The holiday season feels different when you collect Star Wars merchandise. Everyone else worries about toys for the kids or finding a nice sweater. You’re tracking HasLab funding windows, watching eBay auctions for vintage Kenner figures, and calculating whether that Mandalorian helmet will still be in stock by December 24.
Collecting has gotten expensive. And Christmas shopping for yourself or other Star Wars fans in your life requires an actual plan now.
The Average Cost of Popular Star Wars Collectibles
Don’t expect stable pricing here. Short supply can send a figure to two or three times its normal cost. As of the end of 2025–beginning of 2026, here are the current price ranges for the most popular Star Wars collectibles:
| Item | Price Range |
| Black Series Standard Figure | ~$24.99–$79.99 |
| Vintage Collection Figure | ~$19.99–$229.99 |
| Black Series Helmet Replica | ~$99.99–$139.99 |
| HasLab Crowdfunded Items | ~$349.99–$499.99 |
| Hot Toys 1/6 Scale Figure | ~$275–$450 |
| Sideshow Premium Format Statue | ~$600–$900 |
The Average Cost of Shipping
Most of the time, the local shipping isn’t a big hit on your wallet, especially if you order in bulk. Yet, international delivery to relatives or friends can get expensive:
| Shipping | Cost |
| Domestic (specialty retailer) | ~$8–$15 |
| International (U.S. to Europe) | ~$30–$45 |
| International (U.S. to Australia) | ~$45–$60 |
| Freight for large items | ~$50–$150 |
Why Does Star Wars Merchandise Cost More Than It Used To?
Hasbro has never issued a press release explaining Star Wars price increases. In their recent annual reports, executives mention supply chain disruptions, material costs, tariffs, and Disney licensing fees.
Jedi Temple Archives conducted research on Hasbro earnings back in 2023 and found prices up to 30% higher than in early 2019. It outpaces general inflation by a wide margin.
Banthaskull reported in October 2025 that sources along the retail pipeline claim “TVC figures do not make any money for anyone.” Whether that’s accurate or not, it explains why retailers stock fewer cases and run fewer promotions than five years ago.
The U.S. tariff changes in April 2025 made it even more expensive:
- Entertainment Earth CEO Billy Lagor said the company can’t absorb every increase tied to China imports.
- BBTS added disclosure that pre-orders may be subject to tariff-based price changes without notice.
Fans outside the U.S. feel the price hikes as well:
- UK collectors pay 20% VAT on items over £135.
- Australian collectors have no direct Hasbro Pulse shipping and must use freight forwarders.
- Canadian collectors report wildly inconsistent duties — anywhere from $25 to $80 on identical orders.
Where to Find the Best Deals?
Most collectors get the best prices online now. Stores often receive only a few cases of each release, usually eight different figures per case. So you might see three or four of one specific figure per store if you’re lucky, and they can disappear fast.
| Source | Potential Savings | Notes |
| Amazon Lightning Deals | ~20–40% off | Watch for Black Series and Vintage Collection |
| Target Circle + RedCard | ~15–30% combined | Stacks during holiday promotions |
| Walmart rollbacks | ~15–30% off | Clearance varies heavily by location |
| GameStop Pro membership | Points + monthly reward | Good for pre-orders |
| Entertainment Earth | Free shipping | Mint Condition Guarantee included |
| Big Bad Toy Store | Pile of Loot shipping* | Combine orders, ship together |
Big Bad Toy Store offers a “Pile of Loot” option that lets you hold purchases for 90 days, then ship them all at once. It’s a great way to save money. You buy over a few weeks and get one package instead of several, saving on the shipping.
If you want hard numbers on the resale market, visit ActionFigure411. It tracks every Black Series and Vintage Collection eBay sale. You can also stack cash back through Rakuten or TopCashback for 1–11%, depending on the retailer. On Black Friday, some stores reach 50% off.
What Happens When You Miss a Star Wars Exclusive?
Obviously, it’s not the end of the world. Still, if you’re a die-hard fan, it could potentially cost you 10 times more when you finally decide to get that exclusive figurine in the future.
| Exclusive Type | Retail Window | Aftermarket Markup |
| Hasbro Pulse exclusive | 24–72 hours | ~50–100% |
| Target/Walmart exclusive | 1–2 weeks | ~75–150% |
| SDCC/Celebration exclusive | Convention only | ~100–200% |
| HasLab crowdfund | 45–60-day campaign | ~150–300% |
Hasbro Pulse, Target, Walmart, and convention exclusives often sell out within hours. HasLab campaigns have fixed funding windows, and once they close, they don’t reopen. The Rancor campaign proved this works both ways — it fell short at ~8,533 backers when 9,000 were needed. No product was ever made. There’s no aftermarket because there’s nothing to sell.
The Sail Barge, the Razor Crest, and the Ghost went the same way — if you weren’t in during the campaign, you can only look to aftermarket sellers now. San Diego Comic-Con and Star Wars Celebration exclusives are the hardest to get. After a sellout, the secondary market can double or triple prices within weeks.
