Uh...anyone else notice the change in the Units section?

[MisterYao]

The part that has the value of the fig listed below it's stats? If it's old news, I apologize.

I'm also curious to where these values come from? Ebay? T&T? Coolstuff?

EDIT: Nevermind. Clicking on the value takes you to TCGplayer. Interesting.....

[booleyb]

I believe Typhon has been putting it together for around a year now and that it captures Ebay prices.

[ccs]

Hmm. Neat.

Now if only the most current sets had pics....

[lestiff416]

They don't seem to have any e-bay prices...

[eMouse]

It's a utility from TCGPlayer.com They're a gateway site that collects price data from the usual singles retailers for a number of collectable games. Sort of like Google Shopping for CCGs and CMGs.

[minideadpool]

Its a pretty neat feature. Just noticed it and dont think it was there yesterday.

[saturnflight]

I've not yet seen a value displayed, but I've noticed the link under each dial saying, "Buy this figure from TCGPlayer.com".

[5ohClix]

Nice feature, but like everyone else on this site I will probably do my own research for figs as the are on the high end Ex. WL Sinestro $34.93 when he has been selling on the bay for $20-25.

[MisterYao]

I've not yet seen a value displayed, but I've noticed the link under each dial saying, "Buy this figure from TCGPlayer.com".

I recall it saying that last night when I was browsing the Units section but when I had to reopen Google Chrome because it crashed, the prices were listed.

[saturnflight]

Wow, just checked it out, that is a really cool feature! Should save me a lot of post-trade regret! (I've almost traded Lobo like 4 times for much less than he's worth.)

[HunterSkunter]

Nice feature, but like everyone else on this site I will probably do my own research for figs as the are on the high end Ex. WL Sinestro $34.93 when he has been selling on the bay for $20-25.


Thats the point, its not a bay aggregate, its an online store. As far as online stores go, thats a pretty accurate representation of pricing, and will be useful to have it all on one site for trading purposes, no need to have Troll and Toad or Miniature Market up for price comparison.

[saturnflight]

Though to clarify my last post, I'm not gonna go all 'even price trades only', because the system's just an estimation anyway and figs are only worth what you value them at. I hope this new feature doesn't lead to a lot of 'price is right' trading, but instead acts to prevent uninformed, disadvantageous trading.

[Typhon]

I just put it online 3-4 hours ago. :) TCGPlayer is more than just an aggregate. They have affiliated with a lot of stores and offer those items for sales directly though TCGPlayer (the sale is then relayed to the store you bought from). We're pulling prices from them and will building a bunch of other tools around them. We will also be pulling ebay pricing (we have been testing that for over a year). Price history will be up next week, which should be pretty exciting! :)

[eMouse]

Yes, being horribly overpriced is a frequent feature of online stores. For instance, you can find the X-Men Danger Room set for $80+ from Amazon, though I just bought the pack for $16 on eBay.

[Typhon]

Though to clarify my last post, I'm not gonna go all 'even price trades only', because the system's just an estimation anyway and figs are only worth what you value them at. I hope this new feature doesn't lead to a lot of 'price is right' trading, but instead acts to prevent uninformed, disadvantageous trading.

The price in our marketplace is always better, because there are no "middlemen" involved. But this will be a good tool for people that just want to buy that 1 figure to fill out their collection, or don't want to deal with another member's perceived/emotional value of the figure.

I just want the prices ... :) because it's going to be EPIC!

[MisterYao]

Sounds awesome Typhon. I will no longer need multiple tabs open to help me determine the value of some of my figs.

[Lofcutus]

Since it is TCG gathering the prices, I am for it. It is always a slippery slope when trying to set values to collectible you have a vested interest in. By going to a third party you take away any chance of Shamus-ing up the price list and ending up like a laughing stock joker with your fake wrester conventions....

Looks like Typhon and the rest of his crew found a great way to avoid that.

[omegarobb]

This is great! Just absolutely great!

Thank you Typhon!

[Typhon]

You'll see the prices drop every day as the stores begin to compete against each other.

[spike1138]

Y'know, I actually like this feature... Nice!

[TheCure1987]

That is REALLY nice. I love the upgrades to the units section lately...keep 'em coming!

