WDCC Pieces Most Likely to Appreciate?

[consultant]

Anyone want to throw out there list of what WDCC pieces they think will do the best as far as future appreciation?

Seems like of course it has to be something limited to 1500 pieces or less. The harder to get, the more they go up in value of time.

One thing I noticed is I think by far the majority of WDCC collectors are women. Seems like the pieces having to do with feminine/romantic themes seem to be most popular (Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, etc.)

What's your favorites that you think will do well?

 

[DizneyDogs]

I would say the Pirates Jailhouse scene since it's a LE 750

 

[consultant]

I agree based on the fact too it is a 750 LE plus it is POTC which everyone is gaga about, plus it is the jailhouse seen and the pin collectors go gaga over the pin version of that scene. One of the Holy Grail POTC pins.

I think secondary market prices (aka Ebay) on the WDCC POTC pieces are inflated right now because they are so new. I bet they will come down before the go back up.

 

[Babette]

Sometimes a more obscure character will also increase in price, or pieces that were open stock but quickly retired. This leaves some collectors scrambling to get the piece because as an open edition, they assumed the piece would be out for a couple years and could pick up as funds permit. This was the case with Lock, Shock and Barrel from Nightmare Before Christmas, the Rose Table and Belle & Beast portrait series busts from Beauty & the Beast, Daisy from Mickey Mouse Club (limited to production year), to name a few.

Some LE's, while low in number, just don't seem to do well on the secondary market like the Cruella on Wheels piece from the WDCC convention. The first Pirates piece (mayor being dunked in the well scene) did not do well on the secondary market after it was released at the 2nd WDCC convention. Now that there is a WDCC Pirates series, this piece has picked up on the secondary market as collector's want to get a complete set.

It is hard to predict which ones will take off on the secondary market. As most people say, buy what you like, not necessarily for it's 2ndary investment value.

And regarding whether most collectors are female, most of my WDCC friends are male or couples who collect together. That's my personal experience. Duckman's site has a blog and a chatboard where you can interact with other collectors.

Have fun collecting!! I do!

 

[consultant]

Thank you Babette. Your response sound like you are well informed (a current or past WDCC dealer or good friend of one?)

The only thing surprising I found was that most your collector friends are men. Notice that the pieces you listed off as being 'sleepers' NBC (EVERYONE loves NBC stuff) but more importantly Rose Table, Belle & Beast, Daisy, those are all feminine or romantic themed pieces I would expect are generally more appealing to the female collector. I still think the WDCC collecting world is mostly female. Maybe it's 60% maybe it's 75%. Who knows for sure. It's just my gut based on who is talking about, buying, and selling these pieces on all the boards, website storefronts, and Ebay.

I don't personally buy them as an investment, however when I have a limited budget and must choose among several pieces, if there is more or less a tie then the one I think will lose the least value (or gain the most) wins the tie. So it is a secondary consideration. Primary is of course, by what you really like. It's just not a good feeling though if you spent $10,000 over the years on what you really like, then maybe you have to downsize for whatever reason down the road and to find your collection is worth half what you paid (especially if you figure in inflation, it might be worth even less), I think most people would want to avoid that situation. Although there is something to be said for the value of the enjoyment you got over the years of owning the pieces. Maybe for most people, if they have to sell their collection, even if it doesn't appreciate or at least hold it's value, it's really a wash in practical terms.

But if you define part of the 'enjoyment' of collecting is not only owning things you really like/admire, but things that hold value or go up in value, then that really is part of determining 'what you really like' I really like cool looking pieces that don't lose their value. It's all a personal definition/criteria obviously.

 

[Babette]

<Your response sound like you are well informed (a current or past WDCC dealer or good friend of one?)>

No, not a dealer nor close friends with one, although I do have a wonderful dealer who is a great person to chat with about not only WDCC but other Disney lines and 2D art. I'm a charter WDCC member, so I've been enjoying my collection for over 16 years now. I attended 5 of the 6 conventions, and have made great long lasting friends and we indulge each other's passion to have someone to talk WDCC with.

<The only thing surprising I found was that most your collector friends are men>
Yup, that's true.

<those are all feminine or romantic themed pieces I would expect are generally more appealing to the female collector.>
Robin Hood has done well in 2ndary and that was open edition but retired quickly. Song of the South also does well as does Angel and Devil Donald from Donald's Better Self. So those are some more 'masculine' examples of more open edition pieces that have perked up on secondary.

I never thought that when I started as a charter member I'd still be collecting and enjoying my WDCC 16 years later, but I do, and making great friends in the proces though the web, at conventions and dealer signing events was definitely an extra perk onto my collecting experience!

 

[consultant]

Just so happens, in my early stages here of WDCC, only about 8 pieces so far, and one of them happens to be Donald's Decision! I bought it because me and my two sons love that cartoon. I haven't been able to get the Angel piece yet at decent price. It is much more rare than all the other pieces in the set.

 

[CuddlyCarla]

Hi all. I have a WDCC sculpture which is limited to 750 pieces. I have #4. Is it safe to say that the lower the number of the item you own, the more it will appreciate with time vs. say, #350? I imagine having one of the first five would have it's benefits. Can anyone confirm this? I know that when it comes to collectibles this is usually the case but is this true of WDCC pieces too? Many thanks.

 

[Babette]

Hi
Much of the appreciation in value would also have to do with the piece itself. I have friends who always try and get the lowest WDCC numbered piece their dealer receives. So there are people who will go for a lower number if it's available. But again, it depends on the subject matter of the limited edition. Some have sold out quickly at LE750 and others are still available for quite a while after the sculpt is released. If it's a highly desired piece, then yes, I would estimate that a lower number could bring a slightly higher price if you resold it at a later time.

 

[WDDCLover]

Best Prices on WDDC and from a Giftstore on Amazon. They have a lot of inventory. Zodiac gifts is the seller.

Hope this helps!

 

[PatMcDuck]

Some pieces are more fragile, too.

I worked in a store that sold WDCC. We had to destroy many NBC pieces, for example, because they are so fragile.

I think the WDCC from the Disneyana conventions are often desired, like the Hitchhiking Ghost set or the PoC dunking scene (I have that one).

I have 3 sericels from Disneyana conventions, PoC, HM, and Jungle Cruise. I want the Small World one, will get it someday.