[The Smurf Collector]

I would like to know what is your definition of a rare Smurf.

This is mine: A smurf that was only produced for one or two years.

I am trying to work out some kind of rating system, which seems almost impossible. Especially when you take into consideration variations.

[paolo]

I think that the definition should reflect more the number of actual items that were made. As an example, the McDonald's smurfs (pvc) are made only in the year they are issued but are the opposite of rare.
The super-rare Christmas prototypes are so because noone knows how many there are out there...

The marching band (2002) is now rare because there are few left, but when it was issued the cost was the same as other smurfs.

[The Smurf Collector]

Yes Paolo this is a valid point.

I agree with you though we rarely know how many smurfs have been produced which makes it is hard. If only we knew how many smurfs were produced of a particular smurf, this would make it easier to define a rare smurf.

[Smurfysmurf]

I don't think you can go by how long it was produced but by how many of it were made..and that depends on the company. Like Paolo said, the Mcdonald smurfs were mass produced for one year...they are very common.

But we do know that Schleich produces a certain number of smurfs each year (don't know the number though) so the less years they produce a smurf, the rarer they will become.

As a rule of thumb, I go by how often you see them pop up on ebay..and how many smurf sellers (web stores) have them in stock. In other words, I base the rarity of a smurf on how easy it is to get

[The Smurf Collector]

As we can't get this information from Schleich on how many smurfs they produce your approach Maureen seems to make a lot of sense. I was just wanted to know how other people define rare.

Perhaps I am also tired of seeing a lot of people selling smurfs on eBay and always calling them rare or vintage.

[Arno]

Well, I have asked myself also about this : rarity.
What has been written is right ; I would add that it also depends on the country where smurfs were sold. For example, the archer with vertical bow is not so rare in France than in other countries ; the blue jacket papa captain you will find in Holland ; the blue australian footballer in Australia ; some where only produced in USA or Argentina ! And for variations, in France and Swiss : red dot Schleich variations ; in Germany : thousands of Bully...
Finally I prefer speaking in statistics than in rarity. But it is because I have bought thousands of smurfs.
In my file, I have a rate smurf by smurf : how many % of each variation for a same mold ; but I can't say, at the moment, the rate for a smurf compared to all the smurfs produced.
If you want, I can send you a file to show you how I proceed, in private ; just tell me.

[The Smurf Collector]

This formula you use sounds really interesting Arno, I will send you a private message.