Opinions: What determines "value"?

I'm just the opposite I keep everything I make, except for the one Darko I did.

In retrospect I'm not sure why I did it though. I don't really collect. Hell, I don't even keep any of the customs I make. I guess sometimes something just jumps out at you.

I see nothing wrong with slapping down $100 for an import figure. I did for most of my Guyver figures.

I was going to say that you're making me feel bad for paying $100 for the import Masterpiece Optimus Prime... but damn dude, $350 for a comic? I wish I had that kind of money to throw down on something.

Ack! Nononono!

*Takes the comic back and pets it*

There there... they didn't hurt you, did they?

It's an original Avengers #4 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby... I'm gonna get it signed by Stan at the Emerald City Comicon this next month.

Aww sweet lemme see!
*pulls it out of protective sleeve then thumbs through the pages with greasy pizza fingers*

$80 for a toy? Sheesh. No way would I ever pay that much.

Nevermind that I just payed $350 for a comic book...

You guys remember the Movie Masters Joker? When it first came out it was next to impossible to find! They were going for $80 on ebay! Then Mattel rereleased it and now you can get one for around $5. It's crazy, and that's why I sometimes wait on figures, because you really never know...

I think your question is kinda worded wrong, if I understand you correctly, based on the example you gave. You should have asked: "What promotes people to spend tons of money on a figure(s) you couldn't seam give away when they were new?"
As far as the answer to the question....I got no good idea. Its all taste I guess. I know there are some Transformers fans on this board, I for one wouldn't bother owning a Transformer even if you gave me them for free.

I think it's a mixture of popularity and rarity. If a popular figure is released and is easily attainable there will not be as much a demand so the prices will stay average. The price may even dip below average over time. If a popular figure or wave is underproduced the demand will increase along with the price. Speculation has made a lot of figures unattainalbe but I think the bottom line, quoting a earlier post, is what you are willing to pay and what the item means to you personally.

Cuz we all know 90s Baseball cards are worth a crapload of money, hehe.

I remember in the 90s we -thought- they would be, but in the end the companies made too many of them and now they're all but worthless.

Sorry, random thought there.

I think part of why you saw the price jump with the gargoyles figure is that a lot of people seem to think the something older something is, the more it has to be worth.

I know what your saying.

I think it has something to do with people having the same situation (or close to) as you.
Like, they'll see or know about a figure, but see no use for it at the time. Pretty much see that it's useless or something, so they don't buy it.

A few years down the road, they start up a new project, and realize that they could use parts for them. And apparently a lot of other people have the same idea.

It's just a wild guess though.

I think I must be coming across as a complete idiot, because I don't think you all understand the idea of the subject. Its not why is the price jumping on figures, its why on these figures? Sure they're not in stores anymore, but hell, no one wanted them while they were, so why are people willing to pay that much for them now? Whats the big difference between now, and then. Another example is a couple years ago I was going to make something out of a Gargoyles Bronx. I bought one off of ebay for about $5, and promptly lost it in a move. The other day I was thinking about going back to that long abandoned project, thinking I could just pick up another Bronx no problem. Turns out that now they're anywhere between $15 and $30, even though there isn't really a shortage of them on ebay (I found roughly 20). Once again, a figure no one seemed to care about, now they're pulling in some cash. What has changed?

Supply and demand.

If the supply is limited and the demand is high that will translate into higher prices.

It's because the stores don't carry them.
Think about it... When that stuff went on clearance, everyone bought 'em up to the point where they weren't at the stores anymore. Because of that, owners decided to go to ebay and jack up the price another $30 because it's the only available place to get these figures... I agree that that is WAAAAY overpriced, but if you want something, you'll get it there if it's the only way to get it.

well obviously. What I'm wondering in this specific case, among others, is where the change of heart came from? People couldn't have cared less about these figures when they first came out, but now they sell for $40 each?

Something is only worth what someone will pay for it.