Crisis in animal figurine collecting?

For months I have been observing a situation in the field of animal figurine collecting that makes me quite curious (and a bit uncertain). I have let the summer go by because I understand that it is a time of the year when people disconnect and forget about less priority things, but September came... October came... and we are less than 15 days away from November, and the situation in this collecting sector is not improving. I understand and I suppose that the main cause is the economic precariousness that has increased globally, mainly due to the health pandemic. But I would like to know the opinion of other members about it and if they have also noticed this crisis in the sector...

Here are some specific things that I have noticed:

- The first and most striking thing is the decrease of interaction in the forum every time a topic about "trade or sale" comes up. This is due to the fact that the Schleich brand issues attract the most interest, followed by the other 3 main brands of the sector (without forgetting the particular situation of Safari). So we cannot say that it is due to a decrease in the number of users who frequent the forum.

- Then we would have the PV issue (Wing Mau, Club Earth and K&M too). It is a brand that has become a grail for collectors and interest (and consequent financial outlay) in soliciting and acquiring these figures has declined.

- On a personal level, I have verified that in my country there are, colloquially, “one or none” collectors "crazy" and passionate about animal figures.

People are not interested in the vintage brands (fuck! They are historical! They are artistic! How can they not be interested?).

People are only looking for Schleich... F... (again, yes). Papo, CollectA or Safari's surpasses in many models the German brand!

On the other hand this hobby is being reduced to a "gift for children". A temporary and outdated gift that is then abandoned.

Last but not least, the buyers are willing to pay a paltry price and come with demands that are beyond what they can afford.


I realize that, in addition to the economic aspect, there are stages and situations in one's personal life that pay off and make these hobbies or passions fall by the wayside. You understand that you have to prioritize... But, why is this type of collecting (being animals as a concept something so universal and loved) light years away from the fans of the various Japanese collections, Pokemon, Star Wars, Harry Potter, the cartoon series of the 70s and 80s, the Disney world, Funkos...?

Interesting, thought-provoking observations. When I look at the latest topics on the forum, I see discussion of a wide range of brands, including Breyer, Wing Mau, Little Buster, Toy Major, Nayab, Chap Mei, Starlux, Playmobil, and yes, also Papo and Mojo, but no Schleich. Given that Schleich is the largest brand, you’d expect to see a lot of interest in this brand, but there is not so much on the forum (except in the new releases topic).

I suppose it depends a lot on where you live and what vintage figures you collect. In the UK, Ebay prices for vintage animal figures are certainly not going down. I keep a close eye on Britains prices and they have gradually gone up in the last few years. In contrast, I bought a few early Schleichs recently and I was surprised for how little money they went at auction. I assumed that most Schleich collectors don’t have much historical interest .

I agree that not so many collectors have a true historical interest, in the sense that few try to form a collection that is representative of animal figures over time. Generally, collectors collect what they like rather than taking a historical perspective (also true for art). For example, most Britains collectors in the UK are probably only interested in Britains and wouldn’t collect any vintage brands from abroad. I think that’s usually because (1) they collect toys from their youth and (2) once you are used to a particular brand, it can be difficult to get used to other styles and sizes. Having said that, I am quite surprised (and pleased) that there are quite a few younger collectors on the forum who are interested in pre-Schleich animal figures.

For a collector, it can sometimes be difficult to understand why hardly anyone else collects the same figures as you do. (So many people collect Britains figures; why aren’t they interested in other 1:32 scale animals? ) Because there is such a vast number of animal brands and figures and so many different ways of collecting, if you don’t collect the main brands (modern or vintage), it’s easy to have a “niche” collection that few other people have. I see it as a good thing to have a unique collection that reflects only my personal tastes and interests. How boring to collect only the latest Schleichs!

I think you're right that the pandemic started the decline as supplies and shipping took a hit, collectors had other things to concentrate on, and now the upcoming economic crisis over winter has people desperately saving money for fuel and heating bills. It's currently three times more expensive since last year in the UK - I don't know how bad it is elsewhere, but here everyone on a limited budget is going to struggle to pay the bills this year.
My heating's turned way down so it can only come on when it gets below 10C indoors, only for two hours a day, and only in one room. But I get that that's unusual, and other people expect to be much, much warmer in their homes! I spend so much of each day outdoors that just getting in out of the rain/wind/winter feels warm to me. For more normal people who can't cope with being that cold, they'd rather put their money toward the heating than adding to their collection, and I completely understand that!

