WHy Celtic Predator so much

[DinoLast]

It's all down to demand really.
It's very hard to tell what will appreciate in value until it actually does.
I have noticed that the V1 Mk III Iron Man seems to be increasing in price on eBay recently, and will most likely cost you more money than a Battle Damaged version

 

[hairlesswookiee]

^^^Definitely. Its all subjective...if you have the means and desire to purchase said item, its not really stupid to purchase it. If you second guess what you paid for it, apparently you didn't want it that bad afterall.

 

[EndIessRAlN]

Can't agree more. If you want it bad enough you pay for it. If not you don't. I don't see that making anyone stupid. And a lot of people out there including myself are completists. I worked hard and saved up and bought all the Hot Toys Preds because I like them. Does that make me stupid now? And hairlesswookiee is right. Of all places, here in a collectors forum. If you're gonna come here and call people names for collecting, what in the world are you doing here in the first place????

 

[Karatka]

I'm with Prefused in the sense that it is no one other than us, the buyers, who give the secondary-market sellers the impression that $500-$600 should be accepted as "a good deal" by all potential buyers. It shouldn't. No figure, in my opinion is worth that much money. It's interest that causes the "value" to triple, nearly quadruple. You have the worth of the actual item, and factor in the interest (or rather, based on history, how much are people willing to pay).

Seconded. ALL of the 2006-7 Preds now seem to go for what I would call inflated prices, but you can't knock someone for paying them; because, logically, it's just as stupid to spend $15 on a NECA AVP-R figure. Unless you're a resale scalper, it serves no use except to please the owner. Beyond that, it's the balance of an individual's income, time, tolerance of spouse etc as to what is a 'reasonable' ammount to pay. If you have lots of time to hunt down parts, repair damage etc, then you can get a cheaper figure. If you've got a busy but well paid job you probably haven't got that time but can afford to buy a mint piece off Ebay.

 

[thenammagazine]

THANK YOU! Hit the nail on the head.

BTW, CelticP, in 2006 you shouldn't even have had to pay $200 for him! Less than that easy, judging by the time period.
And I wouldn't say anyone's whining, except for those WTBers who want to claim an AVP Pred as their first fig from HT. Their budgets go up to $200-something, because they still can't understand what many of us have come to accept, sadly: it's all hype.

Personally, I think $400 + shipping for an AVP Pred MIB (if not Celtic, then at least Chopper, I mean c'mon!) is a perfectly decent deal. No, a perfectly decent price, not a deal.
Y'know how many used Choppers are on here for less than $300? Lots of 'em (I should know, I've PM'd those sellers... sadly no responses yet ). I think adding an extra hundred bucks to that price to get it unassembled in box is the most anyone should have to pay. That, and of course shipping costs.

I'm with Prefused in the sense that it is no one other than us, the buyers, who give the secondary-market sellers the impression that $500-$600 should be accepted as "a good deal" by all potential buyers. It shouldn't. No figure, in my opinion is worth that much money. It's interest that causes the "value" to triple, nearly quadruple. You have the worth of the actual item, and factor in the interest (or rather, based on history, how much are people willing to pay).
Having that said, I am definitely willing to pay $400 + S&H. Doesn't mean I like it. But it's been 4 years and these things are selling for over half a grand! Guys like us who are still after these puppies have no choice -- but we shouldn't resort to eBay-esque pricing!
Remember when P2 Elder came out? What was his price, hmm... $145 or so? But since everyone went ga-ga over it, he's being sold for almost $700. Does that seem at all right?

It's this mentality I'll never understand. $600 absolutely seems right. He's a figure that has long since quit production and sold out. Does that make him an antique? No, but to believe that the figure shouldn't appreciate in value based on demand is absurd. Is he worth $600? Well, you're not really the person to be giving advice on that are you? People who've actually purchased him for that price are the ones whose opinions matter here. And I'm willing to bet dollars to donuts that if you had him and had to sell him in a pinch, you'd also not only be liking that $600 mark but defending it.

