The sets are dying out.

[bionicleboy117]

The other day I decided to try and get another Toa Metru, because I only have one, and I realized, the sets (especially the titan sets) are beginning to die out. If your lucky enough to find one that came out before the year 2008, there is usually only 1-5 in stock, ant the very few that are in stock are very expensive. I have looked all over the internet, amazon, ebay, toywiz, and most of the time you get the message, only 1 left in stock! Order now! I actually was saddened, because I knew the day would come when you couldn't find any of the sets anywhere, but now I fear that day might be here.

[Chro]

Yep, that tends to happen with a toyline that's been out of production for several years.

[V-N]

I've got a sealed Vhisola, which I once didn't realize I had until a few years after its release date. I am hoping out that, maybe, just maybe, many years from now, it would become a valuable relic of BIONICLE as one of the few sealed sets that will still be in existence.

 

But, based on the current rates on Vhisloas, I shouldn't get my hopes up even if it does become the only sealed set still in existence.

Edited April 2, 2014 by V-N

[Kopekemaster]

I got a NIB Bohrok Va on Amazon for $14 a year ago. That was pretty awesome, though quite definitely a waste of money.

[Aanchir]

I don't think this is a huge surprise. After all, the sets have been gone a long time, particularly the older sets like Toa Metru. And since most of those sets were not in production for more than a year or two, it's almost surprising that some of those earlier sets have lasted this long.

 

At the same time, plenty of people are and have been growing out of their old BIONICLE collections, so it's not impossible to get rare old sets second-hand. According to Brickset, there are a number of Toa Metru sets on eBay.

[Pomegranate]

There's also folks on the BST subforum here who are selling Toa Metru and other old sets every now and then. Like Aanchir said, there's people who are growing out of Bionicle looking to sell their collections, or people who need money, or whatever their situation is. I'm sure that as long as we're buying there'll always be a market.

[LordofBionicles]

There will always be a BZP member willing to sell his collection for various reasons, better to check there!

[Bfahome]

My first stop is usually BrickLink. A few months ago I bought Roodaka from a seller on there. Of course, she was parted out into ziploc bags and didn't include instructions, so your results may vary depending on what you're looking for.

[Sybre]

It was bound to happen. I hope things get better in a few years from now!

[Azani]

Well, I feel really dumb now for opening the formerly sealed Toa Tahu Mata from 2001 which I purchased recently.

 

I've bought several Bionicle sets off of ebay recently, and while many, particularly the ones from the first five years of the line, are no longer possible to find unopened for their original retail price, I've never noticed a lack of available sets. There always seems to be at least three or four copies of a set available for purchase at any given time. Even relatively rare McDonald's promotions, such as the original six tohunga, are relatively common on ebay in their original packaging, falling under the rule that I mentioned above. Sometimes, there are even five or six different copies of one tohunga available at any point in time, and one would think that those would be among the rarest of all Bionicle sets.

Edited July 17, 2014 by Artakha's Nephew

[Sir Kohran]

I've never bought many Bionicle sets online. It hardly needs to be said that the line is extinct on shop shelves.

 

Still, there are many fans who were children in the last decade and are now growing up and finding themselves in need of money for college or cars or whatever else, and their old collections provide a convenient solution. So I imagine there'll be plenty of decent quality second hand sets available for a long time to come.

[Phovos]

It's inevitable really.

 

But when I look on Ebay, there's normally a few sets, even if you're looking for the rare stuff. I haven't bought any sets online yet though.

[fishers64]

I've bought 1 Rahaga Norik set online new. But if you're looking for new from like 2002 or something I think you'll be disappointed. Even 2009 sets go for like $40.00 new-out-of-the-box/canister.

Edited April 2, 2014 by fishers64

[Wazdakka]

eBay!

 

Buying New-in-box of a construction-based toyline is going to be very difficult, as the supply will be super low - very few people would have kept their kids' lego sets mint.

[Jam Pot Studios]

About a year and a half ago, I got all six Toa Metru for about £15 and the Nui Jaga and Nui Rama for £9 each, £18 in total. The former especially was a really good deal.

 

Since then, the only set I've been trying to get is Mata Nui (the Glatorian Legends version) but even that's hard to find.

[KittehWubbins]

I buy lots and test my luck. So far it has been pretty good. On ebay, I look at the pictures for a good hour, and decide if it is worth it or not. If you are looking for older sets, check locally, ask friends. I recently got like 5 pounds of Bionicles from one of my best friends. I also knew this one guy who had every single set and collectable all the way up to 2005, and he protected them with his life. He almost wouldn't let me look at them, let alone even hold anything.

 

Apparently in southern Alberta people like Bionicle. huh

 

Locally has given me the best finds.

[Mr. Lightning Bolt]

I find this sadly true. But it is to be expected, as mentioned above. I've totally ignored the notion of getting anything MIP/MISB. As long as the condition is decent, I'm not going to be furious.
I bought the original Mata, all six, for about a hundred bucks a few months back. I got them after Christmas (Thanks to my ex, who is helping me with the Kanohi I've recently bought off Bricklink) and the only problem I have right now is Lewa. His ball joint pieces and left (or is it right?) foot are grievously cracked. I had to buy replacements.

 

I'm going to eventually buy the Metru and the Nuva, and I'm going to go as cheap as I can, as intact as I can. I find that they can go individually pretty good like around ten bucks on ebay and even about 4 or 5 bucks on Bricklink.

Unfortunately I haven't found a single green metal Krana Kal on Bricklink, nor on Ebay, so I'm gonna have to eventually beg around here. Heh.

