Have Macross become out of reach for collectors

[xrentonx]

How about the pre-renewal Valks? Those didn't retain their inflated value. Honestly, unless you're some scalper, the value I would hope you get is not monetary...

[Firefox]

The Yamato and Bandai products are not for niche market. But judging on the pricing trend from Arcadia, Macross toys are fast becoming niche product. May be some people would prefer them to be niche so that they could show off to those who couldn't afford. I would hope them to be more affordable so that Macross could reach more people. If Macross become a niche market, it will only shrink. For now, I applaud Bandai's prices as it is good toy, playable at a reasonable price.

[Excillon]

I quit collecting years ago, when the VF-1 2.0's began coming out. I sold off all my stuff except for what I loved. All I kept was a V2 1/60 VF-1S Roy, A VF-1S Hikaru 1/48 with strike packs, a 1/48 VF-1J stealth with packs, a 1/48 Low viz, 1/48 Max 1A which I keep in GBP, and a 1/60 YF-19. I did just buy a 2nd 19 here on the forums to display in battroid (since it's my favorite in both modes and was a good deal) and a renewal Ozma.

That being said, since I quit and only recently started casually collecting, I don't feel that burn to get every release anymore. But yeah, prices are getting way out of hand as I have kept up with the market somewhat.

[Mommar]

The Yamato and Bandai products are not for niche market. But judging on the pricing trend from Arcadia, Macross toys are fast becoming niche product. May be some people would prefer them to be niche so that they could show off to those who couldn't afford. I would hope them to be more affordable so that Macross could reach more people. If Macross become a niche market, it will only shrink. For now, I applaud Bandai's prices as it is good toy, playable at a reasonable price.

You obviously have no idea what niche means. Yamato, save for the VF-1 which has a following outside of the US, was producing toys from 20+ year old shows that were never legally released outside of Japan and weren't necessarily that popular within Japan at the time. The price has nothing to do with the product being niche. If that were true Hot Toys releases would be "niche" as well but the properties are all red hot around the world. You're speaking nonsense.

[Deadeye_281]

I think that you really have to love Macross to be willing to pay the cost for what some of these toys are going for. I grew up with Robotech on TV in the eighties. Hell, I even think it played as a factor in me joining the army so it's kinda in my blood so to speak.

Following some of the old 1:48 purchases, I got back into Macross valk collecting right in the middle of the great Yamato bankruptcy BS craze and I've paid through the teeth for some of - though not all - my valks, IE: the VF-4G for starters. I have a specialist job in the military so I can afford these things for the most part, but man, sometimes I wonder just as to why these things are so damn expensive and as to how they can possibly command the prices that they do. Yeah, yeah all the unlicensed, North American imported stuff aside, PT Macross valk collecting continues to be one hell of an expensive undertaking. First World problems right? The new Arcadia YF-19 is no exception to this reality. I pre-ordered this baby like many of you on this forum but I've got my fingers crossed that it turns out to be a solid release. If it's not, it might force me to reassess the wads of cash that I blow on this hobby.

Thankfully, the for sale thread on this very forum is normally choked with really good deals from members who aren't out to merely scalp valks at inflated prices. Just thinking of the alternative of shopping on evilbay for valks makes me cringe.

[Firefox]

You obviously have no idea what niche means. Yamato, save for the VF-1 which has a following outside of the US, was producing toys from 20+ year old shows that were never legally released outside of Japan and weren't necessarily that popular within Japan at the time. The price has nothing to do with the product being niche. If that were true Hot Toys releases would be "niche" as well but the properties are all red hot around the world. You're speaking nonsense.

I know what niche means. Macross toys may not be niche for now. But Arcadia had started to place the price appealing to a much smaller group. You could call the group as Macross die hard fan. Only die hard will continue to pay whatever exorcibant prices Arcadia set and soon only the die hard will follow the toys. While Macross itself may not be niche, at least Arcadia's Macross toy will be. You just have not seen far enough to see the niche is coming. Just hope Bandai won't follow this trend too soon.

[Mommar]

I know what niche means. Macross toys may not be niche for now. But Arcadia had started to place the price appealing to a much smaller group. You could call the group as Macross die hard fan. Only die hard will continue to pay whatever exorcibant prices Arcadia set and soon only the die hard will follow the toys. While Macross itself may not be niche, at least Arcadia's Macross toy will be. You just have not seen far enough to see the niche is coming. Just hope Bandai won't follow this trend too soon.

