Very fustrating task and starting to Rethink the LOTR quest...

[Sniper]

I have seen the prices on ebay for the busts by sideshow go through the roof. A merry bust for christ sakes went for almost 200, A freaking merry bust. THe early full sizes are all out of the question , so it leaves me to wonder should I even continue getting all the busts. I still need a tree beard which runs 400 and up, an aragon, erwen, lurtz (trade pending) merry etc.
All of these busts will cost more than a grand to add to my collection so I have decided on another stragedy. I will represents my collection with one character for the harder to acquire pieces. I see that neca will produce some LOTR stuff and the balrog looks great, I am glad they are making it into a statue rather than a vinyl figure.
Man the ringwraith on steed is over 600 now and climbing. Thanks for zurbby helping me out with the piece and getting it for 300 way back in december.Booney no way I am selling this piece , this is the one that started it all, I thought it would look great with the death dealer....
Well how many people are becoming fustrated trying to get these on ebay?
Are we all bidding against each other ?? and does zurrby get a cut promotting all these items and turning us into LOTR sideshow junkies???? :confused2 :rolleyes2

[Danno]

I prefer to buy from dealers or other collectors if I can rather than go to ebay. But ebay seems to be a necessary evil we all have to deal with, LOL!

But all in all, I say buy what you like most. I'm not a completist....not anymore. So I just get what I like...what gives me the most pleasure seeing on my shelves. So in that...I will continue to buy the pieces as I can. As long as you're having fun with it....it's still all good.

[nexus]

I feel your pain Snipe. I paid almost $200 for Arwen recently. I could have gotten her for about $75 a couple of weeks earlier, but decided to complete the fellowship first. I got ambushed on ebay three times at the last second, and lost out. Aragorn is holding steady at around $125 though. I need to go after Treebeard and Witchking at some point as well as a troll or two, but giving the wallet a well deserved rest. I figure once I catch up though, then it'll realy just be a matter of buying as they come out at the $50-$60 pricetag. So then all will be forgotten. I'm having shelves put into the boy's room, so they aren't even on display yet.

[Bullseye]

Guys thats mad money for busts. You could have picked the Arwen FS for less than $200. If your not looking to complete maybe mix and match your pieces.

[Sniper]

Guys thats mad money for busts. You could have picked the Arwen FS for less than $200. If your not looking to complete maybe mix and match your pieces.
yeah I got an arwwen statue for a 100 to represent the character until I land the bust . I did get a wirch king ealier. Oh well I hope a tree beard full size is made so I can forget about the bust.

[Zurbaran1]

...and does zurrby get a cut promotting all these items and turning us into LOTR sideshow junkies???? :confused2 :rolleyes2

Yes I do get a cut, so stop yer whining and get back to buying. You're in and it's too late to turn back now. :laugh:

[Sniper]

Yes I do get a cut, so stop yer whining and get back to buying. You're in and it's too late to turn back now. :laugh:
could ebay all the additional things I bought :laugh:

[Gruson]

LOL Zurb.


Well, all you can do is buy the affordable ones now and hope prices do not stay this high....you never know!

Too bad you will never get the really cool pieces since you got into collecting the line too late. hehe. :)

The only one I missed out on was the original Balrog....it was the only sold out piece when I went to Sideshow's site and I did not want to pay $600 for it on ebay.....doh! :banghead:

[Sniper]

LOL Zurb.


Well, all you can do is buy the affordable ones now and hope prices do not stay this high....you never know!

Too bad you will never get the really cool pieces since you got into collecting the line too late. hehe. :)

The only one I missed out on was the original Balrog....it was the only sold out piece when I went to Sideshow's site and I did not want to pay $600 for it on ebay.....doh! :banghead:
2x doh............ :laugh: :laugh:

[Collection King 13]

Boy am I glad I dont collect the LOTR stuff.... :D

[JM28Cardiff]

Is that 200 for an Arwen bust??!!?!?!?! I dont even like mine! Hearing what people say Merry goes for is odd, maybe people like his amusing face? Surely all 4 of the hobbits were produced in the same quantity, therefore demand should be even across all 4???

