Ebay Dealers Setting Marketplace Values Driving Up Prices (1 Viewer)

[jdg_family]

I'm sure that this has been discussed before (and I therefore apologize in advance for the rant) but as a relatively new K&C collector it has become very clear to me that it's becoming increasing more difficult to acquire retired figures/vehicles on eBay at a reasonable price (don't always have the time to go to toy soldier shows) as collectors like myself are bidding against dealers who sometimes charge 2 or 3 times more than what the piece's actual market value may be worth and therefore drive up the bidding price for the figure in question (just look at the disparity in the prices for the KX line of figures and you'll see what I mean)--went through the same many years ago when I was collecting Lionel trains and certain large dealers were able to obtain large collections driving prices up until Neil Young and his group came along offering reproductions of classic Lionel trains again changing the marketplace--in other words, when you overspend to buy the one figure that you want to complete your collection from that eBay dealer who has managed to acquire multiples of this figure through his/he own eBay bidding you may be lucky to get half that price if you ever need to resell through your own efforts making your investment all the more tenuous and less enjoyable--once again another fine hobby is being reduced to the control of a few dealers controlling the marketplace on eBay by buying low, and selling high as they (not collectors) reduce the inventory of retired figures --from their point of view this is how they make their living and there is nothing wrong with that--just makes collecting more frustrating and less enjoble--again sorry for the rant.

 

[The Military Workshop]

I am not sure how a dealer can control Ebay pricing. Whilst a seller can set the starting price of an auction the final selling price is up to the bidders going after that item.

 

[jazzeum]

Are what you are trying to say is that on eBay you're competing against dealers for retired items who then, when they win the item, charge two or three times what the final auction price was?

If that's the case, I have found that certain re-sellers are looking at certain items that are selling at a low price. They will then purchase it at that price and then re-sell it a price where they can make a profit. I'm not sure I see anything wrong with this as you (the generic you, that is) had the ability to bid for the item as well. A re-seller is not going to get into a crazy bidding war because then they have no profit.

 

[gk5717]

Since just recently I sold off a large portion of my early K&C sets, I understand your frustration at high prices. But as a seller I could care less who buys my product, I want the most money I can get, that,s why I,m selling. I am not a charity.
Also along with what Brad said, dealers, one of whom bought a large portion of my items, will only pay so much as he has to leave room for a profit when he resells it. So I think that theory is wrong.
Gary

 

[Mitch]

I don't unless I am looking at a different e-bay see these high prices. Yes, some sets are put at a high price but, I see many at high prices not bought and relisted again and again. I find e-bay an absolute steal for King & Country items so, some dealers but the sets but, everyone has a price they are willing to pay and, that includes dealers.
Mitch

 

[PanzerAce1944]

If there is a Toy Soldier item that you really want bid the top price that you are willing to pay and if someone else gets it, let them pay for it at that "higher Price"

 

[waynepoo]

Hmmmm...isn't that called capitalism.....:rolleyes2:
Wayne.

 

[PanzerAce1944]

Hmmmm...isn't that called capitalism.....:rolleyes2:
Wayne.

Sure as Shooti'n Cowboy :wink2:

 

[hsm]

King and Country Woodland Indians have been flipped over and over again on ebay. now the asking price is over double waht i was willing to pay for them. Someone will buy them. And also one day I will probably get them at a price I am happy with- all part of the hobby for me.

 

[Harper (aka Spitfrnd)]

I also do see this as any trend or example of market control. Obviously the best place to buy an item at retail is before the production stops but after (and for certain items even before) it does Ebay has proven a very useful place to find such things at reasonable prices. Frankly the price of anything is set by the demand and if supply is low and demand is high, the price will be high as well. That is just one of those things and I wouldn't really want it any other way. Yes it is frustrating when what you want is priced above what you want to (can) pay but more often than not with patience you will see the price cycle bring it back into reach. So venting is understandable and fine to me but to be sure you are not alone in having to sometimes wait for better prices for the items you want.

 

[nmrocks]

You are free to buy something on ebay or not, it is freedom. I would suggest you consider the plight of a person who bid and won several of my auctions some 3 weeks ago, not a lot of money involved but since he lives on the island of Cypress the postage was going to be high.... then the government, so desperate to spend other peoples money decided on a saturday after the banks closed they would simply "Take" peoples savings to pay for there over spending ways. The banks have not been fully opened since, if you are lucky enough to find an ATM with cash left, you are allowed to take no more than $300.00 a day and you are not allowed to send any money out of the country.
We have corresponded several times on ways to complete this deal but his goverment will not allow him to spend his own money. I have been forced to cancel his wins and request a refund of the ebay fees charged for the sale. I'll do everything I can not to have ebay harm his good name over this but I just don't know if they will listen.
I wished him and his family much luck, he's going to need it.
I much prefer freedom of choice and too high prices.