darkSpyro

It's too late for me...now go!

Tell Andy...he was right...he was right, Luke!



http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/you..._skylander.html

Reproduced without permission.

Avoid Overspending on Skylanders


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Frustrations have been exasperated by the popularity of the toy figures that has made them hard to find in stores or online. This has also led to the most desirable figures being sold second hand for many times their recommended retail value.

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Andy Robertson is a Family Gaming expert and presents the Family Gamer TV show.

Old news.

And tl;dr

It's dated information, but the message is clear and valid. I highlighted the important part...gesh.

Modified it to include a Cliff Notes version

When it comes to Skylanders, I think anyone who really wants to have a large collection has to accept that s/he will be spending several hundred dollars.
However, a big collection does NOT have to break the proverbial bank. I'm living proof.
A few things I've learned so far is that one has to know when to "strike when the iron is hot" (for examples, Jade Flashwing, Molten Hot Dog, Ninjini, Legendary Bouncer, Slam Bam) but also know when to be patient (for examples, Hot Dog, Thumpback, Eye Brawl, Fright Rider). It's not clear-cut, and we're all capable of misjudgements and errors, but one can develop an "instinct" for Skylanders "hunting", just like hunting anything else ... by practicing. I know that sounds a little corny, but hey, it's true.

The other thing I've learned thus far is to have very low expectations of certain retailers, like GameStop and Best Buy. This obviously could vary by region and city, but I've had the most success (by far) shopping at Target, BJ's, Amazon.com, and (to a lesser extent) Toys R Us and even Walgreens.

Taking advantage of mega-cheap promotional offers is another "key to success". The $4.99 clearance at BJ's (yes, it's still going on!) is awesome. The two-week span that Target had Buy-2-Get-1-Free in March was also great. Staying on top of store inventory and store promos is admittedly a time-consuming (and sometimes exhausting) endeavor. But if one really wants to spend as little as possible on Skylanders, one's gotta "put in the extra work". If work and patience isn't one's thing (and Lord knows there's a LOT of Americans these days that lack work ethic and patience), then one has to be willing to pony-up and spend lots on figures at full retail price (or even higher on the secondary market, like Ebay, etc.).

One last bit of advice: don't forget Craigslist. Never ever buy new Skylanders on Craigslist (usually people who list new Skylanders on CL are asking "an arm and a leg"), but I've had some incredibly inexpensive finds on used Skylanders items from Craigslist. I'm not ashamed to admit that I sell many of those (vast majority are commonplace characters) via a larger marketplace online, and I use the profits to purchase the Skylanders that my kids want for their own private collection. By subsidizing my kids' collection in this fashion, Skylanders basically pays for itself. Granted, I do have to invest a lot of time listing, photographing, shipping, and dealing with customers ... so it's not all roses. But I just think of it as a profitable hobby, and it's kinda fun.

(disclaimer: none of this advice was directed at you GhostRoaster! Your posts just inspired me to offer some general advice and observations)

Yep, taking advantage of the sales is key. This wasn't a cry out that I've spent too much--but rather--be smart going about doing it. Your suggestions are very well taken if you're "going big".

I totally screwed up on SSA...frankly I wasn't paying attention enough and now paying through the nose for the stuff I need. When you average out the $5 TRU sale, I did "ok" but nothing spectacular. I made a strategic decision not to chase the variants but changed my strategy on Giants...bad idea in retrospect.

Going after chase stuff--yeah that's in a different league altogether. Paying 10x or more for a regular skylander is for the big boys only---and I haven't seen a way (yet) to get out more cheaply here short of literally be there for every box opening at the store. Seeing some of the volatile prices on eBay for the SSA chase variants suggest perhaps the best time to chase these guys are AFTER the next game gets released and there's a "cooling" down period.

I wish I had the time to do all of the hunting etc but unfortunately my job prevents that--kudos for you on coming up with a pain free way to enjoy it.

Lastly, this board has been a GREAT resource for me to get "in tune" with all venues and sales...in fact it's helped me get good enough that I can reciprocate this back to you guys.