Hows the Galadriel bust doing, thats another one of mine i'm not too keen on

[RickDTM]

I pretty much have the pieces I wanted. Only one of the Orc Statues wanted (Warrior), and a couple more of the busts, and I'll be done w/ the initial run of the LOTR line.

CK - Only a matter of time.... :D

[Collection King 13]

I pretty much have the pieces I wanted. Only one of the Orc Statues wanted (Warrior), and a couple more of the busts, and I'll be done w/ the initial run of the LOTR line.

CK - Only a matter of time.... :D

Only very few LOTR pieces will make it to my collection... :eplus2: Sauron is 1st... :buttrock: Then the Battle Troll will be next... :D After that who knows....

[Zurbaran1]

Is that 200 for an Arwen bust??!!?!?!?! I dont even like mine! Hearing what people say Merry goes for is odd, maybe people like his amusing face? Surely all 4 of the hobbits were produced in the same quantity, therefore demand should be even across all 4???

Hows the Galadriel bust doing, thats another one of mine i'm not too keen on

Interesting. I think the Arwen and Galadriel busts are quite nice and fairly accurate representations.

[Zurbaran1]

Only very few LOTR pieces will make it to my collection... :eplus2: Sauron is 1st... :buttrock: Then the Battle Troll will be next... :D After that who knows....

That's how it starts. :laugh:

[Colossus]

I am in the same boat as sniper I have bought most of the reasonable busts, and am about 15 short of having the entire bust line. But i know myself and I like getting everything and the enitre line would probably run like 20k+, and I just don't know about finishing it. I guess I will just keep chugging along but the collecting is gonna slow way down cause the prices are gonna go way up.

[Zurbaran1]

I am in the same boat as sniper I have bought most of the reasonable busts, and am about 15 short of having the entire bust line. But i know myself and I like getting everything and the enitre line would probably run like 20k+, and I just don't know about finishing it. I guess I will just keep chugging along but the collecting is gonna slow way down cause the prices are gonna go way up.

As long as you are happy with what you have and can enjoy it, is it going to make that much of a difference if you have the entire line? If not, then keep at it. 15 short of the entire bust line is not too shabby. Little by little you'll build on it and before you know, whoa! And who knows where these pirces are going to go. Just as quickly as they shoot up they can come right back down and go the other way.

[Zurbaran1]

I am in the same boat as sniper...

However, being in the same boat with sniper is another story. Take your chances with the sharks and jump overboard. :laugh:

[JM28Cardiff]

Interesting. I think the Arwen and Galadriel busts are quite nice and fairly accurate representations.

It may just be a paint issue. Theres something about the eye area on the Galadriel, it seems to lack a certain something, but thats not necessarily the sculpt itself. As for Arwen, the bust is better than the statue, but im still not sure that they have the Tyler trout-pout quite right!

[Sniper]

However, being in the same boat with sniper is another story. Take your chances with the sharks and jump overboard. :laugh:
U truly are mod scum!!! if it were both of us you would not have to jump , I would have thrown you :eplus2:

[Jerseydevil]

Sniper, I feel your pain. I only have a few pieces: Lurtz bust (which I got for $60), Cave Troll bust and I just received Gandalf on Shadowfax. I have Sauron pre-ordered as well as the Battle Troll, King of the Dead, Gimli/Legolas and Aragorn on horseback. So it’s gonna be an expensive year. Granted, I’d love to get more of the pieces but I’m a Bowen Statue fan first. I, too, have been sick over the jump in prices on these pieces. I’ve been outbid a number of times on my holy grail, a Ringwraith on Steed, but I’ve got to draw the line somewhere. I’ve bid as high as $500 just a few days ago. I saw a RonS statue go for well over $600 last night. I don’t see a plateau in sight for the spiraling prices on the RonS. And when Daddy Balrogs are going for 2k-3k, it makes me cringe. Kudos to the guys who got in the ground floor, but like you, Sniper, I’ve got to draw the line somewhere. Just my two cents... :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[Sniper]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=6514946459&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

for bilbo 62 dollars and 2 hours left !!! this is insane!!!!!