Personally, because my job's not been affected by the pandemic or the war, because I don't drive a car or use much heating, and because I'm not a big consumer for food or clothes or household stuff or entertainment, I've had the same income and spending as any other year, and not had to change my collecting habits.
So I don't feel like I've bought less this year than other years. Perhaps a bit more, actually, cos I've been doing a lot of repainting, and that's meant buying duplicate/damaged models for my 'body box' where they wait til they get a new lease of life as a one-off colour.

Now, I admit don't ever read the sales and trade posts here on the forum, but not for lack of interest or being unwilling to pay asking prices. It's because I live somewhere with very high postage rates and massive import and handling fees - buying from companies based here, with free local shipping, is two or three times cheaper than having it sent from abroad.

It's difficult to generalise on what people are/aren't buying, when there's different kinds of collectors all in one place.
For every one you're describing, who's only interested in Schleich and ignores historic models, there's one the opposite. I'd be a perfect example cos I'm not into Schleich, and do buy expensive/vintage models - just this month I spent a three-figure sum on a hand-made composition model from a company which began in 1945, so there's no lack of willingness to invest decent chunks of money in an old-fashioned and un-fashionable kind of model!

There's also the fact that the serious hobbyist collectors who'll seek out rare or niche brands are limited in number. There's lots of more casual collectors who'll pick up new releases by easily-obtainable brands, but not so many who invest time and money in finding the more obscure or artisan models.
And the majority of these dedicated hobbyists are older people who have been collecting for a while already - they've had time to tick a lot of things off their wishlist. Once they've got a figure, they tend never to try for the same one again (unless upgrading condition, or collecting variations), so the demand will dwindle over the years as people's collections fill up.
Younger collectors don't tend to fall for the vintage brands as they don't relate to them in the same way - though a few new younger fans absolutely love the historic side, and really enjoy learning what's out there and the intricate history of each brand's range, most people who are buying older models do so because they owned or coveted them as a child.
With less new collectors coming along, and long-term collectors having already got most of what they want to own, prices on all but the most sought-after and rare figures will naturally fall cos the demand and competition just isn't there any more.

Say ten of the exact same PV figure have sold on the forum since it began.
The first few, collectors would snap up in a flash, paying whatever they had to cos they really, really want that animal.
The next few, well those first people don't want one any more, so the sales ad sits a bit longer, and different people get chance to see and buy them.
By the time we reach number seven, eight and nine, those probably sell for a bit less cos everyone who could afford top prices has paid them, and now you're down to the people on a tighter budget, or not quite as enthusiastic about the brand - they like them, but not enough to have paid big money to grab them earlier. These are the last few collectors who tick the figure off their wishlist.
Number ten goes up for sale, and nobody needs it.

This is just the natural way of things when there's a limited supply but an even more limited number of collectors. I've seen the same with my own favourite brand on Ebay, rare vintage models which were selling for £300+ a decade ago gradually dwindled over the years, and now it's not unheard of for them to go for a starting bid of £50, or even remain unsold. Sooner or later, every collector who wanted a certain horse in a certain colour had it sitting on their shelf already, and didn't bid on them any more.
Meanwhile the new young collectors aren't into the scruffy old sort with basic paintwork, they'd rather invest in something brand new by the current artist who does beautiful realistic painting - something which can compete and win prizes, something commissioned to be exactly as they want it, or something that'll just look more aesthetically pleasing on the shelf.
It's a shame the vintages have lost value, both for the sellers, and for the people who paid a lot, but it's just a part of being a collector in what is a niche hobby with a relatively small population.

I think that sums up my feelings in brief, actually - we are a niche hobby, and there's not really all that many of us.

If just a few people have financial worries or other stuff going on in their lives and collecting takes a back seat, that has a bigger effect on the forum's second hand market for animal figures than it would be if a few Star Wars fans or comicbook buyers dropped out for a while - there's still literally millions of them, buying in specialist shops and auction sales worldwide, as well as online. Even though we are spread across a lot of countries, and the internet makes it easier to find each other, we're still a small community which grows very very slowly.

Interesting observations, but they could just be related to the normal ebb-and-flow of the hobby.

