Desirability of steelbook collecting

[creasey275]

The year 2012 has seen a massive surge in steelbook releases, and collectors. Of the 35 pages of threads on HDN steelbook forum, 24 have been started this year. Back catalogue films, new releases and multiple releases in different countries has, I imagine, lead collectors to become more choosy about which to buy and where to buy it. "Limited" releases to 4,000, shop exclusives and steelbook treatment(debossing...) are now crucial deciding factors whether customers buy, and judging by the posts on numerous thread here and elsewhere reporting that a lot are keeping steelbooks sealed, over-riding the film itself.

Now for the statement.

In 2012 the huge increase in steelbook releases has lead to the decline in desirability of steelbooks. Discuss.

 

[lgans316]

I don't have the mood to go through the posts in my tablet and quote them but LGB and T2 Kimchi are classic examples from the top of my mind.

 

[dirtyoak]

I don't have the mood to go through the posts in my tablet and quote them but LGB and T2 Kimchi are classic examples from the top of my mind.

True, there are a few of your links that actually show highly regarded steelbooks such as T2 and LGB go for less than you would expect them to. I would have to credit that to the fact that steelbooks are so insanely popular now and readily available in most european countries and even the US is getting it's fair share of releases. A large amount of the new collector's can satisfy their hunger for steelbooks by just buying releases from their own country and perhaps some cheap imports here and there.

I do agree with you that steelbook values have taken a hit but then again the releases you're linking to are for the most part not steelbooks that have fetched large prices in the past. The few that have are either titles such as The Town that got a re-print in the UK and quite frankly never fetch very large sums but still a title one could make a nice little profit on, or a fluke. You can't really say that for instance if the HMV Thor steelbook (just a hypotetical example) gets sold on one auction for lets say 30% less that normal market value, that that is it's new market value or that it shows a trend. If you post 10 links to auctions for HMV Thor that sells for 30% less then you might have a point.

Flukes will happen but the true grails that doesn't get a re-print won't take huge drops. Some fluctuation will occur even for titles such as IM FS but untill steelbooks get's replaced by another format as the most popular "premium" format for movies the titles that fecth large sums will still do so.

 

[lgans316]

MU FNAC - US $24.84

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171208172425?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Elysium Italy 2 Disc - US $7.95

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171208172425?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Vampire Hunter 3D MM Lenticular - £14.50

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360823848324?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Pacific Rim 3D Futurecrap - $26.34

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171207903235?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

World War Z French Boxset - £20

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321288915938?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Star Trek Into Darkness Art A Blufans - Only few $ above GB price but a loss if you factor shipping.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261367744618?ssPageName=STRK:MEDWX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1435.l2649

 

[howiesteed]

yes i can agree that some will loose there money but also there isnt a direct replacement as vhs had dvd and dvd had blu ray .... ok 4k but the next major step has been downlod and on demand and streaming but there will be a demand for actual boxes so althoiugh a decline i think it wll be slower than first thought

 

[lgans316]

More poor shows by Kimchi exclusives

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360829049542?ssPageName=STRK:MEDWX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1435.l2649

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360829048237?ssPageName=STRK:MEDWX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1435.l2649

Thought these were super rare and sought after

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161193335924?ssPageName=STRK:MEDWX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1435.l2649

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360829046180?ssPageName=STRK:MEDWX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1435.l2649

 

[Henke007]

Stupid selling steels like that on bids..

I can't believe LGB 1/4 hasn't reached higher since it was 500 copies and sold out very fast. Thought more wanted to buy this steel and missed out.

 

[tristar6]

Sold my T2 Kimchi yesterday for $85 (before shipping) on ebay. But this was no auction but fix price!

 

[ben6212]

People who sell there kimchi or blufans on ebay are asking to lose money.

 

[Jango]

Metropolis sealed/mint 55€, no bids

http://www.ebay.de/itm/111247628691?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

 

[lgans316]

A Team Japan

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271367463492?ssPageName=STRK:MEDWX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1435.l2649

Avatar Extended Korea

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271367439873?ssPageName=STRK:MEDWX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1435.l2649

 

[sunnyx]

A Team Japan

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271367463492?ssPageName=STRK:MEDWX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1435.l2649

Avatar Extended Korea

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271367439873?ssPageName=STRK:MEDWX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1435.l2649

Well they were opened ones so I guess it wasn't that bad!

 

[psychoscot]

Sold my T2 Kimchi yesterday for $85 (before shipping) on ebay. But this was no auction but fix price!

Guess they didn't check eBay properly there's a fair few listings on "buy it Now" cheaper than that! couple of them at $65 new and sealed with free shipping.

 

[ben6212]

considering i bought this last week,pretty mad.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRUE-GRIT..._DVDs_GL&hash=item19e728fbc8&autorefresh=true

 

[psychoscot]

considering i bought this last week,pretty mad.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRUE-GRIT..._DVDs_GL&hash=item19e728fbc8&autorefresh=true

Was the one you bought new/sealed mate?

 

[acidbrn]

Seems like quite a few of the eBay links are for copies that are already open. How many collectors actually want open editions? Can't imagine many would, unless given no other options. Unsealed copies will always sell for less even to the point of appearing like the title has lost all value.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mlmaier84]

People who sell there kimchi or blufans on ebay are asking to lose money.

I can vouch for this :-(

 

[ben6212]

Was the one you bought new/sealed mate?

Open mint with j card still attached

 

[Hestvik]

How much less can one expect getting for a SB that's been opened, but in perfect condition?
10-20% less?

 

[psychoscot]

How much less can one expect getting for a SB that's been opened, but in perfect condition?
10-20% less?

Depends on the steel. I've seen opened ones going for more than sealed ones on the odd occasion.

 

[nick4amber]

As I see it, open (but OCD mint) is a better buy for an investment. You can confirm there isnt any damage.

It always puzzles me that sealed means you tack on 20-50% value.