Is This Production Assault Good? (1 Viewer)

[Rob]

I must confess that i find the whole argument a little strange.We live in a free society,you wanna keep em and look at em,or you wanna sell em and buy more,its up to you.Theres no toy soldier big brother,do whatever 'floats your boat'.Lifes to short to be told what to do.

.......'just doing it now darling'!

Rob

 

[Capitolron]

Actually we should just....

BUY THEM ALL - ARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH

 

[OzDigger]

To add further dealer perspective; I have been selling K & C for about 4 and 1/2 years. Initially, all I sold was WWII. I did well with the product right from the start. As Andy added new lines and added on to others, I started to carry the new lines and addons to older lines, in a sense breaking out of my WWII comfort zone.

What I discovered was my customer base began to grow for one simple reason; not everyone collects WWII, so by adding new eras, I was adding new customers who collect Napoleonics, AWI, etc. No greater example of this is the new Saracen and Crusader line; I am amazed at how many new customers this line has brought to me, and most of them basically say the same thing; all they collect is ancients. Iv'e also had WWII customers dabble in Alamo, Saracen and Crusaders, etc. I've got several ACW only collector customers who called and emailed me the past couple of days saying as soon as the ACW figures are out, they are in. Same deal with WWI, I've got three customers who collect WWI sets and want the new K & C Germans; prior to that, none had bought figure one of K & C.

My point is if you try to collect all eras, you will drive yourself nuts (or bankrupt), so even though this has been said 9,000 times already, collect what you like. If you are a WWII ETO collector, do that, but if you want to dabble in other eras, go ahead. I think Louis, who has the largest K & C collection I know of, does not collect all eras, he simply collects what he likes.....................

George Guerriero
www.mmtoysoldiers.com

I'm pleased to see that the Saracen/Crusader line has done well. I'm a full on WWII collector and I sometimes wonder how these new lines will go for K & C.

We always tend to look at this hobby from our own point of view, which of course doesn't work to well because we all have different preferences. But I still shake my head when I see some guy paying big money for some crude (to me) K & C item and think, why don't they just wait for a new and improved version to come out. Maybe they just like the old one or don't want to wait.

 

[Capitolron]

Oz

Its their money and if they want to spend it on item - so be it !

From the collector's point of view - Andy doesnt always make another item, so that item could be the last one.

Ron

 

[OzDigger]

4. Some people complain about certain type auctions "Buy It Now"....

Okay in 9 years roughly 80% of my auctions end with Buy It Now because

buyers that are looking for an item, in many cases want it NOW....not 7 days

from now when they might be away from the auction.


How do I determine my Buy It Now Price? Research....how tough is that?

If an item sells for $350 am I going to start it for $9? And do what? Watch

it sit at $100 for 6 days when one just sold for $350?? Am I nuts?


I am selling it because there is something I want, and if I can turn one old

set into 4 new sets everyone wins......Andy, my dealer, and me....everyone

except the credit card companies.


If a couple of meatballs want to label you an "Investor" because you are

smart about your financial position tell them where to "Step Off" You are the

one at the end of the month paying the bills not them.

Just my thoughts!

Njja

Njja, considering only one of your last eBay batch actually sold you may need to recheck those BIN prices of yours.

The most recent high price doesn't mean that it is now the NEW price. Auction prices are all over the place and buyers should take note of the general trend and averages. And remember their bank balance when bidding.

In a bouyant market such as it is now with King & Country it makes more sense for sellers to start their bids low. Use some common sense guys, when was the last time you were at a house auction and the first bid was near the selling price - NEVER. The auctioneer starts low and the bids boost the price up until the end when bidders go mad and the house sells. And in a bouyant market it often sells for more than the reserve price, which is similar to a Buy it Now price.

Of course Njja will retort with some of his glib sarcastic comments and attempt to beguile you with his celebrity status and jugs of Kool Aid, but I'm sure it won't fool all of you

 

[sceic2]

It was not that long ago when choices in this hobby of ours were very limited. I found myself wondering if I had begun to collect something that had few choices and did not appear to have much change occurring over time. I wondered if I was wasting my time with few choices? 54mm Plastics and 1:35 models were the only venue with much diversity (that I knew of). Much of the variety in metal was in glossy, which just did not and still does not interest me. Don’t get me wrong, I think that glossy figures are a class act I just prefer a different play.

