KC Secondary WWII Market: How are values holding up? (1 Viewer)

[desk11desk12]

Hey Guys:

I'm just wondering how this economy has effected values in the WWII range. Does anyone know by how much these values have fluctuated since 2007/ 2008? I know there is less hording of recent releases.

Which range of WWII releases have taken the most hit and which ranges have sustain there relative values?

I’m just curious and no, I’m not ready to any sell-off on my collection. LOL.

Carlos

 

[jazzeum]

I haven't done a specific analysis but there has been some dropoff. I think the real old pieces will still command decent money however. Other than that, can't give you specifics. If you have a specific piece in mind, I can give you stats.

 

[Spitfrnd]

The Napoleonic Dragoons do not seem to have had much of a price change. They still routinely sell above Russian alternatives that are much better done, which I find rather irrational but such is the voice of demand.

 

[Njja]

I agree with Brad, there has certainly been a hit, it has also affected the

number of older sets being offered. I would say the recent WWII sets could

be off as much as 50% in some cases.

Since most of us have no plans to sell our collections, it may not be a bad

thing. It certainly is going to remove many of the pure speculators from the

market place. I just hope the economy turns around before we have more

serious problems.

 

[Capitolron]

I know there have been some great deals on Ebay lately. Lots of things outside of WWII have been going for some great prices.

I have had some luck with my older K&C sets that I am removing from my display space - Roman auction went very well.

Brad, tell us what is the some of the biggest surprizes on Ebay - dollar wise with WWII vehicles ?? I think everyone one would like to see those numbers.

 

[Sahara]

Looking on ebay right now you can buy the newer K&C panther right now for $70.00 (buy it now option). In addition the same seller had put up a Hetzer for the same price starting bid $35 or buy it now $70. Someone bid on it otherwise I would have bought it for $70.

 

[OzDigger]

Looking on ebay right now you can buy the newer K&C panther right now for $70.00 (buy it now option). In addition the same seller had put up a Hetzer for the same price starting bid $35 or buy it now $70. Someone bid on it otherwise I would have bought it for $70.

Bad luck Sahara as any keen collector would have bought that for $70. I suspect some evil speculator bid $35 in the hope that it goes for much more than the Buy it Now price of $70. They do that to keep retired prices as high as possible.

 

[jazzeum]

Here are some interesting recent prices:

Two figures from SAS jeeps (original issue) $200
Hummel $180
BBA Helping a Buddy $38 (originally retailed for $49)
Hellcat $350 (on a Best Offer)
AK Panzers seem to be holding their price: $189 for AK 23
WS 63 The Defenders $151. The Berlin sets are not doing badly
WS 67 King Tiger $242. Pretty good for this one.
DD 36 and DD 37 (Para sets) are in the $130 range, which is not too bad.
WS 43 Wittman Tiger $174.
DD 24 General Lee $300. I think this shows the older stuff will do ok.
WS 38 and WS 39 hovering around $90. These sets have never done that well since retirement.
WS 77 Panzer Meyer $170. This is about where this one or the General Inspection Sherman do. They just never get that high.

And this is just February

 

[AIXrUS]

I am seeing Romans commanding more now than they did 6 months ago. It seems strange to me, but there it is. You may be seeing some of my Roman pieces go!

 

[jazzeum]

I recently sold a couple and they didn't seem to do all that well but hopefully yours are older and rarer.

 

[desk11desk12]

Here are some interesting recent prices:

Two figures from SAS jeeps (original issue) $200
Hummel $180
BBA Helping a Buddy $38 (originally retailed for $49)
Hellcat $350 (on a Best Offer)
AK Panzers seem to be holding their price: $189 for AK 23
WS 63 The Defenders $151. The Berlin sets are not doing badly
WS 67 King Tiger $242. Pretty good for this one.
DD 36 and DD 37 (Para sets) are in the $130 range, which is not too bad.
WS 43 Wittman Tiger $174.
DD 24 General Lee $300. I think this shows the older stuff will do ok.
WS 38 and WS 39 hovering around $90. These sets have never done that well since retirement.
WS 77 Panzer Meyer $170. This is about where this one or the General Inspection Sherman do. They just never get that high.

And this is just February

Thanks Brad


Carlos

 

[jrsteel]

I was able to get the retired Battle Of The Bulge set "Nuts" last week for $75. I guess it originally sold for $89. I was surprised that I was the only bidder.

 

[redhugh]

Most of the ebay WWII stuff seems to be current issue or recent retirements, however I did see a priest go for a few hundred yesterday, and I was happy to pick up an old Iwo Jima 3-piece set Ready Aim Fire IWJ05 for $67 .Goes very nicely with the newer IWJ sets

 

[petebuster1]

I think k&c are holding their prices still not too many bargains out there but think some seem to be struggling to sell stock but k&c should hold their own though not so sure about CS there still seems plenty of their Tigers available and only 100 of each produced.If K&C produced 100 peices of anything how long before they became hard to get? i suspect they wouldn't get to the shelves.

