Vintage Kenner Star Wars | is it worth the price?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ก.ย. 2024
- Analog Toys take a look at the current vintage Star Wars toy collecting market and its insane prices and ponders whether or not it's worthwhile to keep on collecting.
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As a 22 year old with very limited funds trying to get into the Hobby I can say that these prices are ridiculous at this point. I’ve been able to get a pretty decent collection by buying a lot of “beater” pieces to restore thanks to the help of videos on channels like Toy Polloi and Retro blasting while also not worrying about whether I buy original or repro pieces. For me it’s about how they look on a shelf, not their authenticity or value.
DUDE, Same here!!! Being a 20 yr old, starting to get heavily back into collecting while be smart with my finances, I’ve been wanting to add more of the vehicles to my collection, but I’m not paying the HUTT sized prices for originals, I’d rather buy ANY of the modern rereleases to not only save money but also to have movie accurate details. I like buying repro weapons to do paint details; like silver lightsaber handles and DL-44 barrels or painting grey or blue weapons gloss black to give them that gun metal look. Like you said, I just want something to make pieces in my collection complete and look nice on the shelves and not care about value or authenticity. Think it’s safe to say that repros are the future for toy collecting and restoring.
Same here too. Prices are crazy and I have to luck out to find something I can collect at a reasonable price.
I have had luck 🍀 with yard sales rather than EBay or vintage toy stores, I agree it is getting very insane with prices good hunting
Agreed except the reproduction. Reproduction hurts the hobby
@@colehall2209 Bull. Only thing reproduction hurts are the people who see these toys as an investment, not true collectors
In the mid 80s I was gifted my uncle's entire star wars collection as a hand me down. It was a huge collection of figures and vehicles, even some of the larger scale figures, and all kinds of rarities. As I got a bit older, it all went in the attic. Some time later my mom gave the whole lot away to some charity while I was at school. It still bums me out when I think about it. 😄
Excellent thought piece. I began collecting vintage Star Wars in 2018 and only dabbled in and out... now my jaw hit the floor when looking at the price of Blue Snaggletooth or almost any of the last 17 figures.
A very welcome and extremely well put together viewpoint Tony, this video is absolutely on the money! (Pun totally intended) I’d love to add higher end items to my vintage star wars collection, but as a man in his 40s with a family to support, mortgage and bills to pay, with a modest wage, these items are just not obtainable.
So I’ve largely stepped back from vintage Star Wars and enjoyed collecting other vintage lines that are just as readily available but much more affordable, I still pick up the odd figure here and there, but as I’m missing several of the last 17 figures, Star Wars collecting currently feels a bit like a noose round my neck, so like you have said in the video, it’s time to be patient and just wait for the right time, which like you a believe will come.
Brilliant video Tony, and a pleasure to watch 👍
Thanks mate, glad you appreciated it
Very interesting take ! Personally, I could care less whether my collection goes goes up in value or not, because I'm going to give it all to my niece (If she wants to pass it on to her kids) but if she doesn't want it, I could just as easily sell it all on Ebay, cash-in at Market Value, and donate it all to the Children's Hospital of LA or other charity.
It's not about the money at all for me. It's about the "journey" of collecting the toys from my youth that I always wanted, but never really had the money or opportunity to buy because of,...well, "Life".
As far as "Value" is concerned, it's just like any other type of investment. Buy low. Sell high and knowing when to make these transactions. The market will usually dictate what prices people are willing to pay for any particular item or service.
If the market for Star Wars collectibles ever "tanks",......
Hell, IF THE ENTIRE GLOBAL ECONOMY CRASHES, AND THESE NAZI-LIKE, DEMOCRAP PARTY TURDS CONTINUE TO DESTROY AMERICA FROM WITHIN,............
I'LL BE AT HOME EATING MY "COLLECTION" OF FREEZE DRIED EMERGENCY FOOD, DRINKING MY FREEZE-DRIED CRANBERRY FRUIT POWDER WITH MY EMERGENCY RESERVE OF STOLI'S (SHAKEN, NOT STIRRED), PACKING A BOWL,..........ADMIRING MY COOL-ECTION AS THEY ARE DISPLAYED IN MY "HOMEMADE" DIORAMA BACKGROUND DISPLAYS ! WITH A LITTLE IMAGINATION, CARDBOARD FOR THE BACKGROUND AND BASE, BLANK WHITE PAPER TO PAINT, COLOR, OR DRAW-IN BACKGROUND DETAILS, TAPE, A CAN OF BLACK, WHITE, GREY AND DESERT SAND SPRAY PAINT, AND YOU COULD PRETTY MUCH RECREATE ANY STAR WARS SCENE IN A COUPLE OF DAYS !
The fun I have creating a specific Diorama Scene for my figures is REALLY COOL AND BRINGS OUT THE ARTIST IN ME ! )
I just can't see myself paying $50 + for a Star Wars Cantina Set. Like I said, I'd rather use cardboard and paper to create a Bar Counter, Bar Stools, Background scenery, etc.
Everyone should try it ! )
I only buy what I want to buy. I don't have to OWN every single Star Wars figure in my collection, I only buy the one's I need to complete whichever diorama I'm working on.
Besides, NOTHING sells a figure (or Lot of figures), better than when you can Showcase them in your own HOMEMADE STAR WARS DIORAMA'S !
