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I think vintage toy price guides, while seemingly helpful, ultimately do more harm than good to the hobby. Hear me out. They create an artificial sense of value based on perhaps outdated or skewed data. You'll see someone trying to sell a beat-up Star Wars figure for an exorbitant price solely because a guide from 2015 said it was worth X amount in "mint" condition.
this leads to inflated prices across the board and discourages new collectors. People see these crazy asking prices and assume collecting is only for the wealthy, when historically, a lot of vintage toys were about finding affordable treasures. It also fosters a culture of speculation, where people buy toys not as they love them, but because they hope to flip them for a profit based on some arbitrary price guide number.
Moreover, condition is so subjective! What one person considers "near mint," another might see as heavily played with. Guides can't accurately capture the nuances of wear and tear, or the emotional value a particular toy might hold for an individual. Ultimately, focusing less on these guides and more on what you are willing to pay (and what a seller is genuinely willing to accept) woudl make collecting a much more enjoyable and accessible experience for everyone. Anyone else feel this way?