The Chronicles of a Star Wars Collector

Never before this year, have I collected the current line of 3 3/4 inch figures with such completeness. Through all of the waves of figures for Episode 1, 2, and 3 I just picked up whatever whenever I could. Many of my Episode 1 and 2 figures came from KB Toys when they had them marked down half price. I bought several Episode 3 figures equaling maybe half of what they came out with. I set a goal to get every basic figure in this years Saga Collection. Just the basic figures, not all the exclusive and Ultimate Galactic Hunt (UGH!!!) figures. I did manage to get one UGH! figure off the self and bought the online exclusive Shadow Stormtrooper. On principle I did not go after the Heros and Villians set, because they were just repacks from the Episode 3 line. Yes, I understand that many of the Saga figures are repacks, but ALL the H&V are repacks. What's a repack? They re-use the mold from a previous line, to give you the same figures in the new line with different packaging. Their are some figures from the Greatest Battle set that I do want to pick up because they are cool and you can not have enough of them (Shocktrooper, 501st Clone Trooper, etc.). My goal was to pick up all 52 basic Saga Collection figures at RETAIL price. No after market eBay crap for figures that I should find in the stores right now. The name of the game is patience and persistence. I have managed to find the first 38 figures at retail. No Wal-Mart is the same. I would just keep checking out the selection when I happened to go by a Wal-Mart and had the time to look. Commander Cody has been a very popular and hard to find figure. I have four. I would just find one here and there. Only one Saga figure eluded me. Republic Commando Scorch. I ordered a box of the wave he came in from Entertainment Earth. Even after shipping each figure from EE is only about .50 cent more per figure than Wal-Mart. It is cheaper than Target. I bought a wave that included two of Scorch. I want to encourage you collectors out there to be patient with the new figures. Do not let your lust for the new figures make you head to eBay prematurely. I have 14 more figures to go in the Saga Basic Collection. I will get them the same as I did with the first 38. Happy hunting!

If you are missing some Saga Collection figures, let me know. I have some doubles that I would be willing to part with. And no, I will not scalp you.