One topic that I will never get tired of writing about is Transformers. They are by far, hands down, no questions asked my favorite toy line of all time. Hence why I still have a little over 2,000 different figures in my parents’ basement. It is what started it all for me. But regardless of my love they have had a pretty volatile market over the past decade and are finally back stronger than ever with records being set. I honestly feel like I’m back in 2007 at BotCon in Providence waiting for the first Transformers movie to be released. While some interests within the field have changed, the overall point is prices are on fire! Let me explain:
If you were to ask any diehard Transformers collector what all the rage was ten years ago, they would say Japanese market exclusive figures. The original Transformers toy line lasted in the United States from 1984 to 1990, but the last two years were very pitiful. It included small micro masters, Pretenders, and these horrible Action Masters which were non-transforming Transformers. Does that even make any sense! The last good toys were really released in 1988 for the United States. However, the toy line ran in Japan until 1992 releasing some of the coolest figures, recolors, and completely brand-new robots with entirely new features. Any fans reading this ever hear of a Brainmaster or Breastforce? It will blow your mind.
However, jumping to present day 2022 European and Japanese market exclusives have been cheaper than ever before. It is still what I personally love to collect, which means it is a good time to buy. But, if you have the original U.S. release 1984 to 1987 figures, anything that relates to the original animated film, you’re in the money. It blows my mind honestly, because the original American G1 figures have been reissued countless times by Hasbro and Takara. That is why they were depressed for so long! People were tired of them. Now, they’re back and all the rage. Especially sealed G1, it has reached a new peak. I decided to write about our dear Robots in Disguise because upcoming at Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers in our February sale we have a great collection of unused G1 transformers. Nothing that is factory sealed, but all unused with brand new contents. Certainly, a rare find. If you are sitting on a hoard of toys at home and looking to sell auction will always be your best bet. Don’t sell yourself short by selling outright to a store or dealer. Working on a consignment basis makes it a team effort, the more you make the more the auction house makes. It’s a win-win for everybody.
