Collection Liquidation: Retail or Wholesale? (1 Viewer)

[ivanmoe]

A forum member is moving to liquidate a LARGE collection from a major manufacturer. It's my understanding that his approach to the sale is such that he will seek to recover the original retail cost of the sets. In this, I wish him nothing but the best, as many of the pieces have not doubt appreciated in rarity and value since he acquired them. Good luck in this journey of yours, Serge!

I am curious, however, as to how many of the forum members would be willing divest themselves of a collection at wholesale cost, simply to be done with it, to spare themselves the ardor and trauma of it all. Keep in mind that the loss to be suffered will grow arithmetically with the size of the collection in hand. Also assume that wholesale costs are at least fifty-percent less than retail on many pieces.

-Moe

 

[jazzeum]

I'm not sure of the distinction you're making between retail and wholesale. Collectors pay retail but dealers wholesale, which may or may not be uniform. Is your definition of wholesale anything below retail or the wholesale price dealers pay, not generally known to collectors.

 

[ivanmoe]

I'm not sure of the distinction you're making between retail and wholesale. Collectors pay retail but dealers wholesale, which may or may not be uniform. Is your definition of wholesale anything below retail or the wholesale price dealers pay, not generally known to collectors.

Hi Brad,

Don't forget about the distributor's cut! I realize that the numbers end of this proposition is more complex than the question that was posed. However, the fact that costs "may not be uniform," as you state, makes specificity impossible. Ever watch Pawn Stars or American Pickers? Both programs deal with after-market purchase and sales of collectibles. The characters in both programs appear to shoot for 100% markup in whatever they acquire. Were they to buy Serge's entire collection at original retail cost, what our esteemed forum mate paid for them, I suspect that we'd witness "Rick" or "Mike" whining about their "overhead" and there not being enough "meat on the bone" for them as sellers. If your tastes are such that you eschew American television, more power to you.Better off shopping for TS.:wink2:

-Moe

 

[jazzeum]

Moe,

I think you're unnecessarly making the issue more difficult because MSRP is the price paid by the collector or customer. Whether there is a distributor (with K & C there is not, at least in the US) or what is the wholesale price isn't relevant because a collector will look at the price he paid (retail) in determining what price he will charge.

I am slowly selling off parts of my collection and in determining sale price, for certain ranges I will charge below retail in order to attract traffic. For other long retired pieces, particularly WW II, I'm charging way above retail. However, retail is the starting point.

Since you mentioned Serge's sales, he is (unless I misunderstood what he said) selling his collection for his purchase price. However, his purchase price is not always retail since he has some pieces in his collection that were retired when he purchased them and therefore had to pay more to purchase them.

Brad

 

[PanzerAce1944]

A few different angles to look at here. If a Dealer were to buy the collection, he would seek to buy and make a worthwhile profit in return. That being said if some items in the collection
were originally purchased for....$89.00 and currently trade for $175.00 I could see many dealers would pay up to $110.00 or more for that item, set, etc....
Three categories to look at: Wholesale / Retail / Current Market Value . Having all of the original boxes for all items "Helps" ensure a healthier Current Market Value.
Just my thoughts................ :wink2:

 

[ivanmoe]

Moe,

I think you're unnecessarly making the issue more difficult because MSRP is the price paid by the collector or customer.

I never used the term MSRP. It's an interesting one in the context of toy soldiers, because at least one manufacturer goes to considerable lengths to enforce the figure with its dealers. In other words, the price isn't so much suggested, as it is compulsory in that instance, or apparently so. I didn't use the acronym, as I believed that it would just muddy the water. Rather, I used the term "retail," meaning prices for a good that's purchased from a retailer, one who engages in "the sale of goods or commodities in small quantities directly to consumers." Even in the somewhat restrictive world of toy soldier retail pricing, "getting prices" are frequently ten percent (or more) below the publicly advertized "asking price." This is a controversial matter, hereabouts, and I don't care to discuss it any further. That last comment is in no way intended to be provocative and was made with total respect towards you.

Whether there is a distributor (with K & C there is not, at least in the US) or what is the wholesale price isn't relevant because a collector will look at the price he paid (retail) in determining what price he will charge.

Well, of course. However, just because a collector paid a certain amount for an item, doesn't mean that he'll recoup his cost, not now, and perhaps not ever. I've seen many a well-intentioned collector attempt to do just that on Ebay, only to fall flat on their financial bums. If the demand for the item isn't there, the bucks aren't going to follow. As to the relevancy of wholesale pricing, resellers aren't going to purposely buy a set unless they believe that they can turn a nice profit on the item. I'm not a part of that world, but I do business with them all the time. If they can make a living in the process, fine. In the meantime, they are the party that's stuck with the risk.

I am slowly selling off parts of my collection and in determining sale price, for certain ranges I will charge below retail in order to attract traffic. For other long retired pieces, particularly WW II, I'm charging way above retail. However, retail is the starting point.

I've witnessed your sales strategy in this regard. It seems very sound, so much so that I'd likely mimic your technique (if it ever came to that). I'd also mention that I respect what you and Serge are doing. I see no problem, whatsoever, with trading out of a manufacturer or range. In no way does this taint your role as collectors. Rather, it simply denotes a redirection of resources in regard to that which you gentlemen collect.

Since you mentioned Serge's sales, he is (unless I misunderstood what he said) selling his collection for his purchase price. However, his purchase price is not always retail since he has some pieces in his collection that were retired when he purchased them and therefore had to pay more to purchase them.

Understood.