 

[Johnnyr]

I agree with Nam and I can't believe it

 

[thenammagazine]

I agree with Nam and I can't believe it

 

[Skiman]

It's this mentality I'll never understand. $600 absolutely seems right. He's a figure that has long since quit production and sold out. Does that make him an antique? No, but to believe that the figure shouldn't appreciate in value based on demand is absurd. Is he worth $600? Well, you're not really the person to be giving advice on that are you? People who've actually purchased him for that price are the ones whose opinions matter here. And I'm willing to bet dollars to donuts that if you had him and had to sell him in a pinch, you'd also not only be liking that $600 mark but defending it.

I agree, it's one of the very first Predator HT lines, it has grown in demand and why can't it be worth $600+

I've played catch with Marvel grails and you better believe I don't like paying waaaaaaaaaaay above retail for pieces but if you are a collector and items are rare or demand a certain price there's no way around it, it makes this look like childsplay.

Doom PF Ex $1600-$2000 was at retail for $300
Hulk vs Spidey Grey version $2500-$3000 was at retail for $300
Hulk PF Green $700-$900 was at retail for $300
Hulk PF Grey $1000-$1300 was at retail for $300

(and that's only 4 piece ) there's so much more that has appreciate over the years and are untouchable for a retail price.

Now these days if you were to ask for any of these pieces at retail what do you think a collector is going to think of you...

My recent purchase coming next month Leon RPD for basically close to $450-500. I am gonna ever get this piece at $300, no way unless it's damaged or missing parts or missing a head, (it's the same reason) he's one of the first for the RE line for HT and is just the same situation as this Predator line with HT.

 

[karamazov80]

So what are you trying to advocate exactly, Blade? That we should all collectively wish hard enough, so that the world will change and these things will become cheap again?

Does hype contribute to value? Yes. Does that make it illegitimate? No. Is it the buyers' collective faults that something costs what it does? Yes. Could buyers get together and collectively decide not to pay more than a certain price, thus bringing down overall values? No, because demand is what it is, and supply is what it is. The two meet, and voila! Free market! I'm not entirely sure how scalping come into play with figures that are several years old, either. This isn't buying up all the MossMen He-Man figures you can and "flipping them" for a $20 profit. Not that I have any issue with it, but I don't see how the analogy holds re: HT Predators.

 

[thenammagazine]

So what are you trying to advocate exactly, Blade? That we should all collectively wish hard enough, so that the world will change and these things will become cheap again?

Does hype contribute to value? Yes. Does that make it illegitimate? No. Is it the buyers' collective faults that something costs what it does? Yes. Could buyers get together and collectively decide not to pay more than a certain price, thus bringing down overall values? No, because demand is what it is, and supply is what it is. The two meet, and voila! Free market! I'm not entirely sure how scalping come into play with figures that are several years old, either. This isn't buying up all the MossMen He-Man figures you can and "flipping them" for a $20 profit. Not that I have any issue with it, but I don't see how the analogy holds re: HT Predators.

Basically, I took the comments like "scalping" or "flipping" as deflection for him basically being too cheap and attempting to justify it.

 

[devastator's balls]

So what are you trying to advocate exactly, Blade? That we should all collectively wish hard enough, so that the world will change and these things will become cheap again?

Does hype contribute to value? Yes. Does that make it illegitimate? No. Is it the buyers' collective faults that something costs what it does? Yes. Could buyers get together and collectively decide not to pay more than a certain price, thus bringing down overall values? No, because demand is what it is, and supply is what it is. The two meet, and voila! Free market! I'm not entirely sure how scalping come into play with figures that are several years old, either. This isn't buying up all the MossMen He-Man figures you can and "flipping them" for a $20 profit. Not that I have any issue with it, but I don't see how the analogy holds re: HT Predators.

It happens sometimes, and I mean "SOMETIMES" very rarely that ppl will sell their items for cheap for whatever reasons. I saw (completed listing) a BIN for a mint HT wolvie with free shipping $125 on ebay. Same seller sold HT Rambo 3 and Rambo M-65 Jacket version together for $150, minus boxes but I still think thats a damn good deal.

