Is it time to offload your Star Wars collection?
- Thread starter Sluis Van Shipyards
- Start date
ScourgiousJinx
Master Member
A few years ago I gave my friend's kid who's a massive SW fan a decent installed crystal reveal Luke saber that was just sitting on a shelf. His reaction was worth way more than anything I could've gotten for it. So I started giving more away, sold a few things and now everything that I have left has sentimental value and fits on one shelf. I'm happy that most went to friends that love SW. I truly could care less how much anything I have left is worth and with a few small exceptions I'm really not looking to acquire more.
I've sold off at least half my collection over the past year or so and am still selling. Markets real low though, only getting about 30-40% value if lucky. Lots of things have been sold at 25% value just to get rid of it. Too much clutter has built up over the years, it's time to move on.
I've told my kids once I'm gone anything left is their problem.
I've told my kids once I'm gone anything left is their problem.
PVmodels
Active Member
I am thinning out my collection and not just of Star Wars. I’m keeping the toys and collectibles that I have an attachment to. Selling is certainly not as fun as buying. I know that I can make one phone call and all the toys can be gone. But at a ridiculously low price. So I prefer to do it a little at a time. I think there will always be someone willing to buy the good Star Wars items. Just maybe not at the price you want.
drusselmeyer
Master Member
The main problem with SW items is that quality has been increasing since the start. The sentimental value is the main source of value of these items.
Unlike so many other productions, most newer items are of higher quality across the board from those first offerings because there was a sustained interest.
Unlike so many other productions, most newer items are of higher quality across the board from those first offerings because there was a sustained interest.
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When it comes to Star Wars, I have a small collection left that I'll probably never sell. They are things that have some kind of back-story or personal meaning. My first Luke ESB saber (a Larbel, probably my very first replica), the Vader ANH I dragged through customs at several airports going from LA back to Sweden, my self-machined Luke ROTJ, a Hot Toys set of all the OT heroes in JEDI gear... stuff like that. Plus one moving box of Kenner items that are played with like crazy, that I don't display, but would never get rid of.
This past year I've had to sell of much of my collection due to 'real life intrusions', mostly non-SW stuff, and many items were pretty painful to let go of, but needs must. (And I'll have to let even more go in the coming weeks.) I'm a Gen X-er and, while a lot of the 'magic' has been torn from Star Wars after the sale to the Mouse, looking at some items still brings me back to that old feeling...
This past year I've had to sell of much of my collection due to 'real life intrusions', mostly non-SW stuff, and many items were pretty painful to let go of, but needs must. (And I'll have to let even more go in the coming weeks.) I'm a Gen X-er and, while a lot of the 'magic' has been torn from Star Wars after the sale to the Mouse, looking at some items still brings me back to that old feeling...
I'm kind of the opposite, I'm currently getting all the stuff I've always wanted. My fabrication skills are now at a level where I can make anything I want, and at the top of the list, I have a very select few Star Wars items I've always wanted, ever since childhood. It's the bare minimum of what most general collectors typically have/want, but it's stuff I have a hand in producing, so it's not just some replica: it's a replica of my own. I keep a minimal amount of stuff already, so these things aren't anything that's gonna kill me to keep, and they're not the tertiary stuff made from literal garbage like the Hoth scanner or whatever.
I only want the things I love and when the day comes when I die and this stuff is off-loaded, it'll be worth nothing to nobody because it was always meant for me to begin with.
I only want the things I love and when the day comes when I die and this stuff is off-loaded, it'll be worth nothing to nobody because it was always meant for me to begin with.
Along with my important papers, I have instructions and resource contact information for the disposal of my collection. My family knows the items have value, well at least they do right now. I’ve made it very clear that they can do whatever they want with my collection. They are under no obligation to keep any of it.
