Post movie value of transformers

wideload · Post by **wideload** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 4:56 pm

Do you guys think that the value of transformers will go up significantly after the movie is released. The only reason I mention this is because I seem to see a lot of people getting rid of collections these days.

shaxper · Post by **shaxper** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 5:23 pm

Doubtful. TF prices soared when ebay first started because no one thought there were all that many vintage TFs in NM back in the day. Add to this the fact that collectors had no new TF vehicle toys to invest their money in. Finally, we were at that point where everyone who had grown up on TF had just gotten their first jobs and had a lot of extra cash as a result. Everyone had money, everyone wanted these guys, and everyone assumed there weren't that many to go around.

Since that time, we've discovered there's an overabundance of vintage TFS out there (and the reissues are killing demand too), there are so many new TFs to spend money on that it's absurd, and many of us are buying homes, establishing retirement plans, getting married and/or having kids. The disposable income is decreasing, while the next generation of former kids coming in to money doesn't remember TF all that well. As a result, high bids on vintage TFs have been falling steadily since 1999 or so. I can't believe that we had a Transfan offering a complete vintage Overlord for $100 in the buy/sell section recently. That could have earned over $1000 back in '98.

TFs aren't like most collectibles (baseball cards, comics, etc.) They're only remembered by one generation. As that generation becomes caught up in other financial concerns, vintage prices have to drop.

At least that's my take on it.

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 5:59 pm

And a damn fine take it is.

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 6:20 pm

Yep.
...
So... back to my place then?

[additional (and on topic)] Perhaps the versions of whichever characters appear in the new movie might have a little surge in price - but probably not for very long.

I have chocolate ice cream for my throat. Anyone want a bowl if it?

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 6:24 pm

I'll take a bowl, no ice cream though, thanks.

When that little SURGE does happen, and all the kiddies want TF, I'll sit in a big ol' rocking chair and gather them around me and tell them all about how, in the old days, in the long long ago, Megatron was a gun.

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 6:29 pm

Shanti418 wrote:I'll take a bowl, no ice cream though, thanks.

I'm not giving away my crockery, y'know.

On reflection, I don't think there'll be any surge at all. The only toys to benefit from the film will be the new ones from Hasbro that more accurately represent the movie version of the characters.

And are you sure? I have squirty chocolate sauce too. And not the kind Karl has been experiencing lately.

shaxper · Post by **shaxper** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 3:09 pm

Autobloke wrote: On reflection, I don't think there'll be any surge at all. The only toys to benefit from the film will be the new ones from Hasbro that more accurately represent the movie version of the characters.

Agreed.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 3:19 pm

shaxper wrote:
TFs aren't like most collectibles (baseball cards, comics, etc.) They're only remembered by one generation.

What about the generation of kids into Beast Wars, Armada, Cybertron and all those inbetween? One day they'll be on the prowl for toys...

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 5:46 pm

But I don't think that they have near the numbers that we fans weaned on G1 enjoy.

Post by **Denyer** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 6:12 pm

I'd be surprised if there wasn't a bit of a boost to other bits of TF industry.

Shanti418 wrote:I'll sit in a big ol' rocking chair and gather them around me and tell them all about how, in the old days, in the long long ago, Megatron was a gun.

Creepy old man in rocking chair with firearms...

Get running, kids.

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 9:06 pm

Denyer wrote:Creepy old man in rocking chair with firearms...

Get running, kids.

Got your retirement all planned out, I see.

shaxper · Post by **shaxper** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 4:58 am

spiderfrommars wrote: What about the generation of kids into Beast Wars, Armada, Cybertron and all those inbetween? One day they'll be on the prowl for toys...

It's not the same. G1 swept the country like an epidemic. Parents were running out, combing stores for these things just prior to Christmas for 1984-1986. While Beast Wars, Armada, and like did all right with kids, they weren't "THE thing" to own anymore. An entire generation won't be able to identify Optimus Primal the way even most women in their mid twenties can still identify Optimus Prime.

Shanti418 · Post by **Shanti418** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 5:55 am

And it'll never be like that again. It's akin to how broadcast TV will never enjoy the same amount of success it did 20 years ago because of cable, and now the Internet. Could you really say that kids are going to remember Optimus Prime now better than Pikachu or Solid Snake or Spongebob or Harry Potter?

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 9:34 am

I remember a 'Best Toy' program a few years ago that had kids play with the latest stuff and vote for the best. I think a trampoline won

Out of the action figures, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles came first (they had just been rereleased). Transformers fared badly in this - mostly because they gave Armada Prime (the one with the self-transforming trailer) to five year olds. How the hell are they supposed do deal with that? Complex transformations (for such young kiddies) was never going to win anything - they should have given 'em some Minicons or something simpler.
Today's kids still like action figures very much - just apparently not transforming robot ones.
Pity.

KingMob · Post by **KingMob** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 9:40 am

^I think I watched that. It was dreadful. Wasn't Kerry Something, or whatever the blonde woman with the popular chest and sometime marriage to another blonde person called Brian is called, the presenter? Her and Eamon Holmes. She was rubbish and he was phoning it in.
I stopped watching that because they were so bad. So a trampoline won?
Cool.

Yeah, I remember that. They gave superbrick Prime to a bunch of school entry-level age kids. He got kicked out in a hurry.

Autobloke · Post by **Autobloke** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 9:42 am

That's the one - your memory of boobs is impressive. I threw stuff at the TV screen when Prime went out of the running.
Still, at least they didn't hand the kids a Unicron toy. If only simplebrick Energon Omega Supreme had been around then.