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Minifigures and their Secondary Market Value

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  • BrickDancerBrickDancer Member Posts: 3,639
    edited February 2013
    ^Especially with the Batman fig redone in dark gray for the Tumbler vs Bat set, leaving only Green Lantern as exclusive. The 2012 Quartet should stay exclusive for good *fingers crossed* NYCC Superman remains the biggest wild card of all.
  • samiam391samiam391 Member Posts: 4,487
    ^I wish Superman NYCC had at least a small difference to the Superman sold in sets.

    For me, all I see is a normal figure and a piece of exclusive cardboard. Sorry, but paying oodles of money for a piece of cardboard (not even LEGO), just doesn't appeal to me.
  • pharmjodpharmjod Member Posts: 2,916
    Shows what I know about LEGO. I had no idea about the hair variation in the LEIA. I just sold my last one of those sets last week. I think most of mine were newer lots though, so not as likely to have had it in there. If I had older lots, it would almost be worth opening all of them to check for the LEIA. Crazy. I would never pay that much for a minifigure, but that's just me.
  • BeavBeav Member Posts: 303
    For anyone thinking of buying one of the rarer figs such as the ComicCon exclusives, I take it it's best to get them as soon as you can and take the hit before they age and rise further in price?
  • DiggydoesDiggydoes Member Posts: 1,079
    ^i guess @samiam391 knows it more specific, but i guess the best time is to give it a few weeks after they got released! The first ones that go on ebay usually fetch really premium-prices!
  • samiam391samiam391 Member Posts: 4,487
    @Beav- Are you referring to Comic Con figures (NYCC and SDCC) or Toy Fair (NYTF)? Because there is a large difference on the best time to buy depending upon which event you are referring too.
  • BeavBeav Member Posts: 303
    I was referring more to the Comic Con figures, but would like to know about the toy fair ones too.
  • samiam391samiam391 Member Posts: 4,487
    edited February 2013
    Toy Fair minifigures are usually more rare, while Comic Con minifigures are more in abundance.

    Thus, in correlation, Toy Fair's are cheaper at the beginning, but than the supply thins out, and the demand increases. Price always goes up as the day moves along, as people miss out on auctions, or don't bid high enough. They than increase their bids to try and win it the next time, knowing the previous price they lost out on.. and it all turns into a cycle. Supply continues to dwindle out, and bids go higher, and higher, and higher... etc..

    Comic Con always starts off high priced, and goes down, as supply meets demand, and than exceeds it.

    The 2012 SDCC Comic Cons went from $500 each, to $100 each.

    The 2012 NYTFs went from $300 each, to $500+ each. To what they are now, which is in the thousands.
  • BeavBeav Member Posts: 303
    Thanks for the info mate, didn't realise the Toy Fair figs went that high.
  • samiam391samiam391 Member Posts: 4,487
    No problem. Here's a link to a pair of the Toy Fair figures (prices vary, but it came up first in the search results):
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/2012-LEGO-NY-TOY-FAIR-IRON-MAN-CAPTAIN-AMERICA-SET-W-LANYARD-GRADED-AFA-9-0-/321065298122?pt=Building_Toys_US&hash=item4ac0fba8ca

    It all just depends on the item released at the Toy Fair and Comic Con. Not the event itself.

    But usually the trend is NYTF is rarer than the items given out at the Comic Con.
  • BeavBeav Member Posts: 303
    LORD have mercy! That's an extraordinary price for a pair of figures.

    It makes me kind of sad knowing I will likely never own one of those haha.

    Might have to hit one of my friends up in the states and pay them to go to the Toy Fair :P.
  • roxioroxio Member Posts: 1,383
    They do go for frightening amounts but the listing linked to above is unsold so might as well be £1m.
    Recent completed sales show the pair can be had for a more realistic (!) £1k
  • BeavBeav Member Posts: 303
    A bargain!

    One of the next figs I want is the classic Jango Fett, but just wondering if he will dip in price when the new version is released or get him now.
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    Zon said:

    With the new Jango coming out soon, do you guys think this will affect the classic (and awesome) 7153

    I am leaning towards unaffected, but would love to hear other opinions.

    Pitfall69 said:

    ^It might take a slight dip, but it should still hold its own. I don't know if you can compare Action Figures to Lego Minifigures, but the first Jango is still a classic and collectors will still want it no matter how good the new one is.



