SO WHAT'S IN AN ENTERPRISE?

 

Do you realise, just how much Star Trek is with you? It exists in many more forms besides the television and movie screen. In fact, if you are reading this article at home, then chances are that Star Trek is all around you. But do you see it?

 

I do not believe there is a single Star Trek fan anywhere who does not own at least one piece of Trek merchandise. Star Trek, like Star Wars, has been merchandised to the extreme. There is virtually nothing that hasn't been marketed with some sort of Trek label on it. The range of items is so vast, that it is highly unlikely that any one fan in the world has all of it.

 

Star Trek paraphernalia has been around since the 1960's, but it was only when Star Wars was released did merchandise manufacturers really pick up on the potential profits. The markets were flooded as products were pumped out. Yet all this came to a steady halt in the mid 80's as interest started to quieten, then the serious collectors appeared and began their shopping as retail prices started to fall. Star Trek, in the world of collectables, took a back seat while all of this was happening. Some items were released relating to the films, but nothing near the volume of Star Wars.

 

The biggest lesson learnt from the 'Star Wars boom' was that any piece of merchandise that was bought and then used, was practically worthless years later. This was a hard price many collectors paid before realisingthis. Toys could not be played with and packaging not discarded, less they be worth a potential fortune in the years to come.

 

The chance for the Star Trek collector arose in 1987 with the release of Star Trek: The Next Generation. The fans went ape as heaps of stuff rolled off the lines. Everyone got into the Star Trek buying craze, only this time things were being kept mint. Figures remained in packets, toys were left unopened, novelties unused. Serious collectors sprang up everywhere. Soon the game changed from being a selected individuals effort, to one of group attrition. Just who could keep their collectables in mint condition the longest?

 

It's funny to look around and see all these people who have bought all the Next Generation figures and have not opened them. The reminders of the Star Wars era was a painful one, where only the select few had the foresight to see what was coming. We all bought our toys and threw away the packets, not realising that the first edition Star Wars figures (the original 12) now fetch over $140 each! Mint condition of course.Only because so few of these things were ever kept like this.Now everyone is doing it, everyone wants to own a gold mine of collectables in the future. Well Next Gen fans beware, it could be a long wait.

 

How the process works it this. 100 fans, for example, buy the same toys and things and store them away somewhere.' In 5 years, a few grow out of it and they either sell up, give away or use the things they have collected. In 10 years, the bulk of our collectors will have married and the priority of the collection drops as they and their spouses prepare to buy a home and plan a family. In 20 years, kids are well and truly on the scene, any space taken up by collectables is usually reallocated for the use of the children. Once again either the collection is sold off cheap, given away, thrown out or given to the kids to use. In 25 years, attitudes to the collection have well and truly changed as mortgages must be paid, kids schooled, spouses to look after and so on. The collection has now become a nuisance, as families have little time for things that take up space, whilst serving no purpose (only people with really big houses are exempt from this). By the time 30 years is up, how many of our initial 100 will have stuck by their collections? I estimate about 3%. 30 years is a long time to drag any possession around, especially since collections can take up a lot of room, and money. So our 3% are now holding onto items that have appreciated hundreds of times over their original cost price. Look at it this way, out of the original 100 collections bought 30 years ago, only 3 remain in mint condition. So, just what would they be worth?

 

It must be pointed out though, that no one really is ever sure of what will appreciate and what wont. History has shown that often the most unlikely things come out on top, but unless you can travel into the future and back, we will never really know who will benefit and who will suffer.

 

If you want to start serious Star Trek, or other merchandise collecting, here are a few points worth having a look at.

 

Space! A $100,000 stamp collection can fit into a book shelf 10 feet long. Toys, books and novelties take up a lot more room than that, keep that in mind next time you buy something large.

 

The condition of a collectable is paramount, everything must look like it was made yesterday. Scratches, tears, rips, perforations or fades to the packaging will devalue a product. Nothing must ever come out of its packet, especially if it can't be resealed. An item can drop as much as 60-80% of its value if out of the box.

 

Odd things can be worth more, like the Star Trek II The Vengeance of Khan die-cast ships.

 

Incorrect packaging and labeling are uncommon, so things like that appreciate quicker.

 

Limited run items are good, e.g.: the die-cast Enterprise D that everyone bought, will not be worth as much as the 'saucer separation' version, simply because it's harder to get.

 

Rare products are always worth snapping up as are items that hold very little interest to people. Chances are, the main cast from the Next Generation figures won't be worth a lot, it will be the lesser known characters that will be in demand. Simply because at the time of release, no one wanted them.

 

Big things can be good because of the difficulty in storing them. I wonder how many large Enterprise D's with flashing lights and noises will be around in boxes 25 years from now?

Complete sets of a series is a bonus, as partial sets will not be as well sought after.

 

Edible things are a challenge and can hold great rewards, but beware, some foods do not survive very well over a long period of time, so adequate storage is essential.

 

Posters can be stored in tubes for long periods of time, but they cannot be displayed, framing them is expensive but worthwhile, and laminating them destroys their value completely as it is not removable (block mounting is the same).

 

Books really don't do much, and autographed items will soar in value, once the celebrity has passed away (sad but true).

 

There is a lot to be gained in following the above notes, for example, a friend of mine recently sold a Dinky Classic series Enterprise mint in box for a whopping $350. Minotaur Books in the city were selling Classic series dolls in packets for $160 each (they are really worth about $50-$80 actually, but they still went), and the list goes on. There is a bit of sacrifice involved in serious collecting, the fact that no items can be used and played with can be frustrating, yet that is all part of the game. The longer you can hold out, the better off you will be, theoretically.

 

Yet on the other side of the coin, there are many people who buy collectables and take them out of their packets to enjoy the pleasures they offer, not caring about the potential value they may hold. When I see these people having fun with their purchases, knowing that I can't use mine, it sometimes makes me wonder, just who is actually better off?

 

D. Maxwell

 

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