To collect or not to collect?

[jedi-cpa]

Is there anyone else who is somewhat discouraged with the collecting altogether?

I have been collecting since the original Kenner 12 and haven't stopped since.

But now I feel like maybe this is the time to call it a day.

I have 6 items on my vintage do not have list (Yes Vlix is one of them)

6 items on my POTF2 List

12 items on the Ep I list

30 POTJ open items (granted some of these may not have hit the shelves yet)

But the list just keeps growing of things that have never been made available to me as a collector and am I ready to deal with the same thing with the same stuff for episode II?

Is anyone else thinking that the time might be right for them to cease collecting?

[Jayspawn]

Yes, this is the question. The Episode II figures are discouraging as hell. I'll probably pick up a few. But not many.

I decided if Hasbro continued to make stupid looking Episode II figures, I would go on hiatus and work on filling a few gaps in my collection and do some army building.

Episode II figures suck way to much to not think about quitting.

[JEDIpartner]

I'm with the two of you on this one. I will probably only get a couple of the figures from each collection. As it stands, MOST of the sculpts leave much to be desired. The wide-legged stance has drawn quite a few snickers from my non-collector co-workers. The Tusken Female isn't so bad, nor is the Zam Wessell. I'm not too keen on the other ones on the whole. If Hasbro thinks this is what we want, they can keep them.

[SirSteve]

Perhaps wait on a decision like this until you have actually seen the figure up close...

[JEDIpartner]

I love it when you post those cryptic messages, Sir Steve! ;)

Still... I'll have to pass on the wide-leggers. They are just too silly. I will, however, keep your words in mind. I know YOU know what you are talking about!

[Darth Evil]

I agree with SirSteve, I said the same thing in one of the other topics. If they are nasty looking when I see them I might only get the ones I'm really interested in, such Dooku and Jango. I really want to see a picture of Dooku!

[xboywonder]

Ok... this is my plan - I am going to save up some extra cash to take along with me to midnight madness. I will get the stuff I like and pass on the stuff that sucks - which from the looks of things alot of stuff sucks. But I want to have that extra cash so that I know I can get the stuff that I might actually like or think is cool.

By the way... do all TRUs do the midnight thing ??

[mabudonicus]

When the POTFII started coming out, I personally found it hard to not want any of the stuff that came out(after the he-man guys stopped, anyways). After awhile the line started to get real inconsistent-like, though, and I made the tough decision to actually EVALUATE each figure on a case by case basis, rather than just simply require every piece that came out. It was tough, but once the "need beyond reason" subsided, I found that when a crummy figure came out, I could just chuckle and be glad that I didn't "have" to buy it. I still feel a thrill when a figure is perfectly rendered, and so I expect to be quite happy with at least some of the AOTC figures, and I'll get them accordingly. To everyone freaking out about how bad the (unfinished)(incomplete) line of figures is, Chill!! If all the figures are all terrible, and NO ONE buys ANY of em, you can bet heads will roll somewhere's, and the next attempt will be the total opposite of what little we've seen so far (and don't bet we've seen too much of anything just yet) Wooooo!!

[LTBasker]

Well so far they look crap to me, but I know I'll end up buying them, although I'am on the edge of quitting not really just cause of the figures, but the way Hasbro obviously doesn't give a care about what it's doing as long as it can make an easyier buck.

[GNT]

Originally posted by LTBasker
Well so far they look crap to me, but I know I'll end up buying them,

Same here,Even though I dont really need some of them at all,I'll probably end up buying them all,At the present time Im going to collect just the vehicles cause they look way better than the figures we've seen :)

[1138]

I've been "collecting" since my first C-3PO back in '78. I stopped being a completist when they started re-packing figs like monkey-Leia on green card, and re-sculpting the hell out of EVERYTHING: "Tattoine Luke w/ slight sunburn, and bump on head from Tusken Raider encounter". I never got anything from E1 to keep. Generally, I buy the cool looking ones (even the rescuplts if they're good) and pass on the rest.
Here's something to consider also, if you're collecting for profit: the new stuff out of it's package is often worth more on ebay than it's MIP equivilant. I saw two Speeder Bikes with Troopers that were auctioned at $1.00 and at $2.00. Guess which was MIP? The $2.00 one - and it didn't get ANY bids. The other was loose, and sold for over $10! People (myself included) are specifically looking to buy stuff to display but don't want to open the packages, for fear of depreciating the value, yet supply is often exceeding demand and my bet is that the true rarities are opened toys. Nut's isn't it?

[mabudonicus]

Yeah, I've noticed that a couple of times too. I have heard gasps of shock in the local scalpers when I set my latest acquisition free, and experience the heady rush brought on by that special mix of gases which I like to call the "brand new SW guy smell", a smell which the "in the package" collectors will never appreciate properly.(it probably also explains some of my posts) The current outcry against the AOTC figures would seem to suggest that even the most serious collectors are also serious about the play value of the toys, which is something that surprises me, for some reason. I thought I was the only one with opened toys....

[InsaneJediGirl]

most serious collectors are also serious about the play value of the toys, which is something that surprises me, for some reason. I thought I was the only one with opened toys....

