The MLP Arena
Pony Talk => Pony Corral => Topic started by: cloud_weaver on March 09, 2012, 02:11:03 PM
-
I was thinking...once upon a time Kimono was thought to be the future Mimic and Star Catcher sold for $20 a piece loose! Cool Breeze couldn't be found for under $45 and UK ponies were never priced under $50.
Which ponies can you think of that held a high value, only to later find that your investment had plummeted?
-
We are talking outside Nirvana I take it?
Baby Hearts & Ribbons....she was for a long long time a toughy for me to track down and I am in the UK!...then recently someone found a back lot of them MIB and now she only sells for around the £10 mark....oh dear!
-
German Skydancer. I managed to snag one for only $20 when she was worth about $300. Of course, mine was in shoddy shape, but I did an amazing restore job on her and she looks mint now. But, she'll never be worth the $400 German Skydancer used to bring when first 'discovered'!
-
Believe it or not, when I got baby cotton candy in a large lot years ago, she was going for $50 individually on ebay. I thought I was lucky to get her. Not that I'm not glad to have her, but now she's like a dollar.
-
Anchors away ;) she used to sell for over $100 at one point... Now shes worth say $15-20 :faint:
-
Princess Sparkle is swinging in between. she used to be "THE OC PONY" and those days made her insanly pricey. i guess it's timing actually and the more selection we as collector have also affect the pricess. those ponies are now fighting pricess with G4 line and people divide their money diffrently. i think.
-
Flutter wings used to be soooo sought-after; even a broken one was worth $50+. Now I can get an original pair for $15.
And those vintage McDonald's charms of the 6 collector ponies, the ones that were only released in the Midwest. Those used to sell for $50+ each too. Now you can get them in good cond for $10.
-
Interesting topic :)
Any other examples?
-
Anchors away ;) she used to sell for over $100 at one point... Now shes worth say $15-20 :faint:
That one shocked me too!
-
Oh I just remembered one! LS Rarity, when she first came out, was through to be extremely limited and rare - she sold on eBay for $500+. Now she's down to $100, $150 at the most.
-
Anchors away ;) she used to sell for over $100 at one point... Now shes worth say $15-20 :faint:
That's one that I thought of right away. I found her hidden in a lot of 20 G3's that I purchased for about $10 a few years ago and was psyched because she was worth so much at the time. Kind of wish I parted with her then and didn't get so attached to her once I liquidated my G3's. :P Live and learn.
-
I'm so glad I have traded for AA now rather than before! :faint: Getting her on a trade with my gorgeous kcherry :heart:
-
Ahh, I remember the buzz around Cool Breeze & the UK ponies. :) Good times, good times.
-
Baby Bow Tie...I sold a few of those way back for insane amounts...
-
Besides Anchors Away.... Baby Surf Star popped into my head too...
-
So many G3's were 'big' and are now worth nothing... it makes me sad that my collection of over 200 is worth a lot less now than when I paid for it! >.<
I can't believe baby Honolu-loo goes for $5 now. She came with a $30 playset! How can people justify selling her for that little? *hugs her peg baby*
I remember buying Kimono on ebay for $8 with huge rubs on both eyes--I thought I got a steal!
I remember trading Love Wishes for a MOC G1 Fizzy! :O
Makes me wonder if I shouldn't pay for expensive, 'rare' G4's. Maybe in a few years they'll be completely common?
-
The G3 Castle ponies came right down didn't they? I was told they could easily fetch $100 but I have not seen them at that price in awhile. Good thing too, because I ended up donating that castle MIB to Child Protective Services when I had no storage room.
-
Oh....Baby AppleJack she is another one who was "super rare" years ago and rather expensive years ago!
-
This thread is awesome - especially since I remember when a lot of these ponies were these prices...makes me feel like a real collector :P
-
This thread is awesome - especially since I remember when a lot of these ponies were these prices...makes me feel like a real collector :P
Lol! I know!
hathorcat, I totally remember that. Baby AJ was at one time one of my "grails". :silly:
Lets see....which other ponies...*thinks*
The original McD pony charms were one time much harder to find. They're still pretty pricey, but I think they've come down?
-
I definitely paid $30 for my Baby Apple jack way back haha.
The Euro babies come to mind for me. I remember NBBE Baby lickity split selling for $75+ and same for Baby CJ and crew. The haven't lost that much value, but prices have dropped.
Someone said German Skydancer, I totally agree with her and Anchors away! :)
-
I was going to say Baby AJ used to be a heck of a lot more than I see her for now... Also Baby Bow Tie. I still need to get my hands on them, but now they are both way closer to my price range than they were when I first started collecting.
