Haha!  That comtech reader is about the only thing I've opened over the last 10 yars or so (other than what the kids get and play with)

I actully used it with the EPI figs.  haha, just makes me laugh.

Funny the best stuff I love to trade is all the garbage freebies, giveaways, conventoin freebies and promos, freebie posters the comic stores get etc.

there is never any worries of having buyers remorse, worrying about what is worth more or less, or trading for a "fair" pice...becasue it's all freebie giveaway type stuff.  Love it...you can always have fn with that stuff.

FYI,

The Five Below in Monroeville had all the above mentioned figures late last week.  As far as returning they will give you in store credit ONLY.

They had the ST with corrected pant job,as well as the earlier AOTC wave  Zam, SBD, Mace, Obi- Amidala ugly gown, etc.  What is niceis they put them on the shelf vs. hangng them, so you get the unpunched cards...trouble iafter a few weeks the cardbacks  are beat to hell.

I'll post here as well.

I ordered a Tri-Logo case off ebay.  I paid about $4 more per fig.  but what the heck with all the uncertainty with this line. Plus the Tri-Logos tend to have very small runs, so a small run of a more limited wave to begin with could turn out to be interesting way down the road.  It came this Wed. afternoon.  The figs are just fantastic.  The Accessories are extremly plentiful in this wave.  The Aurra lightsaber box with lightsabers is pretty neat.

The Republic trooper is outstanding...lots going on wiht it.  Love the color scheme.  The "Teenage years Ahsoka" is great.  The Royal guard is phenominal (love the extra helmet and shoulder pauldrons.  The Lumat with all his accesssories is pretty cool.  The OT figs are so detailed...they are wonderful.  Even what I would call the "ho hum" figs like the Naboo Pilot Gungan warrior and the podracer are very well done.

Lots to like about this wave.  Huge thumbs up!

Not sure exactly where to post on the last vintage wave 17 yet..but here goes.

I jumped on an auction for the Tri-Logo version of last wave (17) of the vintage line.  We all knows what tends to happen with the last waves don't we?  In addition, does anyone know what the production runs may be on this last wave.  Hearing all kinds of things, and thre's a weird "vibe" with this wave.  It's an online store only dealthistime around, so I'm guessing production runs will obviously be low, but also worried that they won;t move as quickly, not having the brick and mortars selling as well.  These may show up in weird places..yet to be heard or determined.

I'm hearing from a few folks that the Tri-Logos were cut way short of production this time around (and they usually have a much lower run anyhow).  Curious to see what everyone is hearing.  For the couple extra $ it was per fig I figred I'd bite the bullet and take a chance on the Tri-Logos this time around. (only once before did I ever jump on a new modern wave qucikly, so we'll see.

Any additinal noise on this line, pelase post..curious to see what othrs are hearing.

Met Kip from the group (PSWCS) the other night...traded some of my older promo, freebie, convention giveaway type stuff with him for a handful of the modern variant SW comic book covers.  Great guy, and since he works with the local comic stores, it was nat to see everything he had.  Got some other stuff, but as far as comics goes, that was it.  Oh, also got the Celebraton VI Dark Horse Dawn of the Jedi patch off of him as well.

I actually like the slow down.  I've had more time to really enjoy the things that are coming out.  I'm psyched about the chance to start over with a brand new collectibles room as well.  Like a few others here, I've gone back to picking up some of the vintage holes in my collection and am loving every minute of it.

I am not actively looking like I was in years past, but occationally when somethign pops up, I'll jump on it.  I just snagged a vintage ESB At-At w/Box for $50.  The box was in excellent shape (unfortunately had one of the flaps cut off and taped back one, but they did a really good job.  At-At was a little beat on the edges, and legs discolored, and one of the side gusn looks like a dog got hold of it.  It's only missing the clear chin guns.  I have a minty vintage At-At just never had a box for it.  A local collector posted on Craigslist and I grabbed it this weekend!  Even with the flap being cut, it will diplay really nice on the shelf.

I'll probably sell the beat up one, or sell for parts...not sure yet.

Sticking with the future of collectng topics...

Ecnomics/prices:
Long term I think we're going to see a slow demise (If we haven't already) of the traditional brick and mortar stores in ALL categories, not just toy/toy collecting. I think for many reasons...mainly technology and I think the country is going to strugle for a bit becasue of it.  Collecting will slow a bi..for a sot while, prices will fall slightly across the board, and slowly after some years will begin to rise.   Distribution, the numbers game, production,etc. will all remain a struggle for some time.

Items/availability/trends:
Electronics, video games will continue to dominate and become even more prevalent, both leading to fewer companies producing "toys" and fewer companies producing non-electronic/tech rlated "toys" in the future.  Therefore the tradtional mediums we're used to now and in the past...action figures, comic boks, etc.will eventually become more collectible, and possibly a thing of the past to some degree (I don't think things like traditional toys like dolls, comics, board games, bikes, etc. will ever go completely away, but we'll see much less being produced.

Supply/demand:

I think as technology and population increases, the globalization of collectibles will also increase. Foriegn countries are becoming more predominant when it comes to collecting (look back jus 30 years ago or in the 70's...anyone buy/sell/trade with anyone in Germany or China ??  How many action figures were YOU sending to Denmark?)  Even once the internet and Ebay came about... in the beginning I didn't see too many folks from foregn countries at all, and NOTHING like I see today.  Lots of countries want what the western world has to offer.  When I was in college foriegn kids used to fill thier suitcases with Levi jeans... in some countries collectibles may not be as big now but I bet they wll be in the futue, an steadily grow.  Eventually I think this will dry up supply.  Vintage items will contine to rise, and probably skyrocket eventually, as the kids today get into the hobby as well things that ae moder TODAY wll also be hihly coveted.  New to us today will be old when the kids tday get older and into collecting.

It's a natura tendancy for u to want everythin and want it NOW.  Relax, look at the long term bi picture.

As the world changes...sports collectibles used to be the big hing when I as a kid..today techies love Star Wars...and what do we see more than ever TECHIES everywere you go. More jobs in the technology segment means more dollars to techies, more dollars to techies, IT departments, etc. mans more dollars for SW colectibles.

Yeah, I gotta say the future looks prett bright.  Pretty safe bet with SW these days.

Buy up...but be smart about it and don't forget to take care of your priorities... and try to have some fun.