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It’s entirely possible that this particular equine corpse has been beaten so
many times that you could read newsprint through it, but I have to get this out.
If it’s already been discussed ad nauseum, please just move on.
After browsing Bricklink this weekend looking for a few things, I’ve had to
continually pick my jaw up off the floor in awestruck horror at the prices that
Star Wars Lego sets and mini-figs are commanding. Apparently, my Greedo
mini-fig is worth at least thirty dollars! Holy galactic ripoff, Batman! I
should seal him in carbonite for another decade and retire in glory!! Or better
yet, any Star Wars collectors interested in trading him for a bottle of Buffalo
Trace?! This is just ridiculous! One store is asking almost a hundred bucks
for this one little chunk of plastic!! I sincerely doubt that this offer will
be met, but the fact that this price is even considered viable is absolutely
astonishing!
More to the point: a few months ago I’d created a few custom insect-like
mini-figs using Geonosian wings. I loved the look and wanted expand the number
of mini-figs so that I could create an entire theme. No such luck, as the
lowest price on Bricklink (just for the wings alone!!) is twelve dollars, with
the highest being forty! JUST FOR THE WINGS?!
Anyways, my issue is this: FAR too many “collectors”, who are probably not even
Lego hobbyists, are warehousing multiple copies of Star Wars sets so that a few
years from now they’ll be able sell them to some other equally obsessed fan
looking to increase their collection. I’ve no doubt that many of them have been
smugly congratulating themselves at their foresight. I would pull several
muscles in my already atrophied brain trying to come up with a less viable way
to make money. Don’t you realize yet that EVERYBODY ELSE IS DOING THE EXACT
SAME THING?! The reason that original Star Wars toys are worth so much money
is that they were actually taken out of the box and played with, not cached in
a closet or hidden in a garage like some depression-era granny stuffing her
mattress with dollar bills.
If you want to invest in the future, young padawan, learn to buy stocks on Wall
Street. In the meantime, please stop killing the aftermarket in parts that the
non-lobster-bib-wearing Lego fan would like to use in their MOC’s.
Here’s my main example; # 10123 Cloud City. I remember it being an exclusive of
some kind and not even found on most store shelves. Of course, the Lando ‘fig
made it extra hot so it got gobbled up like the first round of crack vials on a
street corner. Unfortunately, this is the only set so far where one can find
the three-stemmed flower base in brown. What a perfect part for landscaping!
Imagine being able to denote areas of a field where the grass is not growing
well because the water table is too low (or a cow took a mean whiz!) by having
clumps of brown grass mixed in with the green!
However, if you want to do something like this in your next diorama, you better
be shagging an oil baron because you’ll be shelling out at least $300 for a
complete set. That’s three times the original MSRP (for only three of the
parts I’m talking about)! Here’s a quote from an Amazon review that perfectly
summarizes the insanity around this license:
“So if you don’t have the funds to get this set, make sure it’s at the top of
your Christmas or birthday wish list. Because, really, you shouldn’t live
another day as a Star Wars Lego fan without the Cloud City set in your
possession. Let the force be with you.”
May the Force lead to you to realize that all this hoarding leads nowhere.
It’s a dead end and the Dark Side of collector commerce will seduce you with its
empty promises of future financial dominance! Do you really want to start
hating your fellow fans because they cannot or will not squeeze out the
exorbitant “collector” prices that you’re expecting? Do you really want to turn
a hobby that can continually inspire your creativity and your enjoyment of life
into a cutthroat business of buy low, sell high?
If you’re only thinking about the money, you’re in the wrong line.
Dave S.
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That’s quite a rant. I am, however of a different opinion than you. I’m
perfectly happy to prey on crazy Star Wars fanboys who pay a premium for the
figs if it means I can buy a Star Wars set, use all the elements in it, and sell
the figs on Bricklink to break even. I frankly don’t care that much about the
Star Wars figs, and I’m more than happy to sell them to someone who does.
