[Skoob]

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