I think people need to be careful buying 2nd hand Series 1 Skylanders. Some of them are selling for crazy money based on the assumption that Activision will never ever remake/reissue the series one models. I wouldn’t count on that.

It seems all the normal priced deals go by too fast. I'm paying an extra five dollars for a Jadewing (free shipping at least), I think that's fair I guess.
I'm buying a certain battlepack for major clearance, eventually I'll be the one scalping off it!

I am trying to buy smartly. My DS just got interested in Skylanders a few weeks ago, but we are hooked. For his birthday, I bought him the Giants Starter pack on sale at Target ($40), and then took advantage of the buy 2 get 1 sale to buy a few 3 packs. I had initially picked up a few single packs but returned some of them because I realized it was easier to get some of the harder for find figures in the 3 packs. I have only paid full price for two harder to find figures and trying to wait out the remaining ones we need until I can find them at least at regular price. And, I also convinced my DS that the variants are not cool looking, so now he doesn't want variants. LOL. I am a mean mom!

Quote: Tel Prydain

I think people need to be careful buying 2nd hand Series 1 Skylanders. Some of them are selling for crazy money based on the assumption that Activision will never ever remake/reissue the series one models. I wouldn’t count on that.

It is a risk, for sure. I for one paid nutso money for my Boomers and Darklight Crypt...everything else was on average maybe 80% of retail. Given the fact that Activision tends to repose characters in a "looking forward" type manner...I don't see a reason why they would incur costs to restart production on these---except for the 8 that wasn't reposed in Giants...but that might be a moot point come this fall.

One part of me says that if they continue offering "the game" then it makes sense to keep making "the characters" for that game---a lot of comments here suggest that toy manufacturing are done in batches (makes sense--reduce cost per item if you order 1,000,000 as opposed to 20,000) so with that said I suspect that how Activision is reposing and the cost to restart manufacturing means I think there's a snowball chance in hades we'll see "revamped" production. You're more prone to see a reposed of that character, which will net cheaper costs for the previous iteration. Look at Cynder...I believe she was someone popular and more expensive until she was included in every starter pack!

Once the market clears, collectors will drive up sales of characters who are aiming for completion---but for gamers it will simply be a task to get the "latest" iteration of that character and you're good to go. I'm honestly shocked at how high raw skylanders go for these days--even the common ones. It's a healthy market.

Quote: StealthMom

I am trying to buy smartly. My DS just got interested in Skylanders a few weeks ago, but we are hooked. For his birthday, I bought him the Giants Starter pack on sale at Target ($40), and then took advantage of the buy 2 get 1 sale to buy a few 3 packs. I had initially picked up a few single packs but returned some of them because I realized it was easier to get some of the harder for find figures in the 3 packs. I have only paid full price for two harder to find figures and trying to wait out the remaining ones we need until I can find them at least at regular price. And, I also convinced my DS that the variants are not cool looking, so now he doesn't want variants. LOL. I am a mean mom!

It's really "bang for the buck" and the variants are more for completionists/collectors...if his gig is the game concentrate on just the core guys. He isn't missing much. I dig being a completionist...but that's totally separate from simply playing and enjoying the game. No problems with you being pragmatic on purchases...someone has to have a clear head in all of this lol.

Quote: Tel Prydain

I think people need to be careful buying 2nd hand Series 1 Skylanders. Some of them are selling for crazy money based on the assumption that Activision will never ever remake/reissue the series one models. I wouldn’t count on that.

I think your advice has merit, but lacks supporting evidence. To date, the only "series 3" character we've seen reposed is Stealth Elf, and she definitely is not one of the 8 original characters that didn't get a new pose for Giants.

I sell a lot of second-hand "series 1" characters. The only two that have absurdly inflated value right now are Boomer and Ghost Roaster (not including any variants in that assessment).
If you're willing to buy used/"loose" figures, and you aren't overly picky about the collector's card and sticker and stuff like that, then you definitely get Camo, Voodood, Warnado, Sunburn, Wham-Shell, and Dino-Rang collectively for under $70. If you had bought those six characters new at regular price at Toys R Us in 2011/12, you would have paid about $70, including tax.