  • BeavBeav Member Posts: 303
    Ahh thanks very much, must've missed that post.
  • samiam391samiam391 Member Posts: 4,487
    roxio said:

    They do go for frightening amounts but the listing linked to above is unsold so might as well be £1m.
    Recent completed sales show the pair can be had for a more realistic (!) £1k

    @roxio- Where do you see the 1k? Do you mean for the two without lanyard and bag?
  • roxioroxio Member Posts: 1,383
    @samiam391 , yes that is the lowest recent completed ebay sale
  • samiam391samiam391 Member Posts: 4,487
    @roxio- Just wanted to check to which specific completed listing you were referring too, because there are differences in the "completeness" of the figures. I assumed it was the one, but just wanted, again, to double check.

    Prices with bag/lanyard are obviously much higher as they are classified as a "completed set".
  • roxioroxio Member Posts: 1,383
    Yes, but the listing you pointed to earlier is far too high, even with the AFA grading. There are recent unsold sets with bag/lanyard for £3k.
  • samiam391samiam391 Member Posts: 4,487
    edited February 2013
    @roxio- I know, but it's the first item that popped up on my search list.

    Also known as......... I got really lazy, and didn't scroll down to pick out the "cheaper" options. ;-)

    John has said he has gotten offers (very high ones) for it though. AFA grading apparently makes the difference for some people. To each his own.

    Just to iron it all out for you to get rid of any additional confusion @Beav:

    High price that wasn't AFA graded went for roughly $4k.
    With bag, high price was $3200.
    Without bag, high price was in the $2,000-$2,500 range.

    The lowest price I ever saw, listed a few days after last year's Toy Fair, was $250. So a very large increase, anyway you want to put it.
  • sidersddsidersdd Member Posts: 2,432
    samiam391 said:

    Toy Fair minifigures are usually more rare, while Comic Con minifigures are more in abundance.

    Although I'm not sure you can generalize like this. The 2010 "exclusive" was the White Boba Fett. It fetched $600 or so I believe. And then of course it became much more widely available. The 2012 Shirtless Maul also subsequently became widely available. Was there a 2011 exclusive? Have there been other NYTF exclusives, which stayed truly exclusive. The chrome Vader was released at one as well, right?
  • samiam391samiam391 Member Posts: 4,487
    edited February 2013
    sidersdd said:

    samiam391 said:

    Toy Fair minifigures are usually more rare, while Comic Con minifigures are more in abundance.

    Although I'm not sure you can generalize like this. The 2010 "exclusive" was the White Boba Fett. It fetched $600 or so I believe. And then of course it became much more widely available. The 2012 Shirtless Maul also subsequently became widely available. Was there a 2011 exclusive? Have there been other NYTF exclusives, which stayed truly exclusive. The chrome Vader was released at one as well, right?
    @sidersdd- I think it's fair to generalize like that Dan, and you make a fair point.

    When I think Toy Fair, I do bypass the ones that are "re-released" in a way.
    sidersdd said:

    "Have there been other NYTF exclusives, which stayed truly exclusive. The chrome Vader was released at one as well, right?"



    Other past, rare Toy Fair items that come off the top of my head are the Luminara and Anakin Skywalker promotionals.

    This would be my breakdown of your mentions:

    Darth Vader came in a plastic, specially marked, box as opposed to his usual plastic. In that sense, he is more rare. However, he was a taste of things to come, as a promotional for the future mass production of the Chrome Darth Vader.

    White Boba Fett came in a clear plastic bag, with a sticker sheet, if I am correct? His re-release was somewhat more un-expected. However, his NYTF release was exclusive, and is in fact, in my mind, still a rare item. Not worth $7,500 (anywhere, anywhere near that), as Brickenvy suggests on eBay with his price tag, but still... worthy of a higher price tag than the standard white boba poly.

    2012 Shirtless Maul came in a standard polybag. That being the case, it was an obvious re-release candidate in my eyes. I wouldn't count him.

    Lego's recent fascination with limited numbers, is the main driving force in me stating "Toy Fair minifigures are usually more rare, while Comic Con minifigures are more in abundance."

    For example, we see the 1/125 at the New York Toy Fair, the 1/1,500 at SDCC and NYCC, the 1/500 and 1/300 at NYCC, and again the 1/1,000 X4 at SDCC.

    The release at the NYTF last year was given to the "press" only, which is why there was only 125. I wouldn't classify it as a "mass booth release".

