I agree 100% but even knowing that still hasn't stopped me from spending irrational gobs of money on stupid pieces of vinyl. As a result, I think I much better understand smokers who still want one last puff before going into the ER to have a lung removed.
I'd bet its safe to say that's the case for many collectors, and that probably goes for many on this board. I'm sure a lot of boardies only collect for the exclusivity, and that could go for anything. they just happen to fall into these toys. it's just something to make them feel better about themselves, or earn them some praise from the disembodied internet voices. blowing huge amounts of money on something that the rest of the world would deem garbage makes them feel like they're a part of something special. indiscriminately jumping on every hot/new/hyped/insanely expensive/flipper fodder/must-have toy is something you'll see every day. some people will pay anything just to ellicit that "holy shit amazing score!" post from others. that amazing-score-post also usually translates into "holy shit you spent a fuck load of money on that, that makes it special!" it's not the piece of vinyl they really want, it's that trophy. I can very much relate to this. I have a few toys that I know would be deemed desirable by the majority, but the vast majority of my stuff I think most would care less about. most of it wasn't expensive by japenese vinyl standards. most of it was fairly easily obtainable. almost all of them are just "factory" or "production" run toys. but I wouldn't sell them, because I like them for what they are. and for sure there are some collectors on the board like this too. but probably fewer than I'd like there to be. another point about exclusivity - I love these toys, they're great figures. but I wonder how many would be interested if they weren't so exclusive, and so expensive. funny, I'd be all for larger runs of less expensive toys if the quality could be maintained in japanese vinyl (which possibly it couldn't, but I'm only making a point) but it's funny to think how many people would be turned off by this. after all, if you really enjoy the figures you're buying, a collector wouldn't care if these toys were more readily available and less expensive.
Abso-fuckin'-lutely . . . it's threads like this that generate additional unnecessary hype and flipper interest in toys that are already hard to find anyways.
A few observations...or who gives a crap comments... To me, it's the things that are different yet have a familiar aesthetic that folks/collectors recognize, that tend to last the true test of time. Gargamel for example, pays homage to some classic/vintage toy figures and kaiju characters yet at the same time, applies their own stylization. On top of that, they don't release jellybeans every week. Slow and steady always wins the race. Bemon, there is the association, that most know, that it comes from the infamous vintage IKB header. CKA continued with the pollution theme and created new smog creatures but painted a lot of them as tributes to classic Kaiju and Japanese characters, and my favorite, paying homage and going full circle with a Smogun colorway! Anraku, well...I guess the Goga could be interpreted as some sort of homage to Gojira but that may be a stretch. He and his toys have just developed an aura around themselves and it has certainly contributed to his highly collectable status. Is it the quirkyness, the list, the lore about Anraku himself living up in some mountain, the small runs...I don't know, but some of his stuff has certainly cast a spell on collectors. Zollmen, I think they fall in the "same but different" category and will be around in the longrun. Examples...Galtan, didn't he come from an old Bromide card? MB fella...obvious Mach Baron tribute...Mother/maza....I'm not sure but it has a creepy vintage sensibilty....Potato guy.... well, that one is a dud for me or "spud" I guess. New King Pepora...Chibull inspiration? Not to mention great execution, the inclusion of extras and mini figs and homages like Alien Sejin and the building from Ultra 7. Anyway, M1, Marmit, Buta Ha No, Bandai, etc are all reproducing classic figures but reinvented in their artistic sensibilities. Same but different. All these have "history", one can watch old Ultra Q episodes, read manga, reference old Bullmark figs whatever, there is just a lot content that folks can reference making the toys more meaningful...to each his own though, buy what you like.
Re: toys that hold their value- top 5? awesome. ive got a few grus that i might trade for one of them bemon thingys but u have to throw in some cash too.
Re: toys that hold their value- top 5? Pfff . . . coming from a man that actually wanted to become a Brit this is perfect (Bizzaro) logic!