Besides, price is all about supply and demand. If demand is high for Ep. 2
Clone Troopers, who am I to dissuade the buyer?
Adrian
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I have to agree with Adrian on this one. If you’d wanted those parts, you could
have bought up on the set, and then sold off the parts you didn’t want.
I think the parts are expensive because they only appeared once, there were only
3 of them in a 698-piece set, that set was a S@H exclusive from 5 years ago, and
because they are really useful.
I haven’t analyzed the Cloud City parts inventory, but I’d be surprised if the
parts-prices aren’t directly tied to how common the parts are.
OTOH, I certainly understand the frustration of wanting a specific part, knowing
it’s available, but not being able to justify the purchase price. In some ways,
that’s more frustrating than wanting parts that LEGO never made...
Steve
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Hey Steve,
You are correct in that my main frustration is not knowing at the time that the
parts would be useful and then finding out later that they cost far more than
what I would deem they’re worth because of something that really has no bearing
on my specific desire for them.
I’ve always known that some collectors are crazy, it’s just when the crazy gets
in the way of good ideas that I get irked!
Dave S.
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In lugnet.starwars, David Simmons wrote:
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Hey Steve,
You are correct in that my main frustration is not knowing at the time that
the parts would be useful and then finding out later that they cost far more
than what I would deem they’re worth because of something that really has no
bearing on my specific desire for them.
I’ve always known that some collectors are crazy, it’s just when the crazy
gets in the way of good ideas that I get irked!
Dave S.
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It seems like you are irked at others good fortune and smart buying. I mostly
disagree with what you have said. Buying Legos and putting them away for the
future does not preclude buying stocks and investing in your 401K. It is not an
either or proposition like you are trying to make it. I have always bought at
least 3 of all the Star Wars sets, sometimes more. One to build, one to keep
sealed and one to put into my parts collection. Will I sell them someday - of
course and I will make more profit from that than my stocks and 401K unless the
bottom falls out of Lego collectors sets. Besides the reason to have these is
to build a collection. If there is money to be had, why not? Because these
figures and sets increase in value - the more reason to buy them and keep them
for the future. How I wished I was a serious Lego collection in the late 60s and
early 70s when I was stationed in Germany. What a collection I would have not
for very little expense. I wonder if you feel the same about the price of gold,
stamps or even comic books. I sold my comic book collection when I was 16 and
for $150.00. It was Marvel complete up to that time and a lot of old Superman
and Batman. Today that collection is worth over $1,000,000.00. But I was 16.
Gold I bought in the way of coins in the 70s and 80s. Worth a lot more now. Is
that also bad to save those? I really think that your are being somewhat
parochial in your opinion of the prices for Lego Star Wars. The collectors that
have these - more power to them. The ones that don’t, too bad - but you can buy
them if the price is what you are willing to pay. What you call hording, most
of us would call collecting. If the price goes up, great, if not, too bad.
John P
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Hey John,
I get what you’re saying. Personally, I just don’t see the point in buying a
toy that you’re never going to play with. I bought comics solely on spec in the
late 80’s for awhile, but I soon felt like I was wasting my money because I
wasn’t even reading them. Instead of anticipating a good story with interesting
characters, I was thinking about how much it would be worth. Not the most
rewarding approach for literature, even comic books.
I have bought a total of two Lego sets and resold them for a profit, and in each
case it was because the sets were already sought after because they were out of
production for more than a decade. The difference is that I didn’t create the
rarity by trying to corner the market. With the Star Wars sets, I think that a
lot of collectors have selfishly put themselves in the position of demanding a
certain price because such large quantities of sets are concentrated in a much
smaller group of people than probably any other Lego theme. I feel that
manufacturing rarity by monopolizing the product, especially when it comes to
Lego bricks, undermines the point of the product, which to build and have fun!
I just don’t have the collector mindset anymore, and it bothers me to see such a
speculative approach applied to something that I feel is supposed to be about
creativity, community and enjoyment, not personal profit.
