Over 2000 Items Now Listed! (1 Viewer)

[Njja]

King & Country listings on Ebay now exceed 2000! Holy Cow!

I remember when there were only a few items perhaps once a week!

I also remember talking about it when it reached 800 items! Well not much

point in worrying about that anymore.

I just find it interesting that people list items with no concern for recent

prices, or number of same items listed or prices they are offered

at?

Lets take the WS72 Panther, a very nicer tank currently there are 6 on

Ebay ranging from $82.57 to $299? So how much is your worth?

It just never ceases to amaze me.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Well, it's Christmas and all the toys are brought out to be sold. The different prices obviously reflect a range of listing strategies - but it won't be complete until there is one for $0.99

Terry

 

[Njja]

Well, it's Christmas and all the toys are brought out to be sold. The different prices obviously reflect a range of listing strategies - but it won't be complete until there is one for $0.99

Terry

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Ha! I'm sure thats going on right now!

Actually you make an excellent point for folks looking for rare toys from the

past! I find this to be a great time for lots of things I look for when people

dig through their attics and find lots of interesting things. Lionel trains, old

Dinky and such....who knows what may suddenly reappear!

 

[jazzeum]

I would say the WS 72 is probably worth closer to $100 than $299.

 

[Njja]

Brad:

Who can say anymore? I have seen numerious items sell for prices that vary

by $75-$100 within a week! Its really a shame in my opinion, and doesn't

bode well for future sales. Prices are going up, and values are coming down.

Its one thing to spend $200 on a nice collectible to enjoy......especially if

you see it sell for $300 one day in the future. Its a little more difficult if you

now see that $200 item selling for $75.

On the other hand now is a great time to pick up that piece or two you have

been looking for.

 

[damian]

This reflects why our hobby is a bit artificial in terms of value. I would bet 750 of Rommel's Grief are all well preserved in various collectors dens and offices across the world. The Grief is not truly rare it is rare in relation to demand. Now if all 750 collectors get tired of the grief or the hobby at the same time we suddenly have 750 Griefs for sale. Old Britains soldiers mint are rare because a whole lot of little boys threw coins or marbles at them and broke them. The Barbie dolls of 2010 are played with at least at my house so I bet in twenty five years time a mint in the box with all her accessories 2010 Barbie will be truly rare.

 

[maddadicus]

Brad:

Who can say anymore? I have seen numerious items sell for prices that vary

by $75-$100 within a week! Its really a shame in my opinion, and doesn't

bode well for future sales. Prices are going up, and values are coming down.

Its one thing to spend $200 on a nice collectible to enjoy......especially if

you see it sell for $300 one day in the future. Its a little more difficult if you

now see that $200 item selling for $75.

On the other hand now is a great time to pick up that piece or two you have

been looking for.

John, we all go back and forth on this, but whoever buys a hunk of rock made in the shape of a tank, thinking it will be worth a million gazillion bucks, years later, deserves to get his financial reality check, when a niche market, collapses..( Winross trucks, Cabbage Patch dolls, etc..) K/C is now overproduced ( not our fault )and like the housing market, folks cannot get value for their now realized excessive purchases. The fire sales on Ebay are fueled by panic in not being able to buy groceries. They could care less that anyone elses collection value is dropping like a stone...The idea, when pressed for money today, that we should all politely wait our turn till this item or that has it's Ebay moment, just to maintain the sanctity of the collector market is more fantasy than economic actuallity for most folk..Just a few random thoughts and I told you so years ago, we were getting to this point, because of the speculator fueled, fake market demand, K/C overproducing strategy.....Michael

 

[Phantom Warrior]

So if K&C is the largest TS producer among the major manufacturers with runs in the thousands vs the low to mid hundreds of other producers, it seems to mean that

A) If K&C produces enough figures to meet market demand and in spite of the fact that most sets sell out over time, then they are flooding the market and destroying the resale value of their models and creating a situation which will lead to an eventual market collapse

But B) if k&C limits production runs to a few hundred they are causing panic buying and creating an artificial shortage which brings in the speculators which will eventually frustrate the real collectors and destroy the hobby.

Does this leave the only solution that K&C should stop producing TS?

IMO, TS are a consumable good to be enjoyed for a period of time which may be a short time, a long time or even a lifetime - and then they are used up. If at that time they have a resale value, fine. If not, you better have got your money's worth of enjoyment.

Terry

 

[nysoldiers]

Also remember we are still in a recession. There is a lot of product on the market right now and people need to raise cash for necessities.

 

[Njja]

John, we all go back and forth on this, but whoever buys a hunk of rock made in the shape of a tank, thinking it will be worth a million gazillion bucks, years later, deserves to get his financial reality check, when a niche market, collapses..( Winross trucks, Cabbage Patch dolls, etc..) K/C is now overproduced ( not our fault )and like the housing market, folks cannot get value for their now realized excessive purchases. The fire sales on Ebay are fueled by panic in not being able to buy groceries. They could care less that anyone elses collection value is dropping like a stone...The idea, when pressed for money today, that we should all politely wait our turn till this item or that has it's Ebay moment, just to maintain the sanctity of the collector market is more fantasy than economic actuallity for most folk..Just a few random thoughts and I told you so years ago, we were getting to this point, because of the speculator fueled, fake market demand, K/C overproducing strategy.....Michael

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Michael you are very perceptive, and I think your opinions are correct.

