King & Country Retired Marketplace (1 Viewer)

[Njja]

Hi all, today we have numerious "Retired" pieces going off at some pretty

amazing prices. Even the fact that the seller has a ZERO feedback rating

it has had no effect on the desire of collectors to add these pieces to their

collections.

For the record I have not bid, or in anyway participated in any of these

auctions, except to observe and offer advice to a few of my friends on some

of the pieces.

This is a free marketplace, and all should feel free to participate or not as is

their choice. I would simply advise interested collectors to take note of pieces

you are interested in, and take the time to build your knowledge, so you can

make informed decisions.

Should you be buying or selling an educated collector is at his best.

Buying you want to have the knowledge to make the best deal you can!

And selling is exactly the same! No one seems to mind the dealers doubling

tripling, or in some cases offering items for thousands that they paid a

fraction of original retail for????

Be informed, be astute, as many of my fellow collectors are, and whatever

action you take....trade, give away, or sell do what you want to do....from an

informed position.

In most cases as history has served us thus far the price you realize today

may very well be a bargain tomorrow!

I have spent 9 years on E-bay with too many postive feedbacks to count for

selling 1st Rate Quality Items ....it is an interesting marketplace where a

ZERO feedback rating causes little concern!

Please do not take this as an assault against this new seller, I'm sure he is

a fine gentleman and everyone will be happy. I meant this to show the

current STRENGTH of the King & Country Marketplace.

Directly related to:

1. Andy's Terrific Products....and his willingness to participate openly with his

Customer base.

2. Terrific dealers, that not only provide top service, but also wonderful sites

filled with information & Forums to share ideas.

3. Great Collectors such as Louis that take the time to allow us to share their

wonderful collections, and the behind the scenes activity.

4. Great collectors that see places like the Forum as a great place to

exchange ideas and views on products, new & proposed.

5. It is rare indeed when you can watch something develop right before your

eyes.

Enjoy it! Study It...if you like!

And have fun!!

Njja

 

[jazzeum]

Good advise from one who knows.

I have been on ebay since 1998 in one sort or another but when John says something I listen and try to dummy up.

I, too, am a little queasy about spending tons of money with someone who has no feedback and of whom I know nothing, especially when this person doesn't seem to know that much about what she's selling. Case in point: she had a DD 49 listed as retired. I pointed that out to her and she changed the listing. Another thing to be concerned about is after the sale. People who don't often know toy soldiers do a terrible job of packing. I've had a few horror stories in that regard.

Another piece of advise I would have is that sometimes you can get parts of a set cheaper than the whole set. Sales of single retired figures that are part of a set don't do as well as when it's part of a whole set. For example, I've acquired half of the DD 01 set for $50. The whole set normally goes for $200 nowadays. Eventually, I'll get the other portions and in the end it will cost me less than if I'd bought the whole thing at once. Yes, you don't get a box but that's not the end of the world either.

 

[boot51]

No one seems to mind the dealers doubling

tripling, or in some cases offering items for thousands that they paid a

fraction of original retail for????



Njja

Not quite, John. I for one find this practice ( i.e. Inventory Reduction )to be a bit unethical, but seem to be quite alone in this opinion, and since I don't want to be accused of "beat a dead horse" I'll just leave at that. We are after all entitle to our own opinion aren't we? Bye.

Fred

 

[Njja]

Fred:

You certainly are not alone! I agree, which is why I mentioned it! The point

is there really isn't a lot I can do about it except be as well informed, and

prepaired when I conduct my transactions.

Right now in another marketplace there is an item a lot of my fellow

collectors and I would love to add to our collection. Talk has suggested it

might reach 12K what do you do?

Think be informed (only 16 of these items were known to exist....this is #17)

hold your breath and try an control your bidding finger!!

Njja

 

[sceic2]

Like Brad, I have been an Ebayer since 1998 and I still am very careful in my dealings with sellers. I usually will purchase from sellers with a score of 200 or greater and I generally use the same people. I have been fortunate not to have been riped off.

As far as retired items selling for up to 1000% and dealers being the people doing this kind of selling, well I could say business is business, but I won't buy from them no mater the rarity of the item and my desire to have it. EBay is like everyother point of purchase, there are good and there are bad and there are so-so sellers. But it is still "Buyer Beware" every, I repeat, EVERY time. Some buyers are just not informed or some are just foolish. I have been both in my life and I try to reduce the instances of each. As far as everyone else is concerned; it's their money, it's their problem/reward.

