Collector's Code? (1 Viewer)

I always sell my figures in the form of a diorama . It pays (very) well. I make a decent profit. Why; because a lot of items on the dio you can make yourself( base, trees, rocks, etc...)small items and details come from a large box where I keep my spares gathered over the years, and everything you paint automatically receives a higher value than the original piece . Just to give you an example ; I sold the winter dio ( see picture attached) for 495€ = $ 650.
The luftwaffe dio ( see picture attached)I sold for $520. This gives me a reasonable profit to buy new stuff
guy:smile2:
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There is no code written or unwritten no gentlemen's agreement. The hobby is no different to any other we have seen on here the rather unscrupulous and often down right devious manner some will try to sell toy soldiers. There are lots of people selling in a decent manner but, if you expect high morality your always going to be disappointed

at one time the price of new sets being low helped the ''rare'' and old items sell for high prices however now that new sets are much much higher the secondary market has taken a right old hit.

An example is the winter Tiger. It used to sell for anywhere from £600/1200 quite easily. Now your lucky to get £200/300 for it. One has sat on e-bay for a good few months at £350 starting bid and not had a sniff. Can't say I would expect anything less on the secondary market than people wanting the best deal (meaning the cheapest price) in a hobby with constant rising prices.
Mitch
 
As a general statement rather than a response to the poster

Price too high = do not buy
Price too low = do not sell
Use a dictionary when required = spec·u·late

1.Form a theory or conjecture about a subject without firm evidence.
2.Invest in stocks, property, or other ventures in the hope of gain but with the risk of loss.

Accept that only very few people can make money out of their own hobby. Once your hobby makes money it is actually your job. There is likely to be considerable disappointment if you start to treat your hobby as a job while simultaneously expecting manufacturers to treat their job like a hobby. To talk about rising costs as an influence on your spending is only logical. To expect a manufacturer to show less regard to the economy than a collector will only ensure the cost of his product will rise because he will be out of business.
 
Jack said:
As a general statement rather than a response to the poster

Price too high = do not buy
Price too low = do not sell
Use a dictionary when required = spec·u·late

1.Form a theory or conjecture about a subject without firm evidence.
2.Invest in stocks, property, or other ventures in the hope of gain but with the risk of loss.

Accept that only very few people can make money out of their own hobby. Once your hobby makes money it is actually your job. There is likely to be considerable disappointment if you start to treat your hobby as a job while simultaneously expecting manufacturers to treat their job like a hobby. To talk about rising costs as an influence on your spending is only logical. To expect a manufacturer to show less regard to the economy than a collector will only ensure the cost of his product will rise because he will be out of business.
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Good post Jack
 
As far as price too low, do not sell, my theory is fast nickels are better than slow dimes.
 
jazzeum said:
As far as price too low, do not sell, my theory is fast nickels are better than slow dimes.
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The owners of Treefrog and their subsidiaries wish to indicate that they in no way subscribe to this economic theory. The opinions expressed in this post are personal and their placement in this thread should not be taken as evidence that Treefrog Treasures or anyone associated with them, either in whole or part, believe that 'a fast nickel is better than a slow dime'. Treefrog Treasures recommend that you seek independent financial advice before making any decision.
 
jberto18 said:
While I appreciate your responses and advice, my experiences with buying and selling either with a collector or at auction drove me to post this thread as more of a philosophical question than a complaint. I understand the dynamics of supply and demand but I think the general rising prices of miniatures both MSRP and at auction are hurting the hobby. I understand prices maybe rising on the newer items but the older items are not holding their value to financially justify the purchase. Taking emotion out of it, in reality it isn't "worth" collecting.

As a relatively young collector it is difficult to keep up with the hobby. I am not saying I am going to stop collecting or am trying to insult the purpose of collecting - i am just posing an interesting question to the forum.
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If I am reading your posts correctly you are complaining that you did not get a higher price when auctioning some items. However you go on to say high auction prices are hurting the hobby. If you had achieved say double your cost price would you have posted that those auctions hurt the hobby ?^&confuse.
 
Blowtorch said:
I'm There are more leaving than coming in
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Or perhaps those leaving are more visible than those coming in.

Since we started selling toy soldiers over a decade ago we've heard that there were more leaving than coming in, yet the hobby remains strong....and it's not because long time collectors are buying more!

