Is thair a time of year that prices get higher?

[LightingElectricDream]

Do you all notice if there is a time of year that prices are higher?
Like spring?  summer? Fall? Or christmas time?

I don't think they have a high point of time of year.
But I was thinking when do you guys find your best deals?
I am talking online shopping only.

I seem to find things in the summer time more cheep..
Maybe I am nuts but that's just me.
But I also seem to catch the pony bug in summer too
So it may not count.

[lovesbabysquirmy]

Summer is cheaper
Leading up to Christmas (late Oct. to mid-Nov.) gets pricier
After Christmas until about mid-January is pricey as collectors shop for themselves with gift money
Tax return season (Feb-March) is also another time for higher prices as people shop for fun things with their returns

If you are looking for a deal on something, prices are lower from June-September but they start to rise pretty quick with Back to School (peer competition for hottest toys) and the holidays a'coming.

[Taffeta]

I agree with lovesbabysquirmy. The summer is definitely the cheapest (normally, this summer has been a bit mad in some regards!) and then it tends to go up. Round Xmas itself it drops as people aren't online or don't risk xmas post.

[Sea_Breeze]

I find buying just before christmas pretty good. I guess people are spending extra money on family so I've often snagged pricey ponies for less. Not sure about selling though.

[achab1984]

Around tax return time is when I have seen prices get super crazy!!!!

[hathorcat]

I do agree that at US tax season and before Christmas (and immediately after Christmas when people have gift money) there can sometimes be a spike in price. But I actually dont think its that significant - collectibles are a very different kind of market and its also an international community which often means summer/winter has less influence. I think you tend to see one off spikes in types of ponies depending on what is popular in the community - that kind of thing sees bigger price hikes than the time of year.

[Taffeta]

I think you tend to see one off spikes in types of ponies depending on what is popular in the community - that kind of thing sees bigger price hikes than the time of year.

This is also very true. Ponypeople do tend to go through waves with certain ponies being expensive and then dropping a bit as others take their place. Either the big spenders get their pony, or everyone pulls one out to sell it at the same time because of a high price sale and so the market has more available, bringing the price down.

Of course, BIN prices do scupper that a bit ><

[Sky_Rocket]

If something awesome, amazing and incredible is for sale, it's gonna sell high no matter what time of year.

The average pony?  No idea - does anyone actually track this?  I know there are people who record ebay end prices, but I wonder if they also track the time of year the price was attained at.  The price guidelines people above have set up, are very rough guidelines.  So I'm curious if people actually track the time of year prices are realized (can you tell I work in finance....)

[lovesbabysquirmy]

If something awesome, amazing and incredible is for sale, it's gonna sell high no matter what time of year.

The average pony?  No idea - does anyone actually track this?  I know there are people who record ebay end prices, but I wonder if they also track the time of year the price was attained at.  The price guidelines people above have set up, are very rough guidelines.  So I'm curious if people actually track the time of year prices are realized (can you tell I work in finance....)

BlueRose's site keeps track of ponies on a six-month increment.  It's been online for a decade or so now so you can really get a feel for what an average price should look like, aside from the occasional upturn on a popular character. 

[achab1984]

I know one thing, you sure cant get anything sold right before the pony fair! I know cause I tried to sell some ponies. They all sold after the fair was over.

[lovesbabysquirmy]

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That's about how I feel about pony pricing!  It's all totally circumstantial...   

[flyawayraven]

I've seen some really bizarre high prices during US tax season. That tends to be when many ebay sellers jack their auctions up.

You do get a small bump around Christmas, but not as big as the tax one.