Has the success of Toy Hunter helped or hurt us???

[Earth 2 Chris]

The monetary part of the show really doesn't interest me, and I kind of just gloss over it. I enjoy seeing the toys and the discussion about them.

I would really enjoy seeing a "Toy Love" episode where Jordan just goes off about his favorite toy lines, and no money ever changes hands.

Chris

[palitoy]

I only see the show as entertainment and haven't felt it has impeded me in any way. Except for moderating the odd discussion where somebody gets WAY too upset about a TV show.

What I felt hurt collecting was those price guide magazines in the 1990s, people got super confused by a perfect mint specimen and their loose, incomplete broken versions. I felt that sting for decades.

[Hedji]

Jordan, I think your show is really swell, and I agree with the posts above... I'd like to see less emphasis on pricing, and more realistic pricing.

I'd also like to see your own collection, Jordan. I don't have cable... I've been buying the episodes on Amazon, and so far have watched most of seasons 1 and 2, but we haven't yet seen your personal collection focus.

More toy history, toy education, toy celebration.... Less toy inflation.

[Godzilla]

TV shows are not real life. I think it's an ok show, but some unfortunate people take it for reality.

[mikeMc6]

The show is entertainment, not the Jim Leher News Hour* on public broadcasting.
And as much as we all find the show hugely popular and enjoyable to watch, I think everyone here is overestimating how many regular folk and price setters actually watch and are influenced by the show. It is on a cable channel not everyone gets and its viewership is probably modest by industry standards. heck, everyone on mm are vintage toy mad and I figure only half of us have seen more than one episode.
99% of the average country bumpkin uses ebay scrolls for price guidance anyway.

And as for singling out the star Jor-Dan for the shows woes which is a tad unfair...let me ask you this...

Did Richie Cunningham direct his own shows? (oh, wait...)
or Mulder? (oop...)
Did Jack Palance really believe it? Or not?

*I think its the News Hour with Gwen Ifil** nowadays

**That poor newscaster when she was in middle and high school..."that Gwen, she sure is an Ifil! Ha Ha!." "Not much of an Ifil, hey Gwen? Ha! Ha!"

[MIB41]

Jordan thanks for responding. First let me say the free market question is going to get asked, as your fears properly forecasted. It's hard not to present a show like this and naively believe EVERYBODY will view it as...well manufactured. Let me also add, none of this is personally upsetting. Offering straight inquiries sometimes throws people off who come looking for a cupcake discussion. It's a completely valid question and based on the variety of replies, not everyone can agree on what should be taken as "common knowledge". Hopefully this discussion will offer you a different perspective regarding your own participation. I for one would not like a show carrying my name that (at best) is thought of as mindless entertainment as it's defense for existing.

[hedrap]

Credit to Jordan for honesty.

He doesn't have control of the show post-production. I think it's a safe bet to say if he put up a fight about show direction, we'd have a new star of Toy Hunter the next season.

You can't blame TH. If you're looking for a villain, start with Antique Roadshow. All these shows derive from them.

We all see the side effect of TH and whatnot rear its head on Ebay. I stopped going to flea markets, toy shows, etc... I'm sure it's just as bad.

But the point of Fair Market Value is to control that. The problem is when it comes to shill bidders. The concern I have is when producers feel they don't have enough juice in an episode, so they "assist" the reality by setting up the sale. The SyFy Hollywood memorabilia show was blatantly doing that.

If Jordan is worried about a ripple effect doing more harm than good, than that's what he needs to be aware of. It's the equivalent of Ebay shill bidding and distorts the market.

Otherwise, things inflate and either deflate or pop. So a lot of Mego stuff that's been pulled out of the dark nether regions and overpriced will eventually drop to reality.

Oh, and screw Comic Book Men. Smith is a bigger bane to fanboys than almost anyone else. That clown showcased the Amsco Marvel World set one episode, and the price for that went from maybe 300 to people asking for a grand.

[FETT1]

HAVE tried contacting you at various times with no responses!...oh well guess your busy with DA SHOW ...enjoy it ,but not THE KAZILLION repeats on OLN here in WESTERN CANADA!

[palitoy]

HAVE tried contacting you at various times with no responses!...oh well guess your busy with DA SHOW ...enjoy it ,but not THE KAZILLION repeats on OLN here in WESTERN CANADA!

That's probably because he has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with foreign distribution rights of the show. Write letters to OLN or do what all other (self included) Canadians do.

