times ponies go low and times extreme high... 
Breyer horses did the same pattern some models went high other times same model went cheap.
Look Beanie Babies and other types collection went high other not...
Title: Re: Why are some ponies so expensive? Specific examples?
Post by: Mami Tomoe on January 19, 2018, 08:34:27 PM
its all about popularity thats why the funkos are so expensive
Title: Re: Why are some ponies so expensive? Specific examples?
Post by: Ponyfan on January 19, 2018, 11:46:27 PM
SS Twilight is another popular one but I don't know what her going price is now. When I got back in to ponies I was sad to discover that she was consistently going for high prices (although not as high as Mimic). I wanted to get her because my childhood one had gone missing. I finally found one for a price I could afford.


Ponyfan
Title: Re: Why are some ponies so expensive? Specific examples?
Post by: bright rabbit 1 on January 20, 2018, 12:12:40 AM
Talking about expensive ponies, these Build-A-Bear ponies Shining Armour, and :muffin: Pony. People are selling them at ridiculous prices.
Title: Re: Why are some ponies so expensive? Specific examples?
Post by: Taffeta on January 20, 2018, 03:51:10 AM
G4 Star Swirl - limited distribution, mostly in Europe/Great Britain


I never saw her here. That doesn't necessarily mean she wasn't here, but if she was, her distribution sucked.
Mine came from a day trip to Lille, where I found her by complete coincidence in Galeries LaFayette. I almost didn't buy her, as I already had Rarity, but she was so pretty :/ Never imagined she was going to go like this O.O.

Jorgito, you definitely should start hoarding her. Although I think she's more usually around $80, it's still ridiculous for a pony that was out only a few years ago.

If Portobella came in the release I think she did, she wasn't any kind of exclusive here store-wise. I mean, I had three of them MIB at one point and had trouble trading them off...
With Lickity Split, right?
Title: Re: Why are some ponies so expensive? Specific examples?
Post by: Zapper on January 20, 2018, 06:24:29 AM
Afaik, G4 Star Swirl came in a playset as a secondary pony. I think it was Rarity's carriage. And for some reason not all countries got the same secondary pony in the set.

I have her and thanks to this thread I'm excited  :lol: I think Bronies also add to the popularity because they only buy G4. All first year Playful Ponies can go for crazy prices when the right people bid on them. I sold my FS Applejack for a crazy 60€ back in the day because a specific guy in Poland really wanted her.
Title: Re: Why are some ponies so expensive? Specific examples?
Post by: Taffeta on January 20, 2018, 07:56:33 AM
Yes she did come with that carriage and I only saw the carriage here without her. I genuinely think of her as continental...
Title: Re: Why are some ponies so expensive? Specific examples?
Post by: Skylar on January 20, 2018, 08:13:20 AM
its all about popularity thats why the funkos are so expensive
I wouldn't say that. I have had a bunch of Funkos on my sales page for pretty cheap forever and no one will even look at them!
Title: Re: Why are some ponies so expensive? Specific examples?
Post by: LadyMoondancer on January 20, 2018, 08:31:41 AM
All first year Playful Ponies can go for crazy prices when the right people bid on them. I sold my FS Applejack for a crazy 60€ back in the day because a specific guy in Poland really wanted her.

Yeah, I picked up a Diamond Rose from the thrift store and when I checked her price on eBay she was going for $30 - $50.  I'm definitely going to keep an eye on the thrift stores from now on . . .
Title: Re: Why are some ponies so expensive? Specific examples?
Post by: Taffeta on January 21, 2018, 09:46:25 AM
All first year Playful Ponies can go for crazy prices when the right people bid on them. I sold my FS Applejack for a crazy 60€ back in the day because a specific guy in Poland really wanted her.

Yeah, I picked up a Diamond Rose from the thrift store and when I checked her price on eBay she was going for $30 - $50.  I'm definitely going to keep an eye on the thrift stores from now on . . .

I think there were some distribution issues with some of the earlier ones and also a lot of people who didn't pick them up when they were out. I mean, Dewdrop Dazzle I had to get from France when I was there, I never saw her here. And I got Feathermay and Honeybuzz from Hamleys (yeah, I know) when I moved to London the first time and never saw them ever again there or anywhere more normal. I do wonder what will happen with the set 3 pearlies because I still don't think they got a proper distribution here or anywhere much. They were literally in one London store for one week before Christmas and that's not what I would call 'distribution'...?

Title: Re: Why are some ponies so expensive? Specific examples?
Post by: tailrustedtealeaf on January 21, 2018, 11:20:03 AM
I do wonder what will happen with the set 3 pearlies because I still don't think they got a proper distribution here or anywhere much. They were literally in one London store for one week before Christmas and that's not what I would call 'distribution'...?
They've been very spotty in the US, too, but I feel like they're going to uncover boxes of them and they'll sit on the shelves for a while until they're on clearance.
I feel like what pearly ponies are out now are getting scooped up and relisted on eBay for a dollar extra or so.
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