![Darth Vader - Hasbro - Star Wars [The Last Jedi] (2017)](/star-wars-the-last-jedi/thumbs/the-last-jedi-12-inch-darth-vader1-th.jpg "Darth Vader - Hasbro - Star Wars [The Last Jedi] (2017)")
Hasbro Needs To Wake-Up When It Comes To The Vintage Collection
As long as I’ve been collecting and reporting on the Hasbro toy line, there has been an endless circle of blame between retail and Hasbro. Hasbro says they send the stuff to retail. Retail says that Hasbro never sends the product. Wherever the truth lies, collectors know that the bottom line is that The Vintage Collection has primarily become an online/mail-order collection of action figures. (more….)
Since the 2018 relaunch of The Vintage Collection, I have seen fewer figures on store shelves than I can count on my body’s total digits. I am not kidding. I’ve personally witnessed seeing Rey (VC116), Kylo Ren (VC117), First Order Stormtrooper (VC118), Sergeant Jyn Erso (VC119), Rebel Soldier (Hoth) (VC120), Supreme Leader Snoke (VC121), Han Solo (Solo) (VC124), Lando Calrissian (Skiff Guard) (VC144), Princess Leia (Yavin) (VC150), Luke Skywalker (Yavin) (VC151), and the first two waves of The Rise Of Skywalker product launch. That’s 19 (with about half that I didn’t want to see re-released in TVC, to begin with) figures in a line with 50 releases this far (including exclusives).
If new figures do arrive at local retailers like TARGET and WALMART in my area, they must arrive once and never get restocked. How does this happen? After the Knight Of Ren wave, a new wave of figures including the Jawa arrived quickly, disappeared, and there’s been nothing at retail since. How can any line sustain apathy like this and continue to survive? Why haven’t some of the hottest new figures been giving a second life at retail? Hasbro, do you know some of the figures from 2018 and 2019 are commanding from $40 to $50, and ins some instances over these amounts? Why haven’t you re-released the Imperial Death Trooper? Why haven’t you re-released or carried-forward the Imperial Assault Tank Driver or Commander? You produced enough tanks to last at retail for the next 40 years, yet you only released a handful of pilots to command them?
Are you aware that The Rise Of Skywalker Rey is going for $40+? Why? How is this even possible? It’s not even six months old yet! Did you know that the Skiff Guards 3-Pack is exceeding $65-$70 on the aftermarket? Did you know that the awful Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) you released is beginning to rise above MSRP? We’re still buying these monstrosities because we’re so desperate to have a 12-Back R2-D2 figure! Check out some of the aftermarket values of the figures that make up the second phase of The Vintage Collection. I provided links to all of the figures below. It’s astounding what some of the figures are going for on eBay and the like today. And despite the higher aftermarket prices, many were never seen at retail by most who collect the line. The Vintage Collection figures DO NOT hang on pegs (except for that dreadful first wave of figures that no on wanted). But even so, why aren’t they available through the Fan Channel still for MSRP? Why do we have to fight bidding wars on auction sites or pay double or triple for figures we didn’t even know got released? All of this frustrating is toxic to the health of The Vintage Collection.
Hasbro, I hope you’re paying attention to the #FightForTVC movement. We know there are a large number of collectors that are so burned out by your bad decision making that they’ve given up the fight. We’ll continue to fight until you do what’s right for this line. More volume. More OT characters. Complete the Kenner 96 STAT! More Rogue One characters. More The Clone Wars characters. And for the lobe of The Maker, GET OUT that FREAKIN’ phase I Captain Rex from 2013. What is your problem with that figure? Collecting TVC in 2020 shouldn’t feel like we’re living through a science experiment. Are we the control group? Because it sure feels like it. Please do right by collectors and give The Vintage Collection your undivided attention.
#FightForTVC
We need your support and signature! We’re at 7500+ signatures, but we need a whole lot more! Sign the petition HERE.
See what the aftermarket is commanding for the following The Vintage Collection figures below. You’ll be shocked in many instances. You’ll laugh for the expected others.
VC118 First Order Stormtrooper
VC126 Imperial Assault Tank Driver
VC134 Princess Leia Organa (Boushh)
VC137 Ree-Yees
VC138 Elite Praetorian Guard
VC140 Imperial Stormtrooper (RO)
VC144 Lando Calrissian (Skiff Guard)
VC145 41st Elite Corps Clone Trooper
VC148 Imperial Assault Tank Commander
VC156 Rey
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