106
Feedback / Re: McMetal's feedback
« on: December 24, 2013, 06:48 PM »
Michael sold me the latest Star Tours sets - A+ and no problems at all.
Bringing Balance to the Force
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107
Watto's Junk Yard / Re: Everything Rebelscum
« on: December 23, 2013, 10:40 AM »
I don't like that they open up vintage figures for U grades.
That's always struck me as blasphemous, even if they are usually ones that are pretty beat up.
That's always struck me as blasphemous, even if they are usually ones that are pretty beat up.
108
Gentle Giant / Re: Guild Memberships
« on: December 23, 2013, 09:34 AM »
Yeah, when they open back up, just email them again, tell them you've been trying to get a hold of someone for a few weeks... they might be nice enough to do it if you really have been trying all year long.
109
Watto's Junk Yard / Re: Everything Rebelscum
« on: December 22, 2013, 10:03 PM »That is sad. Especially considering the amount they charge, you'd hope that would equal the quality of customer service. Guess not.
what do they charge on average for a 3 3/4" scale Star wars figure?
110
Watto's Junk Yard / Re: Done with Grad school!!!
« on: December 22, 2013, 10:01 PM »
I know the feeling... my wife just finished up her PhD last year and now she's doing a post-doc in England. Lots of long-distance, lots of time-zone troubles...
I hope you're getting a raise with all these new qualifications you've got.
I hope you're getting a raise with all these new qualifications you've got.
111
Gentle Giant / Re: Guild Memberships
« on: December 22, 2013, 10:00 PM »Nope. I have tried several times through the year. I'm sure they have had things in stock at points, but not much and clearly never for long. The coupon expires in a week and there's nothing available.
I'd just email them. Explain all that, and see if they'll extend it for you. They're pretty good when you get Chris or someone on the case.
112
Gentle Giant / Re: Guild Memberships
« on: December 21, 2013, 10:25 AM »
Well, the coupon is good for a whole year if I'm not mistaken... surely at some point you'd be able to use it right?
113
Watto's Junk Yard / Re: Done with Grad school!!!
« on: December 20, 2013, 05:14 PM »
You were already teaching right?
So if I have that right, you did all this in your spare time?
So if I have that right, you did all this in your spare time?
114
Watto's Junk Yard / Re: Everything Rebelscum
« on: December 20, 2013, 04:38 PM »
That sounds like a **** show alright...
I always pick the wrong register line at the grocery store, but I really feel like not collecting carded vintage SW was a smart idea.
I always pick the wrong register line at the grocery store, but I really feel like not collecting carded vintage SW was a smart idea.
115
Gentle Giant / Re: Guild Memberships
« on: December 20, 2013, 04:34 PM »
I've been a member since it started.
The membership more or less pays for itself with the free gift, assuming that there is a free gift that fits your collecting interest. Since I only collect SW mini-busts from them, I look at it as more like paying $10 or $20 for the year.
But, the $30 coupon pretty much pays for the rest. I've always found a way to use mine. One year I used it on a Mars Attacks Mini-bust just for the hell of it.
Additionally, you now get points on purchases that can be turned into gift cards for their website, so when I bought the outrageously priced Fett, I was able to knock the price down by about $35 just base don points that I didn't know I had (this may have nothing to do with the Guild, not sure).
The benefit I like the most though is the access to convention and PGM exclusives. They do put out product that is only PGM and the only way to get it is to be a member or have a friend who will help you out.
Basically, if the perks are something you can use, the program is basically free, even though it's gone up by $10 every other year or so.
Also, they do one-off things every now and then... a few years ago they were raffling off the chance to buy limited quantities of really old stuff that they had lying around, and I'm pretty sure that was a PGM thing. I was able to get the ESB Vader Mini-bust for $60 shipped when they were selling for more like $180 at the time.
The membership more or less pays for itself with the free gift, assuming that there is a free gift that fits your collecting interest. Since I only collect SW mini-busts from them, I look at it as more like paying $10 or $20 for the year.
