Millennium Falcon - TVC - Vehicles (Exclusive)

Collectors should hand it to Hasbro sometimes. In 2008, they brought us one of the greatest products of all time. The Legacy Collection’s Millennium Falcon was about the best gift possible. Hasbro HAD to build the Millennium Falcon from scratch because the molds of the original 1979 vehicle (and subsequent retools and repaints) became damaged that they couldn’t use the tooling any more. So, they decided when it was appropriate to revisit this vehicle from the ground up that they would do it the right way. This meant that the vehicle would be made in a larger scale and have more play features than ever before with a healthy dose of electronics. When the vehicle was released in 2008, collectors were wowed to unprecedented levels. The vehicle is honestly not too practical for kids. It’s so big that it’s extremely difficult for young children to carry this massive beast from one play area to the next. Does this by default make it a collector-focused item? We find that doubtful, but apparently younger Star Wars fans will have to “grow into it”.

In 2008, we fantasized about this behemoth getting released in some sort of “vintage-styled” packaging right after it was released in The Legacy Collection. Back then we had no idea that The Vintage Collection was two years out, so our impatience got the better of us and we became discontent with Hasbro. The Legacy Collection was a fantastic basic figure line, but the packaging left a lot to be desired, especially for larger items like the Millennium Falcon. Blue/white doesn’t have the staying power of silver/black. That’s universally agreeable. So we wished and hoped that we would one day see this is some classic homage paying packaging. That day is here. Hasbro announced that an unchanged version of 2008’s TLC Millennium Falcon would indeed be released as a Toys R Us exclusive in the Fall of 2012 and it made all of us who collected The Vintage Collection very, very happy. That was until we found out what the MSRP was going to be. If there is one area this items fails, it’s the retail price. It’s a staggering $249.99. In 2008, the Millennium Falcon retailed for $149.99 (a more than fair price). Sadly, not even the packaging makes this worthy of your hard earned dollars.

Even though we feel very strongly that this item is overpriced, we still can’t help be intrigued by the new 2012 box art. It really does make the Millennium Falcon even better which is pretty hard to do since it was incredibly impressive in 2008. How in the world does something increase $100 in four years? Hasbro consistently explains time and again that it’s retail and not them to determine the prices of the toys in the Star Wars line. Yes Hasbro, we read you loudly and clearly. But if you set your wholesale at too high of a price, then the stores need to make up the difference the retail level. A store like Toys R Us shouldn’t have to resort to 50% off six-hour sales to move stock of gorgeous exclusives like this. The 2012 TVC Millennium Falcon should have been set at the fair $149.99 – $179.99 MSRP price range. Then with some holiday promotions they could make it even more attractive to prospective buyers. Whatever you decide, know that the art department at Hasbro did a stunning job on the box art. It is verbatim to the 1979 Star Wars art (and includes the new updates as an aside on the 2012 packaging). There is a lot to love, but the price tag is not one of these things.