Sometimes I'll ask sellers straight up "why are you selling this at such a high price?"

The answer I got recently was: "Oh, it's not that expensive at all, actually. It must be the devaluation of your currency." - as is the case with those two Bemons.

I also like...."it's what I paid for it".

I recently had someone offer me a toy that retailed for 5000 yen just a couple weeks ago for $300.

Don't forget the dying on Anraku figures. That can't be easy.

Whoa, Anraku is dyed. Don't let the have prolonged physical contact with other toys, contact can dye other toys.

I admire both the work of Anraku Ansaku and NagNagNag equally. They both have their own aesthetic and are completely different entities. First of all, what I said is that the quality of NagNagNag's best (effort) release (the zombie-and this is just my opinion) seems to outweigh anything I've seen put out by Anraku Ansaku (again, just my opinion, never said that anything I stated was fact). This comment was strictly in regards to paint application. I think Anraku Ansaku trumps the hell out of NagNagNag when it comes to sculpting technique, as well as character design; absolutely stunning, virtually symmetrical, highly unique characters with textures that make my mind want to explode. Now, I wouldn't say everything Shigeru puts out is pure gold, and I never meant to imply that anything Anraku Ansaku puts out is garbage. I was comparing a single release by NagNagNag to that which I've personally seen by Anraku Ansaku (though I admit I haven't seen everything).

You are right however; I cannot say who puts more work or effort into their figures, as what might be a lot of work for one person, might not be for another. A simple factor such as having perfectionist tendencies, which can really stress a person out and take a lot of energy out of someone to put out the most minimal of work (not saying either of their work is minimal) is a clear example of this.



He made mention of this. I was not aware that dying was part of his process, very interesting.

Back to the original discussion of retail pricing, what's the highest retail price ever been stamped on a release by Anraku Ansaku? Do you know turtle?

and for which sculpt. I'm guessing there is a price range based on certain sculpts like Dako or Goga are massive, compared to Cambodia or Nue.

This is exactly why I am involved in this discussion. There is a perception that everyone who collects Anraku is a high rolling fat cat, who flips toys that they get for $50 for $2000. The one thing you can be sure of is that you don't know anything about me or my situation, so please stop with the assumptions.

Yes, I am a huge Anraku Ansaku fan. I don't collect Nags but don't have anything against Shigeru, his toys, the folks who collect his stuff or even what they choose to pay for those toys. So, I don't think I'm being biased at all in this discussion. If someone likes a toy and they want to pay the asking price, that's their business. Just don't try and claim that one crazy high retail price is somehow more "worth it" because of the work you feel the maker put into it. There are other makers who put the same amount, if not more work into their toys and they don't ask anywhere near as much as Anraku, Shigeru, Bemon, HxS, or whoever.

It all boils down to what people are willing to pay.

I'm also not trying to justify the high prices charged by Anraku. I wish his stuff was cheaper. I also wish prices in the secondary market weren't so crazy. I just want to point out that the idea that people who get stuff directly from Anraku for cheap and then resell it for thousands is way off. There was a time when Anraku stuff was cheap, but that ship sailed long ago. The current prices are quite high compared to most other toys.

Does Anraku even make toys anymore? All I see of him at the moment is his youtube page.

And, if he's done, or on hiatus, then I can understand the hike in prices for his toys. Where else are you going to get them but the secondary market?

1. I didn't say I knew anything about you, nor did I assume that you were one of the people who make a profit off selling AA toys scored at retail. If anything, I'd say those people are the minority.

2. You're no better than me with assumptions if you're making the assumption that I think that every person who's on the AA mailing list is either rich, or a flipper.

I'm more than happy to hear your side of the story, and I'm sure others love hearing it too. I honestly believe everything you're saying in regards to the history behind the rise in retail pricing. There's no need to get on the defensive, we're only able to make assumptions with what goes on behind closed doors as everyone has always been so secretive. It is this secrecy which leads people to make poor assumptions about honest collectors like you. Try to think outside of the box and see it from our perspective. Also, don't assume that just because some assholes in the past made you feel like a crook, that I'm no better. I'm just trying to have a discussion, not put you on trial. I didn't even know you were on the AA mailing list until halfway through this discussion, while I was looking through AA photographs on flickr, your account came up and I pieced things together. If it seemed like I was being snotty towards you, or trying to make you out to be a profiteer somewhere between the lines, you totally read me wrong.

