Collectability Challenge Factor for High Grade Star Wars items.

People seemed to like this novel idea of a challenge Factor for their collectibles. Since my only real venue to collect would be Ebay this is based on getting items from this auction site but the same could be told for people using other venues to collect.

To be honest i just whipped it out based on the following:

I guess some criteria’s could be established regarding the availability of some Star Wars items in high grades, thus making it a challenge that might be able to be metered on a scale of 1 to 10. You just make a mark in each criteria and then total them to see the average and that should give you your challenge factor. This would give you an idea of how much work might be involved in getting the figure/box/card you want at high grades.

Criterias that i think makes this scale:

Frequency that the item you are looking for appears on Ebay.

definition: The more frequent it appears the easier it would be able to collect.

Scale: 1 to 10

1= Constant stream of copies on Ebay. example: Hammerhead figurine

10= Very rare appearance on Ebay example: Early Bird Kit


What the item is and whether it is available in large quantities or rare.

definition: Is it a rare or common item.

Scale: 1 to 10

1= Common item example: Hammerhead figurine

10= Rare item example: Luke Skywalker DT



Want Factor.

definition: Do you really want the item or it can wait.

Scale: 1 to 10

1= Common item example: Luke Skywalker Farmboy

10= Rare item example: Vinyl Cape Jawa



The overall quality of the item.

definition: Does it look to be in great shape or is it badly damaged

Scale: 1 to 10

1= Beater quality example: lots of paint rubs and figure is yellowing

10= Near mint to Mint quality example: no paint rubs and figure is of original factory colors



The Packaging quality

definition: Is the box or card in good or bad shape.

Scale: 1 to 10

1= Heavily used or deteriorated packaging.

10= Near Mint to Mint Packaging.


Time spent looking for the item.

definition: How long did it take to locate the item.

Scale: 1 to 10

1=No time at all. example: Couple of hours

10=Spent an incredible amount of time searching for this item. example: Months or even years


Price

definition: Is the price within my buying range.

Scale: 1 to 10

1= Pricing was very easy for me to deal with. example: Couple of dollars

10= Purchase for me was very hard to finance. example: hundreds or thousands of dollars

Bud when I joined TIG you were the first one I contacted and you had welcomed me with answering a question with no holding back. I was happy and had expressed that to my wife who then in turn asked who helped me...I said "Bud Spencer". She then replied back with a smile "Bud Spencer is so funny"and I responded with "how in the heck would you know Bud Spencer?" She said "you don't know who Bud Spencer is?" I said "of course I do, he's the guy that helped me with my question!" and then of course she started laughing...at me of course . Ya I had a sheltered upbringing without comedy, Music, Movies (until 1977 SW) etc..etc I started coming around in the mid- '80's but by that time I was doing other things Ah the teenage years.

So I just went to youtube and watched some Bud Spencer and Terence Hill, ya it's taken me a few months...well actually a few decades

So my point. Thank you for the Challenge Factor grading scale, looks great and Thank you for being a fan of Bud Spencer because you have opened another door for me in life. A funny one at that which is great

SithLord2013 wrote:

Bud when I joined TIG you were the first one I contacted and you had welcomed me with answering a question with no holding back. I was happy and had expressed that to my wife who then in turn asked who helped me...I said "Bud Spencer". She then replied back with a smile "Bud Spencer is so funny"and I responded with "how in the heck would you know Bud Spencer?" She said "you don't know who Bud Spencer is?" I said "of course I do, he's the guy that helped me with my question!" and then of course she started laughing...at me of course . Ya I had a sheltered upbringing without comedy, Music, Movies (until 1977 SW) etc..etc I started coming around in the mid- '80's but by that time I was doing other things Ah the teenage years.

So I just went to youtube and watched some Bud Spencer and Terence Hill, ya it's taken me a few months...well actually a few decades

So my point. Thank you for the Challenge Factor grading scale, looks great and Thank you for being a fan of Bud Spencer because you have opened another door for me in life. A funny one at that which is great

Wow in all my time on the internet, this is the top heartwarming comment i ever got from someone. Usually i seem to annoy people. I am happy that i made you discover something funny and great. I grew up watching Bud and Terrence and their movies. When i go watch them again It brings back fond memories of good times. I hope these movie do bring you good memories too as they did for me. Thanks for the comments and support. Means a lot to me.

cheers!

Get a room you two

Not to sound like an Uber Vintage Snob, but if you are finding an item with any sort of regularity
it is not rare, or challenging.
I think it's a great idea to hash out though, but difficult to quantify. Perception vs actuality - older collector vs new - etc etc

Having said that, here is a sample I think that are truly, challenging items for collectors now and in the future:

~ High grade sealed MIB items (MOCs are easier to protect, and routinely show up in better condition)
~ Rare item today ? Ultra rare tomorrow (good rule of thumb)
~ Pre Production material (prototypes, proofs, etc)
~ Foreign (non-US) MIB and MOCs
~ LFL/ILM promotional material

Just a sample, but it's some of those things off the top of my head.

