A wretched hive of scummy, busted-up toys
April 1, 2010 8:52 AM Subscribe
What should I do with all my old Star Wars toys?
As a child of the 80s, I was seriously into Star Wars and I had a *lot* of Star Wars toys. Now the collection resides in the nether reaches of my parent's attic, stashed away years ago for sentimental value and the vague notion that they might be "worth something someday." Well, now it's someday. I'm going home in a few weeks and have agreed to help Dad clean out the attic. I'm wondering what I should do with my old toys.
As far as condition...it's not great. These are 30 year old toys, and everything is dirty, played-with, and missing substantial pieces. I know there's at least the skeletons of a Millennium Falcon, an AT-AT Walker, an Endor playset. There are dozens of action figures in carry cases.
In this condition, are they worth anything to anyone? I'm not expecting a king's ransom, but I'd rather not just trash them if I can avoid it. Is my best bet just to box everything up and sell it as a lot on ebay? There's far too many pieces to sell individually.
As a child of the 80s, I was seriously into Star Wars and I had a *lot* of Star Wars toys. Now the collection resides in the nether reaches of my parent's attic, stashed away years ago for sentimental value and the vague notion that they might be "worth something someday." Well, now it's someday. I'm going home in a few weeks and have agreed to help Dad clean out the attic. I'm wondering what I should do with my old toys.
As far as condition...it's not great. These are 30 year old toys, and everything is dirty, played-with, and missing substantial pieces. I know there's at least the skeletons of a Millennium Falcon, an AT-AT Walker, an Endor playset. There are dozens of action figures in carry cases.
In this condition, are they worth anything to anyone? I'm not expecting a king's ransom, but I'd rather not just trash them if I can avoid it. Is my best bet just to box everything up and sell it as a lot on ebay? There's far too many pieces to sell individually.
It is very likely that they are all worthless. It is possible though unlikely that you have some action figure that is so rare and desirable that it is worth more than a pittance in used and played-with condition; you could find out by spending some number of hours researching your pieces.
But that will take a lot of time. Unless your time is worthless, I would just throw away the playsets, which probably wouldn't even be fun to play with, and give the action figures to Goodwill or a local nonprofit daycare or something.
(What I would actually do here in WNY is next day-before-garbage-day, set them out in a box next to the curb and let somebody take them for whatever purpose.)
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:19 AM on April 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
But that will take a lot of time. Unless your time is worthless, I would just throw away the playsets, which probably wouldn't even be fun to play with, and give the action figures to Goodwill or a local nonprofit daycare or something.
(What I would actually do here in WNY is next day-before-garbage-day, set them out in a box next to the curb and let somebody take them for whatever purpose.)
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:19 AM on April 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
I Nth the big box on ebay, start the listing at $1 and have a shipping&handling fee sufficient that you don't lose money on the deal. Hint: USPS priority mail flat-rate boxes are your friend here.
posted by phearlez at 9:36 AM on April 1, 2010
posted by phearlez at 9:36 AM on April 1, 2010
Are any of them clean-upable? If so, I'd suggest donating those.
posted by biochemist at 9:37 AM on April 1, 2010
posted by biochemist at 9:37 AM on April 1, 2010
Do you have any nephews maybe? Or maybe some friends which have kids around 4 to 7 ?
I'm sure they would love those vintage toys.
posted by theKik at 9:45 AM on April 1, 2010
I'm sure they would love those vintage toys.
posted by theKik at 9:45 AM on April 1, 2010
eBay, start at $1 and make very sure your shipping cost actually covers the shipping.
eBay now sucks for many things, but toys don't seem to fall in that category. I doubt it will be a collector who buys them, more likely a parent who wants his/her child to play with the same toys s/he played with.
posted by anastasiav at 10:00 AM on April 1, 2010
eBay now sucks for many things, but toys don't seem to fall in that category. I doubt it will be a collector who buys them, more likely a parent who wants his/her child to play with the same toys s/he played with.
posted by anastasiav at 10:00 AM on April 1, 2010
If you want to avoid kicking yourself later, run a quick comparison against this article.
If you have any of those figures, they will be worth something to a collector even in well-used condition.
As for any figures not on that list, I'd second the box of free toys on sidewalk idea.
posted by 256 at 10:02 AM on April 1, 2010
If you have any of those figures, they will be worth something to a collector even in well-used condition.
As for any figures not on that list, I'd second the box of free toys on sidewalk idea.
posted by 256 at 10:02 AM on April 1, 2010
Go to one of those restaurants that glue vintage stuff on the walls/ceiling and offer an exchange for a free meal or two.
posted by syntheticfaith at 10:09 AM on April 1, 2010
posted by syntheticfaith at 10:09 AM on April 1, 2010
Send them to ME!
Okay, okay, in all seriousness, do you have a kid in your life who would just DIE for these? What a great thing it would be, to pass these on to a kid who would play with them.
(and if you don't have one of those kids in your life, I have several...just saying.)
posted by cooker girl at 10:42 AM on April 1, 2010
Okay, okay, in all seriousness, do you have a kid in your life who would just DIE for these? What a great thing it would be, to pass these on to a kid who would play with them.
(and if you don't have one of those kids in your life, I have several...just saying.)
posted by cooker girl at 10:42 AM on April 1, 2010
I ebayed my collection in similar condition in a few big boxes a few years ago for $270. I think I had a minimum bid of $50 or so just to cover my time.
posted by buttercup at 11:00 AM on April 1, 2010
posted by buttercup at 11:00 AM on April 1, 2010
Response by poster: cooker girl: if you seriously want them, you can have them for the cost of shipping.
