eBay Watch (1 Viewer)

[Aussie Monty]

I know I have asked this question before, but why do collectors pay more than retail prices for figures that they can still buy from a dealer.

As per the auctions that end today on eBay for the following John Jenkins sets:

BM06 $190 ($Retail $92)
BM07 $76 ($Retail $50)
BM08 $97 ($Retail $50)
BM08 $97 ($Retail $50)
BM09 $79 ($Retail $50) Still get from Sierra for $50
BM10 $97 ($Retail $78)
WIM03 $91 ($Retail $72) Any Dealer
WIM04 $74 ($Retail $72) Any Dealer
WIM05 $78 ($Retail $75) Any Dealer
QHL01 $62 ($Retail $52) Any Dealer
QHL02 $61 ($Retail $52) Any Dealer
QHL03 $57 ($Retail $52) Any Dealer

I can understand the retired sets going for more, but the others

Also on a second note King & Country CF02 for $305 on eBay today

 

[wadepat]

I know I have asked this question before, but why do collectors pay more than retail prices for figures that they can still buy from a dealer.

As per the auctions that end today on eBay for the following John Jenkins sets:

BM06 $190 ($Retail $92)
BM07 $76 ($Retail $50)
BM08 $97 ($Retail $50)
BM08 $97 ($Retail $50)
BM09 $79 ($Retail $50) Still get from Sierra for $50
BM10 $97 ($Retail $78)
WIM03 $91 ($Retail $72) Any Dealer
WIM04 $74 ($Retail $72) Any Dealer
WIM05 $78 ($Retail $75) Any Dealer
QHL01 $62 ($Retail $52) Any Dealer
QHL02 $61 ($Retail $52) Any Dealer
QHL03 $57 ($Retail $52) Any Dealer

I can understand the retired sets going for more, but the others

Also on a second note King & Country CF02 for $305 on eBay today

Hi Monty,

You ask the question that has perplexed me for a long time. The issue you identify is not limited to John Jenkins sets. You will notice similar winning bids for Britains, Marlborough, Conte, etc. I have only been able to come to the following two possible conclusions:

1.) The winning bidder is uninformed and does not realize the figure/set is still available and/or does not know the current retail price.

2.) The competing bidders become determined not to allow their opponent to win at any cost.

If anyone can identify another possible conclusion to this interesting question, please post it. I am as curious as Monty.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[OzDigger]

I'm sure there's a 'Sense V Cents' joke in there somewhere

 

[theBaron]

It's not just a phenomenon of the toy soldier auctions, either. I think those observations apply to all of eBay, in general.

The immediate access the Internet provides probably increases the number of uninformed bidders who participate, compared to the pre-Internet days, and the conditions that still obtain, at live auctions. The same can be said about the number of dealers, too, although in the case of our hobby, most serious dealers probably have a good knowledge of what they're selling.

And there certainly is an adrenaline factor, that can cause a knowledgable collector to go nuts and spend more than an item might be consider generally to be worth. But remember, in the secondary market, the price is whatever the seller and buyer agree it to be at that time.

I think I tend to see more uniformed sellers than buyers, because I don't collect the same things most of you do. I look for auctions of older figures, castings, etc. and so, I tend to deal more with general antique sellers or "flea market" vendors, who happen to have toy soliders in lots that they have bought elsewhere, and they tend to know very little about what they're selling. So, I often see "It's old" and therefore, the price is high.

It certainly is a phenonemon, and it's interesting to compare online shopping behavior in a secondary market, to behavior at live sales (flea markets, auctions, etc).

Prost!
Brad

 

[blackbeard]

Sometimes it just has to do with the fact that you save money when you buy elsewhere in the world. For instance where i come from we have 15% taxes. If i buy something from another province i save 7,5%. If i buy from the states and they place it as a gift i save that 15%. Sometimes it worth paying more.