The "need" to justify the high retail price on toys like NagNagNag's zombie is merely an attempt made by collectors such as myself to make sense of things. People see the high price tag at retail, naturally the first thing they're going to ask is, "hey, what's the big deal?" Many people who spoke in defense of Shigeru on the matter held up the argument that the price was justifiable for the work put into it, many of whom could be considered "higher ups" in the community. These people, whether we want to believe it or not, have an influence on the community as a whole (myself included, though I'd like to believe I'm a little more independent in my thoughts). Perhaps this influenced my own "justification."

When people make such comments, they don't realize that in the process, they somewhat belittle the work of others.



I couldn't agree more, I think this is the ultimate truth, however, common arguments in defense of these producers in particular are "the artist has the right to charge whatever he/she wants," "if you don't like the price tag, move on," "not all artists have all the time in the world to make toys," just to name a few. Whether or not these are solid arguments as to why the community allows some things to pass and not others is beyond me.

Anyway, no hard feelings man, sorry if I upset you.

These posts are too long for me to read. I quit.

4 years 177 posts and most of them are when he latches on to the next want or needs to update his WANT list. Stick with Touma toys "HBCOFFIN."

I can't talk, look at my post count

But he wants to trade his Anrukansakkus for a NAAAAAG. How else will you feel out the willingness of people to trade other than by engaging them in a debate about relative value?

Ha ha! I was just scrolling through to the end to get out of this thread and happened to notice this post.

sounds like natalia pritt

I just skim the short posts.

My apologies, in the past I haven't spent much time doing a lot of talking, I've always been more of a lurker, but I've been going through a period of high anxiety and suffering from panic disorder, so I've been trying to keep my mind occupied as much as possible.

Sorry for the long post(s), I guess I should have just taken them privately with turtletooth, as in the end the discussion was between me and him.

I'll torture you with just one more in response to your comments.



Yes, you've foiled my plan. Strange plan when you think about how I was comparing a toy by NagNagNag and saying the quality was higher than that of a toy by an artist which I have up for offer... Completely logical assumption of my true motives in this discussion (sarcasm). If anything I was only hurting my chances in making a deal by coming off as devaluing what I had to offer.



I really don't know how to read into this. Are you insulting me or TOUMA? TOUMA was one of the first artists whose work I became attached to when I was introduced to the world of vinyl toys. I still have a big collection of his toys and I'm more than proud to display his work in my collection. I'm sorry if his work doesn't meet your standards.

I've always seen the "wanted" section as a place where it was OK for people to ask for completely ridiculous things with very little hope in succeeding. I don't see why it's an issue in my case.

I'll try to keep things short from here on out, my apologies if I made anyone scroll a little out of their way to get down to a shorter post.

Sorry if I truly upset anyone. I guess I need to stop taking this shit so seriously.

Nothing to be sorry about - I'm sure some people are interested in the discussion. Heck, I'm sure there'd be a time when I'd be interested in reading the whole discussion - but right now I'm just not all that interested in toys/value. But I think it's always a good thing when there are long posts/discussions - so much better than:
+1
Awesome!
Nice score!
Sweet piece!

No worries man, I don't let this stuff upset me. Plenty of real world shit to worry about.

. . . 'that's tight' or futile whining about missing out on shit, or flipping.

Buy whatcha like, sell whatcha like, trade whatcha like, give away whatcha like . . . it all comes around!

On 'value' . . . if some impatient dude feels the need to overpay retail x 4 for something . . . accept his $$$ graciously. I've overpaid out of my wazooo plenty, but as a Yorkshireman, it's the cheap deals and freebies that are always the sweetest!

They're all physically 'worth' the same as a $5 Barbie from Target . . . . how much you want them and how much you're willing to pay to feel that void in your life is totally subjective!

Just be happy that's the only 'problem' you are burdened with!

you know what andy i'm taking what you said into account. I have been a little whiny posy NYCC and i need to tone it back. They are toys and what goes around comes around. It may be big right now but all this stuff will find its way into your possession soon enough if you are diligent and keep a PMA. With that said there is nothing wrong with plugging what your looking for every chance you get *cough* Cadaver Kids *cough* ... Just keeps it fresh in other boardies minds so maybe they will toss it your way. Wow look at me i wrote a fairly long post myself, this thread must have some sort of magical powers.

For sure, I was just stating my inability to read long posts now in my old age. But I hate long posts quoted then a long response. Then another quote-response.

FOR SURE! People need to learn how to quote more responsibly.
I also hate it when people quote pictures unnecessarily...

I don't even understand why this is an issue.

One guy buys say 14 figures across twelve months.

Another guy, waits and saves and waits and buys an expensive toy once a year.

Both seem valid...

Supply and demand dictate prices.

Don't like the prices, then wait a year or three and collect something from the past few years in the meantime....