-
How about Dutch Baby Cat? I remember seeing her go for over $200 in the past! Heck, all the Dutchies used to sell for so much more. Not that they're cheap now ;)
Ooh, Baby Crumpet too. Didn't she used to sell for like $60?
-
I think we are all overlooking something here.
When G1s came out there was no internet and toy collectors were looked down upon unless they were antique toys. Most people looked at G1s for what they were...toys. They were bought to be played with and some people became collectors but not many were thinking of them like future investments or debating a pony's future value.
When the interenet came out we were all able to find ponies easier and learn about ponies we didn't know existed. Prices spiked to unsustainable levels (just like they do whenever a new country pony is found). Eventually a "true" price emerges. Think of German Nightlight. Due to demand she has been in a consistent range for many years as does Mimic. They are not all that rare, just sought after. In some cases there are rarer ponies that go for less because they aren't liked as much.
When G3s came out I don't think anyone was really taking the availability factor into account. Nor were many thinking of the amount of years that had passed to come to G1 values. Many G1s currently fall in the $10 or less range and that is close to what they cost when they were brand new on the shelves...not much of a value increase. Considering it has been 30 years for many of these ponies I think it is unrealistic to be tearing down the value of G3s so soon. Guys, it's only been 8 years.
There are some G3s that will remain valueable and others that will increase in value but it's going to take another 10 years of people thinking they are worthless and donating them to charity or throwing them away until that happens...just like the G1s. Kimono, due to her limited release may yet see her day and she stands a better chance than many G3s.
Also remember that G2s prices have fluctuated greatly in the last few years alone. G4s are the new "it" and are skewing the prices across all gens due to limited collector funds as well as two distinctly different groups of pony collectors competing. Let's face it. The brony community is willing to pay far more than any of the older gen collectors.
Long story short. It's way too soon to speculate. We need at least 10 more years to see a change, maybe more. The interenet changed the collecting game considerable and I think one of the biggest impacts is it's going to take a lot longer for things to appreciate in value and they will have lower ceilings.
Stop looking down on the G3s like the ugly stepdchild or a waste of money. Remember why you collect in the first place! If you are looking to pad your retirement, you are collecting the wrong stuff.
That said....
I remember when the TAF Project Pony came out and was very hard to get due to only available to press or something. Then a couple years ago a huge pile was found and they went from being worth several hundred $ to $35. Still love that pony regardless of value!
-
i havent been around for too long, but...
blind bag fluttershy. i just love how it went from "OMG blind bags wont be in the us everrrr!" and then the mane 6 (except fluttershy) were sold individually on the card so every bb fluttershy went for ridiculous prices on ebay (i could never justify spending $30+ on something so tiny!)... then BAM! the bling bag collectors set with fluttershy, blind bag house with fluttershy, and blind bags in the US :P not to mention fluttershy is gonna be in every wave of blind bags now.
i bet everyone who bought her when she was "OMG SO RARE!" are all like "oh no, what have i done?!" now XD
...g3 castle ponies for $100? O.o wow, how things change XD
-
I remember when the TAF Project Pony came out and was very hard to get due to only available to press or something. Then a couple years ago a huge pile was found and they went from being worth several hundred $ to $35. Still love that pony regardless of value!
Oh, is that why? I was always curious as to why she lost all her value. :what:
-
...g3 castle ponies for $100? O.o wow, how things change XD
Yeah... apparently the Castle that came with the ponies was a Wal*Mart exclusive and limited to Christmas stock. I stumbled upon that one in the clearance aisle for $45 and tried to talk myself out of it four times but it still made it through the checkout with me... hehehe... :) Then I was going to sell it but the shipping costs were um, insane. However, it's in a HUUUUGE box so I understand! :) Like I said, it hung around my house for several years until I found a local charity to support with them.
-
I once had a lady at a flea market selling ponies insisted that Baby Chuck E Cheese pony was worth more if it was signed...I wasn't aware of what she was talking about and she told me that when you got them from Chuck E Cheese they got signed...I continued to give her the I don't agree face.
I can't see myself paying more for a pony because some employee at Chuck E Cheese signed the baby pony and I would have never gotten mine signed even if I had purchased the pony back in the 80's from a Chuck E Cheese.
How the heck do you prove it was signed at Chuck E. Cheese anyway?
