Older Bionicle Values

mrredpants

I was considering purchasing these...I'm not familiar with older sets - are they worth $$$?
Is $40 a good price?

http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/tag/3194402673.html

Tazakk

I personally don't think they are worth the price. They are missing their Zamor Spheres (the balls the can be shot from the launchers) and look really dusty. Looking at Bricklink, though, they may actually be in the ballpark of their value. I'm fairly certain that you wouldn't be able to profit off of these, but I'm speaking as a past collector of BIONICLE and not a seller, so I really don't know.

Lego_Lord_Mayorca

$40 might be a little high, but those aren't completely worthless. You'll want to take note if the batteries in the Piraka's eye piece and in the Toa Inika swords are still functioning. If not, they lose a good deal of value, especially the Piraka Reidak, as I do not recall an easy way to remove the batteries from the eye piece. If they have leaked any, it might have damaged the plastic.

Otherwise, another problem with older BIONICLE figures, especially if they stood assembled for long periods of time, is that stress fractures will more easily appear when the limbs are moved. The socket joints will be especially prone to cracking if pulled apart too quickly, as back in those days, the molding process didn't leave as much plastic to strengthen the connection point. Of course, results varied across sets, but I'd say if they have been kept untouched since assembly, the parts may be in good shape, only in need of a good cleaning.

If it was me, I would pay maybe $30 tops. The Piraka Reidak loses the most value, and all, as noted before, are missing their Zamor and are dusty to boot.

vexorian

I wouldn't pay more than 5$ each. 3$ each would be the optimal prize. You have no idea how easy it is to find those guys. Incomplete without their canisters or instructions they are not a great, unique purchase either. The thing with Bionicle is that their bricks are very cheap in bricklink, so if you just want the bricks, it is better to try that bricklink option. If you are looking for the sets themselves as a collector, then without canister and instructions they really have no value as collectible. If you just want to have fun by getting those guys and seeing how they look like, then you better not pay much.

vexorian

Forgot to say. The Inika and Piraka are unique in that they have electrical components. However, the Piraka's eye lights get weaker with time or useless with water. The Inika weapons also get useless with water, but at least you can replace the battery. I would ask the seller whether their light bricks are working. (The piraka (guys with teeth) have a button in the trans orange thing used in their heads), (The Inika (Alien heads) have buttons in their weapons).