[Zurbaran1]

What's so insane about $62 for Bilbo? Sounds very reasonable to me. It's an excellent likeness and $62 is not that much more than retail. If this doesn't get bid up much at the end I think you should go for it.

[JM28Cardiff]

I think Bilbo is one of the very best likenesses (Theoden is up there as well)

[Colossus]

Bid BId BID BID BID BID BID

[RickDTM]

It may just be a paint issue. Theres something about the eye area on the Galadriel, it seems to lack a certain something, but thats not necessarily the sculpt itself. As for Arwen, the bust is better than the statue, but im still not sure that they have the Tyler trout-pout quite right!


JM - I'd be willing to betcha it's a paint thang on Galadriel. Personally, I think the Arwen statue is way better than the bust. Yet again, another paint thing to bring the Tyler likeness out on the statue.

[Gruson]

Once I get that Orc Archer, I am done with the line for now. I more or less decided to keep only the statues that I REALLY like.

So my collection is now:
9 members of Fellowship statues (Pippin coming)
all Uruk-hai statues and Moria Orcs (need Archer)
Saruman, Sauron, RWOS and ML
Gothmog on Warg (coming)

That's it! I also kept the Urk-hai busts and Nazgul.


Now, I actually like both the Arwen bust and statue.

I would say the bust does look better than the statue but for $200, I sold mine. :)

[CKinSD]

Boy am I glad I dont collect the LOTR stuff.... :D

me toooo! :D

[JM28Cardiff]

I only bought the good guy and gal busts (main characters only) plus smeagol, numenorean and high elven infantryman, and Saruman. I want Grishnakh, wormtongue, Ringraith bust and Nazgul steed bust, but even though these can still be bought on Ebay UK for retail price, I just can't afford them right now :banghead:

[nexus]

Eventually, I'm going to see if one of the forum paintmasters will give me a decent :) price on repainting most of the set. It'll probably cost me a small fortune, but I'm sure it will be worth it in the long run. I'm waiting to see what someone does with Legolas. I'll bet a repaint of Arwen would be fantabulous.

[nexus]

and yep, it was a little under 200 smackaroos. I'd previously lost three ebay auctions to lurkers on her in two weeks, $99, $142, $176 -- so you can see how the price was climbing. I think it's settled in around $160-$170, but who knows. It wasn't worth the hassle factor to me anymore. Not to mention the TOed factor.

[Ghost]

Heh, I look at it this way. If I can get it, I'll get it. If I can't oh well I can't. I only regret missing out on the Balrog really. And if I can't complete the partial Fellowship that I have, I might just end up selling them all. I'm in the hole but I have a rope tied to my waist. Anytime I could be hauled back out :) But there are still alot of pieces coming out that are not worth missing out out. I look forward, and not behind :)

[Wayne Industries]

I love this stuff...........almost as much as my Bowen.....real close but Bowen still has first dibs....I don't have the need to get all the line just the ones I really want......and I really want the FS CAve Troll and Daddy Rog....... :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[boondocksaint]

i want the rwos really bad this stuff is like crack!

[Gruson]

RWOS is the best piece EVER!!!

It's worth every penny.

[Jerseydevil]

Gruson, I know it's a sweet looking piece. And when it was at $575 last night I was so tempted to bid. I finally regained my sanity and watched it sell for $621 to somebody else. This is insane. Do you think this is this a temporary spike? I hope so. I so want this piece.

[Sniper]

Gruson, I know it's a sweet looking piece. And when it was at $575 last night I was so tempted to bid. I finally regained my sanity and watched it sell for $621 to somebody else. This is insane. Do you think this is this a temporary spike? I hope so. I so want this piece.
HERE is the thing about this piece, it was at 300 when it was released then shot up to 500 plus oct and novem of 04, then in december it shot down again to 300 , THIS IS WHEN I TOLD BOONEY TO GET IT!!!! BUT NO HE DID NOT LISTEN TO ME!!!!
In JAn the piece shot up again because all the retailers sold out of there stock and the collectors had controll of the statues. Now you see collectors selling theirs at high prices for profit.
I think the piece will stay around the 500 mark for a while like the death dealer because alot of people are looking for it right now.
I lost a tree beard last night at 416 Damn it !!!!!!!
I want this bust badly!!!! I still need an aragon and merry bust, bullseye and information on these???????

