The Yak Shack Forum

Why so rare, I keep asking myself why did Artbox make the prop cards so rare. Now that all the boxes have sold the only people making any money are people selling on eBay and Artbox are not seeing a penny of it. The idea of the prop cards is great and they did mean that the boxes sold so the manufacturer was not left with loads on their hands but I am sure just as many would have sold if the prop cards had been just a little  bit more common. The rarity almost put me off buying any in the first place as a complete set is virtually impossible to get hold of. At least with all of the LOTR sets (yes I know ROTK update might be an exception) I knew that over time by going to fairs and using eBay I would get all the cards eventually at reasonable prices - and I did. It was fun getting the odd card here and there rather than being out bid on nearly everything every time. I could understand it better if the auto cards were in shorter supply as they are reliant on the actors time but there must have been loads of prop material once filing had finished.

Feel better now I have got that off my chest. I am just bitter and twisted as I still need a few of the rarer cards. And don't even talk to me about PTL, see I can't even write it out in full. Going for a butterbeer now to make me a nice warm and cuddly person again.

hi angel.
             I think that since this is the first harry potter set they have made they where being cautious . You are lucky that you only need a few all I have is
George costume x2
fred auto
and
derves and bang prop
but love to have them

lol

The people at Artbox are shrewd.  They knew this set would be popular – with pieces of actual props from the movie, it would appeal to movie collectors, trading card collectors, and HP fans.  Simple economics come into play.  Keep the supply low on a popular product, and the demand will soar.

Artbox may not directly benefit from the resale of its products, but it does benefit in other ways.  Their first HP set created a buzz in the industry, which is a public relations’ dream.  They’ve slightly increased production for the update set, but demand is high so it had to limit allocations to its distributors.  If the update set is as good as the first one, you can bet that any other updates and sets for future movies will be quickly snapped up.  What more could a company hope for but brisk sales and free publicity?

Angels, I can understand you’re frustrated with all this, because I am, too.  I have only eight inserts, three from packs and the rest I bought from dealers and eBay.  I’m always getting outbid by people with much deeper pockets than mine.  I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I’ll never have a complete set, or variants, or even a Lupin auto.  But now that I know these cards exist, I’m saving up, so I’ll be ready for the update set and anything that comes out after that!

Artbox cannot control the secondary market. So I think you cannot blame them. They sold their cases for what they thought was a reasonable price. And if you were lucky enough to buy some at that price then kudos to you. I was lucky enough within a week of release to buy 2 cases at $60 a box. Also the current prices are the EBAY effect. Collecting used to be a regional thing... cards shows on weekends. Now it is global. You have to compete with everyone. In all actuality you cannot win... if they create too much it will not be collectible, if the creat too little it is "too" collectible and the prices go too high. thee ole supply and demand.   blah blah blah... i am rambling.

got the foil and will have the base but just watching the prices for the base set makes my purse lol

But the card that I would really love to have is a george auto

Hi Sam,
           I would love a base set my son ( in the picture with Maggie smith)  is turning 12 soon and the base set would make a great present for him
ty

tytytytytytytytytytytytytytytytytytytytytytytytyty oh and did i say ty :D :D :D

I have sent you an email with the subject hp base set

tytytytytyty

you are wonderful