Prices for vintage and new is financially degradingly horrible. The Star Wars figures, and GI Joe of the same scale, are disgustingly high for what fans are getting. In my area, they are $20+ for the original scale size figures, then they have a larger scale, at least for GI Joe, that dwarfs the original for $27 (makes no sense other than gouging fans on those smaller figures).

I have been trying to find the Altered Beast action figure ($10 which is a great price for a basic articulation figure) but he is always sold out and scalpers have him listed at $35+ on local swap websites.

Same for modern Transformers - all plastic but somehow costing MORE than the originals, even when inflation is considered. So sad that so many potential new fans will be left out of this hobby due to price gouging for the sake of "nostalgia".

There is a local mom and pop game used game store that is trying to turn into a culture stop, something like what most Gamestops are now but for older stuff. Last year I brought my Trypticon in and wanted to get an appraisal on it. They said best they could give was $5 in store trade, no cash. I get he is not complete but over the years collectors have offered $80 to $100 for him because he does have some key pieces that are hard to find (though he is missing many others, cheaper to replace, pieces).

I get they need to make money on these things but they had an incomplete Optimus Prime priced at $145. I can only imagine what they paid some poor unsuspecting person trading that in.

This same store has Super Mario Bros 3 on NES, damaged label, priced at $45.

I would hate to look up all the toys I had as a kid growing up. I lived in the aftermarket, yard sale hand me downs - getting a new toy, in box, was rare for me. I was fine with it, I was very much about the quantity angle growing up.

Even there new fans are kind of screwed. Everyone prices yardsales at "eBay prices" some even tape printed screenshots of the asking price on eBay for that item. Not solds that are MUCH lower.

So sad.