Yamato/Arcadia Valks ARE niche already. Frontier does not speak for the rest of the series.

[Scyla]

Actually the way I understand it Yamcadia Valkyries are a niche inside a niche of a niche.

[Knightdramon]

I think people overestimate in general how popular Macross is.

The more popular a franchise, the more places around the world show it, the more interest there is for merchandise, the bigger the companies that go after such licenses are, and so on.

Macross and DYRL were big enough in Japan and to the rest of the world as Robotech, but the rest was pretty much obscure. Macross Plus is very popular within the macross fame. Macross 7 is sadly not popular even among fans. Macross Frontier was a minor hit, but that was it, and only in Japan.

When a company [Yamato] makes a figure [VF4] whose only appearance in an anime was a 4 seconds or so cameo on a compilation video largely available only in Japan...

Then yes, that's a niche in a niche of a niche.

With the way Macross anime work and where they're distributed, almost everything besides the hero valkyrie is a niche people. And it's reflected on the prices.

[Falcon]

I thought Macross 7 was a minor hit in Japan. Thought Macross Frontier was a pretty big hit in Japan. Am I wrong?

What's with the Yamcadia? I'm sticking to Arcmato!

Macross is getting pricey but that's to be expected. People say Hot Toys isn't a niche market but I feel that the prices are a bit on the high side for it not to be. Perhaps I'm wrong, but niche needs to be put into context. A big fanbase in the 100's of millions with under a million or so fans going for a collectible is still pretty niche in my mind. But is it as niche as as one where you have millions of fans with 100's of thousands that are after a collectible? Perhaps in percentage but not in numbers- kind of like saying what football team is the biggest.

Edited January 16, 2014 by Falcon

[YF-29 Durandal]

Macross 7 is pretty bad but Macross Dynamite 7 is a whole lot better.

I had to force myself to watch Macross 7 after episode 30 or so, thats how bad it is.

Macross Frontier is really good, the TV series that is, I haven't watched the two movies as of yet.

And Yamcadia sounds good to me.

[anime52k8]

I think I'm just going to start calling them Andromeda in preparation for the next time they go bankrupt/restructure.

[Scyla]

Macross 7 is pretty bad but Macross Dynamite 7 is a whole lot better.

I had to force myself to watch Macross 7 after episode 30 or so, thats how bad it is.

Macross Frontier is really good, the TV series that is, I haven't watched the two movies as of yet.

And Yamcadia sounds good to me.

Heresy! Macross 7 is the best entry in the Macross series. It has Milia who is clearly the star of the whole series and she is single so there is still hope for me!

Edited January 16, 2014 by Scyla

[YF-29 Durandal]

Heresy! Macross 7 is the best entry in the Macross series. It has Milia who is clearly the star of the whole series and she is single so there is still hope for me!

Actually they never divorced and I'm pretty sure that they patched up their marriage after the final episode.

[jvmacross]

Actually they never divorced and I'm pretty sure that they patched up their marriage after the final episode.

...and started having more kids! ....or maybe just one more...a son!

[Scyla]

Actually they never divorced and I'm pretty sure that they patched up their marriage after the final episode.

Don't you dare destroy my hopes and dreams!

[Tochiro]

This thread was so good we took the topic and ran with it for the final third of the latest podcast.

http://www.macrossworld.com/6283/macross-speakerpodcast-ep-12-part-2-hound-squadron-scramble/

Thanks for the great discussion and inspiration everyone!

[1/1 LowViz Lurker]

The Yamato and Bandai products are not for niche market. But judging on the pricing trend from Arcadia, Macross toys are fast becoming niche product. May be some people would prefer them to be niche so that they could show off to those who couldn't afford. I would hope them to be more affordable so that Macross could reach more people. If Macross become a niche market, it will only shrink. For now, I applaud Bandai's prices as it is good toy, playable at a reasonable price.

I remember a really long time ago back when the yamato 1/48 vf-1 had just been released people who had bought multiples of that toy, some of these guys were actually angry that yamato were going to reissue more of the toys and the collectors didn't like that even though it would mean more money for yamato and more happy fans who missed out the first time.

I think it is silly for them to not want it to be widely available to as many people as possible just so the 2nd hand market value was high..