Thomas

[KillerSavage]

I didn't like the link there for about 2 minutes. Then I decided it was nice to see what the figures are going for at various places. If it creates competition between the sellers that is even better. Should eventually create a solid value for certain figures rather than some of the inflated ones some online stores seem to have.

[Perplexinator]

This is interesting but I have two thoughts on it:

1) eBay is a better resource for valuing a figure in my opinion

2) I fear some players will rely on the system too much

[KillerSavage]

2) I fear some players will rely on the system too muchCan you elaborate what your concerns are. Is it that they will trade less or want trades that are closer to an average derived from the system?

[Typhon]

I think he means they're going to want to trade based on the "unit system value" of their trade. So 5 figures = $50 and they will want $50 worth of figures in return.

[saturnflight]

I just like that I'm more likely to notice now when random figures suddenly leap in value. I was blindsided by Hammer Spidey, for example.

[Puuka]

This is interesting but I have two thoughts on it:

1) eBay is a better resource for valuing a figure in my opinion

2) I fear some players will rely on the system too much

No always. I find that when a set comes out, E-Bay get glutted with the SR/Chase at stupidly high prices on BIN, then over time, other people put them up at just as high BINs, then the few that put it up for actual auction put it up and they sell for slightly less than the BINs because everyone else is trying to get if less.

Then. as time goes on, the BINs that haven't sold come down a little, until they are at a price more people are willing to play. In the mean time, those that paid a higher price for them have a hard time letting them go at the lower price.

This usually takes at least two sets for the prices to come down to a realistic level.

[spider_ham]

Nice addition to the Units section!

[Perplexinator]

Can you elaborate what your concerns are. Is it that they will trade less or want trades that are closer to an average derived from the system?

Like the person said above, the prices on these online stores aren't absolutely in line with what people are buying and selling them for on the biggest online store on the internet (eBay).

I fear people that rely too much on the Units prices will want $50 for a figure I can get on eBay for $15. They won't budge because their value is backed up by "the system" that could never be incorrect.

Even the latest eBay prices can be skewed, but at least you can go back and check to see all the past auctioned/sold prices to give you a more balanced price.

[Puuka]

Like the person said above, the prices on these online stores aren't absolutely in line with what people are buying and selling them for on the biggest online store on the internet (eBay).

I fear people that rely too much on the Units prices will want $50 for a figure I can get on eBay for $15. They won't budge because their value is backed up by "the system" that could never be incorrect.

Even the latest eBay prices can be skewed, but at least you can go back and check to see all the past auctioned/sold prices to give you a more balanced price.

Then you point that out to the person that is trading with you and link to the auction. You can link to them in PMs.

[Typhon]

We will also be pulling in ebay prices .. but the issue with automated ebay pulling is that it requires a great deal of manual work removing "lots", "REV", and things like that in order to get a single price for a single unit. Will probably need a team of volunteers to manage that ... and that's normally not something that people volunteer for. LOL!

[Perplexinator]

No always. I find that when a set comes out, E-Bay get glutted with the SR/Chase at stupidly high prices on BIN, then over time, other people put them up at just as high BINs, then the few that put it up for actual auction put it up and they sell for slightly less than the BINs because everyone else is trying to get if less.

Then. as time goes on, the BINs that haven't sold come down a little, until they are at a price more people are willing to play. In the mean time, those that paid a higher price for them have a hard time letting them go at the lower price.

This usually takes at least two sets for the prices to come down to a realistic level.

That's not the figures coming down to a realistic level. That's the prices coming down due to overabundance of product and transference of interest into the newest set.

It doesn't mean the earlier prices are invalid. Prices are usually higher when ANY product comes out, Heroclix or not. And people spend that money too, sure, not all the auctions sell out, and *some* of the prices are extreme and never sell. But I don't like the way you depicted the prices of all figures being too high initially and coming down later to their "supposed" or realistic level.

Realistic for you may be rather low for another while unrealistic for you may be just fine to others. Realistic = opinionated.

eBay is the best place to get quotes on a value because of the system you describe. You can follow the value of an item just by watching the prices of the newest auctions/BINs. If the prices for the chases start to drop a little, then you know either: interest is starting to fade in the object, there are more of the objects on the market, or another reason.

