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.

 

[VRob98]

I said this before - sealed does NOT mean mint

Well just to clarify the terminology here, sealed DOES mean mint. In fact it's almost the definition of mint, since 'mint' means factory fresh condition/absolutely as new. As soon as you remove the shrink wrap from a steelbook it's no longer 'mint' because it didn't leave the factory that way. For that reason no opened steel can truly be described as mint (unless that's the way it was released).

I take your point about opened steels still being flawless, undamaged, pristine, perfect, or any other description you might use to characterise their quality, but those are not words that are interchangeable with 'mint', which has had its correct and original meaning muddied a bit by slang use.

 

[Naughtius Maximus]

Oh behave you two, just ignore eachother.

 

[RiX]

You can get sealed copies that aren't mint though so where does that leave you? I got Sin City from amazon.ca and when I opened it the glue had made a massive scratch on it!

 

[digitalbabe]

Hi guys-once again, please take personal disagreements to PMs. We very rarely ban or suspend accounts but will have to if the majority of your posts incites and contributes nothing to the community. Please keep promotion of your items to your Trade thread and do not involve the entire community in silly bickering. Countless members who collect also sell Steelbooks and over time you will know each other. The motives of buying or selling is everyone's individual business. Thanks all for your cooperation in observing the HDN forum guidelines.


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Staff: Community Manager
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From LV-426 on iPhone

 

[Rodbull]

hey Buddy, just a touch of some friendly advice as I kinda been where you are before

I get the impression you are a relatively Newish Collector to steel books ??

You were probably drawn to them for 1 reason or another , just like the rest of us are

Dont allow your self to be sucked into the endless bottom less money Pitt & think you are gonna be able to Collect every nice steel book that is out there !! A that is not gonna happen !!

reme3mber why you started to collect these delectable steelz in the first place & it is addictive !! I know !! , but its only a Movie at the End of the day Brother and know one should think bad will towards you because you dont have a certain steel book !!

like the other guys said, a few things come first !! (i am not a guidence Counciller BTW)

UK is having 1 of ther most financially difficult times in History atm.....


Kids If you got any ??

Wife or Husband or Partner !!

Roof over your Head !!

Food on the Table !!

Clothes on yah Backs !!

then , pay all your Bills for utillities !!

If any thing left ? treat youself to a Steelie

wat is hard about that ??

enjoy

Hi buddy yes one son and girlfriend

I'm only buying movies I like I'm going to hit the nail on the head for a while I think Ive got a ok collection In the last month or so ...im also awaiting a metal slip and viva from good ol OZ

It can get additive buying I don't know why ? But like you said they are only movies at the end of it thanks for the comment take care

 

[frankfish44]

Definitely decreasing in value. Sealed ghost rider DE sold for $28, Di Nebel - $41, trip to the moon-$58, reel steel blufans with coin for less than $100. Many Asian releases are not even coming near the highs of previous months. Many argue the grails have maintained their value. I disagree. IM FS was always in my want to own list but with plays version, my interest in this is completely gone. Money ain't flying around like it used to. Seen a listing for sky fall Taiwan for $100. Why would any money conscious collector opt for that when there are so many other releases with the SAME artwork. Slips have been overvalued and prices are reflecting that at the moment.

 

[Rodbull]

Definitely decreasing in value. Sealed ghost rider DE sold for $28, Di Nebel - $41, trip to the moon-$58, reel steel blufans with coin for less than $100. Many Asian releases are not even coming near the highs of previous months. Many argue the grails have maintained their value. I disagree. IM FS was always in my want to own list but with plays version, my interest in this is completely gone. Money ain't flying around like it used to. Seen a listing for sky fall Taiwan for $100. Why would any money conscious collector opt for that when there are so many other releases with the SAME artwork. Slips have been overvalued and prices are reflecting that at the moment.

More like people are coming round to think why am I paying the extra £££ for a piece of paper?

I questioned this to myself the other day I bought the Korean versions of TOTAL RECALL & RE From kimchi DVD paid just over £60 with shipping not a bad price but still they are exactly the same as the HMV,amazon,versions which could of been bought for around half of the price.

And eBay sellers are asking around £100 or best offer prices INSANE

That's pennies for what some others go for though ......it's exactly the same steel case your paying for the card/paper slip.

I would understand if the case was different ETC

 

[Wootball]

I agree with that - to me, even the thought of paying megabucks for the same movie in a steel case was absurd, so to increase the price because of the paper the steel is wrapped in is just bizarre.

 

[frankfish44]

I agree with that - to me, even the thought of paying megabucks for the same movie in a steel case was absurd, so to increase the price because of the paper the steel is wrapped in is just bizarre.

I never really underst0od the whole slip mania. It has never occured to me that a piece of paper makes an item so valuable. IMO there are more prospectors betting these will rise in value than real collectors. As more steels are re released, the better for a chap like me whose only interest is collecting for myself. I only have one asian vmb as the FS one is ridiculously priced

 

[stevo]

More like people are coming round to think why am I paying the extra £££ for a piece of paper?

