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The vast majority of ponies were bought for children and opened. By the era of G3, the majority of ponies were still being bought for and played with by kids - but there was already an established collector community, and pretty much everyone purchased entire sets of ponies and either kept them in mint condition or in the box, if they had any desire to own the newest generation. That is likely why there is so little market for G3's - the people who want them right now already have them, the future collectors who outgrew G3 aren't yet cycling back into nostalgia, and even then it's going to be easier for them to pick up those childhood toys.
This very much! There is simply a more vast supply of G3 and price/value is very much determined by supply and demand. There is more supply, less demand for G3 than G1, for example, so the prices are lower. Also, with collectibles like ponies that don't have a more or less 'fixed' value like electronics have, the price is determined by what people are willing to pay. We as the collectors are placing value on them based on availability and popularity. This is why Nirvanas reach high prices- not many available. Still, a pony may be more scarce but less sought after, and its price will be lower (for example, rare G2s. Some G2s are definitely rarer than say, a Mimic, but the latter will reach a higher price).
If by economist you mean scalper?
I just want to clarify that I am not just talking g3. I happen to know a lot more about g3, but I meant in general I thought there was a lull in prices.
Prices are definitely down, but that is simply down to (here comes the dreaded word) 'the economy'. People have less to spend on frivolous things, logical result. Some things are holding their value though- mostly HTF/Nirvana's.For the rest, it may be because I am not a native speaker but I don't really understand the point you're trying to make. We're making ponies worth less because we're willing to pay less? Yes, definitely the value is determined by what collectors are willing to pay- but, that's really logical to me. Thus, prices/value fluctuates and are not fixed. So, in buying AND selling, everybody looks for the most opportune moment to get the best price. Collectibles will always be a gamble in that way, since you can never be sure things will hold their value.
That is actually the point I am making. I just felt it was an interesting thing to think about, as my hubby brought it up. Fluctuation based on willingness to pay.
I think it also matters, in part, in how much a seller is willing to sell for. I may decide I was only going to pay $.01 for a Mimic, but I'm probably not going to find a seller willing to part with it at that price. Some negotiation is going to have to happen if I really want that Mimic. If sellers all decided their ponies had devalued to .25 a pony, I'm sure buyers will happily agree. So a seller could just as easily devalue ponies. I know if I want to sell something quickly, I can mark it down significantly. If I flood the market at that price, I could devalue all objects in that market. It happens all the time with mass production.I think if there were fewer g3 ponies and sellers were harder to part from them, the price would go up even if there are fewer buyers. There will always be someone who wants one. But because these ponies are everywhere and you can always find a bargain if you wait long enough, sellers are having a harder time setting the price.
Quote from: brightberry on September 13, 2013, 10:10:04 AMI think it also matters, in part, in how much a seller is willing to sell for. I may decide I was only going to pay $.01 for a Mimic, but I'm probably not going to find a seller willing to part with it at that price. Some negotiation is going to have to happen if I really want that Mimic. If sellers all decided their ponies had devalued to .25 a pony, I'm sure buyers will happily agree. So a seller could just as easily devalue ponies. I know if I want to sell something quickly, I can mark it down significantly. If I flood the market at that price, I could devalue all objects in that market. It happens all the time with mass production.I think if there were fewer g3 ponies and sellers were harder to part from them, the price would go up even if there are fewer buyers. There will always be someone who wants one. But because these ponies are everywhere and you can always find a bargain if you wait long enough, sellers are having a harder time setting the price.Buyers are the ones who will ultimately decide the price for the item. The seller will only sell an item if a person is willing to pay it. If everyone demanded mimic at $0.01 then the seller would not be able to sell the item for higher than that. Lol my hubby has me thinking economic theories....interesting discussion on it though....