Losing ones MoJo

Michael Sith said:
x-pack said:
I like my own collection a lot. It means the world to me but it's changed very little since 2002 when I had that big damned sell off :roll: The price rises over the last 5 or so years are slightly depressing because the hobby has gotten away from where a lot of us started. The collecting aspect isn't fun anymore. It's just money, money, money :x

There have been a few similar threads lately about established collectors losing interest. 20 years ago no-one would have said that because going out there hunting around in shops or second hand sales was so exciting. That's all gone now and forums like this are the last bastion of enthusiasm for this hobby. We should endeavor to stick together and keep it up :) Collecting is still cool but in a different way maybe.

:wink: in a nutshell Barry, very well put

The main ethos of this forum, for me, is that it doesn't matter if you have a few old beaters, or an outstanding collection, it's the fact that you love collecting for what it is, yes change is inevitable in all walks of life, but if the love of SW is at the core of why you collect then things may change on the price front in time, and settle.


it should have read 'the last bastion for actual fun in collecting'. That's the most important thing surely. Maybe it's because people are paying high prices now and that's precisely why the hobby is becoming less enjoyable. Personally I don't even enjoy reading that someone else paid thousands for some carded figure. Fair play to those with enough cash to do it guilt free.
 
That's all gone now and forums like this are the last bastion of enthusiasm for this hobby. We should endeavor to stick together and keep it up :) Collecting is still cool but in a different way maybe.[/quote]

Well said. :D
 
Not having a really well payed job, I am deffo limited on what my budget will allow and after being out of collecting for a year, it is very disheartening to see even things that arent particularly rare go for often silly prices.
My goal at the moment is relatively simple though. I just want a loose complete minty/c9 run and this forum has gotten me closer to that than I would have otherwise. And even though some things I want still arent cheap, I feel sorry for you guys who collect other stuff with the prices of boxed stuff and MOCs.

Do you reckon if the new movie is a loada **** then prices will drop again?
 
No. Only a natural disaster or a total collapse in society could stop prices rising. Seriously though there may come a point once all the OT fans are dead and gone that the younger generations will have no link with these huge collections in their parents\grandparents attics. Either that or a lot of stuff will just rot away to horrible crap.

Its only those sort of scenarios in which I genuinely see interest fading.
 
Here's an example of the madness that is currently sweeping the hobby:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Star-Wars-ISP-6-Imperial-Shuttle-Pod-mini-Rig-Vehicle-amp-Original-Box-/131537286199?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=mtd8yvubWjo1m%252Bvv3SBgOfwAGqE%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

A common rig with a knackered/ripped up box makes nearly £30. Am I alone in thinking this is not worth more than a tenner max?
 
New movies have effect on prices? No.
I think the new movies won't have a huge effect on the vintage collecting (other than to the main neo merchandising sales, these will rise and rise). Coincidentially, the new movies are coming out these years. Coincidentally? Yes, I personally think it's the timing.
I think the main factor are men that had the toys as a kid and now are around 40-45, they have children (to remind them of their own childhood) and they have often a well paid job and money to spend. These are floating into the hobby making it harder for the longtime collectors. They have a daily 9-5 (or more) job to do and because the good money they're earning is available, they are not as patient or willing / able to spend time the hobby is demanding - they just spend more money on the items that are easily available and that saves them time. Real collectors (enjoying the hunt as a hobby) spent years to make a complete 12back run that satisfied their self chosen needs. They have memories to, well at least most of their items, a story, a friendship, a good deal etc.

Those midfourties nowadays are connected via facebook, they complete their run in half a year with silly money being spend. My assumption is not all will be keeping their quickly set up collections very long, because it's like going to a holiday by plane that you could also have gone to by car: It doesn't feel like you're far away from home because the trip took you one hour instead of seven. Finishing a run won't make these new collectors stay satisfied for long or else, having their items for a while, they look at them and they rather see the money spent in those items and not the items themselves.

Losing the MoJo?
To me the rising prices had a very good effect on my collecting and I tell you why. As a variant collector, I had (and still have) far too many figures (some like Chewie only with minimal differences) filling up the shelves. I came up to a point where I couldn't enjoy a single one (apart from those wow figures that stand out, like say the dark golden C-3PO). So I decided, as I did few years ago, to downsize. Figures sold quite well at the moment and I collected money to buy things I still needed to complete my focus. I have a boxed SW focus and the only two items that were missing were the Sonic Sandcrawler and the Sonic Landspeeder. I found a very generous forum member to sell me his Sandcrawler for a fair price and now there's only the Landspeeder to go for. But I won't throw 500 Quids at a minty one that jumps my way. I'll wait for a nice one, a good deal and will be satisfied with it.

Yes, as a loose Luke Farmboy focus collector, it's discouraging to see an orange hair luke going for 800 Quids. I always knew there would be things I would never get my hands on (due to my own personal and financial limits), but this one plus a poch and a DT are the only three figures I have to go for. I am pretty sure I won't ever get these. But losing the MoJo? Mmmmhh... No.

