Official "Looking For This" Thread

[RedZillaKing]

Yes, because paying a lot of money for really, rare old toys that you NEVER see - figures you may have a once in a lifetime chance to buy - is clearly the same thing as spending way too much on relatively new toys that you could find for a lot less if you know where to look.

It is depending on the perspective. Also I left a very large blank for anyone to fill in with their knowledge of a better alternative. So far no one has helped beyond "mehhh I live in Japan" and "if you know where to look". Not very helpful. Why would people who really want a rare figure want to wait an indeterminate period of time when the solution is sitting right there. And let's face it, that's not even that much of a markup. Hell Grumbletoy.com sells preorders for Marmit figs for $110. Considering that's before shipping, an Orga that's currently not available elsewhere seems reasonable at $160.

what-a-day is an incredibly overpriced seller. Period. I'm not judging shit. I'm telling you that this is an overpriced seller who was asking for an arm and a leg for the Manda figure he was selling.

You are judging by claiming people are stupid for making certain decisions. that is the very definition of judging.

Don't throw what I've spent on older toys back in my face in order to undermine what I have to say.

It's funny, but I actually had you in mind when I was defending people who spend what they have to to get what they want. THAT is why it was ironic. And that's why it was funny as hell. It has nothing to do with "throwing it back in your face". I defend the right of any collector to spend what they have to get something they want. This isn't f***ing paper towels. It's a luxury item.

Like or dislike my attitude all you want, but I know what I'm talking about. You're starting to sound like Monster Master here, and that's not a good thing.

[/quote]
You know what you sound like? One of those old people who shakes his fist at those young kids with their rock n' roll 8 track tapes. Lighten up, Lege. We're around the same age and I've loved Goji for about as long as I could crawl.

[Captain Aktion]

So...here's what I'm getting out of this discussion.

You're dumb if you think that $100 is too much to spend on a Marmit and you're dumb if you think that $150 is a reasonable price.

That about right?

[Legion1979]

So...here's what I'm getting out of this discussion.

You're dumb if you think that $100 is too much to spend on a Marmit and you're dumb if you think that $150 is a reasonable price.

That about right?

I only think someone is foolish if they're spending hundreds on toys that are obvious rip-offs.

[GreenAiden555]

OPINIONS OF OPINIONS OF OPINIONS OF OPINIONS AND FACTS STATED AS OPINIONS

Seriously, what the hell has been with you guys the past two or so months? There seems to be a fine line between what group your in (if you want to call it that) and everyone is flinging mud at each other, sniping and "snapping" at each other's posts and bashing each other for their opinion, and even pretending that a particular group is THE MOST IMPORTANT opinion of all.

Seriously? How old are we? 2?

Can't we all just have fun discussions instead of bashing each other? Just hold your tongues, guys, please. Do I think it is a bit outrageous that someone spent more than $200 on a figure? Yeah, I do. Am I calling them an idiot for doing so? Nope, but who cares, if they're happy with it, yay! Good for them.

Do I think it is flat-out wrong that some people are selling marmits on eBay for high prices, forcing those that don't know other means to buy them to pony up lots of dough? Yup, but if that's what they're willing to pay, who cares!

Here's what I'm getting at.... There's a fine line between.

Well, I think that the price on the new MonsterArts Orga figure is a bit high, because I don't believe it is worth as much here. If you know where to look elsewhere, you can find an equally good figure or a cheaper price.

Image

See? Doesn't this figure look better? I think so, and it is cheaper, too. Just my two cents on the subject.

and

That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard or seen. These older figures that I have from the 80's and early 90's completely blow that thing out of the water. The price is outrageous, too. If you pay that price, you're dumb. You should know where to look elsewhere, because you're a collector, right? No? Then who cares. You're dumb for paying that high price for a figure you may never have the chance to get again. I enjoy the figure I spent $200 on that I had a once in a lifetime chance to get because I live in (insert place here)/I know (insert person here).

