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.

 

[sunnyx]

I think there are those who collect steels as investments and those who are genuine collectors. Investors are always looking for a certain valuation. This muddies the true worth of the steel. There are a couple of grails on offer on ebay for the valuations seen here but no one is biting. Cant name names as they are members here. Auctions are IMO a true and unbiased way to properly value steels.
A yrs or so ago there were always listings of grails with low starting bids. Now you barely come across these as sellers are not guaranteed the high bids they would consistently sell for.

Not everything can be based on auctions. 'Shill bidders' can easily inflate the cost of the steel to give collectors the false impression of what the going rates are. There are pros and cons to everything. And that is where you have to talk to other collectors, members on the forum and use your own professional judgement what the going rates of steels are.

 

[RiX]

Before I had my collection for sale, I already knew what the values were going at for grail steels and created a thread with an impartial and unbiased views to rank the most expensive steels in order. And I'm not that lucky to buy them at $30 each!

The point i'm making is your having a 'sale' whilst claiming in this thread that IM is worth much, much more than it is. Regardless of when you decided prices. I own a copy of IM as you know it has a 'ding' but even I know what it's worth on average. You seem to take the highest price available and claim that's the going rate. I agree auctions tend to be the most accurate reflection of demand and in turn prices, but when you see an IM going for, say, $200 and one right next to it going for like $400-$500, when there's no actual difference between the two you know someone's behind the scenes... btw you have no evidence.

 

[surfury]

I tend to agree with the OP but there are definitely "special" Steels even with the same art work ie lenticular copy of Transformers 3, or TGWDT (JPN) with booklet.

The converse is also true however: for instance, look at Thor, whichever country, which is still highly sought after. All were the same (apart from some having 3D discs as well) and different data sheets, yet it goes for silly money.

The sheer volume of Steels produced with same artwork produced worldwide makes collecting less attractive. Insofar as UK is concerned the main problem has been the number of Steels produced by the various waves, and ultimately the greed shown by the Studios eg all Warner Premium Collection were originally priced at £17.99, that's for 10 steelbooks released on the same day; they are now retailing around the £11 mark which is a much better pricing point.

Ultimately Studios are going to kill the "goose that laid the golden egg", so they need to be reminded that it's a niche market and if they squeeze a niche market too much it will disappear.

[RANT OVER]

 

[mllNY]

I find this thread very intriguing. I say this not really to incite but because this is how I feel.

Are we talking value or price. The value of the steelbook is not 100% determinable. Yes there is a price for every steelbook, but its value is person to person. I personally have only ever spent more than $100 on a steelbook once and just barely over $100 for a zombieland DE. I valued the artwork for that enough to spend a bit more on it.

But to me the value now is dependant on how you want to look at it either 0 or infinity. This item is in my collection as of right now I am not going to sell my collection so I don't care what the market value is. Also for me I am not collecting for the profit/cost of the item but because I want to collect steelbooks. I had a discussion about the price of the FS Watchmen with Top Cat the other day and I had expressed my surprise at how much they were selling for now, but to me the value of this is equal to the value of my Serenity steelbook that I got for my SS and as the value of my Paul UK. Maybe because my investment in any indivdual steel I have purchased is not that high but this is how I feel.

I will admit I have steelbooks I don't value as much but since they are in my collection and not for sale, I don't get too hung up on the price they are selling for. I do have extras that I am selling and I can understand why the price decreasing would upset some people who have spent $500 for that precious steel, but at the end of the day did you spend that money because you wanted an investment or because you wanted that item in your collection. If it is the latter then you should be happy because it is in your collection.

Sorry but just my two cents

 

[RiX]

War of the arrows went for like £10 on eBay today! Maybe it's just asian SB's? I think there is general agreement with the specific steels mentioned in the OP but other obvious expceptions.

And sunnyx, it's not against the rules to mention your name? I prefer discussing things in threads for all to see. It's one thing to claim the prices your claiming, but another entirley to not provide proof! It's no coincidence your making your comments on the exact SBs your selling isit? If you're right about the prices it would benefit me also as I have some of the same steels as you!

I don't think i'll be deleted from HDN from my comments please don't PM me again discuss things here then it won't get out of hand mate

 

[sunnyx]

War of the arrows went for like £10 on eBay today! Maybe it's just asian SB's? I think there is general agreement with the specific steels mentioned in the OP but other obvious expceptions.

