Ltd Ed's (SL) Numbering - Who got what ? (1 Viewer)

[The Military Workshop]

Hi guys,
No doubt many forumites have received their Heydrich Assassination Ltd Ed's or are about to.
As requested by one of my customers I checked the numbers of the ones I got. He obviously wants a good number if there is one to be had. Basically numbers I received ranged from No 53 to 998 (so I can say I got 2nd last one). Had a few in the 500's and 700's but no apparent sequence to numbers received.
Just a thought. Do any other dealers check their numbers before they ship ? Do any customers try to always get the same number ? I know this can be quite difficult for suppliers/retailers at times and by what I received impossible unless specifically requested. Even then K&C would have to sort it out and once you go down that path to offer that kind of service can be difficult to keep it going.
Having dealt in prints I know certain numbers popular. Obviously No 1 & 999 would be top of the list and 104 as in the product code (I got No 69 of WS69 SL). Others might go for lucky numbers etc.
Is the allocation totally random by K&C HQ ? I actually prefer random.
Anyway, best wishes to all. Now got to phone somebody to see what number he wants !
Regards
Brett

 

[Capitolron]

Wow - Wouldnt that really be tough to get the same number for each SL ?? - Yikes I would hate to try that

 

[rws591]

Preferably I would like the numbers 1-999 but some how i think that would be hard

 

[Steven Chong]

... Do any other dealers check their numbers before they ship ...

I know of one dealer who opened the SL boxes and checked the numbers. He claimed to have a Strictly Limited set that had a certificate mistakenly printed with a number higher than the production run, and later a No. 1 set. He offered these particular sets to the highest bidder and supposedly got between $1000 and $1500 for one SL set and over $1800 for the other one. This created a controversy. Some collectors argued dealers should not check the numbers and that everyone should have the same chance of getting a set with a special number, not just wealthy collectors. Others argued that dealers should be able to charge any price they want since we live in a free market society.

I happen to agree that dealers have a right to charge any price they want. However, I do not have to buy from dealers that charge a higher price than other dealers, or charge more for regularly stocked sets when retirements are announced.

 

[nmrocks]

I know of one dealer who opened the SL boxes and checked the numbers. He claimed to have a Strictly Limited set that had a certificate mistakenly printed with a number higher than the production run, and later a No. 1 set. He offered these particular sets to the highest bidder and supposedly got between $1000 and $1500 for one SL set and over $1800 for the other one. This created a controversy. Some collectors argued dealers should not check the numbers and that everyone should have the same chance of getting a set with a special number, not just wealthy collectors. Others argued that dealers should be able to charge any price they want since we live in a free market society.

I happen to agree that dealers have a right to charge any price they want. However, I do not have to buy from dealers that charge a higher price than other dealers, or charge more for regularly stocked sets when retirements are announced.

If I'm not mistaken K&C has a strict pricing policy and in the past has cost some owners there dealership?
Ray

 

[Steven Chong]

If I'm not mistaken K&C has a strict pricing policy and in the past has cost some owners there dealership?
Ray

Dear Ray,
Authorized K&C Dealers cannot discount K&C products. However, there is no pricing policy against charging more than K&C's listed price.

 

[rws591]

Dear Ray,
Authorized K&C Dealers cannot discount K&C products. However, there is no pricing policy against charging more than K&C's listed price.

whether than can or not is not really important. Does any one really want to do buisness with some one who doesn't seem to enjoy the buisness but just the money. Personally i think they shouldn't charge more for 1s and 999s because thats not their list price. If KC wanted them to be higher in price i think they would sell them

 

[jazzeum]

I don't really follow that logic. Dealers are in it for the business as many earn their livelihood by being a dealer. While I count many a dealer as my friends, I also recognize that they need to earn a living. While it is good to have a dealer who enjoys or appreciates the history behind a piece, it's not a necessity and I can scarcely blame a dealer who has Number 1 from trying to obtain more for the item.

 

[OldCelt]

I don't really follow that logic. Dealers are in it for the business as many earn their livelihood by being a dealer. While I count many a dealer as my friends, I also recognize that they need to earn a living. While it is good to have a dealer who enjoys or appreciates the history behind a piece, it's not a necessity and I can scarcely blame a dealer who has Number 1 from trying to obtain more for the item.

Most dealers ARE in it to make a living. And alot are fans of the hobby as well.
I have noticed that most DO NOT jack up the price for issue #1 if they happen to get it. Which quite often #1 stays with the Manufacturer or goes to a special client. Lower "#" wil often then go out to a dealers favorite customer. Which most do have even if they won't admit it.(KInd of like a parent picking a favorite child)
Most dealers don't need their product sitting around any longer than is needed. Takes up space and slows sales. For what an extra few dollars?
O.C.

 

[rws591]

I don't really follow that logic. Dealers are in it for the business as many earn their livelihood by being a dealer. While I count many a dealer as my friends, I also recognize that they need to earn a living. While it is good to have a dealer who enjoys or appreciates the history behind a piece, it's not a necessity and I can scarcely blame a dealer who has Number 1 from trying to obtain more for the item.

But opening a product just to see if its a good number, in my view, is ridiculous. I mean we opened some item, such as the stugs and hummels, that were prone to problems but not to see if Tim had scored big by getting a number 1. Even if he would have checked to make sure everything and realized it was number one he would have sold it for the standard price.

 

[Steven Chong]

I was answering Brett's question and did not mean to start another controversy over dealer business practices and pricing. The recent posts mirror those of the past controversy, with some collectors saying dealers should not check numbers and charge more, while others say dealers are trying to earn a living and should be able to charge more. K&C posted they could not prevent a dealer from charging more (and yes, someone pointed out that if K&C can prevent dealers from discounting, they can likewise prevent dealers from charging more). Like Woody (OldCelt) posted, most K&C dealers do not charge more for special numbers. As collectors, we can directly influence dealers by simply choosing not to do business with a dealer that charges more.

 

[The Military Workshop]

Not trying to cause any problems with this thread.
I have published Ltd Ed prints where good numbers went to the first customers (usually good customers), or to Associations/military charities for fundraising purposes. Never sold a good numbered print for higher than retail but donated No 1's etc for auctions where they attracted more interest/bids than any old number. These prints additionally signed by significant people who have not signed the other prints in the run. A recent one was signed by Adrian Cronauer of Good Morning Vietnam fame and raised 6 x the retail framed value because he had signed. Funds went to the Vietnam Vets.
I once saw a print run where there was a sliding price scale. The first 10 went for 4 x the last 100 and quite frankly I considered the ones who bought the first 100 were baffled by the hype over the numbering and paid too much.
Unfortunately my prints don't sell out instantly like K&C Ltd Ed's !
Quite frankly I don't blame the dealer who got a high price for his No 1. If the customer is willing to pay for basically a number then both parties are happy. I will be totally honest and say I have been putting aside some Ltd Ed's and retired's for auction on Ebay to fund a decent family holiday for 4. I go out of my way to try to advise my customers about likely retirements and make recommendations accordingly.
Some interesting thoughts so far but quite frankly I thought certain customers might get particular numbers but this does not appear to be the case. I think Andy is busy enough without the headaches of who gets what number.
Regards
Brett