Vintage Star Wars collectors, lets talk!

rossyamaha

I have a fairly extensive collection of vintage Star Wars figures, ships and other odds and sods. Anyone here a collector? I don't really want to go the ebay route. Where is the best place to get rid? I've joined the Star Wars forum which seems OK but heard there can be quite a bit of scamming there. Also on the Facebook groups but wondering if there is anywhere else that I should consider.

Ta

ICBM

Worry too much about the Solo movie that is forthcoming values affecting, you do.

rossyamaha

ICBM said:

Worry too much about the Solo movie that is forthcoming values affecting, you do.

Haha. Actually not crossed my mind. If anything, it will increase value. I just have so much money tied up in it that I could do with reinvesting in other stuff that I need. Like, ya know, food and shoes!

Flink_Poyd

Obvious one would be Gumtree if you can deal with the timewasters. Craigslist, Etsy (limited success for me)
Theres a few sites that will buy them like http://www.thetoyscavenger.com/ but youre looking at a lower price as they just re-sell them
Unfortunately eBay is the biggest and easiest for anything like this.

rossyamaha

Flink_Poyd said:

Obvious one would be Gumtree if you can deal with the timewasters. Craigslist, Etsy (limited success for me)
Theres a few sites that will buy them like http://www.thetoyscavenger.com/ but youre looking at a lower price as they just re-sell them
Unfortunately eBay is the biggest and easiest for anything like this.

Toy scavenger looks interesting. I heard there was a guy in Newark that does grading and also buys but haven't been able to find him. I don't mind taking a hit on the value as long as it isn't stupid. I'm going to lose on selling fees from somewhere like ebay anyway. I've got that much stuff I think it would be easier to sell to a collector that could glance over it and say it's worth £10k, I'll give you 8. I'd be happy with that. 

Flink_Poyd

rossyamaha said:

Flink_Poyd said:

Obvious one would be Gumtree if you can deal with the timewasters. Craigslist, Etsy (limited success for me)
Theres a few sites that will buy them like http://www.thetoyscavenger.com/ but youre looking at a lower price as they just re-sell them
Unfortunately eBay is the biggest and easiest for anything like this.

Toy scavenger looks interesting. I heard there was a guy in Newark that does grading and also buys but haven't been able to find him. I don't mind taking a hit on the value as long as it isn't stupid. I'm going to lose on selling fees from somewhere like ebay anyway. I've got that much stuff I think it would be easier to sell to a collector that could glance over it and say it's worth £10k, I'll give you 8. I'd be happy with that. 

This is Notts based by the looks of it.

http://www.desirable-objects.co.uk/

prowla

Here's something I'm working on...


(I have a replacement body to fit.)

Musicman20

I've got an attic full at my parent's house.

I haven't seen some of it in 20 or so years. Unfortunately I started getting it around 1986-1990 so a lot of it is second hand and damaged, but still, it was cool!

not_the_dj

Wish I'd kept mine, we had loads between me and my brother, but gave them away to younger cousins when we were teenagers to buy an Atari ST.

My kids are now 6 and 9 and they have the new Tie-fighters and X-wings, but still I'd love to have the old ones again!

I've not looked but how much would say the AT-AT, Falcon, Snow Speeder, X-Wing go for these days?

Vibetronic

is it still fresh in boxes/on cards? If not, then it won't be worth a massive amount unfortunately. Some of the early figures on cards can fetch stupid amounts; ie a Jawa with a vinyl (not a cloth!) cape is worth loads, the 'early bird' set of characters that came out etc. Some of them uncarded can still be worth a reasonable amount - ie Yak Face, but still not loads. Then if carded it also depends on the condition of the card, the variation of the card (ie SW, ESB, ROTJ, Power of the Force etc). It's massively complicated....I've got a few books on it all and can grab the titles if you're interested (I've still got all my old stuff (unboxed) and don't collect it, just find it really interesting!). It's probably worth making a list, totting up the prices and doing it privately, but I'm afraid I've got no idea where as I haven't looked into it for years (ie since the internet became a thing). 

impmann

Vibetronic said:

is it still fresh in boxes/on cards? If not, then it won't be worth a massive amount unfortunately. Some of the early figures on cards can fetch stupid amounts; ie a Jawa with a vinyl (not a cloth!) cape is worth loads, the 'early bird' set of characters that came out etc. Some of them uncarded can still be worth a reasonable amount - ie Yak Face, but still not loads. Then if carded it also depends on the condition of the card, the variation of the card (ie SW, ESB, ROTJ, Power of the Force etc). It's massively complicated....I've got a few books on it all and can grab the titles if you're interested (I've still got all my old stuff (unboxed) and don't collect it, just find it really interesting!). It's probably worth making a list, totting up the prices and doing it privately, but I'm afraid I've got no idea where as I haven't looked into it for years (ie since the internet became a thing). 

THIS.

Ross, I don't know if you know what I'm doing these days but I'm back in publishing (collecting titles). We just ran a cover feature on the original Kenner Diecast Star Wars models.

As said above, they aren't worth much at all unless they are mint and carded/boxed. The rare Tie Bomber is still worth a few quid without a box but the rest aren't really...

If its all minty and boxed/carded, I'd speak to one of the specialist auction houses - such as Vectis, Wallis & Wallis etc.