 

[OzDigger]

I've been eBaying five years which is long enough to get bitten more than once. I'm now very careful who I buy from and don't buy from any seller with less than 98% positive feedback. Personally I wouldn't buy from someone with a feedback score of 0, but even the big sellers were there at one stage. I guess we'll have to wait and see with this seller.

 

[Njja]

Hey Guys:

Here are some great E-bay Definitions sent to me from one of my friends

from another area of collecting!


PHRASE --- TRUE MEANING

Mint --- What the seller thinks it is worth

Rare --- Only one other for sale on this page

Salesman's Sample --- Seller is an auctioneer or pressed
glass collector

Vintage --- Worn and dirty and has a bar code
label

"don't know if it runs" --- Seller hooked it up to 110 volts
house current and it smoked

promotional --- seller had poor childhood and
doesn't know what a toy is

primo --- seller is located in Los Angeles

Hope he doesn't mind me posting it here!

Njja

 

[Beaufighter]

Another Veteran from the eBay Class of 98' here. Funny thing as I sent her a heads up eMail as well. As for bidding on some of these rare & retired items I have sought advice from the likes of Nija for some help. Although I have been collecting K&C since C.1990 I got away from the hobby & lost touch so to speak. The key for me is to set a value on the item of what I am willing to spend (with some advice from a veteran collector) & not get emotionally caught up in the bidding. I sure wanted the Chaffee tank from the Canadian seller but with a ZERO rating & even with PayPAl protection, my MAX amount was in the $250-$300 range. Besides, it had a glued barrel to boot. So, as usual, my Chaffee tank is on its way to Australia rather than Arizona. One of these days I will luck out. Happy Hunting on eBay-just make sure you utilize a good Wingman in the hunt.

Tally Ho,
Beaufighter

 

[jazzeum]

Marc,

Can you believe that went for $600 plus? Amazing!

 

[aujj65]

Sorry to butt in here, but as someone who has never bought or sold anything on Ebay I may be a bit thick when it comes to some of the finer points.
Is zero rating the point where everyone who is new to Ebay would start from?

Jeff

 

[jazzeum]

Jeff,

If you've just joined ebay, the answer is yes. It has nothing to do whether you're a buyer or seller.

 

[aujj65]

Thanks Brad.

At some point everyone had to start at the beginning then? Having read all the posts etc relating to Ebay over the last year it seems be difficult to determine between someone who is new and just wants to sell stuff and a fraudster.

Jeff

 

[Capitolron]

Hi all, today we have numerious "Retired" pieces going off at some pretty

amazing prices. Even the fact that the seller has a ZERO feedback rating

it has had no effect on the desire of collectors to add these pieces to their

collections.

For the record I have not bid, or in anyway participated in any of these

auctions, except to observe and offer advice to a few of my friends on some

of the pieces.

This is a free marketplace, and all should feel free to participate or not as is

their choice. I would simply advise interested collectors to take note of pieces

you are interested in, and take the time to build your knowledge, so you can

make informed decisions.

Should you be buying or selling an educated collector is at his best.

Buying you want to have the knowledge to make the best deal you can!

And selling is exactly the same! No one seems to mind the dealers doubling

tripling, or in some cases offering items for thousands that they paid a

fraction of original retail for????

Be informed, be astute, as many of my fellow collectors are, and whatever

action you take....trade, give away, or sell do what you want to do....from an

informed position.

In most cases as history has served us thus far the price you realize today

may very well be a bargain tomorrow!

I have spent 9 years on E-bay with too many postive feedbacks to count for

selling 1st Rate Quality Items ....it is an interesting marketplace where a

ZERO feedback rating causes little concern!

Please do not take this as an assault against this new seller, I'm sure he is

a fine gentleman and everyone will be happy. I meant this to show the

current STRENGTH of the King & Country Marketplace.

Directly related to:

1. Andy's Terrific Products....and his willingness to participate openly with his

Customer base.

2. Terrific dealers, that not only provide top service, but also wonderful sites

filled with information & Forums to share ideas.

3. Great Collectors such as Louis that take the time to allow us to share their

wonderful collections, and the behind the scenes activity.

4. Great collectors that see places like the Forum as a great place to

exchange ideas and views on products, new & proposed.

5. It is rare indeed when you can watch something develop right before your

eyes.

Enjoy it! Study It...if you like!

And have fun!!