May The Force Be With You ! )
IT REALLY DOES MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE IN DISPLAYING YOUR STAR WARS FIGURES !
I NEVER liked the idea of keeping my collection in "UNOPENED/ORIGINAL SEAL", pristine, mint condition !
That's like me buying a SWEET-ASS, Vintage Hot Wheel, and never test- running to see if it's faster than any Hotwheel in my collection. The moment I come home with a new Hotwheel, I RACE IT AGAINST MY TWO FASTEST CARS on my original Track with the 360° LOOP Set-up !
Ya ! I was that kid back in the day, who RACED for Keeps ! Yes, I lost some Hotwheels along the way. HOWEVER, I am proud to say that RACING gave me an AWESOME opportunity to add on to my collection !
You make such a good point. With stuff like this, it’s far more important to love the collecting and items in and of themselves rather than view a hobby like this as an investment. When you said “I wish they were worthless so I could get more” I totally feel you, that’s how I feel about my collectibles as well
The fact that there were more first 12 figures produced than any other (since they were in the line for the entire run from '78 to '85) and the prices are some of the highest shows just how ridiculous the market has become.
If anyone is collecting toys for long-term investments they're in for a big disappointment.
That’s not necessarily true. I wouldn’t personally collect toys as an investment just because of how volatile the market is. However, for the last couple of decades, the original carded figures - provided they are in good condition - has increased exponentially. Of course, part of that is driven by the huge surge in popularity Star Wars has had, in general, over the last two decades or so. As Star Wars’ popularity waned, so will demand for associated merchandise.
Hello Tony, I’m a first time watcher and definitely find your candor refreshing. Ever since the inception of the Star Wars aftermarket, I’ve been one of those bidders with more money than common sense on many occasions. In the early 2000’s, my collecting goals shifted toward ultra high end, graded pieces and I maintain a sharp focus when it comes to purchasing anything at present. I concur that attempting to begin that same journey nowadays would simply prove too costly (and foolhardy) to even consider. As for the current or future value of my collection, I couldn’t care less. I value the nostalgia and memories those toys bring and it’s never been about an investment or prospecting for future profit. My advice to anyone reading is this; collect what you love, avoid accumulating, and above all, don’t expect to make a future profit if you’re the highest bidder.
Glad you enjoyed the video. You're collecting for the right reasons and I really respect that!
Great insight into the current absurdity in vintage Star Wars collecting and the reasons behind it. With even a MOC Ewok currently costing upwards of £100, I'll stick with my beaters, projects and customs until that bubble bursts.
Another well researched and well thought out video Tony. I agree, the bubble will burst at some point
Well said. I am one of those strange collectors who has absolutely no problem buying reproduction toys or later reissues of the original vintage. I think I only have about two dozen Star Wars figures and about three "vintage" vehicles (all of which were POTF reissues). I'm fine with not buying the originals (especially with GIJOE and Action Man, as prices on both are steadily increasing). And thanks to what Hasbro did with the Timeless Collection and the 40th Anniversary Action Man sets, I can have a nice collection without paying premium prices.
All my ships and playsets were bought from junk lots off eBay and fully restored to like new condition --- far more satisfying than buying factory sealed for hundreds. Now I'm into creating customs from the originals. What a fun hobby! Thanks for the thoughtful video Tony.
Interesting perspective, Tony! I have noticed a number of fellow collectors in an absolute frenzy to get vintage stuff and also modern stuff, like the vintage collection, and willing to pay ridiculous amounts of money. The fact is that these toys are not worth that much, and patience is indeed a virtue when it comes to collecting. Just wait a little while, and the item you are looking for will be attainable at a reasonable price. Love the video, Tony! Nicely done!👍
The pandemic has also had an effect on toy collecting in general. People were trapped inside, watched movies like the Star Wars sequels and started heading to eBay. A non-toy collecting TH-camr I used to follow got back into G.I. Joe RAH during the pandemic. He did one video on his haul when he was stumped for new content and never broached the subject again. I'm guessing he sold everything when the restrictions lifted.
This is actually when I started more actively buying as well. I would occasionally pick up a piece here or there, but the pandemic actually coincided with my last adult child leaving the house and my mortgage being paid off. I legit had extra money so I said, why not?
I collect mostly loose figures and so far $2561 on 59 mostly NM complete figures. That’s just a about $90 a month since I started collecting, and it is actually still one of my cheaper hobbies. When I have a hobby I take a look at the landscape and create a budget and goals.
I suppose it’s mostly relative. If my frame of reference is 15 years ago this is expensive, but to me it’s really not based on my general focus. If I was collecting 12A-Back MOC’s then I’d have a different opinion. Outside of buying one MOC with each logo … that’s all I want. Today on a ESB is like $400-500.
I refuse to pay $1000+ for any figure, so I definitely have a line I draw. If they do crash I may change my opinion and scoop up more on the cheap.
Heya!
A Great presentation as ever! As I have said spanning over a dozen forum’s, I’m so glad that I have my childhood Collection! I never really bothered with the play sets and the vehicles. The Figure’s themselves held and still hold more interest and passion for me. Unlike the vehicles and play sets they are portable, diverse enough to create their own stories in their own environments. And those environments I built from scratch. There were always, well up to the inevitable end in 1985/6 huge possibilities and variety in the Collection. I was never bored and the anticipation for the release of a new Figure was akin to hunger pangs! The day when I had an opportunity to buy a new Figure were more than Golden, Sweeter than Sublime!