Dave S.
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In lugnet.starwars, David Simmons wrote:
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Hey John,
I get what you’re saying. Personally, I just don’t see the point in buying a
toy that you’re never going to play with. I bought comics solely on spec in
the late 80’s for awhile, but I soon felt like I was wasting my money because
I wasn’t even reading them. Instead of anticipating a good story with
interesting characters, I was thinking about how much it would be worth. Not
the most rewarding approach for literature, even comic books.
I have bought a total of two Lego sets and resold them for a profit, and in
each case it was because the sets were already sought after because they were
out of production for more than a decade. The difference is that I didn’t
create the rarity by trying to corner the market. With the Star Wars sets, I
think that a lot of collectors have selfishly put themselves in the position
of demanding a certain price because such large quantities of sets are
concentrated in a much smaller group of people than probably any other Lego
theme. I feel that manufacturing rarity by monopolizing the product,
especially when it comes to Lego bricks, undermines the point of the product,
which to build and have fun!
I just don’t have the collector mindset anymore, and it bothers me to see
such a speculative approach applied to something that I feel is supposed to
be about creativity, community and enjoyment, not personal profit.
Dave S.
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HI
I see what you mean. I never started collecting Legos to sell, I am an OCD
horder by nature and there is just so much you can get with Legos. I really do
not think that someone can corner the market on any Lego set as they make so
many of them. The fewest number I know of is 10,000. The first Santa Fe train
with the special lmt edition numbered tile. If I remember correctly, Lego
auctioned the number one off on ebay and got close to 1000 for it. Not bad,
they also did the next 9 and they brought in 400-500 dollars each. The purpose
of anything that people collect is not what they were intended for. Coins are
currency and stamps to mail letters. The collectables that are worth little are
the ones issued to be collectables, Danbury mint and other companies like that.
I just like to see shelves full of Legos, drawers full of parts. And the great
thing is, when my grandaughter comes, she picks out a nice big lego and we build
it. Screws up the price, but you can’t put a price on the time spent building
it with her. and she has to put all the stickers on when we do this, I just
cringe. The last thing we built was the millianium falcon. Can’t beat those
memories. I might also mention that half the joy of having a collection is
trying to get what you want to put into it. It seems less important once you
get it, the anticipation is greater than the gain usually. Back to the
subject. I don’t think that anyone can corner any Lego. And if one person has
a bunch or a few people have a bunch then when it is acquired the buyer has that
joyous feeling (and then on to something else.) A side point, I have bought 10
of the Lego McDonalds glued together promo. I figured that there is a very
limited number. I still see them go for 50-100 on ebay. Not too much of a
price and I have 10 of the dumb things. John P
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In lugnet.starwars, John Patterson wrote:
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I really
do not think that someone can corner the market on any Lego set as they make
so many of them.
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They can, however, deplete an area, making it difficult for regular customers,
especially in rural areas.
It’s incredibly disappointing to find out that a set has been released, then
drive two hours to the “local” Toys R Us, only to find that someone has
purchased the entire stock. What hurts more is to see the look on a kids face
next to you when he sees the empty shelf as well. Then, to see photos of stacks
of that same set, packed away in someone’s garage, just creates frustration for
me.
Like David, though, I’m more of a builder than a collector, so I don’t fully
understand the mindset. I can understand buying two sets, one for building and
one for collecting, but warehousing stacks of unopened sets is a bit beyond my
understanding. Like you mentioned though, it makes them happy, so I don’t
question it much.
As for me driving two hours to find empty shelves? Yeah, I could order from
Shop At Home, but where’s the fun in that? :-)
-Elroy (who has specifically collected all of the Batman sets, just to rip them
open for the minifigs, who are displayed, unplayed with, on a shelf, so I
guess I understand it a little bit)
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In lugnet.starwars, Elroy Davis wrote:
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In lugnet.starwars, John Patterson wrote:
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I really
do not think that someone can corner the market on any Lego set as they make
so many of them.
|
They can, however, deplete an area, making it difficult for regular
customers, especially in rural areas.