However I feel that economic hardships for many over the past two years probably has had a decline in purchases. I don't know if the reduction in posts in classifieds necessarily reflects this, however,

I'm on the younger side, so I grew up with the popular brands of Schleich and Safari. As I got older I branched out to Papo and CollectA. After joining this forum, I discovered many brands I hadn't heard of. Since then my collection has grown in number and diversity.

I mostly stick to these brands because they are easy for me to get, and cheaper than other options. Vintage models are very beautiful, but I like to collect newer models that I think are a bit more realistic. And at the end of the day, I only have so much income that I can spend on animal figures.

As for a slowing down on people purchasing models, could it be that some people are just satisfied with their collections? I usually avoid vintage models for the reasons stated above, but even when people sell figures from popular brands often they're figures I have, or don't need. So that could be a possibility.

For my collection I like to display many animals together on dioramas or take photos of them outdoors. For me personally I like to get the most realistic models (within my budget), and for me that's purchasing from the large modern companies.

Roger,

Indeed many brands are named in the forum posts but end up having little significance, instead look at the post of the new Schleich 2022... Crazy! Everyone has something to say about it (compliments and criticisms, the figures they are going to acquire, comparisons with other brands or other figures of the same species released years ago by the same brand... It really is a very intensive study).

On the other hand I think that what you comment about the British figures in your country is exactly the same thing that happens in mine with the old Spanish figures. The collectors go crazy for a Spanish made figure in 1:32 scale but pay nothing for a figure of the same species of a French, British or German brand... In the end it comes down to childhood nostalgia and what they had or what they didn't have because they were a kid and now, as an adult, they can afford it.
So for a Jecsan elephant they can pay 95€ and for a Britains elephant they pay, at the most, 5€.

George,

Thank you for your extensive analysis. The truth is that I agree with you on everything you say. I grew up with Schleich, AAA and Bullyland but from a very young age I started to be interested in brands such as Elastolin Preiser.... So today I find it impossible to resist all vintage brands and, it is clear that it involves a greater investment at the economic level, but it has a greater component of "treasure hunt".

And yes, indeed, shipping costs and customs are restricting the globalization of physical collecting.

Bmathinson,

The economic aspect is obviously a determining factor...

Joliezac,

I understand your point, there is a sector in this collecting that looks for realistic and congruent in scale to create their own scenario.

Stripedhyena wrote:

Roger,

Indeed many brands are named in the forum posts but end up having little significance, instead look at the post of the new Schleich 2022... Crazy! Everyone has something to say about it (compliments and criticisms, the figures they are going to acquire, comparisons with other brands or other figures of the same species released years ago by the same brand... It really is a very intensive study).

Yes, that's a topic that receives a lot of attention and posts. That's only natural; people are excited about new figures. We can't expect as much excitement for a 50-year old figure that is no longer in production. Excitement for the older figures is spread out over many years. It would be very worrying for all of us if new models by the largest brand don't attract attention, because that would mean that there is no future for animal toys. I don't think the number of posts about Schleich is so overwhelming compared to other brands.

Stripedhyena wrote:

So for a Jecsan elephant they can pay 95€ and for a Britains elephant they pay, at the most, 5€.

Yes, that's very interesting. I am sure that most collectors in the UK haven't even heard of Jecsan.

I am thinking about it in a positive way: If more people were interested in vintage figures, they would become unaffordable. Please stick to Schleich .

I suppose I'm one of the ones that will collect what I like and not be brand or era specific. I collect from all brands and eras, well-known to unbranded. I don't have a specific genre. Only in recent years has my collecting sharply declined. Not so much of the pandemic, (my job was not effected) but my health declining rapidly and bills piling up.

On top of not-so-great healthcare, it is expensive to live in the US so I have far less money to spend on my hobbies. I've had to sell nearly my entire collection to stay on top of bills. Nowadays, I'm only going after what I want the most. Mainly PV animals and putting the rest to the wayside. It's all I can afford. Years ago, yes, I paid dearly for some figures but wouldn't think to do the same nowadays. I just can't.

From a standpoint of selling and trading, I have noticed I've had to sell items far below what they are worth to get them to sell and then lose most of the profits to fees and shipping. I don't think most collectors realize how EXPENSIVE it is to sell on eBay. Based on my month to month sales reports they have taken close to 40% of my sales all together in fees in some cases. It's ridiculous. And next year I will have to pay 3k in taxes to the IRS for selling used items on eBay. So...that's why I am forced to list things at much higher prices than I want to. Most alternative sites are the same fees wise, and my FOR SALE topics here were mainly ignored because of international shipping prices, so I am a sitting duck unless its something very rare and highly sought-after.

