Whats up with Prices? (1 Viewer)

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Yosmanos

Private 2
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Mar 10, 2011
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I've noticed a lot of Imperials on ebay in the last few months. I've also noticed a jump in prices. I've nabbed a couple of goodies that Ive been on the watch for but have been scared off a few by the prices being bid. What gives? I thought there was a recession on, or are people shelving the vacation in favour of toy soldiers?

As an aside, I'm also grumpy about vendors on ebay saying Imperial is out of business and such and such set is "super rare" - c'mon!

Mark
 
Yosmanos said:
I've noticed a lot of Imperials on ebay in the last few months. I've also noticed a jump in prices. I've nabbed a couple of goodies that Ive been on the watch for but have been scared off a few by the prices being bid. What gives? I thought there was a recession on, or are people shelving the vacation in favour of toy soldiers?

As an aside, I'm also grumpy about vendors on ebay saying Imperial is out of business and such and such set is "super rare" - c'mon!

Mark
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Yes, well said! I bet some of them do know Imperial are still in business! Some others do have a nasty feedback... But where to get some older retired sets?


Paulo
 
Good points here guys! Something that I was discussing with my friends Pat and Chris is the total lack of knowlegde that some collectors display by bidding on sets from any maker including Imperial That are still available from the maker. I see this all the time on ebay with Marlborough sets and other makers so its not uncommon and I am sure that the dealers on ebay are fully aware of this and in the quest to make a buck are feeling obligated to educate the folks who are willing to spend a lot of money.

Dave
 
Couple of quick points/questions.

I understand Imperial to still be around on a limited basis, ie, if he has the castings, he will make the set, but I understood no new castings are being done?

Some of the older sets are tougher to find and I understood that certain ones are truly retired.

I also understood the Maori series is somewhat more difficult to find and no new castings are being done? (TM series) By the way, I need TM 7 if anyone sees any!!!!!

I also think you are seeing prices jump b/c someone wants the set and they don't want to either special order it or they don't want to wait a month or more for delivery? And of course, some don't care about cost I guess!

ON another note, I bought the Gilber Mair set #11, but it was only a 4 figure set and came in a smaller box, with full labels and description, any idea on this? I am happy to have it as it appears vintage, was it a custom?

Thanks
Tom
 
tdubel said:
Couple of quick points/questions.

I also understood the Maori series is somewhat more difficult to find and no new castings are being done? (TM series) By the way, I need TM 7 if anyone sees any!!!!!

ON another note, I bought the Gilber Mair set #11, but it was only a 4 figure set and came in a smaller box, with full labels and description, any idea on this? I am happy to have it as it appears vintage, was it a custom?

Thanks
Tom
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ok so Imperial is still producing around 180 sets in napoleonic, town and around, Crimea, te Maori, new Zealand, Egypt, and 1st empire civilians. All the Te Maori sets are still in production. Retail for TM 7 is NZD 50.00.
The 4 figure Gilbert mair set is the new version of the early set 11 (6 figs) and is still in production, retail NZD 95.00

Mark
 
Greetings Mark, Has there been any new Napoleonic sets created since the French Hussars?
Thanks, Ken
 
Yosmanos said:
ok so Imperial is still producing around 180 sets in napoleonic, town and around, Crimea, te Maori, new Zealand, Egypt, and 1st empire civilians. All the Te Maori sets are still in production. Retail for TM 7 is NZD 50.00.
The 4 figure Gilbert mair set is the new version of the early set 11 (6 figs) and is still in production, retail NZD 95.00

Mark
Click to expand...

Mark,
Thanks for the update and clarification on sets. When you say in production, are new castings being made?

Also, I didn't say, but I think visibility b/c very low to the entire toy soldier community, drives sales on the open market.

All in all, I am happy to find what I have found and at very good prices.

Tom
 
tdubel said:
Mark,
Thanks for the update and clarification on sets. When you say in production, are new castings being made?

Also, I didn't say, but I think visibility b/c very low to the entire toy soldier community, drives sales on the open market.

All in all, I am happy to find what I have found and at very good prices.

Tom
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Yes, new castings are being made, albeit in limited quantity. I am not aware of any new models being developed.
 
I so wish David would start making some new sets, including additions to the Napoleonic series. A few years back, I bought every set in that series from him. In terms of what Imperial is doing now, my understanding is he is still making all of the sets from the Napoleonic, and select sets from the Crimean and Egypt series. He is also still making Te Maori, New Zealand, 1st Empire Civilians, and Town & Around. The stuff people are selling on Ebay, including the Zulu, Civil War and early sets is no longer being made and I don't think David has any interest in going back and doing those (for many of them, he would have to make new molds) so if you want those sets, Ebay or toy soldiers shows are your best bet to pick any of those up. I would encourage people on this forum to ask David to make some new sets. I know he wants to do that, but also feels obligated to continue making old sets for people trying to finish up their collections. Anyway, Imperial's figures are unrivaled. He is a master at his art.
 
Contrary to what you might expect, I have been lobbying the Cowes to actually RAISE their prices. When one considers the work and time that goes in to creating a single set of toy soldiers, not in some assembly line or by using a cast of skilled employees, but rather David and Kaye and occasionally other members of their immediate family, the price they charge is ridiculously low.