Where to Get Money for a Star Wars Christmas Gift?
A collecting hobby isn’t cheap, especially around franchises everyone loves. The holiday season pushes prices and demand even higher. You want to surprise yourself or someone close with that limited edition piece, but your budget doesn’t stretch far enough. There might not be another shot at grabbing that exclusive figure.
Worse yet, missing out can completely kill the festive spirit. Christmas feels different, and people want gifts that feel special. If you don’t have another way to get money fast, it may be completely justified to use your credit card balance.
People without access to credit cards may consider short-term loans for financing Christmas expenses. It’s one of the quickest ways to get cash when nothing else comes through. This option is not for everyone, though. It costs more than traditional banking loans, and you should be realistic about your ability to repay.
How Not to Spend a Fortune at a Vintage Market
The vintage market operates on completely different economics. Hake’s and Heritage Auctions schedule major sales in November and early December. Christmas is actually decent timing — sellers want to move inventory before year-end, and mid-tier items see less aggressive bidding than during spring convention season.
| Vintage Item Category | Typical Price Range |
| Common loose figure (complete) | ~$15–$40 |
| Uncommon loose figure (complete) | ~$50–$150 |
| Rare loose figure (complete) | ~$200–$600 |
| Common carded (C7–C8 grade) | ~$150–$400 |
| Rare carded (C8+ grade) | ~$800–$5,000+ |
| Blue Snaggletooth (loose) | ~$350–$500 |
| Vinyl cape Jawa (loose) | ~$2,000–$3,500 |
| Double-telescoping saber (loose) | ~$5,000–$25,000 |
Yet, beware of counterfeits; there are tons of them. Mentioning all of them would be a crime against your time, so we’ll note only a couple.
Back in 2013, the so-called “Palitoy Scam” caused serious problems in the UK vintage collecting scene. A dealer obtained about 25,000 backing cards from the Palitoy factory closure and used them to assemble “mint on card” figures. After, he sold them as vintage originals. Collectors estimate that ~90% of loose vintage accessories on the market now may be reproductions (weapons, capes, lightsabers, etc).
Another example is Mark Poon’s “Poontrooper” Stormtrooper reproductions from 2012. They use identical COO stamps as originals. If you aim to buy one, you need a reliable scale to detect a repo. Reproductions weigh ~15.6g, while authentic ones weigh ~14.6g.
Before you decide to buy second-hand, we strongly advise you to check trusted collector forums for verification notes on the exact item you’re interested in. Here are some trusted community resources that may be helpful to identify the fakes:
- com maintains updated counterfeit alerts with side-by-side comparisons.
- AFA and CAS grading services provide professional authentication.
- The Rebel Scum forums and Jedi Temple Archives are solid resources for price tracking and authentication tips.
When to Buy and When to Wait?
We already mentioned the most reliable ways to find the best deals (look in the sections above). Yet, when exactly should you buy? If you don’t monitor for extremely rare pieces, you should aim for these times of the year:
| Time of Year | What Happens | Opportunity |
| February (Toy Fair) | New announcements | Pre-order retail prices |
| May (Celebration/May 4th) | Exclusives + reveals | Limited window purchasing |
| July (SDCC) | Convention exclusives | Shared exclusives at retail |
| September–October | Holiday wave ships | Full retail availability |
| November–December | Sales begin | Clearance on older waves |
| January | Post-holiday clearance | Deepest discounts on overstock |
Target discounts figures on a regular schedule. When an item doesn’t sell for about 90 days, the price often starts to drop significantly.
Ross stores may get cancelled Entertainment Earth orders and sell them at 75-80% off the original retail price. Redditors mention that Ross sometimes has Bo-Katan, Mythrol, Kuiil, and wave 39 figures in stock.
Clearance usually hits repacks and lesser-known characters first. Clone troopers, Mandalorian characters, and main trilogy heroes rarely see deep discounts. That clone trooper variant everyone passed on? It’ll be half price by February. The exclusive that everyone wanted will probably never drop.
At the end of the day, if collecting is your hobby, you should always conduct your own research. Weigh all pros and cons if you believe the purchase may drain your wallet and turn out to be worthless to you.
What Actually Deserves Your Money
Your emotions from owning and growing a collection are what collecting is really about. If you’re convinced a certain buy will bring holiday happiness to you or the other Star Wars fan, don’t overthink it. Just grab what brings that joy.
Yet, not everything Hasbro announces needs to end up on the shelf. If the purchase isn’t tied to a holiday gift or isn’t urgent, don’t rush. Make the decision with a clear head. Each Hasbro wave includes figures meant to complete a scene or fill out a roster, and those often stay at retail for months.
The internet hype cycle makes everything feel urgent, but it rarely is. Check Jedi Business or the Star Wars subreddit for community opinions before panic-buying something you’ll forget about in six months. Happy hunting, and happy holidays!