Trading as you know, I can be fairly picky. I do have some very rare PVs that I want to put up for trade but know all I will get is crickets on that thread since what I am willing to trade them for are figures no one else has lol. So I just keep on them on side and buy PV figures for my collection when I can.

As a whole, do I still love to collect? Of course! But given the multiple situations I'm in, I simply can't do what I love most anymore.

The decrease of activity on forum is global and not exclusive to the trade section. Though, I don't think it means there is a lesser interest in this hobby. It is just the fact that people is dispersing in many social media groups. In the past we were together and now we are fractured.
The forum layout was much more popular 15 years ago, now it is much easier to interact on Facebook groups, Instagram or similar.
DinoToyForum is also not as active as in the past and AnimalToyForum was never a very active community.
I can't tell about MPV Forum and Breyer Horse Blab because I was never a member and we know some other related foruns are now defunct, especially hte iconic Laughing Giraffe.
Surely the topics of Schleich new releases are the most popular, especially because it is very attractive for new members and help renewing the community.
Though, the fact Schleich does not allow us to show pictures as soon as they pop up, is also contributing to our decreasing activity. It was common to see a lot of new members when Schleich new releases were announced and often, if just a few keep active, it was enough to increase forum activity.
So, these potential members will search for other sources.
Now, if someone wants to know the new releases of a company, it can be found on company's website or social media and basically everywhere.
In the past, a forum was often the only way to find information online.
There's also some Toy Animal Wiki influence because it was common to see many collectors registering on forum to get informations about everything, even the very popular models and brands. With TAW, most of those questions get answered.
Now, some editors, previously active members, instead of opening new topics on forum, they give their time to introduce their pictures on TAW.
So, it shows how much this community love this hobby.
However, I see some not very old members posting regularly as it happens with Roger, George, Jolie, Alain, Leyster, Aschuck, etc.
as well as some older members like Paige, Blaine, Jean-Luc, Fernando, etc.
... and you can easily recall other names I'm not mentioning... and these contributions are precious to the forum.
We had a burst of activity during the pandemy because many people was stuck at home with a lot of free time but the way it influenced the business and collecting was not positive.
There's much to tell about how online sales and trades changed, how collecting habits are different these days or collector profiles, but I will talk about it in future posts if oportune since my post goes too long.

Fallon, mother of wolves...
Thank you for sharing your personal experience. Actually, when I opened this message, several collectors I know came to my mind and you were one of them.
I think eBay, unfortunately, is not the best platform to make a profit. In my case, the biggest complaint I have is that if shipping many times exceeds the value of the purchase, customs is not far behind.
Also, what you comment about selling valuable figures at low prices is spreading a lot, it's a pity...

Roger, I agree with all your extensive and specific analysis, thank you.
What I do have to say is that there is NO Fb or Ig page or profile... that is comparable to this forum. For many things, STS is something extraordinary. What has been achieved here is unparalleled and invaluable.

It is very interesting to hear from collectors who have been in the community for so long give impressions of the current condition of things compared to memory. I am one of the "old" members of other collecting communities, and a "newbie" to this one, so it's always interesting to compare.

I was going to say what Rogério said, that the format of the forum is dead in many places on the internet. When I was fifteen and new to interacting on the internet in 1999, forums were everywhere, for everything. The medium has been aged out, however, and I am delighted and amazed that I found such an active one as this. Every one I was a member of over the years (many) are now defunct and gone, so the fact that STS is not only still around but still gaining new members is pretty extraordinary.

I'm too new to this particular model collecting community to contribute too many other thoughts, though. I for one adore vintage, retro, and obscure models far more than any of the 6 major brands. Thankfully, while I am in a financial pinch like everyone, I do have a little extra money now and then to splurge. My other biggest problem with buying everything I see that I like is space. I have almost none. So that limits me greatly in what I decide to bring home. I like to be able to see them, and not just store them.

Personally, the reason I am less active on the sales and trade board here than I am on ebay, etc. is because it can be hard to know what is active and what isn't. On threads that are clearly active (updated, new, etc.) they are often overseas, and so even if I see one or two small figures I really like, shipping costs are always prohibitive. And I have very little of interest to other collectors to trade, having only been collecting for such a short time and not being a collector of larger figures of popular brands.