 

[OzDigger]

Things are tough and I think the overall downwards trend is likely to last until at least next year as people reduce discretionary spending. People with a number of models may look at selling some to pay for living expenses and guys with only a few models may decide to sell the lot.

 

[Capitolron]

In my view of the market - you have several of the WWII items pre-2002 still going for top dollars $$

However in the AK range in the WWII items seem to me to have taken the biggest hit - it seems many collectors are downsizing this range first out of their WWII collections. AK Panzer III's and IV's were commanding over $200 each a few months ago - now have dropped below the $200 line.

I have been surprised that not more WARBIRDS have shown up yet ? I would think there was some impuse buying of those expensive birds - maybe not? When the economy really starts getting tough - I am sure we will see a few of those going and depending on how long they are on Ebay - their might be some deals on those.

Is it me or are BoB Sets starting to show up more and more ?? This could be the next dumping collection of cash strapped collectors. I have seen a few good deals with Battle of Bulge figures - but, I dont collect that range - I haven't taken advantage of those deals. Since nice opportunities for those of you who do.

Another WWII range which has been making a few appearances is the Fields of Battle. You see a few of those FoB 09 and FoB 10's popping up - but not many - perhaps more will come. The retired figures don't seem to be commanding higher prices - maybe they are still too new? I wondering if some of the more recent Armor and Artillery Sets will appear with someone pairing down their collection.

I am interested in seeing if more CORGI PLANES will start coming out now with the new K&C release of the US and German Flight figures ? Those all metal planes could be had for $100 each - wonder if more appear or those prices go up because Corgi doesn't make the 1/32 metal planes anymore ??

IN OTHER RANGES .....

Old Napoleonics seem to OK - not big returns (again Brad would probally have the better numbers on that) - I have noticed a few Old Dragoons going at retail prices or close to it.

Old Romans - I believe are becoming more wanted due to the newer K&C Romans being retired. Which it understand able. You would want to collect the oldest sets if you are just getting into Romans to go with the new Romans.

Old American Revolution is starting to make their appearances - a few good deals if you collect them - maybe more of the older AWI of K&C will come out due to the better K&C new releases?

Ebay is interesting to watch and certainly looks to be a buyers market right now. There is a pulse in the market - you can see it and for those of you who want to sell - you should probally jump in soon - because I fear a flood of items in the coming months. Just my observations.

 

[jazzeum]

Regarding warbirds, the price tag is too high. Unless someone needs some quick cash, regardless of the hit, you're not going to see much of them on there because they're not going to draw the interest.

 

[Njja]

In my opinion prices are so bad I am not really following them! I do not have

specifics as my list is to large to really go through, but I will post examples on

this thread as I see them. Just last night we saw an SF03 go off at

$325 it has brought over $400 several times. LAH18 just brought $112

it once went for $922 AK24 sold for $160 It has gone off over

$300 3 times that is a 50% drop. WS43 just went off for $178 it has

brought $646 gone over $300 4 times, over $250 11 times!

I don't have time to list more examples, as I am heading to my local

"Acorn" office to get my share of the 3 Billion they just got of

Your Money!

 

[Warrior]

Gee, here's a wild thought; maybe the demand has peaked on some of these retired items. How many LAH kettle drummers, Rommel Griefs, Winter Tiger Tanks, etc, etc can you sell? How many collectors are there worldwide who want these items?

How many rare items that are constantly advertised as such are in fact no longer rare. Maybe three, four, five years ago, they were rare, but they aren't anymore.

Maybe, just maybe, the vast majority of the folks who wanted said items now have them.

Seems I recall a phrase from economics 101; supply and demand and maybe we are seeing a case of the supply exceeding the demand.

But hey, what do I know............

 

[Louis Badolato]

I think George is absolutely correct when you consider the more recent retired items (say from 2005 forward). I think people bought multiples of many of these items with the intent of reselling them to either fuel their future toy soldier purchases or to turn a profit, and that, as a result, manufacturers may have produced more of certain pieces than there were truly interested collectors.

Add to that the fact that the present economic environment has (by a poll on this forum) adversely effected the collecting habits of some 58% of the more than 100 collectors responding. Assuming that the 58% of collectors whose spending has been curtailed by the economy (myself included) are no longer buying all of the pieces they might have bought in past years, demand has certainly dropped.

And that does not even take into consideration the economy's discouragement of new collectors - a person who might have started collecting toy soldiers in past years might not feel capable of the expenditure at the momment, and it was new collectors seeking items that had been retired before they began collecting that provided much of the impetous for the high prices in the secondary market. Simply stated, if the hobby does not grow, there is no new blood for the secondary market, and, as George pointed out, once existing collectors obtain what they want, the secondary market implodes.

Assuming the market recovers in the foreseeable future, and people have more disposable income, there should be more new collectors, as well as folks like myself looking to obtain items we felt constrained to pass on in the present economy. Then the secondary market will bounce back. In the mean time, those of you with the funds to do so should take advantage of the drop in prices . . .