Why has it come to this? Why? I don't like to start arguments with people, and to be honest, I've refrained from posting a lot, much to the joy of some of you, I'm sure. Why can't we just enjoy and discuss what we enjoy doing in peace? Can't we just work to get ot that?



I'm liking the Bandai Goji55 a lot. Any suggestions as to where I can look to get one at a decent price?

[Captain Aktion]

But what if they have the money and really want it?

I mean, to me it's foolish to spend thousands on a handful of old vinyl that wasn't ever even designed to be a collectors item. That seems like a rip-off, especially as many of those figures have had re-releases and what not.

Now, if I were to spend $150 plus on a Marmit GMK Goji, am I overpaying? If so, then Steve Agin is a rip-off artist and I would really like to see the price guide that those in "the know" apparently work off of.

Now, seeing as how I can't go to Japan just to buy this figure for $60 at the festival it gets its limited release at any more than you can go back in time to the 70's and pick up a Hawaiian Bullmark for retail, then I guess we BOTH have to pay a bit of a premium in order to obtain the figures we want, right?

I don't get to decide the asking prices, all I get to decide is, how much is too much? If it's too much for me to spend, then I won't spend it. If it's a figure that I greatly desire and it's in my wheel-house financially, should I really wait and hold off and simply hope that one will present itself for a few bucks cheaper?

I bought my Marmit Burning Goji for $125, the most I've spent on a single figure because, again, I decide how much is too much for me.

$125 sure does seem steep compared to the $60 it was probably selling for at the festival, however, I had the money at the time and now...?

Now how low of a price do you think you'll ever see on this figure from here on? It's pretty damn desirable, so what? Low end, maybe $100, right? Yeah, the extra $25 was worth it, in my opinion.

That's just me, I suppose.

[Destroyer]

Do I think it is a bit outrageous that someone spent more than $200 on a figure? Yeah, I do. Am I calling them an idiot for doing so? Nope, but who cares, if they're happy with it, yay! Good for them.

This sums it up perfectly. Of course, I'm sure some of the bigger collectors knows what's a good and outrageous price, so it's good if they tell the buyer that it isn't worth that much. But it's up to the buyer in the end.

[GreenAiden555]

This sums it up perfectly. Of course, I'm sure some of the bigger collectors knows what's a good and outrageous price, so it's good if they tell the buyer that it isn't worth that much. But it's up to the buyer in the end.

Exactly. I actually enjoy looking at some of the more expensive figures, like, say, the X-Plus line. Personally, I wouldn't pay the $180-$200 price tag some of those command, but hey! They're pretty to look at, and if the people that buy them are happy with it, let them be. I'm sure I will spend a lot on a figure one day (looking at you, X-Plus Biollante and 8" Keizer Ghidorah), but why should it be the latest subject for the pack of hyenas to jump on? It just doesn't make sense.

I'm really surprised that people have yet to jump on me for spending close to $350 for all of the recent IDW comic covers I collect.

[RedZillaKing]

Lol, nice summary, GA55.

[Cimmerian Dragon]

But what if they have the money and really want it?

I mean, to me it's foolish to spend thousands on a handful of old vinyl that wasn't ever even designed to be a collectors item.

See, that makes much more sense to me than spending an outrageous sum on something designed to be collected. The reason a vintage Bullmark is worth a lot of money, is because most of them were beat to hell by kids decades ago. There are thus a small number of prime examples left. There may be reissues and the like, but the actual product, released in the earliest years of this hobby we love, holds a level of historical significance that is totally independent of the sculpt or anything else.

Something that was designed from the get-go to appeal to collectors, on the other hand, will likely be cared for properly, kept intact, even have its packaging retained, for ever and ever and ever...etc. The quality may justify a high price, but that's an entirely different factor. A proper vintage figure is appealing for its history, and that is the one thing that cannot be reproduced by a "collectibles" manufacturer on-demand.

This is the same principal that guides my movie-poster collection. I have spent ghastly amounts of money on original theatrical posters printed sixty years ago, despite the fact that I could have bought a reproduction in perfect shape for less than the cost of shipping the real thing. The thing is, though, that the reproduction is absolutely worthless to me. Possessing an object that was made so long ago, was always designed to be used for a month and then destroyed, and yet against all the odds survived for me to see today, is the whole motivation for my collecting them.


