Texas Toy Soldier Show Figure for Sale - PM 38 (1 Viewer)

[mikemiller1955]

I think K & C should do something about this situation since the collector is getting screwed and prohibit dealers from increasing the price once it's retired. Obviously, there are situations where dealers acquire collections and in that case dealers should be allowed to charge what they want. However, with respect to items they purchased wholesale from the manufacturer they shouldn't be allowed to jack up the prices once it's retired.

awwww Brad...

I wasn't gonna respond to this...but that really sounds kind of one sided...in your favor...

how deep is your moral conviction...tell me this...honestly...have you ever sold any of your collection over retail...or do you always price it at retail when you tire of it?

I'm guessing...while you don't like the dealers setting a higher than retail price on a retired piece...you're okay with us collectors inflating the price on a retired piece on Ebay when we want to sell...but your logic is that the dealer that takes all the risk, responsibility and fininacial liability of running a business can't get the same courtesy...

you say..."it's the collector getting screwed"...how do you figure that the collector gets any less screwed...if another collector...like me or you...sets a higher than retail price on a retired piece...why is that okay...what's the difference...

I'm surprised you're not lobbying for mandatory control over us collectors setting our own price (over retail) on our collection...

as far as I'm concerned...you bought it...you took the risk in buying it...if you want to gamble on sitting on it in your safe hoping it will increase in value...I wish you good luck with that...it's no sure thing...you may end up with a dozen duplicate sets you can't give away...

Brad...this is the way of the world...very few things I have purchased increase in value...usually only collectibles, jewelry and property...and there is no guarantee on that...my television is worth less than I paid for it...my car has depreciated...my computer is worth pennies on the dollar...

the dealers get very few breaks...it's not an easy business...their margins are usually 50-60%...meaning the buy it for $100 and sell it for $40 or $50...

then they pay shipping to have it delivered to their shop...deduct another 20% off that...

that takes it down to a profit of $20-$30 for a $100 investment...

add in free shipping to the customer...
time and cost of packing...
packing supplies...
fuel to take to the post office...
and they are working on slim margins...

I won't even mention payroll or rent...

and God forbid they want to buy some advertising or have a bad show...a delaer has to do a ton of volume to break even...

add in a couple of pieces that the dealer shipped out only to be refunded due to postal damage...it's a tough game...

if a dealer wants to charge over retail for a retired piece...I wish them good luck...they're trying to run a business and feed their family too...

 

[rpk]

What about the situation of a dealer inflating a popular limited release item? The 38(T) in question is a new release, and the one with the figure appears to have sold well (good amount of demand). If something is out for awhile and retires you have at least had a chance to get it at retail price before potentially being marked up. In this instance it is marked up as soon as released. I hope that doesn't become a trend. If so then balance it by marking down those items that sit for years... but then that isn't allowed.

 

[jazzeum]

Michael,

I'm not sure I completely grasped your point but mine was a simple one: why do some dealers immediately jack up the price when an item retires. The dealers I deal with (Treefrog and Minuteman) don't do this. I'll bet Crown Miniatures doesn't do this. You seem to say that with all the costs that dealers have to bear (and they have a very hard job: I've seen George in action) that they should be able to raise their prices and that if they don't they can't make a decent living. However, if your point is that dealers can't make a decent living unless they are allowed to raise the price when an item retires, well that dealer has a lot more serious problems than that. You also seem to say that we shouldn't legislate what a dealer can charge. Well, K & C already tells dealers they can't go below certain prices. So, we have those requirements already.

With respect to equating dealers with collectors, collectors are not dealers and they should be able to sell an item for whatever they like. Don't confuse the two. Dealers are in a special relationship to the public. There is quite a difference.

Looking back at my post, legally, a manufacturer probably couldn't require dealers to restrict their prices just as legally you can't restrict dealers from selling below MSRP. Of course, a dealer then runs the risk of losing the dealership by violating the dealer agreement with the manufacturer.

However, this is a different argument as why certain dealers immediately raise the price upon retirement. Now, do I think that a manufacturer is going to do that, no, but I don't think the price should be raised upon retirement. You differ and that's ok. That's what makes for discussion :smile2:

Brad

 

[mikemiller1955]

Hey Brad...I don't want this to get heated...and I appreciate your polite attitude so far...but to answer your question...

Dealers increase the price on retired items because the market will bear it...the same reason collectors do...

I'm not comparing this to "gouging" as in a national disaster (hurricane/earthquake) as when some unscrupulous vendors raise the price of lumber/food due to scarcity...but more so that all hotels have weekend rates that are more expensive than weekday rates...because the market will bear it...there is a huge demand for that product...

so...to simplify my post for you...my only point is that I don't think dealers should be penalized or frowned upon while collectors do the same thing...it's a free market...you and me just differ on this issue...not a big thing...you seem okay with collectors doing it...but when a dealer does it you say it smells bad...

I say free market for all...who is willing to take a chance...let them roll the dice and see how they come out...

by the way...there are a lot of collectors...not dealers...that try to corner the market (in a small way)...by purchasing stock of "low inventory" items to hold and sell at a profit...I know you know this...and while I frown on that...again...it's a free market...

 

[jazzeum]

Michael,

I don't want to get it heated either and I think the only point we really differ on is how should dealers be treated. I do agree that they do it because they can.

Dealers are in a special situation, not the same as you or and I believe the law recognizes them as such.

However, I guess we'll just disagree on it, that's all.

Brad

 

[rpk]

I like turtles.