maintaining figure collection value?
 

So for the past few years I've been going after the figures I like,and I like to keep them boxed, mostly from common lines like Play Arts Kai or Revoltech Kaiyodo.
I get them as new releases, or on sale, and sometimes on hyped up prices!

What I'd like to believe is that my collection value keeps going up, but that's not the case.
For example, I remember pre-ordering Play Arts Kai Hitman like 2 years ago, and now it's still common out there, same price I paid or less!
Metroid Figma figure, became rather scarce like 6 months after release, price was going up, then Figma Good Smile Company re-release it in mass numbers, and now it's common with price same I paid or less! Revoltech's have been doing the same!

I never sold any of my collection, but you know it feels good to see that..yeah the figure I've got 2 years ago and kept it mint have now gained value!
maybe In 5 years?

your thoughts..

meh.youll drive yourself crazy over trying to predict what will go up in vaule and what wont..its a hard market to figure so its best to just buy what you like ,sadly toys are far from the ideal investment

Usually when a GOOD toy line dies is when it goes up. No way to tell though.

My two cents:

Most toys are a poor investment, rampantly mass-produced and losing value after the first couple years of marketing hype. I have quite a few classics from the 1970s and older, and it's a rare day that you find a buyer willing to pay more than a few bucks. Most people just don't have the discretionary cash for whimsical things like old toys anymore, and it doesn't help that young people are socialized by mass-merchandisers to always want the very latest. The upscale, specialty 'collector' niche really boomed over the last few years, but one senses that it is maturing, like the comics wave of the previous decade. These things come in waves.

That said, when you find something special, unusual, a personal favourite, unusual quality, uniquely archetypal, undiscovered by the herd, trust your instincts. I kept a couple of old 1st-generation Transformers in their original boxes and was amazed to learn what they sell for nowadays.

On a related note, I think a few of us here could design really outstanding action figures and accessories for our favourite characters, but that isn't what the big corporate toymakers are after. Manufacturers AVOID giving you exactly what you want in a toy, because they know THAT is the one that will sell (and keep its value) to the exclusion of alternatives. It's like TV: they don't want any one show to distract audiences from the rest.

Do not look to big online auction sites for a realistic secondary market price estimate. The asking price for most listings is distorted by greed.

I'm with Barefootabe. Buy what you like and enjoy pride of ownership. If the value as a collectible goes up, consider it bonus. If you fill your closet with unopened packages hoping for some kind of cash windfall, you're a gambler. Lottery tickets take up less space and don't require dusting.

Regards

Not much holds any value as a toy beyond vintage Star Wars figures really, and maybe some classic stuff from long-running lines (original Transformers, GIJoes, etc.). Toys are for your enjoying (in box or out), if you plan on making profit or owning an item with increasing value look to flipping old houses or cars, not toys. Just my take on the matter.

certain characters will hold more value as well over time. Like say Superman vs. your Hitman figure in 20 years time. There wont (might not)be a lot of demand for certain video game characters later (or even now) in my opinion. Marvel, Batman, Zelda, Star Wars and the like will garner some attention perhaps later... who knows. Hot Toys could be a solid investment though? Super rare exclusives,SDCC stuff, those really cool designer art toys maybe. As a kid I traded a Micheal Jordan rookie card for a Jose Conseco collection thinking the later would be worth WAY more.... so what do I know. ;)

If you are looking for a solid investment, look at Hot Toys. If you can afford them when the come out. Certain ones of those only go up and up. But there are a few that never move like Tonto from Lone Ranger, but use you best judgement to see what is popular, like most of the Marvel Movie ones. My 2 cents.

I totally agree with most that is said, I have to set my collecting goal, is it investment and betting on certain figures to gain value and turn profit? or is it personal interest and passion for the figure, and I think it's the later for me!

I do it for the hobby passion, collecting the characters and lines that I like and relate to, while trusting my guts if I put down a high price it is worth it for my personal interest and feel that it won't become worthless overnight!

But you guys did open my eyes on a future vision, as I stack up a pile of boxed figures over the years, there might be a threshold point where I have to decide if they will become worthless to a future generation! that I might want to sell them even without profit to make room for new ones! or that I'll just keep em all..who knows maybe even unbox em all!

As someone who has over 30 years worth of figures I can say that for me its the enjoyment of the figures I look to. in todays age there aren't too many people willing to pay the "perceived" value of "vintage" figures. Most complain about Ebay prices and damn near want you to give them the figure. For example Fin Fang Foom is going for crazy $$$ right now...Now if I tried to sell my Mint set of 8 for say $500 I would get called a scalper or as in most cases no one has that kind of $$$ to shell out. Point is these are toys...enjoy them if you trying to make $$ on them..the return on investment is low. costs more to store,insure and dust them than what you could get in a sale. If you want a big return on investment I suggest stocks or something like that. Handt heard of anyone getting rich selling old toys.

If you are purchasing toys only for the reason of keeping their value the same or gain in value, then I'd say buy SDCC and NYCC exclusives, retail exclusive stuff like a display of White Boba Fetts or Agent Venoms. Vinyl/artsy figures can go for stupid amounts of $$ especially if you happen to get a rare limited version. Example Kidrobot releases a new set of blindbox figures every few months or so and if you happen to hang onto an unopened box long enough they can be worth double or more what you paid, or if you open them all and find a rare one, could be a lot of $$. Kidrobot.com also sells limited edition prints and pieces that often hold their value. Enterbay figures and Hot toys would be my next suggestion, as a Michael Jordan or Iron Man figure could be worth a fuck ton down the road. But they cost a premium to buy in the first place.... so Kind of a trade off. I'd rather drop $10-20 on a ML figure and find out it's going for $40-50 due to popularity and rarity. Ie FF Spidey, I paid $15 for him and now is going for $40-60. I paid $3 for a Mcfarlane spidey that is worth $100+. I'd rather try and buy figures for cheap knowing they're worth a lot more, by hitting up thrift stores, flea-markets, yardsales, b/s/t listings and eBay. But in the end buy what you want, as it maybe years or decades before they're gone up in value to the point you want to sell, so surround yourself with stuff you like to look at.

3A/Ashley wood figures, forgot to mention them as they always maintain their value if not go up it seems.

I've really only seen this happen with vintage collectibles like g1 transformers or 80s gi joe, and higher end collectibles, like Hot Toys or prop replicas. Like anything, not all figures go up in value from original retail, some fluctuate, but the majority do a good job in increasing. Figures you buy these days, if they are rare or exclusives, will only be worth something now. I remember buying an EP3 Palpatine figure that came with Anakin's blue saber and not his Sith red one. At the time that figure was worth a decent amount but it's not worth a whole lot now.