I still find it amazing!

 

[Sons of the desert]

IMO, there are two types of Toy Soldier collectors. The first, the majority of us, collect for the love of a certain part of military history or type of battle. We create battles in miniature, small dioramas in the family room as I do, and for some us, include our kids in this venture, which I also do as well.

Then, there seems to be the select few which collect for the sole purpose of making a buck. Which is you right. But it gets old when you hear people complain on how the prices decrease on a particular piece. It's funny when some people think that a figure or tank that was only released several years ago should fetch them 5X,6X,7X plus the value.
I could understand, if these figures or types of figures were one's that were released in the 1930's or the 40's.

The best is when you attend a Toy Soldier show and you get some JOKER, Dealer or Vendor who tries to sell you, for instance a K&C armoured car or tank that's not even MINT in Box, but has been handle and molested at his table and wants 3-4 times the release price. Then went you pass it up, it would be different maybe, if it was unopened, he looks at you, like you came from another planet because of his asking price.

I don't collect to pay my kids college bill or to fund the families super dream vacation. I collect for the enjoyment of spending an hour or two setting some figures up, moving some buildings around Etc. It's also IMO, that some of these figures/vehicles are already overprice as it is already, but what can one do. As stated, made of stone.It's just getting old to hear the complaining that one's only concern is that his figure or tank won't fetch some mind boggling price. Though, it's a shame if you need to sell your collection for the sake of buying groceries.

 

[Njja]

Ok I agree some collectors don't care about the value of their collections

thats fine. Other collectors that have been at it for a number of years,

and have spent a considerable amount of money may feel differently.

My observations are simply about the marketplace, and its current state of

affairs. Nothing more.

 

[damian]

Collectors vs speculators
LAH
Scale
Patton vs Monty

These are a few of my favorite things.

 

[maddadicus]

Collectors vs speculators
LAH
Scale
Patton vs Monty

These are a few of my favorite things.

Are these topics why you went into hiding ? Michael

 

[damian]

Are these topics why you went into hiding ? Michael

Yes I need a singing nun to help me overcome my fear of them.

 

[VIRIATO]

I think lack of room as opposed to K&C's continuous flooding of the market with great products has to be a factor too. In fact, unfortunately most of us don't have a museum like Jim Hillestad has, so if one keeps buying, buying, the point comes when if you want some new wonderful product something has to go, probably quicker than expected... I just hope First Legion doesn't go too much down this path...
Just a thought.

Paulo

 

[Njja]

I don't think there is room in the current market place to support the manufacters and dealers we have now.

As prices increase, and values decrease it doesn't take a brain surgeon to
figure out what the future holds.

Its unfortunate but nowdays, no matter what the product, it would seem that manufacters can't help themselves they produce and produce until the
market simply collapse.

In part this is done to leave little opportunity for competition, maintaining market share if you will.

Its all a delicate balance especially in todays economy.

 

[vandilay]

I,m still amazed at the amount of stuff that has come out in the last couple of years .
I pass on most things these days , stuff I would have jumped on a couple of years back .Not because my financial situation is any different but becauseI know there will be a heap of sets with similar appeal next month and the month after that and so on . So now for the most part I just enjoy checking out pictures of all the new stuff and leave it at that .

 

[maddadicus]

I don't think there is room in the current market place to support the manufacters and dealers we have now.

As prices increase, and values decrease it doesn't take a brain surgeon to
figure out what the future holds.

Its unfortunate but nowdays, no matter what the product, it would seem that manufacters can't help themselves they produce and produce until the
market simply collapse.

In part this is done to leave little opportunity for competition, maintaining market share if you will.

Its all a delicate balance especially in todays economy.

John, I totally agree with you. There are far too many mfgs all making the same stuff for the same eras at ridiculous numbers for basically the same limited target audience, that they must hope have unlimited resources. They have already melted the wallets of the fringe players ( the current selling generation on Ebay now ). That leaves us ,which ain't enough to keep the mfg's going. The only thing saving some are innovative new lines or untapped lines ( JJ WW1 Airplanes, FIW series ), but now K/C is talking WW1 airplanes and here we go again. Ultimately the makers with the larger fanbase will survive. I had always thought competition would keep down pricing, boy was I wrong. $200 - $300 tanks, $185 airplanes ,$50 figures, with these start up prices, how could any of the current stuff ever be considered speculative collectible and therefore desirable? Michael

 

[Cardigan600]

Yo Troopers, some really good points raised here and as usual John always makes a lot of sense. Like others I am amazed at the amount of stuff listed everyday on ebay, and not surprised there is so much K&C for sale, its getting churned out every month, but reading the K&C threads you guys hound Andy everyday make this make that I wish wish wish, so they get their wish but all of a sudden there is tons of it for sale.
Like John I enjoy collecting but also look to make a few bucks at the end of the day. Hence I opted for Chas Stadden models 30 to 40 years old now, very few come up for sale think there are 5 on ebay at the moment, a couple of weeks back there were none for sale IE: Studio painted models not the plain Pewter, still have yet to see at least a third of his Catalogue models come up for sale after three years of searching so they always go for decent money. I think Louis is on the right track as well with his Heco models, scarce models to find but always sell for good dollars.
The Toy Soldier market is flooded and something has to give soon the dam is ready to burst.
Bernard.