Njja

Very Well Said - Njja

Check the Water - before you leap.

 

[Njja]

Thanks Brad.

At some point everyone had to start at the beginning then? Having read all the posts etc relating to Ebay over the last year it seems be difficult to determine between someone who is new and just wants to sell stuff and a fraudster.

Jeff

Hi Jeff:

When you buy something on E-bay you can be taking quite a chance! The

feedback rating system allows you to see who you are dealiing with. What

have other people said about the seller. Does he ship promply? Sell nice items,

are they properly packaged?

You will find you have little other protection, E-bay does not like to get

involved, stating they have no control.

Paypal says your purchase is "Protected" but if you have a problem they will

tell you if the seller currently has no funds in his Paypal Account they cannot

do anything. If the guy is pulling something, by the time you find out, the

money is gone.

So it makes sense to know who you are dealing with, to the best of your

ability. Thus sending a large amount of money to a Zero feedback (in a foreign

country) is not something I would recommend.

Njja

 

[aujj65]

Njja.

Thanks for the info, I see what you say but how do new sellers get started if they haven't any previous feedback?, it must take a while to get established.

Just curious to know on average how long this takes?

Thanks again

Jeff

 

[Vezzolf]

Another Veteran from the eBay Class of 98' here. Funny thing as I sent her a heads up eMail as well. As for bidding on some of these rare & retired items I have sought advice from the likes of Nija for some help. Although I have been collecting K&C since C.1990 I got away from the hobby & lost touch so to speak. The key for me is to set a value on the item of what I am willing to spend (with some advice from a veteran collector) & not get emotionally caught up in the bidding. I sure wanted the Chaffee tank from the Canadian seller but with a ZERO rating & even with PayPAl protection, my MAX amount was in the $250-$300 range. Besides, it had a glued barrel to boot. So, as usual, my Chaffee tank is on its way to Australia rather than Arizona. One of these days I will luck out. Happy Hunting on eBay-just make sure you utilize a good Wingman in the hunt.

Tally Ho,
Beaufighter

AH! "The Chaffee Tank".......the infamous Chaffee tank with the glued barrel........$600 what a "Bargain"......NOT.......You "did" luck out in not being robbed blind as the now "poorer" fool on E-bay.......

 

[Vezzolf]

Marc,

Can you believe that went for $600 plus? Amazing!

Yes amazingly "DUMB".......I hope they get much needed help.....but there is however a King&Country WS43 Tiger on ebay with the bargain price of $375 buy it now for the next estute buyer.........

 

[jazzeum]

Vezzolf,

I, personally, don't like to make judgments about how people spend their money in this hobby. All I will say is that I wouldn't have spent that kind of money on a tank like that.

 

[Njja]

Njja.

Thanks for the info, I see what you say but how do new sellers get started if they haven't any previous feedback?, it must take a while to get established.

Just curious to know on average how long this takes?

Thanks again

Jeff

Jeff:

Its all up to the seller, as you can see from these auctions if you have

nice items, photograph them properly you can still attract bidders. If I was

advising a new seller I would say:

#1 have good clear pictures.

#2 have a detailed description.

#3 clearly explain your payment, and shipping information.

#4 package and ship your items promptly

#5 ask for and return feedback.

In very short order you will have positive feedback to add to your reputation.

In the case of this seller we spoke of, at the conclusion of their business they will have a positive feedback that people could look at. It would show rather high valued items recieved in good order from happy customers!

I have completed transactions on E-bay for 9 years now, and would be

more then happy to advise any Forum Members with any questions they

might have such as:

How do I list?

How do I ship?

How do I receive payment?

What do I list my item for?

How best do I list my item?

Any advice I offer is done as a courtsey to Forum Members in the spirit of

Friendship and comes with no charge or expectation on my part.

Njja

 

[Njja]

AH! "The Chaffee Tank".......the infamous Chaffee tank with the glued barrel........$600 what a "Bargain"......NOT.......You "did" luck out in not being robbed blind as the now "poorer" fool on E-bay.......

Vezzolf:

Why not try to be a little less negitive? In the past we have decided not

to discuss individual sales in a negitive way because the parties involved

might be Forum members.

Why not simply note the sale, and comment... to rich for my blood, or some

other comment that might not insult the parties involved.

When I first brought these auctions to the Forums attention, I was careful

not to insult the seller, I was impressed with the attention a new seller

received however it is clear the items and there presentation spoke for

themselves.

Njja