That last comment presupposes an "understood" subject, the personal pronoun "I." For a moment I thought I had eclipsed the shortest sentence in the New Testament in brevity, "Jesus Wept." I guess that I sort of cheated, though, eh counselor?:wink2: That said, not a word of what you wrote in that last paragraph is at odds with the letter or spirit of what I posted in the poll at the top of the thread. At best, you've fleshed my thoughts out a bit. At worse, you've unnecessarly made the issue more difficult. For clarification's sake, see your opening comment at the top of this post.

Take care,

-Moe

 

[King Tiger II]

I guys,

I just saw this thread and will put my 2 cents.


Im very honest with my price list , their is 1 Big dealer that i dealt with and most comes from him or her

And he or her can verify if im a cheater or not, and beleive me im not.

The readon why im selling here my whole collection if K&C with some Honour Bound, is to concentrate on First Legions and John Jenkins, i can assure you that every dispatch month from K&C that i see the new stuff, i just want to buy everything from them, but i need to stop. I do like K&C and i will always like K&C products.

But now its the time for me to concentrate my effort on the 2 other manufacturer, i can tell you that my nearest dealer is waiting for my shopping list. ^&grin

And i want to give to all the users here the opportunity to buy some articles that are otherwise very hard to come get their hands on it , and the best is that i do have almost complet sets of certain eras,
I could had done it via Ebay, and make more money with time , but no, i think they are some really nice guys here on TF and they at least have the opportunity to buy something they really want without going through Ebay.

Also something i didnt told to anyone here , their is another factor that push me to sell a part of what i have is my wife, i dont want to blame her, but woman at least my wife dont like these toýs soldiers like we men do, and i had alot of conversation with her about my collection, and i do think at the end she is right , for me toýs soldiers is more than a passion, i dont know what it can be called ,maybe im just a crazy guy, but it was way too much what i was doing.

I started collecting K&C about 4 years ago then i purchased more and more in a very brief period of time, then i fell in love with First Legions and John Jenkins.
LoL, you should the reaction to my wife seeing all those coming boxes from the mail post, that was something to see, and explain to her that it was a really good bargain. ^&grin^&grin

Anyway , i think she is right, i love my wife more than anything, except .... Well you know what. ^&grin^&grin.

Right their is not much that im missing from First Legion, and will concentrate on buying from them and JJ ,

So you now know why im selling my K&C .

Thanks for reading.

Serge.

 

[marco55]

Wow Serge at that rate you must have been buying 80-90 sets a month.{eek3}
Mark

 

[ivanmoe]

I guys,

I just saw this thread and will put my 2 cents.


Im very honest with my price list , their is 1 Big dealer that i dealt with and most comes from him or her

And he or her can verify if im a cheater or not, and beleive me im not.

The readon why im selling here my whole collection if K&C with some Honour Bound, is to concentrate on First Legions and John Jenkins, i can assure you that every dispatch month from K&C that i see the new stuff, i just want to buy everything from them, but i need to stop. I do like K&C and i will always like K&C products.

But now its the time for me to concentrate my effort on the 2 other manufacturer, i can tell you that my nearest dealer is waiting for my shopping list. ^&grin

And i want to give to all the users here the opportunity to buy some articles that are otherwise very hard to come get their hands on it , and the best is that i do have almost complet sets of certain eras,
I could had done it via Ebay, and make more money with time , but no, i think they are some really nice guys here on TF and they at least have the opportunity to buy something they really want without going through Ebay.

Also something i didnt told to anyone here , their is another factor that push me to sell a part of what i have is my wife, i dont want to blame her, but woman at least my wife dont like these toýs soldiers like we men do, and i had alot of conversation with her about my collection, and i do think at the end she is right , for me toýs soldiers is more than a passion, i dont know what it can be called ,maybe im just a crazy guy, but it was way too much what i was doing.

I started collecting K&C about 4 years ago then i purchased more and more in a very brief period of time, then i fell in love with First Legions and John Jenkins.
LoL, you should the reaction to my wife seeing all those coming boxes from the mail post, that was something to see, and explain to her that it was a really good bargain. ^&grin^&grin

Anyway , i think she is right, i love my wife more than anything, except .... Well you know what. ^&grin^&grin.

Right their is not much that im missing from First Legion, and will concentrate on buying from them and JJ ,

So you now know why im selling my K&C .

Thanks for reading.

Serge.

Hi Serge,

We have a couple of things in common.

First, I'm a JJD collector. I've managed to keep up with its Knights of the Sky range. I'm never more than a set or two behind in releases. They are of such marvelous quality that it's hard not to consider them a bargain.^&grin

Second, I've got so many models that I've been forced to rent storage locker(s) to keep them in. I live in Texas and the heat and humidity can get pretty intense. Because of that, I've resorted to two "climate-controlled" units. I'll spare you a quote on the cost, partly because I feel a degree of guilt over it. I know how hard some folks have it, and I'm storing model airplanes in air-conditioning. :redface2:

As you move forward with your sale, please take a few moments to share your experiences. On the plus side, remember that you'll walk away from this with enough money to buy any and everything that you might be interested in from the JJD or FL catalogs. On the downside, I suspect that it's gonna be very, very arduous for you to move three-thousand-plus sets. Just keep your eye on the prize, and you'll be fine.

Again, good luck!:salute::


-Moe

 

[larso]

I've had a look at Serge's prices for his Napoleonics. Some are at the top end, the highest I have seen but there are also some brilliant prices too. The chance to get a bunch from the same place and save on shipping is very attractive. I hope to have some luck when I submit my wish-list latter. His plan seems a pretty reasonable one. I think he is doing members of the Forum quite a favour by letting us know and inviting our interest. No one has to buy. It's going to be a LOT of work! I hope it doesn't get too painful for him.