New minifig - White Mandalorian

[ILikePi]

This has got to be one of the best Star Wars minifigs out there!

One thing I'd also like to point out is that this will not be the next chrome minifig because this was not packaged in any special box of the sort, just a polybag. Remember last year's special chrome Vader box with all his quotes?

And another photo, this time from BS01 Cholie:

EDIT: Oh, and the first white Boba Fett was sold a few days ago on eBay (thanks to Skyward72 for finding that and posting about it on FBTB) for $100 with the minifig book. Not that expensive considering there's only 150 (official ones) in the world!

Edited February 17, 2010 by ILikePi

[Jar Jar]

I would kill for one...but to bad it is not the new Boba. So I guess I wouldn't want one. Anyways, if this is a official figure, does that mean it counts as those exclusive 'figs? (Vader, 3PO)

EDIT: Just read the post above me. Thanks for the info Pi!

EDIT EDIT: BTW, is Boba's jetpack attached to his helmet?

Edited February 17, 2010 by Jar Jar

[Alldarker]

(...)

EDIT: Oh, and the first white Boba Fett was sold a few days ago on eBay (thanks to Skyward72 for finding that and posting about it on FBTB) for $100 with the minifig book. Not that expensive considering there's only 150 (official ones) in the world!

AGGHHH!!! I've been looking for one on e-Bay for the last couple of days: don't know how I was able to miss this! That DEFINITELY was sold for a LOT LESS than it's worth.

Ah... I see, it was a 'buy it now': the offer was probably snapped up in the first ten minutes after becoming available. You'd say someone with a e-Bay store called 'Extreme Collector's Warehouse' would have more business sense for this kind of collectable...

[Destroydacre]

Am I really the only one that thinks that plain white Boba Fett looks terrible? I'll stick to the colored ones.

[Alldarker]

Am I really the only one that thinks that plain white Boba Fett looks terrible? I'll stick to the colored ones.

It doesn't matter how he looks: he's COLLECTIBLE!

But actually, there really is truth to that. As a collector of the OT sets and figures, this white Boba Fett isn't actually necessary for a complete collection, but white Boba is a part of OT Star Wars history, so to speak, and in that regard I want him, no matter how plain or boring he looks.

[Future74]

It's unbelievable that a minifigure is sold for this amount of money, than again, it all depends on what the die-hard collector with a large wallet is willing to pay for an exclusive. For me or in general the collectors it's too much for too little, even if the minifigure is kinda cute.

Hail to the lucky ones who get them for free.

[fenris]

I can understand why lego makes things like that. It's a nice giveaway. BUT:

I'm kind of a little frustated. It's not because i don't have this fig, it's because (like chrome vader) not even 0,1% of lego collectors have even achance to get those. Chrome Vader was e.g. sold by some dealers in germany for about €3 in unlimited numbers (or close to that). and some people (i'd would have done the same) bought tons of them making some 1000% profit on reselling them. That's kind of unfair and i don't think this is the intention of lego... otherwise they would sell a 1000 limited whatever on shop@home for 300€...

Edited February 17, 2010 by fenris

[Alldarker]

It's unbelievable that a minifigure is sold for this amount of money, than again, it all depends on what the die-hard collector with a large wallet is willing to pay for an exclusive. For me or in general the collectors it's too much for too little, even if the minifigure is kinda cute.

Hail to the lucky ones who get them for free.

You know how it is: "Het is maar wat de gek ervoor geeft". This is a Dutch proverb meaning: something is worth as much as what a fool is willing to give for it.

At the end of the day this minifig is only a bit of molded and printed ABS: materials costing perhaps $0.05 per figure. Perhaps a little more due to the limited production and the labor associated with changing molds and ABS pellets and printing.

But likewise, the materials and even the labor costs used to make a Van Gogh painting or, even more comparable, a Damien Hirst work of art, are 'worth' just a minimal fraction of the millions of dollars people are prepared to pay for these things.

I guess the important word you use is 'exclusive'... People like to own something special, because they hope it makes them special in turn. Bragging rights, showing off, you name it. And yes, even though I can rationalize it too, I have to admit that owning something exclusive does feel good to me as well.

@fenris: to be honest, the dark chrome Darth Vader isn't that expensive anymore if you check e-Bay or comparable sites. Definitely not €300.00 expensive. Lots of dark chrome Darth Vaders were released, at least a whole lot more than the 10.000 gold chrome C-3P0's.

Lego is into making profits based on material costs, production costs, labor costs and marketing costs. As a large company, trying to make a profit based on (artifically created) scarcity is a very bad business model, due to economics of scale (it's just much cheaper to do large production runs)!

This creation of scarcity can sometimes be quite a good profit turner for small businesses who can't afford big production runs, but who are able to create a hype around their products. Then again, if the hype around the (overpriced) item they are trying to flog doesn't pick up, they lose.

Edited February 17, 2010 by Alldarker

[Big Cam]

Kubricks has one now too, and for a lot less.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Star-Wars-Boba-Fet...=item518ab12203

[CopMike]

Not that expensive considering there's only 150 (official ones) in the world!

I guess there will be more than that.

[Derek]

I guess there will be more than that.

Hmmmm?

[Ricecracker]

Kubricks has one now too, and for a lot less.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Star-Wars-Boba-Fet...=item518ab12203

That isn't Lego...

[prateek]

I'd buy this for $100... And then sell it in 5 years for $10000

[Rufus]

Lego is into making profits based on material costs, production costs, labor costs and marketing costs. As a large company, trying to make a profit based on (artifically created) scarcity is a very bad business model, due to economics of scale (it's just much cheaper to do large production runs)!