Having said that, what the poor guy should be doing is waiting until prices go down after they milk the rich guys off money. If you are a rich guy buying multiples you are handing the small startup toy company needed money to keep afloat. Imagine if you were an owner of a business. You do everything to ensure you could make the risk as worthwhile as possible. Since there so few macross fans compared to transformers or gundam ones, you got to cater to the most desperate first and then work your way down to the least desperate in that order.

The only solution to making this stuff cheaper (especially for us overseas) is if one day macross goes under different name and the whole universe is destroyed, and the new macross show is brought over to new territories other than japan-only, so harmony gold has no way to block sales of this stuff and claim they have some right over merchandise.

Think of all the potential fans that toy companies miss out on internationally just because macross as a series can't be brought outside japan. New name, a reboot of the series, and local sales of this stuff would make it more affordable since there are going to be more exposure of the characters, mecha and story overall. (much like gundam enjoys now where you can easily buy bluray/dvd of the anime in your region easily)

Made-to-order toys have to be priced higher though since there are small number produced and so each one sold has to pay for the cost to start the project to begin with right? After that when all expenses were covered to make the toy a reality, they can sell to more people later and prove the venture was worth it. It's early days. The prices are high probably because they are scared to bleed money. I am glad they focus on 1 release of new toy a year. Otherwise I would never keep up.

Edited March 31, 2014 by 1/1 LowViz Lurker

[alchemo]

I may be wrong but I think the new YF-19 will be re-released later on and then sell at a discount, nearly all Yamato Hero valks, and many non-hero valks too, have been re-released (except VF-4, VF-19F and VF-17D because Yamato went down shortly after they were release).

If you are not that desperate for it, wait a few months and you may likely get some discount.

I have preordered this one because I am very desperate and I have been saving up for it when it was announced almost a year ago

Back to the pricing of Arcadia, developing and manufacturing costs for toys of this kind of precision are high, there is also the cost of licensing and promotions and they do have to make a fat profit to go on making new molds.

Also, items from older Macross series does not sell as good as those from the new series.

All the above were explained by many members already.

To think that Arcadia's pricing policy is intended to make Macross products a luxury items for a limited group is, in my opinion, a negative and self-alienating mindset that makes no others but oneself feels miserable.

And if they are not appealing to you, then how much they are priced doesn’t even bother you.

In 10 years or so I can barely afford an MG kit per month because of other liabilities, I bought my PG Zaku on the month I got my yearend bonus and have some surplus after paying what I owe earlier in the year.

In fact, I only started my toy collection in late 2009 because I could hardly afford any completed models / chogokin before that and I did not feel miserable because they are not the first priority at that time.

Let's have fun with toys.

Edited April 1, 2014 by alchemo

[Black Valkyrie]

Yes, I haven't bought a Macross item since a few years because of their price. I can afford them but I have more other important stuff to purchase.

[Kanedas Bike]

Yes, I haven't bought a Macross item since a few years because of their price. I can afford them but I have more other important stuff to purchase.

That reads more of a conscious decision not to buy vs. items being out of financial reach.

-b.

[CrazyDude]

For me most of the Toys/Collectibles are too high in Price and not worth it.

Some Items I will pick up while on Sale though.

Also while I like Macross it is not my biggest love or Interest.

Personal feelings.

[Guest davidwhangchoi]

i haven't brought much either..... just everything macross that came out for frontier and yamato/arcadia 2011-13 and this year. jk, jk

it has become high priced. the only reason i'm willing to pay because i don't think these will devalue so quickly so i think it's worth it.

Edited April 1, 2014 by davidwhangchoi

[skullmilitia]

I buy stuff because I like it / minority

[GU-11]

For me most of the Toys/Collectibles are too high in Price and not worth it.

Some Items I will pick up while on Sale though.

Also while I like Macross it is not my biggest love or Interest.

Personal feelings.

What he said.

[anime52k8]

I buy stuff because I like it / minority

This. I've got some really weird stuff.

[bforbryan]

+1. I really do not want to use this term but YOLO! Haha.. I'm not suggesting to become a hoarder. Just get the ones you really like/love. For me, I fell in love with the YF-19 ever since I laid eyes on it watching Macross Plus. So damn sexy. Haven't justified buying it at a aftermarket premium and fortunately, this time around I was able to preorder "at cost."

