The MLP Arena
Pony Talk => Pony Corral => Topic started by: Ledbyrd on April 24, 2017, 10:05:07 PM
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I'm just wondering where all you G1 collectors have been buying the bulk of your ponies from these days. Is anyone else finding it harder and harder to find them for affordable prices?
And then the skyrocketing shipping prices have made it even harder! It makes me sad because it's taken a lot of fun out of collecting lately. Also, I love participating in swaps but it's getting harder and harder to find awesome ponies for my swap partners. The last few swaps I have done I've dipped into my personal collection.
Is anyone else experiencing these problems or is it just me?
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I thrift shop hunt often but don't find ponies very often. I've bought/traded on the arena a little bit. Mostly ebay in the last 2 years but it's very expensive so I hunt for good deals. I had some luck on Kijiji last summer finding 2 lots locally.
I have been finding prices too high lately :(
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Ebay has gotten very expensive since they raised their fees so much. But it's quicker and easier than on here so a lot of people who have to sell ponies are fine with letting ebay take their fees and the buyers are left paying more for ponies. It's unfortunately really inflated the value of ponies a lot.
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Also finding the cost of collecting is sky rocketing, good deals which made collecting so fun just dont seem to be around. I have found fb pages have lead to an increase of prices often you can pick up ponies cheaper on ebay than such sites. In saying that all my last buys have been from ebay, the arena sales are still my favorite thou, i have picked up many wonderful ponies from collectors here for very fair prices
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Let's not forget how many levels of resale some of these ponies are going through. For example, someone pulls a lot from their attic and puts it on ebay. A second person thinks, I can make money on this, so buys it, splits it, and sells it separated into groups. Imagine one of those groups is a family set, and the next buyer only needs one pony from the family. So then THEY resell the other ponies they don't need to recoup costs. And so it continues.
The above isn't wrong. It's a reality of sale and trade and it's been with us from the start. But the difference is that availability of G1 has dropped over time, meaning that the same people are competing over the same few lots. So prices rise.
There's also some responsiblity to be found from collectors, though. It's not all about ebay. When a collector pays an amount for a pony, that's their choice, whatever it is. But when they ask for a price check, and get three or four answers saying that pony is "worth" xamount, then that figure gains currency. Ultimately this isn't like the people giving prices are bad people or doing something wrong, but there is an impact when people are then drawing on archived PC to price a pony.
It also doesn't help when people want their new additions valued. It's as though the automatic mental conversion of pony into money is a reality now, and people consider that all ponies have a "worth" that is tangible in cold hard cash. Reality is that a lot of prices on ponies are personal choices. A lot of people here wouldn't spend a lot on Rapunzel, but probably just as many would.
The biggest problem comes with Nirvana pricing and "worth" values of thousands of dollars, but it is something that's there in the general market as well.
A combination of fewer ponies, people buying to resell and people pricechecking their collections and sale items (thus keeping the monetary element in the public eye) are all factors in my opinion, just as important as the rise of ebay fees.
I am just as guilty of asking for PC when I have stuff to sell, so I'm not criticising those people. I'm just saying it's a reality of our community that now the 'worth' of a pony is much more concrete and in discussion than it ever used to be.
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I fail to see the connection between price checks and pony pricing. We have had price checks for as long as I can remember- and I started collecting in 1999 or 2000 online. I think there is a bigger repercussion with things like published guides, or prices that can otherwise leave the community. I wonder if the fate of the Fair will impact prices overall. Without an easy way to unload ponies, it may be less beneficial to split lots. Or, more people will have to split lots because they aren't attending a fair where they can buy singular ponies. Who knows.
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Usually flea markets because it's more fun to hunt.
I do think flipping increases the prices of ponies, but I guess that is a part of any collecting circle.
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I suppose they are becoming more of a classic collectible so perhaps people are more concerned about their monetary value. I think monetary value is important to a lot of people because it can indicate what is rare, beautiful or interesting etc.. When I worked in a museum people often used to ask me the monetary value of things but I wasn't allowed to tell them for security reasons ^.^
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I normally hunt at flea markets, although I do find myself checking eBay often.
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I fail to see the connection between price checks and pony pricing. We have had price checks for as long as I can remember- and I started collecting in 1999 or 2000 online. I think there is a bigger repercussion with things like published guides, or prices that can otherwise leave the community. I wonder if the fate of the Fair will impact prices overall. Without an easy way to unload ponies, it may be less beneficial to split lots. Or, more people will have to split lots because they aren't attending a fair where they can buy singular ponies. Who knows.
I would disagree with you on that point. I joined the online community in 1998, and there was nothing like the price check culture we have now. What there was instead was widespread gaps in knowledge and so some crazy claims about pony value which have since settled themselves into a normal kind of state. But the main currency of pony deals back then was trading, rather than buying and selling, because it was not impossible but a lot more difficult without paypal (especially internationally, which is where most of the expensive ponies were at that time). We had no forum archives of past price checks to go by, and thus when someone said "what do you think x pony is worth", it was just a question which other people answered, as opposed to becoming a concrete record in a long list of records relating to that pony.
