trophy on ebay (3 Viewers)

[Deitz]

Sometimes, a few sets at reasonable prices slip through.

What I have noticed during my unscientific observation of AZW Trophy EBAY prices, is the first time a set appears on EBAY, the bidding and price go through the roof. Then everytime the same set appears on EBAY, the price drops alittle. Hopefully, this contiinues to be the trend.

Brian

 

[glossman]

Here's another one, for a single figure, that went for $100. Same buyer.

Al,

No offense but I hope the madness subsides since I may be a bidder

Yes, but he doesn't necessarily bid high all the time. On those three Indian auctions from England he had outbid me but I put in decent but not too crazy bids at the end and got them significantly less than my max.

Brad,

He is a long time collector of military miniatures and very enthusiastic about Trophy. I am surprised at his winning bid for the NBCC set as this bid pattern is not reflective of his usual conservative bidding style.

Being a forum member, he closely follows the Trophy subforum. He is a nice guy and I feel terribly awkward if we end up bidding on the same item. I congratulate him for winning the NBCC because he deserves it. I find it an expensive struggle to obtain retired Trophy sets and I suspect he is in the same boat.

I stress that he is NOT the bidder consistently ramping up prices of retired Trophy on eBay. This is another eBayer who puts in a super high bid and then literally walks away very confident no one can outbid him. (I reckon he wins 9 out of 10 times.)

Raymond.

 

[jazzeum]

Raymond,

I meant nothing negative and I hope he doesn't take it that. My impression of Trophy collectors from this Forum that they are all very nice people, as well as enthusiastic

My impression as a Trophy newcomer is that, unless you have deep pockets, you need to pick your spots and be judicious in your spending.

 

[boerboy]

Raymond,

I think that many US and UK Trophy collectors are just lucky to have access to large secondary market for Trophys. If I lived in Japan or Poland, eBay would be probably my only source to get Trophys.

I personally do not care about how much somebody paid for Trophy sets at eBay, I have absolutely no control of other people bidding habits ... I also do not feel awkward if I accidentally overbid somebody I know at eBay...this is just an action for God's sake...and with all this private actions settings and hidden bidders handlers you just do not know who you are bidding against...what is most important I never had any hard feelings after auction ended...

I really enjoy participating in the Trophy section of the Forum... I appreciate meeting so many great Trophy collectors in this Forum and I learned so much about Trophys from them...

Besides you can not get them all

Al

 

[theweinz]

Well put Al.
JW

 

[GICOP]

Excellent and positive comments from everyone in the Trophy family, indeed the Trophy band of collectors are a great bunch.

Looking at previous Trophy sales on Ebay it would appear that more than a couple of collectors are prepared to put their hands deep into their pockets to achieve their goal. Even though I have turned up more than my fair share of bargains I have had to "pay through the nose" for one or two

It has been said more than once before but there is no harm in repeating that it is such a shame that Trophy sets are no longer being produced.

Cheers

Martyn

 

[damian]

I cannot recall a single harsh word amongst any glossy and Trophy collectors. They are truly wonderful pieces all round. Unfortunately as what ever Trophy stock is mopped up so e bay or shows will be the only source for these sets. I wonder if the same will happen when current glossy manufacturers such as WM Hocker ATS and Little Legion close their doors

 

[jazzeum]

Damian,

Let's hope Hocker and LL never close their doors. That would be a terrible shame.

Regards,

 

[damian]

Damian,

Let's hope Hocker and LL never close their doors. That would be a terrible shame.

Regards,

I concur

 

[boerboy]

Damian & Brad,

I share your concerns.

The situation with WM Hocker, ATS and LL is quite different in compare with Trophy.

LL & ATS have actually zero presence on the US US market: they might have one or two (at most) dealers which do not even advertise and sell their stuff locally. with out any presence on the Net.

WM Hocker makes beautiful sets, but he sells them directly and do not have any distributors (however the secondary market for his sets do exist, mostly in the US).

The second of all his sets are not really true blue Tradition new toy soldiers but rather improved Britains style sets and they do not mesh well with other TS brands...

Every TS manufacturer eventually "retires" from the market for one reason or another: the lucky ones like Rose, Lancer continue their lives under different name... others like Trophy are not so lucky to say at least...

Just my too cents.

Al

 

[damian]

Most of the glossy manufacturers have a different system to the big matt producers. You could order almost any set in the Trophy catalogue at any time. Unless the moulds were old or defective you could get hold of a set if you so desired. The matt producers retire sets. That is why there is a secondary market for the matt figures whilst the company is still in existence. Trophy and Little Legion and WH Hocker will not have a secondary market (as we know it) until they stop producing. The Trophy secondary market that we are all observing and commenting on is a recent one. It would be great if some-one could resurrect some of the Trophy sets. Maybe just generic firing lines of 24 th Foot or Sudan figures would be a good way to test the market.

 

[boerboy]

Damian, you are right, but the secondary market is created not only by retired items but also models previously sold and sitting in peoples collections. I always can get better prices on the secondary market when these models are still producing, Somerset is a good example: they sell their Lawrence of Arabia figures around $150 and you can find them on eBay for a half price and even chipper in private collections.

Little Legion has actually a potential to rise to the Trophy's days of glory, but they need to do some improvements in their current line and start to sell more to the US market...