It’s incredibly disappointing to find out that a set has been released, then
drive two hours to the “local” Toys R Us, only to find that someone has
purchased the entire stock. What hurts more is to see the look on a kids
face next to you when he sees the empty shelf as well. Then, to see photos
of stacks of that same set, packed away in someone’s garage, just creates
frustration for me.
Like David, though, I’m more of a builder than a collector, so I don’t fully
understand the mindset. I can understand buying two sets, one for building
and one for collecting, but warehousing stacks of unopened sets is a bit
beyond my understanding. Like you mentioned though, it makes them happy, so
I don’t question it much.
As for me driving two hours to find empty shelves? Yeah, I could order from
Shop At Home, but where’s the fun in that? :-)
-Elroy (who has specifically collected all of the Batman sets, just to rip
them open for the minifigs, who are displayed, unplayed with, on a
shelf, so I guess I understand it a little bit)
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Elroy, I would call the store before I go. I have given up trying to get
anything from TRS as they are usually way behind shop at home. Also not all of
Lego sets are released to the stores. I was really lucky in that I lived 10
minutes from the Glendale Lego store and the manager would save anything I
wanted when it came in - just incase I could not get right there. Check this
out, even I really do not understand.
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=332688 John P
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In lugnet.starwars, David Simmons wrote:
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I have bought a total of two Lego sets and resold them for a profit, and in
each case it was because the sets were already sought after because they were
out of production for more than a decade. The difference is that I didn’t
create the rarity by trying to corner the market. With the Star Wars sets, I
think that a lot of collectors have selfishly put themselves in the position
of demanding a certain price because such large quantities of sets are
concentrated in a much smaller group of people than probably any other Lego
theme. I feel that manufacturing rarity by monopolizing the product,
especially when it comes to Lego bricks, undermines the point of the product,
which to build and have fun!
|
One thing that should be noted here is that any set that is rare enough that
people could, in theory, monopolize the available stock, generally tends to be
released as a S@H exclusive with a limit of five copies per customer. Even
store exclusives are readily available through S@H, so anyone who really wants
one should have no problem securing a copy. Blame Star Wars all you want, but
keep in mind that the more we buy, they more they make. It’s not the initial
collectors who make these parts and minifigs so expensive, but the aftermarket
buyers. When so many people want to buy rare minifigs that only came in
expensive sets, they are going to skyrocket in price. There’s just not that
much demand for the rarest Rock Raiders minifig these days, but even some very
common Star Wars minifigs sell for a fair chunk of change because so many
people want them, and not enough people are selling them to meet the demand.
The problem is not that too many people are hoarding them to sell. It’s that
not enough people are.
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Wow,
That’s quite a rant. As a MOC’er, and not a collector, I will say that I
agree with you that it is terribly frustrating to find that some pieces are so
incredibly expensive or rare, whether due to Star Wars associations or rarity of
piece. It really is pretty rediculous.
An example: When I was at Brickworld it seemed crazy to see dealers selling
minifigs from current edition sets. I stopped and did some quick figures and
found several examples of situations where you could buy the whole set a few
miles away at a LEGO store for what these dealers were charging for just the
figures from the set!
As for set collectors, maybe those who are “hoarding” sets will make a fortune,
maybe not. Obviously those who are selling relatively soon after the sets become
unavialable are making a profit, so there is some history to justify this kind
of investment.
Regardless, I think the answer to your dillema is to accept that the adult LEGO
hobby has become a fairly established, expensive mostly upper-income hobby, and
like nearly all such hobbies, it attracts more than it’s share of collectors and
dealers.
As an asside, I think Bricklink and Ebay have made acquiring most LEGO parts so
easy, that it’s easy to feel a sense of undeserved entitlement that makes folks
believe that they should have easy, relatively affordable access to all parts in
the LEGO catalog.
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