I welcome all these new releases. I revel in the amount of choices. I wallow in the joy of choice. Quality has increased to such a point that I cannot imagine a time when I thought that Roco HO scale military models were the pinnacle of detailing and choice. They, Roco, are still pretty cool.

Affordability is a different issue. I think that if a person recognizes all the fantastic changes in quality and the opening up of the variety closet and if that person is limited in their purchasing abilities from getting everything the heart desires (like me), then that person can become frustrated at not being able to satisfy their desires then perhaps there are too many choices. I truly believe that you (I) cannot have it all. People try, we all do, it is human nature to want things otherwise religion would not have much in the way of material sins to try to make us feel guilty about. It's often called by a name such as greed, gluttony or something else that is less than flattering to the human ego.

But remember, that the winner of the game that we are all playing is the one with the most toys when they die.

 

[jazzeum]

Njja, considering only one of your last eBay batch actually sold you may need to recheck those BIN prices of yours.

The most recent high price doesn't mean that it is now the NEW price. Auction prices are all over the place and buyers should take note of the general trend and averages. And remember their bank balance when bidding.

In a bouyant market such as it is now with King & Country it makes more sense for sellers to start their bids low. Use some common sense guys, when was the last time you were at a house auction and the first bid was near the selling price - NEVER. The auctioneer starts low and the bids boost the price up until the end when bidders go mad and the house sells. And in a bouyant market it often sells for more than the reserve price, which is similar to a Buy it Now price.

Of course Njja will retort with some of his glib sarcastic comments and attempt to beguile you with his celebrity status and jugs of Kool Aid, but I'm sure it won't fool all of you

Let's be nice now, fellas.

 

[OzDigger]

Let's be nice now, fellas.

Brad, I'm nice to people that are nice to me, but being called a 'meatball' is asking for a slap. As we are on opposite sides of this hobby Njja and I aren't likely to agree on much but there's no need for personal insults. I thought we had all agreed to move on from that.

 

[jazzeum]

Oz,

I missed that and, yes, that's not acceptable, I agree with you. However, the comment was not directed just to you only but also to John.

 

[Njja]

Brad:

When I made my comment it was directed at no one in particular. I was

making a point that conversation is wellcome, namecalling, and placing labels

on people is not. When you cannot make your point by conversation some

people attempt to force their opinions on others by belittling activity they

do not agree with.

I do not expect anyone to agree with my opinions. I simply espress my views

for consideration, and do not have any animosity toward different views then

mine. It would be nice, if views were expressed without personal attacks, or

other attempts to intimidate.

I shall not address anymore personal insults or attacks until it can be done so

perhaps one day in person.

I agree this Forum is a great place to exchange ideas, and few wish to watch

anyone engage in personal insults.

Njja

 

[Rob]

Brad:

When I made my comment it was directed at no one in particular. I was

making a point that conversation is wellcome, namecalling, and placing labels

on people is not. When you cannot make your point by conversation some

people attempt to force their opinions on others by belittling activity they

do not agree with.

I do not expect anyone to agree with my opinions. I simply espress my views

for consideration, and do not have any animosity toward different views then

mine. It would be nice, if views were expressed without personal attacks, or

other attempts to intimidate.

I shall not address anymore personal insults or attacks until it can be done so

perhaps one day in person.

I agree this Forum is a great place to exchange ideas, and few wish to watch

anyone engage in personal insults.

Njja

Don't like the sound of that.Somehow sounds threatning,its not what this forum is about.

Rob

 

[maddadicus]

Guys, this is a personal thing between OZ and JOHN, that has carried on for 2forums and several months now. I do not believe that we ought take sides in this. I have tried at times to mediate this in private, but when you have pride, separated by impassible distance and the cloak of web anonimity ,it becomes impossible to tell boys to behave. This will be resovled someday at some toy soldier show at some time and place. When I find out the details, I am going to be the one selling OZ and NJJA bobble head dolls. They will then be immediately retired and I will live off the ebay profits for the rest of my life Michael I had made prototypes, but I can not download images.........