Well how many people don't buy what they like but don't admit it to themselves and say "oh no, I DO buy what I like!" I get, sometimes, we gotta pass on or not collect or sometimes sell stuff we DO like to get the money for stuff that pops up that we ALSO like but will have a lesser chance of getting one day. BUT that's where patience comes in. I think unless it's a proto or limited to, like, 10, you'll find it again and for a good price, so be patient. I learned this the hard way by selling-buying-selling, I got sick of the rotating collection. I was ashamed of it, my wife brought it up once. "You never have the same stuff long." Totally made me re-evaluate my habits. If I resell something now, it's either because I had a BIG thing pop up in real life I couldn't handle, or it just honestly isn't doing it for me anymore and I need the space, despite originally liking it. Anyway, my RxH bruised set is my fav. RxH set despite selling for less than $40 a figure now a days. No need for a list like this. We all know what the hype-beasts eat, so what? I'd rather have another "Unloved Figures" thread, appreciate the less-than-hyped.
if you are buying what you like who gives a shit about the dollar value if you are buying for other reasons, whatever they may be, you suck.
Here I go about to get my head lopped off BUT i have to be honest and say I do not like the thought that come the worst (like long term job loss, health issues in a country with pay to play healthcare, family care) I could not get back for my collection for what I paid for it. I would prefer it retains its value. That's just common sense right - or am I heartless bastard in it for the wrong reasons ? Whoever said this stuff will be fairly worthless in years to come may be right - in monetary terms. But I suspect it may also be very diffcult to find as well. So if I want it, I get it despite the fact most of it will be worth s##t - I keep on buying and keep on discovering new stuff I love - because it's awesome and because a few years from now there may no longer be a skullbrain, such a vigorous BST or much of a scene. In fcat it maybe like when I first started collecting this stuff - and nothing hardly ever appeared in easy to get places like ebay or such and when it did it went for nothing cos no one cared. But in the end I know that the real worth is in teh joy that I and others get sitting here and drinking this stuff in. Coming home every day, being greeted by teh smell of vinyl and looking at the shelves and still marvelling at teh creativity, teh shapes and the colors.... Then at night switching the lights off and watching all teh stuff gently glowing. I also cant undervalue the real-time close friendships this hobby has awarded me - it's changed my life and I LOVE IT!!!!
Questioning why people buy a particular toy---if they really like it or not----is not short of pure elitism. So what if a purchase is fueled by royal dumbness or impulse buying---the fact that he's willing to shell out hard earned money, there must be some reason other than what your brain can comprehend. You do not gauge a person if he has the capacity to appreciate a particular object---art, sculpture, toy, etc.---because he bought something expensive or rare or dirt cheap. Our tastes are very subjective and vary extremely, adding that we come from different back grounds. So respect that. I guess the thread simply wants to articulate an observation---that once big money is spent on an expensive purchase now, which toys, in your opinion, might hold its value through time.
And one of the worst threads ever leads to one of the best posts I've read here in an extremely long time if ever. Beautifully said.
Wow did some of you not even read my post all the way through?: "This isn't a probe to find out what to collect either. I like what I like and I'm sure most people here collect what they want as well. At least I hope they do..." I just thought it might be interesting to see what other people considered hardest to find and retained the value after the hunt. It was a simple as that. I think anyone who knows me here knows I'm no flipper, and I also think people know that I collect what I want and don't follow trends. Hmm that might explain all that untrendy M1 in my collection? If you're worried about flippers reading this and suddenly your next big anraku score is going to go up tenfold, get over yourself, too late, I think the cat is already out of the bag. Take your meds and quit being paranoid. I noticed a few people I have on ignore replied and from the few pm's I received starting with "those assholes..." I can only imagine. Wow I love ignore. It works wonders on people who never have anything interesting to say. Now if only I could add Slack to the list but it won't let me....because he is an apparent mod
Still wondering why Bemon 2 headed is not on the list? Is both 2 headed bemon and pollution bemon consider as HP bemon.
My opinion: 1. Anraku gogamezilla + Great sculpt, insane paint, mail list order, ltd production, demand always high - many version but more demand > supply 2. Anraku Drunk boy + Best sculpt ever, nice paint, interesting character, only few version, mail list order. - none 3. Bemon 2 headed + Great sculpt, interesting character, only 4 version , 30 ltd. - none as long no new releases 4. Zollmen Mazza + Popular, Great sculpt, lottery sales, nice paint, ltd production. - many version. 5. Bemon pollution + Insane paint job, interesting sculpt, ltd production - too many version (price may drop in future)
