Sunday, April 11, 2021

The Plastic Things

When it became obvious to me that I hadn’t been picked for the True Blue Exclusive Event – as I suspected – the first thought that crept into my head was “This shouldn’t be this painful.”

Part of the reason I went all in on the hobby all those years ago (more than 40 – ulp!) was because the world of living, breathing horses was essentially inaccessible to me. My family made it very obvious that “the real thing” was a luxury and absolutely not something that was going to happen. 

They paid for a couple of years of horseback riding lessons, but after that, it was all on me.

The world of model horses was cheaper, and fit into my lifestyle better anyway – even when I could technically afford the real thing.

I could afford some of the ridiculous prices people are already putting up for their True Blue loot ($500? For the Stablemate? Okay, maybe not.) but I won’t do that because I don’t want to have anything to do with making the hobby less affordable or accessible to others. 

Yes, yes, there have always been ridiculous prices in the hobby. And people (unfortunately) able to pay them. 

That’s why I started research Breyer History and stuff: if I couldn’t compete with money, I could compete with knowledge. Which works with older models, vintage models, obscure releases nobody much cares about.

But as far as modern models go? I am just as much as wit’s end as the rest of you. A little worse off, even, because people sometimes blow off my rants, assuming that I have more fabulous modern things than I actually do. 

Look: it’s just me and my one account and my vast and impressive library of reference materials. None of which really help when it comes to lottery drawings. 

Lottery drawing don’t care if you can categorize all of the different stocking variations of Stud Spider by rarity or that you are one of the handful of collectors who actually does collect the Polled Hereford Bull, thank you very much. 

That’s also why I am not the biggest fan of these Exclusive Events. I don’t get picked for these things, and there’s nothing I can do to improve my odds. 

Of course money is always a solution, but here is the thing: there is no way I can justify paying for anybody else’s vacation. 

Or their couch. (I actually saw an ad for a Raffle Model once that stated that explicitly. Needless to say, I did not find it persuasive.)

Trust me, people have tried that nonsense on me. Do not come at me with an offer that’s not really a bargain at all. Y’all should know by now that not only do I not play that game, I will put you on my personal “naughty” list forever. 

(If it’s one thing my family has taught me, it’s how to hold grudges.)

I know they’re only plastic horses. But this shouldn’t hurt so much. It’s beginning to feel a little like my high school days, where the world of real horses was essentially closed to me. 

I don’t want the world of model horses to be that way, either.

And anybody who trots out the “But drawings are the most fair system!” excuse can also pound sand. We all know that is not true. The fairest system would not allow people who have gone multiple times to go again and again, and some people to never go at all. 

I also wonder just how many people would enter for these events if there were not any limited edition models involved? 

Anyway, to make up for my griping (my throat is also sore!) here is a picture of something that is actually making me happy at the moment: I finally opened up my Christmas Space Bears!

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Whether real or model, there will always be people with more money and nicer things. What I take happiness in is creating my own customs and having fun with my real horse that I got for free. When my customs win against expensive models, or my real horse does just as good as someone's $10,000 horse, that makes me smile. I almost wouldn't know what to do if I wasn't always looking for a bargain!

Anonymous said...

PS. I love your bears! They are super cool!

Corky said...

The thing that I think isn't fair about all this is that Breyer allows people to have more than one account. My own opinion is that Breyer should limit accounts to ONE PER PERSON, or physical address, or IP address/device, or whatever. I get a bit steamed when someone has an account for themselves, their husband, all three of their kids, their dog and their hamster. I mean, it's nice for them that they have the money to do that, but they're "occupying slots" that could be filled by someone who really, really wants the models because they make their heart sing, and not so they can sell the extras they inevitably wind up with for triple their original price.

Yvonne said...

Amen! I am so with you on this. Seems as if the same folks get picked for the raffles, the Tours, etc, etc and a large chink of us sit here and listen to them gloat as we watch them sell the models off. I have been collecting for, well... a LONG time also, and I am very disheartened with collecting lately. I have lost the "spark" and there are over 4900 Breyers here now that probably need to be sold off and I need to step back and reevaluate my choices...

Anonymous said...

