[Help please] I need to convince my parents not to return my Code3 AT-ST

Sorry dude, that stinks.

But anyway, I'd try to argue to your parents that it's a good investment like any other collectable. Tell them that it could be worth double or triple what you payed for it in 20 or 30 years.

Just my .02.

 

Are there any good precedents (i.e. items released five years ago that have greatly increased in value)? LAJ or CrazyMike should be able to help.

 

Hmm. That's a tough situation. Maybe if you opened something like a savings account, or bought a bond with the money you saved because of the discount, they would cool down about it.


Sorry, I know that's not very helpful. But it's all I can think of at the moment.

 

Sorry but who signed this AT-ST?
As far as I know they never had a signed one

 

I could point to an item I have as an example of appreciation. I bought the Boba Fett Gentle Giant mini bust on preorder from TFAW for about 46.00 US. If you do a search on completed auctions on Ebay for this, the prices are up in the high 100-low 200 US dollar range. I believe this bust came out in 2003.

 

My hunch is that your parents prejudice towards this may be such that you may have to switch tactics here. Even if there is evidence to suggest that this will increase in value, they'll still likely argue that CD's, IRA's et., are a better investment (And in that point they're probably right)

I assume that you're still living at home, which gives you very little leverage. Now, I don't want to start a feud between you and your folks, but perhaps you could point out some things they have. Do they have hobbies? Do they Golf, collect antiques or anything? You could maybe draw a parallel. You know, play the hypocrite card.

And just remember, when you get out on your own you can leave the toilet seat down, drink OJ straight from the carton and buy all the AT-ST's your heart desires (Disney pun!).

Either way good luck!

 

They call a Code 3 replica an "overpriced toy"? Time to some sense in them! No, you just hang on to that AT-ST for as long as you want. Oh, and here's an arguement, mom and dad: "It's MY money and that's none of YOUR #%&@ business!"

Another fine example of an item that has slightly gone up in value: Gentle Giant's Clone Wars Animated Pad-uh-mé maquette. Need I say more?

 

i hate to sound like i'm not on your side here, but if you are an adult, and if you are living with your parents, then maybe you'd be better off putting the money towards getting your own place. once you're on your own, you can do whatever you want. of course, i don't really know your situation, so i'm just throwing out ideas.

 

Even non-LE collectibles go up in value; I know of at least two Lego sets that have doubled or tripled in price since their release for AOTC. Same thing with a couple of Unleashed figures that now go for $100+. And these are just small toys. High level collectibles like Code 3s should have even better appreciation.

Or claim to return it and give it to a friend for safekeeping....I'm sure you could get some volunteers right here

 

This is a very good point. I just did a quick search of ebay for some of the more rare Unleashed figures I have that originally retailed for $15 - many of them are above $70 in these auctions now. I realize you are not dealing with Unleashed figures, but your AT-ST is apparently an extremely limited edition and made even more unique by the fact that it is signed. I suggest you try to convince your parents that the secondary market demand for Star Wars items is huge. Obviously, it's not always the case, but such a limited edition item would definitely have a large demand. Just compare it to these non-limited items MarcusP2 mentioned. Do your parents realize how rabid the Star Wars fans can be for collectibles? If you can make them see that Star Wars items, "toy" or otherwise, are extremely popular collectibles, maybe they would be more willing to let you keep it, especially since you got such a good deal on it. If they are so concerned with money, I would think they would be happy to see that you purchased such a valuable item at such a good price. I apologize if these suggestions are useless, but I wish you luck in any case.

 

I had run ins with my folks in the past regarding SW items that they felt that were overpriced. I spoke to a friend of mine and we hashed out a plan to make it look like he bought it from me. I later snuggled it back into my place and the item ( an Imperial Walker) was packed away.

GAJ I really do not know what the answer is. To keep the peace you may have to sell or return it.

 

^ Yeah, would they notice if you say, you 'sold' it but didn't get the money back... ie. say you 'sell' it to a friend but in reality you are just letting them keep it for you till you move out and can display it on your own.
I really can't relate, my parents are big collectors of other things in their own right. So when I got $100+ Star Wars items they really couldn't complain too much. Besides I have my own place and it is better than spending it on drinking, cigarettes... ect. I hope you get to keep it. Good luck! We're pulling for you!

 

My parents (mostly my mom) would always get at me when I brought home bags full of toys (SW and other things), so much so that when I went shopping I'd keep any goodies I bought in the trunk until a time when they weren't home and then I'd bring them up to my room, which was so full of stuff they'd never be able to notice new things. This only works if you have your own car, though (which I did).

One time I did pull the trick of pointing out that the money I spend on toys is money better spent than on cigarettes (my mom smokes), which didn't go over too well with her but she wasn't able to say anything back to me.

You're in a tough position, unfortunately. Despite their dislike for what I spent money on, my parents never crossed the line of actually dictating what I did with it (mostly because they knew there was no way I would ever allow them to). If you can, you should stand your ground. But it sounds like you may have to cave. These things are definitely easier to handle when you move out.

