grrr... lol ;-) I guess from my perspective, I just lump everything together, so I can determine what the appreciation/depreciation factors are on my purchase if when I go to sell. I don't use TFs as an investment (most of my collection is open), but I still want to know what I paid altogether. I'd have a serious number of figures to update if your suggestion is the 'better' method :lol:
Well, for appraisal purposes there's no "if" about it. Again, if an item sells on eBay for $1 on average, then that's the number I need for my data, not the $12 you may have paid for shipping. I agree that's not clear from the interface, and in fact this is the first time the issue has ever come under serious discussion.
Don't take this the wrong way, but I'm not entirely confident on just how accurate these prices are other than MSRP.
You mean the user-entered collection data? Yes, naturally it can't be fully trusted, which is why it's not currently in use by the appraisal system. I do plan to use it, however, to supplement the more trustworthy auction data in emergencies, meaning cases where we simply don't have any auction data, but we do have a handful of user data points to average.
I'm looking at your fun facts and you've a purchase that was in 1969 (for a toy that came out this year). If people aren't notating the data correctly in all aspects, the results are tainted.
Whenever you see 1969, it's a data bug. Please send me a link to the page with that number on it, and I'll see if I can track it down.
Plus, you're relying on the honor system for just about all data that a user uploads (excluding things like photos, manufacturer data, and the like).
Are you talking about the toy data on the details pages? Everything is researched and verified by our site mods, who are very strict on accuracy (and in fact, any new records or changes are quarantined until they get approved). They've actually rejected a few of my own attempts at data entry!
Unless people are uploading scanned receipts, the prices and timelines of the purchase are an assumed fact (from the perspective of the DB) at best 
...and there's nothing stopping members from saying they own X toy and paid X amount for it, even though they don't actually own it. I know my collection claims are accurate, but people just have to take me at my word.
Ah, yes, for the collection data, you're right, strictly speaking there's not much I can do to verify absolute accuracy. However, there are endless ways of analyzing this information (the field of statistics) in such a way to recognize trends, and discard data points that are obviously fictional. I haven't gotten around to using this data for anything yet, but when the time comes you can be sure it will be used conservatively, and only after the proper processing.
Ending on a super-postive note, prices, rank, fun facts are all just icing. As far as usefulness, this site is unmatched.
Ah, now that's what we like to hear! Please oh please, help spread the word. The site has nearly 1200 members now, but I can count the number of times we've been mentioned in other discussions around the web on two hands.
I finally have a handle on my entire collection and can download the data at anytime, be able to insure properly.. everything. Plus, if I'm unsure about any figure, I can just head on over and look up the data - no more scouring the web with google. That, in and of itself, is the single greatest feature. I tip my hat to you and those who helped make this happen.
If your aim was to make me blush like a schoolgirl, then mission accomplished! For all of the amazing data entry, you have the site's users to thank. They come and go, but Engledogg in particular deserves special mention, as he has contributed and verified more than
ten thousand records. SoS is also a tireless contributor (he's added more than two dozen records this week).
P.S. - I have plenty of figures that I can upload photos with - soon as I finish moving - I'll be contributing for sure 
Yes, indeed! I see that you're actually #5 on our list of People That Can Potentially Supply Lots of Photos, with
3292 possible photos. If you're willing to make a serious effort to get a light box together and jump through all our finnicky little hoops to produce "reference quality" photos, I'm generally willing to help sponsor the effort. Shoot me a PM and we can talk about it.
Thanks for all the great feedback!