 

[Vezzolf]

A quick dealer perspective ...

If these new sets were only being sold to current collectors, then I agree - the market would quickly be saturated as people ran out of funds and space.

However, as you can see on this forum, the number of collectors is growing rapidly. New collectors make more room for the industry to expand. While most individual collectors will no longer buy entire ranges, overall the range will sell as smaller collectors buy one here and one there.

I think that K&C retired craziness just shows how many new collectors are passionately coming onto the scene. It's not the same people trading back and forth over and over again.

As a dealer we can sense the influx of new collectors. That is the hope for the toy soldier world.

Pete

Pete, I totally agree with you....new comers to the hobby would like to enter and enjoy this hobby as most of us do for fun ( not profit) and not be manipulated............they would like to have choices at their disposal instead of being forced to buy "RETIRED" items at "RIDICULOUS" prices on e-bay from established collectors who want to limit avaiable products for personal gain.......Established collectors have expressed on this forum that they sell doubles of items they own so that they get the finances they need to purchase newer items.........WHAT IN THE WORLD makes them think that new comers to this hobby arrive to finance their newer purchases.......ITS NOT ONLY ABOUT THEM AND THE VALUE THEIR EXISTING COLLECTIONS......

 

[Vezzolf]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am starting to feel the pressure of too much K/C and too many toy soldier choices in general. We are not even allowed to take a breath to save a couple pennies before we are overwhelmed again with the latest flood of figures. Is K/C todays buyers choice and thus the standard that most mfg. have to challenge? Yes, but is the K/C current plan for flooding the market with as much product as possible in as many eras as it can, ultimately good for the collector, or the hobby ,in general? When does the want everything K/C bubble burst ,under the collectors' massive debt, from trying to keep up? There are folks here that cry against ebay, but how else ,can any collector keep up the present buying pace, without selling, for new income? And then, when the financial pressure to sell ,forces everyone to flood the ebay market, with the same stuff, how does that help values? Am I the only one ,who sees doom and gloom in this toy soldier carpet bombing of our senses and pocketbooks? Michael

What makes you think that new comers arrive to this hobby in order to finance the new purchases of established collectors........I think it helps most people to have more K/C choices so that they do not have to resort to "The Pressure" (as you say) to purchase items on E-bay at "RIDICULOUS" prices.......Why should buyers be made to be frustrated to search and then over-pay for items on a secondary market when they can purchase a similar item at a "FAIR PRICE" from the manufacturer.......This hobby is not only about the "Existing Collectors" and the values of their previous purchases......K/C should not be in the business of limiting items in order to allow these folks to sell recent items at EXTREME prices in the secondary market........THIS IS BAD FOR THE HOBBY..........IT has a times made me wonder WHY BOTHER with such a maniplative process and I have even considered quiting this hobby because of these unscrupoulous behaviors and attitudes........It is my sincere hope that manufacturers continue to provide enough products at fair prices for those of us who love the hobby........and not be influenced by those seeking to profit on a product that They do not even produce......

 

[Capitolron]

Pete, I totally agree with you....new comers to the hobby would like to enter and enjoy this hobby as most of us do for fun ( not profit) and not be manipulated............they would like to have choices at their disposal instead of being forced to buy "RETIRED" items at "RIDICULOUS" prices on e-bay from established collectors who want to limit avaiable products for personal gain.......Established collectors have expressed on this forum that they sell doubles of items they own so that they get the finances they need to purchase newer items.........WHAT IN THE WORLD makes them think that new comers to this hobby arrive to finance their newer purchases.......ITS NOT ONLY ABOUT THEM AND THE VALUE THEIR EXISTING COLLECTIONS......

You know - I was going to skip by your comments and ingnore them - but, I believe you intended them for me and it really deserves a reply.