To my prior point…here’s a good example of a Gen X’er off-loading their vintage Star Wars collection, now…
www.yahoo.com
Local man auctions ‘Star Wars’ memorabilia estimated at $7M
A local man has been collecting millions of dollars' worth of "Star Wars" memorabilia for 32 years, and now he's ready to sell it.
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To my prior point…here’s a good example of a Gen X’er off-loading their vintage Star Wars collection, now…
Local man auctions ‘Star Wars’ memorabilia estimated at $7M
A local man has been collecting millions of dollars' worth of "Star Wars" memorabilia for 32 years, and now he's ready to sell it.
I've heard his reason for selling is he's moving on to other things and that he considers the collection "complete" and has nothing left to add to it. No idea if that's really why, it's going to be interesting to watch, many vintage sw groups on fb have been buzzing about it
CopperRevan
Master Member
For the first time ever, in my local antique mall, there is a case devoted exclusively to original Star Wars figures in their original packages.
How is their pricing? Huge yoda fan lol
Had these since 70/80s..
These guys spend their time in an old Quality Street tin and prolly only see the light of day maybe once every few years.
Out of all of then I think I couldnt part with R5D4 for some reason..
I've still got my childhood lukes Landspeeder but my X Wings and Falcon were adult re purchases so have no emotional attachment.
What is it they say an 80 year window on collections ?
These guys spend their time in an old Quality Street tin and prolly only see the light of day maybe once every few years.
Out of all of then I think I couldnt part with R5D4 for some reason..
I've still got my childhood lukes Landspeeder but my X Wings and Falcon were adult re purchases so have no emotional attachment.
What is it they say an 80 year window on collections ?
I was a huge collector from the 90's through around 2012 or so. I also still have some of my old vintage figures. I have sold most of my modern era collection and am only keeping a few things and my vintage stuff. I had too much stuff in storage bins, just taking up space and I moved on to other interests, it was time.
I'm offloading a ton of stuff here, on FB and eBay. Be sure to check out my listings. No one invests in collectibles to make money, but these things are going for pennies these days and I want out. There's no sense in keeping so much clutter in my house anymore. I've got my personal items I'll never let go of, but the rest is going up for sale.
I'm out of this hobby. It's a black hole of debt.
I'm out of this hobby. It's a black hole of debt.
Prop Collector
Sr Member
I can't give my stuff away. Not the local bulk replicas, mind you, I'm talking Master Replicas now.
I’ve been saying this for years: these collectibles, especially those from specific movies and eras, appeal to only a few generations of fans. But the day is coming—if it hasn’t already arrived—when those generations stop collecting, leaving no new pool of buyers. I’ve seen it with older Hollywood props and costumes. Items from the Golden Age of Hollywood have lost value over the decades because there are fewer collectors today who are familiar with the films or care about the actors.
Edged
Well-Known Member
I’ve been getting rid of everything lately. For years I hauled around 50+ bins of stuff I’d collected over the last 3 decades. I’m down to about 15 now with 8 of those being modern SW figures that arent even worth selling on eBay.
Let me tell ya, it’s liberating! I had categories of stuff ranging from “definitely sell” to “take it to my grave”. I even began unloading the latter. A few years ago I got involved in something that’s much more than a hobby to me. It’s also very expensive and in order to feed this new passion, I had to make the hard decision to let some of these cherished items go. Even stuff from my childhood.
It’s funny, a bunch of guys that collect vintage BMX bikes had this discussion not too long ago. In the end it was pretty much decided that when we die, it’s all scrap metal. NO ONE is going to pay $200 for rusty, 50 year old seat post just so that they can have a period correct part. Kids today don’t even ride bikes, but that those do wont want some 30lb metal bike, chromoly or otherwise. There’s just no nostalgia for it.
With SW, on the other hand, I think there will always be a fan base and younger generation to pick up the mantle, so I wouldn’t stress too much about having to unload due to a market crash per se.
