Recently I’ve been interested in tracking down the four original Ghostbusters from the 1980s Kenner Real Ghostbusters line. Of course, the first place I checked was eBay, the same place everyone else goes–including people of much greater means than I–thus ensuring that any and all auctions go for a price at the very high end of the market.
But my only other option is to scour yard sales, flea markets, and vintage collectible stores to try and find them at a reasonable price.
I’ve got plenty of old vintage stuff myself, and I’d much prefer to trade with some other collector without using eBay as a middleman, selling my vintage stuff online and then bidding top dollar on an auction on eBay, paying PayPal fees every step of the way.
How about a website that’s a sort of toy-focused, trading-based version of eBay, where collectors can put up all the items they have for trade and then look at other people’s wants and haves and make offers. It’s similar to what any toy board’s trade forum does, but a bit broader and with a way to search for specific items.
Of course, for all I know something like that already exists. Anyone know?
Evil Toy Monger
First Post!
Love this site!
Lots of great ideas and suggestions being thrown out…I, like alot of you, am a member of alot of different forums to feed the toy info need. Many of them have their own trade threads and each go about it in different ways. The Fwoosh has lots of monitors and a feedback section as well as a bad trader section. AFI only has a bad trader section, and AFT has nothing but word of mouth because it is such a tight knit "family" as it were. I have done numerous trades on all 3 and have only been "ripped off" once, and he is a well known "rip off artist" on AFI.
Common sense prevails overall, followed by knowledge of the trader/tradie…with those two things in place, it can run itself.
Newton Gimmick
I would rather a toy based version of Ebay. I don't really need the trading aspect. While I like the idea of trading, most of the toy forums allow trading. I just don't want to part with most of my stuff, so I'd rather just buy it.
But if it could be off Ebay then we'd get more realistic prices. The problem with Ebay is that too many NON-Toy people are selling toys. That can sometimes work to your advantage, but more often than not the person selling your vintage Kenner Ghostbuster thinks they're making you a good offer at $300 for Ray because they think he's worth that.
Misterbigbo
@americanhyena: I can't imagine the endless hours it would take to moderate that forum. Some of the trade sites that look interesting take a fee from the traders and hold it in escrow until the transaction completes. Sounds secure but a huge PITA.
I've bought and sold plenty of things over other discussion board classified sections and have never had a problem. Poe would need a bunch of moderators.
Poe
@Ben: Lots of great points there. And you're right, I realize the Ghostbusters will always command decent prices, it's just that on eBay, you're almost always paying the highest possible price (plus you can't really tell exactly how good the condition is–you've got a couple photos and the seller's word).
Here's a question for you, as someone who exclusively collects vintage stuff–to what extent do you feel eBay has affected the vintage market, either by removing pieces from circulation or by raising seller awareness of aftermarket values and thus, prices?
XeQUae
Rebelscum/Cool Toy Review has classifieds where you can buy, sell and trade figures. I have bought several Sideshow Star Wars figures there and had no problems. Here is the general toy one:
Cool Toy Review Classified board
Ben
Since I pretty much collect vintage stuff exclusively, I've thought a lot about trading myself. I've even contemplated the idea of starting a collector swap meet in New Jersey…no money exchanged, just bring your extras, you bring mine, and we'll see what happens!
The problem with VINTAGE trades is that they're very difficult to determine what's fair. With new stuff, it's fairly easy. Retail prices are well known, so when I collected new stuff, it was easy just to trade $20 worth of figures for $20 worth of figures.
There are so many more factors to consider for vintage. Condition? Are all the accessories there? And it's not so much what it's worth as what it's worth TO YOU. Unfortunately, the four original Ghostbusters figures are one of those sets of figures that is just always going to command decent money. They're iconic, and the proton packs and accompanying ghosts were easily lost or broken.
The other problem is that the people who usually have a good number of extras tend to be dealers, and if they trade, they're automatically going to want the better end of the deal, or at least end up making some money from the trade.
I'd say the key is not so much trading as it is networking. Find people who hunt for vintage stuff and give them a wants list. A friend of mine said he wanted Remco Universal Monsters. I found them in great shape from a dealer for a really good price, and we went from there. So basically, I'll keep my eyes peeled at the flea markets and toy shows over the next few months to see what I can dig up!
americanhyena
Sounds like it's time for Poe Ghostal's Toy Trader Emporium!
If you build it, they will come…
Larry Joe
Just ran across ToySwap. Seems to be what you're describing with Want Lists and stuff for users although it seems really dead.
Edit — Looking at it closer, it's a buck per transaction.
Poe
@DankOne: Sure, if it's not too much trouble–you can send the pics here.
pedro moreno
Poe, you could look here:
http://tfieds.com/
Its a toy classifieds site, Ive bought stuff from there before, just be wary of scams and such.
DankOne
@Poe… They are in great condition. No major paint wear been sitting on a shelf for years. I can send yah photos. 🙂
Frowny McBeard
/b/ is responsible for me learning about Incontinent Student Bodies, and I'll never get that part of my soul back.
. . . ugh, diaperfurs.
RageTreb
4chan's /toy/ board is good for that. It's not specifically for that, and it's better for finding sellers/selling something than saying, "I'm looking for this, does anyone have it?", but they're real nice and surprisingly trustworthy. Most of the negative stuff you might have heard about 4chan comes from their /b/ board. I'm telling you, some boards are like night and day, and on the whole /toy/ is a very nice board board with a very close-knit community.
PrfktTear
@Poe: Nope, not Comicazi. 😉
Poe
@DankOne: What kind of condition are they in?
@PrfktTear: This isn't the same one we always go to, is it? Because I already checked that one 🙂
@Paul: Nah–you're a weirdo in a lot of ways, but not this one. Different strokes and all that.
Paul
I detest trading. I'd rather just sell some of the stuff I don't want and then use the money to buy something else. Maybe I'm a weirdo that way.
PrfktTear
I recall seeing some Ghostbusters figures at a vintage toy store. I was hoping to have a chance to stop in last weekend, but I was running late and didn't have time to check it out. I don't know the next time I'll be in that area, but I'm sure a simple phone call could confirm what they've got. I'll let you know later (don't want to give anyone else the scoop! 😉 ) They do trades/buys for cash or store credit, but the store manager has to be there, which unfortunately he wasn't the last time I was in, so its best to call ahead anyways.
DankOne
Well I have a vintage set with no Proton Packs and no ghosts. Let me know if your want em.
finkrod
I only know of one site even remotely like that, bartertown.com. But sadly, it's only for tabletop miniatures. I hope someone else does know of one. Cuz like I said in an different post, I'll be looking to trade Randor and Princess Whatchamacallit when they come out.
Lee
This doesn't help with your specific problem, but there's a great site called Swaptree that does much of what you say for books, cds, dvds and video games. I love it.
A collectors version would be spectacular.