It more than astounds me how much the contemporary collector is willing to pay for the privilege of acquiring a piece of historic nostalgia or those who have regretted selling their original collections, in a frantic bid to re-capture long lost childhood’s. If I am to be Honest, If I didn’t have my childhood collection, I sincerely doubt that I would be collecting The Vintage Line, 1978-1985. A certain amount of financial common sense has to rear kick sometimes?
Personally from my observations and I have also said this a few dozen times, collecting the Vintage Line has become something of a Status Symbol. It is another means by which some individuals can ostentatiously flaunt their wealth without driving the Maserati down the Boulevard or rolling up a fifty and smoking it! The phenomenon has again peaked as in childhood, those with indulging parents who could afford to buy Star Wars Toys for their children and those who staunchly wouldn’t or couldn’t. There is always going to be someone left out in the playground or socially excluded from certain cliques and forums. Material wealth and material status. Star Wars Figure’s 1978-1985 are not particularly rare, they are just particularly exclusive- prototypes notwithstanding. At some point there are probably more Star Wars Figure’s on this planet than there are people! Figure that for a demographic? Generation’s come and go and we are only ever custodians of our allotted space and time and perceptions, aesthetics will shift and change…
While me and my brothers loved Star Wars growing up and had most of the toys the were putting out at the time (POTF2-Clone Wars animated) I never felt the draw to vintage like I did with Joe. Vintage Joe has seen a huge price increase from even when I started collecting 5-6 years ago. Nowadays my vintage pickups aren't as frequent as they used to be just due to how expensive they are. I used to be able to afford a few things a month, now I am lucky to be able to find one figure that I am missing for a decent price every two months.
Years ago I joined the GI Joe club. I bought one of each of the club exclusive 12-inch figures like the talking military and adventure team figures. I am amazed at what these are selling for now.
Having let go of my modest childhood collection 5 years ago when I emigrated to Australia, I decided last year to rebuild my collection. 95% of them were between $5-$25 , all of which are nice and minty (far better than I had as a child). I did splurge on the odd figure over $30, but at least 1/2 the last 17 were less than $40, with original weapons/accessories.
You just need to buy smart and know what you are buying. The resulting lot of duplicates that I purchased, I am slowly selling in FB/Ebay. This more than covers my initial outlay, allowing me to purchase my grails. I have a blue snaggle tooth, red bar and takara R2D2. The tools of the trade my have changed from flea markets/networking, but the approach remains good.
With a budget of around $2K, I bought the initial outlay and traded up over 18months, buying only what I knew was a good deal and never outside my budget. Sometimes it means buying a collection for $100 just for a weapon, then selling each item individually to recoup your $100. Sometime a duplicate is an upgrade.
Whilst MoC are ridiculous, and even card backs commanding silly prices, I believe there is still a healthy market for your standard vintage collector, who doesn't get drawn into buying MoC, outlandish variants nor items outside the vintage figures (i.e. TVC, Retro, Vehicles)
Shipping prices have been the biggest impact to my collecting in recent month, rather than the items themselves.
I'm in NZ, shipping costs are very much an issue
The prices of vintage Star Wars comes down to two things. Collector's who look at vintage toys as an investment and online scalpers who know this and take advantage by jacking up the prices.
Shill bidding and fake accounts (where someone basically buys something from themselves or through or an associate) has became a much bigger problem that eclipses small time scalpers. Scalping is legal, shill bidding is not. This has happened across sites like ebay and heritage auctions and various corrupt people that work at auction and grading sites who have manipulated markets (more than once) , quite publicly has resulted in multiple ongoing legal actions against those individuals/companies. And yet they keep doing it, and getting away with it.
This is, by far, one of the best videos I have ever seen on TH-cam regarding the manipulation of the collectibles market. As someone who is also a big fan of the original fan of games for the original NES, literally everything mentioned in the video, specifically the use of auction houses to create a positive feedback loop by publicizing astronomical auction prices while refusing to disclose the buyers' identities, has been going on in the Nintendo collecting community since around 2015 as well. You could swap out Star Wars with NES and be 100% on the mark.
Like you...I completed a bulk of my collection back in the early 90's. I also hate it when the price goes astronomical, for some reason it takes the fun out of it, and becomes too serious for my liking. Like if my house catches fire, I'm gonna be pissed, I didn't sell those tiny pieces of plastic or cardboard, do something responsible with that money, and would feel like an idiot having hung on to them being worth so much. Cause like you I understand the folks who are willing to drop big $$$ today, will soon be more worried about health problems tomorrow, and feel the need to get out and enjoy what's left of their life, sell off and demand will start to decline... I sold my vinyl cape Jawa, a SW store display, and my YAK, and Anakin POTF coins in recent years. I myself loved them, but apparently other's loved them more than me. I was just having fun completing a collection back in the day.
Excellent representation of how the SW market is today Tony! I collect not to become rich, but to become rich with emotions and memories of yesteryear. I have no plan on selling anytime soon nor do I plan for my collection to bring me future wealth. I just hope the ones that are driving this market soon realize that all they are doing is financially busting the bubble eventually one toy at a time added to it. Great video my friend.
Very well thought out analysis. I was thiof the Jumbo Machinders and Shogun Warriors from the 70's. Today, there are only a few decent examples of some of these toys. Garada K7 may have only 3 or few left in the world. $10,000 plus was the.last value I heard for one of these. A Rodan used to be $100, now it's well out of my price range.