I think George also hit the nail on the head - it's a much more niche community than mega pop movements like Star Wars. It's almost too broad to be able to predict what people will like. With Star Wars collectors, you are looking at things branded Star Wars. With Breyer collectors, you're just looking at Breyer. With animal figures in general? It is such a wonderful wide choice that it will be impossible to know how tastes will swing for any one individual. It took some getting used to, coming from very specific collecting communities, but I really like it in the end. This is one of the best online communities I have ever been a part of. Maybe not as large or as full of action as others, but I like the pace.

I do feel bad for anyone trying to sell right now, and especially with ebay's astronomical fees. I think selling anything must be hard right now, as everyone has said, with the cost of living skyrocketing everywhere.

It was very interesting to read all of your insights and thoughts about the life in the STS village and collecting in general. I used te be a lot more active years ago and now usually stick to the customs and homemade topics, since that is what I love most.
As Jill mentions, animal figures is a very broad topic and when I in the past spent more time eagerly going through all the topics, I now have more things that ask for my attention and so I chose to stick to more sub topics. And also, I became more of a read than a poster. For me the shift was mostly because when I joined the forum I was going to middle school, and other social media was not a big thing (I was not a Hyves kid). So I had a lot of time to enjoy all the forum topics and I made sure I did not miss a single entry. If I remember correctly the number of topics and the forum was a lot smaller so it was easier for me to keep on top of things.

The addition of new topics in brand and other hobby things we didn't know about was very exciting, bus since I went to university I had way less time to spent the evening scrolling through all the topics. (Also for building my collection personally.) I have since then focussed almost exclusively on the artistic side of the hobby and only bought figures I came across in second hand shops. I don't regret that choice, but it did cause me to focus more on the similar topics on STS.

Then came the rise in social media. I am not a fan of sharing your life on the internet with everybody so I wasn't really invested in any of it until I discovered that IG was a great place for the art community. So I use that to appreciate other sculptors and customized from all of the world and share with them the pieces I'm proud of.

I have discovered many cool hobby things through IG but there are downsides. One of the biggest I have experienced is that it is run not by people who are are in the collecting/art community. It keeps changing and the mighty 'algorithm' that runs things doesn't seem to be favouring fun easygoing art/collecting communities. It is all about being fast paced and numbers. What might annoy me even more are those that choose to go along with it (wich I am probably guilty of too... though I try not to be) focussing on numbers, how many likes, how many followers, how many views and how to always be increasing. Blaming the evil algorithm if there is any drop in any number. Luckily not everything on IG ruled by this push to create fast consumeristic entertainment.

But this is what brings me more and more back to the wonderfull village of STS. Where you walk through many different streets at your own pace. Go back if you want to look at something older and visit your favourite places without being pressured 'like comment and subscribe'. Hopefully as speed of social media increases, more people will be looking for a way out and find peace in a welcoming forum village where nothing is demanded of you, but you are very much appreciated <3

oops, I didn't mean to write this much, I hope everything makes since, I tend to get lost in my metaphors haha.

Anyway, this is why my activity in the hobby and this forum has changed. Hopefully this is useful for understanding the different reasons for the changes in the hobby

A-J wrote:

It was very interesting to read all of your insights and thoughts about the life in the STS village and collecting in general. I used te be a lot more active years ago and now usually stick to the customs and homemade topics, since that is what I love most.
As Jill mentions, animal figures is a very broad topic and when I in the past spent more time eagerly going through all the topics, I now have more things that ask for my attention and so I chose to stick to more sub topics. And also, I became more of a read than a poster. For me the shift was mostly because when I joined the forum I was going to middle school, and other social media was not a big thing (I was not a Hyves kid). So I had a lot of time to enjoy all the forum topics and I made sure I did not miss a single entry. If I remember correctly the number of topics and the forum was a lot smaller so it was easier for me to keep on top of things.

The addition of new topics in brand and other hobby things we didn't know about was very exciting, bus since I went to university I had way less time to spent the evening scrolling through all the topics. (Also for building my collection personally.) I have since then focussed almost exclusively on the artistic side of the hobby and only bought figures I came across in second hand shops. I don't regret that choice, but it did cause me to focus more on the similar topics on STS.

