The Energon Pub

I have been collecting the classics universe line since it came out. I have missed some here or there and I have been trying to catch up and have been slowly. But I like to look on Ebay every so often and see what the current market value for some of the stuff I have is. It is CRAZY!!! I just dont understand, a Classics Prime the cheapest I could find was $70 dollara!!! That is crazy, I am glad I bought mine back in the day. But why is the classics stuff so exspensive. I love it but dang!!

bfett88 wrote:I have been collecting the classics universe line since it came out. I have missed some here or there and I have been trying to catch up and have been slowly. But I like to look on Ebay every so often and see what the current market value for some of the stuff I have is. It is CRAZY!!! I just dont understand, a Classics Prime the cheapest I could find was $70 dollara!!! That is crazy, I am glad I bought mine back in the day. But why is the classics stuff so exspensive. I love it but dang!!

So does everyone and their mother

It really depends on the figure. Skywarp, Cliffjumper and Ultra Magnus have never had good re-releases for example, and they have definitely shot up in value. Plus, the Classics line has, in one shape or another been relevant to current TF's for about five years now. Every time Hasbro does another line, interests shoot back up and so do the prices. The thing I've generally learned is to buy 'em while they're out or regret it six months after they're gone.

Retail price is still about the same.

Of course the prices of figures no longer in production are going to go up over time. It's the same thing with any collectible. It's not just Classicverse TFs, and it's not just Transformers.

Some of the stuff is worth more than its G1 counterpart. It is just interesting to me something that is only a few years old can be worth more than its original back in the 80's.

bfett88 wrote:Some of the stuff is worth more than its G1 counterpart. It is just interesting to me something that is only a few years old can be worth more than its original back in the 80's.

You can thank the reissues for that. More supply = less immediate demand = lower prices. Basic economics.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

bfett88 wrote:Some of the stuff is worth more than its G1 counterpart. It is just interesting to me something that is only a few years old can be worth more than its original back in the 80's.

You can thank the reissues for that. More supply = less immediate demand = lower prices. Basic economics.

Plus, well the originals are old and do not appeal to many who are more used to or prefer the more modern look and engineering.

In my opinion a re-issue is not the same as the original. I would rather have an original from the 80's that might be a little beat up than a re-issue. The original has some history behind it.

It's the most popular series for older Transformers fans and fans trying to have a better version of their G1 favorites (neo-G1). The reason many of the Classics/Universe/Generations/RTS figures have gone up in price are not only due to their popularity, but due to the fact that they are the basis for many third party add-ons, such as

Classics Prime for FansProject DIA/Powered Commander
Classics Nemesis for FansProject Shadow Commander
Classics Magnus for FansProject City Commander
Universe Hardhead for HeadRobots
Classics Cliffjumper for FansProject/Beelzeboss
Universe Darkwind for Renderform
Classics Rodimus for FansProject Protector
RTS G2 Prime for MakeToys Tank

But popularity and third-parties cannot be the only value attributing to their increase in price. Once the figure's out of retail, the price generally increases. Yes, there tends to be decline in the value of these figure's (such as Beast Wars and various others), but once the only venue is a secondary market, the price range is no longer the retail set. However that doesn't mean you're going to get stuck paying high prices. There's always a good deal to be had anywhere, and that's just what the fun of collecting is about.

There's also instances where the figures happen to be store exclusives or had terrible distribution (can't recall any for neo-G1).

And as Nekoman hints at, it's just unfortunate dumb luck when it comes to some of these figures. Like Skywarp, who only got released in a twopack with money plundering Ultra Magnus.

bfett88 wrote:In my opinion a re-issue is not the same as the original. I would rather have an original from the 80's that might be a little beat up than a re-issue. The original has some history behind it.

In this day and age, that doesn't hold up for everybody. When the quantity of characters number in the hundreds and each toy is looking to be a good chunk of money, the cheaper alternative is always the better alternative for some.

bfett88 wrote:In my opinion a re-issue is not the same as the original. I would rather have an original from the 80's that might be a little beat up than a re-issue. The original has some history behind it.