I think when the market dies down, we will see only a few true collectors in the world who will buy these toys. The prices will stabilize, but not before the bubble bursts on the current trend.
This is a great video as you perfectly described me in 2015-16. I grew up with Star Wars in 1977 and had all the toys as a kid (my mom gave them away in the summer of ‘85 when she did a housecleaning of our basement, Lol).
The Force Awakens got me intrigued to start collecting vintage Star Wars since now I had disposable income. I remember going on eBay and seeing the prices and was stunned at how ridiculous they were. I walked away and never collected. I honestly thought it was a rich person’s market.
Great video! I'm not disagreeing at all that vintage may be close to the peak of a bubble and in for a significant price drop. However rarity isn't a factor, demand is. Like you mention in your video these toys are hugely popular. Six 12 back C3PO's for sale on eBay (arguably the primary online market place) isn't many when there's hundreds, possibly thousands, of collectors around the world who are considering buying one. The various Star Wars buy/sell groups online have tens of thousands of members. Sure there will be underhand tactics from certain dealers from time to time, but like I said whether these things are rare or nt doesn't really factor into the price. There's considerably rarer POCH figures for example that are cheaper but less popular than any of the last 17.
I have been a Star Wars fan and toy collector since they were first released in 1978 when I was 11, most of my toys disappeared in my mid to late teens, but picked up a few loose every now and then and got really serious about them in 95 when the new line was released, I am an opener, and have a huge tub of loose figures. I now have most all of the vintage (77-85) loose, and was looking for some of the “last 17”,and I feel the prices are absolutely stupid, so I went to The repro market for the items like a rocket firing Boba Fett, Yak Face, Imperial Gunner, and vinyl caped Jawa to name a few that look and feel exactly as the originals (and if they get damaged, so what!) because they are for my enjoyment, and if/when the market crashes, I don’t care, Because I am not doing this as an investment or to impress anyone, and will be able to look at myself in the mirror and not feel like a fool. Enjoy your posts, Thank you for honest opinions and posts, Cheers!
Well the smell of the original vinyl can't be beat :)
Us collectors that are now in our late 40's to mid 50's that have money to spend are keeping these prices up. In 20-30 years when we start dying off, the prices will plummet. I've seen the same thing as a record collector. 50's Doowop was at an all time high around 20 years ago, and now it's dropped significantly. Just as 80's metal is high dollar items currently, it too will drop.
Are you keen on my Katzenjammer Kids memorabilia?
IKR?....WE are the only consumers OF these toys....it was us who wanted them so bad..and now we can have them...but when its time for them to "move on"....I just hope to be able to get about what I paid for them...If Im lucky.
Lol, no, they wont as long as the movies keep coming out, there will be no plummet in these collections
You hit a home run on all of your points in this, Tony. Even the most ardent Star Wars supporters should admit the prices have exploded in the past few years. As I am a GI Joe and several other lines first and foremost, I am seeing the same buyer pain in almost every line. This, as well as other things I collect, make it ridiculous trying to build a decent collection when you're on even a decent budget to grow your selection. We can hope the crash will happen soon, but I expect it will happen within the next decade (hoping)
Fantastic video, Tony. Sadly, many collectibles have been affected by having a bubble formed. I collect music; records, tapes and CDs. They have seen a massive hike in price also, where a record has jumped from $40 to $300 within a year and a half due to Covid collectors pushing the prices up due to playing catch ups.
I'm like you Tony. I have an entire room dedicated to my 80s toy collection. I have close to $4000.00 in value in that room. BUT, to me they are all priceless because they are all associated with memories. And I dont collect carded or even complete pieces. Just having that Crystar figure loose with no weapons, or that Transformers G1 Jazz with the broken roof makes me very very happy. It's all in how it makes you feel. And as I said, it's all priceless. But I won't pay a lot for those memories. I'll pass on an auction or an item and wait to find it cheaper another day.
As a 17 year old I’m extremely broke but I collect because it’s part of Star Wars’ history. It sadness me to see people who just does it to make actual enthusiasts enjoyment of the hobby worse
Prices are crazy. Glad I kept everything from childhood. And I've added virtually everything I missed. So I'm good. My collection is plenty complete enough for me. I do still buy common loose figs for depth and for customizing. I won't ever actually "quit," tho. Just on a "buying hiatus." The Retro Collection and fan-made items keep me busy these days anyway--a way to stay active without the crazy prices.
Great, level-headed advice! I’ve been collecting Star Wars -at different levels- since the early 90’s when I pulled all my vintage toys out of the attic.
SW toys always had collectible value, but you can see the market rise and fall with interest.
I agree, in a few years, interest will decline, and prices will go down.
Is it a bubble waiting to be popped? I don’t know. I would not complain if it did, but I see interest will wane and prices will stabilize and keep some of their gains in value.
Also, from one collector to another, as said in the video, don’t be afraid to walk away from a deal. I still find vintage toys at great prices by combing, flea markets, thrift stores, and yard sales.
Just remember what Yoda said, ‘there is another’.
Tony, I absolutely love you thank you for your wisdom. Thank you for your knowledge. Thank you for putting this out for everyone to here because I love to collect and everyone else would love to collect without monetary gain.!!!
I always say things are worth what you are willing to pay. Then again, the last 17 figures prices are pretty silly and gonna be a while before I can afford any of them.