-
I remember when Mexican ponies were pretty high priced, now not so much :) But my Mexican herd has improved because of the decrease in prices! :mrgreen:
-
Kimono and Star Catcher were worth that much? Now I know why I never got them as a kid. They're still my 2 most wanted grails.
-
I thought of Anchors Away, Star Catcher, and Kimono for g3. For g1, I thought of the "Fancy Mermaid" baby ponies. My jaw dropped watching Baby Pearly (the pink one) go for around $90 one time, and now I've seen her go from $10 to $20. The other two seemed to have dropped in price too.
I once had a lady at a flea market selling ponies insisted that Baby Chuck E Cheese pony was worth more if it was signed...I wasn't aware of what she was talking about and she told me that when you got them from Chuck E Cheese they got signed...I continued to give her the I don't agree face.
I can't see myself paying more for a pony because some employee at Chuck E Cheese signed the baby pony and I would have never gotten mine signed even if I had purchased the pony back in the 80's from a Chuck E Cheese.
How the heck do you prove it was signed at Chuck E. Cheese anyway?
That's interesting :what:
-
baby bow tie. I sold one in a bait lot here in the US several years ago(she had symbol and eye rubs), and was stunned by how high the lot went...I think it ended at like $50, for 6 bait babies and a fakie or two.
-
I once had a lady at a flea market selling ponies insisted that Baby Chuck E Cheese pony was worth more if it was signed...I wasn't aware of what she was talking about and she told me that when you got them from Chuck E Cheese they got signed...I continued to give her the I don't agree face.
I can't see myself paying more for a pony because some employee at Chuck E Cheese signed the baby pony and I would have never gotten mine signed even if I had purchased the pony back in the 80's from a Chuck E Cheese.
How the heck do you prove it was signed at Chuck E. Cheese anyway?
Signed by who? Dont you just love some sellers....you just politely want to say "could you think about what you are saying before you say it"
Yes, as others have said the german babies CJ, Hopscotch, Honeycomb....when I started collecting I couldnt find a Baby Hopscotch under about 150$!!!!!!
-
Uuuugh, the G3 line as a whole. And many G1s.
The crazy hype when the G3s came out.. I remember how people were talking more about future values than anything else.. like two days after buying the ponies in store!! :shocked:
If someone dared criticize the looks or the quality of the G3s it was quickly shot down, people were like this: "shut up and show some respect, she may be worth a fortune in the future"
A typical forum topic back then would be "Has the easter ponies risen in value yet?" (posted in autumn the same year)
I don't get it at all. Why are you collecting ponies in the first place if the future value is that important? You would be better off investing in the stock market or something!
Also, I hate it when people overpay for a G1 and then wants to sell it and ask the same price because "that's what I paid". No, that's not what you paid, that's what you *overpaid*! >_<
Anyway, about the G3s, it definitely too early to rule them out. They may be mostly worthless now but we really don't know about the future.
I remember reading an article long ago, about someone who had studied the mechanisms behind toy collecting and values. The interwiever asked them, Is there a way to tell which toys are going to be collectible and valuable in the future?
The advice from the expert was to look for two things in general:
-First, renown.
The toy should be well known and popular with kids during the time it is produced/sold in stores.
-Second and more important, a quickly returning interest.
*If* a toy is turning collectible, you will see a significant rising interest for the toy in 10 years or less after it is no longer produced/sold in stores.
As in prices rising, people talking about it, getting harder to find it in flea markets, and so on.
-
I once had a lady at a flea market selling ponies insisted that Baby Chuck E Cheese pony was worth more if it was signed...I wasn't aware of what she was talking about and she told me that when you got them from Chuck E Cheese they got signed...I continued to give her the I don't agree face.
I can't see myself paying more for a pony because some employee at Chuck E Cheese signed the baby pony and I would have never gotten mine signed even if I had purchased the pony back in the 80's from a Chuck E Cheese.
How the heck do you prove it was signed at Chuck E. Cheese anyway?
I'm wondering if it had been "autographed" by some child's mother with their name on it? XD I have a pony like that actually that came with a bunch of ponies I bought off a friend for cheap... a big ol name written on it's side in ball point pen. The pony's plasticizer leaked out, leaving her rock hard and the pen is in there permanently.
SHE MUST BE WORTH A MINT!!11111
-
Karen, I had a good laugh at your story. I once had a fleamarket seller insist that his (rusty) BBE's were rare, worth more then the $20 or whatever he wanted for them, and Hasbro didn't produce very many MLP's after. I felt bad later that I burst so hard into laughter.
On topic - I instantly thought of the G3's.
