by goosenapper » Wed Jun 11, 2014 5:20 pm
Even though this is now a "." thread, I'd like to weigh in on what I recall pertained to the original post.
:angry-soapbox:
Any collectible that is marketed as a collectible is doomed to never be a collectible in the sense that it's value will ever increase greatly. The only reason old toys are worth anything is that they were toys, were used up to such an extent that there aren't many left still intact or near mint, and folks with higher allowances (old, working/retired but comfortable guys) want to either relieve the thrills of their childhood, or those who were never there but heard about it want to own a bit of nostalgia. And both of those people will often pay out the rear for what they want because it's hard to find.
If a manufacturer of anything releases several thousand fancy-boxed trinkets with "collector's item" and/or "limited edition" decals splattered all over it, it's laughable to think that there will ever be a dearth of those items to such an extent that they enter that realm of scarce examples of whatever thing they are made to resemble. Some folks will fall for the writing, store them in closets, and then put them on ebay in 5-10 years at ludicrous starting prices. (it always makes me laugh when I see something sell for peanuts via a zero-dollar starting bid while there are acres of that very same item that will never sell at $100+ starting prices) It reminds me of the Death of Superman comic book run in the early '90's. There were guys buying arm fulls of those books when it came out because someone had just bought Amazing Fantasy #15 (1st appearance of Spiderman) for a few hundred thousand, and they instantly thought that all comic books became valuable. It doesn't work like that.
So I can't help but think that these collector's editions are marketed to saps. Don't be one. Don't pay outrageous prices for a car just because the packaging tells you that it's collectible or a limited edition. If you really must have it because you love the model, then no amount of over-pricing is going to stop you. I've bought limited edition cars and sets, but not because I'm speculating that someday I'll be able to send my kids through college by selling them, but because I wanted the cars to run the cars.
And the day that the only way to ensure that I am able to own a slot car via preordering one- that is, spending my money on something that I haven't yet seen and determined that it is worthy of my purchase- is the day that you'll find all of my slot cars for sale on ebay... at zero starting bids. Hey, some of them are limited editions, so if you want them, make room in your closets.