Yes, seeing people making a business by buying and flipping within days making money? Yes, thats discouraging as well, but I guess that there were always such individuals in the vintage collecting. Yes, it feels like the amount of this sort of sellers grow, more and more see a business in this and that's going hand in hand with rising prices. But losing the MoJo? Mmmmhh... No.

Yes, a collection's aim is often to get it complete at some time (a complete loose run is almost every collector's goal at first). And completing a collection is harder these days, the usual effect we all faced at that point of completing: "It's getting harder in the end!" (We all waited with buying the high priced Last 17 and started with cheap figures) is much heavier than few years ago. But losing the MoJo? Mmmmhh... No.

The MoJo to me is, as I stated elsewhere on this forum, to enjoy the figures, looking at them, touching them, arranging them, enjoying the alltogether vintage style of toys of my childhood, impersonating my favourite movie heroes and villains.
If you think about the high prices only, you're not thinking about the love for the hobby. There are still bargains and good deals possible and ...
If you don't have the patience to wait for a good deal to get closer to completing your focus, you're not thinking about the love for the hobby.

If it's about the discouraging moments of high prices, others completing within weeks you're struggling for years, then relax and take a break.
It's ONLY about the toys and the feelings they give you when you look at them.
If you don't sense that anymore, leave the hobby.


Consider these days as the dark times for truly devoted collectors and there will be a new hope.
 
The flip side of course is that the long time collector has usually had the time and opportunity to put an often stunning collection together, cheaper, with less competition and greater availability of near unique items for a fraction of the cost a 'new' collector is looking at spending on 'common' production stuff.

Enjoy that you didn't have to spend £1500 on each of your 12 backs, or £1000 on that trilogo you quite like the look of. Revel in the fact that you bought proofs when they were £200 maximum, or you could just pick an item off Tom's list at your leisure. These days its a ****ing bear pit; if you were lucky enough to be involved before this, look on it as a positive!

That's as positive as I'm going to get on the subject - normal level of despondency will resume shortly.
 
slim said:
i feel the same frank mate :( , i lost my mojo for the squidhead focus awhile back because of the crazy prices starwars seems to achieve these days and got into collecting action force second series , doing that helped me destress about the worry of spending hundreds of pounds running into a few thousand pounds for the rarer stuff for the focus ! so apart from planning to add a couple of cheaper bits to the focus my attempt at a focus is done

I had / have to learn to be thankful for what i have in my collection as you cant own everything as Joe said , but it tells me something that when i can buy 28 mocs , 15 boxed vehicles , a cracking shop display , 7 shipping cartons from the actionforce second series range for the price of an afa graded squidhead miscard this starwars collecting is not fun anymore thats for sure :(

Will the prices come down ??? NO chance ESP as when the new movies come out even more people will start collecting , i dont know where it will end guys , most of us on here are around the same age as we grew up with starwars and now have / children / mortgage etc etc and those things are far more important , maybe these new collectors dont have these commitments then add into the mix these auction house sales and all the fees that go with it ....its time for a break away from collecting for me , i am not selling up " no chance "

i am going on a nice holiday with my family soon and will look at the hobby when we return

rant over

Lionel, you appear to be in the same position as me. I think my feeling coincides with there having been a dearth of exciting for sale threads on here, no disrespect to anyone who has been posting, some have had some wonderful stuff as usual and we have no right to expect sales threads I know.
Although saying that today has seen a few smashing items come up! :lol:
I'm perhaps at a point now where my wtb list is more ambitious and the inflated prices have meant I'm not in a position to buy them when they do come up.
Having been in a position where parcels were coming with some regularity its more likely that I'm having to come to terms with the fact that as my collection has grown, naturally there will be less to pick up. My collection is solely the vintage toy line, no interest in modern, odd ball, autographs or anything else.
I've decided to take a break from the monthly picking up of as much as possible and concentrate on upgrading the items I do have, converting the loft to have a proper display room and enjoying the other threads on this forum from all the great people that make it what it is.
 
Nicely Put Max, every time I think about how insane the prices have become I remind myself how fortunate I am to have the collection I do at the prices I managed to get them. I think the hard part is just how quickly things have changes in regards to value and attitudes. The core group of members on here especially are still true to the hobby/collector way of thinking and not in it to make a buck.

Even the blokes on here that are regular sellers have outstanding collections and are collectors themselves. I've pulled back from Facebook especially the SW groups as it's just not the same as on here. I keep coming back here for the same reason I joined in the first place to talk to other people with the same interest and the best part is you get to meet so cool dudes along the way. It's a testament to the atmosphere on here that even those who no longer collect still hand around just to talk **** ( Weas ) and what a boring place it would be if they didn't.
 
I'm just annoyed that I sold my prototype/proof items in 2010 - a near full run of 12bk proofs would have been worth rather good money these days, I expect. I've got a decent collecting budget but doubt I could get anywhere near a lot of these now.

Some stuff hasn't gone crazy though - look at the Sonic Landspeeder quoted in a post above. I remember those in the late 1990s and they were £2-300 then, so £500 now is a pretty poor investment, all things considered!

I think boxed vehicles will remain cheap(ish) - only this week I saw a Special Offer Landspeeder sell for £200 and a special Offer X-Wing sell for £300 - both were near grail items back in the day, now because they are used, not sealed and not dead mint they went for sensible money (global shipping program, and vectis this week stopped me bidding any higher on the X-Wing).