Nope,You are not they only one with opened toys!I open up nearly 80% of my Starwars Collection.Some people might call me crazy..but whats the use of collecting if you dont enjoy it?

[LTBasker]

*Makes the CTC Stormtrooper head bunt the POTJ Biker Scout and the POTJ Sandtrooper together because they don't have the articulation to duck* Mwhaha. :D

I try to always buy at least 2 of each, 1 to open and 1 to keep carded, that way while the open one is battling with another open one I'll still be able to glance up at the carded versions to seem them in their glory of not being touched my dust or paint scratches or anything like that. :) Although I do try to keep my loose collection nice and clean so that they can look good when in their dioramas when I'm not playing with them. :cool:

[Dark Marble]

Maybe it is just the frustration of not finding anything right now, or the fact I got slammed with a 15.99 price tag at target for deluxe figures, but I am also thinking about quitting collecting. I love star wars and have been collectiong since the POTF2 line, but I am starting to get burned out on it. I was looking forward to Jango and the new Slave I and some new droids, and thinking about the new line this year. But the exclusives and the searching and the ever changing prices and the inconsistancy. :frus: I am just tired of it right now.

I still get a thrill when I find something new, and I open my stuff to really enjoy the detail in the figures and vehicles. I love my collection. I will always love star wars. It was there in my life when I was little, and it is still there today. But right now there are more days when it feels like a battle then a hobby. It's not the episode II figure quality that is burning me out as much as after thousands of dollars and lots of time, it may be time for the last dance. I will always have the star wars movies and memories, but maybe it is time to hang it up.

I feel for a lot of the true collectors out there. Dealing with the ups and downs every day. Especially with the lack of product around. The fans are what make star wars amazing. Reading the forums here has been great because so many out there have the same love as I do. On so many days star wars is just a way of life. Finding a favorite character or vehicle strengthens that love. But with such a long road and no end in sight....I wonder.

No hard feelings for me anywhere, I love the collecters, don't have a beef with hasbro, and star wars hasn't let me down yet, I am just tired of the collecting. The time between now and May will make all the difference for me. Who knows..................

[Obi-Don]

I started in a rage.Buying everything I could,but now with the products on the market.I have started being real care about what I buy. I now only pick and choose from what is out there.

[InsaneJediGirl]

Orginally Posted by Obi-Don
I now only pick and choose from what is out there.

I see a lot of true collectors,and myself,doing the same thing
you do Obi-Don,pick and choose from what they like.I am
starting to think now that this is a new trend,due to poor figures
high prices,exclusives,and the like.

I remember back when POTF and POTF2 came out.Everyone was
so excited and the figures werent all that bad,and the stores
kept everything pretty well stocked.Now,its the total opposite,
and I feel many of us are loosing faith in the SW Toy Line because it simply...isnt what it used to be.Hasbro needs to wake
up and listen before the SW Line is truely lost due to lack of interest.

[LTBasker]

Yeah, they aren't what they used to be because the figures were supposed to get better with detail, articulation and appeals to the majority who buy them - the collectors. But so far they've mistaken us for the wrong type of collectors, see, we're toy collectors by collecting SW, but they've got us for statue collectors and such. I dunno how that happened. And when it comes to distribution, you're right on that one. How many of us didn't have a computer when POTF2 was out? I know I didn't, but with really good distribution then, I was able to get every figure (Cept for B'Omarr Monk, heh) from the OC stage to the end of the non-FF stage. Then they started to lose it with the FFs, got worse on FBs, got even worse with Episode 1 and Classic Commtech, and now look.

[Pellaeon]

Getting back to the "Collect or not collect" title of this thread, I have seriously thought about that. I have basically been a completist, but may have to revise that for the E-2 figures. Why? Well, more than anything, I'm Running Out of Space!

So, instead of buying every deluxe figure, ship, etc., I think I'll focus on the basic figures with smaller packaging, and hit the ships and deluxe figures at a later point when they hopeufully go on sale.

Now as for future POTJ stuff, I will probably continue to be a completist, deluxe figs and new ships included, especially if they are from the original trilogy.

[GNT]

Hey Pellaeon do you leave your toys carded? If you open them you'll gain alot of space so that you could buy more...

[1138]

I hope Hasbro reads this thread. It explains a lot of the frustrations we collectors are dealing with. I just last night bought the new Amanaman and Leia for a $7.00 clearance price. They had never even been put out at the regular price, but since the were four dozen Luke's and Mauls put on sale, that's where the two new deluxe figs went, too, even though there were only a couple of them apiece. And I can't help but think that more of the Lukes would have sold at Christmas had there been as many FX-7's to complete the sets as there were pale faced Shmi's. (I have yet to see a single one. ARRRRGH!)

[Pellaeon]

Where did you get them on clearance? Although that price sounds like a local discount as opposed to a corporate wide discount.

To answer the question of whether I open or leave them package, I do leave them packaged, and have some (2'nds) opened. I don't think I could bring myself to open the packaged one's.

[1138]

I got them at Wal-Mart. They also recently put out some old figs., like Fode and Bede. I figure about this time next year I'll see the FX-7 wave.

[Wooooof]

I must thank Hasbro with all my heart. This new line of toys is exactly what I needed!

(a reason to stop collecting) ;)