As an aside, I do not understand the craze over Boomer. I'm sure someone who wears Boomer underoos will rail on me for saying this, but Boomer is a pretty lame character. I guess his price is so high on the secondary market simply because lots of people have that "gotta catch 'em all" attitude.

Quote: BahamutBreaker

As an aside, I do not understand the craze over Boomer. I'm sure someone who wears Boomer underoos will rail on me for saying this, but Boomer is a pretty lame character. I guess his price is so high on the secondary market simply because lots of people have that "gotta catch 'em all" attitude.

I agree...I also suspect that if the market are simply avid gamers that if and when Activision does decide to repose him you'll see his prices drop like lead. If however, they maintain or even increase over time I would suggest there is more of a collector mentality. My assumption is that Activision stays "on course" with how they treated S1 characters in Giants.

Quote: BahamutBreaker

Quote: Tel Prydain

I think people need to be careful buying 2nd hand Series 1 Skylanders. Some of them are selling for crazy money based on the assumption that Activision will never ever remake/reissue the series one models. I wouldn’t count on that.

As an aside, I do not understand the craze over Boomer. I'm sure someone who wears Boomer underoos will rail on me for saying this, but Boomer is a pretty lame character. I guess his price is so high on the secondary market simply because lots of people have that "gotta catch 'em all" attitude.

I agree with you about not paying over price for boomer, but personally with all his upgrades he is one of my favorite and fastest killer when it comes to beating the time challenge. I just leave a trail of bombs and the enemy follows and "BOOM" ... Especially when there is a big boss, I just run circles around them and "KA-BOOM". I have to admit he was one of the last SSA characters I got (Before Giants came out), but once I upgraded so he could drop (poop - Like my sone says) bombs, he does very well. He is a must have in my books.

I don't feel I overspend since I only buy at retail or on sale. I also knew when I started that it would be $600 to $700 for everything I wanted.

But I've been collecting Star Wars figures for a long time so iam used to collecting hobbies and what they cost.

Camo and Warnado and Dino-rang are the forgotten I own(ed, Dino-Rang got traded), and they're pretty good.

I am a collector too. I was originally going to collect Lightcores, variants, etc.. But now that I see that is much easier to get S2, I realized that I spent lots o' money. Now I don't think I can get the rest of them (17 more) before my July 13 deadline to save up for Swap- Force. It is so I can have enough for the starter pack, 2 new core figures, and 2 new Swap- Force figures.

Thanks, my DS gig is trying to collect all the characters from Giants. He likes collecting as do DH and I but our budget will not allow both collecting the variants and collecting all the characters. He is also all geared up for Swap-Force. I have been getting as many characters as I can on sale and then letting him earn money to buy them from me at the sale price. I also plan on gifting the rest of them to him at Christmas. My DS is young and it isn't realistic for him to save up $30 to $50 at a time to take advantage of good sales. That is my game plan to collect as many Giants figures before Swap-Force starts rolling out.

To avoid overspending I try give myself budget limits and spread out the collection process over an specific period of time. Going on a shopping spree and getting everything at one time takes the fun away from it to me IMHO, it also cost more seeing that one could have gotten a sale discount promotion price had one waited for such.

Using CL as an avenue of approach is a gamble but can benefit you. Safety is my main concern when purchasing from a seller on Craigslist. I do not reccomend anyone underage codoning business on CL without the help of a parent or adult supervision. Always deal in broad daylight public locations. Bring a friend or significant other if possible. Ask why is the seller selling, this could prevent you from buying stolen products. And try to test anything before paying to ensure functionality. I have gotten some extremely good deals utilizing CL.

Researching before buying pays off as well. Knowing what retail price and 2nd hand price is before buying has served as a guide to me as what not to spend more than. Finding out when and where a sale will be and checking the weekly ads is a sure fire way that has helped me prevent overspending.

Knowing when to strike is also a good point. Specifically related to those items that are in store exclusives, I often hear of people regret not getting that one specific item when it was initially released. Costing them more then retail from a second hand dealer.

