Quote from: Tak on September 07, 2016, 10:50:24 PM

So there really is no way to tell unless you get her mib/mip? If the comb/brush is the only difference. I have lemondrop and peachy with only front hooves stamped. Or are you saying that the slight color difference of the pony is how you tell? My little wiki said that there are 45+ variants of blossom.

Unless you have the later MO, it seems.  She really is a different color!  From what FF is saying, #s 2-4 *should* be the same color, the differences in them are due to yellowing.  I think the 45+ variants of Blossom include all her nirvana variants. 

3 colours of Blossom total for the US line.
1 and 2 should match in shade (colour one)
3 and 4 should match in shade (the offers placed in front of #4 are where that pony is ordered from) (colour two)
5 is unique, and I placed the offers I believe she could have been ordered from in front of her. (colour three)

(1&2group 3&4 group) the ones who should match up in shade I intentionally used my "best" example as well as a more yellowed example I owned still.  Just to show what can happen with heat/light/play (oils from hands).

Ignore the eyes. purple paint is VERY photosensitive (red pigment) so from UV or heat the red can fade away leaving purple eyes lighter, or even turning a periwinkle shade. even ponies from the exact same issue and set- purple paint can have batch varations as well, or slight changes to liner colour for the same reason. I hope this all helps.

all are four feet stamped. all made in hong kong. The only one a little different is the FF (just like any other FF).

 I've only ever found lemon drop or peachy with the 4 feet stamped OR stamped as 2 foot only .

Quote from: FantasticFirefly on September 06, 2016, 09:17:46 PM

I made my own checklists. each site or guide have their own little errors here or there (so I used them all. wiki, ponyland tours, ponyland press etc etc etc). so making my own was the easiest for that. I have the one to see how complete each ponies accessories are, or one for just baby dishes, just baby spoons, moon shaped combs etc.

I used my collection (moc/mip/complete childhood collections, things I had to sell once) as well as google image for MOC pictures, and ID sites to get everything correct. Keep folders of MIP images to cross reference. Hope this helps.

It would really help if those lists were available here?  Just sayin... 

Ponyqueen! 

I have a couple iffy things I want to iron out (a couple of accessories I haven't yet 100% confirmed shades for things- or things that came in a range for the same pony and I am missing some) and a few missing gaps in my collection for accessories I want to fill in first or acquire upgrades to (because they would be photo references- I have a very specific way I want to photograph things to keep it consistent across the board), and I tend to be perhaps too compulsive trying to find all the patterns (I have found many so far). but once that is done, and I'm confident in all my information, I DO really really want to make a user friendly app others can download so accessory sorting doesn't feel like this anymore --> 
If I doodle out my idea visually for the layout and how it'll work- hopefully one of my tech/coding friends will know how I want to write the code, and be able to point me in the right direction of how to do that.

regular comb- FF, CF (pre applejack set) tends to be a greyer more purple.

flower brush (aj set) and mo- tends to have more of a .... pale yellow tint? ugh. I'd have to get them together.

Quote from: FantasticFirefly on September 06, 2016, 08:28:58 AM

As for the quality. we apparently got what we asked for. I totally missed out on the "poll" that happened. they asked us what we wanted to pay, we said $5 a pony. we got $5 a pony quality in our get three ponies for around $15 giftsets. UGH. that explained the wonky cast, horrible hair and cheap everything.

I do like them handy to have modern safe toys to hand out to kids. I personally would love to see an adult market collectible $60-$75 giftset. like they do with barbie (that I don't collect) in a really really beautiful package. maybe make a colour truer to how they appeared in the art, or show but those "common girls", but of great quality (beautiful hair and casts, beautiful painted features) but to me the package will have to be a knockout, covered with real high quality G1 style art and not computer clippings. and the boxes will have to be interesting and beautiful on display.

I personally think the price point should be somewhere in between. The reason the retro releases of SSC are doing well is because they are just the right price for a nostalgic parent to feel okay with getting them for their kids to play with. A $10 pony would have good quality and an attractive price point and not feel like a fancy collectors item that should stay in box and never be played with. That would limit the market too much.

