Vintage SW as your kids' inheritance

[peekaygee73]

Something I keep seeing on facebook is people ploughing serious money into their SW collection, with the justification to themselves and their wives being their collection is a future investment they'll pass on to their kids.

Personally I can't see it. I've seen the value of other collections rise and fall over the past 30 years, as the people collecting them pass from middle age to retirement and old age. An example is Doctor Who, where modern and more recent memorabilia still attracts a high price (because of younger collectors predominantly interested in the new series) but the older stuff from the 60s has dropped in value. I believe (unless anyone knows differently) that similar things have happened with toy cars such as Dinky.

Whilst I can see that Star Wars has a huge fanbase there's a load of vintage SW out there. Star Wars figures were the first toys to be mass produced and mass marketed worldwide. I'm also not convinced that the vast majority of younger collectors would have any interest in vintage SW; certainly not to maintain the prices seen today... and that's before inflation is taken into account.

What's the opinion of other people on this?

 

[StarWarsFan]

Use as an excuse I know I do to the wife lol.

 

[peekaygee73]

Use as an excuse I know I do to the wife lol.

Problem with that is:

1. I don't have kids;
2. My wife's really good about my collecting anyway;
3. I don't have kids.

Now I realise I said the third one twice, but it seemed important enough to justify it

I'm just interested in what people think about this, as it seems a pretty dodgy long-term investment to me.

 

[StarWarsFan]

lol I don't have kid either hopefully one day. Agree with what your saying. Just something to say when they ask why are you buying that for? Investments for the future think half the time you just buy it cause you want it, I know I do.

 

[Cazza]

Mine are going to my boys, with a couple of pieces to nephews and nieces. My boys totally get the whole vintage thing. They love looking through the collection and are really careful with everything. Their knowledge is pretty decent too! Reckon they'll always be worth a decent amount, even with fluctuations .

For me, the inheritance is less about the money compared to the nostalgia and memories. My childhood figures will never be sold. The other stuff can go if needs must.

 

[wrighty]

I don't see it as an inheritance but more like something I will pass on to someone that will appreciate it as much as possible. I don't want it to be something they will have to reply on to generate cash! Just my 2 pence!!

 

[maxf]

It's probably better than spending the money on boozy nights and cars in fairness.

I have seen a few people mention they have borrowed from their pensions though, which to me is a bit more serious. Not something I'd even consider for a milisecond personally.

 

[peekaygee73]

I have seen a few people mention they have borrowed from their pensions though, which to me is a bit more serious. Not something I'd even consider for a milisecond personally.

I don't see a problem with spending disposable income on collecting but that's not really my point, and if you're leaving your collection to your kids as a memento thats fine. I just think expecting it to be worth more than it is now... I just can't see it. And borrowing from your pension? :shock:

 

[bosk70]

As said before as people get older and are no longer the kids from the 70s early 80's who may pay that bit more for memories and nostalgia to recapture a bit of their youth, the items become more of a standard commodity, (as early 20 century toys are), to be traded, so in the future they will have more of a fixed basic price, which still may be a good price, but without the mad fluctuations you see now, for what is, at the end of the day degrading plastic, but plastic we love and cherish

 

[Lom]

Given that plastics and card can degrade over time especially under certain conditions, and that we don't really know exactly what will happen to our mocs and toys in 10, 20, 30 years from now, tying up your child's future inheritance in vintage Star Wars is definitely not a good idea.

Also the fact that a £300 moc can quickly become a £30 loose figure and cardback in a moment of clumsiness, means I take care of my family's future in a risk free way and spend disposable income only on toys.

 

[bosk70]

totally agree lom it is a bit like spinning the roulette wheel

 

[x-pack]

There's a smallish generational window that would be interested in these things. If you look at other collectables like toy robots, for example, or Action Man, sooner or later new generations of collectors will no longer be interested and the value will drop off.

Of course Star Wars is far more widespread than any other collectable, I think that's safe to say. But I believe it's a matter of time.

 

[scooternick]

I don't buy the idea it's a good long term financial investment for kids, unless you are 50+ and you want to give your kids an early inheritance within the next 5-10 years to help them onto the property ladder, for example.

 

[Darth Bobby]

Given that plastics and card can degrade over time especially under certain conditions, and that we don't really know exactly what will happen to our mocs and toys in 10, 20, 30 years from now, tying up your child's future inheritance in vintage Star Wars is definitely not a good idea.

Also the fact that a £300 moc can quickly become a £30 loose figure and cardback in a moment of clumsiness, means I take care of my family's future in a risk free way and spend disposable income only on toys.

Very risky investment if you ask me. When I dug out my childhood figures many were seriously frosted. Sometimes we forget how fragile these things are. In a few years who knows what state things will be in. Maybe put your money into bricks and mortar, gold or silver, not cardboard and plastic.