I dont get it, is numbered really worth a few hundred $$ more?

[gagaliya]

Seriously I think people are messed up in the head. Both are exact same statue with exact same paint/features, no extra exclusive addons, not AP. The only difference is wetanz numbers the statue to 300, then keeps making them as unnumbered.

1) The new orthanc: Unnumbered sits there at ~$200 unsold, numbered $400+
2) Rivendell: Unnumbered sits there at ~$350 unsold, numbered $500+

I can understand if there is something extra like the sideshow exclusives or an ap, but this is just ridiculus. Has everyone gone insane?

Brain...cannot...compute.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nk...kw=weta&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nk...orthanc&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313

 

[The Josh]

This isn't surprising or hard to understand at all IMO. There are extras that come with both the numbered and numbered items more often than not do better. Then you factor in that these are two places in Middle-Earth that people have wanted for a long time. So those two items together make for people paying more for a numbered item. I guess having been collecting high end stuff for a while now this is fairly easy to understand.

 

[gagaliya]

sorry but that didnt explain anything. What extra items? the only thing extra is a pin with numbered edition....the statues are exactly the same.

 

[cstojano]

I'd say the answer to this question is pretty complex and related to entire collector mentality. I mean, why do we even bother with this stuff and why do we all pretty much acknowledge that we wouldn't bother for a second with this stuff if diagnosed with terminal cancer (at least I wouldn't).

Rather than answer your question I have some other examples to add to the pile.

Why do people pay major markups on recent Mondo posters that they just missed buying directly from Mondo. If someone wants a poster enough to pay several hundreds dollars for it why not just spend the time online to pay 45 for it from the source? This makes little sense to me.

For that matter, why does Mondo sell posters for 45 dollars that people flip the same day for several hundred. Why not charge more at the retail interface rather than let the secondary market run with it. The answer gets to what you are puzzled about- the issue of collectibility. Basic economics is at play of course. But think about it this way. There is no rush to buy an unnumbered Rivendell. We all know it will be made for a long time, that Weta will give us plenty of warning when stock runs low, and that anyone selling in the meantime will take a haircut because who would pay full retail from eBay when they can get a brand new one with warranty from weta. None of this applies to the numbered edition, they are automatically limited and many people collect for more than just the object itself. Its probably this last fact that is most puzzling to those who don't do things that way.

 

[The Josh]

Didn't explain anything? Really? How does numbered pieces do better than not and two highly anticipated pieces not make sense to you? Rivendell comes with an art print and Orthanc comes with the pin. The enviroments may be the same but people want # versions first before they get opens.


Some people look at it this way # editions > open. Its really that simple.

 

[cstojano]

Yeah I would ignore the extras really and just focus on the fact that numbered pieces are limited, there is something that makes them different from all of the other pieces out there. Is it manufactured rarity? Yeah in a way it is but many collectibles are deemed rare in this way. But really imagine it this way, these numbered pieces would be selling for alot more right now if there were only 300 produced, but then the upfront cost would have been a lot higher as well.

Weta could save a few bucks by dropping the little extras altogether. I bet very very few pulled the trigger on the numbered editions for either statue solely because of the print/pin.

 

[The Josh]

Yeah, those were not the #1 reason I did. These things looked amazing in pictures (even more so at comic-con) and I wanted to have a limited version of them in my collection. Everything else was just the icing on the cake.

 

[Mr Fell Beast]

I understand your thoughts as it is pretty silly to pay more for someone to paint a number on the stand..............

 

[gagaliya]

I wanted to have a limited version of them in my collection.

that's what i dont get, the thing is they are not limited, the unnumbered pieces are exactly the same...

as the other poster said, it's just weta printing a number on the statue, there is no other difference. You dont get a different color, some additional attachments or anything.

Even if they made just 1 extra tiny tree or something on the limited pieces then i can understand the reason for paying more (as i have done myself many times too), but in this case it's the exact same statue...

 

[The Josh]

There are two runs to this piece a limited run and an open run. I wanted one from the limited part of it. That's fine all they're doing is adding the number plus the extras. That's enough for me to pay retail for it as to why others might pay more its the limited nature of the first run with an ES.