All that said, I'm not going to tell anyone else what they should collect.

[Jomei]

Guys.

If you feel comfortable paying what a day's prices, go right ahead. Legion thinks they're overpriced. Disagree? Go buy the figures, then.

Drop the pointless debate.

[Legion1979]

Guys.

If you feel comfortable paying what a day's prices, go right ahead. Legion think they're overpriced. Disagree? Go buy the figures, then.

Hey, all I was saying is that this one particular seller just happened to be selling toys for much more than they're worth, similar to this one French seller who is selling easily attainable Bandai Ultramonster figures for hundreds of dollars. I don't want to see collectors pay too much in instances like that where they'd clearly be getting ripped off by ignorant or greedy ebay dealers.

Drop the pointless debate.

No problem.

[Captain Aktion]

But what if they have the money and really want it?

I mean, to me it's foolish to spend thousands on a handful of old vinyl that wasn't ever even designed to be a collectors item.

See, that makes much more sense to me than spending an outrageous sum on something designed to be collected. The reason a vintage Bullmark is worth a lot of money, is because most of them were beat to hell by kids decades ago. There are thus a small number of prime examples left. There may be reissues and the like, but the actual product, released in the earliest years of this hobby we love, holds a level of historical significance that is totally independent of the sculpt or anything else.

Something that was designed from the get-go to appeal to collectors, on the other hand, will likely be cared for properly, kept intact, even have its packaging retained, for ever and ever and ever...etc. The quality may justify a high price, but that's an entirely different factor. A proper vintage figure is appealing for its history, and that is the one thing that cannot be reproduced by a "collectibles" manufacturer on-demand.

This is the same principal that guides my movie-poster collection. I have spent ghastly amounts of money on original theatrical posters printed sixty years ago, despite the fact that I could have bought a reproduction in perfect shape for less than the cost of shipping the real thing. The thing is, though, that the reproduction is absolutely worthless to me. Possessing an object that was made so long ago, was always designed to be used for a month and then destroyed, and yet against all the odds survived for me to see today, is the whole motivation for my collecting them.


All that said, I'm not going to tell anyone else what they should collect.

I totally agree with you, Dragon. What I meant was, like the 6" Bandai Memorial Box Godzilla 84; it's not so much that it's designed to be a collectors item, but the fact is, there's only so many of them in existence and it's a really desirable figure. IF I really, really want that one then I've got to recognize there's only so many chances for me to pick one up and it won't necessarily get easier to find them.

I know, I know, it's pretty much splitting hairs about our semantics. I'll say this though, if anyone is actually getting mad about any of this, it's kind of sad. I find some of these debates to be enlightening and I always like to hear the other side, especially when they have valid points to be made. Try not to get so worked up, isn't that what I hear all the time?

[Jomei]

I tend to agree that what a day overprices his toys. I'm just sick of seeing people flinging shit in this subforum over nothing.

Legion's not saying that you're stupid for spending $200 on a toy; he's spent much more than that on one figure many times. But if you can buy a figure for $150 and you pay $200? Well, that's dumb... or at best ignorant of the market.

edit: and if you buy THIS, you obviously have no understanding of the figure's value... or you're so rich that money is of no importance to you at all.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GODZILLA-BURNIN ... 2ebb6ebfc8

[Legion1979]

I tend to agree that what a day overprices his toys. I'm just sick of seeing people flinging shit in this subforum over nothing.

Legion's not saying that you're stupid for spending $200 on a toy; he's spent much more than that on one figure many times. But if you can buy a figure for $150 and you pay $200? Well, that's dumb... or at best ignorant of the market.

The figure that brought what_a_day to my attention was this incredibly overpriced Monster Heaven FW Manda...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2006-Marmit-God ... 372wt_1270

...which should not be $300.

