Anyone else feel a bit lost with vintage?

[Palifan]

Come to celebration Ian. We will all have a beer and remind ourselves of the common interest we have and why we all love Star Wars.

I'd love to but I'm in the US for the foreseeable future so it might have to be my neck of the woods at some point. I would really love to meet a few of the guys on here though as you can't help but feel you know people on this forum after years of reading their thoughts on all things vintage (as well as hearing some of them talking on the podcast)......I'm feeling much better about things already!

Ian

 

[Joe]

I wish a few people would stop moaning about dealers/flippers as if it wasnt for dealers there wouldnt be much product on the market.

Eh? Wait a minute there lol! Half the stuff most dealers and flippers are peddling these days comes from eBay or bloody Vectis! Most of you guys who call yourself dealers aren't actually out there unearthing amazing hidden gems or long forgotten about collections in order to sell them to collectors at a reasonable mark up, you are just outbidding normal blokes then grading the stuff aiming to sell it to the same poor sods you outbid... at a HIGHER price!

Good grief! :lol:

 

[Joe]

Knock Knock..

Who's there?

A Star Wars dealer.

Get ****ed.

 

[tiefighterboy]

Joe i think i am rubbing off on you. :lol:

 

[ScruffyLookingNH]

There's been a piece I've been after for ages - prices spiked so resounded myself to the fact that I wasn't going to get it. Then I thought why don't I sell some pieces to fund it - great idea and between some sales and working some overtime I think I probably have enough stashed away to buy it when one becomes available - BUT now I'm looking at an envelope full of cash and suddenly thinking no way am I going to spend £500 + on anything for my collection. Collecting SW is all about happy childhood memories and spending that kinda money is just irresponsible on my part.

My wife is telling me go for it - I work hard, don't blow money on drink, I've sold things to raise money but to be honest her being so good about it just makes me feel guilty and no way should I be worrying or feeling guilty about my SW hobby!
In the last month I've bought items under a tenner that have really made me smile and so that's where I'm at....

Totally this, Colin. Was just saying the same thing to a mate last night. A £40 MOC holds as much, if not more joy than a £400 because it comes without the guilt baggage.

I don't know you although judging by the things you get through your hands I'd like to! That said, this is complete bollocks :

The main point is if every item was only worth £1 nobody would want them, but I wish a few people would stop moaning about dealers/flippers as if it wasnt for dealers there wouldnt be much product on the market.

I didn't get back into this lark because of the money, I got back in despite the money. Love of SW is stronger than the stupid prices. That's what makes this such a great place to be. It's full of fans, not investors or check-out-the-size-of-my-dick types. Perhaps what you mean is if things were only worth a £1 you wouldn't want them as there's not enough money in it? Incidentally, no issue at all with dealers: if I did I wouldn't keep sending them money. There are some great dealers who do their research and leg work and network to unearth great hoardes of stuff and then, like Joe says, there's those that just sit on eBay, FB and Vectis and simply raise prices.

Knock Knock..

Who's there?

A Star Wars dealer.

Get ****ed.

:lol: My kid lives KK jokes but I think I'll hold off a few years before telling they that one Thankfully there's enough genuinely good dealers out there to stave of this feeling although they are out-numbered by about 10:1.

I can't see a time when I'll get so vexed by people's actions that I'll step away from this hobby. Let those that tear the arse out of it continue to do so. Let those utterly dumb enough to bend over and grab their ankles in the presence of these people also continue to do so. Neither are true fans. Neither affect me.

 

[_Lee_]

but I wish a few people would stop moaning about dealers/flippers as if it wasnt for dealers there wouldnt be much product on the market.

Are we talking Star Wars toys or Class 'A's here ? Seems to me that said people spend too much time snorting too much 'product' of a different kind and mixing up their dealers :wink:

The general problem is that some of these dealers / collectors are pushing up the value of the hobby whilst at the same time destroying what it means as a whole. FB is largely to blame, and will do more damage over time. Am i bitter ? no -because i have and know what i want and where to find it at a decent price. I actually feel for the new blood who are scared off and feel lost at how they can start, and its up to us collectors to school them - which is where sites like this play a part.

I would also say that Star Wars collecting is drawing more and more people into debt because they feel they need to spend big to 'keep up' with the big spenders. Big no,no from me and thats where it gets worse.

Obviously we have to 'move aside for the big boys' who want to spend big money, but i think they are the biggest curse on this hobby together with repros etc and i really think that. Do you really think that they all spend big for their collections? - no its either to brag or to flip over again for a profit. I dont think they realise that 95% of the collectors around think of them as absolute bellends.

'A fool and his money are soon parted'

 

[_Lee_]

Seems as though Marvel is stepping aside for the big boys too :lol:

 

[80s_collector]

I wish a few people would stop moaning about dealers/flippers as if it wasnt for dealers there wouldnt be much product on the market.

Eh? Wait a minute there lol! Half the stuff most dealers and flippers are peddling these days comes from eBay or bloody Vectis! Most of you guys who call yourself dealers aren't actually out there unearthing amazing hidden gems or long forgotten about collections in order to sell them to collectors at a reasonable mark up, you are just outbidding normal blokes then grading the stuff aiming to sell it to the same poor sods you outbid... at a HIGHER price!

Good grief! :lol:

Firstly I love the knock knock joke, fair play, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

Secondly, I agree with you that there are many people buying in the usual places and flipping it straight away but there are hard core dealers like myself who have been pulling SW and other toys out of the woodwork for over 30 years when shops used to clear product and collections would have ended up in the garbage.

