Does anyone collect MIB/MOC vintage Mego anymore?

[dumbldor]

I have a bone to pick with this community.

I have seen a few "this community has changed so much" type threads, and one of the recurring comments is that the vintage collector has gone away.

Is this really true?

I'm still here. A few minutes most days, anyway. I do not collect retros or comics or customs, so I am not sure that there is a lot of opportunity for me to contribute anymore. I check Mego Fact. There's not much there. If I can answer a question, I do. I check the Backroom. So and so's brother (sister, daughter, nephew, dog, etc etc) is sick (died, crazy, a pain in the ***, etc etc). Someone lost his or her job. Of course another "this community has changed so much" thread. I check the Marketplace and Auction Watch. I might comment on an auction price or a particular seller (if I know his history). I check out Classic Toys because I am a big fan of Plaid Stallions and 70s pop culture, and I collect other vintage toys. I check out Toy Room Central, make an occasional comment, periodically post pictures of my collection. But I am pretty much a lurker most of the time. I think that a lot of the vintage guys are in the same boat - lurker mode.

So what's going on with the vintage collectors? Are you still here? Is there something different we can do? Are you still interested in actively participating? Has everything vintage been done before and/or beat to death?

I realize that I am opening myself up for criticism because I have not been a big participant in recent years, but the other big factor is that I am really busy with real life and have had my host of issues, both positive and negative, in recent years (death in the family, adoptions, crazy siblings, challenging work environment, etc); I just don't start threads about them.

If you still collect vintage Megos, I would like to hear from you in this thread.

I do still love Mego Museum.

[dumbldor]

BTW, I still do collect vintage Megos, but there are very very few things for which I am still searching. A carded Green Goblin, for one.

[luey]

I hear ya Dan, I think they're still around, vintage collectors that is... Have had to sell most of my collection over the past couple of years, Kept a few things, but not really sentimental to all of it because I know I can always find another... always buying and selling though, still love the vintage stuff, I too don't mess with the new stuff or customs, never was my gig but appreciate the art... I enjoy the hunt more than anything else, hooking up collectors with hard to find pieces makes me happy, so does making some $$ as well... Stay green, buy vintage!!

[megoapesnut]

I'm with you. I ONLY collect vintage Mego. I do have just a very few custom figures as they captured the spirit of Mego POTA and I though they were pretty cool. However, I don't even have any other classic toys in my collection. While I enjoy seeing what other people display, I have no interest in them myself. I did dabble with some AHI monsters, but those were the first to go when I had to come up with funds due to my basement being flooded. Someday I will probably check back into AHI and Lincoln monsters, but that's about it. It's vintage Mego in my blood. And mostly POTA at that. I do have a small WGSH collection, small but mighty. While my love of CIPSA POTA is well known, I consider them Mego as well. I actually enjoy participating on the boards discussing every day life as much as I do discussing Megos. And, as quaint as it sounds, I really consider every member here a family. I can completely understand that some don't want to start threads about things that happen in their life. That's definitely up to the individual. I do appreciate the back room where we can share in that stuff without fear of it being open to anyone to see. I also love the different ways we have found to interact with each other (an example being the fantasy football league we have every year). But I know where you are coming from. I really have no interest in the discussions about the RA figures or the Pres monsters or most anything else that's non-Mego, and that's a big part of the boards these days.

[megoscott]

I don't think the vintage collector has gone away, but there certainly isn't the level of activity on the boards for them for a variety of reasons as some big vintage guys have sold off collections or moved on in some ways. Plus, the energy of the place in general is in a different direction at the moment with the retro stuff.

For reasons of space and finances I have laid off the vintage stuff for a few years myself and have been busying myself with customs projects and the like. I still have my core collection, but it's been slimmed down and some of the better stuff sold off (to you mostly).

I can forsee a time when I can start hunting vintage in a serious way, I have a feeling there will always be some vintage Megos out there to be had when I am ready.

Brian and I are always trying to find ways to shine a spotlight on the vintage at the Museum.

[megoapesnut]

BTW, I still do collect vintage Megos, but there are very very few things for which I am still searching. A carded Green Goblin, for one.