Several times, I've had people walk into my Star Wars room & ask how much it's worth. I always tell them that it's just a bunch of plastic; that it's worthless, monetarily. The value is in the joy that it brings me.
I am so glad I still have all of my vintage figures and vehicles that I got in the 70s and 80s , including my vinyl caped jawa.
Thank you! A very robust and comprehensive analysis of the situation. This is an important video and a bit of a ‘reality check’ for anyone in the Star Wars figure collecting hobby.
Awesome video, Tony. Definitely the past few years have seen drastic increases in prices and decreases in availability. I appreciate the fact you call out that a lot of it is manufactured scarcity/demand.
Great video, I am close to completing my Star Wars collection for the 3rd time in my life at age 51. I sold my huge collection as a child that included most everything from 1977-1985 and then some for $1500 in 1987 to buy a motorcycle. In 2004 I picked up on getting the collection back but in 2010 my fiancés harassed me to sell for reason of the space it took up. Regretted it right away. New relationship and I behave again at prices that are insane online so I try to buy local. I went through cancer 4 years ago and swore if I won I would finish my collection. I’m being told the cancer will come back so I am struggling to finish and am very close. Like you indicated it’s only lack of funds holding me back when you need a imperial shuttle, Death Star, sandcrawler, At-at, falcon and blue tie fighter with canteena and cloud city play sets left, all high ticket items. So in closing I hope my children enjoy them for a life time when I finish and May the force be with us all. Collect for love not profit.
Great video, some really interesting perspectives. I may disagree a bit that prices will crash in price though. In the sports card market, modern sports cards crashed last year while vintage cards managed to even increase in price. When it comes to vintage, most people would rather just hold than sell at a huge loss. Vintage toys may be decreasing in price a little but I’m not sure if i see a huge crash coming.
Another interesting and important video. I sold my collection, which consisted of many of my childhood toys, back in 2010 when my first son was born and we were moving to the Netherlands, I think I made about £150 for the lot (millennium falcon, X wing, Y wing, B wing, snow speeder with box, rebel transport, multiple figures and much more). Now the kids are a bit older and we have settled down I have started to rebuild my collection again, but there is no way I can afford to buy back everything that I once had. 100 euros for a beaten up falcon!!!! I have found a lot of beaters online going for maybe 2 euros and with a bit of time some modelling skills and following the example set by yourself and the likes of Toy Paloy, tend to make a decent display piece. But my biggest regret in life is selling what I had.
And it's not all vintage star wars either. I also sold my M.A.S.K collection, complete with mint boxes back in 2012 for £250. I've now bought back most of the items I had, without boxes and I must be 1000 euros down! At least I kept hold of my vintage Action Force and G.I Joes!!!
Hope to see more content like this in the future. Very interesting to hear you tell tales about the triumphs and gaffs of the vintage toy collecting hobby.
Was watching this and thought this sounds so much like...and then the BitCoin graphic came up! Thanks for the great summary. 52 years old and waiting for the prices to plumett so I can start my own 'Star Wars room'. My brother (54yo) kept most of our SW stuff and has a room that overwhelms me everytime I walk in.
This was a spot on analysis of our current collecting world. Well done sir!
I started collecting in 1994 while in middle school. in 1999 there was a Japan-only Ghost in the Shell Statue I wanted that was ¥10,000 ($160 USD to import) I checked to buy it secondhand in 2005 and it was at $320, then I checked again in 2013 and it was $90 so I bought it, now in 2024 it's $420. I sell antiques for a living now and can tell you markets go and up, in and out of fashion, if you collect many different things it's best to shift your focus on what is not trending and come back to others when the hype dies down.
I have seen the prices on the vintage pieces and would not even consider paying those prices. I find that collecting the vintage collection which released in 2011. Items most satisfying. They have the look of the originals.and even though prices on some are climbing.on some, most are still in the affordable range. Some carded figures sell for les than $20.00 USD. Collect for fun and not for investment or profit.
I grew up in the early 90's, and my dad, who had been a life long comic book collector would take me to Comic Con in San Diego (back when it was actually about comics), as well as various scif-fi and horror conventions around southern California where he would buy and sell comics. I can remember seeing these original Star Wars action figures both in the original packages, or loose in little plastic sleeves along with the various weapons they had originally come with going from about $2 USD to about $8 USD back during the period of about 1991-1996 or so. Its wild that they are so valuable now considering back then so many people seemed to have them, and they were so cheap even though the last film was 10 years old by then.
I don't disagree with anything said in this video, but it's worth mentioning that when we talk about being patient...we're talking about waiting YEARS at best before prices cool down to something more realistic. And that is some serious amount of patience required for any human...let alone eager collectors.
Man you called it! Same thing is happening with GI Joe!! So glad you did this video, hoping that the prices come down at some point, how can the prices stay high in a recession? Thanks for your work!
great vid, Tony. cheers from Pittsburgh, PA!!!!!
I have been collecting vintage kenner figures since 1992 - Back when most of them were $5 and you could find them at flea markets etc... I think the MOST I paid for a figure was a huge splurge spending 80$ on my loose yak face - Long story short - NO - the juice isnt worth the squeeze. None of the mass production figures are rare. NONE. (Im not talking vlix or DT figures) and when you look at population reports from AFA etc you can see that there is no shortage of mint examples of any of them. Yes there are some real rarities but $4000 12 backs are unsustainable. This is literally NO DIFFERENT than the Baseball Card and comic book boom of the 90s - YOu can even draw parallels with Chromium cover variants and retailer variants. Star Wars is in a strange bubble that - like all bubbles - will pop.