Also, I hate it when people overpay for a G1 and then wants to sell it and ask the same price because "that's what I paid". No, that's not what you paid, that's what you *overpaid*! >_<
I've done this. Usually when I happen upon an unexpected upgrade, and it's something I'd keep anyway. I'm usually happy to keep both ponies, but if someone wants it as much as I did, then it moves on. Otherwise it stays in the collection. I certainly wouldn't complain that it wasn't selling. lol. If it's something I do want to get rid of, I just take the loss and move on.
-
Also, I hate it when people overpay for a G1 and then wants to sell it and ask the same price because "that's what I paid". No, that's not what you paid, that's what you *overpaid*! >_<
Amen and AMEN!! :throw: :argh:
-
I remember reading an article long ago, about someone who had studied the mechanisms behind toy collecting and values. The interwiever asked them, Is there a way to tell which toys are going to be collectible and valuable in the future?
The advice from the expert was to look for two things in general:
-First, renown.
The toy should be well known and popular with kids during the time it is produced/sold in stores.
-Second and more important, a quickly returning interest.
*If* a toy is turning collectible, you will see a significant rising interest for the toy in 10 years or less after it is no longer produced/sold in stores.
As in prices rising, people talking about it, getting harder to find it in flea markets, and so on.
Wow, that is very interesting! I love studies like that!
Though I do have to wonder about that 10 year thing. It seems to me that in a couple hundred years, the values would increase not because it's an "omg super rare I must have it" pony, but just because it's an antique toy that was incredibly popular in its heyday. I have this crazy fantasy of a toy museum in the year 2451 shelling out hundreds of dollars to a super rich collector for an rare antique Pinkie Pie. Of course, think of all the pony cancer by then! But wouldn't it still be kind of cool that in hundreds of years, there will be people doing their best to preserve our current time?
Stuff like that just fascinates me. :p
I know it's already been mentioned, but when I found Honolu-lu at Goodwill, I Googled it and found websites back in 2006 claiming it would be worth at least $50. I did a PC here just out of curiosity and found that now it's worth maybe $12 if in super minty condition. I was disappoint, but oh well. I do love my cute little fiery red summer baby pegasus. :lovey:
-
Even $12 seems too much for her right now. :\ I see several sellers have her priced at $5 and doesn't look like she's selling...
*pats her* But she's one of my fave. She's adorable ^.^
-
I think we are all overlooking something here.
When G1s came out there was no internet and toy collectors were looked down upon unless they were antique toys. Most people looked at G1s for what they were...toys. They were bought to be played with and some people became collectors but not many were thinking of them like future investments or debating a pony's future value.
When the interenet came out we were all able to find ponies easier and learn about ponies we didn't know existed. Prices spiked to unsustainable levels (just like they do whenever a new country pony is found). Eventually a "true" price emerges. Think of German Nightlight. Due to demand she has been in a consistent range for many years as does Mimic. They are not all that rare, just sought after. In some cases there are rarer ponies that go for less because they aren't liked as much.
When G3s came out I don't think anyone was really taking the availability factor into account. Nor were many thinking of the amount of years that had passed to come to G1 values. Many G1s currently fall in the $10 or less range and that is close to what they cost when they were brand new on the shelves...not much of a value increase. Considering it has been 30 years for many of these ponies I think it is unrealistic to be tearing down the value of G3s so soon. Guys, it's only been 8 years.
There are some G3s that will remain valueable and others that will increase in value but it's going to take another 10 years of people thinking they are worthless and donating them to charity or throwing them away until that happens...just like the G1s. Kimono, due to her limited release may yet see her day and she stands a better chance than many G3s.
Also remember that G2s prices have fluctuated greatly in the last few years alone. G4s are the new "it" and are skewing the prices across all gens due to limited collector funds as well as two distinctly different groups of pony collectors competing. Let's face it. The brony community is willing to pay far more than any of the older gen collectors.
Long story short. It's way too soon to speculate. We need at least 10 more years to see a change, maybe more. The interenet changed the collecting game considerable and I think one of the biggest impacts is it's going to take a lot longer for things to appreciate in value and they will have lower ceilings.
Stop looking down on the G3s like the ugly stepdchild or a waste of money. Remember why you collect in the first place! If you are looking to pad your retirement, you are collecting the wrong stuff.
That said....
I remember when the TAF Project Pony came out and was very hard to get due to only available to press or something. Then a couple years ago a huge pile was found and they went from being worth several hundred $ to $35. Still love that pony regardless of value!
That's a pretty good point!
