When it comes to what's more valuable or rare with GIJOE A Real American Hero, I really would like to know what the production numbers were.
Think about it, the Devilfish has been stated to have been the vehicle sold or produced as the highest number. I heard that from the round table in the 2005 Convention, and think I read that information elsewhere. (Unless Hasbro employees were messing with us.) But would that not mean that by average a person would be able to find a Devilfish or Devilfish parts more easily? Would this not be a very cheap and easy find even to this day?
Well, I can't answer my questions. But I would like to get it out in the open that I would really like to see production statistics on the A Real American Hero line. I think that would change "value" perceptions a little more if as collectors we knew how many of each was made.
1990 is a year of less produced as I've come to understand the ARAH line, so would not most everything in this year be just a small percentage more valuable? How often do you see a GIJOE Avalanche tank or Salvo making internet chat?
No matter what, I'm sure Hasbro will never make these numbers known. And I get that, it's a property managing company, it makes sense to me.
I do propose a 5-star rating on "rarity," though. Now, loose figures being complete are another animal all together on what I'm proposing here. I'm focusing just on the new-as-produced-back-in-day numbers. Those numbers will not change and the only numbers that will be revealed will be in comparison to what is made.
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The example:
5 star is the most made items. The Devilfish would be a very "very common" vehicle to find.
4 star "common"
3 star "uncommon"
2 star "rare"
1 star is the least made items. The Avalanche tank is a comparatively "scarce" find.
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What would that get fans?
An '85 Flint is popular and holds 'value' on secondary markets, but what if we found out '85 Flint is a 5-star "very common" figure that was made in high numbers over the years, so a buyer today might wait for a lower-priced figure to come along at a later date.
Whereas, lets say Quick Kick '85 is a 2 star "rare" figure, but maybe not a very popular or well known one, then a Quick Kick find would become much more valuable.
What say ye?
Should something like this be a 10-star system?
Perhaps combine it with a forever changing "popularity" rating? In that a "scarce" figure is really popular? (making it a "1/10-star" ; the most sought after items?) Maybe something like this is something that could be completely fluid on the internet on the "popularity" side of things, like a constant forever voting option at Hasbro.com?
