Who and why some people spend thousands on Christo custom figures

[Sneakguest]

Im very puzzled about something, and that is who and why some people pay up to 2000 euros (this is just what I have seen) for a single figure made buy Christo customs. They guy is good sure, but there are plenty of other custom figure makers that sell the figures for around 15-30 euros instead so why would someone pay 2000 for a figure made buy him? Is he counted as some kind of Picasso within the lego custom mini figure collectors and second of all, if anybody here is one of these exclusive rich lego mini figure collectors, how many AFOLS are there that have the funds and interests to buy a couple of mini figures for 5000 euros a month? I didn't think that lego collectors where anywhere close to like art collectors, but it seems like I've been wrong.

 

[Henchmen4Hire]

You could make the same observation about custom action figures in general. There are people who spend hundreds on a custom action figure simply because of the name of the creator attached to it. I could make the exact same custom figure and I'd get a fraction of what they get, not because there's a difference in quality between the works but because there's a difference in popularity.

Often it's aggravating, like when they make a very basic custom and people go nuts bidding hundreds on it. Personally, jealousy is part of why it's aggravating, but I have to remind myself that the artist is just making a living so I shouldn't get mad at them. It's not their "fault" that people very much want to own something they've made. On the other hand, it is their "fault" they're so popular, because it means their work is noteworthy and word spreads. Other artists who come after them are seen as imitators I guess, and aren't praised as much.

Also, some people have money to burn and like using it to support artists (people who make cool stuff they like), instead of wasting it away on gambling or on bullsh*t charities.

Edited July 1, 2019 by Henchmen4Hire

[Gomek]

As someone who collects customs, and owns quite a few Christo figures, I will add a few comments. There are a VERY limited number of customizers who do Lego customs at or of a higher quality than Lego. It's a pretty short list:

Citizen Brick, Christo, Onlinesailin, MuddyRivers.

That's it (that I know of). Decals and UV printing are fine, but are not the same as the Pad Printing that Lego does. Pad Printing is not easy, else everyone would do it.These four have also mastered the Lego design esthetic, which a lot of other customizers really struggle with.

Now that we have that out of the way, I fully agree with the sentiment that custom Lego figures are pieces of art. The thing is when we're talking about limited prints it's a very tricky thing to figure out the value. This is especially true when you don't know the 'supply' in the 'supply and demand' equation. I try to support Citizen Brick as much as I can because they are very reasonable IMHO. For the most part I feel like they try to meet demand and after that they retire figures (kind of how Lego USED to do it). Christo on the other hand plays this sort of odd game on Ebay only releasing a few figures a week to drive up maximum price and never retiring anything. I've personally been a little spoiled by Citizen Brick and $15 customs, so I really don't feel tempted to buy $100 figures. I also have zero faith that these figures won't be half the price once demand dies down. The very idea that I could spend $150 while the same figure could go on auction the next week for $60 is too risky with my budget. (I'm fairly confident you'll never see Citizen Brick figures at half price, unless someone doesn't know what they have)

So that's it. ALSO.. The Chinese knock off companies are in the business of cheap toys at large quantities so they are not of interest to me. Technically though, there is nothing stopping them from seeing the light and printing on actual Lego. If this ever happens the game will change, and prices will change, so yes... a $100+ on a figure doesn't seem like a great idea.

[Sneakguest]

On 8/21/2019 at 9:37 PM, Gomek said:

As someone who collects customs, and owns quite a few Christo figures, I will add a few comments. There are a VERY limited number of customizers who do Lego customs at or of a higher quality than Lego. It's a pretty short list:

Citizen Brick, Christo, Onlinesailin, MuddyRivers.

That's it (that I know of). Decals and UV printing are fine, but are not the same as the Pad Printing that Lego does. Pad Printing is not easy, else everyone would do it.These four have also mastered the Lego design esthetic, which a lot of other customizers really struggle with.

Now that we have that out of the way, I fully agree with the sentiment that custom Lego figures are pieces of art. The thing is when we're talking about limited prints it's a very tricky thing to figure out the value. This is especially true when you don't know the 'supply' in the 'supply and demand' equation. I try to support Citizen Brick as much as I can because they are very reasonable IMHO. For the most part I feel like they try to meet demand and after that they retire figures (kind of how Lego USED to do it). Christo on the other hand plays this sort of odd game on Ebay only releasing a few figures a week to drive up maximum price and never retiring anything. I've personally been a little spoiled by Citizen Brick and $15 customs, so I really don't feel tempted to buy $100 figures. I also have zero faith that these figures won't be half the price once demand dies down. The very idea that I could spend $150 while the same figure could go on auction the next week for $60 is too risky with my budget. (I'm fairly confident you'll never see Citizen Brick figures at half price, unless someone doesn't know what they have)

So that's it. ALSO.. The Chinese knock off companies are in the business of cheap toys at large quantities so they are not of interest to me. Technically though, there is nothing stopping them from seeing the light and printing on actual Lego. If this ever happens the game will change, and prices will change, so yes... a $100+ on a figure doesn't seem like a great idea.

Never heard of the later two, but Onlinesailin and especially MuddyRivers don't seem to have too many figures for sale. 

But in comparison Citizen Bricks and the others, as well as all other customizers I buy from usually have prices for a fig between 15 and 30 euros. Which is acceptable. But I don't even see figures going for 100 USD or less at Christos, its more like 250-400, which have made me wonder who all those people who continues spend that much money on custom lego figures, which, as you say, dont have a stable value. They might even be less then 60 dollars in a few years. 

Me personally, Im just happy Im not into Superheroes figures at all, I only buy Star Wars and lord of the rings, because I do agree that Christos figures are awesome and it would only pain me that it would be imposible to buy them. 

[Gomek]

17 hours ago, Sneakguest said:

Never heard of the later two, but Onlinesailin and especially MuddyRivers don't seem to have too many figures for sale.

But in comparison Citizen Bricks and the others, as well as all other customizers I buy from usually have prices for a fig between 15 and 30 euros. Which is acceptable. But I don't even see figures going for 100 USD or less at Christos, its more like 250-400, which have made me wonder who all those people who continues spend that much money on custom lego figures, which, as you say, dont have a stable value. They might even be less then 60 dollars in a few years.

Me personally, Im just happy Im not into Superheroes figures at all, I only buy Star Wars and lord of the rings, because I do agree that Christos figures are awesome and it would only pain me that it would be imposible to buy them. 

Yeah, I don't see the MuddyRiver's ones often but I have a Daredevil and Dr.Strange (comic version) figures that are among my favorites.  I feel like Onlinesalin has a bunch, be he (I think it's a he at least) is partial to Street Fighter and GI Joe, two things which I really don't care about.

As far as Chrissto is concerned, yeah, I really don't get that stupid amount of money for a figure. I have a bunch of his figures from back when they would go off for $25 or $30. I guess he's figured out he can do less work and make more money (per figure) by keeping them super limited. As a fan, this is not something I would support, but it's hard to blame him. Personally, I would turn it into a living or even a company like Citizen Brick, but that's just me.

Also to be fair, I think Citizen Brick has much larger print runs, and there for can keep their prices at a very reasonable level.

Edited October 24, 2019 by Gomek