The Energon Pub

[Maz]

I often get told by collectors that they couldn't possibly imagine starting a pre-Transformers collection due to the staggeringly high prices every item commands nowadays, and it's true, Diaclone and even Micro Change Series prices do seem to be on a perpetual rise. However, the same collectors are spending hundreds per month on Masterpiece and 3rd Party items, oblivious to the fact that their monthly outlay far outweighs mine! The thing is, the Diaclone and MC market has been perceived as being very high-end for years, but compare prices - and demand - from a decade ago to today, and there are a few shocks in store.

2002 | Source Blog <- CLICK TO READ



All the best
Maz

[Mykltron]

Those collectors might spend more that you for the same amount of toy but the play value is much better due to poseability. That's why I have only bought a few G1 figures that I wanted as a kid, to fill the odd hole in my G1 case.

[ScottyP]

Interesting read. I've often opined with some friends about how we should have been stockpiling G1 stuff a decade or so ago. I remember when I got back into collecting, about 2004/5-ish, and looking up these crazy things like "Grandus" and "Overlord" and "Victory Saber" and having my jaw drop at $300 ebay auctions. If only I knew then what I know now, but you know, you really can't speculate in this hobby.

[Maz]

Those collectors might spend more that you for the same amount of toy but the play value is much better due to poseability. That's why I have only bought a few G1 figures that I wanted as a kid, to fill the odd hole in my G1 case.

Hi, cheers for your comment

The point I was making has nothing to do with play value. Those people who have made the comments were actually saying they "couldn;t afford" to collect Diaclone, when in fact what they were spending on 3rd Party or Masterpiece - regardles sof the nature of the objects - was the same or more. Basically, their perception of the cost of pre-TF collecting was that it was even more expensive than what they were paying, which it wasn't/isn't.

Fact is, they're both bloody expensive!

All the best
Maz

[xyl360]

Actually, pre-TF stuff IS way more expensive, at least for me. I spend less than $1000 per-month on average for figures, which include MP's, Takara Generations, the current line of Beast Hunters (both Hasbro and Takara), as well as several third party items with a few older figures from previous lines (though nothing pre-TF) here and there. For the same price I'd get maybe one or two semi-decent pre-TF figures if that, so it's definitely NOT the same amount of toy. In 2002 perhaps, but definitely not now.

[Maz]

Actually, pre-TF stuff IS way more expensive, at least for me. I spend less than $1000 per-month on average for figures, which include MP's, Takara Generations, the current line of Beast Hunters (both Hasbro and Takara), as well as several third party items with a few older figures from previous lines (though nothing pre-TF) here and there. For the same price I'd get maybe one or two semi-decent pre-TF figures if that, so it's definitely NOT the same amount of toy. In 2002 perhaps, but definitely not now.

Again, I am not making a toy-for-toy comparison. Let's use your example, people who can budget for 1000 per month can afford a pre-TF collection. Even if it means one item per month, that's still an extremely impressive rate of progress for any pre-TF collector!

The basic point was, you can't say that Pre-TFs are out of your budget if you are spending 4 figures a month - it may not bring as much joy to some, or result in as many purchases per month, or play value, or allow for one to collect anything else, or whatever - but it is *possible*.

All the best
Maz

[xyl360]

Actually, pre-TF stuff IS way more expensive, at least for me. I spend less than $1000 per-month on average for figures, which include MP's, Takara Generations, the current line of Beast Hunters (both Hasbro and Takara), as well as several third party items with a few older figures from previous lines (though nothing pre-TF) here and there. For the same price I'd get maybe one or two semi-decent pre-TF figures if that, so it's definitely NOT the same amount of toy. In 2002 perhaps, but definitely not now.

Again, I am not making a toy-for-toy comparison. Let's use your example, people who can budget for 1000 per month can afford a pre-TF collection. Even if it means one item per month, that's still an extremely impressive rate of progress for any pre-TF collector!

The basic point was, you can't say that Pre-TFs are out of your budget if you are spending 4 figures a month - it may not bring as much joy to some, or result in as many purchases per month, or play value, or allow for one to collect anything else, or whatever - but it is *possible*.

All the best
Maz

Sure, they're not out of my budget (I never claimed they were), they just don't hold the same spark for me I guess. There have been a few pieces that have caught my eye here and there, but when I considered what I'd have to give up to get them, it just wasn't worth it to me. If I dedicated all of my TF fundage to a pre-TF collection, I'd be able to build one up I'm sure (assuming I could find them, they seem pretty scarce these days, though that may be nothing new).

Someday I do want to pick up a Diaclone Powered Convoy though. That would be sweet as that mold looks amazing in those colors.

[xyl360]

Actually, come to think of it, this reminds me of a few recent acquisitions I made for my collection.

I'm a sucker for repaints of molds I like, but nothing gets me more than a good Beast Wars repaint. I have most of them (including the elusive green Ramulus), but I never had any prototypes. A particular seller popped up on ebay with several prototypes from many lines. I'm guessing he is/was a factory worker. He had in his possession several Beast Wars prototypes and some prototypes of Beast Wars molds from other lines (such as some of the Universe repaints). Some of them were pretty costly, but I couldn't resist.

I now have a prototype Universe Iguanus, prototype Beast Wars Tigerhawk, and a prototype Universe Razorclaw.

I spent even more acquiring all of the old 3H Botcon Beast Wars figures as well as the Japanese Botcon Beast Wars figures (though I still lack Barbearian/Grizzly-1 ).

Collecting is an expensive hobby, so I can't fault anyone for going after the bots that they're passionate about, be they the modern marvels of engineering known as the new MP line, or the toys that were transformers before Transformers ever existed (Diaclone, Microchange, the various Bandai figures incorporated into US G1 lines by Hasbro etc.).