I also remember when price-checking became a "thing" and how some people complained about it, so it obviously wasn't a staple part of the community from dot. But given the fact most discussion went on on mailing lists and so on, the entire situation was different.
I do agree with you about the books and their price guides, but where do you think that information comes from? I would be highly surprised if online community price check archives are not a big part of that. Then you have the other problem that the people giving the prices may or may not have done a lot of research beforehand. Here, you are probably okay because you have some people who do this stuff a lot, and also several people giving their views on prices, but this is not the only pony community and the rise in facebook groups and such means that who knows how many different price scales there are out there. And how many people value their ponies based on the listing/BIN of an inflated ebay auction as opposed to an average of several auction sales over a period of time.
I would ask the question whether the prices in the published guides or the ones that are in the Arena archives are the ones most often adhered to in the community. I suspect the latter, as prices change regularly depending on the latest fad or which pony suddenly drops off the face of the earth. But the rise in numbers of people concerned about the value of their pony when they don't intend to sell it indicates a change in mentality from way back when. None of us thought in those terms then. If we sold a pony, it was generally to buy another pony. If we wanted to know value it was often to do a fair trade. The approach now is totally different.
Whether the mentality created the price check culture or vice versa is another question, of course. And with the growth of the community and the sparsity of G1 it was a logical development. But it's nothing like what it was almost 20 years ago.
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I get mine off eBay. I've checked several different GoodWill stores but I've not had any luck.
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Mainly in the wild - thrift stores, some estate sales and toy shows. I haven't had much luck with flea markets so far even though I know others are.
I've gotten a few good deals on eBay lots, also some scammy/bad experiences so it's not my first choice. I love buying here on the arena with fellow collectors, I don't mind paying a bit more for a pony if it's clean, nice and well taken care of.
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I don't buy G1 that often, but when I have it's mostly been Facebook groups or here on the Arena.
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Normally thrift shops and antique stores now. I used to use eBay though. Often times however, shipment costs were more than the pony herself. And then EBay went and made more fees, so that really threw a stick in the gears there. even the poorer condition ponies are much too expensive.
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I haven't been buying at all lately.
Doesn't help that I'm all down to the rarest of the rare, super expansive on my wish list.
I do groups off and on, haven't given up on thrifts and antique malls.
I have left ponies behind recently locally for example: I just don't want to pay $35 for a baby firefly with her sticker and comb... Prices are quite inflated!
I've all but given up on selling customs at this point as its not worth the time that goes into them for the small return anymore.
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eBay and occasionally Etsy. I also do a bit of trading.
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My only G1s were found in a charity shop
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Ebay, mostly. I've had troubles parsing the postings here on the Arena - a lot of times, what I'm looking for has posts that haven't been updated. ^^; Otherwise, I buy at the meets and fairs, when I'm able to go. The thift shops in my area haven't had any ponies - not even G4 - the last few times I've been. :(
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I have not been buying much lately at all, but when I did I used ebay, etsy and the Arena/Trading Post. Sometimes I find them in thrift stores too. Occasionally, I can find one in an antique store, but that is rare. Flea markets here are too dollar store junkie for vintage toys. I never find anything good at flea markets. Sometimes we find them in abandoned storage units. Sometimes friends find them for me also when they are out. I have not been able to shop outside the house for over a month due to some health related issues. I miss thrifting all over town.
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eBay and occasionally Etsy. I also do a bit of trading.
Oooh, Etsy! Yeah, I remember looking on there awhile back! I'll have to remember that one when next I have the money to buy. :D
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Mainly the flea markets, some yard sales, and if I am lucky the thrift store or the local antiques mall .
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I've been buying exclusively on the arena for many months now. No scary seller experiences or surprise misdescribed problems like on ebay and in big lots here the shipping isn't so bad plus i get to pick out those lots with our wonderful sellers . For common ponies it's a buyers market here and i enjoy taking a lot of apparently not-moving ponies off other members' hands instead of clashing with fervent last-minute bidders for unloved ponies in lots i cant control with sometimes inflated shipping from sometimes abusive ebayers, some of which hate ponies and despise pony buyers (had some great ebay sellers and ponies too of course).
I hunt thrift daily too but mostly drag home other toys that i shoulda left at the store.
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eBay and local flea markets, mostly. i used to look at garage sales, but i've only found two in the past 3 or 4 years. kind of sad how hard to find they're getting in the wild in my area :huh:
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thrift stores. Found Wigwam and Pretty Puff last month.
i wanna finish out my New Born Twins, but i'm taking it slow. :)
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I'm on a break from buying ponies right now, but usually I buy on Ebay or through the Arena, though I have received some lots from Etsy as well uvu. Normally I'm not too picky about where I buy as long as I can stay under my per-pony budget with shipping included, since I buy poor condition ponies anyway, though from my experience here and Etsy tend to have the best prices
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I never stop looking at Value Village or thrift stores, but never finding anything gets frustrating! Like mlp4me, I'm at the expensive last few I want, so I'm left trolling EBay and here for my ponies.