[Zurbaran1]

HERE is the thing about this piece, it was at 300 when it was released then shot up to 500 plus oct and novem of 04, then in december it shot down again to 300 , THIS IS WHEN I TOLD BOONEY TO GET IT!!!! BUT NO HE DID NOT LISTEN TO ME!!!!
In JAn the piece shot up again because all the retailers sold out of there stock and the collectors had controll of the statues. Now you see collectors selling theirs at high prices for profit.
I think the piece will stay around the 500 mark for a while like the death dealer because alot of people are looking for it right now.
I lost a tree beard last night at 416 Damn it !!!!!!!
I want this bust badly!!!! I still need an aragon and merry bust, bullseye and information on these???????

What's with the giant print knucklehead? You think you're CK13 or something?
By the way, Bullseye is a Bowen bust. Last time I checked Bullseye wasn't in the LOTR. Of course, Peter Jackson could be a Bowen fan in which case he might have snuck Bullseye inconspicuously into one of the massive battle scenes. :laugh:

[Zurbaran1]

Oh yeah, Sniper, STOP YER WHINING already!!!! :laugh: :laugh:

[Sniper]

U truly are mod scum and should be BAnned U bastich!!!!!!!!
thanks for the ringwraith at 300 way back , U still suck anyway!!! :laugh:
dont touch my posts! :laugh: :laugh:

[Zurbaran1]

You're welcome. Didn't that actually come in for you at $275? :laugh: :laugh:

[Sniper]

The bug has been awakened , I just bought a treedbeard bin for 375.00 on ebay thanks to boony for calling me about the auction. shipped for 33 , I cant wait. I also just got my aragon form bullseye , we conducted a trade for a black widow statue.
I will be sending it out his statue this weekend.
I have to update my list but I have been busy . I am almost done with the big $$$$ pieces. Great to be back in the hunt. I have been selling alot of my old stuff , dc and some statues I have from bowen I no longer care for . I am not a fullsize completist anylonger so I have to sell some stuff I have like my ironman double pack , cyclops double pack, wolverine brown, supeman and batman in box, and maybe my FF set of all 5 statues. IT is going to be a busy summer. And Zurbby your original ironman number 50 set may be gone also ,not sure yet

[Zurbaran1]

You're gonna like that Treebeard. You're gonna like it alot. Congrats.

[Sniper]

You're gonna like that Treebeard. You're gonna like it alot. Congrats.
thanks always wanted it under 450 shipped. I was looking for the merry and pippin action figures to place on top of his branches. Would give it a nice touch.

[Wayne Industries]

thanks always wanted it under 450 shipped. I was looking for the merry and pippin action figures to place on top of his branches. Would give it a nice touch.

getting deep in the hole there bud..... :)

[Zurbaran1]

Deep this one, in the hole, goes :laugh:

[Wayne Industries]

Deep this one, in the hole, goes :laugh:

not as deep as some folks... ;) ;) :D

[Boerboel]

If you are not willing to go deep,then why even get in the huddle! :laugh:

[Comicboy]

Nice job Sniper! You are going to freak when you get it.

[Bullseye]

So we are back on track. You can put the gun down now:). That was a good deal on TB indeed. I may have a deal on one myself but need a few weeks to pay cc off.

[Zurbaran1]

Sniper: I'm in, I'm out, I'm in, I'm out, I'm in, I'm out.
I'm loosing track but I think today is an out day for him :laugh:

[Bullseye]

So the Aragorn arrived safe? I'm glad as it was the first thing i've sent to the states.

[Sniper]

I only said I was going to look into getting the busts and see if a complete set was possible. I bought some full sizes but mostly I can pick and choose which I want.
If I ever bought a big $$ piece it would have to be witch king , balrog and cave troll are way to much . For a thousand or so this piece is simply awesome.
So zurb let me get yours..........<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZSYYYYYYYYUS' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_6_10.gif' alt='Masked Smiley' border=0></a>

[Acme1970]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=6514946459&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

for bilbo 62 dollars and 2 hours left !!! this is insane!!!!!

