Rare ponies - your thoughts?

Wistery

Wistery

Teeny Tiny Baby Pony
Joined
Apr 10, 2013
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Would you go out of your way to buy a rare pony? Personally I adore Twinkle Hope, Rosey Posey, February Violet and Port-o-bella, but I've been asking myself whether it's worth it to spend a ridiculous amount on them. They're beautiful, all right, but there are also many beautiful and common ponies out there for me to collect. Is it worth it to collect them just for rarity's sake?

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Ooh can't get over how pretty she is!
 
I know what it's like.

I really like the prototype ponies from G4. Sweetie Blue, Minty, Lemon Drops (Which is what I call the yellow Flower Girl Filly) Black Tie Glitterpie and Glitter Wysteria.

I just don't think I could justify spending 150+ on a small pony.
 
It all depends on what you want out of your collection.

If you want every single pony out there, then it's worth getting. But if you only really want the pretty ones, it's up to you if the rarer ponies are "worth it" to you.

So only you can answer this question, as it's based on what you want out of collecting MLPs.
 
totally depends on your definition of rare and the size of your wallet... and your desire to be "the only kid on the block..." so to say = that's the way I see how folks rationalize this habit, I mean, hobby ;-)

a couple hundred on a pony that there are only 2 of in the whole world?? yah maybe - in a decade maybe 50 more get found, so than what? hmmm...

G4's are tricky - I would love a minty - but I'm not spending $300 on a prototype - just not

but I have spent $300 - well $450 actually - on a brazil sitting bowtie as I just was able to rationalize that kind of value for that kind of pony

so to me, I see those piggy ponies up for sale, and I go - $7000?? - I would rather get a nice used car or take a heckofa vacation around the world for that kinda money

for someone else = they've been putting in offers so who knows - maybe those "toys" are worth "that much"
 
One piece of advice I've always seen thrown around ever since I took an interest in collecting is: Go for what you actually, really like. Don't collect things just because they're rare or valuable. It's one thing if they actually mean something to you, but collecting just for the sake of rarity will have you questioning your actions sooner or later.

I'm quite atypical for a collector, but take me for example:

I have absolutely zero interest in 75% of the G1 range. I do have a couple of rare ponies I'm interested in, like Stockings, Baby Princess Sparkle, Baby Sweet Tooth, Baby Honeycomb and especially the 7 Tales ponies (already have 2!), but that's pretty much it. Other "extremely rare and desirable" ponies, like Mimic, Nirvanas and the like just hold no appeal to me. Oh, I wouldn't mind taking them in, yeah, if they knocked at my door or something, but to me they're not worth pursuing and spending upwards of $60 on.

Come to think of it, my collection is currently at a humble 47 (well, humble in comparison to some other people's collections), and I already feel I'm almost at my goal. 30-40 more ponies, tops, and I'll be done. Which... doesn't bother me at all, actually. I do have other collections I want to continue... or even start. :tongue:

Bottom line, what matters the most is how much you like the item, and whether you feel it's worth the money.
 
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I collect rare ponies only because I like them and not because they are rare. There are plenty of rare ponies I would never buy because I just don't like them. The rare ponies I have bought, I try not to spend too much on them. Usually if you hunt on ebay and the boards long enough, you will find a good deal. I have never paid over $100 for a pony (yet lol).
 
I like to collect the relatively rare (I haven't ventured into Nirvana ponies or anything that expensive yet) but I only do it when there's a good opportunity for it. I've found the best way to luck out on ponies, rare or not, is to take the extra time on ebay to find the auctions where the seller doesn't know/list pony names. These sellers are just clearing out 'junk' and are happy to make a few bucks doing it. I happened upon my Mimic this way (she was in a lot of about 20 ponies and the whole lot went for about $100, since I wasn't the only one with that strategy). Also, depending on your schedule, checking ebay auctions during the morning hours on weekdays can be an excellent way of getting some great deals. Won 9 ponies (including mommy, daddy and baby Apple Delight near mint) for $15 yesterday.... Buy lots on weekdays, sell any duplicates on weekends and your pony habit can pay for itself! :LOL:

So anywho, back to the point about rare ponies, I say yes, but be smart about it ;)
 
What inspired this thread was my discovery of a MIB Twinkle Hope. She was about $40 - not outrageous, but then there are ponies you can buy for $5...
 
I mostly collect rare ponies anymore. First I decide if I like the pony in question, then about how much she goes for, and then whether or not I think she's worth that price. A lot of my ponies I have gotten for far under their agreed-upon value, and on some ponies I was desperate for I have far overpaid. It's all about what you personally feel comfortable paying and how much time/energy you want to invest in the hunt. Older ponies are harder to find and often in worse condition than newer.
 
I have some rare ponies that I have paid quite a bit for (I saved and saved for them) :blushpony:, I didn't buy them because they were rare and expensive. I bought them because I have always liked them :smilepony:

bigmlpfan xx
 
Buy whatever you like. Like others have said, it's what you get out of it. I noticed you mentioned you might want Port-O-Bella. I bought my Port-O-Bella because I'm a real foodie and she has a mushroom on her butt. But if you want her for no other reason but that she's harder to find than other G3s, I wouldn't do it. I can't justify spending a lot on something that won't make me happy, pony or not. And having a rare pony is not the same satisfaction as having a pony you really like, in my opinion.

