What defines 'rare'?

[RaincloudDustbin]

So the question is... What makes a specific minifigure 'rare'? I'm looking beyond the point of ''it was available in 1 expensive set''. I find it interesting to find some minifigures going for a price higher than the set it came in. I really want to find out why some parts are in such high demand...

Get chatting- TT

[howie28]

I presume it is because they are in exclusive or hard to find sets, some are promotional items like Comic-Con minifigures and restricted in production. It's a shame that most of these promo 'figs are Chinese plastic.

[Vindicare]

Interesting query indeed. I would imagine that the only true rare minifigs are those from Cons. I'd say some promo figs are as well, but seeing as they sometimes pop back up may not make them so(thinking of TC-14 in this case).

I don't think I'd call figs that came only in a $100+ set rare, say Dengar in 10221 Super Star Destroyer. I would however call him and others like him limited. I say that because the set isn't limited to a special weekend where not many people get in and they only have a small number of them.

Now, back to promo figs. On a whole, I'd call them rare. Star Wars probably has the most cases in rarity. Then theres the Hulk promo fig. Limited runs/numbers is in my opinion what makes a fig rare.

[Bamos]

Collectible is generally with a production run of less than 5000 units. Some of the most expensive items are disposable promo material since it was meant to be thrown away.

Also I have found that buying habits can drive the price up too. If you put a set up for sale at the original asking price then no one bids on it. Then take the minifigs out and one of the minifigs go for more than the set was.

Bill

[BrickG]

The only ones I'd consider rare are limited runs like the comic-con ones. Then other "ultra rare" ones that are BARELY given out. Then unique ones that Lego doesn't even give out but apparently made at least one of (George Lucas!). Then uncommon (commoner than rare) ones that are often pre-order bonuses or awards from Lego (think Lex for the Lego Batman 2 pre-order and the Hulk minifigure that was on the site some time back).

Everything else, everything in normal sets, even exclusives IMO are common.

[TheLegoDr]

I kind of agree with some of the above statements. I would imagine an exclusive figure in an expensive set doesn't necessarily make that figure rare, since people do technically have access to get that figure, no matter where you are. But the comic con figures are extremely limited in production and release. If it wasn't for eBay, most people would never even get the chance to own one. So I would definitely call those rare. I guess I typically never use the word rare though. In the end, I group figures as exclusive or not exclusive. That is kind of a catch all term since technically the TMNT figures (for the most part) are exclusive to their respective sets, even if they are cheap. And then Dengar is also exclusive even though he is in ONE expensive set.

[Clanure]

I agree with all of the above, except for perhaps Cloud City and it's exclusive figs. These, while available in a retail set (exclusive, yes), are still what I would consider both rare and exclusive. Perhaps not in sheer numbers, but usually these aren't out there to be picked up easily on the secondary market.

Clanure

[Peppermint_M]

Some figures were indeed "One came in an expensive set", yes anyone could have purchased said set at the time it was availiable if that set or theme has been retired the "rarity" will increase. LEGO is first and foremost a children's toy and like any toy, the quality and condition decrease over time. Yes, with many retired themes the most plentiful figures within the sets remain cheap and common but those that came in a single set will not. They were more expensive to obtain, there were less of them about.

Take Pharaoh's Quest, the generic mummies were in every set bar the smallest but their king only came in the largest set. Over time the generic ones will be easy to get but the golden king will still have been in lower quantities.

[Luke_likes_Lego]

Hmmmmm.........

Got it! If it's cooked on the outside, but still quite pink in the middle, it's rare

Take Pharaoh's Quest, the generic mummies were in every set bar the smallest but their king only came in the largest set. Over time the generic ones will be easy to get but the golden king will still have been in lower quantities.

Yeah, and zombie from the series 1 minifigs.....not rare (by volume in the world) but hard to come by at a nice price ! At least there'll be alternative zombies thanks to monster fighters.

It's not really a black and white question when rarity/expense are considered together I guess...my thoughts....

Rare = expensive ...often

Expensive = rare ... often

Not rare = expensive ...sometimes

Not expensive = rare ... rarely

Expensive = Not rare ...occasionally

Rare = Not expensive ... hardly ever

Not rare = not expensive ...mostly

Not expensive = not rare ...mostly

LLL

[Sam892]

I presume it is because they are in exclusive or hard to find sets, some are promotional items like Comic-Con minifigures and restricted in production. It's a shame that most of these promo 'figs are Chinese plastic.

The store promo and Video game promo figs are the same plastic as the Collectable Minifigs. However I'm happy to say that the Comic con figs aren't. I own both Black suit Spidey and Pheonix figures, are they are like normal figures available in system sets.