-
I remember reading an article long ago, about someone who had studied the mechanisms behind toy collecting and values. The interwiever asked them, Is there a way to tell which toys are going to be collectible and valuable in the future?
The advice from the expert was to look for two things in general:
-First, renown.
The toy should be well known and popular with kids during the time it is produced/sold in stores.
-Second and more important, a quickly returning interest.
*If* a toy is turning collectible, you will see a significant rising interest for the toy in 10 years or less after it is no longer produced/sold in stores.
As in prices rising, people talking about it, getting harder to find it in flea markets, and so on.
I'd agree with them partially on the first point. The line as a whole should be popular overall, but when it comes to individual pieces within a line, definitely the most sought after are going to be the ones that there were very few made of.
I was watching pawn stars and there was a flex armstrong (?) snake that was terribly unpopular when it came out, they sold like 500 and were so embarrassed they pulled the rest of them off the shelves and destroyed them. Consequently they're worth several thousand dollars to those collectors nowadays.
In tandem with that point is the durability of the object. Ponies in my experience are annoyingly finnicky. They get tail rust, cancer, pin dot, their hair dries out, they get stained super easily. All of this contributes to them being harder to find in good condition. Not to mention the fact that after all they were intended as toys and used, often times, brutally in such a manner by children. Sally is not going to think twice about how giving Mimic a mud bath might affect her value in the future.
And of course the internet plays a major factor. Now that there are communities like this one dedicated solely to the discussion of ponies interests surely spike. FIM has brought back a huge resurgence of interest in the pony world in general which has spiked prices and demand.
The G4 blind bags, prototypes, and even customs are all a good example of this initial price spike and then drop. Now that blind bags are available in the US try finding another fluttershy going for $30 or regular prototype of a pony going for anything more than its store value. With white celestia coming soon, i'm sure customizers of her have taken a hit as well.
There are just sooo many things that factor into price and demand, the only way to even hope to drive up the price of something is by buying them all and hoarding them, or by generating a ton more interest than there is supply.
-
Anchors Away upsets me. A LOT. I found her in gorgeous condition at Value Village, with silky hair, and me, not being a G3 person, thought I could at least turn a profit.... NOOOPE. ):
-
Anchors Away upsets me. A LOT. I found her in gorgeous condition at Value Village, with silky hair, and me, not being a G3 person, thought I could at least turn a profit.... NOOOPE. ):
She's down to what...$20 now? I had a chance to sell off a couple of Star Catchers when her price peaked. I picked some up from Craigslist. How the market changes!
Rhini, I'm going to have to watch that show! Sounds very interesting. ^-^
-
I agree that it is too early to judge the g3's. And I also think it's not quite right to put the g1's and g3's in the same mindset. After kids got done playing with their g1's, they got put onto garage sales or donated to charity. When the g3's were done being played with, they went on ebay. It's a completely different world.
-
Anchors Away upsets me. A LOT. I found her in gorgeous condition at Value Village, with silky hair, and me, not being a G3 person, thought I could at least turn a profit.... NOOOPE. ):
She's down to what...$20 now? I had a chance to sell off a couple of Star Catchers when her price peaked. I picked some up from Craigslist. How the market changes!
Rhini, I'm going to have to watch that show! Sounds very interesting. ^-^
It's great! :P people bring in stuff to pawn or sell, and if they don't know anything about it they bring in experts who tell you all about the object. Very informative and i've seen and learned about some neat stuff. Same with American pickers.
Anywho, you make a good point too Aurora, everything goes onto ebay or Craiglist nowadays. Speaking of "Ponies that were once thought valuable", I see all these ebay sellers thinking they've hit a gold mine with their raggedy bunch of cotton candies etc and I always have the mean desire to crush them and tell them theyre gonna get $20 at most if they're lucky. Yeah that pony you THOUGHT was worth $50 each? Move the decimal point over to the left two places :P Not like they listen anyways!
-
I got burned by the price change. Quite a few years back I was up on pony prices and the UK ponies were high priced. After a long break I came back to collecting and was like "Woo-hoo I have some money to spend!" and bought Baby Bow-Tie and Baby Lemon Drop at Buy It Now prices that were too high. I should've done new research first, but I was happy with them anyway because they are still rare and valuable to me!!
-
Anchors Away. I wish I had sold mine when she was still going for $100. >_<
-
Guava Lava is another G3 that was "HTF" for a while. I just got one for $4.
-
When i first started collecting i thought that since the Windy Wing ponies tend to be a little harder to find than Summer Wing that they were worth a ton. I way overpaid for Cool Breeze :(