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.

 

[earthscope]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301020662312?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151169503954?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Holy grail sorry sh#t

ES not surprised at all bud....

JR from delboy, didn't even get the cost price back for it.

 

[psychoscot]

I'm finding it less enjoyable as time goes on. I was browsing CEX's website the other day and noticed that they had the regular Blu-ray of Die Hard 2 for £1.50. Can I justify paying £15 just for the metal case? Can I justify £10 or even £5? I don't think I can.

100% agree! I no longer do any blind buys, and more often than not will only buy steels if they are films that I utterly adore and don't mind paying the extra for the pretty box. There has been very few films over the last 18 months where I have left the cinema thinking I have to own that, and it has to be in steelbook form! The Marvel films and Kick Ass 2 have been pretty much it bar a few odds and sods.

I do find the quality of the steels themselves are not quite as good too as they used to be. They used to be for the odd film, or the types of films that would maybe appeal to collectors, but now it's almost every film. Thought has gone out the window half the time compared to the older ones, with matte finishes, often poor or rehashed art and thinner boxes. For all those reasons I am now extremely picky about what steels I buy.

 

[MENTAL MAGPIE]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190981068682?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

A Bugs Life Futureshop new and sealed £19.16 and im looking for one of these but i forgot to bid.

 

[lgans316]

Wow. that is really low for a wonderful OOS Steelbook.

Now Monster's Inc Kimchi has started taking the beating as the last 5 copies sold for 30~32 GBP + shipping which is same or less than cost price + shipping.

More Asian Steels underperforming.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141121661692?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141121660239?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 (not even the cost price)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200990388577?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 (same here)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161150540661?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 (same here)

 

[SimonLDT]

99% of steelbooks ain't worth nothing in 2013. Too many releases/editions. The Asian steelbooks are nice but they're just too pricey to import which then means resale value is low.

 

[tristar6]

Wow. that is really low for a wonderful OOS Steelbook.

Now Monster's Inc Kimchi has started taking the beating as the last 5 copies sold for 30~32 GBP + shipping which is same or less than cost price + shipping.

More Asian Steels underperforming.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141121661692?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141121660239?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 (not even the cost price)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200990388577?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 (same here)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161150540661?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 (same here)

that makes me cry

 

[blu-steel]

Funny how you try to make your case on auctions and the fact a lot of them have dents. I just sold a bugs life for $95 last week. That is the market rate, not your so called auctions. You can pick any item for sale on ebay and have the same argument. Auctions are not the actual market. You can get stuff 70% off on a lot of things, but if you want a brand new with all warranty and all you have to BIN. Its funny because I am selling stuff for higher this year than last year so in my case the steelbook market is higher.

---------- Post added at 10:42 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:38 AM ----------

I could cherry pick listings that make it look like the market is up huge. How come you don't let people know that the auctions are bad? Lots of them have dents and scratches in the description. Or the fact you CHERRY pick the lowest of the lows.

I have never seen a person on this message board BASH steelbooks so much. We all know your trying to get people to panic sell because you are buying them cheap. You have said so on this very board. We all know your agenda.

 

[lgans316]

..and what is your agenda? Exhaust stock by buying multiple copies and ask people to try your BIN price?

 

[blu-steel]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Die-Hard-Bl...?pt=US_DVD_HD_DVD_Blu_ray&hash=item2c75041160

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Iron-Man-2-...?pt=US_DVD_HD_DVD_Blu_ray&hash=item2c73e445f1

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Man-of-Stee...-NEW-SEALED-/200980813044?hash=item2ecb63d4f4

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Iron-Man-2-...rt-OOP-RARE-/200972209643?hash=item2ecae08deb

Market sure is crashing.

 

[lgans316]

Why don't you post other's auctions instead of yours?

The auction links are from eBay UK and they are not mine.

 

[blu-steel]

My agenda is to get people the highest quality steelbooks stateside so they don't have to worry about getting stuff sent damaged to them. Most of my items sell at a loss. My clients love that and so should a lot of people. The chance to get stuff in collector grade quality below cost sounds nice doesn't it. I don't force anyone to buy anything.

I am taking a HUGE risk by pre-ordering everything that comes out. I don't send ANY of it back. I see you sending stuff back all them time simply because you don't like the looks of it. I would block you from ever buying from my store if that happened over and over. OH WAIT!!!

BTW this is not the place to be discussing this, I only did this to show how I operate. Trying to paint me as the bad guy is not gonna work lgans. I have sold more steels below cost to people so I would say I am the good guy.

---------- Post added at 11:03 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:00 AM ----------

Why don't you post other's auctions instead of yours?

The auction links are from eBay UK and they are not mine.

I was just showing that not everything is crashing down as you try to prove on here DAY AFTER DAY.

The average cost of a steel now days is higher. I would not say that it is down. The days of cheap steels from Play.com is over. Loss leader steelbook sales didn't work for hmv or play. We saw how that went down. Now prices are way up.

Like I said you are cherry picking the lowest ones and they are not mint or new in most cases. Heck you can still buy one of those steels for the cost you tried to portray as being down. The Dark Knight Rises is not a in demand steel and was printed in the 100,000's worldwide.

For my picking of steels I chose to show, is just what I am seeing. I know others are getting great prices as well, as I see it on a daily basis. It only took me 1 minute to post my links as I don't have all day to argure with you. I have a business to run and clients to chat with. Hope you wake up from your Negative Nancy state.

 

[digitalbabe]

Hi all-first thank you to all Ebay sellers that are honest and reputable and help our members-regardless what the prices are (that is an evaluation that individual buyers need to make, as to what is a high or low price).

