it seems to me like prices are skyrocketing again.

they spiked after the super 7 spread, then sorta mellowed for a while, but are back up again. what happened?

it seems like everything even remotely hard to find is like $200 a piece anymore. I hate to admit it, but I don't know how much more I can afford.

I think we have a lot of new SB fans. The Kaws pushead brought some people into the fold. Cheap prices allowed people to buy their 1st figure. We all know what happens once you try SB for the first time.

You can still buy skullbees for cheap.

I must be getting lucky or buying stuff that's not in demand -- all of the new figures I've picked up were under $100 with most between $60 to $75.

One thing that I have noticed, even in the short amount of time collecting stuff is that the prices do seem to get inflated quickly.

KW

any skullwing is $200+
any secretter 5 skullbrain is $150+
several other old skullbrains are at least $200

it's just nuts

I bought my employee secretter skull brain for $35

why do people hate skullbees?

Prices in general may be higher for a while, but I don't think it's all bad. New releases are well priced, such as the GF and the new skullwing that we were all worried about!

Also ebay prices are certainly out of hand from the few that sell on there for some pieces. But I've been surprised by what has been available on here, Mandarake etc...

Well, I guess you can't compete w/ 35! You could always part w/ a few pieces while prices are high to finance other endeavors!!

I'll give you triple that for it right now man, Paypal ready!

this coming from the man who must have taken out a 2nd mortgage to go on a Kozik shopping spree!

No, no, it was already established...I sold both testicles

I don't want to sound like a crybaby. as a matter of fact, I'm usually the guy whose friends think he's crazy because of some of the purchases he makes. I normally just chalk it up to "that's how much it costs." no way around it.

however, this is supposed to be a hobby, and fun. and if this trend keeps up the outlook on ever completing any kind of back collection, at least for me, is grim. I'm one of those chumps that makes under 30K a year and around half that is my rent, so you figure a couple figures at $200-300 a pop is a good portion of the spending money I have for all year.

I'm trying to go back to school. I can't be a baller anymore.

Dang Skylar you eat those dollar totino pizzas? that and mac n cheese is what I lived on when I was single.

Rent and toy collectiing doesn't leave much for food on 30k a year.

Glad to hear you got one good score. I wish I could if Knewman didn't bid on everything good.

Totally, screw Knewman. What a jerk.

I friggin hate Knewman, Kewnans okay though.

well, I'm not single, but I do still eat that stuff.

and I won't be making this salary forever, at least I don't plan on it.

My humblest apologies to KNEWNAN not KNEWMAN. I am sure others have made the same mistake?

happens everyday...no worries.

Good for you man.

Try to be the man instead of workin for the man! There is a time when we all have to work for someone else but eventually being your own boss is the way to go. It has more risks but the rewards outweigth the fears.

I'm trying. I used to be my own boss years ago, and I miss it every day.

Not to sound dramatic, but it is a hobby, and while a few figures have jumped up in the 150-250 range, they are all several years old, made in extremely small numbers (as you well know) and comprise about 10% of the entire SB output. So, there may be frustration, but there are plenty of affordable version to collect. I think we forget that it will take some time to track all of this stuff down, the last year has made collecting SB much easier than it ever has been. $200 now may mean you don't get another off of the "holy grail" list for a while. It took me FOREVER to track down both original pumpkins and the red balzac figures, and that was waaay back when no one was looking for any of this stuff stateside. Pumpkins were $125 then, and it was tricky to find then when I went to japan -and I even have an inside track on this stuff!

Now, because of the demand in the states, everything went up. I know it is hard to conceive, but, before we were selling these in the states, all of the figures were only released at SB in Tokyo. That is it. So, unless you went to that one shop, in that one town in Japan you did not see them at all. The internet has allowed the deman over here to fuel a second boom in japan for SB, that never existed before. Think about this: how many SB figures have you seen, run into, touched or bought that you did not get throught the internet? These things truly are hard to find and very limited. We just manage to have near instant access to a small scene in a city half the globe away.

Secret 5 figures are getting pricey, but, the reason is that every single person on this board wants a complete set of them. There are 200 people on this board now. I am not sure there are 200 forest skull brain figures produced, and every figure we have here in the states, had to come from a collector in japan -every single one has come from the secondary market. It really gets crazy when you think about it, I still am shocked how many have made it over here.

In the end, as you all know, they can still be chanced upon in japan for cheap from people unaware of the demand, I think all of us have bought figures at prices that were "steals", and unfortunately for us all, we will sooner or later have to cough up for one or two bigger items. You just can't take it personally when the prices start getting high, or be frustrated -there will always be a toy you want that is more than you can afford. Two of my "holy grails" are out there right now, one is $4000 and the other is $7000. I don't even get mad about it, what can you do? I can't pay that, and I just hope one day I get lucky. Sooner or later we all do.

If anyone here deserves to get lucky, it's you Mr. Flynn.

This man had more luck then a Leprechaun with a pocket full of four leaf clovers C'mon! Look at the empire Brian had built here. Look at what he has accomplished in the (how many years have I known you) short time Super 7 has been around. And I knew him way back when he was working for the MAN!!!! - if anybody need the luck, it's us!! Luck in finding enough money to pay the pusher man for our Vinyl fix!!

And Skylar - just collect what you want and pay what you want. If it's to high - pass on it and wait. There is a chance it will come around again - OR maybe not. An Employee Secreteer for $35.00 ???? NEVER seen any of them for under $85.00 (and most are above a $100.00 plus). I have been grabbing SB figs since last June and have seen prices up and down. Thats life as with any collectibles, if you don't like it wear a helmet!

Like I said- if anyone here deserves to get lucky, it's you Dr. Tongue.

Thanks for the laugh my man! I am going to go and sit and look at my wall of Vinyl now that represents my house payment for last month...... Oh and if anybody out thre has a Mutant Chaos Green or GID Pink...... I'm in the market!

hater.

C'mon man - don't hate the player - hate the game!!!!

Love you man!