I can agree that it seems that some of the same people "win" the chances to purchase the special events and horses, but the lottery system seems to be the fairest way. And I think entering once per account, instead of once every day, is better also. Yes it's frustrating when you have one account, and others have many, but that's their choice. If you were trying to win the Mega millions jackpot and it was a high amount, wouldn't you buy extra tickets to increase your luck!?
I have to say if i had won the True Blue experience, I would have kept my SM, but sold the other, since he's not one I like. And in no way, would I have felt bad or been shamed for doing so. I entered so I could experience the whole event, see Australia, and hopefully get a great SR horse too. I am a collector, and enjoy finding, hunting, and ordering special horses. I get disappointed if I don't get picked, but I don't get emotionally depressed, upset or cry that I didn't win. I do this for my 10 year old, who loves this hobby, and looks up to some of the adults in this hobby for their knowledge and talent. How upsetting it is that she sees adults carry on so poorly, because they always feel slighted they never win.

Anonymous said...

I hear ya, and it really does smart. I *need* the SM for my collection, no-freaking-way am I gonna pay those insane prices for it. Just...can't. I wanted to win for MYSELF. Not to sell. Oh, well.

I did the real horse thing, been there, done that, got the silver plates, giant rosettes and pics in the winner's circle. My boys are now semi-retired, I'd rather show models.

Anonymous said...

You know Andrea--I'm *always* gonna be a "fan" or yours because you tell it "the way it 'tis!" (Trying saying this on another particular model horse blog and wait and see how *fast* you get reemed out for having "sour grapes'
for NOT being chosen!!
(yeah-yeah--they're the same PITA's who are currently complaining about the "supposed" flaws on the Stablemate Model "HENDRIK"--BUT with the next breath will *ask*(??) BREYER to produce a model horse in a color that the breed standard *doesn't* even come in!!(Decorators/Clearwares *don't* fall into this category, BTW--otherwise, GIVE ME A BREAK!!

I must be one of the few people who could CARE LESS about *any* of BREYER's contests, drawings, etc. (yeah--I have entered for a very few--the 2021 VIP BREYERFEST ticket being my latest venture and I *totally* forgot to enter for GOLDFINCH!) but on the whole, my attitude to their games is "PFFFTTT!!"
My MAIN reason being the EXCLUSIVITY that these contest(s) project!! You have *thousands* of people who collect and you mean to tell me, that out of these thousands--you can ONLY have 50-300 people attend the event or have a chance @ winning a particular model???!! (Oh HONEY!! you *don't want to hear the REAL words I can tell you about THAT!!)

I also agree with CORKY's statements concerning the accounts!! You ARE out of your mind if you think *anyone*should have to pay 2-3 times markup for a model they COULD have gotten AT COST -if you *weren't* "scalping" the limited slots!!

I *think* one of the BEST things (SMARTEST for them for once!) BREYER has EVER done is to offer us the OPTION of getting particular models on BACK ORDER!! While I *did* get my "LAFAYETTE" when I ordered it--I'm looking forward to seeing HOW this will work out in regards to this year's BREYERFEST Special Runs! (I'm one of those people who DON'T care if I get the model NOW --as long as I get it!!)

Andrea--my heart *hurts* for you (and others like you) that puts their hearts and soul into the hobby for fellow collectors benefits (I appreciate your VAST vintage knowledge---and I'm also one who collects variations and owns the POLLED Hereford bull as well!) You've volunteered @ "live" BREYERFEST *many* times and aren't YOU the one that puts the VINTAGE CLUB catalog together??) and you mean to tell me, that BREYER *can't* set aside a FEW of the tickets as a "THANK YOU" for what you(& others) do for them??
That's a bunch of "horse-hockey"!!

For YVONNE--You may have more horses in your collection that I do -and I'm a "black hole" collector! I emphathize with you as well! I've been noticing since the last year or so, the increasing nastiness/complaining of fellow collectors! I've gotten(or am getting to) to the point that I *won't* read many of the Social media blogs that are out there anymore (or near as much) because it's slowly sucking away my enjoyment of the hobby!! BUT --one thing that *won't* EVER happen!! I *won't* let *anyone* drive me away from from a hobby I still love!! AND you SHOULDN'T either! (the *only* way someone is getting my collection --is I've left the earth--and even at that, I'm gonna *try* to have them buried with me!!

OK--I've ranted myself long enough! I hope you read this Andrea--I know it's long! bye now!

Anonymous said...

I don't recall where I first read/saw them called the Space Bears - but that's how I've thought of them ever since. And the Shiney Mare and Foal that came out about the same time. That'll be their names for me forevermore.

As far as the True Blue event - since it is virtual, I don't quite understand why Breyer couldn't have made it less exclusive, say, opened it up to 400 or 500 attendees. Since it's all on-line, and everyone would be watching from the comfort of their own home, the only hangup would be the special runs. Bump those quantities up, too. Cut down on all the folks entering just for the chance to flip models.