This creation of scarcity can sometimes be quite a good profit turner for small businesses who can't afford big production runs, but who are able to create a hype around their products. Then again, if the hype around the (overpriced) item they are trying to flog doesn't pick up, they lose.

Well, I'll almost certainly never own one of these, and I can't say that I'm too worried. To me this looks like a prototype, valuable to collectors, but I don't need one to feel my collection is complete.

I hope that this is just - from Lego's point of view - a 'thank you' to fans; at least the ones who got to go the NY toy fair. I doubt it's a cynical marketing ploy; Lego aren't themselves going to make an awful lot of money from it. Knowing a little of how marketing works, and I think I'm right in saying that these were released on the VIP day, then at worst this is a perk for the buyers, who get to make a little money from the side from the die-hard collectors.

I might have got it all wrong, so don't flame me if I have, and good luck to those who must have one - I hope you don't have to pay through the odds.

Rufus.

Edit:

... but white Boba is a part of OT Star Wars history, so to speak ...

Did I miss something, Alldarker? Please explain!

Edited February 17, 2010 by Rufus

[fenris]

@alldarker: chrome vader was only an example to make my point clear. i know that they have been produced in quite large numbers. i'm just not happy with the way lego is "feeding" a "black market" with way-overpriced collectors items and i don't think it's their intention. they want some goodies for people on conventions or a bonus for people buying lego. i can live with it. i'm not that "harcore" in collecting. it's just an interesting phenomenom..

[Alldarker]

(...)Did I miss something, Alldarker? Please explain!

The white Mandalorian armor is actually based on Ralph McQuarrie's original concept.

Retrojunk.com has some more information on very early Boba Fett, as does this page, which mentions early film tests existing from pre-filming ESB, of a totally white Boba Fett which was later painted the trademark blue with battle damages and markings.

So yes... I'd definitely call that a bit of Star Wars history...

@alldarker: chrome vader was only an example to make my point clear. i know that they have been produced in quite large numbers. i'm just not happy with the way lego is "feeding" a "black market" with way-overpriced collectors items and i don't think it's their intention. they want some goodies for people on conventions or a bonus for people buying lego. i can live with it. i'm not that "harcore" in collecting. it's just an interesting phenomenom..

I'm sorry if I misinterpreted you. Like you, I don't think Lego is purposely feeding a black market with rare items. The fact is that giving something special and unique is a token of appreciation, moreso than giving something generic and readily available.

Anyhow... I wouldn't mind seeing these white Boba Fetts become more common, perhaps in a magnet pack. And i'm sure minifig customizers wouldn't mind much either!

[Davor]

Am I really the only one that thinks that plain white Boba Fett looks terrible? I'll stick to the colored ones.

i can`t agree more with you! minifig looks terrible, ugly and cheap.

[andy742000]

I guess there will be more than that.

Probably not it´s a give away toys from Toy Fair 2010 they have increased members from 100-150.

The book who comes with the white boba is the cheapest Lego star wars VIP they ever had.

I have sold out the rest of my V.I.P lego star wars.

I just loved the 2005 Toy Fair with the V.I.P dart Vader set and the luminare or the Anakin figure, that was a good V.I.P give away.

2010 was the worst lol

I like 2009 but the VIP section has made cheaper Lego star wars hahhahha

i can`t agree more with you! minifig looks terrible, ugly and cheap.

Yes I agree it´s awful and the cheapest VIP product they ever had

Edited February 18, 2010 by andy742000

[andy742000]

Looks really plain like a white chocolate.

I'm guessing it will be worth a LOT. If Gold Metalized C3PO cost $100 and only 15 000 made.... imagine the cost of a white boba fett with only 150 made..

That´s right I sold one Toy: Lego Toy Fair 2005 Star Wars V.I.P. Gala Set for 1200 USD.

But there was less than 55 of this sweet item lol.

The Toy Fair V.I.P has always expensive amounts

Edited February 18, 2010 by andy742000

[Big Cam]

That isn't Lego...

That would be why I said KUBRICKS has a white boba fett.

Where in my post did I say it's a LEGO piece?

[Bobskink]

I can understand why lego makes things like that. It's a nice giveaway. BUT:

I'm kind of a little frustated. It's not because i don't have this fig, it's because (like chrome vader) not even 0,1% of lego collectors have even achance to get those. Chrome Vader was e.g. sold by some dealers in germany for about €3 in unlimited numbers (or close to that). and some people (i'd would have done the same) bought tons of them making some 1000% profit on reselling them. That's kind of unfair and i don't think this is the intention of lego... otherwise they would sell a 1000 limited whatever on shop@home for 300€...

That's the same thing that bugs be, not even Lego gets ritch on this.

To bad that there are only 150 of it made and the fact that it's Boba fett, will probably make it overly expesive.

[YG-49]

More on eBay - The most expensive being $610!!

Clicky.

[Bobskink]

pff, I sold a lot of custom minifigs to be able to afford a Golden C3PO a few years back, but this is not worth it.

I hate ultra rare thing that I want

It's so rare and expensive you have to be a fool to open it, yet you want to open the plastic and display it nicely.

[Big Cam]

More on eBay - The most expensive being $610!!

Clicky.

That is so ridiculous. $600 for a freakin fig!!

[Ricecracker]

That would be why I said KUBRICKS has a white boba fett.

Where in my post did I say it's a LEGO piece?

Sorry, but I interpreted it as if you meant that KUBRICKS was a Lego seller. I didn't think it would've been pertinent for you to post it if you realized it wasn't Lego. Sorry for the misunderstanding.