Still the question remains, what does it really all mean? How many of us have bins and bins of stuff just sitting in storage somewhere? Wouldn’t the liquidation of some of that be put to better use? Not to get too deep, but other than a few key items, I’ve come to realize id rather have a breadth of experiences stored in my memories than a bunch of crap stored in my attic.
Let me tell ya, it’s liberating! I had categories of stuff ranging from “definitely sell” to “take it to my grave”. I even began unloading the latter. A few years ago I got involved in something that’s much more than a hobby to me. It’s also very expensive and in order to feed this new passion, I had to make the hard decision to let some of these cherished items go. Even stuff from my childhood.
It’s funny, a bunch of guys that collect vintage BMX bikes had this discussion not too long ago. In the end it was pretty much decided that when we die, it’s all scrap metal. NO ONE is going to pay $200 for rusty, 50 year old seat post just so that they can have a period correct part. Kids today don’t even ride bikes, but that those do wont want some 30lb metal bike, chromoly or otherwise. There’s just no nostalgia for it.
With SW, on the other hand, I think there will always be a fan base and younger generation to pick up the mantle, so I wouldn’t stress too much about having to unload due to a market crash per se.
Still the question remains, what does it really all mean? How many of us have bins and bins of stuff just sitting in storage somewhere? Wouldn’t the liquidation of some of that be put to better use? Not to get too deep, but other than a few key items, I’ve come to realize id rather have a breadth of experiences stored in my memories than a bunch of crap stored in my attic.
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Jodo
Master Member
With the advent of 3D printing, I think many more casual fans are also fine with a “good enough” replica because it’s a fraction of the price. There’s also a much shorter attention span today than even just a decade ago, so people are not dedicating their lives to one fandom and putting money into things long term. I also think with a digital age, there’s just a lot less desire for physical collections.
I’m 34 years old, and Star Wars films, comics, and games really inspired me to collect. I wanted the actual experience of holding Han Solo’s metal blaster or having multiple Stormtrooper helmets, like I was in an armory. Stuff like Indiana Jones and LOTR inspired a sense of adventure and preservation, while the reimagined BSG imbedded a solid grounding of realism in me…So I love collecting. It puts me right into these places and having a basement where I can hide, surrounded by all these things, really plays into my escapism that I’ve chased for so long.
So personally, I will not be stopping any time soon…But I do think the generations before me will start selling their collections, which in turn will reduce the value of stuff and better saturate the market. It’s a good opportunity for someone in my age range, who now holds a career and a house (if they’re lucky), with enough disposable income to get some items for cheaper, and even have the chance for some grail quality replicas at an affordable price.
I’m 34 years old, and Star Wars films, comics, and games really inspired me to collect. I wanted the actual experience of holding Han Solo’s metal blaster or having multiple Stormtrooper helmets, like I was in an armory. Stuff like Indiana Jones and LOTR inspired a sense of adventure and preservation, while the reimagined BSG imbedded a solid grounding of realism in me…So I love collecting. It puts me right into these places and having a basement where I can hide, surrounded by all these things, really plays into my escapism that I’ve chased for so long.
So personally, I will not be stopping any time soon…But I do think the generations before me will start selling their collections, which in turn will reduce the value of stuff and better saturate the market. It’s a good opportunity for someone in my age range, who now holds a career and a house (if they’re lucky), with enough disposable income to get some items for cheaper, and even have the chance for some grail quality replicas at an affordable price.
Edged
Well-Known Member
That’s the perfect other side of the coin argument, Jodo. I neglected to add the importance of displaying a collection. If what you collect brings joy and are experiences in and of themselves, then that’s something else altogether.
For me it was always about the hunt. Once I got it, it went into a bin and I was onto the next thing. In the end, especially with moving multiple times, it all just became a burden. It was nice to hear the flip side of it from your end. At one time I too felt that way.
For me it was always about the hunt. Once I got it, it went into a bin and I was onto the next thing. In the end, especially with moving multiple times, it all just became a burden. It was nice to hear the flip side of it from your end. At one time I too felt that way.
