Baits

[PinkStar]

This is kind of a random question and probably something I should know by now, hahaha. 

Anyway, what exactly classifies a pony as bait?? I'm not the pickiest collector, but sometimes I see people selling ponies listed as bait in the 'for sale' forum, and the ponies don't look that bad to me.   

Are there particular things I should look for??  (Certain qualities that make a pony bait)

If anyone can enlighten me, it would be super helpful (for me as a buyer and a seller!) I'd hate to sell or buy something 'bait' quality thinking it's in pretty good condition. LOL

~PinkStar

[gabumon]

Sure! Down there in my signature there's a link to the "Bait Reference Guide" on the Wiki. 

http://mylittlewiki.org/wiki/Bait

Edit:

Also I just wanna say you are awesome for asking about it! 
Thank you!

[PinkRosedust]

Yes, the bait guide that gabumon posted is a great reference! 'Bait' is sort of in the eye of the beholder, but there are a lot of ponies that should NEVER be baited no matter what, otherwise a LOT of collectors would be totally devastated.

I think first and foremost, before you sell a pony, you want to identify the pony, and find out what flaws to look for. Then you'll need to look up a price check (either search completed auctions on ebay or ask here). When in doubt, always ask before setting a price or baiting a pony if you are a customizer.

[CrimsonEtClover]

I've found very pretty ponies listed as bait (but I'm not ultra picky), as well as hideous baity ponies *not* listed as bait... so it's somewhat subjective.

I'm pretty grateful for the picky collectors who sell cheap, less-than-perfect ponies as bait! Without them, I wouldnt have so many lovelies<3

[Sarah-Bee]

When I'm selling ponies I tend to use the description 'poor condition' and then the person purchasing the pony can make up their mind whether to bait them or not. Hopefully of course if I sell a rare or HTF pony in poor condition its new owner won't bait it!

[partypony566]

IMO bait is when it's unfixable. But for me it has to be in a terrible state to be baited. I don't customise anymore, I try to restore all G1s instead.

[Like A Tea Spoon]

  Plenty of my collection of G1 babies were sold under "bait" listings on Ebay. Frizzled hair, tail rust, hair cuts and maybe some rusted Beddy Bye Eye mechs are probably the worst of my issues with my ponies right now. Most of my "bait" ponies just need a little work, some new hair and a good cleaning or sun fading.

I agree, if not for mislabeled "bait" pony lots on Ebay, I wouldn't have more than half of my collection right now.

[Vintergatan]

Yeah, a lot of my collection was also sold/traded as bait! I think some people dismiss ponies as baits waaay to quickly (with some of them there was *nothing* wrong!). Still, as CrimsonEtClover said, I guess we, less picky collectors should be glad we get good ponies for low prices but it makes me sad a lot of the times to see what kind of ponies end up as baits

[Foxtale]

Over the years I have collected so many ponies that were in not the best condition that I have a strict definition of bait (at least for G1 ponies). If the pony can not be restored or cleaned then its bait. I do not consider hair cuts to be bait, they can give a pony personality. But a missing leg, completely missing symbols, discolorations/regrind past repair.... that's bait.

The bait reference guide on My Little Wiki is great. Anything that falls into the last two categories can be bait if a common pony.

As for G3 ponies, as long as they aren't rare or exclusives, they make easier bait since they are still more common.

[DaffyDilly]

For me, a pony is bait if the amount of work required to restore it, is equal to or greater than the amount of work required to (properly) customise it.

There are exceptions - like Mimic is never bait, but a G1 Peachy will quite often be baited even in reasonable condition because she's still super common and hard to sell.

You'll still find people baiting perfectly good G3s and of course brand new G4s.

I am not a picky collector - some of my ponies have fairly major flaws - so I can struggle to find ponies that I'll actually bait.

[hathorcat]

Personally I find the term "bait" such a difficult one - but that's mainly because I truly believe whether a pony is bait is completely subjective and individual.

I can rehair but thats pretty much where my restoring skills stop therefore if a pony needs more work then a couple of plugs or a new tail, then I wont be including it in my collection and so, while it may not be "bait", I would consider it of lower value than other people may consider it. Is it bait? No but to me it has the same kind of value. On the other hand I have heard people say that G1s are never bait no matter the condition - missing limbs and ears all are repairable. So for some people bait doesn't happen at all while for others "bait" is a higher level and perhaps what I consider "bait" other people will consider just "poor" or "fair".

Its a difficult judgement and honestly largely one which I think most people should decide upon themselves as only you can know what level of damage/issue is acceptable or completely unacceptable to you

[Starly]

Because some people consider brand new G4s custom bait, then bait is truly a 100% opinionated term.
Though I have never seen a 'poor' conditioned G4 pony.

[HollowZero]

G4s are considered custom bait if they're not rare, just because they are still being manufactured currently.

Anyone can walk in and buy a Rarity to customize, there are so many of them.

[tiktok]

My best-condition G1 pony was in a bait lot - it's Magic Hat, and she's white as a fresh sheet of printer paper with great hair. She even came with her original ribbon. The only mark on her is a tiny pink stain on the outside her off-side rear hoof, that I could probably do something about if I tried.

[HavACrumpet452]

I have an Up Up and Away with her feet nearly all chewed off but she looks fine wearing a pair of G1 shoes.

I have to argue that a lot of the problems listed on that link as unfixable are perfectly fixable, and leeching plastic is listed as an easy fix but I've never been able to fix it.