Weak Moment (1 Viewer)

[halomeeps]

I refer to my King & Country dealer ( Bill Sager mostly and Treefrog) as my crack dealers this K & C stuff is very addicting and Andy keeps making it better and better.....EP

 

[OzDigger]

Just a short addition to my list of collecting hints.

Investment? Well it's really the wrong word to use regarding the buying of figures/models/toys etc for resale because 'investing' infers you always come out on top. Sadly I can assure you it is only about 50% of the time at best over the longer term that you will have a win. Frankly you are more likely to make money from poker machines - and we all know what a rip-off those are.

A more accurate term is 'speculating'. Don't forget that the toy industry (sorry, but that's what they are folks) has a long history of in vogue pieces that soon became an orphan, the item that nobody wants. This is a very fickle business and if you don't use caution you may find yourself with a number of 'turkeys' on your shelf that you can't even get your money back on. So if you just buy what you like you'll never be disappointed.

 

[vandilay]

Someone started a similar thread to this on a US diecast aircraft forum that I frequent, and it had a huge response. I was surprised at the number of guys that admitted they do have a problem - they just can't stop buying model aircraft. It was causing financial and family problems and several said that have attended counciling seassions to try and reduce their mania, which is what it can become apparently. I guess we have all seen tv programs showing some sad individual (in our eyes) that can't stop collecting newspapers etc to the degree that they end up with few place where they can sit down. If you translate that to lack of shelf space for figures etc - well you guys get the message.

With over thirty years experience in collecting I've managed to control (mostly) my 'problem' by sticking to one period, being World War Two and in that I concentrate mainly on Germans. They don't have many opponents to fight but they haven't complained yet - if they do, I guess I'll really have a problem

If I do happen to cross the 'period' line and buy a WWI or Napoleonic piece that I really, really like, I just treat it as an 'error' rather than let it become an excuse to go wild on more pieces from that period. More often than not I end up selling (at a reasonable price) or trading the 'error'.

Here are a few collecting tips to help control the 'problem':

1) After you establish your favourite period, stick to it as best you can.

2) Adopt a cooling off period. If you collect Napoleonic and see a WWII piece 'you must have'. Just say to yourself: "I'll give it a few weeks and see how I feel then". I can assure you that in several weeks you have most likely forgot about that piece and feel pleased with yourself that you didn't buy it.

3) Don't be a completist. It's stupid to buy every figure or vehicle in a range as you always end up with stuff you didn't really like but just bought because it fits.

4) Just buy the pieces you like. Don't be persuaded into buying a figure or set just because someone else on a forum says: "I'm going to get it", OR "it's sure to become rare" OR, It's soon to be retired", OR "It will appreciate in value heaps and you'll make a fortune selling it".

5) Avoid 'investment' buying. I know it's tempting to buy a rare piece even if you don't collect that period so you can resell it to finance 'your' buys. Just remember you are removing a piece from the shop shelf that some poor 'fellow collector' that does collect that period is trying to get.

I'm sure I'll get some critical or sarcastic (the lowest form of wit) remarks about my suggestions. But you may not be aware that they may be the same people that sell on eBay at high 'Buy It Now' prices etc. And their

eBay 'handle' is not always the same as their forum name

- some have several 'aliases'. How do I know, let's just say I spent many years in bank fraud investigating and debt recovery so I've learnt some tricks of the trade. Of course there are also the Labrador pup types that run around the forum saying how great 'something' is, but they don't mean any harm - they're just excited

So yes, the man is correct: "you be carefull out there".

Crikey as that other khaki clad aussie would say,operating under aliases
I,m afraid i,d fall under that category.My wife started our e bay account [bet she regrets that one] so she chose the name,and being to lazy to change it
when i joined this forum i chose a name i came up with i.e vandilay [pinched actualy from seinfeld one of my favourite shows ,one of george costanzas alter egos ''árt vandilay who runs an import export buisness.''

 

[wellington]

Hope I didn't leave you guys with the wrong impression....I was just joking....BUT....I really do spend about $500.00 every 2 months is that about average or am I way off base????


Cheers
WELLINGTON

 

[wadepat]

Wellington,

While I have spent that much money and more in a two month period, I do not usually spend so much in a two month period. The simple reason is that my budget does not allow spending $5,000 to $6,000 per year on my hobby. But if I could afford to spend that much, I would certainly do so.

Regarding the Obsessive-Compulsive discussion, don't you think all of us who collect in earnest have just a touch of the obsessional about us? I think we do.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[OzDigger]

Crikey as that other khaki clad aussie would say,operating under aliases
I,m afraid i,d fall under that category.My wife started our e bay account [bet she regrets that one] so she chose the name,and being to lazy to change it
when i joined this forum i chose a name i came up with i.e vandilay [pinched actualy from seinfeld one of my favourite shows ,one of george costanzas alter egos ''árt vandilay who runs an import export buisness.''

So how's the latex rubber business going Art?

 

[vandilay]

Dont know about the latex rubber buisness [that boggles the mind]
But if i could run a toy soldier buisness as a loss attributing company i,d be set.

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

Think you have it bad. I collect K&C WWII, K&C Rev War, Conte ACW, Conte WWII, Britain's ACW, and 1:6 Scale WWII Action figures and vehicles. I almost forgot about my military book collection habit. Please Help Me !

 

[VIRIATO]

Hi,
I have only been collecting for about a year and a half, in a country across the Atlantic, but when I read these posts I see how small the world is and how common our collecting issues are. I have had some very good laughs reading some posts but also some sobering thoughts on room, budget, family and work time, etc... I too started with WWII 1/30 and 1/32 scale, but recently got into 1/50 tanks and other periods: ACW, traditional Zulu War and Delhi Durbar. There certainly are lots of temptations around, new releases at a terrible pace, but when things start getting «rough» I try to settle down, to wait and remember that at 40 I'd like to be collecting for the next... 50 years or so. Selling on E-bay comes to mind, but the bottom line is I have to try and keep my feet on the ground and be patient. Lack of room will possibly help me out, because I can only get one or two sets from K&C for each series to set a small diorama. On E-Bay it gets a little hard, with those bidding deadlines...But I always try to find out what I really like and let the rest go. Easier said than done, for sure, especially because I always find too much of what I really like. As for collecting more than one historical period, I believe it's possible in the long run, but buying all sets or something like that is out of the question.Let's see what the future brings. This forum and the experience of other collectors can only help, though, and I found some ground rules brought up in this thread interesting and helpful reading.

Warm regards everybody,
Paulo

 

[OzDigger]

Dont know about the latex rubber buisness [that boggles the mind]
But if i could run a toy soldier buisness as a loss attributing company i,d be set.

Hi Vandilay
It's a while since I saw that Seinfeld episode but I seem to recall Art Vandalay (George) saying he sold rubber latex products. Here's another thought, do you think inflatable sheep would be popular in New Zealand

Note to Adm etc
Please note it's the normal situation for New Zealanders (Kiwis) and Australians to make fun of each other - but we are good friends - honest. Except when Kiwis get into trouble overseas, then say they are Aussies

Legal Disclaimer
The above reference to inflatable sheep in no way suggests that New Zealand males have an over fondness for sheep despite Baabara being a very popular name in New Zealand.

 

[vandilay]

Hi Ozdigger
AAAH it always comes back to the old sheep jokes eh,us and the poor old welsh,as for blow up sheep why settle for a substitute.
From memory i dont think george ever mentioned what Art vandilay sold,
just that he was in the import export buisness.
I,ll have to track down the episode and re watch it