I knew I would be in the minority. But Jem (also hasbro) did have a high end for adults doll. I loved the quality on that. if I were a Jem collector (I won't even ever GO down that collecting rabbit hole without a large windfall!) I would own all of the new released dolls. they were just so well done. http://fashiondollchronicles.blogspot.ca/2012/10/first-wave-of-jem-and-holograms-dolls.html

Yeah, if they release common characters again in the same poses, then what's the point?  I could see giving them to children, but that's about it.  Especially if they aren't as good of quality as the originals, that was a lot of folks' complaint about the previous re-releases.  Now if they released interesting poses, new characters, or re-releases of rare ponies, then I would be excited about them even if the quality wasn't quite the same.  Re-released Lady Bird anyone?

Ehhhh. the retro market will always be more identifiable characters. millions will get warm fuzzies seeing bluebelle or bowtie (or any of the show ponies. NSS paradise anyone? mom and baby movie sets?) on a shelf again, and feel that feeling from a toyshop in the 80's they remember. People not on these boards won't feel anything super special to a lady bird or other obscure out of country release.

As for the quality. we apparently got what we asked for. I totally missed out on the "poll" that happened. they asked us what we wanted to pay, we said $5 a pony. we got $5 a pony quality in our get three ponies for around $15 giftsets. UGH. that explained the wonky cast, horrible hair and cheap everything.

I do like them handy to have modern safe toys to hand out to kids. I personally would love to see an adult market collectible $60-$75 giftset. like they do with barbie (that I don't collect) in a really really beautiful package. maybe make a colour truer to how they appeared in the art, or show but those "common girls", but of great quality (beautiful hair and casts, beautiful painted features) but to me the package will have to be a knockout, covered with real high quality G1 style art and not computer clippings. and the boxes will have to be interesting and beautiful on display.

Quote from: Lucky_Ladybug on August 28, 2016, 05:40:21 PM

Agreed. There's also a lot of retro TMNT merchandise in little kids' sizes. Kids today weren't around for the '80's Turtles, either, but I think it's neat that they're on a lot of the merchandise instead of it only being the current Nick version that's available. And I think a lot of today's kids would probably love the silliness of the '80's Turtles if introduced to it. Retro merchandise in kids' sizes is a good thing, as far as I'm concerned. It helps bring in a new generation of fans!

This is where things are often actually for the parents.  I like to buy my niece TMNT stuff because my brother in law likes them.  Then they get to match!  I've never been into TMNT myself, and I still really like some of the re-release stuff they have out right now.

Agreed with you. mom and dad want the nostalga for their kids. one day those kids will be forcing shopkins (or other toys) THEY lusted after and remember lining store shelves on their children. haha.

Quote from: Wardah on August 23, 2016, 10:15:26 AM

But as far as media it seems pointless. It really would just end up being FIM with a new veneer.

I don't want G1 ponies brought into FiM too much. Why? Because the more G1 characters they bring to the Brony fandom, the more Bronies will start buying up G1 ponies and causing the prices to skyrocket. It's already starting to be a problem, and if Hasbro gives the new fans more reason to want G1s, they will completely annihilate the collector community.

Now, collector re-releases like they did in 2007 for the 25th anniversary would be fine. Just don't introduce them into the show.

Hasbro will do what it will do. Collecting online was always in a state of flux, first the huge wave of us who found the internet and realized we were NOT the only weirdos over the age of 10 who still wanted our my little ponies, made little checklists at home, spent every free weekend, and time online scouring second hand sources for more even as the line had been pulled from shelves. our ponies were never forgotten in boxes, or sold away when we got "too old". as the group built, there was then trickle ins and always have been people that trickle in, they  found ponies at a yardsale, in the basement etc. triggers "oh man I LOVED these!" and went online and found "us"

g2's in happy meals and on store shelves again brought in more people. a lot more people. many who loved g1 and were angry with the redesign but picked up collecting from seeing a MLP section in wallmart. and some who LOVED the new g2's. People got their kids into it.