And sunnyx, it's not against the rules to mention your name? I prefer discussing things in threads for all to see. It's one thing to claim the prices your claiming, but another entirley to not provide proof! It's no coincidence your making your comments on the exact SBs your selling isit? If you're right about the prices it would benefit me also as I have some of the same steels as you!

I don't think i'll be deleted from HDN from my comments please don't PM me again discuss things here then it won't get out of hand mate

Okay I will do - so your claiming because I have an IM for sale I am hyping the grail steelbooks? You said you want evidence, what evidence would you like, sir? And also you state on PM because I have an IM for sale I cannot put base the values? Interesting, I guess shouldnt be here!

 

[RiX]

Okay I will do - so your claiming because I have an IM for sale I am hyping the grail steelbooks?

The price, yes.

 

[sunnyx]

Okay I will do - so your claiming because I have an IM for sale I am hyping the grail steelbooks?

The price, yes.

I'm afraid your wrong, and I take offence to that as well. I done a lot of work remaining impartial giving facts, figures, and estimated values remaining impartial to assist members.

You asked for evidence. Here is one. One of the most recent ones on 'bids' that you claim is the true value of a steel.

Ebay Link

Sold for £650 mint and sealed with FS sticker.

 

[ferrari100]

Nobody should take offense to other people's opinions.

IMO I have noticed that sought after steels are going for less than before.
Maybe that's because the people who have enough money to buy any particular item at a particular price already have it?
Supply and demand. That's all it's ever about.

 

[RiX]

Why not stick your's on eBay if you're that confident
I always put my money where my mouth is.
I'm talking averages you're talking maximums.

 

[sunnyx]

Nobody should take offense to other people's opinions.

No, I take offence because Rix is claiming I am hyping the value of grail steelbooks because I have one for sale. It has nothing to do with his opinion in regards to the topic, it is that he made reference to me which I have taken offence. He didnt want to discuss this on PM and wanted out on the thread, thats his choice.

---------- Post added at 07:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:10 PM ----------

Why not stick your's on eBay if you're that confident
I always put my money where my mouth is.
I'm talking averages you're talking maximums.

Lets make this clear, you asked for evidence I provided, case over. Next time before you accuse me of hyping steels and having no evidence I recommend you follow the values of grails, thank you.

 

[RiX]

You're half right:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330729594924?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

 

[Researcher]

Guess I partly agree with the OP - the more copies bought for resale, the longer it'll take for the release to rise in value. But I suppose that's good for people like me who can't afford to pay the high $$$ for a particular title but would like to have a nice steelbook (even if it's a different release) in their collection.
Personally, though the IM FS is probably one of the most beautiful SBs out there, I don't think I'd pay the current prices for it - I'll stick with Play.com thank you!
No offense to anyone on HDN, I understand that value is relative to a person, and I DO NOT think that asking for a price that a seller believes is fair and representative of a particular item is unfair in any manner. After all, as a buyer, I have a choice not to buy, right?

 

[sunnyx]

You're half right:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/330729594924?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Look at the date May 2012, steels increase do increase in value over time.

 

[RiX]

What, over £200 in 6 months? Sunnyx give up mate.

 

[sunnyx]

I really do not know what you are trying to achieve here. You wanted evidence I provided. You posted a link for a sealed IM FS that went over $700 in May 2012. I stated that date to highlight steels go up in value. I rest my case, enough said.

FYI, I never even stated a value for IM FS.

 

[Ricker]

I could care less about the value. I collect them because they are different, and most of the artwork is amazing. Not because when I die, my Family can get more money for them. Cause that's when they will be able to pry them from my cold dead hands.

 

[sunnyx]

What, over £200 in 6 months? Sunnyx give up mate.

Look at how much the Chinese Iron Packs have gone up in the space of six months. Six months is a long time to give an estimate on a steelbook. If you werent aware IM sold for over a $1000 in November 2011? Anyway I leave it as that.

 

[Sigill]

Can we keep this civilised guys otherwise we will have to start deleting posts. We all have different opinions and we need to be respectful of them and not start arguments with other members.

 

[thewoe]

Im a buyer and a collector, when i buy, i buy for myself and no intention to resale at triple the price, people that do that are a collectors nightmare xD