[FETT1]

my you sound angry...I have contacted OLN CANADA ...no solid results!...bummer!

[Byrnes]

I enjoy the show, for what it is, TV/Entertainment and glad it's on as opposed to nothing. One thing it seems you guys are forgetting is the main items he's showcasing at those prices seem to be for the rich type people(Gene Simmons, Gentle Giant, actors, investors etc.) he's buying for and not the average guys who likes toys cause they are fun and part of our childhood. So the prices these people are paying are probably just pocket change to them where most of us wouldn't and don't even think about spending that kind of money of a toy.

Travel Channel is not going to care if we want a figure for $25-$50. They want big ticket items and big money on the show after all it's the Travel Channel. If this were on different channel like History Channel it may be a different story.

[torgospizza]

I realize some of the prices are crazy, but I don't let it effect my enjoyment of the show. Most of the time I'm just watching to catch glimpses of stuff I'd forgotten about, like Playskool's Dapper Dan or Shindana's Flip Wilson doll. I think the clowns that expected $150 for a rusted-out Buck Rogers lunchbox or charged vintage prices at flea markets for 40th Anniversary GI Joes were around way, way before the show. It's like wrestling or Duck Dynasty--fun to watch, but don't take it as evidence of actual events. Jordan and Steve seem like a lot of guys I know--decent-hearted geeks (I mean that in the best way possible)--so I have no issue with them, and they seem to genuinely enjoy what they're doing.

[sprytel]

There are plenty of "haggling" or "your trash is really worth big bucks!" shows on TV. I wonder if people watch "Toy Hunters" because they already watch "Pawn Stars" and "American Pickers" and all the others... and just can't get enough of the format. Or do people watch "Toy Hunters" specifically, out of all the shows out there, because they find something appealing about vintage toys?

If the show is turning people on to the hobby, I think it is a good thing. You could ask the same question of the Museum: creating awareness and bidders for secret identities and circle suits that they otherwise would have never known existed.

[Vinny0026]

Watching the show has not changed my personal philosophy of collecting toys. Buy something you like for the joy of it - not for what you think it is worth or be worth some day.


I like watching the show for the history aspect of it - when Jordan or the seller has some real insight about the toy they are buying or selling. Even if it is about stuff I do not collect - it is great to hear the stories behind these items.


I also love watching it for items I will never see in real life - That star wars collection last week was a thing of beauty. Where would you ever see that much mint on card star wars! That was incredible!! and amazing to see.


I also like to watch it to see peoples collections - it is great to see I'm not the only nut on the block


As for the money side of things:

For the most part I like to research a figure or toy I want. I than get a feel of the open market or going rate and put a certain price on what I want to or I'm willing to pay for a certain item. Now there are always Impulse items that we tend to pay to much on every now and again but that is just part of the hobby.


For the most part of my personal collecting - it has always been a hobby - I do it for the joy it brings. I never do it for an investment


The bottom line to any deal when exchanging money is

a seller will not go below a certain price and a buyer is always only willing to pay a certain price


As long as those 2 people agree on that deal on that day is all that matters.


as one of a few here that have been on the show I can offer you one point of insight that you may not get from just watching the show:

Jordan and the Producers make it perfectly clear over and over again - that you are not obligated to sell anything that you do not want to or for a price you are not comfortable with. I really can't stress that enough. They remind you constantly.


as far as does it help or hurt the hobby goes - I agree with most it does both

The pros: some great new remakes of vintage toys come out of the exposure so for those of us who cant afford an original can at least get a remake. Also people go through their old stuff and put it up for sale - which makes it a little easier to find some of the rare pieces.


The cons - yes you may pay a little more than a few years ago


But lets just take mego for 1 example

could you not say there is pros and cons that say CTV is remaking the dc line?


or you can say the same with mattel with masters of the universe

I think any exposure to old toy lines is great - we will get hundreds of new mego and mego like items out of this. so I look forward to that.


The bad we will have to pay a little more for vintage items


Overall it is a show - watch it for the fun of it - and enjoy the quick glances of toys you had as a kid and enjoy the flashbacks you have in your mind when you had them and played with them.


that's what I do

[cjefferys]

or do what all other (self included) Canadians do.

This, a thousand times this! God, if I had to actually depend on Canadian overpriced and underserviced cable or satellite for my television viewing needs, I'd never get to watch anything current that I want to see. There are other options and I'm pretty sure I've mentioned that before.