Has the pandemic changed your attitude to your collecting?

[Wreck-It Ralph]

Pay what it's worth to you. Enjoy it (display it if possible). The true value is the pleasure it gives you now from owning it. If it happens to be 'worth' more in the future then that's a bonus

That's good advice and pretty much sums up how I look at collecting.

I am not convinced that Vintage Star Wars collecting will wither and die with collectors like us as this has not happened with Comics with Superhero's like Superman dating back to 1938 and Batman 1939 still going strong and comics from that era in high demand even though the children that originally read them probably don't collect them. Baseball, Basketball and American Football trading cards are in high demand, how many of those collectors remember Mikey Mantle or Honus Wagner very few I expect so it can't be nostalgia alone that is motivating collectors to collect things, maybe Vintage Star Wars will remain highly collectible after we have gone.

The rapid rise in prices as a result of the Pandemic is still a mystery to me.

 

[Diamond76]

I am expecting a lot of figures to be on the market post pandemic and hopefully prices will drop a little before plateauing out.

 

[poncho]

I am expecting a lot of figures to be on the market post pandemic and hopefully prices will drop a little before plateauing out.

Plateauing - what a lovely word

 

[peekaygee73]

I am not convinced that Vintage Star Wars collecting will wither and die with collectors like us as this has not happened with Comics with Superhero's like Superman dating back to 1938 and Batman 1939 still going strong and comics from that era in high demand even though the children that originally read them probably don't collect them. Baseball, Basketball and American Football trading cards are in high demand, how many of those collectors remember Mikey Mantle or Honus Wagner very few I expect so it can't be nostalgia alone that is motivating collectors to collect things, maybe Vintage Star Wars will remain highly collectible after we have gone.

Thing is, the comics are the original media for those characters - that's the original/definitive way of getting your fix of Batman/Superman etc... and the comic lines continue to this day, meaning someone collecting the comic now will buy the old issues to complete the set.

With Star Wars the action figure/lego releases are still around but don't have a direct tie-in to the original vintage toy line, other than being the same characters/films. It's the films themselves which are the definitive media. I don't doubt there'll be some of today's children who'll collect vintage in the future, but it'll be fewer collectors than there are today which will inevitably have an impact on value.

The rapid rise in prices as a result of the Pandemic is still a mystery to me.

It's a mixture of things. People with extra money to spend because they're not spending what they usually do (not travelling to work, eating out, drinking, shopping, etc...); people who are furloughed/bored/stressed/depressed and need an escape from their lives; people who have come to vintage recently and are prepared to pay OTT prices without doing research. I also suspect the lack of opportunities for person-to-person contact means that not as much stuff as usual is coming to the market for the first time; people selling at car boot sales, etc...

 

[Admiral Snackbar]

This sums it up for me. I've had a desire to go back to happier times this last year as we all have. So I Have bought some of the old things that remind me of that. Star Wars was such a huge part of my childhood that yes I suppose it's been like a bit of a regress. I've found it satisfying and enjoyable.

 

[Clarkspie&chips]

I had an interesting conversation with a neighbour at the weekend, he restores classic cars and noted the prices have shot up over the pandemic.
My wife is interested in vintage designer handbags (yes, it's a thing!) and she said the prices have also gone up so we're not alone in lamenting the state of our hobby.

 

[revilluk]

I had an interesting conversation with a neighbour at the weekend, he restores classic cars and noted the prices have shot up over the pandemic.
My wife is interested in vintage designer handbags (yes, it's a thing!) and she said the prices have also gone up so we're not alone in lamenting the state of our hobby.

Interesting to hear we are not alone!

 

[Wreck-It Ralph]

I had an interesting conversation with a neighbour at the weekend, he restores classic cars and noted the prices have shot up over the pandemic.
My wife is interested in vintage designer handbags (yes, it's a thing!) and she said the prices have also gone up so we're not alone in lamenting the state of our hobby.

It seems like people are focusing their money on what makes them happy Bigger House, Classic Car, Action Figure, Comic which makes sense given the depressing reality of all the restrictions, I added a new figure to my display and it gave me a real boost!

 

[Admiral Snackbar]

Picked up a lumat, but it came with a warok quiver.

Does anyone have a lumat quiver they want to swap for a warok one??

Thanks

 

[DarthHamblin]

I'm just finishing my loose figure run, only 3 to get now leia hoth, b wing pilot and the elusive r2d2 pop up, and then I will display them in a cabinet above my bed. Saying that I quite like ledy variants

 

[theforceuk]

Everyone seems tp be after a pop up R2, starting to understand why they go for just south of £500!

 

[DarthHamblin]

Everyone seems tp be after a pop up R2, starting to understand why they go for just south of £500!

Just bought one today, really nice one aswell just awaiting delivery. 2 to go now and a few blasters

 

[theforceuk]

Everyone seems tp be after a pop up R2, starting to understand why they go for just south of £500!

Just bought one today, really nice one aswell just awaiting delivery. 2 to go now and a few blasters

Very nice, well done and congrats. Hope you got it for a good price.

 

[DarthHamblin]

Yeah I saw a member on echo base live, opened a shop
So gave him a call on the off chance and yeah he had one
For a reasonable price not eBay prices. His shop also looks really good in the pics lots of interesting bits.

 

[Gogsfett]

My attitude is still the same, will buy when I see something worthwhile and not burst the bank.
I have most of the loose run, bar some last 17 which are just out my depth, a dozen or so MOC and a decent amount of vehicles, although need completed.
I won't pay over the odds, will wait until another comes along, but the prices of bang average figures have went mad.
Dont think I will ever sell them unless i really had to. Will pass down to kids eventually and they can keep or sell off.
Have a decent amount of Saga, TPM, Mcquarrie, ROTS, AOTK modern figures., which steadily selling some off, but worth buttons and would be as well keeping them ( selling really just for room) as sitting in my shed.
Still love collecting though, part of my childhood and always will be, and still love the buzz of getting something new.

Gordon

 

[DarthHamblin]

My attitude is still the same, will buy when I see something worthwhile and not burst the bank.
I have most of the loose run, bar some last 17 which are just out my depth, a dozen or so MOC and a decent amount of vehicles, although need completed.
I won't pay over the odds, will wait until another comes along, but the prices of bang average figures have went mad.
Dont think I will ever sell them unless i really had to. Will pass down to kids eventually and they can keep or sell off.
Have a decent amount of Saga, TPM, Mcquarrie, ROTS, AOTK modern figures., which steadily selling some off, but worth buttons and would be as well keeping them ( selling really just for room) as sitting in my shed.
Still love collecting though, part of my childhood and always will be, and still love the buzz of getting something new.

Gordon

That's a good way of doing it, when something reasonably priced comes up go for it. Unfortunately it doesn't happen very often especially last 17 but you could always get beaters or budgets to finish them off.

 

[JimboUK1979]

I have taken a look at my collection over lockdown and have decided to sell anything that I don't 'love'. I'm hoping this will give me more space to better display the bits I really like. I've written a list of things I'd like to have and am trying to be strict on only looking for these. I've become alot more interested in the history of the toys and the companies that made them - luckily there are a number of great books out on this.