Holly Harris said...

The greed in the hobby is repulsive and I refuse to play the model scalpers games. I was out of the hobby for thirty years during my "real horses" era and didn't get back into the hobby until I had a nine year old daughter who fell in love with my childhood collection and started one of her own. I took her to Breyerfest as her birthday treat in 2014 and we were absolutely clueless on our first experience but had a great time anyway, and continued to go up until last year.

Since I'm so far behind, I'm happy to get older models at low prices. As many had damage, I learned how to repair and restore them and then moved on to doing customs. These days I buy mostly bodies, but occasionally Breyer puts out something fantastic that I have to have. I try not to get caught up in the hype and just buy the models I like for my collection.

I know I'll never have a traditional Alborozo in my collection, and I'm fine with that. The people who truly love him should have him; he's never really appealed to me that much. The best part of customizing is that I can create whatever model I want and I never realized that I had any sculpting skills until I started this hobby. I guess all those years of grooming racehorses at the track gave me the ability to create an anatomically correct horse sculpture.

The whole point of this hobby is that it makes me happy and enriches my life; when I look around at the miserable people who are always complaining I have to wonder why they are in the hobby, because it doesn't seem to be making them happy.

Qatgirl said...

Anonymous wrote: “You ARE out of your mind if you think *anyone*should have to pay 2-3 times markup for a model they COULD have gotten AT COST -if you *weren't* "scalping" the limited slots!!”

This! This this this so much, and amen! Yes, if Beyer offers a drop-dead gorgeous model for sixty bucks… I will still take a minute, because $60 for plastic?! (But then I look at it again and whip out my dollars.) My point is, for $60, or $80, or sometimes a bit more, I can make a choice whether to buy that model or not, and not have to sacrifice a car payment. But when Breyer shuts me out, then (if I’m in love with the model) I have to go to the secondary market. And then it’s usually a “no” for me, unless years pass and the prices come down. And then I’m choosing from the ones with broken legs and missing ears.

I kind of fell out of collecting as an adult, when the prices for holiday horses started going up. (Could shoot myself now!) And I think it was seeing a holiday horse (marked down, after Christmas) at a Boot Barn that brought me back into it. And one thing I started to notice was the artificial exclusivity that Breyer has built into the business. I understand that making their product more collectible can make it more valuable, and instill greater customer loyalty. But making so many lovely models so exclusive is also discouraging to so many.

It seemed like Breyer was becoming a little dismayed at some of the huge markups in the secondary market, and when they introduced the “back order” procedure it felt like that was a step in the right direction. But maybe that was my imagination.

Corky said...

Thanks to Anonymous for reminding me -- the "backorder" option is brilliant, and a thing I think Breyer should have done long ago. I hope they keep doing it in the future.

Suzanne said...

I don't have much to say on this- I still haven't bought any new Breyers other than Stablemates since...2005?

But I have to wonder if Breyer is truly oblivious to making nice profit (increase production!) or is there something underhanded going on...create an impression of scarcity, then sell the remainder on the secondary market for a huge profit!
Or perhaps it's good old-fashioned nepotism, if the same people are winning, over and over again.

Yes I'm cynical...but actually it raised my spirits to see most of the comments weren't of the "that's the free market, suck it up!" ilk.

Suzanne said...

I leave a comment, and five minutes later I think of the matter from a different perspective. Well, not that different. What's going on is probably more subtle. Just keep the supply below the demand so that more people will buy in when the next offer/membership comes up. It still sucks, I'm sorry that this business practice is eroding the spirit of the hobby. That's why I still haven't bought a new Breyer "except for Stablemates!" in ages.


Anonymous said...

Well I can't even believe it I got picked off the waitlist!

I'm a collector who enters to actually collect the models! Not to just cash in on the hobby.

I am beyond excited!

Anonymous said...

I completely agree with the comments on this post. There are times when I have had a little extra spending money that I *might* put on a special model, only to find that the horse I had my eye on was snatched up in a matter of minutes. What really annoys me is seeing those models mere days later for sale from a person who says something like, “I just didn’t fall in love with him like I thought I would, “ or “He’s just not growing on me.” I tend to love the older horses from my childhood collection (dating back to the 1960s) so I focus on what I really love, not just the latest shiny object. However, at times, the latest shiny object really appeals to me and I’m frustrated when it’s unavailable.

Anonymous said...

Or as soon as the newest model drops out come all the excuses for selling.

Vet appointments, car bills, you name it. meanwhile if I have a bill that needs paying, I skip buying the horse and pay the bill.