The Trophy story is great but unfortunately without happy ending Once LL takes its niche (and they are quite close) there will be no reason for "Trophy resurrection"...

I do not want to beat a dead horse to death again but if I had Trophy molds for a few lines I would start making sets in quantities in 6 month at most...sometimes I think that we (Trophy collectors) need to chip in and buy Trophy molds back from MM

Al

 

[Deitz]

Damian,

Let's hope Hocker and LL never close their doors. That would be a terrible shame.

Regards,

I agree.

 

[damian]

Damian, you are right, but the secondary market is created not only by retired items but also models previously sold and sitting in peoples collections. I always can get better prices on the secondary market when these models are still producing, Somerset is a good example: they sell their Lawrence of Arabia figures around $150 and you can find them on eBay for a half price and even chipper in private collections.

Little Legion has actually a potential to rise to the Trophy's days of glory, but they need to do some improvements in their current line and start to sell more to the US market...

The Trophy story is great but unfortunately without happy ending Once LL takes its niche (and they are quite close) there will be no reason for "Trophy resurrection"...

I do not want to beat a dead horse to death again but if I had Trophy molds for a few lines I would start making sets in quantities in 6 month at most...sometimes I think that we (Trophy collectors) need to chip in and buy Trophy molds back from MM

Al

The very reason I started collecting LL was because of their "compatibility with Trophy" which even back in 2005 seemed to be slowing down. In many ways the LL sets fill in the gaps in the Trophy line. I agree that there figures have improved dramatically and they are now covering AZW and Sudan in depth. I also do not hold out much hope for a Trophy revival.

 

[MarkeytMaker]

Damian, you are right, but the secondary market is created not only by retired items but also models previously sold and sitting in peoples collections. I always can get better prices on the secondary market when these models are still producing, Somerset is a good example: they sell their Lawrence of Arabia figures around $150 and you can find them on eBay for a half price and even chipper in private collections.

Little Legion has actually a potential to rise to the Trophy's days of glory, but they need to do some improvements in their current line and start to sell more to the US market...

The Trophy story is great but unfortunately without happy ending Once LL takes its niche (and they are quite close) there will be no reason for "Trophy resurrection"...

I do not want to beat a dead horse to death again but if I had Trophy molds for a few lines I would start making sets in quantities in 6 month at most...sometimes I think that we (Trophy collectors) need to chip in and buy Trophy molds back from MM

Al

Andy (K&C) should re-start his Glossy line...I would be a customer and I'm certain I'm not alone...how cool would a whole new line of glossy figures be?

 

[nysoldiers]

Trophy was the bridge between "old toy soldier styles" and the modern toy soldier with more artistic flair. Their sculpting and painting were heads above the other mass produced toy soldier makers (e.g. W. Britains).
After collecting Britains for many years I took a hiatus from the hobby to start my business and a family. When I was introduced to Trophy in the early eighties at a local show I decided to jump back into collecting.
Trophy not only brought back my childhood enthusiasm for the hobby but turned me into a serious collector.
I am now a dedicated K&C and JJD collector but part of my heart is still with Trophy's glossy offerings. Little Legion and ATS are also excellent glossy makers but they have a little less of that "old toy soldier charm" that Trophy captured.
I only hope that my children and future grandchildren will find a place for my Trophy collection. I don't think that I will have the heart to sell them.

 

[MarkeytMaker]

Trophy was the bridge between "old toy soldier styles" and the modern toy soldier with more artistic flair. Their sculpting and painting were heads above the other mass produced toy soldier makers (e.g. W. Britains).
After collecting Britains for many years I took a hiatus from the hobby to start my business and a family. When I was introduced to Trophy in the early eighties at a local show I decided to jump back into collecting.
Trophy not only brought back my childhood enthusiasm for the hobby but turned me into a serious collector.
I am now a dedicated K&C and JJD collector but part of my heart is still with Trophy's glossy offerings. Little Legion and ATS are also excellent glossy makers but they have a little less of that "old toy soldier charm" that Trophy captured.
I only hope that my children and future grandchildren will find a place for my Trophy collection. I don't think that I will have the heart to sell them.

I would think in many cases the children & grandchildren will sell them for profit regardless of what they might say now? I would think selling them to say.........................someone like me...................would be better Then take this money and go places and do things with the grandchildren now before it never happens! If you have already taken the grandchildren everywhere and done it all...feel free to just donate them to me...I will cherish them for my life and I'll even put your picture on the wall next to the display...I will tell all my friends how awesome of a guy you were

 

[ecuriel]

I would think in many cases the children & grandchildren will sell them for profit regardless of what they might say now? I would think selling them to say.........................someone like me...................would be better Then take this money and go places and do things with the grandchildren now before it never happens! If you have already taken the grandchildren everywhere and done it all...feel free to just donate them to me...I will cherish them for my life and I'll even put your picture on the wall next to the display...I will tell all my friends how awesome of a guy you were

I don't you get a right off if he "donates" them to you.

 

[nysoldiers]

Good points....
I once told my son (maybe he was 12 at the time) that my collection would be his one day. His reply was simple and to the point, "how much are they worth?"
Today at 26 he appreciates my collection but would still sell most of it.
At his age buying a home or starting a business are much more important than a hobby.

 

[jazzeum]

Andy has indicated he won't do any more glossy so that's not something you're likely to see.