You think thats insane huh, Try having the highest bid on a Mini Theoden Helmet for 7 days ($50 bid) then an hour before the auction ends someone else outbids you, Lets just say this other guy & i lost our minds (what little was left anyway) & i won, paying $137 for it, Thats insane :eek:

[Sniper]

Man I dont need certain pieces right now , The merry bust is always around 175 so I think I will wait to get this one at a really good price. I wont pay that much for one of the smallest busts in the collection.

[Zurbaran1]

You think thats insane huh, Try having the highest bid on a Mini Theoden Helmet for 7 days ($50 bid) then an hour before the auction ends someone else outbids you, Lets just say this other guy & i lost our minds (what little was left anyway) & i won, paying $137 for it, Thats insane :eek:

Wow, you really wanted that one. On the bright side, it's an awesome helm. You'll like it.

[Zurbaran1]

Man I dont need certain pieces right now , The merry bust is always around 175 so I think I will wait to get this one at a really good price. I wont pay that much for one of the smallest busts in the collection.

I'm in, I'm out, I'm in, I'm out.

Sniper's having an "I'm out" day today. :laugh:

[Sniper]

I wait till he goes down , got treebeard and awen at a good price because I waited

[Bullseye]

Were did you pick up Treebeard Snipes. From that guy in the Bronx?

[Sniper]

no he never wanted to meet for a pick up , Boony called me in the morning and told me there was a treebeard up for 375.00 BIN at 2 am when he checked. He put a bid on it so he retracted and then I bought it
TEAM WORK A BEAUTIFUL THING......

[Bullseye]

Isn't there a danger of negative feedback if you retract? By the way great pick up for $375

[Zurbaran1]

Nice deal for $375. Did you get it yet?

[CKinSD]

nice score sniper

[Sniper]

it arrived yesterday but I was not home maybe thursday I should get it . I had it redirected to my friends shop

[Sniper]

Isn't there a danger of negative feedback if you retract? By the way great pick up for $375
How can you get negative feedback , he did not win the item. You can retract any bid amount up to 24 hours. The seller cant give you negative feedback there is no way....

[Bullseye]

How can you get negative feedback , he did not win the item. You can retract any bid amount up to 24 hours. The seller cant give you negative feedback there is no way....

Thats fair enough. I've never done it before.

[Acme1970]

Wow, you really wanted that one. On the bright side, it's an awesome helm. You'll like it.

I'm going for all of the Rohan helmets, So it would be a pretty lame collection without Theoden's

[Boerboel]

The only helm I'm getting is Saurons.At least thats what I keep telling myself.

[Comicboy]

The only helm I'm getting is Saurons.At least thats what I keep telling myself.
Yeah you just keep tellin yourself that. :laugh: Let us know how that works out for you.

[Zurbaran1]

The only helm I'm getting is Saurons.At least thats what I keep telling myself.

The helms are awesome and they creep up on you. You start with one, see how nice it is and then before you know it you're looking at a few others. The Morgul Lord helm looks like it will be awesome as well. You should pick up a couple of the ones that are already out there. The nice thing about them is that a lot of them are still available cheap.

[Boerboel]

The helms are awesome and they creep up on you. You start with one, see how nice it is and then before you know it you're looking at a few others. The Morgul Lord helm looks like it will be awesome as well. You should pick up a couple of the ones that are already out there. The nice thing about them is that a lot of them are still available cheap.

I must admit I would like Gimli's helm too.

[Zurbaran1]

I must admit I would like Gimli's helm too.

Get it. Trust me on these. The market may be cooling but at some point folks are gonna start giving these their due and you know what happens then.

I am really looking forward to all the new helm releases especially the Gondorian Helms. Those are going to be extraordinary and who knows they could fuel a new rise in interest and prices on the helms.

[Comicboy]

Yep the Gondorian helms are going to rock! I didnt want to go too nuts on the helms but that will change soon enough. I've been meaning to find me a Orc Hide helm and the Rohan helms. They may be next on the list.