I am pretty close to being there as well. My collection is not only my pride and joy, but my family loves it as well. My son loves showing it off to friends. I know there are a few more things out there that I need to complete the collection (anyone have a POTA Tree House Gift Set they want to sell!), but I do not need to have every card variation out there. I filled out the areas I wanted to cover. I still look every day. And stuff does pop up. I just recently added a mailer boxed Village that I didn't even know I needed.

[toys2cool]

Hey Dan, I think the problem is how expensive vintage megos mib and moc have been as of late...I know I can't afford those, so the few I've gotten or had I've mostly sold..

If I find a good deal I still get them but that's about it...I'm not into retro's or customs either but I do appreciate them, I just collect a whole mess of crap I just can't justify spending $1000+ on a rare carded figure when I can get 4 or 5 Hot toys for that but that's just me though

[osker55]

yeah I'm still around I'm not a custom or anything like that I'm a all original mego ahi lincoln tomland etc. but the stuff I look for either its not for sale or I can't find them like I'm been looking for mint T1 like ironman shazam stuff like that.but yeah I'm still around and can't find what I'm looking for and still even working on getting my first MIB/MOC and I been collecting vintage toys for like 3 years.

[k2]

i don't post much, but i do visit the museum many times a day, i have a very small collection... but all vintage, and i am interested in making it bigger

although i can't see ever really being able to put down big bucks for rare pieces, i am enjoying building a collection of moderately priced stuff and can maybe luck into some good finds in the future

but bottom line, i am here for the vintage!!!

[megoscott]

Hey Dan, I think the problem is how expensive vintage megos mib and moc have been as of late...I know I can't afford those, so the few I've gotten or had I've mostly sold..

If I find a good deal I still get them but that's about it...I'm not into retro's or customs either but I do appreciate them, I just collect a whole mess of crap I just can't justify spending $1000+ on a rare carded figure when I can get 4 or 5 Hot toys for that but that's just me though

I think prices are down on vintage Megos aren't they? They certainly were for awhile.

I spent tens of thousands on packaged WGSH for a time, which is out of the question for me now...and selling things at a loss was a bit demoralizing for me on the vintage front. I wasn't in it for the investment, but it's still kind of a high stakes game I never played very well...all the headaches and scams that I encountered buying and selling those things. Ugh.

[dumbldor]

Hey Dan, I think the problem is how expensive vintage megos mib and moc have been as of late...I know I can't afford those, so the few I've gotten or had I've mostly sold..

If I find a good deal I still get them but that's about it...I'm not into retro's or customs either but I do appreciate them, I just collect a whole mess of crap I just can't justify spending $1000+ on a rare carded figure when I can get 4 or 5 Hot toys for that but that's just me though

This is possibly the seed of a different topic, why there seem to be so few NEW vintage collectors. (New collector, not new toys)

I don't think they are quite as expensive as they used to be. I agree with megoscott.

What sparked me to start this thread was the recycling of anarocker's nice packaged vintage WGSH in Marketplace. I can't believe such nice, fairly priced (lower than in past years!) figures can't sell here.

[HardyGirl]

Although I have vintage Megos, there really isn't a whole lot I still want, and I'm pretty happy w/ the collection I have. But as I've said in the past, to my way of thinking, retros and customs are Megos as well. They may not be vintage, they may not hold the same memories for the same people, but they are a way for us to connect w/ today's generation, and for some, a good excuse to play w/ toys that won't break our hearts (and the bank) if they break.

As for the rest, like General Buzz, Sci-Fi, Comics and Monsters, I think it's all good, b/c man (and woman) does not live by Mego alone. This is our safe place to geek out, share, vent, praise, and ponder. I love MM, and all that it stands for.

[dumbldor]

I am by no means being critical of the evolution of Mego Museum, the community, or retros, customs, etc. To each his own. For those collectors who appreciate customs or new product as well as vintage, this is a great era for you at Mego Museum.

[dumbldor]

Brian and I are always trying to find ways to shine a spotlight on the vintage at the Museum.

And you guys do a great job of it.

[RickD]

I only buy Vintage items. I don't deal in repro, customs or newer items at all. I've bought some very nice MINT vintage items from members here including a Harbert Robin MOC(thanks dumbldor ), MIB CS Spidey, MIB RC Batman, etc.

A huge problem now is individuals want things for dirt cheap instead of paying a bit more for quality items.