Bill

DarthBerizing wrote:

Get a room you two

sorry Sithlord and Bud - I couldn't help myself

sithtoys wrote:

Not to sound like an Uber Vintage Snob, but if you are finding an item with any sort of regularity
it is not rare, or challenging.
I think it's a great idea to hash out though, but difficult to quantify. Perception vs actuality - older collector vs new - etc etc

Having said that, here is a sample I think that are truly, challenging items for collectors now and in the future:

~ High grade sealed MIB items (MOCs are easier to protect, and routinely show up in better condition)
~ Rare item today ? Ultra rare tomorrow (good rule of thumb)
~ Pre Production material (prototypes, proofs, etc)
~ Foreign (non-US) MIB and MOCs
~ LFL/ILM promotional material

Just a sample, but it's some of those things off the top of my head.

Bill

I can attest to the foreign stuff. There are a few items that I have never seen for sale, literally.

sithtoys wrote:

Not to sound like an Uber Vintage Snob, but if you are finding an item with any sort of regularity
it is not rare, or challenging.
I think it's a great idea to hash out though, but difficult to quantify. Perception vs actuality - older collector vs new - etc etc

Having said that, here is a sample I think that are truly, challenging items for collectors now and in the future:

~ High grade sealed MIB items (MOCs are easier to protect, and routinely show up in better condition)
~ Rare item today ? Ultra rare tomorrow (good rule of thumb)
~ Pre Production material (prototypes, proofs, etc)
~ Foreign (non-US) MIB and MOCs
~ LFL/ILM promotional material

Just a sample, but it's some of those things off the top of my head.

Bill

of course everything is debatable in this. to me it worked out to be that way. A common item might pop up left and right front and center on ebay but getting a high grade is the challenge.. Luke Hoth comes to mind, i spent weeks to try to get 2 decent copies and still they could be better.

If i go to another example. Blue Snag is on ebay all the time. By that notion we could say he is not rare since he is " almost" always there. But try to find a copy that has good paint. That's the challenge. Some people buy for the sake of buying of the figure and could not care less what state it is in. I dont. Mine has to be near perfect or i wont invest the money because i know its gonna eat me that i bought just for the sake of buying.

I agree that some item are extremely rare and hard to get and we cannot deny that. But if you look at the big picture. This is memorabilia that is over 30 years old plus, whether it is a common figure or some prototype or packaging sample. You cant just waltz in a store and pick this up anymore. So to me you have to take extra steps to get what you want and sometimes it is a challenge. To some people it is easy to collect because they have better access and connection to collectors venues and network while others dont. Money wise amongst other things. I dont think people should seperate things here since it is all star wars anyways. Prototypes, maybe but common items from the 70's 80's fit all in the same bag to me. Good ol' Kenner Star Wars vintage toys!

Everything is in the eyes of the beholder as they say.

cheers!

I have to agree with Bud on this one . It goes without saying that alot of foreign figures and prototypes are without a doubt the "truly ultra rare items" - anybody that understands the basic definition of "prototype" would get that already .
To the average collector like Bud , myself and a good deal of the other members here , a VC Jawa or DT Luke is a Rare item . Sure there are plenty of examples pop up on ebay everyday , but to those of us who cant drop $400 bucks on a single figure , it is a grail piece that we are proud of . Is it rare to a person who can afford to collect prototypes ? No , of course not , but to some of us it is .
Rarity is in the eye of the beholder

I actually believe that the main concept of Bud's idea was , for the average collector , what "Basic" figures are the most difficult to find in top notch condition ?

Hammerhead vs Hoth Luke is comparing apples to apples , Hammerhead vs UZAY Blue Stars is like compairing apples to gold plated oranges

ourchickenshack wrote:

DarthBerizing wrote:

Get a room you two

sorry Sithlord and Bud - I couldn't help myself

Whoa whoa whoa...stop the press. John I've already coordinated with Bud and we're staying between Woodstock and Saugerties and if there's no vacancy we'll just stay with you ( I know of Saugerties because the Mrs.
lived somewhere around there years ago)

Chickenshack let's not encourage this any further

Sorry Bud I'll shut up now and let the topic continue

SithLord2013 wrote:

Whoa whoa whoa...stop the press. John I've already coordinated with Bud and we're staying between Woodstock and Saugerties and if there's no vacancy we'll just stay with you

sounds like its going to be a real party now ...


if you got room for a 4th member you can count me in

[quote="SithLord2013"] Chickenshack let's not encourage this any further ...[quote]

Have you learned nothing about me yet thats like tempting me with a Big Mac - I know I shouldn't do it , but it sure looks delicious