First Preorder At The New MSRP Later Today

Posted by Chris on 10/28/25 at 07:05 AM Category: Vintage Collection

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The MSRP for the Vintage Collection has been going up steadily since the line debuted at $8 in 2010. Then $9 in 2011 and $10 in 2012. Prices changes are nothing new as costs, particularly labor, go up and production levels go down (in part due to the higher MSRP). But up until this recent price increase, it's been a case of slowly raising the temp of the water while the frogs happily swim about the pot. The increases have usually come in $1 increments. The problem is that costs were outpacing those small jumps to the point that TVC figures became bad business for all involved (which is why brick and mortar was so happy to let the pegs sit vacant). So it was a lose/lose proposition. Hasbro was alienating fans with the incremental price increases, but it wasn't meaningfully impacting retail viability of TVC figures. Hasbro decided to finally pull off the bandaid, created a slight breach of etiquette by skipping the triple dare, and jumped up the price $3 at once (which probably still isn't enough).

Today, the new MSRP becomes real, and the community is going to be put to the test. How will we react to this new price? Personally, the amount of spending I do in TVC will remain the same. I'm not going to increase my toy budget. I'm simply going to be acquiring fewer pieces for the same money spent. As I've mentioned earlier, unless there are some pure OT cases in the future, I will not be ordering the case assortments anymore. At $20, I'm not going to be stuck with figures I don't want which is often the case when ordering by the...well...case. This new assortment is a classic example. So how will I be managing my preorders today? Let's break it down.

VC201 - Maul

I, as well as most of you, already own this figure via the original release on the Clone Wars card as VC201 - Darth Maul (Mandalore). My carded completionism was broken in 2024 with all the questionable repacks. As a result, this figure is a casualty. I'm going to pass on it with extreme prejudice, and it's one reason why ordering by the case does not make sense for me in this instance (and likely going forward). If the production run on this Maul is too high, it could become hugely problematic at $20. The original release well satisfied the market, and it can still be had for $17 on Amazon (via third party sellers). On Ebay, carded samples sold recently for $15 with free shipping. These things point to a potential disaster if the re-release oversupplies the market.

VC382 - The Stanger (Qimir)

The figure looks really cool. There's no denying that, but for me, this is another reason I won't be ordering the case assortment. As a newly tooled release of the main villain from new media, it will assuredly be two per case. I have no need for multiples of The Stranger (or any figures from The Acolyte). I will get one for site purposes, but that's it. I also worry about this figure performing well. I can see The Stranger being one of those figures that has the support of a passionate minority, which rocketed it to second place in last year's Last Figure Standing, but doesn't have broad appeal. Then again, red lightsabers sell (except for Reva).

VC383 - Padmé Amidala

At $17 I'd probably order four, but at $20, I'm going to follow the Bobby Moynihan model: One to open, one to keep carded, one just in case. I'll actually be saving $8. This is the one figure I'm not worried about, but that's a little ominous. When the TVC line ended, and Hasbro switched to the horrid orange and black TBS 3.75" card, the only figure in the launch wave that performed well was #01 - Padmé Amidala. I hope history isn't repeating itself. We all know what happened three years after that 2012 launch wave.

VC384 - Shaak Ti

I'm glad that Shaak Ti is finally getting a modern update. She'll finally get ankles! But at the same time, this isn't one of the Jedi I need lots of. I'll do the standard one to open and one to keep carded. As of right now, I don't plan for the "one just in case", but I may fold when it's go time.

VC385 - Darth Vader (Emperor's Wrath)

Okay, this one is interesting. When it comes to OT mains, I will still order them by the case even with the new price point. But this is an extremely scene specific Vader, and my display needs have already been met courtesy of this figure's original release via the Journey of Anakin Skywalker Special Action Figure set. So I don't need any more of loose samples of the Emperor's Wrath Vader. But I absolutely love that card. Love, love, love, love it. I need a high grade sample, but that's not always an easy proposition when relying on e-tail. I'll probably step up and order a couple of "collector grade" samples from BBTS. As another repack, this might also be a problematic seller, but if any character is immune to peg warming, it's OT Vader.

So that's what I'll be doing at 1PM ET today. How about you? We'll have an Entertainment Earth affiliate link posted for all the Star Wars preorders, and if you plan to shop with them, we'd appreciate it you used our link. It helps keep the lights on here without filling up the pages with ad after ad.