JediDefender.com Forums
Community => Watto's Junk Yard => Topic started by: Scott on September 5, 2003, 11:28 AM
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I've been noticing a sharp drop off in all things Star Wars not just here but pretty much all around the net. What do think is going on? Why is this happening...
To many years of Collecting
People Fed up with Distribution Problems
We know everything about everyone
Post Episode II Let Down
Action Features and Extreme Poses
Boredom
The Economy (Which I think has a bigger impact than people realize)
Other Toy Lines
Other Things in Life
School Started
Probably a mix of everything...I remember being in a lull in 1999-2000 as well and not super excited about SW again until 2001, maybe things will change...
And this sorta carries over here at Watto's and other General Discussion Boards since general lack of excitement filters over to other spots in the Star Wars Message Board world
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You forgot:
Star Wars Galaxies
(That's what's taking up a lot of my free time)
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LOL, good point :-*
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I have noticed some of the same things.
Personally for me it is a change in my lifestyle that has me backing off of buying new items. I still focus on a few things but have narrowed down what I collect. If I didn't have the freedom of using the internet at work I wouldn't have much time to be online. I work 2 jobs plus with having a house time gets eaten up fast.
I can't explain the slowdown but I think your right about it being a number of the reasons you listed. Expecially school starting for alot of people (or their children). I hate to see things dry up and hope once people get settled it will pick up again.
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I got laid off, so, no money... Going to college, which means no time, and even less money... Dating here and there, plus homework, etc - I end up only having time to post in the forums while I do work.
Not to mention, even if I did find time to do some shopping and I had some money - the stores are empty of any new product.
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I think school plays a huge part. While JD is more "mature" in a sense than other forums, a lot of the members here and elsewhere sort of fit that category of 13-25 which covers high school through college.
For me personally it's the busiest time of the year and I'm out in the field 3-4 days a week. No students to help out and all the work still has to go ahead, so not only do I have the paper pushing, but also the field work. Not that it's a bad thing.
September malaise is pretty common for North America at least. BAck to school is pretty deeply ingrained and for those of us in Canada and the northern US, summer is essentially over, regardless of the weather. I'm contemplating depressing things like putting away the golf clubs, lawn mower, etc. Not real happy thoughts.
I'd be surprised if the distribution is having an effect. I've been busy and not able to keep up on threads, but lots of stuff is available. I say it all the time, but if you guys really want to see poor distribution, come to Canada, it'll bring tears to your eyes. 3-packs, clone wars items, lots of people finding stuff. If not, just a lull before Christmas stocking takes over the shelves and toy aisles blossom in size.
Collecting waxes and wanes for sure, with everybody, but usually not synchronously. Maybe too much product for a change? EU was only about 8 or so figures, clone wars is going to be how many?
A mix is probably right.
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It's a real lull right now and it seems that just the true "hardcore" are sticking it out now...
I think like it has before though it'll pull out and be the"hot" thing again.
I do think almost all the reasons listed though are very valid as to why it's in a lull right now.
I saw many people b*tch for months that no product was hitting now there is stuff to be bought and people much more reluctant... if that's not a sign of what the economy has done alone then I'm not sure what is.
It's some rough time right now... but hopefully 2004 will start to change that all around quickly ;)
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As a counterpoint though, I found the slowdown less than a year after AOTC to be much more dramatic. The bright side was I managed to get a large number of toys from people that were "getting out". Works for me ;D
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General Malaise...wasn't he in Return Of The Jedi? ;D
I think Scott nailed it on the head. After the rush of 2002, and the way something new always seemed to be coming out, the 2003 lull is definitely noticeable. The upside is that the line is moving more towards what collectors want, just like in POTJ. Patience seems to be the key word to keep in mind.
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I've noticed this as well, and it certainly applies to me too as I've not been around for the past month and a half nearly as much as usual.
But in my case, it's mostly due to my move, crappy computer, and some crazy busy stuff going on at work... Hopefully these issues are all cleared up in the very near future so I can get back into the swing of things here at JD, 'cause gosh darnit - I miss you guys!!! :'( :-*
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I think it's all of the above.
I've been feeling a general type malaise about SW for a while now. I found the new Emperor wave at Target a few days ago and for the first time since 1995 I left brand new SW figs and didn't look back. Part of it is little money, no space, and characters I care nothing about. I'm really excited for Bail Organa and Obi Wan Nightclub and the Hoth group, but these three, yikes. And there's also the fatigue factor, and there's always too much of a good thing. I'll always love SW and SW toys, but everyone needs a little break.
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Don't forget to blame Canadians. Nothing but a constant groan from up North about how much worse things always are up there.
We could have locusts, they'd have flaming locusts. We could have earthquakes, their earthquakes would make volcanoes erupt in their backyards. It's depressing as all getout.
Personally, since I just bought a house, I'm not quite the extreme collector I used to be. My main focus is still Star Wars, but with the random distribution, it makes for a less than enthusiastic MisterPL. Just today I managed to find the Saga Rebel Fleet Trooper, Imperial Officer, red Battle Droid, and Tusken Raider at Target. Normally I'd be in army-builder heaven, but the lateness of the acquisition stemmed my excitement quite a bit.
Definitely a mixed bag of emotion for Star Wars collecting.
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Don't forget to blame Canadians. Nothing but a constant groan from up North about how much worse things always are up there.
We could have locusts, they'd have flaming locusts. We could have earthquakes, their earthquakes would make volcanoes erupt in their backyards. It's depressing as all getout.
What are you getting at ??? :P
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For me I haven't been as active due to the fact that I have to save money up. I may be going on strike in October so I have to save up money in case we go for a while. I'm also saving up my money to go to school full time in 2004 once I get my AA degree at the college I'm going to now, which means I have to only work about 1 hrs a week which = no money for Star Wars (except maybe C3 ;))
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I think for me it's the lack of figures from the OT. I know next year holds much pleasantness for OT fans, but I won't be able to buy as much, if anything. Oh, poor me.
That and I'm getting kind of burned out in all my collections, what with shortpacks, chase figures, distribution, and assurchin toy store employees.
Grrrr.
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Everyone here has made some good points about the slowdown of Star Wars collecting. My biggest all-time beef is that distribution of new product suck. I have no desire to go out on a "hunt" anymore, but thankfully my wife (Carrie aka carebear) has this desire to go hunting for figures and usually comes home with lots of cool stuff! [Thanks Carrie! ;D]