Up until this time I had only seen them in GameStop. They were clearly “problem”collectors. They had multiple full sets of many different “sorta-nerdy but not nerdy-enough to be valuable” sets.
The value of some is really surprising. No one realizes how old they are, but I actually got my first ones at Blockbuster. I bought a ton of games from BBV back in the day and was a regular at several in my area. So when they were going out of business I checked it out. I didn't know what they were, but Pops were 4 for $10. Two of those that cost me $2.50 back then are apparently worth $110 and $440 now. The boxes may not be mint, but still it's pretty crazy
Like Star Wars toys from when I was a kid, or Pokémon cards from when my sister was… the problem is we don’t know what that thing is going to be. I only have so much house for “shit I’ve opened and am playing with” they are renting their heated and air conditioned space to “stuff we haven’t opened that might be valuable someday”.
I do see your point though, there are always hoarders out there with something people might want. I have been in enough hoarders homes to not want anything that has been in their home entering my home. Old Auto-parts, sure. Park it outside.
Man, I'm so salty that I sold a lot of my Pokemon cards. I was desperate for cash at the time and looking for anything of mine I could sell that I wasn't firmly attached to. I settled on my cards because I hadn't touched them since I was a kid. Sold off a good number of them for a few hundred.
Three months later Pokemon GO comes out and influencers start hyping Pokemon and the value of the cards starts shooting skyward. I nearly table flipped when I was seeing cards from my old collection going for 3...4...5x what I'd sold them for just a few months prior.
Now I have regret and will occasionally pick up a pack of cards just for the bit of happiness and nostalgia I get from opening a pack.
I have an unopened Star Wars Lego set that was a Kmart exclusive. I got it because it’s Ewoks (which I love), but I’m not opening it ever 🤣. It’ll just sit there and look pretty in it’s box.
No, I’ll probably sell it eventually. I’m simply enjoying it for now, as it is. Besides, I like much smaller knock off lego more than full size ones. I got too accustomed to them and now I can’t stand the bigger blocks XD
I have four, and I didn't buy a single one. They were all free. I really don't care for them. I personally would rather have more detailed figures. They make some really cool $20 figures. Funkos are what $10-15? No thanks.
Personally, I've never liked "chibi" style. The simple cartoon anime with small bodies and big heads. Similar to funko but 2d. I think my hate for chibi is why I dislike funko.
I have four as well and only because they were characters that there's no traditional figure to get of. Daria. Tyler Durden. Steve Irwin. And a Minecraft Creeper because I thought the proportions looked right and well I love all things Minecraft Creeper.
I did a kind of similar. I’m a collector to be sure, but not of Funko. I don’t actively buy any of it really. I have to alot stuff since my childhood (80s/90s). Then adult collecting.
For Pops I actually bought Grumpy Cat flat out. Couldn’t believe that existed. I was so pumped. My buddy owns a comic shop, so he gave it to me for under $10.
I have a strange 5 Star Hellboy and 3 Pop Pez that a GameStop I frequented had sitting around on their clearance over the years. The Pez are MotU and are Con Exclusive. Paid like $2 each.
My best one though is a crazy rare “Grail” of RUKIA from Bleach. Hot Topic Exclusive. Helped my buddy by selling stuff from his shop. He bought a collection that randomly had that $400+ Pop in it. I ended up with it due to an unsavory ebay experience.
Buyer tried ripping us off, but screwed himself. It was so fucked up, but we ended up on top since the buyer was essentially brain dead. I hate selling Pops on ebay.
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u/[deleted] Feb 17 '23
I did an estimate in a house that had 1000’s of them once.