consultant
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2006
- Messages
- 281
I'm getting into WDCC sculptures both for enjoyment and I'd like to hopefully see my investment grow a little.
Any tips on best collection strategies other than "buy the figuines you like the most?"
First off, I would guess that the pieces with low limited edition production are the most collectible, such as LE 2000 or less? With these pieces is it best to join in order to try to obtain them upon releases or do the WDCC pieces typically sell for less than retail if you wait several months after release and try to buy them on E-bay (I imagine this is more the case for the non-LE pieces?)
Are there many examples of where a piece was not much in demand, but then say 5, 10 years later it is worth a lot more after they retire it? I typically collect older Disney stuff, cels and things from Snow White and Peter Pan. But I'm on a limited budget (aren't we all) and I'm trying to identify maybe some movies that might have good appreciation potential looking long term.
I was impressed with the Toy Story movie like I was when I first start Star Wars as a little kid many years ago. Toy Story to me represents a huge hallmark and turning point in the history of animation, not to mention it's a great movie. Seems to me since it is only 10 years old, Toy Story collectibles could still be had a decent prices. But as the generation of children that grew up in the Toy Story era become adults in another 10 years, or collectors in another 10-20 years, anything Toy Story that wasn't TOO mass produced could be quite valuable? So I'm thinking maybe the Toy Story WDCC pieces would be good investments?
Is this sound thinking, or is it more of a crap shoot what appreciates and what doesn't?
On the Toy Story pieces, they were retired in 2003. But I someone that is stamped 1998. Is there a version of the pieces (initial release stamped 1998) that is more valuable than the other or are all the WDCC Toy Story pieces of equal value despite what year they were produced?
Should I try to snap up an LE WDCC piece right when it comes out as that is probably a farily safe investment long term? Looking at Duckman's list, the LE pieces are always the most expensive.
The downside of this is I'm not one that likes to have a house full of 'stuff'. But I guess that is contradictory to collecting itself. I suppose I can just store many pieces and only display my favorites. I'm essentially trying to identify collecting niches that mid-term will appreciate so I can resell part of my collection in 3-5 years to hopefully make a little profit to basically subsidize my collecting habit.
Any tips on best collection strategies other than "buy the figuines you like the most?"
First off, I would guess that the pieces with low limited edition production are the most collectible, such as LE 2000 or less? With these pieces is it best to join in order to try to obtain them upon releases or do the WDCC pieces typically sell for less than retail if you wait several months after release and try to buy them on E-bay (I imagine this is more the case for the non-LE pieces?)
Are there many examples of where a piece was not much in demand, but then say 5, 10 years later it is worth a lot more after they retire it? I typically collect older Disney stuff, cels and things from Snow White and Peter Pan. But I'm on a limited budget (aren't we all) and I'm trying to identify maybe some movies that might have good appreciation potential looking long term.
I was impressed with the Toy Story movie like I was when I first start Star Wars as a little kid many years ago. Toy Story to me represents a huge hallmark and turning point in the history of animation, not to mention it's a great movie. Seems to me since it is only 10 years old, Toy Story collectibles could still be had a decent prices. But as the generation of children that grew up in the Toy Story era become adults in another 10 years, or collectors in another 10-20 years, anything Toy Story that wasn't TOO mass produced could be quite valuable? So I'm thinking maybe the Toy Story WDCC pieces would be good investments?
Is this sound thinking, or is it more of a crap shoot what appreciates and what doesn't?
On the Toy Story pieces, they were retired in 2003. But I someone that is stamped 1998. Is there a version of the pieces (initial release stamped 1998) that is more valuable than the other or are all the WDCC Toy Story pieces of equal value despite what year they were produced?
Should I try to snap up an LE WDCC piece right when it comes out as that is probably a farily safe investment long term? Looking at Duckman's list, the LE pieces are always the most expensive.
The downside of this is I'm not one that likes to have a house full of 'stuff'. But I guess that is contradictory to collecting itself. I suppose I can just store many pieces and only display my favorites. I'm essentially trying to identify collecting niches that mid-term will appreciate so I can resell part of my collection in 3-5 years to hopefully make a little profit to basically subsidize my collecting habit.
The only tip I really have is to find something (ex. Toy Story) and stick with it. Dont jump all over the place unless, for ex., there is 1 specific piece you must have that is outside of your Toy Story collection. Once completed, or near completion, move on. Some LE pieces are harder to come buy than others, obviously the lower the ed. size, the harder. Obviously the price and character play a role in that as well. I have noticed after purchasing off of ebay, some retired pieces sell for more, while others dont. I just bought a Lion King piece "Pals Forever" that I believe was originally $175, and I won it for $60. It is retired for several years now. Other peices, like POTC sell for very high on ebay.