Then came the rise in social media. I am not a fan of sharing your life on the internet with everybody so I wasn't really invested in any of it until I discovered that IG was a great place for the art community. So I use that to appreciate other sculptors and customized from all of the world and share with them the pieces I'm proud of.

I have discovered many cool hobby things through IG but there are downsides. One of the biggest I have experienced is that it is run not by people who are are in the collecting/art community. It keeps changing and the mighty 'algorithm' that runs things doesn't seem to be favouring fun easygoing art/collecting communities. It is all about being fast paced and numbers. What might annoy me even more are those that choose to go along with it (wich I am probably guilty of too... though I try not to be) focussing on numbers, how many likes, how many followers, how many views and how to always be increasing. Blaming the evil algorithm if there is any drop in any number. Luckily not everything on IG ruled by this push to create fast consumeristic entertainment.

But this is what brings me more and more back to the wonderfull village of STS. Where you walk through many different streets at your own pace. Go back if you want to look at something older and visit your favourite places without being pressured 'like comment and subscribe'. Hopefully as speed of social media increases, more people will be looking for a way out and find peace in a welcoming forum village where nothing is demanded of you, but you are very much appreciated <3

oops, I didn't mean to write this much, I hope everything makes since, I tend to get lost in my metaphors haha.

Anyway, this is why my activity in the hobby and this forum has changed. Hopefully this is useful for understanding the different reasons for the changes in the hobby

Instagram fortunately is a wonderful immediate window to the world. Yes it's true that it has its shadows and its dark parts but... if you hadn't created a profile there, I would never have come across this little guy and he could never have traveled to my home!



I also take this opportunity to add that I ran out of aardwolf...

What can I add to what has already been said?

On the crisis, the Covid and economic problems?
I think the Covid had a real impact on the market occupied by Schleich and other Papo, their presence in brick and mortar stores has decreased a lot around my home. Parents stopped buying toys that everyone had already fiddled with. the papo have almost disappeared and even the Schleich are rare, the new models are very rare. I fear this will have long term consequences for this industry unless online sales compensate for this deficit.
As for the economic situation, I also have no doubts about its impact. I have been collecting seriously for 20 years and the climate has changed drastically since then, and we are not heading towards global warming. Today, shipping costs and customs fees are much more expensive and make international trade much less interesting than in the past.

Has the world of collectors changed?
Yes, some "great collectors" of twenty years ago have completely stopped this hobby, some of our friends have even died unfortunately. Some were members of STS, others were not, but they are all missing.
Our hobby is indeed a small, very small, niche in the world of toy collectors. Nothing compares with collectors of Star Wars or Marvel goodies, or even with collectors of horse figurines.
We all have different reasons for collecting but I have seen that this need usually only lasts a few years before life takes us to something else.
Long-term collectors are rare and are often only interested in one part of our world.
Ulrich Raue is the great specialist of vintage composition animals, Andrea Bacciu too but he only collects Italian productions. In France, specialists are also and above all collectors of small soldiers and it is the same in England.
There are of course specialists in brands like PV or Japanese productions.
Collectors who are interested in vintage brands as well as modern ones, local brands as well as those from the rest of the world are only a handful. When one or two of these stop or become rarer, this inevitably has consequences for our little world.

And Schleich's influence in all this?
Primordial! Of the 10 "most viewed topics" on STS, 6 are about Schleich. This brand is the most emblematic of all because it was already the most widespread throughout the world when the web adventure began. It was also a brand with a real personality, a "Schleich touch". Most of today's "not so young" collectors got their start with Schleich. Ten years ago, these collectors felt like they were building a collection around something lasting and serious. It was the time when there were quotation books as for postage stamps. This atmosphere, this era disappeared (exploded?) when the quality of Schleich began to decline, when the style itself began to disappear. I remember that at the time the shock was very violent, many passionate collectors were so disappointed that the very object of their collection lost all its meaning: What good if nothing lasts?
From one day to the next, prices began to fall drastically and rarities sold fortunes no longer found buyers.
Of course, the dawn of the other "Majors" mitigated the fall but it did not compensate it. It was a terrible crisis then.

