What did you pay $$ for ARAH

[Cobra80]

So I was taking a look at my GI JOE ARAH book the other day and looking through at what I paid for 100% complete GI JOE figures back in 2008 on Feebay. Some of these prices I am shocked looking back now at what I paid:

These were all 100 % complete with file cards and no accessory pack weapons on Feebay in 2008

x3 Major Bludd $2.99 each
Mercer v1 99 cents
x2 Gung Ho $2.99 each
Lady Jaye $2.99
Duke $3.49
Scrap Iron $4.00
Eel 1985 $2.99
Eel 1985 $4.00
x4 BATS $3.99 each
Snow Serpent v1 $4.00
Chuckles $1.99
Alpine $4.50
Alpine $2.99 (100% complete with FC!!!! Where are those prices now :-)
Royal Guard $5.00

[GeneralxRon]

im actually in the process of selling my ARAh...but congrats on yoru score

[Lantern_Lad]

Yeah, I've been recollecting since 2003, and the prices have gone up considerably on a lot of the items. Luckily, the good stuff I nabbed in the early days... now I'm just picking up the day-glo odds & ends which haven't really gone up too high in price.

[Tucker]

I can remember getting a big lot from a guy on eBay and he contacted me by e-mail shortly after and told me other stuff he had.

I got a Moray, HAVOC, Stinger, Thunder Machine and Zartan's Swamp Skier, all almost complete with their drivers, plus Hooded Cobra Commander, Major Bludd, Cobra Trooper straight arm, General Hawk, Buzzer, Ripper, Torch, and Shipwreck all complete for around $50 back in like 2001.

I wish I could remember the exact prices but I know it was no more than $60 for everything. I didn't have a PayPal account and I remember going to the post office to get money orders.

[ero]

Ugh, that kills. Have begun rebuilding my 84-87 collection and it's disheartening to see what you guys paid, especially if that Royal Guard was complete with his mic.

[firefox91]

2008 was the height of the 25th anniversary popularity. People were focused on getting those figures and not vintage. I am not surprised to see those prices. But you won't be seeing those prices now because there is technically no current product on the shelves. (Except for some Retaliation leftovers). And there is no expectation of having product on the shelves for many months. People are going back to vintage and filling holes in their collection and that increases demand.

[samantha]

I remember those prices, but then again I also remember buying the Original 13 right of the pegs.

[jason76basin]

sadly i wish i was around for the 2008 prices. i'm just starting to recollect right now, so prices i'm paying are high, and i need basically every friggin joe/cobra, but i want 100% with fc, so that's slowing me way way way down, and costing me alot

[Mike T]

There's a lot more price fluctuation over time than most people realize. Usually, though, it's on specific items. A few years ago, mint, complete Claymore figures went through the roof. That pulled the rest of the MTB figures with him. But, the popularity died down and you can get them a lot cheaper now.

The key is to acquire opposite of what's popular. When army building was in vogue, it was a great time to score characters. When the modern line re-produces something, it's a great time to pick up the vintage version as those tend to dip in price. You just have to be patient.

Now, I don't anticipate getting mint, complete with filecard Stardusters for $15 again. (Which is what they cost back in 2000.) But, if you time it right, you might be able to get one for a lot cheaper once the interest in rarer figs/mail aways dies down a bit. I've been amazed at how cheap European figures have gotten compared to a few years ago. Granted, that's offset by high prices for Brazilian figures. But, I bought those low and am now filling the Euro gaps for about 1/3 less than I would have spent a couple years ago.

[Kaedryl]

In 1998 I came across a guy on another message board selling some of his joe collection. Talked to him for awhile and it turned out he wanted to sell his entire joe collection - every figure from 82-94 loose but complete with weapons and file cards and most of the vehiclesfrom 82-87, vamp, mobat, skystriker, rattler, moray, whale, etc... Paid $500.

God, I miss those days.