    Considering LEGO's continuation with the numbers trend following it, I'd expect that we see a rare item released again this year. However, this is where I have to put my "disclaimer" and say it is just my opinion. It's true we could see a mass released item, and in that case my advice on buying early wouldn't hold true.

    We'll just have to wait and see until Sunday, and go from there.

    Maybe I jinxed the NYTF, and we'll be swamped with thousands of a cupid style Jar-Jar. :-O


  • samiam391samiam391 Member Posts: 4,487
    Oh, and just in case anyone feels like getting sick, here's an auction for the NYTF figures the day they were released:

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Toy-Fair-2012-LEGO-Marvel-Exclusive-Captain-America-Iron-Man-125-Made-/290669946956?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=74Vl3yH%2BVo4lIpHAI6GE3ef4ePU%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

    Makes me shed a few tears.
  • ZonZon Member Posts: 213
    Insane price jump... I remember bidding on them when they were going for around $200 each... If I had known what they would be going for now then..! Craziness
  • samiam391samiam391 Member Posts: 4,487
    @Zon- Agreed.

    And sadly, you know something I just noticed? On one of those links I posted above, I was the 2nd highest bidder at $265. I didn't even remember that...

    This entire discussion is making me depressed...

  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    :(
  • DiggydoesDiggydoes Member Posts: 1,079
    Monochrome-Minifigure collectors all over the world, your prayers have been heard! The 2013 Max Reebo do comes with Medium Blue hands ;)
    http://www.toyark.com/news/toy-fair-59/toy-fair-2013-lego-star-wars-images-7236/
    BrickDancer
  • DiggydoesDiggydoes Member Posts: 1,079
    OH MY GOODNESS!!!
    http://www.toyark.com/news/toy-fair-59/toy-fair-2013-special-star-wars-lego-images-7239/
  • BeavBeav Member Posts: 303
    Oh my god I need that Yoda.
  • BrickDancerBrickDancer Member Posts: 3,639
    Good Points: Yoda looks fantastic! We get Amidala in her white tank top outfit! Dooku in non-CW form! Medium blue hands at long last!
    Bumblepants
  • GoldchainsGoldchains Member Posts: 795
    That Yoda figure is so awesome that words fail me...
  • sidersddsidersdd Member Posts: 2,432
    Diggydoes said:

    Monochrome-Minifigure collectors all over the world, your prayers have been heard! The 2013 Max Reebo do comes with Medium Blue hands ;)
    http://www.toyark.com/news/toy-fair-59/toy-fair-2013-lego-star-wars-images-7236/

    I believe the fig (and likely the hands) is dark azure. It seems to match the dark azure ice cream scoops in that set (which also come in a Spongebob set).

    Weequay appears to be dark orange - and dark orange hands would be new.
  • BeavBeav Member Posts: 303
    Some really nice looking figs in the new SW sets. Can't wait to get my hands on a Max Reebo fig.
  • DiggydoesDiggydoes Member Posts: 1,079
    ^^ hmm i never thought of that! I guess IF it will be medium blue in the end a lot of BL resellers will be really pissed ;)
  • HarryPotterLoverHarryPotterLover Member Posts: 238
    1- TC14 I got mine for the limited time offer when the UCS B-Wing had just came out that weekend, and the chrome adds so much to the figure.
    2- Many Superhero figs, Im conscious about missing any of those sets, an exapmle would be old BM figs (Killer Croc, Mr Freeze) giong for like $20- I feel its the main reason people buy the sets- bad vehicles and stuff but amazing minifigs
    3- Somthing that may not- LOTR, you can only get the same GTG and Aragorn in so many sets... time for some new variants, others coming out this year like Saruman the White or the Mouth of Sauron, Arwen, King of the Dead, TA Elrond, etc will go high- especially if only in one set- examples include HP Umbridge or Bellatrix.
  • anth1982anth1982 Member Posts: 0
    I was hoping someone might be able to recommend some lego sets where selling the figures from them helps pay towards the set

    as i want to build a decent collection of various lego rather than buying loose bulk lego to build with my son who isnt too bothered about the minifigures,

    i heard that the jabbas palace was a good one but not sure where else to look, my main goal is that the figures might bring enough money to almost pay for the set if that isnt too far fetched
  • JosephJoseph Member Posts: 629
    edited February 2013
    You might find some useful information in this thread: http://www.bricksetforum.com/discussion/8857/minifigures-and-their-secondary-market-value

