What on Earth is Happening To Britain's Figure's (2 Viewers)

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Zulu Dawn

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Has any one else noticed recently that Britain's Figures have dropped through The Floor Board's. ! :confused:

Quite a few sellers are offering Discounts of between 10-20 % on e bay. :wink2:

To give you an example I purchased a Britain's Zulu War Hospital Evacuation Set NO.4 20110 recently for £34.33 + postage {eek3} {sm3}

Mind you it did end at an unearthly hour of 0500 CRAZY OR WHAT ?

At that time ALL us little boys & girls should be in bed & not playing with our toy soldiers
or indeed fighting the Last Defence of Rorke's Drift or The Thin Red Line / 5th column for that matter.

What is causing this to happen does anyone have any ideas.

I know that the $$$$ was steadily rising but has now started to drop, I know that we were in a recession (maybe we still are) but
it does appear that sellers in general are struggling at the moment. Has the market become saturated.

Who know's... ! It is beyond me.

It certainly is a Buyer's Market at the moment..... Don't get me wrong it is nice to be able to pick up a Britain's Figure at a Bargain but what about those of us
who have vast collection's OMG I WISH....has their value dropped too. & what of the poor sellers/dealers out there... they do have to make a living after all. {eek3} {sm2}

I am sure that the market will iron itself out .... soon I hope. I suppose it is swings and roundabout's.

I would be interested in hearing other collector's & indeed dealers comments.

Answer's on a POSTCARD PLEASE....... :salute::

Zulu Dawn :smile2:
 
If you're referring to eBay, all across the board prices are not what they used to be.
 
Another way to gauge this is to look at the current value of things in terms of the resale market. In general resale prices for all levels of toy soldiers have significantly plummeted. It certainly would be a great time to start building a collection though!:smile2: It seems that the only items that retain or exceed their original value in this market are the truly rare or iconic pieces, and that's across manufacturers from top to bottom. This correlates to the producers who used to fair the best in secondary sales taking the biggest hit now.

Joe
 
These days, new items at retail prices are more expensive than resale items on ebay. There is so much choice by so many manufacturers producing more supply than is demanded. Several years ago at the end of the Golden Age of toy soldiers, the idea of rising resale prices also ended. A prudent collector strategy is buy only what you really like and really want because in most cases you won't be able to sell it for as much as you paid for it. Toy soldiers are a consumable item and not an investment.

Terry
 
Phantom Warrior said:
These days, new items at retail prices are more expensive than resale items on ebay. There is so much choice by so many manufacturers producing more supply than is demanded. Several years ago at the end of the Golden Age of toy soldiers, the idea of rising resale prices also ended. A prudent collector strategy is buy only what you really like and really want because in most cases you won't be able to sell it for as much as you paid for it. Toy soldiers are a consumable item and not an investment.

Terry
Click to expand...

Now you tell me! ^&grin
 
Charlie Brown said:
Diecast cars, teddy bears have followed similar paths. Buy to enjoy. Not speculate.
Click to expand...

I agree with you fully Charlie Brown we genuine honest collector's out there buy because we like the item, figure, or set not necessarily because we want to make a fast buck $$$$ ££££ EURO etc

Mind you I suppose it is nice to know that what we have bought over the years will at least hold it's value maybe even double treble or quadruple if we are lucky should we fall on hard times.
 

Interesting...

I sold another third of my collection (K&C, Figarti, Collector Showcase, Thomas Gunn, etc.) between Sept-November 2014 on eBay. The prices were certainly down compared to the good ole days

but I received on average about 10% above retail but paid about 15% in fees from eBay/ Paypal. The net was about 5% less than retail and it was a lot of work! However, I am glad I sold.

I knew it was time to quit when a $200 Britians Civil War cabin wouldn't sell for $135. Okay, the shipping weight was costly but still.

I still have a third of my collection displayed in about 13 dioramas at home in 2 rooms with more in the closets.

I would lick to sell more but the reward compared to the time and effort isn't worth it.

I haven't bought anything new this year so far and very little last year do to prices and the lack of closet space today.

It's funny, once you stop buying, the world still revolves and life is still good.

Yes, it's a buyers market and should be for some time do to economic stagnation, high prices and not enough new collectors in the market to replace those that are leaving.

Carlos

 
There was an article recently in WSJ (I think) that talked about the world being awash in STUFF. Doesn't matter the category. There is an oversupply of almost everything. The result of global inter connectedness, high productivity via technology and massive money creation by central banks. Essentially, deflation, even oil prices!

The bigger looming threat is hyper inflation. The idea will seem absurd. Up until right when it happens.
 
Do you mean such as we saw in the 70s or worse, Argentina style.
 
Of course I can't predict exactly what will happen. But govts are awash in huge debt around the world. Trillions owed by USA, Europe, Japan, China now doing same. They can never pay back what they owe without inflation. Then rates go up and when they roll over, the debt service alone could swallow entire budget, leaving no/little room to provide services. Once a govt even hints at default, it's currency goes into the *****er. See Venezuela now. Think more like Weimer Republic, but on a global scale.

It's a scary scenario and no one knows when the tipping point is reached. Maybe 100 years from now. Maybe 100 days.

I would personally take some precaution. Not live in a cave buy 100,000 rounds of ammo precaution, but some hyper inflationary /currency deval hedges. Precious metals obvious choice but there are others.
 
no outcomes are assured. You may look at Zimbabwe with envy one day :)
 
Rutledge said:
no outcomes are assured. You may look at Zimbabwe with envy one day :)
Click to expand...
That is REALLY hard to imagine. As to precious metal as an inflation hedge, with today's prices one might argue that toy soldiers ARE precious metals...:rolleyes2: -- Al
 
I have not been buying many new items at current retail prices. Totally dropped some lines and manufacturers. Some "cottage industry" makers still offer their items at reasonable prices and I have been looking into that area for any new ranges that I might want to collect. Britains, however, still offer retail prices at about 25% to 30% lower than most of the other bigger players out there...

Good time for new collectors to get into the hobby if they shop around for deals and maybe, pick-up a new piece here and there. Also, look into the "cottage industry" makers! "Golden Age" has passed several years ago when everyone was calling it the "Golden Age", IMHO...
 
HistoryfortheAges said:
Good time for new collectors to get into the hobby if they shop around for deals and maybe, pick-up a new piece here and there. Also, look into the "cottage industry" makers! "Golden Age" has passed several years ago when everyone was calling it the "Golden Age", IMHO...
Click to expand...

Times have changed. Collectors are ageing.
 
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