Resale market collapse (2 Viewers)

[damian]

I cannot understand the obsession about retired sets.
Some are truly rare and some are really comparable to today's pieces, but by and large improvements in manufacturing etc mean that today's new releases are far superior to those from a few years ago. Why chase after a 1999 Sherman whne we have so many 2009 ones that are better and probably cheaper. I suppose it is a nostalgia factor. For example some of the early Trophy figures are too skinny to appeal to me. I prefer the full bodied Trophy sets from 1995-2006. So whilst I am interested in a skinny rifleman from 1985 I am not going to sell the farm to get him
That is just me and I accept that others may not feel the same way.
I just buy what is currently available and some of the sets later on prove to be rare and popular others don't.

 

[marco55]

I don't like it when I see dealers selling on ebay,especially when the item is NIB.I can see it if it comes from their on personal collection but can anybody answer when this is kosher?I may be wrong but it doesn't seem right.
Mark

 

[jbonzo1]

I don't like it when I see dealers selling on ebay,especially when the item is NIB.I can see it if it comes from their on personal collection but can anybody answer when this is kosher?I may be wrong but it doesn't seem right.
Mark

Online store or ebay seems the same to me. It must be OK with K&C or we would not see it.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

I don't like it when I see dealers selling on ebay,especially when the item is NIB.I can see it if it comes from their on personal collection but can anybody answer when this is kosher?I may be wrong but it doesn't seem right.
Mark

Online store or ebay seems the same to me. It must be OK with K&C or we would not see it.

I took the comment by Marco to mean a dealer storing what he thinks will be good pieces and then selling them on ebay several years later as mint items at way above retail prices. There have been a few times where a dealer has discovered retired pieces when cleaning up his store room and sold them at the retail price. But also one or two dealers I suspect held back an inventory to sell at high prices later.

Terry

 

[jazzeum]

But also one or two dealers I suspect held back an inventory to sell at high prices later.

Terry

I suspect it's more than one or two

 

[kogu]

I don't know how many dealers do that but had my own experience with one.
Some sets I was looking for were shown on his website. When calling the dealer he said that he is out of stock and unfortunately was not up to date on his website.
Well, among others, the particular sets I was asking for were offered by the dealer on ebay about 4 weeks after my call with a starting bid higher then the original retail
Konrad

 

[Njja]

If a seller asks for more than 50% above retail cost for "RETIRED" K/C items...Boycott them...(The concept of "RETIRED" is a flamming joke anyway)....and yes I believe shill-bidding goes on more than most people think on e-bay......With a difficult economy few people have money to burn.....Ridiculous Prices are just that....No need to get taken.....It has become a buyers market.....GOOD FOR COLLECTORS.....BAD NEWS... for the Horders and Speculators.....Also keep in mind that other manufacturers like Figarti and First Legion are producing better products....New items are being produced constantly....NO NEED TO BE TAKEN on overpriced retired K/C items that are not even up to current standards

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Why don't you give it a rest?

You are certainly free to do as you chose, why not allow others the same

opportunity?

If I, or another collector wish to purchase an older King & Country wooden

tank, or warbird we should certainly be allowed to do so with no grief from

you.

You are certainly free to do as you chose, and I could care less.

 

[Vezzolf]

I don't know how many dealers do that but had my own experience with one.
Some sets I was looking for were shown on his website. When calling the dealer he said that he is out of stock and unfortunately was not up to date on his website.
Well, among others, the particular sets I was asking for were offered by the dealer on ebay about 4 weeks after my call with a starting bid higher then the original retail
Konrad

I am sure that most manufacturers would frown on this behaviour.....It seems that K/C has little concern about this kind of thing.....Dealers who keep items aside intentionally and then market them after they are "RETIRED???:rolleyes":.....should not be allowed to continue to be dealers for King and Country products.......I guess K/C does little to police these practices.......But as smart consumers we need to use common sense and protect ourselves from unscrupulous business practices....Buyers Beware

 

[nmrocks]

Herr Vezzolf,
Your repeated hyper rhetoric, is really tiring, really if people haven't got your message after the 15th time do we have to see it again?? your posts are becoming as repetitive and monotone as another member (?) on this forum, do you like shirtless Italians also?
Ray

If a seller asks for more than 50% above retail cost for "RETIRED" K/C items...Boycott them...(The concept of "RETIRED" is a flamming joke anyway)....and yes I believe shill-bidding goes on more than most people think on e-bay......With a difficult economy few people have money to burn.....Ridiculous Prices are just that....No need to get taken.....It has become a buyers market.....GOOD FOR COLLECTORS.....BAD NEWS... for the Horders and Speculators.....Also keep in mind that other manufacturers like Figarti and First Legion are producing better products....New items are being produced constantly....NO NEED TO BE TAKEN on overpriced retired K/C items that are not even up to current standards

 

[Vezzolf]

You...Are a "FUNNY GUY".....If my views are monotonous to you don't read them.....I they annoy you ....TOO BAD

 

[Njja]

I think some of the people complaining is because of being frustrated of not being able to afford the high prices some pieces command.The more affluent dosen't have this problem.I believe in the free market but I also understand the frustration of those who can't afford these high prices and really want a piece for their collection.
Mark

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Mark I believe you are 100% correct!

In reality this is foolish, because it is not always $$$$ that allows someone

to obtain the item he wants! Research is a much more useful tool then $$$$.

I also believe an item found through your wits is something you will enjoy

much more then an item you pay a lot of money for!

