# Toy collectors: best way to get rid of old Transformers & action figures? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 18, 2010, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toy-collectors-best-way-to-get-rid-of-old-transformers-action-figures/547081 "2010-07-18T01:49:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toy-collectors-best-way-to-get-rid-of-old-transformers-action-figures/547081/21 "2011-03-04T17:53:03Z")
Interesting thread! I have what I believe is an entire set of transformers with all of their information booklets that I am getting ready to put on ebay in a week or two for a friend. I just sold his darkwing duck and thundercats collections for him on ebay (for more than decent amounts of money) so now I have to figure out how to do the same with transformers. This almost makes me wish I had been a boy instead of a girl in the 80s so I would have some clue as to what all of these are without having to look each individual piece up online. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toy-collectors-best-way-to-get-rid-of-old-transformers-action-figures/547081/22 "2011-03-04T18:02:26Z")
> [@markm](#): > > If you’re serious about selling the Flagg, you can send me a PM. I’d be interested in it. Get E-Sabbath to give his impartial opinion on it then we can talk from there, if you’d like. It tells me you have PMs disabled. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2011, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toy-collectors-best-way-to-get-rid-of-old-transformers-action-figures/547081/23 "2011-03-04T22:34:18Z")
Well, inspired by E-Sabbath, I dug out the GI Joes I have left, and have sorted through them - it looks like I do have the tow and refueling vehicles for the Flagg. I am missing Keel-Haul, and five pieces. (two panel covers for the crane, and the tow vehicle, the launch - ouch! the faintail deck’s railing, and the weapons rack.) I do have the Keel-Haul info card, and the Flagg’s original instruction sheet. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2011, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toy-collectors-best-way-to-get-rid-of-old-transformers-action-figures/547081/24 "2011-03-05T13:48:10Z")
The fantail deck railing was like eighty bucks, but the whole thing was like a grand, so hey. Spend de money, get de parts. As I said, I’m willing to help wherever I can. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toy-collectors-best-way-to-get-rid-of-old-transformers-action-figures/547081/25 "2011-03-07T14:23:29Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > The fantail deck railing was like eighty bucks, but the whole thing was like a grand, so hey. Spend de money, get de parts. > > As I said, I’m willing to help wherever I can. Out of curiosity, what do you collect, E-Sabbath? ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toy-collectors-best-way-to-get-rid-of-old-transformers-action-figures/547081/26 "2011-03-07T16:57:33Z")
Anything and everything that amuses me and is full of little plastic bits. Mostly robots, but with a solid mixture of other stuff. Also dungeons and dragons books. Also comics. Not Magic Cards anymore, I gave them all away. Lots of stuff. Way too much stuff. But for Transformers, I’ve got a number of parts-ID books, and I can generally find links to show them to you online. Same for Joes. It’s a little harder for Thundercats, but there’s fewer Thundercats things. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toy-collectors-best-way-to-get-rid-of-old-transformers-action-figures/547081/27 "2011-03-08T14:18:17Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > Anything and everything that amuses me and is full of little plastic bits. Mostly robots, but with a solid mixture of other stuff. Also dungeons and dragons books. Also comics. Not Magic Cards anymore, I gave them all away. > Lots of stuff. Way too much stuff. But for Transformers, I’ve got a number of parts-ID books, and I can generally find links to show them to you online. Same for Joes. It’s a little harder for Thundercats, but there’s fewer Thundercats things. Was just wondering if I had anything laying around that you needed, mainly. I got rid of most of my expendable AD&D books already, though.. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toy-collectors-best-way-to-get-rid-of-old-transformers-action-figures/547081/28 "2011-03-08T18:34:55Z")
> [@E-Sabbath](#): > > The in-demand part of Jetfire is the little clip that holds his gun to his vehicle mode. Ok, I have to ask…what is that part worth and do you have to sell it WITH Jetfire? My boyfriend refuses to part with his Jetfire but every other Transformer or part he has can go. He said he’s pretty sure he still has that part because he thought it was lame and never used it. I don’t know what most of the stuff is. I took a picture of it as a lot a while ago. I’ll see if I can find it. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toy-collectors-best-way-to-get-rid-of-old-transformers-action-figures/547081/29 "2011-03-08T18:41:56Z")