But, the $30 coupon pretty much pays for the rest. I've always found a way to use mine. One year I used it on a Mars Attacks Mini-bust just for the hell of it.
Additionally, you now get points on purchases that can be turned into gift cards for their website, so when I bought the outrageously priced Fett, I was able to knock the price down by about $35 just base don points that I didn't know I had (this may have nothing to do with the Guild, not sure).
The benefit I like the most though is the access to convention and PGM exclusives. They do put out product that is only PGM and the only way to get it is to be a member or have a friend who will help you out.
Basically, if the perks are something you can use, the program is basically free, even though it's gone up by $10 every other year or so.
Also, they do one-off things every now and then... a few years ago they were raffling off the chance to buy limited quantities of really old stuff that they had lying around, and I'm pretty sure that was a PGM thing. I was able to get the ESB Vader Mini-bust for $60 shipped when they were selling for more like $180 at the time.
116
Watto's Junk Yard / Re: Done with Grad school!!!
« on: December 20, 2013, 12:44 PM »
Congrats Chris!
117
Watto's Junk Yard / Re: Everything Rebelscum
« on: December 19, 2013, 02:36 PM »Somebody posted the AFA legal disclaimer on their certificates. It basically said "This is our opinion. If it's wrong you're SOL." There isn't an legal recourse against them.
Nor should there be unless someone could prove that they were doing it intentionally, at which point it becomes fraud.
118
Watto's Junk Yard / Re: Everything Rebelscum
« on: December 19, 2013, 02:35 PM »
I haven't read the whole thing yet, but from what I've skimmed it seems that this is another perfect example of why I never moved into carded vintage or AFA collecting. Too expensive as a hobby, too many potentially negative variables as an investment.
Eventually, everything's coming off the bubble, and there are fakes galore. Paying a premium for an acrylic case and an opinion always struck me as a complete waste of money with potential for abuse.
Can someone who's read through all that give me the cliff's notes version? How was he caught, what is the evidence, has he said anything yet?
Eventually, everything's coming off the bubble, and there are fakes galore. Paying a premium for an acrylic case and an opinion always struck me as a complete waste of money with potential for abuse.
Can someone who's read through all that give me the cliff's notes version? How was he caught, what is the evidence, has he said anything yet?
119
The Vintage Collection '10-'13 / Re: Amazon Vintage Slave I w/Carbonite Block
« on: December 17, 2013, 10:59 AM »
That is insane. I felt pretty good about this thing at $69.99... $34.99 is a no-brainer.
120
The Black Series 6" Figures / Re: Upcoming Black Series figures?
« on: December 11, 2013, 12:03 PM »No dais might not cut it, but that may be the route they go just so that most people could afford it.
If a basic figure is $20, what's a speederbike plus figure gonna cost? $40-50? What retail store is going to carry a $50 6" set in this market? TRU maybe?
And what'll happen with Jabba? If he's in the same assortment as the Speederbike, then that means a $40-50 Jabba without dais. What would it cost with a full dais? The walmart 3.75" set was what, $40? Does that mean a 6" Jabba with throne would be priced at $80? I can hear the outrage now...
The first problem is that the 6" figures are over priced by about $5 right now. If they want people to adopt the line, they need to bring it down a little bit... $17.99 even.
Second, yeah - Jabba with a Dias would probably be expensive. At least $60. I bet it would sell like gang busters though. I think the 6" line is more collector driven than kid driven at this point and collectors would gobble that up.
Parents wander in and there is a 18 year history of 3 3/4" figures with lots to choose from ranging in price from $5.99 to $9.99 - most parents (unless the kid really really wants it) aren't going to ditch all that for a $20 figure especially with so few to choose from. And, with waves of four every couple of months, it's not like there's going to be a day any time soon where there are more than 4 or 8 options to buy from at a given time.
Are kids freaking out demanding the larger scale? I don't know, but given that pretty much only Artoo is on the shelves, I doubt it.