[RedZillaKing]

^^Yes that's obvious. If you have multiple sources available and you overpay for the hell of it, that IS foolish. Back to the problem at hand. There aren't multiple sources. I tend to agree with the notion that he overprices his figures as well. Never said otherwise. My problem is that people get called stupid for overpaying when there AREN'T ANYMORE AVAILABLE.

^ Once again I agree yet I also don't see any others available elsewhere.

[Captain Aktion]

I tend to agree that what a day overprices his toys. I'm just sick of seeing people flinging shit in this subforum over nothing.

Legion's not saying that you're stupid for spending $200 on a toy; he's spent much more than that on one figure many times. But if you can buy a figure for $150 and you pay $200? Well, that's dumb... or at best ignorant of the market.

edit: and if you buy THIS, you obviously have no understanding of the figure's value... or you're so rich that money is of no importance to you at all.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GODZILLA-BURNIN ... 2ebb6ebfc8

^That one is the larger version, but still, that's waaaayyyy too much for that figure.

[Legion1979]

^^Yes that's obvious. If you have multiple sources available and you overpay for the hell of it, that IS foolish. Back to the problem at hand. There aren't multiple sources. I tend to agree with the notion that he overprices his figures as well. Never said otherwise. My problem is that people get called stupid for overpaying when there AREN'T ANYMORE AVAILABLE.

^ Once again I agree yet I also don't see any others available elsewhere.

I think there's a problem in wanting a relatively new figure so badly that you'll gladly pay a price that you know is a ripoff just to get a hold of it. Network, make friends with collectors and dealers, tell people what you're looking for. I guarantee you that with a little bit of patience and some luck you'll eventually find what you're looking for. Online dealers and ebay aren't your only options. Try joining a FB group like Vinyl Kaiju Legion or my group, The Godzilla Collector's group. Network a little. I bet eventually someone will come to your rescue.

[Jomei]

I tend to agree that what a day overprices his toys. I'm just sick of seeing people flinging shit in this subforum over nothing.

Legion's not saying that you're stupid for spending $200 on a toy; he's spent much more than that on one figure many times. But if you can buy a figure for $150 and you pay $200? Well, that's dumb... or at best ignorant of the market.

edit: and if you buy THIS, you obviously have no understanding of the figure's value... or you're so rich that money is of no importance to you at all.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GODZILLA-BURNIN ... 2ebb6ebfc8

^That one is the larger version, but still, that's waaaayyyy too much for that figure.

Right, and if someone were to buy it? Well, either they really have spare cash and just don't care, or they don't know what it's really worth.

So it's just a difference in perspective. Legion thinks it's dumb not to hold out for a better price when you have a pretty good idea that the seller's overpricing the figure. I think it's pretty fair to say that it would be *smart* to hold out, but if it's worth it to you, you might choose to overpay. I don't think anyone's judging that, but given that these are relatively new figures likely to turn up again, it's not wise to overpay that much.

Fair enough?

[Legion1979]

So it's just a difference in perspective. Legion thinks it's dumb not to hold out for a better price when you have a pretty good idea that the seller's overpricing the figure. I think it's pretty fair to say that it would be *smart* to hold out, but if it's worth it to you, you might choose to overpay. I don't think anyone's judging that, but given that these are relatively new figures likely to turn up again, it's not wise to overpay that much.

Fair enough?

I'd say so.

[Captain Aktion]

^That's totally fair.

Here's where my disconnect comes in: How do you know what is a good price, overpriced, or the BEST price? Is $20 dollars over the sweet-spot still a decent deal? $50 over? A $100 over? It comes down to how much you have in your pocket and how much you care about it. I dunno, I'd never spend more than $25,000 on a car, but if I made $500K a year, I might be singing a different tune.

Would I then be stupid? It's your money, you made it, you can spend it.

I don't think it makes you stupid; I mean how many people would tell Legion that the amount of money he spent on all of his figures is the stupidest thing they've ever heard? I get it a lot and my collection is a drop in the bucket of his, so if we're going to to mud-sling and use terms like stupid, I want to know that everyone is really recognizing what they're saying here.