g3's again, lots of nostalgia people. buying g1's and collecting g3's with their children. people who came to groups as strictly G3 collectors.

g4 has been the most unusual in that the show was inexplicably a huge hit with men! (again, mom's and kids also finding the new MLP)
I have already noticed really crazy pricing on some G1 things. Not to worry though. For each long term collector created there will many many many more who get really into a hobby and fizzle out, tire of it, get bored, realize they "spent too much" and just don't enjoy them the same. We'll get some new long terms, but most will move on to other things in time.

I'm not overly fussed with what will happen. if it's a new market retro item I want, I'll buy it. if I don't like something I will not waste my money or space in my house for the sake of some kind of completeness.

Do you collect all products or just a specific variety/generation?
Seriously collecting- G1. I love them. Most of my fondness is the US/Canada set. My next big goal would be UK exclusive ponies.
G2's what I can find.
G3, G4 whatever I think is pretty that will still fit in my other gen box (I limit anything that is not my G1 pony collection to strict amounts of space- once that space is gone something needs to be sold for a new item to fit in)

What sort of lines of pony products do you collect?
Ponies, accessories, softies, merch.

Is there a specific pony or ponies you have an army/armies of?
Anything I like. Seaponies, Plush/clean so softs, pretty curls, and Surprise (the pegasus) seems to be my weaknesses.


What do you find to be easy/challenging about collecting ponies
Availability and cost. I miss out on many deals exclusive to USA shipping addresses. Exchange Shipping/customs is making me more careful about when and when not to buy (i.e I wouldn't buy one comb I am missing and pay $14 in shipping if I know I can find it in a lot of many pony items at some point). (Not the postal services fault. postal employees need to make a living too)

What tips would you offer people starting their pony collections
1) ID websites and books. look at them, ask for links. take your time and see what's out there. The biggest, ponies are often themed, for G1 remember the details and the SET types fuzzy one = so soft, knob on chest = dance n' prance. If you know the set a pony could have come from she/he is SO much easier to look up and find a name for!

2) Set aside a safe place for the collection you plan. (best is cool, dry, dark. if yellowing or faded would make you sad, you need somewhere protected from sunlight. pets sometimes think ponies are awesome chew toys!- eek so keep em out of fuzzy monsters reach!)
Also, plan to keep your collection catalogued. keep information like where you found each pony/lot (place, seller, country), what came with them, what you spent, what condition did the seller sell them in, did they get fixed up by you, what did you do to them?

3) make a wishlists of the ones you really love from browsing cool sites, or the collectors guide (year released, set name, pony name- how that pony should look in the condition you want- save online photos for reference!). Use ebay completed listing to price your wishlist. keep copies on you. you will know when you spot an amazing deal if you have your list handy.

4) How someone else collects is irrelevant. Collecting anything is a waste of money if you are doing it in a way to "fit in" and not for joy. Just remember you do not need all the accessories or walls of MOC's to be a real collector. Think of how do YOU enjoy the hobby!  Do you like finding destroyed ponies and making customs? so you like restoring sad, neglected ponies? Collector value is irreverent, so is what other people say is hot or popular is irrelevant if those ponies don't bring you any awesome feelings.

3) bait ponies (poor condition ones which are not rare or worth much) are PERFECT practice ponies for fixing and testing. these are the ones to test out flat ironing frizzy hair, or trying a mark remove method on, etc etc. if you make a mistake, you haven't mistakenly damaged one of your collection ponies.

First, you never know until you try. I'd attempt locally at first, free classifieds- have a price in mind for each collection G3 together, G4 together, G1 together. You'll get an answer if that can work in your area or not.

Just because most collectors couldn't visualize dropping 5K -10K plus and having the space for that much at once, doesn't mean there are not those out there with that kind of cash and space to throw around and would jump at the chance of saving that work collecting a piece at a time. (read about sales of entire Nintendo collections!).