“If dealers were allowed to discount prices would be lower to collectors” (2 Viewers)

[Jack]

Yes Howard you are quite right. There are other (and better) ways to get old figures than just on ebay, though it's the most accessable for many.

Thanks all for your replies. Some sellers are indeed shameless in what they'll charge (or try to charge). Even old plastic train tracks for my son can be ridiculous. I've only paid a very high price once but that was for a figure I really needed. Otherwise, I just chuckle and move on. This is when I could be bothered to look that is, for the great part I have chosen to ignore the figures that came out before I became a collector.

All this said bargains can be had, as the examples given on here show. I want the following and this one is listed below recommended retail. Is someone - a dealer even - taking a loss then? I don't know. Whether it stays at this price once bids come in remains to be seen. But at this point $35 below the rrp.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/King-and-Co...3&prg=1011&rk=2&sd=370679222968&#ht_299wt_890

John - Howard did call you Bob so he was not correct about everything.

 

[Vezzolf]

Shameless in the sense that I didn't put it on the market for $500,000 when there were similar units on sale next door for $250,000. It takes real brass to look someone in the eye (well, metaphorically given it's ebay) and ask double what the local shop is charging.

Well Said{bravo}}...and Right-On

 

[jazzeum]

It takes real brass to look someone in the eye (well, metaphorically given it's ebay) and ask double what the local shop is charging.

Why? It's a free market.

 

[rpk]

Why? It's a free market.

Personally I'm all in favor of free market, and have purchased from other collectors at a fair market price in the past. Problem I have is with scalpers, who are only in it to make a buck, and not in it for enjoyment of the hobby. Same types that line up at the stores in the wee hours of the morning to take the toys out of kids hands and flip them at a flea market for 4-5x the price. Saw this many years ago when my kids were younger. With this hobby it is sniping on eBay, or picking up a good deal off a forum, then turning it around for double, triple or more. In the end the best thing to do is ignore them and be patient. I'd like certain sets, but don't need any of them really. With free market you take the bad with the good.

 

[The Military Workshop]

Probably just me but I think some of those who would like dealers to discount and complain about low Ebay returns (compared to before) are some of the same people who would be more than happy to sell their items at well over retail on Ebay. Some may also be complaining about a particular Ebay seller but probably not so much if he buys their Ebay items with a view to reselling at a higher price if he can. If he can get higher prices he is probably helping other sellers lift the value of their similar items as presumably there are the 2nd bidders still looking.

As far as profiteering on Ebay goes it has happened with all brands. K&C naturally as that has had the most product in the market. Some may recall big increases in TG and Jenkins where it was apparent some had bought multiples of certain sets. Figarti also and now apparently it is starting with FL. I recently saw a Britains example where the seller was asking for 4 x release cost.

I don't think those sales actually affect the retail price or pricing policies of the manufacturers. What does affect the resale price is low numbers and strong demand. From what I can see (and guess) recent items are being produced in lower numbers than say the numbers in 2006/7 days when K&C may have done thousands of an item. Now there would be at least 5 x times the variety available for collectors to choose from (ie. K&C inventory alone must have doubled and add FL, TG, CS and Jenkins since then and not to forget Britains).

For those still "speculating" it has probably got harder to pick the winners.

Just some of my random thoughts.

 

[jazzeum]

Personally I'm all in favor of free market, and have purchased from other collectors at a fair market price in the past. Problem I have is with scalpers, who are only in it to make a buck, and not in it for enjoyment of the hobby. Same types that line up at the stores in the wee hours of the morning to take the toys out of kids hands and flip them at a flea market for 4-5x the price. Saw this many years ago when my kids were younger. With this hobby it is sniping on eBay, or picking up a good deal off a forum, then turning it around for double, triple or more. In the end the best thing to do is ignore them and be patient. I'd like certain sets, but don't need any of them really. With free market you take the bad with the good.

Yes, he's in it to make a buck. That's his business. If he can buy it on the low end and then resell it on the high end, I don't see what's wrong with that. That's called free enterprise.

Brad

 

[rpk]

Yes, he's in it to make a buck. That's his business. If he can buy it on the low end and then resell it on the high end, I don't see what's wrong with that. That's called free enterprise.

Not disagreeing with free enterprise, but that same freedom allows me to dispise those that get in between typical transactions to just make their cut.

 

[jazzeum]

Not disagreeing with free enterprise, but that same freedom allows me to dispise those that get in between typical transactions to just make their cut.

There's nothing that says that one has to buy from him. I've seen this happen in the CD section of eBay. It was once the province of the average seller/collector but then big volume sellers came in and basically took over.

To me, it's a not a question of like or dislike, it's just business.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo7zkd0kRS4

 

[Vezzolf]

Not disagreeing with free enterprise, but that same freedom allows me to dispise those that get in between typical transactions to just make their cut.

Totally Agree...When something stinks it stinks....."Its Just Business"....I guess that makes everything OK.....Some business practices are "bush league tactics" irregardless of free enterprise....and its good to call them out for what they are and collectively refuse to buy from them.......Refuse to be taken advantage of....Let the product just sit there on the shelves.....Then people will RE-THINK their business practices........PS Brad like your video post...a great scene from an excellent movie.