Attacks against each other are not cool in this community. We know the Ebay business is highly competitive. If you have a personal dispute with someone, please talk to them like human beings-you're free to take debates further in PM's, but please do not aim to drag the entire community into any ongoing 'back and forth'.

Please keep the posts in our threads friendly and factual. All of the negative nelly comments end up spiraling a bunch of negativity out of control, and we've seen it end up leading to personal vendettas and offline threats, which we will not support here. There have been times when this site has had to be asked to possibly cooperate with authorities to get matters resolved (I wish I was kidding).

Lets take a step back folks-movies and collecting is to be fun-everyone has their own limits. But please refrain from personal attacks and accusations. Thanks for your cooperation.

 

[sunnyx]

DB - I think what we need is a 'OMG the price is low on ebay!' thread.

How about that? We have a 'OMG price is high', what about low?

Problem solved! Therefore lgans can post all the low price steels, chip can post on all the high priced steels, job done, all happy!

 

[digitalbabe]

Any 'cheap' Steels with buy it now prices belong in the Steelbook price drop thread stickied at the top of the Steelbook forum here. Any other debate regarding prices and values are fine, but hunting people down over their Ebay prices and publicly attacking them is not. This is not the first and last time this will happen, and folks that sell larger volumes on Ebay end up being magnets for lightning strikes. I am just asking people to remain respectful-on both sides of this discussion.

 

[SimonLDT]

Buy it Now's will pretty much ALWAYS show a higher value because the seller is setting ideally what they want for it. Doesn't mean they always sell and when they do, it doesn't mean that's the true value. There can be anomalies on both sides of the argument.

Look at the UK Jack Reacher, which at one point was selling for over £80-90 as people were panic buying for some reason. Now you get get it for under cost price.

You can see that in general steelbooks are becoming worth less than what they used to be.

 

[digitalbabe]

Re: BIN-Yep-Correct Simon-so if anyone sees 'cheapies' please post in Steelbook price drop thread...otherwise...pass the listing by and look for the version you seek, for a cheaper price There are also times when closeout dealers purchase stock and clear them out at very reasonable bin prices, because they can, due to whatever circumstances used to obtain them. The hardcore collector will still seek the rarities, but each person has to decide what that target price is for him/her. Good huntin'!

 

[Marina Blue]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Die-Hard-Bl...?pt=US_DVD_HD_DVD_Blu_ray&hash=item2c75041160

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Iron-Man-2-...?pt=US_DVD_HD_DVD_Blu_ray&hash=item2c73e445f1

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Man-of-Stee...-NEW-SEALED-/200980813044?hash=item2ecb63d4f4

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Iron-Man-2-...rt-OOP-RARE-/200972209643?hash=item2ecae08deb

Market sure is crashing.

Quality versus quantity. Some people, like Chip, know what to buy and can do quite well.

Others need to buy only what they want and quit taking a bath trying to get back their original purchase price after opening their purchases or buying releases that everyone picked up upon release and dealing with the hassles of re-selling.

The frustrated re-sellers are obsessed with pricing and keep losing their asses.

---------- Post added at 02:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:27 PM ----------

Any 'cheap' Steels with buy it now prices belong in the Steelbook price drop thread stickied at the top of the Steelbook forum here. Any other debate regarding prices and values are fine, but hunting people down over their Ebay prices and publicly attacking them is not. This is not the first and last time this will happen, and folks that sell larger volumes on Ebay end up being magnets for lightning strikes. I am just asking people to remain respectful-on both sides of this discussion.

Exactly, the successful resellers are resented by the less than successful resellers and others resentful of peoples success in this risky business.

 

[Afterdeep]

If I find those copies on ebay opened I'm sure they will be a lot cheaper than sealed copies, from now on I will be after unsealed ones as I just want to feel the steel. When I buy a sealed copy I can not open it

 

[psychoscot]

Buy it Now's will pretty much ALWAYS show a higher value because the seller is setting ideally what they want for it. Doesn't mean they always sell and when they do, it doesn't mean that's the true value. There can be anomalies on both sides of the argument.

Look at the UK Jack Reacher, which at one point was selling for over £80-90 as people were panic buying for some reason. Now you get get it for under cost price.

You can see that in general steelbooks are becoming worth less than what they used to be.

Yep pretty much spot on! I've bought 3 or 4 each week for the last few months on eBay and never paid more than £30 for any of them, and they are all steels that a small minority think are worth double that! It wasn't particular lucky I got them utterly mint and sealed it was just spending a couple of hours each night scanning ebay. Prices are falling as the exclusivity if this particular market has fallen with the studios/retailers making more of each copy. The Asian market is always more costly and has been since the days of Laserdisc when a Japanese version would cost double the rest of the world. When blu ray is replaced even the top 5 grails will be worth zero as the new format will have it's own grails.

 

[severo]

Yep pretty much spot on! I've bought 3 or 4 each week for the last few months on eBay and never paid more than £30 for any of them, and they are all steels that a small minority think are worth double that! It wasn't particular lucky I got them utterly mint and sealed it was just spending a couple of hours each night scanning ebay. Prices are falling as the exclusivity if this particular market has fallen with the studios/retailers making more of each copy. The Asian market is always more costly and has been since the days of Laserdisc when a Japanese version would cost double the rest of the world. When blu ray is replaced even the top 5 grails will be worth zero as the new format will have it's own grails.

not even dvd format is really replaced or outdated in the eyes of the majority of movie buyers.
i think maybe there will be a new format some day. but that does not mean people will stop buying blu rays instantly.