I just looked through the box and checked online. I’m about 99.95% certain that I found the gun clip. [Transformers](http://s39.photobucket.com/albums/e179/congodwarf/?action=view¤t=Wheeljack.jpg) That album has all the Transformers pics I took a year or so ago. Please let me know if you see anything that interests you. ---
**Author:** ![markm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@markm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markm)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toy-collectors-best-way-to-get-rid-of-old-transformers-action-figures/547081/30 "2011-03-08T18:52:18Z")
Sorry. Didn’t realize I had them disabled, but I just enabled them. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toy-collectors-best-way-to-get-rid-of-old-transformers-action-figures/547081/31 "2011-03-08T21:32:11Z")
What it’s worth: Check e-bay. Probably not so much alone, but it makes a 9/10 Jetfire into a 10/10 one. Selling it alone will probably make people think it’s a bootleg. And yes, people bootleg transformers like mad. Don’t ask. ---
**Author:** ![markm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@markm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markm)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toy-collectors-best-way-to-get-rid-of-old-transformers-action-figures/547081/32 "2011-03-08T21:35:19Z")
LOL, that’s putting it mildly. There are entire sites out there devoted to selling nothing but bootleg Transformers, conveniently broken up by era (Gen 1, Beast Wars, etc.) The funny thing is that some of them have bootlegs of toys currently on the shelf, and the bootlegs cost more than the official release. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toy-collectors-best-way-to-get-rid-of-old-transformers-action-figures/547081/33 "2011-03-08T21:38:32Z")
Astrotrain, Warpath (I think), Powerglide (I’m pretty sure), Sky Lynx, Ramjet and the tapes have all been reissued. Reflector may be worth a bit, as well as Wreck-Gar. Not huge amounts, though. Hundred to two hundred bucks, depending. Superion gets knocked-off a lot, as does Wheeljack but… well, Wheeljack’s probably worth a few bucks, but the question is the guns of the individual jets. The best way to check actual value is to search completed ebay auctions. That’ll get you a much closer to true value answer, and there should be enough choices. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2011, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toy-collectors-best-way-to-get-rid-of-old-transformers-action-figures/547081/34 "2011-03-08T23:39:35Z")
So does being reissued lower the value of the older ones? Considering that he’s almost 40, it’s unlikely that anything in there is after '89. So, since he refuses to get rid of Jetfire, having the silly clip doesn’t do him much good. It amazes me that people will pay even $100 for a 25 year old toy so I find it funny that you say it’s not a huge amount. To someone who doesn’t collect, well, anything really, collectible prices always boggle my mind. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toy-collectors-best-way-to-get-rid-of-old-transformers-action-figures/547081/35 "2011-03-09T01:57:44Z")
It doesn’t lower the value, it lowers the demand. Let’s say that the first transformer I ever saw was Wheeljack. And I never got to own one when I was knee high. And I want one. I’m all grown up, I have a study of my own and I think that bookshelf would look awesome with a GI Joe vs Transformers battle scene. Well, ebay is good for that. Except, wait, what, they reissued it! So there’s a lot of them out there, pretty new, almost as good as the original. Hey, I can buy those almost at store prices! So who’s going to buy an original with some play wear? Relatively few people, and they’re going to be pickier. So the price the toy sells at goes down. As far as a ‘huge amount’, I assume it will take at least three hours to deal with anything involving e-bay. So, $30/hour is good money… minus Ebay’s fee, minus shipping, but it’s not outstanding money, it’s just a one-off thing. It’s not like the Flagg, where you could pay rent with that sucker, or buy a nice T-bill. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toy-collectors-best-way-to-get-rid-of-old-transformers-action-figures/547081/36 "2011-03-09T02:14:45Z")