First off - how and what I do with my Toy Soldier Collection is my business. It is of no concern to you - and if you feel that selling any part of my collection for profit is bad - well thats your opinion - mine actions are to enjoy my hobby. If someone wants to pay double or triple the orginial price of the item - that is their business. I am really getting sick of hearing all this WHINNING about K&C RETIRED Prices. If you cant afford an item that someone is selling because it costs too much - GROW UP and BE A MAN and deal with it. The Open Market is just that - Freedom of Ebay allows the SELLER and BUYER to find their price.

Second - where do you get off telling anyone how and what they should collect. That is a personal decision and it is very rude and arogant of you to impose your values on anyone. If you have and opinion on a price of something - well thats one thing - but, for you to make persoanl attacks on other people - thats another.

We have never met and dont know each other - but, while we are on the forum together - I would ask that unless you are just joking around - try not to be so judgemental.

Thanks, Ron

 

[Vezzolf]

You know - I was going to skip by your comments and ingnore them - but, I believe you intended them for me and it really deserves a reply.

First off - how and what I do with my Toy Soldier Collection is my business. It is of no concern to you - and if you feel that selling any part of my collection for profit is bad - well thats your opinion - mine actions are to enjoy my hobby. If someone wants to pay double or triple the orginial price of the item - that is their business. I am really getting sick of hearing all this WHINNING about K&C RETIRED Prices. If you cant afford an item that someone is selling because it costs too much - GROW UP and BE A MAN and deal with it. The Open Market is just that - Freedom of Ebay allows the SELLER and BUYER to find their price.

Second - where do you get off telling anyone how and what they should collect. That is a personal decision and it is very rude and arogant of you to impose your values on anyone. If you have and opinion on a price of something - well thats one thing - but, for you to make persoanl attacks on other people - thats another.

We have never met and dont know each other - but, while we are on the forum together - I would ask that unless you are just joking around - try not to be so judgemental.

Thanks, Ron

FIRST OF ALL.......MY COMMENTS WERE NOT DIRECTED AT YOU......BUT YOUR RESPONSE SIMPLY RE-ASSERTS MY PREVIOUS POST...... Have a great Day.....

 

[maddadicus]

You know - I was going to skip by your comments and ingnore them - but, I believe you intended them for me and it really deserves a reply.

First off - how and what I do with my Toy Soldier Collection is my business. It is of no concern to you - and if you feel that selling any part of my collection for profit is bad - well thats your opinion - mine actions are to enjoy my hobby. If someone wants to pay double or triple the orginial price of the item - that is their business. I am really getting sick of hearing all this WHINNING about K&C RETIRED Prices. If you cant afford an item that someone is selling because it costs too much - GROW UP and BE A MAN and deal with it. The Open Market is just that - Freedom of Ebay allows the SELLER and BUYER to find their price.

Second - where do you get off telling anyone how and what they should collect. That is a personal decision and it is very rude and arogant of you to impose your values on anyone. If you have and opinion on a price of something - well thats one thing - but, for you to make persoanl attacks on other people - thats another.

We have never met and dont know each other - but, while we are on the forum together - I would ask that unless you are just joking around - try not to be so judgemental.

Thanks, Ron

I agree with this sentiment, but I had gotton tired of repeating myself to the offending member........Michael

 

[Capitolron]

FIRST OF ALL.......MY COMMENTS WERE NOT DIRECTED AT YOU......BUT YOUR RESPONSE SIMPLY RE-ASSERTS MY PREVIOUS POST...... Have a great Day.....

I still stand by my remarks - I am sure Njja would agree as well.

Life is too short to go around and be angry - IMO.

 

[jazzeum]

Vezzolf,

At this point, we know how you feel about these particular matters. I'm not sure it does any good to just reiterate those positions. I'm not try trying to muzzle you -- you're free to say what you want as long as it doesn't get personal -- but since you've made your position known, don't you think you might want to move onto other topics?

 

[Vezzolf]

Vezzolf,

At this point, we know how you feel about these particular matters. I'm not sure it does any good to just reiterate those positions. I'm not try trying to muzzle you -- you're free to say what you want as long as it doesn't get personal -- but since you've made your position known, don't you think you might want to move onto other topics?

None of my remarks have been personal on this thread regarding this subject simply truthful......But it seems some people "Can't Handle The Truth".....