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The Global Shipping Program makes it hard for me to buy from ebay these days. The shipping is so high and slow too.
I don't get it, who is it that is buying on there? Because pony selling on ebay seems to be as lively as ever and prices are high too..! :lookround: I see ponies on there selling for much more than I could ask if I was selling it here on the arena. I used to think it was flukes, people caving in to high buyitnow prices, but nope, auctioned ponies are going really high too.
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I find this thread very interesting. I haven't bought any G1 ponies for a long time but I have a lot of them to sell which I do through here on the arena. I started out after a very long hiatus last summer and I used sold eBay auctions to set my prices but I haven't sold a single pony :(. But now I know why. I'm going to revise all my prices and then hopefully get my sales off the ground.
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Thanks for your responses everyone. It's good to know that I'm not alone with my G1 buying troubles.
I'm going to start buying more ponies here on the arena. Sellers here are awesome and they are great about shipping charges too. I have some doubles that I need to sell too but I have been nervous to do so in case I don't describe the pony well enough. But I think I need to give it a try.
This! That global shipping program is the worst. It's so needlessly expensive!
The Global Shipping Program makes it hard for me to buy from ebay these days. The shipping is so high and slow too.
I don't get it, who is it that is buying on there? Because pony selling on ebay seems to be as lively as ever and prices are high too..! :lookround: I see ponies on there selling for much more than I could ask if I was selling it here on the arena. I used to think it was flukes, people caving in to high buyitnow prices, but nope, auctioned ponies are going really high too.
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Answering this one a little late, but...
I've been only buying from thrift stores lately. Got a lovely FF Cotton Candy and a near mint (very white) Valentine's Baby within the last month, which made me happy. :)
I eye eBay every now and again but they've gotten pricey.
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Usually I buy through ebay,esty sometimes local. I dont get very many chances to go thrifting. I hope sometime during the summer.
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Mainly eBay, the Arena, and Facebook. I don't really visit flea markets or thrift shops anymore.
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The Arena, the TP, Etsy and eBay. I bought one pony through fb and that went fine, but it's not my preferred way. I also check Value Village when I get the chance.
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I haven't been buying at all lately.
Doesn't help that I'm all down to the rarest of the rare, super expansive on my wish list.
I'm getting to that point, too ^^; Those ponies come up most often on Ebay, so that's usually where I'll buy them; sometimes I find them in Arena sales postings here, too. Also sometimes I buy groups of ponies that need cleaning up to bring down the cost; a lone pony might cost $10ish, but a pony in a group with crazy hair and a bad photo tends to go for $5ish when you do the math. There are risks and rewards to that approach (hidden tail rust has been the latest bump in the road), but it's how I've built a lot of my collection so far without breaking the bank.
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I have only ever found two G1s at the thrift store. I have had the best luck price-wise with the Arena and Kijiji/craigslist. People on kijiji/craigslist don't sell them for as much as ebay sellers.
My friend puts on a local toy show and I attend every month--I just bought Bow Tie, with one pony cancer spot, for $15 :/ Not my best decision, but I figured by the time I paid for shipping here in Canada-- that's about what I'd be paying if I bought her online--and she was right there! It felt almost painful paying that, especially since I was selling my ponies for much cheaper prices. I was actually cleaned-out my last show because I was selling my ponies at such good prices.
With limited finances and space, I'm only collecting specific ponies online these days. I might check out the local thrift store here soon though, I'm feeling the itch!
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Thrift Shop, Secondhand Market, mostly MLP forum (like here) and somethimes ebay.
It's harder and harder to find what I want, I regret no to have buy more in the past :cry:
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I get mine off of eBay.uk when the price is good, but trying to get some on the auction line is so frustrating because people keep bidding on them and the go up to like £22 for a pony. I get :cry: ed when I can't win that specific pony I want, and I say I hope the person who won that pony burns in hell. (Been watching to many Game of Thrones episodes)
Hopefully if the weather is good I might go to a car boot sale.
Or wait till I go on holiday and see if any car boot sales there have them.
U.K charity shops are out of the question because all that they have are either fakes or G2 ponies.
Or I buy from here (forum) if the person is from the U.K
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I have sies eBay a lot, but international shipping is expensive, even worse when the seller uses eBay's global shipping system. After I discovered the arena I think I will stick to buying ponies here. I also keep an eye out on Facebook groups :)
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Mainly eBay, the Arena, and Facebook. I don't really visit flea markets or thrift shops anymore.
this!
I do miss the golden years of the arena when sales threads were a plenty and there was a lot to look through- seems like the forum gets quieter every year :(