Question about retirement (4 Viewers)

[Cody]

Hello

I was planning on ordering some K&C sets soon (probably this weekend) and I was wondering if anybody had any speculation on WWII sets that might be retired in the near future? I'm still not too sure how the retirement system works, so any ideas would be appreciated.



Thanks,
Cody

 

[Pierre]

Hello

I was planning on ordering some K&C sets soon (probably this weekend) and I was wondering if anybody had any speculation on WWII sets that might be retired in the near future? I'm still not too sure how the retirement system works, so any ideas would be appreciated.



Thanks,
Cody

For the upcoming WWII retirements, your guess is as good as mine and there is no retirement system. My guess for the next retirement: EA04 and EA05.

Pierre.

 

[boot51]

Hello

I'm still not too sure how the retirement system works, so any ideas would be appreciated.



Thanks,
Cody

If they have a 401K where you work, I'd max that out, IRA's are a good option, stay away from annuities, they're a rip off and if you're over 50, don't count on Social Security being there when you need it......oh you mean King & Country. I think Pierre might be on the right track and maybe add AK-19 and AK-23, I think they've around quite a while.

Fred

 

[jazzeum]

There's a comedian born every minute

Cody, there really is no big particular pattern to how Andy does these things. However, I think Pierre could be right. I recently asked Andy about whether some of the Desert Panzers would be retired and he said he had a good amount on hand so who knows. I would order what you want and just let the chips fall where they may.

 

[Cody]

Thanks a lot for the responses, that really put my mind at ease. Ak-19 and AK-23 where next up on my list and I already have EA-05 so I won't have to spend quite as many hours as usual trying to figure out exactly what I want to get.



P.S. By the way Fred, thanks for the retirement advice.

 

[OzDigger]

I guess the slow sellers would be the first into retirement. In any case at the end of the day you will get more satisfaction from this hobby if you just collect what you like rather than what might appreciate in value fastest.

 

[Cody]

Agreed Oz, that's why I'm trying not miss out on the ones that I want by having them slip into retirement before I have the funds to aquire them.

 

[Shannon Reuss]

Andy posted answers to some questions under "A Question for Andy". Here is the part of the post that pertains to the retirement thread:

Talking of “retired items” – how do we make our decisions?
Well, we look at our sales figures – how fast is an item going? We also look at the model itself – can we improve it? Generally, how popular is it?
We also believe that although the market continues to grow and expand everything has a definite “shelf life”.
We also, importantly, in order to bring in all-new items have limited warehouse capacity and therefore have to “let go” some of our older pieces. So, it’s a combination of all of these points.

 

[jazzeum]

In other words you know just as much as before Andy posted his answer

 

[Gideon]

I recently asked Andy about whether some of the Desert Panzers would be retired and he said he had a good amount on hand so who knows. I would order what you want and just let the chips fall where they may.

Ok, here's my thinking - having been a K&C dealer for some time:

When Andy tells you that has still has "a good amount on hand" of an item that was released over two years ago it's a pretty strong indicator that it will be retired once the inventory count falls below a certain number. The Demag was a good example of this. It wasn't all that popular until it was retired - then there was a run on them. SAme for the 2 1/2 ton supply truck. I would be on the look out for the airborne with open chutes and the DUKW.

Though, the Greyhound armored car surprised me as did the 88. THey always sold out really fast when I got them in.

 

[DrBig]

Retirement doesn't mean anything. It's more or less a 'last call' at a bar. All of the items are produced & painted in one giant lot, not on a continuous basis. If it's a quick sell out & it's not a 'limited edition', K&C might do another small run if the economics are there (such as the original polystone Panther). But even the Arnhem figs were billed as 'limited edition' & he released a 2nd edition a couple of years later . So, retirement just refers to something that is getting low in inventory back in Hong Kong...not something they are stopping the assembly line on. And the best way to predict 'retirement' is to get to know a dealer who has some insider information. I could be wrong about all of this, but I've been collecting for 9 years & this seems to be how it works.

 

[King & Country]

Hi Guys and Dr. Big,

I’m glad Dr. Big shared his special knowledge of how “retirement doesn’t mean anything.”

For the record here’s the real deal …

1. When we produce any item (except “Strictly Limited”) we place an initial order.

2. If the response is good that initial order usually sells out and we place second and third orders and so on.

3. In some cases (quite a few actually) the initial order is superseded in larger quantities by the following secondary orders.

4. Items are “retired” when:

A. Original demand is slowing down and we feel that the item has reached the maximum number of collectors.

B. The original item can be improved and upgraded by a new version and Andy gets fed up looking at it and wants to do something ‘new’.

C. Lots of new items and ranges are coming “on stream” and we need to make more room in our Hong Kong and China warehouses. Therefore some older items have to be “put out to pasture”.

And that’s the story so far … I could be wrong about all of this, but I’ve been making toy soldiers for over 20 years and this seems to be how it works …

Best wishes and… happy collecting!

Andy C.

 

[DrBig]

Are you always this sarcastic to your customers? I don't think I was that far off & came to the conclusion by sheer observation. But, it is nice to hear it straight from the horse's mouth.

 

[jrsteel]

Some of you guys know Andy personally so I have no idea, but in some of his posts he comes off kind of arrogant?

 

[nmrocks]

Arrogance well earned

 

[jrsteel]

Arrogance well earned

What does that mean?

 

[Pierre]

For my part, I find those replies very delightful. They are vigourous and usually deserved by the 'victims' of Mr. Neilson. When we wave a red flag in front of a bull...

I think that we don't have to take them too 'seriously' (in fact, we must admire the art of retort of Mr. Neilson) and thinking that he is arrogant. Obviously, he has a frank way to talk and doesn't fear to call a cat a...cat.

And this type of posts are very funny. Always make me laugh.

Pierre.

 

[jazzeum]

I know Andy some but not as well as Louis for instance. I wouldn't describe him as arrogant at all. I think he has a sort of wit, perhaps Scottish wit, and so he may seem arrogant but I assure he's not. He's actually quite funny.

 

[DrBig]

Arrogance well earned

He wasn't that arrogant back in the Hong Kong real estate collapse.

 

[OzDigger]

I welcome Andy's responses to our posts and he clearly enjoys a laugh. However I find the naming of individuals such as DrBig (and myself) in his replies as being offensive and rather immature on occassions. We all want to hear the official reason for why something is the way it is, but surely we could do without the perceived bully boy tactics. Maybe he doesn't mean it that way, but that's how it looks sometimes - which is the important aspect.

And I've also noted that the posters that praise Andy's back handers are often the people with a monetary interest in selling King and Country products.