For a long time many have debated the worth of effort in collecting errors and variations. Hopefully this guide will help you sort through the controversy.

  First, let's define an error from a variation. A error is when a figure is one that is not accurate to it's movie counterpart. The wrong color something, wrong or missing accessory, mis-spelling of text on the package. Some good examples are Star Wars figures. POTJ R2-Q5 has a mis-spelled word on it's Force File so it's an error. It was never corrected. ROTS Senator Palpatine was first issued with a blue light saber but in the movie he uses a red one. This was corrected.

  Variations are figures that differs from another production run of the same figure and/or it's movie counterpart, . An example is the ROTS Meena Tills. It was first made with a cream color on the bottom half of the head and are very rare. Very quickly it was re-produced with a salmon color. Another is the Fan's Choice McQuarrie Concept Trooper. Originally he held his saber in an upward position. Public pressure over it's threatening look caused Hasbro to put the saber in a downward position. Also the ROTS Clone Commander. It had a couple of different paint schemes that Hasbro produced on purpose. I include re-packs in this catagory as most have significant differences. I have five Anakin Geonosis Hanger Duel variations. Two on the original card with sticker variations and missing trademark, three on the Hall of Fame gold strip cards. The coloring of the sabers in the picture differs from the original and the sabers have very distinct differences. One has a pointed/tapered tip, one is regular but the bubble has a moulded slot the saber fits through, and one thick saber that has a slot all the way open to the end of the bubble. In other words, the tray end is not closed.

  So it seems to me that an error figure can sometimes also be a variation and visa versa. After all, it differs from it's original version whether the change was due to a production error, deliberate intent, or public pressure. R2-Q5 would just be an error since it was never corrected. Meena Tills could be considered both, (if the cream color was a mistake). The Clone Commanders would just be variations because they were intended to be made the different ways. 

  IT IS IMPORTANT TO EDUCATE YOURSELF IF YOU INTEND TO COLLECT ERRORS AND VARIATIONS! THERE ARE MANY WEBSITES THAT HAVE FORUMS AND ARTICLES. DON'T JUMP ON THE FIRST NEW ERROR/VARIATION YOU SEE LISTED ON E-BAY. YOU CAN MISS OUT ON SOMETHING GOOD BUT SOME ARE VIRTUALLY WORTH THE RETAIL PRICE AS IN THE SOME IN THE CURRENT STAR WARS SAGA LINE. HEM DEZON AND MOMAW NADON HAVE THREE CUP VARIATION/ERRORS THAT ARE ALL PLENTIFUL.

  Many hardcore action figure collectors consider errors and variations that do not duplicate their movie counterpart exactly, worthless. Some even feel they are worth less than the retail price. I can understand that but these are usually people making dioramas and such. I generally expect mine to be accurate too. But I am totally on the opposite side about the values. Consider other hobbies people have collected errors on for years. Coins are the number one example. Sports cards, McDonald Happy Meal toys and toys in general. to name a few others. Some error coins demand big bucks. Even vintage Star Wars figures have had errors and variations that have been valuable for years. Please understand though, that if a figure has an error and is never corrected, generally it's value is about it's original retail cost. Even if it's corrected, an error may not be worth much more than the corrected version depending upon how big the error production run was.

  There is healthy community of error and variation collectors. The appeal is having something that few others have as well as the hunt, (if collecting errors/variations that is). Truth be told, errors should not even be shipped to retailers making them even more mysterious and rare. It's hard sometimes to buy both an error/variation and the correct version of a figure. I always opt for the error/variation knowing the regular version can easily be obtained at a later time. A good error will not.

  You have to be patient and willing to really scour all the stores you can. 99% of the time you will not find a true error and variations sell fast. Once when I was in a Toys R Us, I found a Bespin Bloody Hand Luke that had the detached right hand in the blister as it should be but it also had a hand attached to the right arm! I saw it as soon as I looked at the pegs. Than another time I was in a Wal-mart and went through about 500 figures and found nothing except a few short packed figures.

  All in all, collect what you want for your own reasons. If you think you will retire early from all the valuable figures you have, you likely be working till retirement like most of us. It's just a hobby. Have fun but don't take it too seriously. 

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Good luck and happy collecting!

Dennis