View Full Version : Dr. Teeth repaint: ebay report...
MM-III
05-19-2002, 11:14 AM
Just thought I'd let anyone who's interested know the going rates for the Dr. teeth from Wizard East on Ebay. I've been tracking every figure available for the last week (yes, I've been bored) I figured I'd pass along the knowledge to anyone who's still looking for a figure or for those who already have him, what he's worth at this point...
On Day 1, initial excitement and limited availability drove prices high. By the time the first auctions closed, the final bid price was around 60 dollars.
The Buy it now options ranged from a high of 80.00 to a low of 34.99... In the initial couple days, one figure sold for 75.00 buy it now, another for 65.00, a couple for 45.00, and one for 34.99. So far, the 34.99 buy it now is the lowest dr. teeth has been available. As if this writing, prices have begun to cool and the buy it now auctions at 60+ are failing to attract bidders. A dr. teeth with a starting bid of 49.99 and buy it now of 65.00 failed to sell and has been re-offered at 45.00 starting bid, 49.00 buy it now.
By the end of Week 1, aproximately 20-25 dr. teeth have been offered on Ebay. Initial excitement has waned somewhat and now the auctions are closing between 40-50 dollars.
At the peak, there were 15-17 dr. teeth auctions happening simultaneously. Currently, there are 9 auctions. If the number of figures available continues to drop, we may see an increase of prices. I have noticed that one bidder in particular has won at least 4 of the figures which means that some other collectors may become desperate and start bidding higher.
The lesson in all of this may be to exercise patience when bidding on these exclusives. If you jump in at the first offerings, you'll end up paying about 25%-33% more than you should. Waiting until there are a good number available should keep the prices down.
I think the lesson we can learn from this is that a good proportion of the people going to events like Wizard East are scalpers looking to make a quick buck on exclusives like Action Figures !
*Sigh* If only I lived in the states I could get a piece of the action too !!!!! ;-)
Personally, I much prefer the way they handled exclusives in the old days - where you had to collect proofs of purchase from the other more generally available ones to send in for the special figure. That was a lot fairer and meant the people who actually cared got the figures.
It's a shame something like a repaint couldn't have been organised for Muppet Central or the actual toy companies website - at least then the people who really want the figures and have been reading about them (and participating in a heck of a lot of the research) would get an equal shot.
King Prawn
05-19-2002, 02:13 PM
Originally posted by Luke
It's a shame something like a repaint couldn't have been organised for Muppet Central or the actual toy companies website - at least then the people who really want the figures and have been reading about them (and participating in a heck of a lot of the research) would get an equal shot.
I totaly agree! :D
MM-III
05-19-2002, 02:43 PM
On the surface, your idea makes sense... but it makes a dangerous assumption. You're assuming that every genuine muppet fan who is interested in these figures knows about this site. What about the folks that don't? What about the muppet fans that don't even own a computer? Are they any less entitled to exclusives?
And you know that once word gets out that the exclusives can be had through this web site, we would be swamped with scalpers posting here just to snap up all the figures. Or we'd get into daily matches about who is a bigger fan and hence deserves to get a figure over the other guy. No, the only solution to this problem is to stop offering show exclusives... but since we all know this isn't going to happen, we just need to accept it and move on...
Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to defend everything palisades toys does.. I do think that they are being tough on people who want a complete collection. But I also feel that it's been plainly demonstrated that there aren't enough people here who care enough to collect everything to make a difference. (hence only 12 respsonses to the call for another run of teeth figures)
I'd argue that palisades gave us a fair chance to get a second offering and we didn't make use of it...
FER SURE
05-19-2002, 04:34 PM
I scooped one up off of Ebay. I know... I know, I am guilty. I am paying 48.00 for mine and I am stuck with a dielema. Should I take it off the card or not. All my others are coming off the card and going into displays. The cost of being a completist is offset by the contention of your heart.
MM-III
05-19-2002, 04:44 PM
I also grabbed one... actually, all my excessive tracking allowed me to jump on the 35.00 buy it now before anyone else saw it. But I was very lucky...
As for the display issue... I plan on having a set out of the package for display and another set in cards to barter with. I know the day will come when a show exclusive will elude my grasp so I'll hold on to my bartering set for those occasions.
FER SURE
05-19-2002, 04:59 PM
Thats what I'm doing with my Beakers when I go to the Chicago show. I would much rather trade with people I know then dole out the benjamins to a stranger. I hope that this is the last time I have to pay the big bucks. If not, Cest la Vie.
Bragi
05-19-2002, 05:08 PM
Chicago show?
Yes MM, i realise my plan has some rather large flaws too. I guess Palisades could have suprised people with being allowed a Dr Teeth rather than telling them to email in and get one. So people emailed in asking for a second run on the Dr Teeths but there was so few people that they were surprised with an email saying yes they can buy one from the original run via mail order.