Ah, we don't get that many of your type here. In fact, I remember a debate just about that years ago. Vintage vs. reissue... Those were the days.

bfett88 wrote:In my opinion a re-issue is not the same as the original. I would rather have an original from the 80's that might be a little beat up than a re-issue. The original has some history behind it.

I like MY original G1 TFs from MY childhood, because their history is part of MY history. Those dings and scratches are from me playing with it. But I have no interest in an old toy with some stranger's history imprinted on it; I'd rather have a shiny new reissue.

GuyIncognito wrote:

bfett88 wrote:In my opinion a re-issue is not the same as the original. I would rather have an original from the 80's that might be a little beat up than a re-issue. The original has some history behind it.

I like MY original G1 TFs from MY childhood, because their history is part of MY history. Those dings and scratches are from me playing with it. But I have no interest in an old toy with some stranger's history imprinted on it; I'd rather have a shiny new reissue.

A re-issue is what you say a re-issue it is and never will be an original. You might as well call it a knock off. Yes it is made with the original molds, but it is not original. Most from the 80's will be beat up. I just fixed up a G1 Wheel Jack. Almost all of his paint was gone and all of his sticker were gone. He had all of his weapons and instructions. I only paid 4 bucks for him and I painted him and gave hime some repro stickers. Sure he is not perfect and is fixed up. But he is still original and from the 80's.

bfett88 wrote:

GuyIncognito wrote:

bfett88 wrote:In my opinion a re-issue is not the same as the original. I would rather have an original from the 80's that might be a little beat up than a re-issue. The original has some history behind it.

I like MY original G1 TFs from MY childhood, because their history is part of MY history. Those dings and scratches are from me playing with it. But I have no interest in an old toy with some stranger's history imprinted on it; I'd rather have a shiny new reissue.

A re-issue is what you say a re-issue it is and never will be an original. You might as well call it a knock off. Yes it is made with the original molds, but it is not original. Most from the 80's will be beat up. I just fixed up a G1 Wheel Jack. Almost all of his paint was gone and all of his sticker were gone. He had all of his weapons and instructions. I only paid 4 bucks for him and I painted him and gave hime some repro stickers. Sure he is not perfect and is fixed up. But he is still original and from the 80's.

No sorry, he's not original, he's a kitbash with KO stickers.

Dead Metal wrote:

bfett88 wrote:
A re-issue is what you say a re-issue it is and never will be an original. You might as well call it a knock off. Yes it is made with the original molds, but it is not original. Most from the 80's will be beat up. I just fixed up a G1 Wheel Jack. Almost all of his paint was gone and all of his sticker were gone. He had all of his weapons and instructions. I only paid 4 bucks for him and I painted him and gave hime some repro stickers. Sure he is not perfect and is fixed up. But he is still original and from the 80's.

No sorry, he's not original, he's a kitbash with KO stickers.

Yup. You might as well call it a knock-off.

GuyIncognito wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:

bfett88 wrote:
A re-issue is what you say a re-issue it is and never will be an original. You might as well call it a knock off. Yes it is made with the original molds, but it is not original. Most from the 80's will be beat up. I just fixed up a G1 Wheel Jack. Almost all of his paint was gone and all of his sticker were gone. He had all of his weapons and instructions. I only paid 4 bucks for him and I painted him and gave hime some repro stickers. Sure he is not perfect and is fixed up. But he is still original and from the 80's.

No sorry, he's not original, he's a kitbash with KO stickers.

Yup. You might as well call it a knock-off.

It is a restoration of an 80's toy. It is an original that has been restored. Was the toy sitting on the shelves back in the 80's? Yes so it is original, sure it has been restored, but the majority of it is original. If I could get ahold of some original stickers and have them still stick. I would in a heartbeat, but not the case. So I had to use the KO stickers.

ahhh but the paint isn't original.

I get where you're coming from, and I actually applaud you for it because i've done similar stuff myself.

If we're talking comparable condition and price, sure, gimme the original 80s figure. But if the original is loose and floppy with worn stickers, paint, and/or chrome...the original's all yours, dude. Nor am I interested in paying $300 for a mint condition original that I could just pickup the equivalent re-issue for $50 instead. If it's sitting on the shelf, chances are you're not going to know which one it is anyhow.