Anyone can pay a lot of money for an instant collection.....but what does he

have? Does he understand about the items? Know their history? Can he hold

an intelligent conversation about them? Or is it simply look what I have.....and

really how much fun is that?

 

[jazzeum]

Vezzolf,

I don't necessarily agree with you but I think it might help your cause somewhat if you stated your argument in less strident terms. People then might have a more open mind as to what you have to say.

Remember the old expression: "you catch more bees with honey than with vinegar."

 

[Vezzolf]

OK Brad, I will try to be more "politically correct"

 

[marco55]

...................................................................................................

Mark I believe you are 100% correct!

In reality this is foolish, because it is not always $$$$ that allows someone

to obtain the item he wants! Research is a much more useful tool then $$$$.

I also believe an item found through your wits is something you will enjoy

much more then an item you pay a lot of money for!

Anyone can pay a lot of money for an instant collection.....but what does he

have? Does he understand about the items? Know their history? Can he hold

an intelligent conversation about them? Or is it simply look what I have.....and

really how much fun is that?

I agree that the hunt is part of the fun.I have only bought a couple of things off ebay and they weren't toy soldier related but I can sense some of the frustration of others seeing what they have been looking for and not being able to afford it.You seem to know all the ends and outs of hunting for items but many don't.Mark

 

[Njja]

I cannot understand the obsession about retired sets.
Some are truly rare and some are really comparable to today's pieces, but by and large improvements in manufacturing etc mean that today's new releases are far superior to those from a few years ago. Why chase after a 1999 Sherman whne we have so many 2009 ones that are better and probably cheaper. I suppose it is a nostalgia factor. For example some of the early Trophy figures are too skinny to appeal to me. I prefer the full bodied Trophy sets from 1995-2006. So whilst I am interested in a skinny rifleman from 1985 I am not going to sell the farm to get him
That is just me and I accept that others may not feel the same way.
I just buy what is currently available and some of the sets later on prove to be rare and popular others don't.

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You are correct, but it really depends on the collector, and his interests.

When I began I simply picked out the pieces I liked. When I saw something I liked better I was very happy when I realized people wanted a item I was

tired of and I could simply exchange it for a newer item. As my knowledge grew and I saw eariler items I thought it would be great to actually find one

or two of the old pieces I thought were nice. Every collector is different.

Today I realize it is impossible to keep up, you would need an entire house and a truck full of cash!

Now I have a couple of retired series I have completed, and I look for older pieces I like, and routinely trade out newer items I like for other new items

that seem to come out nearly every day.

 

[jazzeum]

OK Brad, I will try to be more "politically correct"

Frank,

Not "politically correct," but less vinegary

 

[Vezzolf]

For me the "hunt" means nothing....most of us can "afford" to purchase "retired" overpriced K/C items but we choose not to....Why?? GUESS......They are over-priced and simply not worth it......I would much rather purchase Figarti or First Legion.....Better products at fairer prices....VERY SIMPLE for most of us to understand.

 

[Rob]

I cannot understand the obsession about retired sets.
Some are truly rare and some are really comparable to today's pieces, but by and large improvements in manufacturing etc mean that today's new releases are far superior to those from a few years ago. Why chase after a 1999 Sherman whne we have so many 2009 ones that are better and probably cheaper. I suppose it is a nostalgia factor. For example some of the early Trophy figures are too skinny to appeal to me. I prefer the full bodied Trophy sets from 1995-2006. So whilst I am interested in a skinny rifleman from 1985 I am not going to sell the farm to get him
That is just me and I accept that others may not feel the same way.
I just buy what is currently available and some of the sets later on prove to be rare and popular others don't.

Couldn't agree more.I know how valuable older sets like Arnhem etc are and I'm sure they are great to have,but K&C's skills have come a long way since then and older sets just don't work with the newer items.I like my collection to have a certain look and work as it were,so leaving the older sets alone was an early and easy decision for me.

There is a certain era of K&C where I feel the old and new start to merge,for me that was probably the Normandy FJ's,they were the last of the old and first of the new as it were.Just recently K&C UK had a load of the older D Day sets for sale,this was tempting as its one of my favourite theatres.But as my collection is 100% modern era stuff I passed.Quality evolves in this hobby,and K&C are a great example of this,the product gets better and better.

Rob

 

[Njja]

I don't like it when I see dealers selling on ebay,especially when the item is NIB.I can see it if it comes from their on personal collection but can anybody answer when this is kosher?I may be wrong but it doesn't seem right.
Mark

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This has been going on for years!:

Many use the...."I just obtained a collection"ploy

Some are legitimate here on Treefrog they always listed items on the Forum

at very fair prices first, before anything was put on ebay. They have always

been very fair.

Others in my opinion not so much. Early on I asked other dealers if they had

certain recently retired items and was always told no.....only to see then

listed on ebay a week later.

In all fairness, it is every man for himself.....but you should expect a certain

level of service from someone you spend a fair amout of money with.

 

[Rob]

For me the "hunt" means nothing....most of us can "afford" to purchase "retired" overpriced K/C items but we choose not to....Why?? GUESS......They are over-priced and simply not worth it......I would much rather purchase Figarti or First Legion.....Better products at fairer prices....VERY SIMPLE for most of us to understand.

I tell you something most of us do understand,forum etiquette and manners.If you want to ra ra FL/Tamiya or another company perhaps you should take it to their thread.

Rob