As for SW nowadays Im not buying into the product much nowadays as I have a lot of items from many years ago and some I sold on here last year, Im more interested in selling to be fair and due to the fact Im very busy with other product so Im using other dealers/flippers and auction houses to sell my product from.

Its good to read everyones opinions on this forum though..

 

[Heith]

Knock Knock..

Who's there?

A Star Wars dealer.

Get ****ed.

:lol:

 

[Bootyhunter]

Knock Knock..

Who's there?

A Star Wars dealer.

Get ****ed.

Unless your name is Iain that is :lol:

 

[itfciain]

Knock Knock..

Who's there?

A Star Wars dealer.

Get ****ed.

Unless your name is Iain that is :lol:

Yes, I think some of us 'dealers' are getting a bit of a bad do in this thread

 

[80s_collector]

Knock Knock..

Who's there?

A Star Wars dealer.

Get ****ed.

Unless your name is Iain that is :lol:

Yes, I think some of us 'dealers' are getting a bit of a bad do in this thread

I agree Iain, but nevermind, Im used to it and to be fair its all a bit of banter......remember this if I was to sell all my carded high end products on here for £10 a card, everyone would want to be my best mate....

Before anyone starts sending me pms......Im not selling any for a tenner

 

[Joe]

:lol: :lol:

I really should stop drinking Tizer

80's collector: Fair play to you if you have been scouting out vintage and tucking it away for 30 years, most on-line dealers are just using forums and auction sites to build up their inventories which obviously pits them against regular collectors on a regular basis. When you've outbid everyone on an item it should mean the price has reached a point where nobody else who was interested wants to go higher..yet then the same items pop up on eBay a few weeks later with £100 added on (or more).

Iain: You know I would never lump you in with those kinds of dealers. I think everyone on here agrees that your prices are always reasonable and you don't go after stuff just to grade and resell. You do a lot of legwork to find large/interesting collections and buy them up in bulk so that you can then offer them up individually at good prices to other collectors.. apples and oranges

 

[Starzone]

Knock Knock..

Who's there?

A Star Wars dealer.

Get ****ed.

Ouch..

 

[_Lee_]

:lol: :lol:

I really should stop drinking Tizer

I reckon its the Lilt chasers Joe :lol:

 

[Mr-shifter]

Dealers are what dealers are. I don't hate them. I don't use them but if they had the right piece at the right price I would. Nick, Darren, even Dave tree (yes, he runs a business selling toys) are all good people, fans and collectors alike. Some have done a huge amount for the hobby, long before this current situation arose.

I think you have two types of people who do this. Those who make a living doing so, and have done for years, and those scabs who buy something at a good price and grade it or just try to immediately mark it up 40%. The difference is the dealers were there in days gone buy flogging Rotj Mocs for £10 and keeping the market going. They are now seeing the market they have been in for years going through the roof and they are taking advantage. Why not? If you have been in the game 15+ years then why shouldn't you benefit from the good times.

The scabs, or chancers, have only just arrived. All they are interested in is a quick buck. It's that that's driving the market up. Coupled with the egoistic and self indulgent Facebook, "look at how amazing my life is and how much money I have" culture that seems to exist these days. Not just in Star Wars but in life in general.

Why take unboxing photos for example. The only reason you do that is because you crave attention. It's as simple as that. Most of Facebook is about that.

I get why the longer term collectors don't like it but take time to remind yourself what you are in this for. Star Wars hasn't been this good since maybe the first time round. There's so much going on, it's a popular hobby and I'm no longer treated like a leper for my passion.

So I say kick back, accept some things just are, be grateful for what you have and let the good times roll. See you all at celebration I hope.

 

[Mr-shifter]

:lol: :lol:

I really should stop drinking Tizer

I reckon its the Lilt chasers Joe :lol:

Too many sanatogen

 

[Joe]

Before I upset anyone else - the knock knock joke was a bit OTT, I do apologise

I know that not all sellers have the mentality of the wannabe dealers of today. Those people are greedy muppets and not much more. As Ben said, there are genuine legends out there like Matt Booker, David Tree, Iain Sanderson etc and I'm sure I can include Darren (starzone) and many other long timers too but those people were not the ones I aimed my posts or OTT joke at and should take no offence (or notice).

 

[sith-smith]

Dealers...makes them sound like they are some kind of drug pusher!

Which to some extent might actually be a fair comparison!

But in all seriousness, I have no issue with the fact that toy dealers exist. They often have the time, know how and foresight to find the pieces an ordinary collector like myself may not have. They've helped me out loads over the years with pieces I've been after.

My only issue is greed. But that's not just something just a dealer may have. In fact over the years I've suffered more from other collectors' greed than from a toy dealer.

 

[80s_collector]

Before I upset anyone else - the knock knock joke was a bit OTT, I do apologise

I know that not all sellers have the mentality of the wannabe dealers of today. Those people are greedy muppets and not much more. As Ben said, there are genuine legends out there like Matt Booker, David Tree, Iain Sanderson etc and I'm sure I can include Darren (starzone) and many other long timers too but those people were not the ones I aimed my posts or OTT joke at and should take no offence (or notice).

No worries Joe, I found it amusing actually.
Come and say Hi at Celebration...I.C.Toys stand N106.

Its all good banter...