Is statue collecting dying?

[ukshaun]

Rising prices..
Shipping fees..
Import fees.. (for some of us)
Space issues.. (for some of us)
Rising food prices..
Rising energy fees..
Priorities..

The World is not such a funny place right now.
Just when you think times are a down trend, they sink further, and further.
Where's it all heading? ..once the Russia/Ukraine special military operation (war) is over, then maybe the world will head on to a more positive place. Things can start looking up!

2025 is a year when i clear all my pre_orders. I say that every year. This year, i mean it!
That said, i did recently place a pre_order with Sideshow for a 1/4 pieces

..and, i today added a 1/4 piece from the past onto a ebay watch list.

-

I have a JND piece to pay for at some point. That is one BiG Black CLOUD. I think once that cloud has passed, i cannot see me ever ordering another JND piece. The prices are too high. I do want the JND Catwoman

[Mister H]

Definitely dying for me. I’m waiting on a Batman statue and a Mr. Freeze bust. Both paid for. There will possibly be a Conan to buy but who the hell knows with all these companies dragging their feet with POs and release schedules.

[qz33]

I mean it's always about money. Just do the calculus.
If average 1/4's were $50 and everything else was the same we'd all be donkey balls excited and not complaining about jack----.

[IceDog]

Originally Posted by qz33

we'd all be donkey balls excited

[ZenLogikos]

Originally Posted by qz33

I mean it's always about money. Just do the calculus.
If average 1/4's were $50 and everything else was the same we'd all be donkey balls excited and not complaining about jack----.

We'd be complaining they aren't $49.

[qz33]

Originally Posted by ZenLogikos

We'd be complaining they aren't $49.

Yes, that is 100% true but we'd be buying everything none the less.

[azurepred]

Originally Posted by IceDog

But in most markets, competition drives prices down

True, but demand for statues dropped off the cliff

Originally Posted by Augen

To me a major issue is virtually no company has a clear roadmap to generate buzz.

There's only so many times any given company can announce and either take years or fail to deliver something that excites collectors.

There aren't even really the same events to look forward to that have expectations for many of us.

If a company consistently made solid pieces releasing at regularly intervals (one every three months) and had an annual event to get buzz of what the next 5-6 pieces are it could really cultivate momentum.

Of course then you throw the rising costs and it creates a feedback loop where companies play it safe and end lines reverting back to tried and true core characters done as naseum.

At a point it gets ridiculous when I'm pumped for a Tifa statue from Prime 1 completely killed because a 1:4 piece is close to $2K.

It gets harder and harder to see how new collectors on ramp in a hobby where the floor is now $700+ for the larger pieces.

The Prime one events seem to be the only thing that really creates buzz anymore. It used to be SS during SDCC, but they just kind of gave up on that, which is sad.

Originally Posted by qz33

I mean it's always about money. Just do the calculus.
If average 1/4's were $50 and everything else was the same we'd all be donkey balls excited and not complaining about jack----.

I'm not boasting about it, but for me, it's mostly space. It's so hard to sell a older statue, so I can't pre order like I used to. I haven't pre-ordered anything in over a year.

[qz33]

Originally Posted by azurepred

....

I'm not boasting about it, but for me, it's mostly space. It's so hard to sell a older statue, so I can't pre order like I used to. I haven't pre-ordered anything in over a year.

Yes but at $50 a pop you really would not care either way.

[Augen]

Originally Posted by azurepred

The Prime one events seem to be the only thing that really creates buzz anymore. It used to be SS during SDCC, but they just kind of gave up on that, which is sad.

True, I would say subjectively Prime 1 seems to be more "throw stuff at the wall" in the past few years.

The idea of a line and plan building doesn't feel like its there now. The Arkham or Hush or Artgerm line had me curious about what is next. now, I'm not sure anything that could on the horizon.

Random film or Anime can be cool, but it tends to lack the anticipation of "oh, I can't wait for them to finish this line and announce X!"

Obviously if someone is pumped for a piece I wouldn't deny them, and understand part of this has been the shift from DC to other disparate IPs.

[qz33]

Collectors are too inconsistent and so are each entry in lines.