[MrSciFiGuy]

I just keep an eye on ebay for any in box/canisters. Not too hard to come by, but older sets you'll have to lower your hopes for sealed items

[Obsessionist]

I buy for parts so I generally don't have problem getting what I need. This is a special feeling to opening up a brand-new, sealed set that you've never owned before, though. That's probably what I miss most- we still have the story, we still have the parts, we still have the community. But without a good bit of money you can't get yourself a sealed set.

[Hitoshura]

Well they are quite hard to find now, like it's been around 10 years since they started/stopped making the Toa Metru. 10 years is quite a while to keep something, and even if it hasn't been 10 years, people will still want them so they buy them.

[~garnira returns~]

Honestly, it depends on what condition the set is in.

 

I find it rather easy to find second-hand sets for a decent price on bricklink, and as said before, it can be a good idea to test your luck with ebay "lots".

 

However, finding sealed sets is an entirely different story.

 

It's not impossible to find sealed sets, but you'd better be willing to fork up quite a bit of money to get them. I'm talking 150-some odd dollars for Tahu Mata on Amazon! And while that's a rather extreme example, most sealed set's are quite over priced.

Edited April 14, 2014 by ~garnira returns~

[Jam Pot Studios]

Just bought a brand-new-in-box Toa Ignika on Ebay, but that was good timing. Some sets are really hard to find at a good price now.

[Tahu3.0]

Maybe your right but maybe the toys may survive

[Archer Vonn]

i just found mahri matoro and defilak in a pharmacy a couple days ago. payed like 30 bucks for the two. was quite a find im guessing, judging by some of the posts here...

[Hodor]

i just found mahri matoro and defilak in a pharmacy a couple days ago. payed like 30 bucks for the two. was quite a find im guessing, judging by some of the posts here...

Yeah, places like pharmacies can be a treasure trove for OOP toys. You'll probably pay a mark up, sure, but not to the price you'd pay for some of them on eBay.

[Pomegranate]

i just found mahri matoro and defilak in a pharmacy a couple days ago. payed like 30 bucks for the two. was quite a find im guessing, judging by some of the posts here...

This is the reason I still peek into every single store I pass that looks like it might for whatever reason have old sets laying around like that. Nice find

[Tahu3.0]

i just found mahri matoro and defilak in a pharmacy a couple days ago. payed like 30 bucks for the two. was quite a find im guessing, judging by some of the posts here...

thats amazing but still imagine if you find a tahu mata in a pharmacy these days.

[Sir Kohran]

 

i just found mahri matoro and defilak in a pharmacy a couple days ago. payed like 30 bucks for the two. was quite a find im guessing, judging by some of the posts here...

thats amazing but still imagine if you find a tahu mata in a pharmacy these days.

 

 

It would be an incredible find, but I suspect the set itself still wouldn't be worth all that much right now. The original Toa sold so well that they remain in wide circulation among Lego owners. But if you kept it MISB for the next twenty five years or something like that, then from then onwards it might be worth a lot.

[25K Now!]

I remember seeing Mata Nui in a Salvos a few weeks back.

 

Man, that really brought back memories.

[Tahu3.0]

I remember seeing Mata Nui in a Salvos a few weeks back.

 

Man, that really brought back memories.

how do you guys find bionicle in stores these days.

[25K Now!]

Through luck and chance my friend.

 

Luck and chance.

[Indigogeek]

About a year ago crazy enough I saw a gresh STARS in toysRus, HAD to buy it.

[Tahu3.0]

About a year ago crazy enough I saw a gresh STARS in toysRus, HAD to buy it.

dude good call

[Azani]

I came across a Sahmad & Baranus and a Tarduk set in a very small local toy store near the city that I live in in the spring of 2012. I took advantage of it, and purchased the Tarduk set that day.

[NickonAquaMagna]

KBtoys was an AMAZING place for finding yesteryear's legos. I remember seeing Slizers there well after Bionicle started. I remember finding some great Alpha Team- Deep Sea Mission sets at a KBtoys in another town. I remember seeing Toa Whenua just a short while before the stores all closed down. HECK, I remember seeing those Space... insectoid sets next to life on Mars sets back in the day. I didn't even know what those bug things were! Ah, memories...

 

Oh, well. It's a pity they can't have a sort of store made JUST for that.

[Sumiki]

I'm quite honestly surprised that there are any sets still for sale anywhere. I mean, the sets got axed almost half a decade ago.

[Azani]

I'm quite honestly surprised that there are any sets still for sale anywhere. I mean, the sets got axed almost half a decade ago.

It's definitely not commonplace among toys that have been discontinued for several, but it's also worth remembering that Bionicle lasted for ten years, more than twice as long as it's been off of shelves for, and that it was among TLG's strongest selling themes ever.

Edited May 26, 2014 by Artakha's Nephew

[ToaJaller77]

i hope this helps.

[Makuta Miras]

I've never found a shortage of sets anywhere on the web, for decent prices. In summer 2012, I got Tarix in a toy shop in Florence, Italy. IN 2012!!!! Also, if you're in the UK, I recommend The Little Brick Shoppe on eBay. They have loads of sets, with even the Mata only around £10, and free shipping in the UK!!!

A few months ago, I managed to get both Hagah for around £20 in total, plus Hordika Vakama, and Oohnorak, using only my birthday money and about £10 from my savings. I think only got about £30 for my birthday. So as I said, look at The Little Brick Shoppe! My Gali Mata and 03 Teridax came from there.

[T.B.O.C]

I've never found it to be trouble to find BIONICLE sets second hand nowadays. Of course, if you're looking for unopened sets, yeah it's gonna be near-impossible for many, but otherwise I'm pretty sure they're available on Bricklink and eBay. You can find plenty of sets from years upon years back without looking too hard.