Edited April 1, 2014 by bforbryan

[slaginpit]

wow my thread exploded. anyway some things i noticed about some of the comments where that macross has no show to push sales worldwide. Well dont they think its about time. Someone has to break that harmony gold license. Its just getting beyond stupid how they are hogging that thing. Maybe then macross stuff might be a little more affordable for the rest of us working schmos. Not that I am complaining. I have quite the macross collection.

[jvmacross]

The "look what I just snagged" thread stands at 23 pages and counting.....http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=40095

Answer is still NO.....

300 USD for a fully transforming Macross valkyrie? Merely an appetizer for some.....

http://page6.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/f137465319

Edited April 1, 2014 by jvmacross

[1/1 LowViz Lurker]

wow my thread exploded. anyway some things i noticed about some of the comments where that macross has no show to push sales worldwide. Well dont they think its about time. Someone has to break that harmony gold license. Its just getting beyond stupid how they are hogging that thing. Maybe then macross stuff might be a little more affordable for the rest of us working schmos. Not that I am complaining. I have quite the macross collection.

Yeah we all think of HG as the antichrist. At least we got Macross Plus outside japan before they noticed. Perhaps it is time (and this has been discussed elsewhere on the boards) that they rebooted macross under new name hyped it up in such a way to appeal to all the fans of macross, space battleship yamato, gundam etc to reel in a new fanbase for a new franchise that has the feel of all those sci fi shows ...........but with valks in it. (ie robots with three mode transformation we are all familiar with)

"From the creator of macross"

Bubblegum crisis for instance had a spin off show called AD police.

Just treat it like a new unrelated series. Call it Space War II. Refer to events in Space War I as forgotten history. (ie macross, but since that time man has had to rebuild after an extinction level event which wiped out most people around that time - all macross shows that came after dyrl are just myths)

Edited April 2, 2014 by 1/1 LowViz Lurker

[slaginpit]

The "look what I just snagged" thread stands at 23 pages and counting.....http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=40095

Answer is still NO.....

300 USD for a fully transforming Macross valkyrie? Merely an appetizer for some.....

http://page6.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/f137465319

I agree it is a bit of a show off contest. Im guilty of that, I was insane! when I paid 700 bucks for the Fewture Shin Getter toy but that is far and few in between. But the way some of these guys make purchases regularly is pretty scary. I would love to get some of the MF valks but the prices keep me away. Seeing how they start to fall in price I cant justify paying those stupid prices and then feel like an ass when I see them 50% discounted 2 or 3 years later

Edited April 2, 2014 by slaginpit

[Isamu Dyson]

I agree it is a bit of a show off contest. Im guilty of that, I was insane! when I paid 700 bucks for the Fewture Shin Getter toy but that is far and few in between. But the way some of these guys make purchases regularly is pretty scary. I would love to get some of the MF valks but the prices keep me away. Seeing how they start to fall in price I cant justify paying those stupid prices and then feel like an ass when I see them 50% discounted 2 or 3 years later

More like 50% increase in prices after 2 or 3 years my friend. I'm still missing a VF-25S renewal and not worth paying the market price now. I missed out on the VF-19P thinking no problem, I'll wait for it to go on sale. Well we all know how this story ends. Pray for a re-release or pay up. If you see a new valk you want, buy it now cuz more than likely your getting a deal now and it will be a steal in the future.

[Valkyrie23]

More like 50% increase in prices after 2 or 3 years my friend. I'm still missing a VF-25S renewal and not worth paying the market price now. I missed out on the VF-19P thinking no problem, I'll wait for it to go on sale. Well we all know how this story ends. Pray for a re-release or pay up. If you see a new valk you want, buy it now cuz more than likely your getting a deal now and it will be a steal in the future.

The VF-19P is still available at HKC and on a slight sale price as well. They also have all of the VF-19 valks in stock - some heavily marked down in price.

[Isamu Dyson]

The VF-19P is still available at HKC and on a slight sale price as well. They also have all of the VF-19 valks in stock - some heavily marked down in price.

Wow nice find. Never bought from them before. Their prices are pretty reasonable. As soon as I recover from my YF-19 splurge, I'll be on them. Thanks for the intel my friend.

[Mommar]

Wow nice find. Never bought from them before. Their prices are pretty reasonable. As soon as I recover from my YF-19 splurge, I'll be on them. Thanks for the intel my friend.

I've bought a few things from them. They've been pretty good. Though, I've never had anything come broken. Opinions may change after that happens. I've been tempted to get another 19P there.

Edited April 10, 2014 by Mommar