I predict that Harbour Lights will give it up within three years, if not sooner. The market just isn't there.
It is my firm belief that Harbour Lights will be around for a long time, and I don't see any signs of them closing out their several lines.
Younger & Associates is a well established company that produces a variety of collectibles and giftware. They have a substantial core of collectors upon which they have built their business.
You must remember that the dealer/stores that are closing are not exclusive Harbour Light stores. They sell many different brands of merchandise, and need new people to walk in off the street and purchase their wares every day. They can't survive by selling HL's to a handful of faithful customers who pick up each new release.
Another thought to ponder is the fact that if there are HL's in a store and they are offering them at "close-out" pricing, Harbour Lights has already been paid for those pieces. No matter what a dealer sells the HL's for, and even if it violates the contractual agreement of not discounting pieces, Harbour Lights has already made whatever profit on their end.
I would say there are a couple of different views about collecting HL's. The first would be the apparent enjoyment derived from being involved with Harbour Lights and owning what many consider to be a thing of beauty. The second view would be as an investment. Something you purchased at a price with the hopes of selling at a later date for a profit.
I would say the majority of the people that frequent the CF are a mixture of the two views above. They buy HL's because they like the way they look, and it's a great hobby to try and get whatever pieces you need to fill in a collection. They also buy doubles with the hopes of selling or trading them at a later date for an upgrade to their collection or for profit. I don't know of any person who has considered being buried with their collection.
Is eBay to blame for the downfall of collectible pricing? No, they are just the tool being used by people to rid themselves of something they have lost interest in and are hoping to make a buck or recover their initial investment. The good thing about eBay is it opens up your options of connecting with fellow collectors world-wide, and allows them to offer items you may never see at your local dealer. Other than eBay and the New Marketplace here at the CF, I wouldn't know where to go to try to find unique and hard to find HL's. Most other of the secondary market dealers have faded into the sunset.
So my friends, buy what you enjoy and enjoy what you buy! If you didn't have any interest in HL collectibles, you wouldn't be reading this right now. The fact you are reading this indicates you still have an interest in Harbour Lights and we know there are more than two of us here.
Bob