The Retail Deemphasis Of Vintage Collection This Time Of Year Makes Me Sad

I've written several times here that I'm a "Christmas kid.” Thanksgiving through New Years is my favorite time of the year despite the fact that I'm not a big fan of the weather. Although I do like a white Christmas. I'm complicated like that. There are many factors in my love of this season, not the least of which is my childhood having a December birthday. All the major events of the kid-year fell in the last few days of the year for me. Moreover, Star Wars and Christmas were inextricable growing up, as it was for many of us. For a five year stretch, Christmas equated to the "big ticket" Star Wars item of the year.

These vibes continued well into adulthood. It seemed like 3.75" Star Wars product anchored brick and mortar Black Friday promotions. Sometimes, it would be used to blow out overstock at amazing deals such as the 8-packs at Walmart in 2012:


Those "Shadows of the Dark Side" Saga Legends figures were often super articulated. You'll notice the Spacetrooper in the image above. I'll give you a moment to recover from the concept of eight 3.75" super articulated figures for $25.

Target had the "Ultimate Battle Packs" such as the Battle at the Sarlacc Pit set, but for me, the Black Friday Star Wars promotions peaked in 2006 with the Target exclusive Saga Collection Shuttle:


I remember having "FOMO" butterflies as I drove to Target that morning. I scored one, but they didn't last very long at my local store.

Fast forward to 2023 and brick and mortar stores are still a flurry of consumerism this time of year. My Target had so much stock to shelve that they staged their "boats" in the toy section and neighboring aisles for days as the product was worked out. My hope was that maybe amidst this sea of shipping containers, one measly TVC case could be stocked. But alas, after days of daily spot checks, I watched as all the stock was put out a nary a TVC figure found the pegs. I'm fairly certain that no TBS went out either. Meanwhile, the stocking of the Lego aisle was a veritable ant colony of activity.

Unlike a decade or so ago when the 3.75" Star Wars line appealed to "kids of all ages", TVC is a decidedly an adult collectible, so I was never expecting a "wall of TVC", but I don't think a whopping eight figures is too much to ask for. Brick and mortar has changed greatly over the last fifteen years, and stocking throughout December is a thing of the past. 95% of the holiday stock is already on the shelves, meaning a TVC shutout is likely in my area. That does sadden me a tad.

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