    Also, on the topic of building an inventory of parts, you might find these helpful:
    Stratagies for Building an Inventory of New Parts
    Sets with Best Value per Brick?
    Best Price per Piece (Via Brickset)
    Buying Bulk, Price per Pound
    http://www.bricksetforum.com/discussion/1546/bulk-buying-for-young-children
    Source: http://www.bricksetforum.com/discussion/9165/directory-of-useful-forum-threads#latest
    BrickDancer
  • BumblepantsBumblepants Member Posts: 7,539
    ^^ I just ordered #9499 Gungan Sub from Amazon US for $54. The Queen Amidala is averaging $25 on Bricklink so I plan on trading that fig down the line and keeping the sub and other figs for a bargain. That said, upon opening the set I might decide I need to keep her... I am good at tricking myself into buying more Lego this way.
  • y2joshy2josh Member Posts: 1,996
    anth1982 said:

    I was hoping someone might be able to recommend some lego sets where selling the figures from them helps pay towards the set

    as i want to build a decent collection of various lego rather than buying loose bulk lego to build with my son who isnt too bothered about the minifigures,

    i heard that the jabbas palace was a good one but not sure where else to look, my main goal is that the figures might bring enough money to almost pay for the set if that isnt too far fetched

    Jabba's Palace is a great one if you don't want the figures, as (for now) it's loaded with exclusive figs. I suppose the downside is that a lot of the bricks are pretty situation specific, but as long as you get that set for under $100, selling the figs will almost pay for the cost of the bricks.
  • Pitfall69Pitfall69 Member Posts: 11,454
    ^Jabbas Palace would really work well building Mos Eisley Space Port or at least The Cantina
  • Traceur78Traceur78 Member Posts: 1
    I managed to get hold of the black Leonardo TMNT mini figure. Any ideas on how much it would be worth. Tried eBay and and I was at the London Super Comic Con but not able to get valuation.
  • BrickDancerBrickDancer Member Posts: 3,639
    ^NYCC Shadow Leonardo still fluctuates a lot in price. But based on sold eBay listings and Bricklink price guide, I would say it is around $225-$250 if new on card.

    http://www.bricklink.com/catalogPG.asp?S=comcon025-1
  • BeavBeav Member Posts: 303
    I'll give you 50p for it. :D
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,526
    anth1982 said:

    I was hoping someone might be able to recommend some lego sets where selling the figures from them helps pay towards the set

    Just about any licensed set, especially if you can get it on sale.

  • BeavBeav Member Posts: 303
    Found a load of Team GB minifig packets for £1.99 each, is it worth grabbing them or do you think people are only really interested in buying a complete set of them?
  • CCCCCC Member Posts: 20,526
    There are still some people wanting one or two.
    Pitfall69
  • samiam391samiam391 Member Posts: 4,487
    Interested to know if anyone picked up the 2013 NYTF exclusive?
  • Tevans333Tevans333 Member Posts: 152
    I'm wondering what everyone considers as a unique figure for collecting purposes. I like to collect every variation in order to feel my collection is complete. Sometimes it's not always obvious when a figure is unique or not.

    Sometimes it's pretty easy to determine, look at Star Wars SW001a and SW001b. I don't consider these 2 different figures. 1a is just 1b with a 1x2 plated added.

    But SW036, SW036a and SW036b are all unique because you cannot make one figure without removing and replacing an element, the heads in this instance.

    I guess my criteria is that it is unique if you have to replace 1 element with another. But not unique if you are just adding more pieces to an existing figure.

    With the new Iron Man 3 sets just released, the Mark42 armor isn't as clear cut. In set #76007 the instructions have you build it with a blank white head. This is the configuration for putting it in the hall of armor. But at the end of the instructions it shows you can take the head off of either the Tony Stark or Pepper Potts figures and place them on the Mark42 armor making it as if they were using the armor.

    Would you guys consider just the armor with the white head as the only unique fig, or would you consider it as 3 different figs; one for each head since LEGO intended the heads to be interchangable?

    It'll be interesting to see how the likes of brickset and bricklink catalog these!
  • gsy971gsy971 Member Posts: 100
    one unique figure.
    there are those hardcore IM fans who would buy two or three for just that but many who want to display an armory

    i am not too hardcore about all Tony's armor but can see others using them for displays only as empty suits so to say. You can also use the so called "empty" suit to play with as well
  • legocollector2legocollector2 Member Posts: 7
    I'm looking for some mini figures that would be good in a lego city ill trade or buy
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