And social media?
Unfortunately, I am one of the old staff and TikTok, IG and others remain mysteries for me.
When I started collecting, there weren't even any forums, just a few collectors' sites that would make us cry now they were so screwed up.
And then DTF was created and Laughing Giraffe (LG), a Playmobil forum, opened a section for Schleich collectors and I registered on both forums. Very quickly the Schleich section of LG became the laboratory from which STS would fortuitously born.
The mood on this forum soured and Torben opened STS as a life raft for a few collectors in the storm.
Without knowing it, we were going to build something very special where the spirit of mutual aid and camaraderie was as important as the desire to collect: We did not consider ourselves as competitors but as friends.
We were also the first general and international forum for our hobby.
And then the years passed, the first ones were brilliant I assure you, then members left to open Facebook groups, others simply stopped.
So yes the forums have become archaic, yes other platforms have taken over with the youngest AND YES STS is still alive.
If our forum is sleepier than in the past, I'm not sure if it's because of IG, FB or others.
I have been and still hope to be a driving force behind this forum again, like Susanne and others, but sometimes it's hard to keep up the pace for years. The fact is that I no longer do my part as in the past, it is enough that two or three "locomotives" are missing for it to be felt.
At the same time, what makes me happy is to see young collectors take over and create topics here that become new traditions for our village.
I think STS will live for a while longer because we can find things here that don't exist anywhere else.

This is such an interesting topic and I have read every single reply! It is hard to know what to add when there is an overwhelming amount to say and yet everything has also been covered so thoroughly too!
I think that a decrease in interest in the trade/ sales topic also follows perhaps a slight decrease in activity on the forum compared to when I first joined as well as economic situations of course. I remember during lockdown everyone had more time as others have said, and lots of new people rediscovered their collecting hobbies during such long periods of time at home and this forum was very active! I also remember that I checked Ebay and similar second-hand sites almost every day and there were always new models, new bundles of dogs, rarities and so much more to buy, most likely because people had the time to dig out and put up for sale old childhood toys for example. Then as lockdown ended I definitely noticed a decrease in interesting bundles on Ebay and similar, hardly any dog lots come up in the same way as before and also the activity here decreased. But for me it is definitely a positive thing that it hasn't gone altogether, there is still a world out there of collectors and while collectors exist I'm sure this forum will continue to thrive! I personally haven't been nearly as active as I would have liked recently, for me it was just the growing pressure of school and work as you get older so less time and the increasing difficulty of trading and buying internationally since we left the EU with shipping prices rocketing .

You also mention the interesting change in not only what people perceive as valuable but also the changing taste in brands as well as what the future will look like for animal model collectors when the focus these days seems to be more on children's toys! I think others have already said everything I would about vintage brands, PV, etc. seeming to be of less interest to collectors than Schleich for example nowadays, but I also think there is always going to be a natural increase in popularity and excitement around things that are new, models and series that are just released. I am sure that if the vintage brands were to suddenly develop a new series of animals but in the same vintage style of course that would certainly generate renewed interest among collectors- or maybe not? It's hard to say but definitely in a world where everything if about modernising and change, with new ideas and inventions, a lot of our society naturally seems to look towards these changes in the belief that they are improvements from the last! Japanese brands, brands such as Schleich producing 'toy style' animals and brands such as CollectA achieving never-before seen levels of realism all set precedents in their own way which has never before been seen for their specific targeted groups. But I'm sure that in another 50 years time, children will have moved on, the Japanese stye may seem outdated, and CollectA may have adopted a new type of model and these previous new trends may also see a decrease in popularity. But what is so wonderful is that collecting animal figures as an idea is universal and spans all countries and all time, so whatever form it was past or present I am sure there will always be people who collect some type of animal replicas!

I also think your point about how there seems to be much greater value and demand in the world of collecting other types of toys such as Star Wars was really interesting, especially considering how, as you said, animals are so universal and loved. I thought about it for a while and decided that for Star Wars for example, you have toys, books, DVDs and all sort of memorabilia to collect- with the animal figure hobby, you only have the models themselves. When you look at the scale of animal themed products in general (Books, stuffed animals, furniture, clothing etc.) it far outnumbers Star Wars and I'm sure there are even more collectors across all of these animal sections, and probably just as valuable general animal-themed items as Star Wars themed- thus I still think proving your point that animals are still more universally loved! I think that only in the section of animal figures you are already limiting it when compared to Star Wars themed toys in general because there are more of the latter- when looking at animals in general, I am sure there would be much more money and value circulating through all the brands and their products!