I questioned this to myself the other day I bought the Korean versions of TOTAL RECALL & RE From kimchi DVD paid just over £60 with shipping not a bad price but still they are exactly the same as the HMV,amazon,versions which could of been bought for around half of the price.

And eBay sellers are asking around £100 or best offer prices INSANE

That's pennies for what some others go for though ......it's exactly the same steel case your paying for the card/paper slip.

I would understand if the case was different ETC

Thats the world of collecting my friend. Its no different in any other collectibles market. If you collect Hot Wheels, a variant with grey wheels instead of black maybe worth 100X more. People place value in slight differences, thats just how it is. It's actually telling you our steel hobby is taking off. People are willing to spend the big bucks on variants, which is great for our hobby.

In regards to Ebay sellers with crazy BIN prices, I have a very high suspicion on those titles. If these titles are truly worth what their "buy it now" price is asking, they would start their auction at $0.01, and let it bid up. By putting a BIN price on an item, it tells me that they have no real confidence that it would go up to that price, in actual bidding. Its there to snag those 1 particular individuals who really really want that particular tittle. This individual might be affected by the hype machine, and just do an impulse buy, then and there. Our good friend Socrate's auction are all about that.

 

[SaberTooth]

the weaker purchasing power of your currency of choice would suggest the opposite.

 

[lgans316]

Few days back resident evil retribution 3d korea sold for $27 in ebay.

RIO for $56

 

[Steelknight47]

I've seen two copies of Iron Man new/sealed go for around $600. Maybe it is becoming too mainstream.

 

[Wreck]

I think $600 is a nice fair pricefor new sealed ...given how many Play versions are out there it toned down the $1,000 dollar sales.

as for other things selling for cheaper .. its still first quarter of year ...

 

[stevo]

I've seen two copies of Iron Man new/sealed go for around $600. Maybe it is becoming too mainstream.

Are you talking about the one with the small dent on the corner? I've been watching that one, now its gone. That was definitely not a mint copy (it belonged to a member of this forum). Kinda funny how this detail got left out. Anyone seen the prices of the Disney IP's and MB's lately?

 

[Steelknight47]

Are you talking about the one with the small dent on the corner? I've been watching that one, now its gone. That was definitely not a mint copy (it belonged to a member of this forum). Kinda funny how this detail got left out. Anyone seen the prices of the Disney IP's and MB's lately?

Not that one mate. If someone paid $600 for a dented Iron Man FS they are plain dumb. Here are a couple sold listings of Iron Man new/sealed with the sticker. These are mint, no flaws.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Iron-Man-Futureshop-Exclusive-Steelbook-Blu-ray-OOP-rar-/281054203828?pt=DE_DVDs&hash=item417022cfb4

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Iron-Man-Futureshop-Steelbook-Blu-Ray-/281058370383?pt=UK_CDsDVDs_DVDs_DVDs_GL&hash=item417062634f

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Iron-Man-Ironman-Blu-ray-Steelbook-Futureshop-Exclusive-NEW-SEALED-/271153926146?pt=US_DVD_HD_DVD_Blu_ray&hash=item3f22089002


Edit: If you put eBay's fees into the equation the sellers didn't even get the complete $600.

 

[frankfish44]

Not that one mate. If someone actually paid $600 for a dented Iron Man FS they are plain dumb. Here are a couple sold listings of Iron Man new/sealed with the sticker. These are mint, no flaws.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Iron-Man-Futureshop-Exclusive-Steelbook-Blu-ray-OOP-rar-/281054203828?pt=DE_DVDs&hash=item417022cfb4

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Iron-Man-Futureshop-Steelbook-Blu-Ray-/281058370383?pt=UK_CDsDVDs_DVDs_DVDs_GL&hash=item417062634f

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Iron-Man-Ironman-Blu-ray-Steelbook-Futureshop-Exclusive-NEW-SEALED-/271153926146?pt=US_DVD_HD_DVD_Blu_ray&hash=item3f22089002


Edit: If you put eBay's fees into the equation the sellers didn't even get the complete $600.

Some on this forum questioned the stickers as the reason why one of these was not sold yet. It is fair to say every steel will peak and then drop back some to a price point that some collectors will be comfortable with. As Wreck said, this may be the new reality for IM FS.

 

[blu-steel]

Why is it everytime you show prices you show the worst case scenario. I haven't sold A Trip to the Moon for less than $120 lately.

 

[Steelknight47]

Some on this forum questioned the stickers as the reason why one of these was not sold yet. It is fair to say every steel will peak and then drop back some to a price point that some collectors will be comfortable with. As Wreck said, this may be the new reality for IM FS.

Yeah only one of the three the sticker is questionable, but the other two still sold around $600 with the sticker in prefect condition. I can only wonder what will happen to Rambo in the future.

As Top_cat2 mentioned this is becoming a slip and sticker game. The Thor Steelbook is identical worldwide, but the Japan version sold for near a $1,000. The only difference is the quarter slip. :/

 

[blu-steel]

What were these prices 2 years ago. I bet they were a lot less. If anything prices are up. Just look at the flood of steels Play.com pushed out the door in the last 6 months. Its mind boggling. It takes a little time for that flood to dry up.