Hi Tyler, do we have an idea of how many figures were produced between 1978 to 1985?
Where i live in Australia; Yak Face and Imperial Dignitary figures COULDNT be given away. Nearly all the carded ones I've seen at regional cons still have the 'reduced' price tags on them.
"When I started collecting, I wanted all the things all at once." And now I'm thankful I couldn't afford that!
Thank you for this video that accurately describes my thoughts and feelings about the current situation regarding collecting vintage Star Wars toys at these days!
If you are correct about investors trying to make money in a Star Wars vintage speculator market. Collectors should be patient and wait for the bubble to burst and then jump back into the hobby. I've been doing this for over 40 years...patience always pays off.
I do not care for the eventual bursting of the bubble...my collection is priceless to me. I think we're of the same mind on that Tony!
i graduated high school in 1990, VERY soon after i started collecting when i stumbled on a collector toy shop in the back of a local flea market. i probably would have started collecting sooner had i known such places existed. i was a very poor kid growing up and loved getting all the figures i didnt have then, which at that time was only a few years earlier. but yeah these trending news stories that come out once or twice a year when some vintage figure sells for a crazy price, really sticks in normal people heads. EVERY time one of my co workers somehow finds out i collect the first thing they say to me EVERY time is "Wow i bet your collection is really valuable". the second thing they say ALMOST every time is " MAN! i wish i would have kept my old figures i would be rich now".
so yeah people really believe that BS, and its really frustrating because i hate that attention being focused on my personal thing i have been doing for 20 something years in peace.
There's always some idiot that will pay a ridiculous price. Once it is paid, other sellers raise their price. It's to the point that anything vintage is just too expensive. When my collection was stolen in 2014, I knew that it was going to be impossible to replace it.
I saw a shop 15 years or so ago that had used Star Wars toys. Your collection looks nice and shiny; mine were played with outside and dirty and worn. I gave mine to my cousin to do with what he felt like, except for one bounty hunter still in mint that I got through the mail and never played with.
I couldn’t agree more with you, FINALLY someone say it , am like you I eventually if I found something am missing I’ll buy it and can can care less if the value drops, we have to realize that for the vintage Kenner line is us folks in our 50s that are collecting it, and the eventually we will pass and the true love on them will pass also and only few might have the same passion for it. Great report and tough.
I don’t touch the vintage Kenner line aside from the high costs the anti repo crowd who I suspect hate repo because it devalues their investment and wants to keep prices artificiality high to keep the money coming in I’m not going down that rabbit hole
Very good insights. I started picking up on eBay in 2013 and over a few years picked up much of the figures I wanted with accessories. Probably the biggest payout was $50
I am holding on just to share with my kids to show the toys from back then
I started collecting Vintage Star Wars figures when I was a kid in the 90's, I have fond memories of finding figures in the flea markets and garage sales, most of which I didn't pay that much for.
As an adult now I noticed how things changed when it comes to collecting them now and I haven't purchased any in many years. While I lost or sold most of my Star Wars collection, I never let my vintage figures go, I still have them in the Darth Vader carrying case. It's not just because they probably are worth something but because I hold a lot of personal value to them with the memories I had while collecting each individual figure.
Ridiculous prices is right. I'm very thankful that I have a pretty extensive collection from my childhood. 😊
I am 47 years old. I obviously grew up with (and love) Star Wars toys. I had nearly everything from the late 70's to around 1983. Even really rare stuff (that I didn't consider rare then) like tall Snaggletooth. But, those figures are long gone. When I went off to college my parents either sold or threw that stuff away.
Year later I was hit with the nostalgic bug that we are all hit with that grew up in that period, but I was not about to pay "collector" prices for these things. I have one complete loose vintage figure...Bib Fortuna. But, that's it.
More recently Hasbro released some Retro Collection figures from the Star Wars and ESB lines with the original molds. Not every figure by any stretch, but still a good roster of figures from my childhood like Chewbacca, Yoda, Han Solo, Darth Vader and so on. I bought them all. They look great and are brand new on new cardbacks. I am content with recreations of my original toys that are brand new and $11.99 each. More than content. If more come I will snap them up. If no more come, well, at least I have two dozen or so nice new examples of figures from my childhood and I am good with that.
Started collecting again a couple of years ago and the last two years have seen prices go bananas, to the point that even though I have managed to get about half the 96 (97) I just can't afford to continue. I have 4 figures left from when I was a kid in the 80's, absolutely battered, but they mean more to me than anything.
I go to local toy shows and shop for deals. I only use ebay for the underdog toys I collect because they're not in demand. And concerning the tie fighters, I picked an original white tie at a toyshow 3 months ago for only $30. It was complete except for 1 wing release. The motor even worked as well as the light. I've found that collecting means avoiding auction sites. Star Wars, Transformers and Gijoe are just way too expensive now.
I highly recommend the book " The Ultimate Guide to Vintage Star Wars Action Figures by Mark Bellomo " detailed price list since 2014 ...but I was very fortunate to get the majority of my figures in good loose condition without accessories for $4 Canadian each about 5 years ago at a comic store and have been piecing things together since
Good perspective. It’s almost infuriating to browse on eBay and see the bids and prices. Goodwill online used to be pretty reasonable but now that’s just as bad.
