silly question... Why does TE Mimic value more?

[ponygrl07]

I was wondering why TE Mimic is worth much more than many of the other TE G1 ponies? Probably a silly question but learning these things

[brightberry]

I've learned here that she's not especially rare, but she is very popular and in demand.   High demand equals lots of bidding and higher value.  There are a lot of theories about why people pay more for her, but I like her because of her pose, color and symbol.

[Spectrum]

It took me WAYYY longer to find a decent condition Bright Eyes than it did Mimic.

She's a pretty pony though, and there is a lot of demand for her, like brightberry said.

[sd_dreamcrystal]

From what I understand, she wasn't very popular when she was made, mostly due to her color.. I don't think she was really as plentiful as say Snuzzle (another pony who wasn't apparently in a popular color back then either), but I do agree that demand for her is what makes her pricey.. Even in certain conditions.. Most TEs are actually HARD to find in decent Condition.. most of the time when I see Mimic posted for sale she is in decent condition...

[prancingstag]

In addition to being a gorgeous pony and therefore desirable, I did remember reading on here somewhere that first year ponies of any set are more common and plentiful than second years. IIRC stores would hold off on ordering second sets whilst waiting for the first runs of ponies like so softs and twinkle eyes to sell out, so the second years saw smaller distribution numbers (and perhaps were not internationally distributed either). Some second year ponies like TE Mimic and SS Twilight that become collector favourites then shoot up in value due to supply and demand.

[ponycake]

Some people think and say they have proof she was produced in equal amount to the other TEs of the second line (which are also supposed to be rarer than the first set of TEs). Lower supply, high demand = high price.

[Archer]

Mimic was also the star in one of the episodes 'Quest for the golden horseshoes'. I know that was the reason i wanted her in my collection as i loved that episode as a kid

[hathorcat]

Pretty much a combination of everything here sums up what increases her value.

In addition to being a gorgeous pony and therefore desirable, I did remember reading on here somewhere that first year ponies of any set are more common and plentiful than second years. IIRC stores would hold off on ordering second sets whilst waiting for the first runs of ponies like so softs and twinkle eyes to sell out, so the second years saw smaller distribution numbers (and perhaps were not internationally distributed either). Some second year ponies like TE Mimic and SS Twilight that become collector favourites then shoot up in value due to supply and demand.

This is a large part. Most second releases of a type of pony were originally stocked in much lower numbers. They were sold as the same item to retailers; so unless a retailer was completely out of the first years release they would not take the same volume as the second release. Back when MLP was out in the 80s although ponies were out in certain years, they did not have the same clearance offers, stock turnover as we have now or the same sale or return deals with suppliers; retailers would often be happy to allow items to sit on shelves until they sold. This means you could often find a pony released in 1985 still on shelves looking for a new home 18 months + after her original release.

She was offered to retailers in an assortment...the same as we now see waves of ponies. It was a 6 pack assortment - 6 to 24 in an assortment [the same multiples of each pony]. So she exists [or existed] in the same numbers as all the others from within her set...within the US. The fact that 2 of the ponies from the set - Locket, Tic Tac Toe - got a release in other countries and that 1 of the ponies from the set - Speedy - was actually a repeat release from the first set, means that all 3 of them do exist in larger quantities than Quackers, Bright Eyes and Mimic.

But out of the latter 3, they all pop up for sale about the same amount. A quick ended items search on ebay will show you about the same numbers of all 3. However Mimic runs for more than the others because she is more sought after; more wanted by collectors. She is just one of those ponies that people desire to have in their collection. Therefore "sought after ness [?!]" increases her price. 3 items can be equally rare but if lots of people want 1 of them and no one wants the other 2, then they will all vary quite a bit in price. Its just pony-economics

[Ledbyrd]

"Pony-economics" that's cute! I am so thankful for the great wealth of information on this forum. I have been wondering about the value of Mimic myself. I really want a Mimic one day but I LOVE Bright Eyes. I wonder why she isn't as sought after...

[joce]

I don't get it if she really was made equally. I have found truly rare ponies over fifteen or so years of collecting but never her! I don't buy online for the most part so its usually garage sales and flea markets and that's usually stuff straight out of an attic or basement so you'd think I'd have seen one.

[Mermaid]

I don't get it if she really was made equally. I have found truly rare ponies over fifteen or so years of collecting but never her! I don't buy online for the most part so its usually garage sales and flea markets and that's usually stuff straight out of an attic or basement so you'd think I'd have seen one.

Many say that she didn't sell as well as the others. I don't know how true that is based on demographics and such, but if hasbros research team now has it pinned down to pink sells, that may be an indication as why finding her second hand is hard, she didn't sell as well as the rest of the crew.

I agree, I've found rare ponies second hand, but never her. I've found 4 lockets , 3 quackers, 1 tic tac toe and countless speedy from that set, but never a mimic or bright eyes. But I have read glorious stories on how others have found her second hand. So it does happen! I know there is at least one member here who has found her twice second hand! Now that would be something! I wish I could just find her once!

[Wardah]

Even if she didn't sell as well its not like they would throw her out. They would just clearance her until she did and unpopular or not when ponies went on clearance they got snapped up if not for their own kids than as a cheap toy to donate to toys for tots. So maybe for a lot of poor kids Mimic was their only pony and was special enough to hold on to.

[hathorcat]

I don't get it if she really was made equally. I have found truly rare ponies over fifteen or so years of collecting but never her! I don't buy online for the most part so its usually garage sales and flea markets and that's usually stuff straight out of an attic or basement so you'd think I'd have seen one.

Its just odds of discovery I guess. I have found 3 Baby Stellas in my car boot searches...no one else...just 3 of the exact same pony. The odds on that I am sure are not great considering the number of potential ponies which could be found. Buts predictability is a peculiar thing.

I always think an ended auction search on ebay is a good indication of rarity. There are an awful lot of ponies which show up in far fewer numbers than Mimic but sell at lower values. Half of her set had wider releases than she did due to overseas or previous set runs. However she, Bright Eyes and Quackers turn up for sale about the same amount of time which accurately reflects the ratios they were sold in.