There are still cool things to be had, for semi sensible money... just stay away from the Emperors new clothes (AFA85 12bks, EPs [WTF even are these - they'd have been junked when I was actively buying protos] and other common 'rarities')
 
I don't think you're alone at all in this thinking Frank as this thread has proved. I've felt this way too over the last year, but my disposable income also decreased with a baby and house. At least we've all been at this long enough that we've taken the time to accumulate great collections that make today's prices seem so insane. Joe made some great points about appreciating what we do own and I've been feeling that way as of late. Especially when I see something I already own in just as good if not better condition sell for 2-3 times what I paid for it. I'm still collecting, but the number of purchases have certainly shrunk and right now my main priority is getting the collection room done, so I try to find the fun in that these days.

As for the bubble bursting, I still kind of have a feeling that will happen or at least a course correction. It seems like most of the guys paying these prices are still typical middle class guys that really shouldn't be spending several thousand dollars on toys every week. I recently saw some discussion on this on FB, about some of them mentioning they are continually transferring credit card balances to try and avoid interest on their recent purchases. It's going to take possibly years for these guys to pay that off and they're also still buying. It's going to catch up with them eventually. I've certainly bought stuff on credit, but when I've done it I've made sure it is something I could pay off in a few months and that usually meant no buying until I had done so. It just seems like this current market is all about keeping up or one upping each other.
 
Jesus! That's insane. I feel happier now knowing the larger part of my stuff was bought for peanuts compared to todays prices :)

Buying non essentials on credit always seems bonkers to me.
 
shawn_k said:
It seems like most of the guys paying these prices are still typical middle class guys that really shouldn't be spending several thousand dollars on toys every week. I recently saw some discussion on this on FB, about some of them mentioning they are continually transferring credit card balances to try and avoid interest on their recent purchases. It's going to take possibly years for these guys to pay that off and they're also still buying. It's going to catch up with them eventually. I've certainly bought stuff on credit, but when I've done it I've made sure it is something I could pay off in a few months and that usually meant no buying until I had done so. It just seems like this current market is all about keeping up or one upping each other.

I couldn't agree more. While I hate to be judgemental, it does seem like 'normal' people (the beauty of facebook) are spending thousands and thousands on figures very regularly - I suspect one or two might get a sudden realisation and shock when the bills start to come in and the shine has worn off the new acquisition.

Just so I don't appear like a total snob saying that - I'm 'normal' and I bought the last couple of proofs I needed for my run on credit cards. I could service the debt but seeing £7-8k ish on credit cards really ruined it for me - a combination of the debt and also taking the easy option. It was certainly a big deciding factor when I chose to sell. I'm much more measured these days and have a monthly SW budget so its all paid for - the problem is, that approach doesn't cut it when you're competing with people who aren't as diligent with their finances.
 
Hear, Hear! Joe -(page one)

I'm glad so many are keeping their spirit up, but also a bit trouble to hear about people taking up credit card debt to fund their addiction. There is quite the social pressure on FB to show off, take part in COTW, and having the nicest items. Showing of items used to be something one did once or twice a year on a limelight, now it is every week. And I have to admit to be part of the trend. Better start working on my home display instead. ;-)
 
Sorry to hear this Franky, I'm sure many people have gone through this. I hope it doesn't last too long though and dont do anything too rash :wink:
 
Some good points about credit card debt. Some folk seem to be buying a proof a week at the moment which you've got to be well paid to manage.

There have been many a collector over the years that amasses a focus run or similar almost overnight and then is sold up a year later. Scary stuff

Saying that I've massively overspent this month - time to sell some things to pay off my barclaycard :lol:
 
I think Ove is right, on FB there appears to be 'social media pressure' to have something to show every week. In my opinion if you can't buy something outright then you shouldn't buy it financed on credit cards etc.

I have kept my focus or collection very narrow, probably a good thing. Any items I need are nigh impossible to find or no one is selling (whatever the price). The last MOC I got was 2 months ago and nothing in the horizon. This may not be a bad thing as one thing that keeps my interest in collecting is the hunt and the maybe items will eventually become available. Its also true that we should enjoy the items in our collection already rather than having to buy something new every week. Just my 2 cents!!
 
Well I'm well and truly drunk which has give. Me a lovely moment of clarity, Star Wars and this forum is a lovely place to be, proper nice people. Proper sense of community, just spent last 10 minutes just staring at my collection. Lots of happy memories and lots to do with this forum, was down myself few weeks back, just take foot of gas and enjoy what I've got, spent today moving a few things round, sending a fe we pms and just generally enjoying StarvWRs. Huge part of my life, and you guys are part of it, lets make sure we look out for each other.
 
wrighty said:
I think Ove is right, on FB there appears to be 'social media pressure' to have something to show every week. In my opinion if you can't buy something outright then you shouldn't buy it financed on credit cards etc.

I haven't been on facebook for long but the recurring post of "Good mail day" accompanied by a pic showing often around a dozen high end pieces does make me scratch my head...
 
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