Mego Star Trek Figure Prices Plummeting!!!

[Blue Meanie]

No one has yet to mention anything about how being a Star Trek collector has affected the prices...Star Trek collectors in general are very fickle collectors. That's just a fact. I've been doing shows for a long time and the one thing I've noticed is the fact that Star Trek fans really could care less about the action figures...but put a replica phaser or communicator in their hands and they've gone to hog heaven. Another reason why Trek collectors may be fickle is the way the toy companies have treated the trek collectors. The whole 1701 Playmates fiasco. The joke of the numbered 9 inch line...None of those 9 inch figures were limited. I saw 9 inch Playmates figures that had no numbers on them. If I were a trek collector I'd be ticked off too.

[grayhank]

This is why AFA and other grading facilities are making a killing. They capitalize on Ebay because we as collectors trust that we are spending our money on a great example. This is also the reason why an AFA graded piece is worth sometimes double or triple. Compare the AFA graded piece's ending auction price to the value of 10 years ago. Guess what, it is worth more...much more.

That's not entirely true, they are making a killing because people are falling for their scam. AFA pieces rarely sell because they are WAY over-inflated. The collectors that buy AFA graded pieces are certainly in the minority, I would say that less than 10% of collectors will fall for that scam, and that's really all it is. I have to laugh every time I see one listed on Ebay with no bids on it, because the person that just listed it is only wasting their money on Ebay fees. If you can sell an AFA graded piece consider yourself lucky.

I have said this time and time and time again. I will not change or budge my opinion on AFA one bit. Those that think they are providing any kind of service are only deluding themselves. AFA is affiliated with ToyFare/Wizard Entertainment Inc. whose sole purpose in life is to try and take over the comics/collectibles circuit and to make money off the average "fan boy". They are only making money off you by giving their opinion. That's it.

You don't have take my word for it, check the results for yourself.

eBay Stores – AFA, TV, Movie Video Games, Military Adventure, Transformers Robots – Original items at low prices.

[grayhank]

No one has yet to mention anything about how being a Star Trek collector has affected the prices...Star Trek collectors in general are very fickle collectors. That's just a fact. I've been doing shows for a long time and the one thing I've noticed is the fact that Star Trek fans really could care less about the action figures...but put a replica phaser or communicator in their hands and they've gone to hog heaven. Another reason why Trek collectors may be fickle is the way the toy companies have treated the trek collectors. The whole 1701 Playmates fiasco. The joke of the numbered 9 inch line...None of those 9 inch figures were limited. I saw 9 inch Playmates figures that had no numbers on them. If I were a trek collector I'd be ticked off too.

That's very true. Plus add the fact that there hasn't been a Star Trek show or movie in quite some time. The last one was the poor received "Enterprise" show (which I actually liked).

[misterdroid]

This is a toy show story I was sharing earlier with a friend... it's appropriate here.
There is a toy show that comes to my area a couple times a year. I have been going since I moved here in 2001. It will be here tomorrow and Sunday.
For the past 7 years I have seen this same group of dealers. And for 7 years I have seen the SAME stuff. These guys will NOT lower prices. Astronomical prices on anything worth buying (I have seen nude Mego Dukes for $30, Micronaught time travellers MOC... $275+ Nude AT joes for $100+ etc.). Usually I can grab a few obscure foreign things for cheap, but thats it.
Everytime I go and try to haggle on a couple things and "the price is firm". Why? It once sold on ebay in some fluke auction for high bucks. One time ebay highs are the new price guide.
That is why I think collecting seems soft. These are the kind of chuds I have to deal with on a local level, while ebay presents a seemingly never-ending stream of whatever your heart desires. Often for increasingly low prices.
You just have to wait.

[zorro]

That's not entirely true, they are making a killing because people are falling for their scam. AFA pieces rarely sell because they are WAY over-inflated. The collectors that buy AFA graded pieces are certainly in the minority, I would say that less than 10% of collectors will fall for that scam, and that's really all it is. I have to laugh every time I see one listed on Ebay with no bids on it, because the person that just listed it is only wasting their money on Ebay fees. If you can sell an AFA graded piece consider yourself lucky.

I understand exactly what you are saying; however, I have to disagree to a point. You say that 10% of collectors would fall for the swindle. The weird thing is that AFA WGSH or APES demand high dollars. I am looking for the complete auctions from a few months ago. Unfortunately, I do not see any. The BIN examples are horribly poor as there are other people that ask outrageous prices for their non-graded pieces. I believe that you will get more money for an AFA graded 80 or above than one that is not graded. Sometimes the ended auction prices shock me.

I know this is an extreme example AFA 75 - 1985 Star Wars POTF Yak Face (C75 B75 F85) MOC - eBay (item 370038426200 end time Apr-17-08 21:56:03 PDT)

Here he is upgraded STAR WARS ROTJ VINTAGE YAK FACE WITH COIN - eBay (item 260227351799 end time Apr-11-08 21:49:40 PDT)


I cannot remember the last time a Boxed 12” R2D2 went for 1,500. I have this figure, does this mean he is worth this much ungraded?

Vintage 12" Star Wars R2-D2 MISB AFA 85 " Looks Mint " - eBay (item 330230000907 end time Apr-25-08 20:21:52 PDT)

I also have this figure. Star Wars ESB 41 Back Luke Bespin Brown Hair MOC AFA 85 - eBay (item 150239240858 end time Apr-22-08 16:58:04 PDT)

Upgraded of course.

Here is one last one Vintage 12" Star Wars Chewbacca MISB AFA 85 " A GEM " - eBay (item 330230002269 end time Apr-25-08 20:28:15 PDT)

A boxed Chewbacca is not worth 1,500+; however, an AFA graded one goes for over that.

I know that I am throwing Star Wars examples out there. I feel that the majority of people that send their figures to AFA are looking to sell them for high dollars. I have a friend from Chicago that makes a great deal of money off his AFA graded He-Man pieces. The rarer figures will net you more money on Ebay because it is being backed by a reputable company. Is it a scam? My opinion has always been that most people cannot be trusted in their grading ability. I have been burned many times because of misrepresentation of a toy. Infact, I nearly drove to someone’s house because of the amount of money that was spent. If AFA was to misrepresent an item, it is usually under graded. There are a number of collectors that like to over grade their items and burn collectors.

[zorro]

This is a toy show story I was sharing earlier with a friend... it's appropriate here.
There is a toy show that comes to my area a couple times a year. I have been going since I moved here in 2001. It will be here tomorrow and Sunday.
For the past 7 years I have seen this same group of dealers. And for 7 years I have seen the SAME stuff. These guys will NOT lower prices. Astronomical prices on anything worth buying (I have seen nude Mego Dukes for $30, Micronaught time travellers MOC... $275+ Nude AT joes for $100+ etc.). Usually I can grab a few obscure foreign things for cheap, but thats it.
Everytime I go and try to haggle on a couple things and "the price is firm". Why? It once sold on ebay in some fluke auction for high bucks. One time ebay highs are the new price guide.
That is why I think collecting seems soft. These are the kind of chuds I have to deal with on a local level, while ebay presents a seemingly never-endingstream of whatever your heart desires. Often for increasingly low prices.
You just have to wait.

I know this is not the appropiate place for this; however, I want to reply to you.


The same collectors and the same stuff. I know the feeling. Where are you from? If you are close to south Jersey. You should check out the show.

[zorro]

That's very true. Plus add the fact that there hasn't been a Star Trek show or movie in quite some time. The last one was the poor received "Enterprise" show (which I actually liked).

Isn't that the truth!!

I have heard that a new Trek movie was suppose to be released soon telling the story when the crew members were young or something.