I guess that would only ever work the once though as the second time around the fans would be more savvy. Maybe running a competition, drawing people at random, or awarding prizes for contributing to the 'daily bit' could be an option - if they don't do that already.
I realise that all this exclusiveness can't be stopped though and they are gonna end up on Ebay in the end - it's a way of life i guess !
Beaker 78
05-21-2002, 12:43 AM
There still going for around $40-$45. I really don't see the price going down anytime soon. What do you guys/gals think about this?
Kelly
Kelly,
Depends how many people genuinely bought them to keep, and how many bought them to scalp. If the number being scalped outweighs the number of fans who actually know about this Dr Teeth Exclusive then i guess the price would drop when interest dried up.
MikeHornPalisad
05-21-2002, 06:00 AM
We really tried to limit the sales as an attempt to discourage the scalping. We had a strict limit (2 per person on Friday, dropped down to 1 per person on Saturday and Sunday). Believe me, we could have EASILY sold out before the show even started if we wanted to just sell out. We had dealers coming up to us on Thursday as we were setting up our booth, begging us to sell them cases. We refused. And by limiting the amount people could buy, we put a serious dent in the ability of scalpers cornering the market. We sold no figures at wholesale discount. The people showing up on Ebay or elsewhere with more than one figure were, apparently, sending over attendees of the show to our booth to buy their limit, one at a time.
The limit was also put in place so that nobody came to the booth who wanted one got turned away empty handed. The true fans who really wanted the figure were able to get theirs.
Trust me, if we hadn't set the limits and been strict about it, not nearly as many people would have gone home from Philly with figures, and many more would be popping up on Ebay, etc. Probably with higher prices.
I know this debate will rage on, and, as the manufacturer, we are stuck in the middle of it.
As much as I want to make absolutely everyone happy, reality is, I have to try to please as many as I can. That includes collectors, casual fans, our company, Henson, "major" retailers and "smaller" dealers, Wizard, the factory, the sculptors, prototypers, and painters, and probably a host of others.
I don't think that I can convince you that Palisades is not the evil empire trying to keep you from your complete collection. Especially not in the impersonal nature of the internet. I just hope that I can show you that we are listening. I think that we are the most responsive manufacturer in the game today. I don't see my competitors routinely appearing in consumer forums. Ken especially takes a TON of his personal time to be present here and elsewhere on the net.
Let me also say that you are not wrong. Yes, the exclusive was hard to get (relatively). But we didn't make it a total character exclusive or something so sweet that it (in my opinion) ruins the entire collection without it.
The debate will go on, I'm sure. Rest assured, we are listening!
MH
Mike,
I've seen a lot of stuff going on at other shows here in the UK. Teams of scalpers working together at shows to get more limited items, other toy companies keeping a supply of items back to auction themselves once they become rare. I guess it all goes on and much more. I guess it's good that the figures are getting this kind of attention and they seem hot with the dealers - i personally agree with the idea of doing exclusives for shows and things - it's great promotion, and it's also good to see you doing all you can for the fans, especially those that have helped out.
I still miss the old Star Wars 'proof or purchase' things though when you had to mail in with your barcodes for the extra figure. Seeing as Nostalgia is in right now - any chance of reviving that in the future ?
Luke
MikeHornPalisad
05-21-2002, 09:26 AM
Yeah, we've thought about it quite a bit. Basically, it comes down to economics. We just haven't been sure if we can make it work. Remember, we are a pretty small shop with a lot more work than people, so while a mail away is a great idea (promotes buying the whole line, consumer interaction, mailing list building, etc.), I think we are just not ready to handle it yet. It would be far worse, I think, for us to do such a promotion and then have crummy service in fulfilling orders.
MH
I understand the company must do what's best for itself and not always think of the fans but really short supply exclusives are turning away some collectors (there are a few posts about this at simpsonscollectors.com)
This suggestion may not even work, it may not even be good but at the palisade toys website you do have a store, albeit not opperational at the moment. Would it not be possible to sell those con exclusives there but w/ a different packaging or even no packaging at all. That way people like me who can't go to the cons can still get an invisible beaker and the convention still gets an exclusive when the toy is presented in different and much cooler packaging (eg like holographic packaging numbered out of the production run for that packaging) b/c you have to support the guys that give the free plugs such as toy fare.
that way all can be happy and enjoy the great work that palisades provides.
PS I am glad that atleast no new characters will be made exclusives so thank you for that decision.
should this have been a new topic? I dunno
MM-III
05-23-2002, 09:25 AM
Quick dr. teeth ebay update...
6 available right now... one closes in 3 hours
Current prices are beginning to stabalize. The range is now 39-45 dollars.