 

[DaveMac]

that's what i dont get, the thing is they are not limited, the unnumbered pieces are exactly the same...

as the other poster said, it's just weta printing a number on the statue, there is no other difference. You dont get a different color, some additional attachments or anything.

Even if they made just 1 extra tiny tree or something on the limited pieces then i can understand the reason for paying more (as i have done myself many times too), but in this case it's the exact same statue...

It is different as it was a package. There was an incentive to buy one of the limited 300 and to show it is one of the ltd edition package pieces it is numbered. That makes them different from the rest and that makes them more desireable.

Hope that explains it

 

[cplhicks]

It's about exclusivity.

I have something rare and you don't.

I could care less about numbering. I just want the item for the best price possible.

 

[willocrew]

Seriously I think people are messed up in the head. Both are exact same statue with exact same paint/features, no extra exclusive addons, not AP. The only difference is wetanz numbers the statue to 300, then keeps making them as unnumbered.

1) The new orthanc: Unnumbered sits there at ~$200 unsold, numbered $400+
2) Rivendell: Unnumbered sits there at ~$350 unsold, numbered $500+

I can understand if there is something extra like the sideshow exclusives or an ap, but this is just ridiculus. Has everyone gone insane?
]

Nope. They are just paying an extra $100 to get hold of the exclusive art print that Daniel Falconer from Weta is creating specially for the early bird customers who preordered rivendell early. Same thing for the pin.

Incidentally, the art print was meant to be an incentive to get folks to preorder early since both numbered and unnumbered has the same price.

 

[cstojano]

Ok this may be taking this in a different direction but here goes. The number on the bottom is akin to getting something professionally graded. In toys its AFA, coins, stamps, comics - they all have their professional 3rd party grading services. You take the same comic book and have someone encase it in plastic with a big number next to it and the value goes up tremendously. But what has changed about the actual comic? Nothing. It was in great condition regardless of what some neutral anonymous person said about it. The number in this case is establishing the something special about the piece. Although not about condition the numbered pieces here are doing the same thing. Its collecting, its irrational, don't try to understand just do or do not

In fairness, I do see the original poster's point here. This run within a run isn't unique but its pretty non standard in recent history.

I want to understand how/why SS charges more for the bronze Boba Fetts as more are sold. What's the deal there? You actually pay a lot less for number 1 than number 50. Odd.

 

[NAZGUL-KING]

If it's an item that I really want, numbered edition or edition size doesn't matter a bit to me. The only exception for me is with exclusives that directly enhance a piece (like the Morgul dagger on the WK maquette for example).

 

[shocktrooper_au]

If I want it I want it, a number that is written on a product at random off the production line has no value to me

 

[cstojano]

Oh I agree the piece is the piece, the number comes into play with value and price. So for example with the way I approach things I could sell my numbered edition and buy an open edition for nearly half off. But of course I won't do that because the potential for the numbered edition to rise in value even further is there while all the open edition can do is depreciate.

 

[NAZGUL-KING]

I agree that the added value that a numbered piece sometimes inherits is a nice perk.

 

[willocrew]

Oh I agree the piece is the piece, the number comes into play with value and price. So for example with the way I approach things I could sell my numbered edition and buy an open edition for nearly half off. But of course I won't do that because the potential for the numbered edition to rise in value even further is there while all the open edition can do is depreciate.

I doubt the numbered editions will rise in value all that much. Maybe an extra $100 tops. The main benefit is that it'll help the piece retain its resale value but that is all. Don't expect it to rise in value dramatically.

And you certainly won't be able to sell a numbered for a 50% profit.

 

[karamazov80]

If it was first exclusive then became an open-ended item, from my perspective the initial exclusive numbering would be meaningless at that point, assuming no other changes. All it really tells you was that this set of statues was from production run A, and this set of statues was from production run B. But based on the responses in this thread, obviously others who collect these things disagree. And value is what people will pay. Even if they're willing to pay more for an arbitrary reason.