Also SSC had those express letters when they sold the Grey Hulk PF and the HT t-800 endos at retail price. Just gotta be super lucky, I got my P2 Elder for $350 here a few months back...

 

[thenammagazine]

It happens sometimes, and I mean "SOMETIMES" very rarely that ppl will sell their items for cheap for whatever reasons. I saw (completed listing) a BIN for a mint HT wolvie with free shipping $125 on ebay. Same seller sold HT Rambo 3 and Rambo M-65 Jacket version together for $150, minus boxes but I still think thats a damn good deal.

Also SSC had those express letters when they sold the Grey Hulk PF and the HT t-800 endos at retail price. Just gotta be super lucky, I got my P2 Elder for $350 here a few months back...

I don't think anybody's saying buying one for $400 is impossible. Moreso, we're just annoyed at someone who's trying to justify being cheap by calling those selling CP for fair market value, scalpers and flippers.

 

[Skiman]

It happens sometimes, and I mean "SOMETIMES" very rarely that ppl will sell their items for cheap for whatever reasons. I saw (completed listing) a BIN for a mint HT wolvie with free shipping $125 on ebay. Same seller sold HT Rambo 3 and Rambo M-65 Jacket version together for $150, minus boxes but I still think thats a damn good deal.

Also SSC had those express letters when they sold the Grey Hulk PF and the HT t-800 endos at retail price. Just gotta be super lucky, I got my P2 Elder for $350 here a few months back...

Yea, you need to find someone getting out of the hobby or wants basically what they paid for them so they can break even.

 

[devastator's balls]

I don't think anybody's saying buying one for $400 is impossible. Moreso, we're just annoyed at someone who's trying to justify being cheap by calling those selling CP for fair market value, scalpers and flippers.

Yea agreed. These are the prices that we gotta pay for missing out on older stuff. Corvettes when they first came out used to be $2000 but now if you buy one of the original ones, you gotta pay up to $500,000 for a restored one. Just happens man, things go up in value. See SSC Don CM Ex.

Yea, you need to find someone getting out of the hobby or wants basically what they paid for them so they can break even.

Yea that's the best way, just gotta look out for those firesales and get lucky.

 

[twistedfreak]

Some mentality is just laughable. I would never let my custom painted Celtic go unless someone paid me what I thought was reasonable. 600 minimum. Supply and demand. And if someone isn't willing to pay for Celtic, well as Tallahassee said in Zombieland "Nut up or shut up".

 

[CelticPredator]

 

[Rotfish]

So what are you trying to advocate exactly, Blade? That we should all collectively wish hard enough, so that the world will change and these things will become cheap again?

By all means, if you have the money, go for it. But that doesn't mean that as a result of people doing that, the default asking price should be $600.
I'm not complaining about anything, as I may very well be able to get at least Chopper for the amount I said (plus his bio and netcaster gauntlet are $40... and I happen to like his bladed boots ).

I'm not telling anyone to get together, make a wish, or stand against any seller of any kind. I'm not accusing anyone of scalping or being stupid either, nor am I defending being cheap. I'm simply stating that the only reason these prices have gotten the way they are is because of us. That's it. Take from that what you will. Just saying that within a few years, prices have skyrocketed, due to demand from our part (whether it was because of the badass character design, as CelticP demonstraded, etc.)
For some, it's a good thing. Yes, I'd be more than happy to get $600 ten years from now (it'd probably be more lol) for a figure I paid only $400 for. For others getting into HT, however, it's not. I'm only answering the question as to why Celtic -- or any AVP Pred -- goes for so much.

 

[Skiman]

badass

 

[mr.thrifty]

Do schools not teach basic supply and demand anymore?

 

[CelticPredator]

I know! I took that class, and learned all the basics. I had no problem with the price we paid for CP. In that year, it seemed fair.