Heartfeltdawn

@rossyamaha I was a collector for 20 years including the pre-internet days when men were men and teenage boys were all too excited about boxed Rebo Band sets lurking at swap meets and toy fairs. I've bought plenty for myself and sold entire collections for friends for several thousand pounds.

I'm puzzled by people who say figures aren't worth much unless they're carded. It is true that you won't be talking the megaquids here but something like an original Vader in decent condition complete will net you £50. A few figures like that, the money builds up. 

Stuff like the vinyl caped Jawa mentioned earlier: finding an authentic one is hard because of repro capes. It's the same with weapons, there's a load of repro weapons about. Now your collection sounds like an original (ie. you haven't added to it in recent years) so it will be all original, no chance of repro bits getting in there. 

If you want to drop me a PM, please do. I'd be happy to look at any pictures/give any advice. If you sell to resellers, then it'll be like guitar shops ie. you'll get 40-50% of what the collection is worth. I really would do it privately on Ebay, do some research, and see it as a long term project. If you went through everything and, say, put up two figures a week for sale, that wouldn't be too much at once. 

sev112

Heartfeltdawn said:

@rossyamaha I was a collector for 20 years including the pre-internet days when men were men and teenage boys were all too excited about boxed Rebo Band sets lurking at swap meets and toy fairs. I've bought plenty for myself and sold entire collections for friends for several thousand pounds.

I'm puzzled by people who say figures aren't worth much unless they're carded. It is true that you won't be talking the megaquids here but something like an original Vader in decent condition complete will net you £50. A few figures like that, the money builds up. 

Stuff like the vinyl caped Jawa mentioned earlier: finding an authentic one is hard because of repro capes. It's the same with weapons, there's a load of repro weapons about. Now your collection sounds like an original (ie. you haven't added to it in recent years) so it will be all original, no chance of repro bits getting in there. 

If you want to drop me a PM, please do. I'd be happy to look at any pictures/give any advice. If you sell to resellers, then it'll be like guitar shops ie. you'll get 40-50% of what the collection is worth. I really would do it privately on Ebay, do some research, and see it as a long term project. If you went through everything and, say, put up two figures a week for sale, that wouldn't be too much at once. 

I think me and brother had originals of Luke, Leia, Jawa and Vader; we definitely had two with the sliding light sabres up the inside of their arms.  Definitely remember the vinyl Jawa cape though

lost in a box somewhere over the years no doubt

Heartfeltdawn

Oh yes, they definitely existed. They aren't hyper rare. Something like the pop-up lightsaber R2D2 is much cooler though

rossyamaha

I have an idea what some of it's worth but the market is so volatile. Just a few months ago I saw a boxed AT-AT go for £75. Couple have recently gone for £2-300. Same with Millenium Falcons. I ave both, boxed as well as unboxed. Figures are still worth something. I've got a couple of carded ones but the rest are loose. Some are mint and some are what they seem to call beaters. Even the poor ones will still fetch £2.50-5. When I look at a box of 100 beaters, it really does start to add up! Then get into 40 or 50 mintys and I'm quids in. Got some really rare stuff and yes, it's all original. The last thing I bought was probably early 90's before it was really a thing. The task of going through it is mammoth but looks like it's gonna be the only way. @Heartfeltdawn that would be great thanks. Think I'm gonna need some help with this lot!

https://i.imgur.com/iXbyHEP.jpg

And thats not even all of it!!

rossyamaha

Heartfeltdawn said:

Oh yes, they definitely existed. They aren't hyper rare. Something like the pop-up lightsaber R2D2 is much cooler though

See I have one of them but without the lightsaber. :-(

Heartfeltdawn

rossyamaha said:

I have an idea what some of it's worth but the market is so volatile. Just a few months ago I saw a boxed AT-AT go for £75. Couple have recently gone for £2-300. Same with Millenium Falcons. I ave both, boxed as well as unboxed. Figures are still worth something. I've got a couple of carded ones but the rest are loose. Some are mint and some are what they seem to call beaters. Even the poor ones will still fetch £2.50-5. When I look at a box of 100 beaters, it really does start to add up! Then get into 40 or 50 mintys and I'm quids in. Got some really rare stuff and yes, it's all original. The last thing I bought was probably early 90's before it was really a thing. The task of going through it is mammoth but looks like it's gonna be the only way. @Heartfeltdawn that would be great thanks. Think I'm gonna need some help with this lot!

https://i.imgur.com/iXbyHEP.jpg

And thats not even all of it!!

That's looking pretty substantial. Seriously, don't go the reseller route. You'll get shafted. Looking at that pic, I'd be inclined to go through the mini rigs (box second left at the front) first. Get those up and sold, start getting an idea for what people are looking for, and then go through the vehicles. 

Moltisanti

as a proper Star Wars nerd i'd love to see it all if you can ever be arsed to take more detailed pics
i'd love an original X-Wing, even a bet up one

JAYJO

I sold/selling my action man collection on Ebay. You soon get a feel for whats rare and collectable and whats not.  Dont sell as a job lot you will just be giving the opportunity to someone else to make money. You soon get to know who the dealers are and who the collectors are. 

FarleyUK

I gave all mine away when I was 11. I had the Ewok village, AT-AT, Falcon etc.

Still can't believe how stupid I was. Damn those charity events.

not_the_dj

So would it be sacrilege to buy some old Star Wars toys....and them let my kids play with them?