Bachmann HO Scale special edition "Harry Potter Hogwarts Train-2001"

[Anonymous]

I have just received a Bachmann 2001 edition of the Harry Potter Hogwarts Express train set. I know it was 2001 because it is the "Sorcerer's Stone" edition and the only other set I know about was one other edition that contained a die-cast model of the "Flying Car".
Through further research, I was able to find out that the second special edition set with the car is out of production- can't find any more info other than it originally sold anywhere from $200.00USD to $166.00USD.
If anyone out there can get me any info I would appreciate it. I dont want the packaging opened by grandchildren until I know if it is a collectable edition.
Looking forward to your reply(S)
rainbow grandma

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[Big_Boy_4005]

Just keep in mind that a lot of things that are marketed in conjunction with big Hollywood productions are makred as being somehow special. I seriously doubt that any of it really is.

It takes years, something like 20 or 30, to really tell, and then most of it turns out to be fluff. I wouldn't conider buying things marketed as collectables as any kind of future investment. Look at Beanie Babies, most are worthless, but people were totally taken in by the hype.

My advice is to buy the stuff cheap, and let the kids play. That's where the value is.[swg]

[Anonymous]

[8D] Thank you for your reply, but I thought (obviously wrongly) if something was a special edition and hence sold out it would eventually become worth something, (i.e. the childrens' children - when I am no longer here) to the children or when the Potter classics are done, as in there are only 7 books, not eight planned (according to the author JK Rowling) and book 4 is already a done deal- I have found myself wishing I had kept the Lionel sets I had as a kid-

[Big_Boy_4005]

This whole concept of collectability is driven by good old fahioned supply and demand. Even if something produced in limited quantities today, it is difficult to tell if there will be any demand for it in the future. The fact that it is expensive now, and marketed as collectable suggests that most copies will be found in near perfect condition well into the future. This just keeps the supply high.

In the case of Lionel trains, just because Lionel made it, doesn't mean it is valuable as a collectable. Only certain pieces are highly sought and command high prices. As these trains get older, condition becomes more important in determining value, and unused examples become more scarce.

By the way my son and I are big Harry Potter fans. Book 5 has been out for almost a year, and I read it within the first week. The third movie opens Friday. The original plan was for 7 books, but there has been talk that JK Rowling is reconsidering that plan. I just wish she would finish books 6 and 7, the suspense is killing me. There is a chance that book 6 may be out by the holidays, but no official announcement, and the fourth movie is starting production. By the way, we don't buy any of the movie merchandise, except for the DVDs and video games.