And that's a great link 256. Unfortunately, I was born in '78, so all my toys are distinctly 80s.
posted by gnutron at 11:04 AM on April 1, 2010
And that's a great link 256. Unfortunately, I was born in '78, so all my toys are distinctly 80s.
posted by gnutron at 11:04 AM on April 1, 2010
Best answer: I am specifically a Star Wars collector. I can tell you this--if your figures and toys are loose (i.e. no box; opened and played with) then the value of the figures is probably pretty small, with some exceptions. I've seen the most common figures (The ones released in 1978 and endlessly released thereafter) going loose and complete with all their weapons/accessories for $1 to $2 each.
Some of the later figures do get somewhat more valuable loose, but a few things:
1) You get a lot more if the figures are complete with all accessories
2) The figures should be in good condition (no sun fade, no tackiness due to age, etc).
But in all honesty you might be best off pitching these (or selling them for shipping as you mentioned). Why do I say that? This: the collection resides in the nether reaches of my parent's attic, stashed away years ago
These figures were never built with the intent of existing 30 years after they were sold. They are not of collectible grade material. To keep figures from degrading (which can include yellowing of white parts, the plastic becoming "tacky", and other decomposition unwanted by any collector) you need to keep the figures out of the sun, in a medium to low humidity environment, and in a fairly cool place.
I'm guessing since you live in CA that your parents may as well, and their attic may get quite warm in the summers. I'm also guessing these attic items were not stored in such a way as to preserve archival quality (i.e. silica gel, boxes that can breathe, dust removal, etc).
So assuming the figures aren't one giant mass of plastic, what you'll have is of no desire to the collectors who will pay for it. (Also I see others suggesting "give them to kids"...kids today do not want junky used toys from yesteryear, they want what their friends have and what's on TV. Currently the Clone Wars toys based on the new TV series outsell movie toys in the kid demographic).
Sure, you can try to sell all the figures as a lot on eBay, but with eBay's new rules it may be a hassle you don't need for the few dollars you'll net.
Now if you have any vehicles or playsets, you may be able to get some decent cash for those. Complete, vehicles and playsets can sell from $25 to $500 depending on condition, and even missing parts you may get a few bucks for them.
If you need more info feel free to Mefi mail me.
Good luck with the attic!
posted by arniec at 11:43 AM on April 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
Some of the later figures do get somewhat more valuable loose, but a few things:
1) You get a lot more if the figures are complete with all accessories
2) The figures should be in good condition (no sun fade, no tackiness due to age, etc).
But in all honesty you might be best off pitching these (or selling them for shipping as you mentioned). Why do I say that? This: the collection resides in the nether reaches of my parent's attic, stashed away years ago
These figures were never built with the intent of existing 30 years after they were sold. They are not of collectible grade material. To keep figures from degrading (which can include yellowing of white parts, the plastic becoming "tacky", and other decomposition unwanted by any collector) you need to keep the figures out of the sun, in a medium to low humidity environment, and in a fairly cool place.
I'm guessing since you live in CA that your parents may as well, and their attic may get quite warm in the summers. I'm also guessing these attic items were not stored in such a way as to preserve archival quality (i.e. silica gel, boxes that can breathe, dust removal, etc).
So assuming the figures aren't one giant mass of plastic, what you'll have is of no desire to the collectors who will pay for it. (Also I see others suggesting "give them to kids"...kids today do not want junky used toys from yesteryear, they want what their friends have and what's on TV. Currently the Clone Wars toys based on the new TV series outsell movie toys in the kid demographic).
Sure, you can try to sell all the figures as a lot on eBay, but with eBay's new rules it may be a hassle you don't need for the few dollars you'll net.
Now if you have any vehicles or playsets, you may be able to get some decent cash for those. Complete, vehicles and playsets can sell from $25 to $500 depending on condition, and even missing parts you may get a few bucks for them.
If you need more info feel free to Mefi mail me.
Good luck with the attic!
posted by arniec at 11:43 AM on April 1, 2010 [1 favorite]
Seeing as how an expert has declared them worthless, I recommend that you get a bb gun, a 30 pack of cheap beer and invite some friends over to shoot them. You would not believe how satisfying this is. I did it about ten years and it was one of the best simple afternoons of my life.
I'm not a gun person. I don't generally destroy things for the fun of it. But that was so satisfying. If you do this, make sure you save chewbacca and C3PO for yourself because they will do amazing things when you hit them. Aim for 3PO's chest (he has a bulls eye already there). Chewbacca should spend a night in the freezer right before execution, and you must aim for his head.
posted by Mayor Curley at 12:35 PM on April 1, 2010 [3 favorites]
I'm not a gun person. I don't generally destroy things for the fun of it. But that was so satisfying. If you do this, make sure you save chewbacca and C3PO for yourself because they will do amazing things when you hit them. Aim for 3PO's chest (he has a bulls eye already there). Chewbacca should spend a night in the freezer right before execution, and you must aim for his head.
posted by Mayor Curley at 12:35 PM on April 1, 2010 [3 favorites]
I've been casting mine in glass to turn them into art.
I've bought a couple loose on ebay for a few dollars each.
I still need a good princess Leia if you're mailing them out.
posted by princelyfox at 4:59 PM on April 1, 2010
I've bought a couple loose on ebay for a few dollars each.
I still need a good princess Leia if you're mailing them out.
posted by princelyfox at 4:59 PM on April 1, 2010
Honestly, I'd say keep them around and let your kids/nieces/nephews/ etc play with them. My friend found his "bucket o' toys" in his mom's attic, and we *all* had fun playing with them because they brought back such fun memories!
posted by radioamy at 9:04 AM on April 2, 2010
posted by radioamy at 9:04 AM on April 2, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by agatha_magatha at 8:57 AM on April 1, 2010