I’m a USMC veteran. I love your stuff!
Thank you!
I completely agree with you on this matter, and I think it is not just limited to Star Wars, I think that every vintage toy line that had the very recent spike is going to have a very hard crash here really soon. Look at the price of some of the fondly remembered one and two series lines like Visionaries, Cops N Crooks, Thundercats, or Silverhawks. The prices suggest a rarity for these toys that is just not there, like you said. And the amount that are available on ebay is not a slim amount. Oh by the way what are you thoughts on using the Cops N Crooks stuff for six inch scale figures. That Roadster looks perfect for Zartan and the Dreadnoks!
I'm seeing it with my WWF LJN figures from the 80s. I think eBay and the amount of toy buy/sell Facebook Groups is showing that a lot of people these toys aren't as scarce as we had initially believed. They weren't obtainable for decades, and then with the rise of the Internet we all kind of went gaga over the stuff we believed was practically extinct. Case I point At one point, in time I could have gone 10-15 years with out ever seeing the creature cantina playset and now I can get one whenever the hell I want off eBay.
Top video as always mate and some sound advice. I, like you, collect for the pure hobby and fun and not at all as any kind of investment. Without wishing to sound (too) selfish or smug, I couldn't give a rat's arse about the value dropping and collections being effectively worthless... I collect for ME and my collection is not for sale, so for me it will always be priceless. 😁😁
I work in the US firearms industry as a manufacturer and OMG your video is 100% applicable to firearms collecting as well
An excellent appraisal of current situation - Vintage Action Man prices are also getting ridiculous
I like to stay close to the bottom feeding of open bubble carded figures that are ready to be graded. Autographed figures and cards are my new interest, but don’t forget… as generations change the oldies get older
The reason these toys have skywakler rocketed in prices is simply because people have too much $$$ and are willing to pay those prices. Or like you say big companies that want to keep the toy income flowing. I'm proud to say I have that old 80's Star Wars collection ,and in good condition. Played with, but in near mint condition. I actually have the mail in Boba Fett with shooting back pack. It's nice to know what they are worth, but I never plan to part with them.
Great video, Tony. Now how do we inflate the price for a mint in box Desert Rat?
This is a great video! Like a fine wine bought at a decent price 👍
I am lucky to have my old toys from when i was kid. To me they priceless memories of a simpler time in bedroom far far away
thank you for this video. I've had this discussion with some people in my collectors facebook pages and sometimes they called me crazy. I'm currently in that stage were you can begin to control your urge for that next toy and it feels good, your words came in the right moment. greetings from Argentina, and by the way I loved your Rambo video. I am a huge fan too and was a nice surprise to see you refeer to our beloved Jocsa in that video.
I'm a little late but here goes: I don't collect figures for monetary value, I pick them up because either I genuinely love the character/franchise or I love doing toy photography and if I can get some good shots from a figure, money well spent. This includes vintage or vintage inspired figures, MotU Origins for instance is a brilliant marriage between classic aesthetic but modern sensibilities.
I just got bitten by the vintage bug a month ago but I appreciate the art form of a figure, original or repro. In fact I think I like the repros a little more if because they had to emulate the vintage style which is an art form in itself
At 6:53, I never knew and was surprised to find out, Rick Springfield was a vintage Starwars collector, his home video is cool, Go Rick!
I remember getting a lot of these Toys when I was 5 or 6. They were meant to be played with back then and that's what I did with them. Every other Sunday my Grandmother would buy me another Star Wars action figure. The thought of buying them just to collect them was crazy talk!! I'm talking 1979 - 1982. Those were the best years!! I think by 1983, though, I was done with toy because I don't remember buying anything from Return of the Jedi.
Totally agree with all you said. Many are certainly talking up the prices. Like you, I wish the collection was worth next to nothing because I enjoy collecting because of the genuine love of the toys and the nostalgic value of them. I definitely won’t be gutted if prices drop as for me it’s not an investment but a love of my childhood and the original films. Well said !
I've been a small time dealer for quite some time. I normally specialize in vintage militaria and military toys but recently got into selling "vintage" Star Wars toys as well. I can tell you that your assessment is right on target. I've seen it before and will it happen again sure as the sun will rise. The prices Ive been getting on ebay are crazy. Even figures from the late 90's and early 2000's are making me serious money.
Also please keep in mind that I wouldn't be a dealer of these types of things if I didn't love them too.
I am a huge fan of star wars like most of people my age, I am 54.
I have got a small but very nice collection (95% of my figures are not carded, unfortunately I opened almost every single one but are in perfect conditions and still retain their original weapons or sticks or staffs).
I have bought some more over the years, all original and now I have got 67 plus taun taun, wampa, the little die cast vehicles.
Problem is that I agree with You.
I guess that the prices will still increase; I do not think that in the short time there will be a collapse but in the long term most likely there will be.
It depends on how the new generation will consider star wars.
May the force be with them.
Really enjoyed this video and your perspective here Tony. I've slowly been building my vintage sw collection, mainly to fill in the holes I never had as a kid. Patience is key!
I saw the same thing in the mid late 1990s, right before the Phantom Menace, as people started to fight tooth and nail at the pegs for power of the force figures assuming this would also be a “big investment” only for that bubble to pop as well.