As a side note, G3s are in somewhat of a decline at the moment, so if you do want some rare G3s, you might want to consider getting them soon (next few years), as the G3 girls who will become G3 collectors will come into their 20s soon (or are already in their 20s) and decide to collect again. I'm a G3 girl with a head start, so I'm taking advantage of the opportunity before my peers catch up to me. ;)
 
Angel_Foil said:
As a side note, G3s are in somewhat of a decline at the moment, so if you do want some rare G3s, you might want to consider getting them soon (next few years), as the G3 girls who will become G3 collectors will come into their 20s soon (or are already in their 20s) and decide to collect again. I'm a G3 girl with a head start, so I'm taking advantage of the opportunity before my peers catch up to me. ;)
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Haha! That's me. :tongue:
 
Personally speaking? I wanted/want every single pony ever made, I remember only one other collector who was like me that was Selina~(I'm sorry I don't remember her pony name) I would like a complete collection, it makes me warm inside....x:smilepony:
 
More business for me if people are willing to drop a few hundred dollars on ponies. XD

There are a lot of people out there willing to drop a couple thousand dollars on Friendship is Magic plushies. Other people drop that amount of fur suits, others drop that amount on armor craft...

I think it really depends on what floats a person's boat.

I've noticed that lately the people who are willing to drop the full amount of worth on my custom creations, are the people who aren't afraid to drop a couple thousand on plushies...

I think they appreciate the time that goes into a craft, and understand the market... so if they drop a few thousand dollars on a plushie, they expect to drop a couple hundred $$$ on a custom mlp.

That remotely has to do with pony collecting in general, but I think that's how I can relate...

I myself never have that kind of money to drop on a collector mlp, so I just bum around swapmeets and thrift stores and snatch up the smaller stuff. If it's over 8 dollars, I hesitate to buy it... I may eventually come back for it, but some times I know I shouldn't bust my bank account. XD

Yep. I'm the kind of person that snatches up a $1.50 pony, then customizes it and sells it for $200.00. xDD

I can be a real cheap skate in that respect. I've ran into so many other sellers with the same mentality though, I think most don't even realize it.
 
Twinkle Hope is one of the few I'd put that kind of money down on for a MIB pony. Not because she's rare, but due to WHY she was made in the first place. In fact, she is on my want list.

I got the snow'el angel version MIB simply because I collect angels. I paid about $25 bucks for her... I'd been in bidding wars for her a couple of times before I finally landed that particular one. So far, she is the pony I've spent the most on in a lot of one.

It is worth it to get your grail if only for your collection. Just be sure it is something you want to put money on and can afford to do. :)
 
I buy whatever I fond cheap. Are there "rare" ponies that I want? Sure! I'd LOVE a Red Roses, TAB Buttons, TAF babies.. the list goes on. I won't drop that kind of money on them though. For one, we're just too poor. Secondly.. I just can't bring myself to do it, even if I had the money. I've found a few rare things on the cheap though.. and that gives me a WAY bigger happy than spending a lot of money!
 
Yea I limit myself to $30 on a nice pony. I can't really stomach paying more when I have those never ending student loans poking the back of my mind. There are some good deals to be had, and I've learned that it really doesn't hurt to wait. Even when I miss out on one pony, another one comes up eventually. It's the thrill of the hunt!
 
I buy anything for full price that meets this criteria
1) is it in the budget? If I don't have the fun money for her now, is it worth it to me to save my "fun money" up for this item and forgoing other fun things?

2) Is she worth her "collector value" to ME.

If it's not "worth" full collector price to me, aka I don't like it enough to spend gobs of cash, I'll simply pass and wait until I get lucky and find that pony inside a cheap ebay lot, or second hand somewhere (yardsale or thrift store). :) I've gotten more then a few expensive ponies this way.
 
If you like collect rare ponies, then just hunt for the deal. I have gotten some rare ponies for really cheap. I've also used jars labeled with the ponies name, and I will dump change into it. Then after a while, I've saved up money to put towards the pony.

For example: I had a jar of coins labeled "MOC Bluebelle". I found a seller looking to sell her for $80. I asked if she would take $70, and she did. I dumped out the coin jar and found out I had saved up $48. Which means out of my pocket (because I never count the jar.....it's just change. lol) my MOC pony only cost me $22. Not too bad for a MOC G1. ;)
 
maycrestmom said:
totally depends on your definition of rare and the size of your wallet... and your desire to be "the only kid on the block..." so to say = that's the way I see how folks rationalize this habit, I mean, hobby ;-)

a couple hundred on a pony that there are only 2 of in the whole world?? yah maybe - in a decade maybe 50 more get found, so than what? hmmm...

G4's are tricky - I would love a minty - but I'm not spending $300 on a prototype - just not

but I have spent $300 - well $450 actually - on a brazil sitting bowtie as I just was able to rationalize that kind of value for that kind of pony

so to me, I see those piggy ponies up for sale, and I go - $7000?? - I would rather get a nice used car or take a heckofa vacation around the world for that kinda money

for someone else = they've been putting in offers so who knows - maybe those "toys" are worth "that much"
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What area piggy ponies? lol I missed out XD

Depends on what it is. I liked the thrill of the find for MLP and getting them at decent prices blike 10 years ago. Now it is the destiny of online to fill my collection, since sources have dried up in the city. I'm more inclined to pay more if they are in front of me. I have spent 800 dollars on something else that wasn't pony related.So in short if I can get a deal, it just is more fun that way. I would pay 300 for a Rapunzel maybe since there is 0% chance of certainty I will find her.
 
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