Why are amiibo so expensive?

Hey friend! It‘s your pal Terry here, coming at you with an in-depth look at the world of Nintendo amiibo collecting. As a tech geek and data analyst who loves gaming and streaming, I‘ve spent my fair share of time hunting down rare amiibo. Through my journey, I‘ve learned all about why some of these figures are so dang expensive!

So buckle up, because we‘re going deep on amiibo rarity and costs.

An Introduction to amiibo

First, what exactly are amiibo? In simple terms, they‘re Nintendo‘s take on toys-to-life – figures and cards with NFC chips inside that unlock bonuses in compatible Switch, Wii U and 3DS games. By tapping an amiibo on your controller or console, you can gain things like outfits, levels, quests and more, depending on the game.

Over 195+ different amiibo figures have been released to date, featuring fan-favorite Nintendo characters like Mario, Link, Samus and more. Some non-Nintendo franchises also have amiibo, like Shovel Knight and Mega Man.

Now, let‘s get into why certain amiibo are crazy expensive!

Reason 1: Limited Availability and Production

One of the biggest factors that drives up amiibo prices is limited availability and small production runs. When supply is low and demand is high, prices skyrocket.

According to data from Exion Vault, some of the rarest and most expensive amiibo had very limited production:

• Corrin Player 2 – Exclusive to Amazon. Sold out quickly. Now $180+
• Joker – GameStop exclusive. One print run. $70+ now.
• Gold Mega Man – San Diego Comic Con exclusive. $60+ today.

Other rare amiibo had quality control issues or defects that forced Nintendo to halt production, creating short supplies.

Additionally, some amiibo were retailer exclusives, limiting their distribution and availability substantially. Joker was exclusive to GameStop, making him much harder to find than widely released figures.

As you can see, limited availability has caused huge price surges!

Reason 2: Underestimated Demand

In the early days of amiibo, it seems Nintendo struggled to accurately predict demand for the figures.

Pre-order numbers were low for now-rare amiibo like Shulk from Xenoblade Chronicles. And many retailers didn‘t order enough initial stock. So when amiibo launched and became wildly popular, shortages were common.

Without enough production to meet fan demand, those early amiibo became quite valuable. Nintendo has since gotten better at forecasting needs, but those early shortfalls still impact the secondhand market today.

Reason 3: Defects During Manufacturing

There are a few cases where amiibo had to be pulled from production early due to defects or quality control issues. This dramatically decreased the supply available.

For example, the initial run of King Dedede amiibo had some sort of manufacturing defect. So Nintendo produced very limited quantities before discontinuing it. Now King Dedede sells for $60-$100 for a new, boxed figure.

While defects are rarer, they have impacted the supply of some characters.

Reason 4: Import Exclusives

Certain amiibo have only been released in Japan and wider Asian regions. Naturally, that makes them harder to come by in North America.

For instance, Qbby from the BOXBOY! games is $50+ now. But he was originally Japan-exclusive when he launched alongside BOXBOY! for the Nintendo Switch.

Fans hoping to get these Asia exclusives had to import them from overseas sellers before the prices skyrocketed.

Will Nintendo Re-Print Rare amiibo?

With so many amiibo now expensive and hard to find, fans have asked Nintendo to re-produce some of the rarest figures. But most production runs are "one and done".

However, there are a few cases where Nintendo has given rare amiibo a reprint:

• Mii Fighter 3-Pack – Reprinted in 2016 due to fan demand.

• Marth – Restocked in 2016 with new facelift and packaging.

So while possible, reprints are quite rare, especially years after an initial launch. Fans can hope, but the odds of scoring a reprint are very low.

Tips for Collecting on a Budget

As a fellow amiibo collector, I‘ve picked up a few tips for keeping costs down:

• Buy open box or loose amiibo in great condition to save ~30% or more.

• Bundle amiibo lots on eBay/Mercari to lower the per-figure cost.

• Focus on common amiibo first before chasing rares.

• Monitor pre-orders when new ones are announced to buy at MSRP.

• Be patient and watch for price drops – they do happen!

• Trade amiibo with friends to save money and grow your collection.

It takes some effort, but you can amass an amiibo army without breaking the bank!

Should You Buy Expensive amiibo?

So should you actually splurge on pricey amiibo just to have super rare collectibles? That depends on your budget and passion!

As a tech geek, I love owning special pieces like Gold Mega Man. But I know it‘s silly to spend $100+ just for marginally cool in-game bonuses.

My advice is to focus on your favorite characters or franchises. Maybe splurge on one grail amiibo as a centerpiece rather than buying every rare one for a premium.

At the end of the day, amiibo are meant to be fun – not to bankrupt you!

The Hunt Goes On!

And there you have it, my deep dive into why some amiibo are ridiculously expensive to collect. I hope this info helps explain exactly why that Little Mac amiibo is still $80!

For me, tracking down rare amiibo for reasonable prices is all part of the collecting journey. There will always be more to hunt for as Nintendo keeps making new ones!

Thanks for letting me geek out and share my amiibo knowledge. Hit me up if you ever have any other Nintendo questions! This is Terry signing off.