Which I’m grateful for. I can pick up Dewbacks, Rontos, Stormtroopers and various characters for super cheap and don’t feel any guilt opening them up since there’s so many out there.
When I started collecting vintage SW figures and vehicles three years ago, the prices were already at a high level. But when I look on ebay now, I'm glad I bought them back then. The prices on ebay are a good third or even twice as expensive as they were three years ago. I bought my vintage Yak Face in top condition and with the original weapon for about 220 euros and my EV-9D9 with intact arms and legs in good condition for about 170 euros. The prices that are now being called for things on ebay are really unbelievable. Luckily I have all the figures (except Lando General Pilot) in very good condition and complete. Vehicles, spaceships and playsets are 90% complete. There are only a few playsets and vehicles (like Dagobah playset, Cloud City playset or the Security Scout Vehicle) I don't have in my collection.
I have my 20 vintage originals from when ROTJ came out in 84 and am content with them. I have watched the prices do their thing and that is the main reason I chose never to gather any others. I played with them and enjoyed them as they were meant to be, however I took care of them and still have most of the accessories that the figures came with. I traded an ewok for a pop-up sabre R2, which I still have, because I lost Luke's sabre and my friend wanted the ewok. We never anticipated values would get crazy like they are now.
I remember snagging white tie fighters off Facebook groups for $30. Star Wars Toys Vintage - Modern FB group was full of them
Most of the things collecting cheap vintage toys that I grew up with. Most are either to restore or play with my daughter. She seems to like them without knowing the stories which I'm fine.
I am extra happy that I collected Kenner Star Wars as I still could, I started august of 2019, and collected about roughly half of the entire figure line, and I am planning on selling some if I need to, while keeping the special ones
I applaud Playmates for reviving the vintage TMNT line. It's beautiful for new and old collectors filling holes in their collections without having to pay astronomically high prices from resellers. I wish Hasbro would do the same for the Star Wars vintage WITHOUT the horrid weathered packaging and mediocre production quality.
Preach man Preach. I always understood the feeling of wanting that new figure or vehicle right now, gotta have it now, but patience is it's true reward. Waiting may be a month or two can be the difference of paying $35.00, or $10.00. I'm like you sir, I love collecting figures from vintage to modern, but with the say our economy is going there has to be a science to collecting, as it were. Example. I was lucky enough to pick up the first wave of Spider-Man Retro figures for $12.97 each at Walmart. A few months from that the new Ghostbuster figures (the ones that look like the movie actors but if they were animated and in the kenner style) I got those for $7 bucks at a winners here in Canada. I was even lucky enough to pick up a Vintage Joker with his jacket tails for $15 bucks, where I could have gotten him at a toy convention for $150 not in box and in the exact same worn condition. Sometimes playing the long game is best and necessary. Thanks for the video. All the best man.
I too started collecting vintage Star Wars in the early to mid 90’s and it was way more fun and more reasonable…. I remember paying $175 and getting a carded obi wan and biker scout power of the force and I thought that was outrageous but it was doable if you really wanted them… fast forward to now and it’s absolutely absurd. I will only buy vintage again if the price comes way down, there is just no way.
Back in the late 80's, when I started collecting (rather than playing with them), the only value these things held was sentimental.
Hey Tony. I love your channel and, I've watched religiously for almost 3 years now. Anyway, thank you for this video. I started collecting, again, back in 2019. So far, I own 48 (loose) original SW figures. Probably, less than 20% have original weapons. The rest are repro. The reason for this is because I just can't afford the prices on Ebay. That being said, it really doesn't bother me. I grew up in a household, with two other siblings. Birthdays and holidays were always great but, I was never going to amass a complete set of kenner figures. It's been so much fun trying to build my new collection, these last 3 years. I hunt on a budget, and am not opposed to snagging a few beaters. I'm 44 years old so, I'm collecting because I'm passionate about it. I don't ever plan to sell these. I just want to be able to put them in my private collection, and admire/appreciate them for what they stand for. Which is some of the happiest memories I had growing up. The market is getting ridiculous nowadays. It's why my collection doesn't see new additions as often as I'd like. Still, I have had such a blast with "the hunt", I don't really mind. It's really just about patience, and acceptability when it comes to my search. I'm not interested in "resale" value.
As many of us collectors are also now in late our 40s to 50s it’s going to be interesting to see what happens in the next 2 decades when we probably sell off or have our collections sold by estates (when we pass away) so there should be a flood of availability
Very interesting subject, the vintage SW action figures are not my go to, but I do pick up the original vehicles from time to time. Since 2020, it’s been pretty wild. The vintage toy speculators that you mention remind me of my early comic book collection years, early 90s… it was just as crazy. And that Death of Superman issue didn’t help pay for my house.
You are 100% correct about patience being key. More enjoyable too to have a story behind that YakFace purchase.
Same thing that's happened to the Retro gaming community, I pretty much gave up on it as a hobby a few years back, resellers artifically pushing the prices up have ruined it.
Star Wars figures have been increasing in value since the seventies. There is absolutely no chance that anyone's value becomes worthless. Ever.
Keep dreaming
All good points Tony. I started collecting star wars toys after seeing ESB in the cinema. Displayed it ever since. It will still be there when those ridiculous prices drop. I’ve often heard people say I should sell it but I can’t see how money would make me happier then still having this connection to my youth. I loved it through all those years 🙏🏼