Diaclone & Microman rarity

[admin1 aka Ed]

Anyone else notice that it is a PAIN in ze butt to find boxed vintage Microman and Diaclone toys?

There are, of course, a descent amount of car-robos, but others.....

My theory is that Most All of these were played with. So MIB is tough to find; they were fun to play with

E

[arkboy]

Yeah, and when they are listed, they command premium price tag.

I've been hoping to score one of my childhood wants, a complete Diaclone Big Powered at decent price but none is to be had at my affordability level... sigh. When I was a kid all I could afford was the cheap plastic model kits from Takara-Nitto.

Incidentally do you know why does Big Powered command such high prices? I've been watching Yahoo Japan, they always sell at cut throat prices even in-complete specimens.

[Dragonclaw]

Yeah, now that I've really focussed on trying to complete the vintage Microman part of my collection the prices are PAINFUL. Fortunately I'm a loose collector, but even those have been really pricey (and the exchange rate just makes it that much worse) I've bought a few boxes pieces when I can't find a loose specimen.

[Mr. Ginrai]

I think it is really just hard to find boxed Microman toys because they sold so many of the damn things and they basically got played with. They were hot property at the time.

Diaclone on the other hand, I think that not many American consumers were used to having neat little packages where you could put things back and make sure they didn't get lost. I for one wish that Hasbro had stayed with foams all the way for the entire line of G1 transformers (big and small) because cardboard inserts arent always the best. The problem was foam was expensive and not environmentally friendly, and that America is a nation where "cardbacks" are rampant/loved...I wouldn't be so against them if they would stop stocking the shelves so tightly that you cause toy avalanches when looking for a certain figure. At least years ago you could see between the pegs haha.

But back to Diaclone, most kids played with toys and then put them in their room, toybox, playroom corner or whatever and lost pieces along the way. Then either they forgot about the box and/or it got damaged or thrown out after a little while (and in some households it got tossed right after the toy was opened!)

I also think that since Diaclone and then Kronoform/Diakron and the other variants were then upstaged by Transformers pretty quickly, they really weren't selling well anymore unless you were shopping at a specialty or import shop like Mr. Bigs or some major toy stores that still carried them (albeit in the clearance aisle).

I don't really collect Diaclone but have some, and I have got to think that Diaclone warehouse finds would have happened by now. I do think/hope however, that we start to see US warehouse finds for Diaclone, I mean the stuff has got to be out there we see it for TFs, Godaikins, other toys, etc. As far as overseas warehouse finds for Diaclone i.e. Japan/Asia and France/Europe (Joustra etc.) I actually think it's much less likely to happen because of their popularity over there. They got bought and kids played with them like they were going out of style just like Microman.

[drakepasha]

One seller in ebay right now is putting out a lancia Stratos for USD 5000 .... now that's what I call a rare toy

[admin1 aka Ed]

True true. The Marlboro is super rare.

For what it is worth, I'll be selling mine and also my Big Powered @ MorphyAuctions.com this September. So if you guys are looking, they may be sold at a reasonable price. Being an auction and having about 500 items, they may be good buys.

So I hope it works, and goes to one of our members

E

[admin1 aka Ed]

BTW, I think the new ebay style of listing costs stinks with Diaclone. Since you don't get charged to list, everyone is wishing......