But it now figs @ 60.00 have all failed to sell since the first couple days. Most have been re-listed at 45 buy it now...
My guess is these things are close to bottoming out so if you're looking to buy at ebay, we're close to as cheap as they will be at this point. I could be wrong, but I do think when the main line is released and people start learning what exclusives are out there, the price will go up again.
The number of figures available has continued to decline which should also push prices up somewhat.
gorry
05-23-2002, 01:29 PM
i just thought of something.i don't know why everyone's complaining that they don't like the fact they can't get a dr.teeth.the people up here in PA won't be able to get the vanishing cream beaker without paying ebay prices.same goes for animal.so don't get angry.:)
FER SURE
05-25-2002, 07:18 PM
I got my Dr. Teeth repaint today! He is awesome with so much detail. The paint is great and and his cumberbund is even hand painted or so it appears. There is only one problem HIS NOSE FELL OFF! Alas it fits back in and stays there but imagine my surprise when it happened.
MM-III
05-25-2002, 08:04 PM
Hey Fer sure,
I would have been furious if the nose fell off on mine... I hope you're still able to play with it.
now for another update...
4 teeth left on ebay...
prices surprisingly continue to drop... 36-42 dollars
Supply of teeth continues to drop steadily and unless there are more listings soon, the supply will be gone by June 2nd.
Get em while you can!
So are the noses supposed to drop off or do i hear the dreaded words 'product recall' ? ;-)
Luke
(also - how is this going to affect Gonzo ?)
ResidentLilly
05-26-2002, 06:06 AM
The nose is not supposed to fall off. It is a separate molded piece so that it looks right, but it is supposed to be glued in. Sometimes you get an item that slips out of the factory and has a small defect, like what you experienced, a nose falling off because of glue failure or something. Here are your options:
1. Return the item to Palisades. We will replace it FOC.
2. Apply a single dab of Crazy Glue or Fix-It, a strong bonder, to the small square (you've seen it...where the nose plugs in) and place the nose back in and allow it to dry for a few minutes.
3. Decide defective nose is new "Variant Play Feature", re-sell on e-bay for thirty times what you paid.
Seriously, if you try the glue that will fix it right up but if you don't feel like doing that send it to us and we'll take care of you.
Thanks,
Ken
kane31666
05-26-2002, 06:42 AM
Option Three, is something that we've seen a lot of over the years.
Could this be a breakthrough in the new Michael Jackson action figure line ? :-)
FER SURE
05-26-2002, 10:38 AM
So its not really that big of a deal. His nose stays in when he is just standing there. The "incident" happened when he accidentaly got knocked off the table. I freaked out at first but when I saw his nose was a seperate piece it was all ok. I actually find it funny I mean come on, how muppety is that.:)
matleo
05-26-2002, 01:49 PM
Originally posted by ResidentLilly
3. Decide defective nose is new "Variant Play Feature", re-sell on e-bay for thirty times what you paid.
(doing my best Pops impression)
POPS: Very popular choice!
MM-III
05-26-2002, 08:17 PM
Well, clearly my predictions about the price of dr. teeth were way off...
a lucky bidder scored the best deal for a teeth so far by nabbing one for $26.20
That beats the previous lowest price by nearly ten dollars. Despite an eroding supply of figures, prices continue to plummet.
Was it merely a fluke? Or is the market for dr. teeth buyers oversaturated with product? It makes a strong case for the wait and see method of bidding. It also takes away my bragging rights to scoring the lowest price for a teeth figure on ebay :-(
Oh well...
Beaker 78
05-26-2002, 08:34 PM
I saw that auction but the card was not mint. I keep most of my figures on mint cards. It's a great price though.
Kelly
Louis Kazagger
05-26-2002, 09:46 PM
MM-III is definitely right about the price bottoming out on these. With only 400 or so of these out there, I think you can expect the prices to swing back up like a bell curve soon, especially when the line hits stores. I'd imagine that average folks don't even know these things exist yet.
FER SURE
05-27-2002, 01:24 AM
That 26.20 auction was ME! I had forgoten I had even bid on this auction but alas here it is. When I placed this bid I thought that I wouldnt get the first fig. Now I have 2 Teeth excl. I didnt even want it at first but now I think I am going to hold on to it for later. We will see what happens in the future
karmadorje
06-05-2002, 12:27 PM
I think its true that people don't know about these exclusives yet. That is the way it is usually in the beginning. Once the line hits store shelves these could be worth well over $100.
I would also like to add that I hate the mail away idea. That means I have to buy an entire extra set of figures for the mail away since I want them to be MIB. Usually I just buy seconds of the ones I really like, this way I have to buy an entire opener set for the proof of purchases.
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