 

i see now...you're away at school. that makes it more difficult. too bad they're so strict.

 

That is actually illegal. Being your parents doesn't give them the right to open your mail.

I actually had that problem with my parents, too (not with bank statements, but with any school-related items that got sent home and were actually addressed to me, not "the parents of").

My solution? I got a PO Box. I changed my mailing address for everything to that and got virtually no mail at home. They're a practical thing to have for general safety if you do a lot of buying/selling/trading online, anyways.

Good luck!

 

yeah, a PO box is a good start. no matter what you do, it's time to cut the umbilical cord and start making your own decisions. besides, part of growing up is doing things that your parents don't agree with. then you learn why they didn't agree with it and you move on.

 

what are your parents threatening if you dont sell it?

 

but perhaps you could point out some things they have. Do they have hobbies? Do they Golf, collect antiques or anything? You could maybe draw a parallel.

this is a great idea, just present it to them in the right way...

Hmm. That's a tough situation. Maybe if you opened something like a savings account, or bought a bond with the money you saved because of the discount, they would cool down about it.

This is an awesome idea. the product was like $400,and you got it for 2-something. you saved $200 of your $$. Show them you are a responsible shopper, and saver...

so much so that when I went shopping I'd keep any goodies I bought in the trunk until a time when they weren't home and then I'd bring them up to my room, which was so full of stuff they'd never be able to notice new things.

hahaha, i do this all the time with my girlfriend-hehe

GrandAdmiralJello,

Here is my advice.
First, you are an adult, and it is your $$. I know you still live under your parents roof, and they may even be paying for your schooling as well, butit is your $$ and you have the right to spend it how ever you want.

i dont know enough about you, your collection, lifestyle or financial history to understand exactly where your parents are coming from. For all i know, they may have a specific reason to check your mail and watch wheere your $$ goes/... But to say the least, they dont want you to waste your $$ on "stuff"...what ever "stuff may be to them". In this case a SW statue.

Is this AT-ST just stuff for you, or is it more to you.??? You said you bought it to keep, not even as an investment... If it means more to you, its something you really want and have worked for, then dont sell it. It is okay to tell your parents NO, and tell them why...they should respect your decision if you explain it to them in a logical way, as an adult....

If that wouldnt or doesnt work, and they threaten to kick you out or cut of other assistance they provide, then i obviously dotn want you to take a "stand" and tell them no.

I lived at home until college, and after college i moved back in for two years. I had many a fight and difference of opinion as my parents on many, many things. Its natural for anyone becoming an adult.

Unfortunately, the bottom line is this.
You can tell them in the most respectful way, you want this, you earned the $$ for it, and you are keeping it

or take the "investment angle" Tell them the value will increase, and it is a risk akin to a stock, and you want this as an investment

or lie to them, and hide it under you bed, or fix some fake exchange where you hand it of with your buddy for safe keeping.

Hopefully you wont have to lie. You are 18, so your parents sould start to respect that you are an adult. You have to agree to disagree, but let them know, you understand their lesson, that saving is smart...Perhaps a good faith effort of investing the difference would prove that to them.

Im sorry that it has come to this...But maybe there are a few lessons to be learned for you and your folks. I suggest telling them why you bought it, what it means to you, and why you want to keep. And also explain to them, that you will display proof that you understand their point, and follow through with it.

And man, if all else fails, and you have to get rid of it...sell it on ebay, i am sure someone will buy it for more then you paid

 

Adding to this, children must be allowed to fail and have it left to them to figure out how to resolve the problem. Mom and Dad can't always rush in for the easy fix. Children who rely on their parents to do just that have no hope of becoming self-sufficient when it comes time to leave home.

Perhaps you could say to your parents something like, "Maybe buying this was a waste of my money. But it's a decision that I made and I have to live with. And I will be the one to decide when to sell it, if ever."

 

I say return it. Over two hundred dollars is way too much for a Star Wars collectible. I have trouble parting with eighty or ninety dollars for a Kotobukiya, but I cap any Star Wars spending at one hundred bucks. I'd like to get some Attakus, Gentle Giant or Sideshow statues, but I just can't rationalize that kind of spending. When you move out, you'll be able to pay a cell phone or power bill for half a year with that kind of money, make a couple of insurance payments, or take a girl out ot dinner several times. Also, since you don't collect to sell, you'll never see any return on that AT-ST. It will just sit there and collect dust, until one day you really need that money. You won't be able to return it, and you'll only get a few bucks for it online because by then the Star Wars hype will be gone. Take it from a former completist and recovering collector, next year at this time you will rather have two hundred plus dollars in your account than an AT-ST model on the shelf.

 

Collect because you want an item, not because you expect it to go up in value in the future.

For every example of something that has doubled or tripled in value in the past 5 years, there are a dozen items that are worth less than half their original selling prices.