As for the future, I really hope that this hobby continues through the generations. Sadly and certainly among my friends, there is no one who I know of who is interested in animal figures, and people seem to grow up much sooner these days and forget about their childhood toys. I can only hope that there will be enough people who hold onto these treasures into adulthood and then perhaps start collecting as a hobby, so that as well as brands selling models simply as toys, there will always be interest and a market for the realistic/ collectible/ vintage models that collectors traditionally liked!

I have read this thread with great interest, and don't have anything really to add.

The only other forum I'm a member of has become a ghost town, where just a short time ago it was quite active and vibrant, now days sometimes go by without any posts. That item still seems to drive a lot of interest; the abandonment is directly attributable to FB and a group forming there dedicated to the item. Most of the members migrated there and only pop in to the original forum sporadically if at all. It's pretty much left to the handful of us who are anti-FB.

I think Bonnie has a point too- tastes change, and what was amazing one day becomes dated the next. On top of that, a significant percentage of toy collectors are likely driven by nostalgia- so they seek what they remember, and may not be as interested in other brands/styles. For the twentysomethings, that is likely Schleich where animal figures are concerned. They have had the greatest global penetrance of the modern major brands. (I had never even heard of Bullyland, Papo or CollectA until I came here)

It all comes down to money too- it's become too expensive to do much international trading/buying for things you can't find, and the people around you probably don't have so much different from what you already have or can get. And during the pandemic, people not only had time but at least here in the US often had more money- the government handed out stimulus checks to pretty much everyone, and those many who could get unemployment received insane amounts of money. Now... there's a reason I haunt thrift stores and flea markets. I picked up a clearanced new Schleich dino at a store the otherday, and it still cost two hour's wages. So no new dinos for me.

I think one take-away message from all these interesting thoughts is that we can all keep the community and this forum vibrant and alive by posting as much as our busy lives allow us. More posts result in more discussion and attract more other people to the forum. We are all making STS the great forum that it is.

CHRISTOPHE,

Nice to read you again! Yes, I would definitely welcome a more active return from you, we have similar interests and it's a pleasure to read you. But indeed, life circumstances make that this passion remains for seasons in a second or third place.
There are many things you say that are real (some sad, but real...) and not often named here.

On the other hand, my childhood was Schelich (although I was asking for Preiser figures for Christmas when I was a very, very, very little child), but I think Papo's quality is clearly superior. There has been a change in Schleich's style but on the other hand it can't be said that his first figures were the most realistic (something that I see positive but many collectors don't). Schleich has had very remarkable figures but has also made quite unfortunate models (personally, as an unconditional follower of the hyenas, I think their two models are quite poor, especially the second one).

And, in my opinion, Schleich has become today a popular brand (in the bad sense of the word). An immediate and easy resource for a large mass that does not invest in culture, something very basic and simple, in my opinion even with a pejorative tinge that goes towards the hick. Perhaps this is a harsh opinion but I have been observing this trend for years.

About Fb and Instagram pages, I can assure you that they do not have the strength of this forum (although it is true that the "forum" format or concept is already somewhat outdated). Fb (which is in decline) attracts mainly casual collectors, not conducive to a broth of deep research as there is here.

BONNIE,

Note that I see the issue of vintage brands from a different point of view. As they are already disappeared, it becomes a greater challenge to find them (and in good condition), so it acquires a halo of search that gives more value to the act of collecting (anyone can go to the store and buy the latest Schleich model for 7.99 but very few can find a figure in good condition from 1950...)
Not to mention the amount of unknown brands with unknown models and never marketed prototypes that there are to discover in the Compo brands, metal and plastic... hundreds and hundreds!
And above all culture, art, history!

PIPSXLCH,

What is the Fb page you are referring to? Because I really don't think it is comparable to the knowledge and interest in this forum...

On the other hand, I regret the fall of Bullyland, first, and Safari after... I hope that someday they will recover their strength and publish more models and more assiduously.

Ricardo, I also collect a line of statuary called Windstone Editions, since they started in the 80s and have been a member of their few online communities since they started 20 years ago or a little less. The figures are in no way comparable to those we celebrate here. Even the root of the drive to collect them is different. I only mentioned their forum as it's an illustration of death by Facebook. As I refuse to join FB, I can't attest to the dedication of the members there, but I have noticed lots of pop in once looking for something then gone people on the forum since that group got going.

I also hope for the rebounding of Safari and Bullyland. Safari is the brand of my daughter's childhood, so my introduction to what animal toys could be.