Ooohhh. I see. Thanks for all that info. As much as I try to understand all the nerdy sides to my boyfriend, there are just some things I can’t wrap my head around. Most of his stuff is in pretty good condition considering its age and the fact that it was actually played with regularly. He was a bit anal retentive when he was a kid. But, there’s nothing in there in stellar condition, nothing I’d call mint without box. The one thing with a box, Metroplex, is in pretty good condition but the box is crap. I don’t know if we’ll ever care enough about selling them to bother with eBay. We’re both far too lazy for the hassle. I am curious to know more about Wheeljack’s guns though. What about them? I love picking people’s brains. I wish I had a subject that I was an expert on. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toy-collectors-best-way-to-get-rid-of-old-transformers-action-figures/547081/37 "2011-03-09T11:03:26Z")
Wheeljack came with two spoiler halves, two rocket launchers, and four missiles, when new. He’s based on the Lancia Stratos. > **[Welcome to the Stratos Enthusiasts Club](https://www.stratosec.com/)** > > The Stratos Enthusiasts Club exists for all enthusiasts of the Lancia Stratos, in all of its forms. The original mold was destroyed, there have been no reissues, but there is an accurate knockoff floating about. Metroplex has been reissued, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2011, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toy-collectors-best-way-to-get-rid-of-old-transformers-action-figures/547081/38 "2011-03-09T18:01:50Z")
Ok. So basically what I’m getting here is that the only people who care about the dates on his toys are the hardcore collectors and they’re the ones looking for MIB and MISB type stuff, which is not what he has. So, with very few exceptions, if he wants to sell it off, a big lot is the way to go (for time and hassle purposes). I really appreciate all the input. Sooooo, what do you know about 25+ year old GI Joe figs? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toy-collectors-best-way-to-get-rid-of-old-transformers-action-figures/547081/39 "2011-03-10T01:52:42Z")
Oh, don’t take it that way: MIB and MISB prices for 25 year old toys are completely insane. There are a surprising amount of them, though. I’m just saying that the prices for reissued toys are depressed compared to the non-reissued toys. It really depends on how much you want to make off each auction, and the theme you can apply. For example, don’t split up Superion. And if you bundle the toys by era, like ‘1984-issue cars’ ‘movie-era decepticons’ and so on, you can do all right. I wouldn’t, excepting cases like the combiners, put more than three toys in a bundle, it’ll push it out of reach of the casual collector. Again, excepting cases like the combiners, you will probably get less if you put more than one toy in an auction, but you will make a larger chunk. (eg, say, 70/toy separate, but $180 for three toys in one auction.) Welp, there’s two kinds of 25 year old GI Joe figs. Those with rotted O-Rings (the bit that holds the torso to the legs) and those without. The latter kind are much preferred, but you can repair the rotted ones fairly easily. The _most_ sought after, of course, are the very first wave, which did not have the bicep swivel. They are known as the ‘straight arm’ joes. ---
**Author:** ![markm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@markm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markm)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toy-collectors-best-way-to-get-rid-of-old-transformers-action-figures/547081/40 "2011-03-10T15:38:46Z")
And 3 3/4" GI Joes aren’t as collectible as other toys. In good condition, the average figure will go for $15-$20 loose (with a few bringing higher amounts). A lot of active collectors have switched to the “25th-style” figures, which are a mix of new figures, re-imaginings of the classic figures, or versions of the classic figures in the new style. As far as the O-rings, they aren’t that big of a deal to the typical collector, as most will just go to a hardware store and buy the compatible replacement. Some of the more hardcore collectors don’t like this, but they’re a very small subset. The key thing to watch for is paint rub and broken crotches or thumbs. Figures with broken crotches or thumbs aren’t worth anything, maybe a couple bucks for the average figure. Not saying nobody is collecting the old 3 3/4" figures, just that, relative to things like Transformers or Star Wars, the market isn’t there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toy-collectors-best-way-to-get-rid-of-old-transformers-action-figures/547081.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toy-collectors-best-way-to-get-rid-of-old-transformers-action-figures/547081.md?page=3)