By Jessica Sierocki, photo editor.
Cody Brown, freshman at Delta, has a hobby that’s out of this world. Brown has been collecting “Star Wars” memorabilia since he was a kid and his collection has grown so large that he’s now able to turn his hobby into a way to make money.
“I started collecting when I was eight or nine. My dad had given me a few old Star Wars figures that I just liked. It wasn’t until I was 13 that I really got into it. My first figure was a Luke Skywalker pilot, an Ellors Madak, and a Hans Solo. I still have the Hans Solo but I cut the belt off it,” says Brown.
According to Brown, he owns around 10,00 collector items so far. “I used to go to garage sales to buy stuff but as time went by, less and less “Star Wars” stuff would show up so I buy mostly through eBay now,” says Brown.
Brown estimates that his collection is worth around $80,000. “I’ve got an almost complete vintage set where all the figures are complete which is worth around $8,000 in good shape. I have another almost complete vintage collection which is worth $2,000 and it just keeps adding up from there. I collect every version of everything that I can,” says Brown.
A collection this size takes a lot of time and dedication to increase its value. Brown says he’s online every day looking for items he can buy on the cheap and sell for a profit. “I don’t usually buy stuff everyday but I look. I buy big lots, take out what I want, then sell what I already have to make my profits to buy again,” says Brown.
Brown says that his parents have been very supportive of his hobby. “I was looking on eBay around 3 a.m. when I was 13 or 14 but I didn’t have my own eBay account or PayPal yet. I saw this lot that had 17 comic packs which was selling for $170. I knew the Ulic Qel-Droma was worth $500 alone so I freaked out because I really wanted to buy it. I woke my mom up so she could buy me these toys,” says Brown.
To Brown, the toys are more important than the movies. “I don’t ever recall really watching the movies and thinking they were really cool. I just remember having the toys be really cool. It’s definitely the toys I like more that the movies,” says Brown.
Even though the research, buying and selling process may seem like a huge undertaking, Brown will not be stopping anytime soon. “It’s something that makes me happy,” says Brown.