Pete
 
Jack said:
The owners of Treefrog and their subsidiaries wish to indicate that they in no way subscribe to this economic theory. The opinions expressed in this post are personal and their placement in this thread should not be taken as evidence that Treefrog Treasures or anyone associated with them, either in whole or part, believe that 'a fast nickel is better than a slow dime'. Treefrog Treasures recommend that you seek independent financial advice before making any decision.
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There's an old Jewish saying: let's move the merchandise! :wink2:
 
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Peter Reuss said:
Or perhaps those leaving are more visible than those coming in.

Since we started selling toy soldiers over a decade ago we've heard that there were more leaving than coming in, yet the hobby remains strong....and it's not because long time collectors are buying more!

Pete
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So true.

I was talking to a collector recently who has been collecting for over 40 years and had a TS shop for a short while. He mentioned that 15 years ago he never dreamed that the market could support all the manufacturers that it does now.
 
I have always been an odd ball as far as this hobby goes.....This thread is quite an awakening. I dont even think in the terms this discussion presents. I carefully choose my pieces for the sole purpose of enjoying them in a diorama and that is about as far as it goes.

Some recent changes in thinking on my part have prompted me to sell some stuff, only because it no longer fits my collecting profile. I usually try to get what I paid except for a few older K&C pieces I had. And sometimes I sell for less.

I never had a plan to specifically collect for profit and I do not have much knowledge of of what goes on in that area. I can see I am not missing anything, I am glad I dont associate with this aspect of the hobby.

I am watchng all of the manufacturers conduct carefully as far as their pricing and quality and I know clearly in my mind what is and is not worth buying, but this is ever changing as the hobby progresses.

If you buy carefully for the purpose of enjoyment you will not have to sell much.

Alex
 
The Military Workshop said:
If I am reading your posts correctly you are complaining that you did not get a higher price when auctioning some items. However you go on to say high auction prices are hurting the hobby. If you had achieved say double your cost price would you have posted that those auctions hurt the hobby ?^&confuse.
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You did not read the post correctly. I am simply stating that I did not receive close to what I paid when selling a few of my K&C American Rev pieces - I never entered the hobby with any intention of turning it into a buy/sell business. I am assuming most on the forum have sold some of their collection for whatever the reason and wanted to gauge your experiences. I do contend that high auction prices are hurting the hobby because newer figures are going for upwards of $40.00 (old news or not its the truth) and then those on the secondary market are inflated. I still believe it is tough for the younger generation of collectors to withstand the hobby.
 
Jack said:
As a general statement rather than a response to the poster

Price too high = do not buy
Price too low = do not sell
Use a dictionary when required = spec·u·late

1.Form a theory or conjecture about a subject without firm evidence.
2.Invest in stocks, property, or other ventures in the hope of gain but with the risk of loss.

Accept that only very few people can make money out of their own hobby. Once your hobby makes money it is actually your job. There is likely to be considerable disappointment if you start to treat your hobby as a job while simultaneously expecting manufacturers to treat their job like a hobby. To talk about rising costs as an influence on your spending is only logical. To expect a manufacturer to show less regard to the economy than a collector will only ensure the cost of his product will rise because he will be out of business.
Click to expand...

If you happen to have the financial reports of every dealer in every part of the world I would love to see them to ensure my theory does indeed hold water. I apologize for not presenting firm statistical evidence with my posts - I was under the impression this was a toy soldier forum and not a doctoral dissertation. ;)
 
As someone who has been in the distribution business for over 40 years and now teaches business and finance i believe our hobby follows basic business law.
Commodity products (mass produced or large production runs) will rarely increase in value. Limited editions and custom built items (e.g small dioramas and buildings) will fetch premiums over time.
Certain makers get hot because a small population of avid collectors bid up the value. Right now, for example, Trophy Miniatures which ceased production about seven or eight years ago seem to be getting decent premiums.
Especially their rarer items such as boats, vehicles and artillery can be bid up by just a few zealous buyers. Trophy, as others, also is a quality product that bridged the gap from older style gloss to better sculpted and painted precursors of the matt types. So there are makers with historical and innovative significance to our hobby that will hold their value as well.

If prices continue to go up exponentially and the hobby doesn't implode you can probably sell your most recent acquisitions for around cost.

Unlike what I call investment hobbies such as stamps, coins, sports memorobilia, certain antiques and art. Our hobby is more hands on, visual, creative and "fun" (I would say another example of a fun hobby are toy trains).

If you are collecting for investment buy limited editions, discontinued items, out of business makers and rare older pieces. Like any business you have to research the market, understand the trends and the macro-economy. Down the road I think "trading" will become more popular as well.
And always remember that if you enjoy collecting, painting, diorama making, art and history.....you can't put a price on happiness! Happy people live longer.
 
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