I ask myself how much will I spend driving around looking for something versus buying it from an online retailer. Is it worth the time, money and effort to save driving such a great or short distance. A 10 minute drive could prevent me from overspending online, then again a hour drive could cost me 3 times as much in gas/fuel alone versus the online price. Utilizing convienence as if the retailer is on the way to or from my appointed destination has also prevented me from overspending.

Calling ahead to place an item on hold (if they offer the option), finding out if they have the item, and knowing when the restocking hours are at my local stores has prevented me from buying off second hand dealers and paying more than retail.

I can only speak from my past experiences and offer advice from what I have learned. What I have posted may or may not work for everybody. Every consumer's situation is different. It does take a lot of work in all aspects as mentioned above.

Quote: BahamutBreaker

Quote: Tel Prydain

I think people need to be careful buying 2nd hand Series 1 Skylanders. Some of them are selling for crazy money based on the assumption that Activision will never ever remake/reissue the series one models. I wouldn’t count on that.

I think your advice has merit, but lacks supporting evidence. To date, the only "series 3" character we've seen reposed is Stealth Elf, and she definitely is not one of the 8 original characters that didn't get a new pose for Giants.

I sell a lot of second-hand "series 1" characters. The only two that have absurdly inflated value right now are Boomer and Ghost Roaster (not including any variants in that assessment).

A) Now that Skylanders is a hit, which non-english speaking countries might it do well in?
With Disney Infinity coming out in non-english speaking countires, won't activision want to get there too, in order to not get left out of the market?
C) If/when Skylanders does come out in those countries, would it be easier to make whole new figures, or re-issue the old figures?

Well I try to save as much as I can. Thou currentyl I'm funding a set for the wife, the kid, and my brother (cause i owe him money) and then and open and closed set for myself. My brother thou is only collecting one of each character no matter what series/lightcore/variant so its abit cheaper their. I have been lucky thou to buy most if not all my skylanders for $5 on singles, $7 on lightcores and $10 on giants. I've gotten some triple packs for $10-15 range too which helps. If your asking how?? BJ's wholesale for a few, targets buy 2 get one free and a few other tricks have gotten me them all for around that price. Molten Hotdog i think is the only one I payed near retail for (i did get my mother-in laws discount) Ninjini the 4 of us got for free in NYC.

Thinking of all of the sales this easter is REALLY making me think of how and when I buy Swap Force. I don't know if I have enough guts to wait until next April when all of these sales happen, but I might just do that. Was something similar going on in April of 2012 when SSA was out? I'm guessing Activision was peeing their pants because they couldn't keep up with demand.

I'm curious as to the tricks to get a triple pack at $15. Cheapest I've been able to snag one is $19.95. I thought I was doing good when the adventure packs were $15 at target.

$19.99 is the cheapest I've seen triples and that's only for SSA ones that stores are trying to get rid of. BJ's isn't an option for me as there aren't any in my state, I'd never even heard of it until joining this site.

If you don't mind used figures, Movie Trading Company sells figures for $4.99 a piece though selection is limited to whatever people sell back. Of course there's a chance you won't get the stickers or stat card.

Quote: GhostRoaster

Thinking of all of the sales this easter is REALLY making me think of how and when I buy Swap Force. I don't know if I have enough guts to wait until next April when all of these sales happen, but I might just do that. Was something similar going on in April of 2012 when SSA was out? I'm guessing Activision was peeing their pants because they couldn't keep up with demand.

I'm curious as to the tricks to get a triple pack at $15. Cheapest I've been able to snag one is $19.95. I thought I was doing good when the adventure packs were $15 at target.

Jcpenny's by me was selling triple packs after xmas for $10 a pop. FYE in the same mall had them for $30 but were BOGO Free. Picked up the first 3 and the battle using those. When the battle packs were 9.99 on amazon i had walmart price match it along with the battle pack 2, so i got that one for 9.99 too. Lowest ive gotten battle pack 4 and 5 is BOGO 50% off.