You can't do that with online stores. They have the money to keep their prices absurdly high for a decent amount of time because their own their own store. Individual sellers on eBay need to get rid of their figure now (in many cases) and will stick with the current price trend of the item.

[Perplexinator]

Then you point that out to the person that is trading with you and link to the auction. You can link to them in PMs.

What ends up being the point of the Units pricing if I end up having to refer everyone to eBay prices?

[Suttkus]

This is interesting but I have two thoughts on it:

1) eBay is a better resource for valuing a figure in my opinion

2) I fear some players will rely on the system too much

I think he means they're going to want to trade based on the "unit system value" of their trade. So 5 figures = $50 and they will want $50 worth of figures in return.

I'm less than worried about #2. Some players will presume the prices are "real" and insist on trading for value. They'll find other people willing to do the same thing and they'll trade happily. Other people will gladly trade a chase for a rare that they just really want. It will happen, it will occasionally cause friction, and then people will get over it.

It's a tool, I'm happy with it.

As for eBay prices, every type of venue has it's own hidden factors. Buying from stores is generally safer than buying from eBay, which helps keep eBay prices down and store prices up.

[lucernhammer]

Thank you typhon you are the fn man bro . Here we have 6 players who are all long timers but our few newbies need a reference to get an idea about how desirable a certian fig is. Now i can just say look it up in the units and they get an overview and peoples opinions of the fig and the rough value . That's golden when your trying to judge and make sure newbies and kids don't get ripped off

[SLVRSR4]

I am super excited about these being there. This will help me with my Deep Dish Themes article a lot. I will use this as a basis for my prices instead of ebay or other sites.

[RavenProject]

Some players will presume the prices are "real" and insist on trading for value. They'll find other people willing to do the same thing and they'll trade happily.
I don't mind if the prices are high, so long as they are consistently high.

If X = Y, then 1.2*X = 1.2*Y.

So long as that's true, then the tool remains as useful as eBay for determining the relative value of two items.

Now if the sources introduce a bias so that you've got 1.2*x but 1.3*Y, then you've got a problem. Would there be any reason to expect such?

-J

[minideadpool]

I find it hard to find solid pricing on ebay. The secondary market fluctuates so much. Something can go for a dollar on one auction and 10 dollars the next.

[RavenProject]

I find it hard to find solid pricing on ebay. The secondary market fluctuates so much. Something can go for a dollar on one auction and 10 dollars the next.
That's why you take a rolling average. Two auctions might have different values, but if you take a bunch of them and average their values then you'll get a pretty good indication.

You may still need to toss out an outlier or two, but you'll be close.

-J

[pumawag]

Nice feature. Like it.

[captainamerica1987]

I just put it online 3-4 hours ago. :) TCGPlayer is more than just an aggregate. They have affiliated with a lot of stores and offer those items for sales directly though TCGPlayer (the sale is then relayed to the store you bought from). We're pulling prices from them and will building a bunch of other tools around them. We will also be pulling ebay pricing (we have been testing that for over a year). Price history will be up next week, which should be pretty exciting! :)

I want to come to a con just to hug you right now.

Jew approved!

[IceHot]

Pretty cool but I just noticed the Picture for Cap SET Baron Zemo is the pic for Baron Strucker.

[JDKenada]

Just came across the feature now myself and it's BLOODY BRILLIANT.

Pretty cool but I just noticed the Picture for Cap SET Baron Zemo is the pic for Baron Strucker.

The "gallery" is always the last thing updated in new sets (to the best of my knowledge anyway).

[tidge]

I have no complaints, except that not all figures have the aggregate prices!

[KillerSavage]

I have no complaints, except that not all figures have the aggregate prices!
Yeah it seems if the figure is out of stock or only one location has it for sale it doesn't show up.

[Typhon]

If any figure has prices, we pull it down. What you may be seeing is that we're not pulling down prices live ... so sometimes it's in the store, but we haven't pulled the record into the site yet. We will switch it to a live load later.

[machineman]

Thanks! This could be a really nice tool. I am looking forward to the e-bay part also. Great idea.