Too low. Add to that the large increase in raw material costs and I think the Cowes have a rather expensive hobby that cannot be sustained for long.

In a way, it is a new era, not just for the Cowes but for cottage industries everywhere. We cannot measure the current pieces against the sets that came before. Not only have the sets gone from 6 figs to 4, but the figures being produced today by the Cowes are more akin to custom made works of art than any "mass hand-produced" figures from Imperial or any other outfit.

Support your fav toy soldier artist(s)!

D
 
Drum said:
Contrary to what you might expect, I have been lobbying the Cowes to actually RAISE their prices. When one considers the work and time that goes in to creating a single set of toy soldiers, not in some assembly line or by using a cast of skilled employees, but rather David and Kaye and occasionally other members of their immediate family, the price they charge is ridiculously low.

Too low. Add to that the large increase in raw material costs and I think the Cowes have a rather expensive hobby that cannot be sustained for long.

In a way, it is a new era, not just for the Cowes but for cottage industries everywhere. We cannot measure the current pieces against the sets that came before. Not only have the sets gone from 6 figs to 4, but the figures being produced today by the Cowes are more akin to custom made works of art than any "mass hand-produced" figures from Imperial or any other outfit.

Support your fav toy soldier artist(s)!

D
Click to expand...

Well, at least they don't have the overhead that comes with employees, factories, etc... So I really wish they won't raise the prices: besides with the Euro lately falling against the NZ Dollar to me it would mean bye bye...{eek3}, unless they also change the sets from 6 to 4 or to 1 figure sets. Now why has that been happening everywhere?:wink2:

Paulo
 
VIRIATO said:
unless they also change the sets from 6 to 4 or to 1 figure sets. Now why has that been happening everywhere?:wink2:

Paulo
Click to expand...


My understanding of this phenomenon is that the Chinese are too blame. They are way richer now than they were in the 80's and 90's and thus, their demand for, and the price of, the raw materials used for making toy soldiers have sky rocketed. The only way to keep prices in line with what the consumers are hoping for is to make the sets smaller.

As for the overhead, well, I can assure you very few of us would put up with conducting such a labor intensive business for very long on what the Cowes are paying themselves. Higher prices might motivate them to stick with it if/when their love for the hobby wanes.
 
$US500 + for the landing crew set? Unreal....I swapped mine for an ACW pontoon set....maybe I should've kept it! Hmmmmmmmmm
Dave actually dislikes this set immensely - considers them basic and useless without the accoutrements to surround them ie aircraft, machinery etc...
Yet there's an heirloom HS1 set that was listed several times as low as $US650 and didn't sell....$NZ1144.00 when new...now there's an HS2 set and no bids, same dealer (yet another trader who won't sell internationally so the prices stay artificially low).....a dealer called "Trainz" listed a large number of sets under a different heading than usual, wouldn't sell to NZ and the prices they sold for were ridiculously low.
I've just bought a M/B 1st Foot Colour Party #139 off a local auction site for $NZ62.00 or $US51.51 so how ridiculous is that? I already have it so it's one to tuck away for a rainy day....
And, as mentioned previously, other prices are way high so you can't win...no rhyme or reason...
Spent some time with David & Kay last weekend and he commented on the rising cost of base metals and Imperial prices haven't risen since before GST went up in NZ in 2010 so may not be far away. There are also other concerns regarding the supply of paint which are enamels and most similar paints sold in NZ are now water-based and not suitable so treasure them while you can!
And, as also mentioned previously, I also have no idea how they do it for the money given the time and effort put into each individual item....
ACE
 
Are you talking about the O&M carrier deck crew? Where did that sell for $500? Wow.

On the other hand, when you consider how few of these were issued... 200 of each set, that is not too outrageous if someone is completing their collection or something. They made maybe twice as many of the Heritage Series sets, though they are MUCH more elaborate and beautiful. Same seller sold an HS1 in the last few weeks. I think it went in the $650-ish area.
 
The O&M Carrier Deck Crew set bidding is now at an unbelievable $711! The seller also has the two O&M Sweetheart sets listed. USA only.
 
Yeah, that is really stunning. On the other hand, recently, one of the most recent sets from Imperial, still in production even, sold on the bay for almost $300!

There is no accounting for rationality on the bay

Wow... that is an amazing price... assuming the top bidder does not welch.

D
 
Drum said:
Are you talking about the O&M carrier deck crew? Where did that sell for $500? Wow.

On the other hand, when you consider how few of these were issued... 200 of each set, that is not too outrageous if someone is completing their collection or something. They made maybe twice as many of the Heritage Series sets, though they are MUCH more elaborate and beautiful. Same seller sold an HS1 in the last few weeks. I think it went in the $650-ish area.
Click to expand...

So, Drum, what IS a reasonable price for one of the Heirloom sets? I think that I saw an HS2 just sell on eBay for $650. Am I correct that when these sets first came out that they were priced in the $400 or $450 range?
 
bernerfan said:
So, Drum, what IS a reasonable price for one of the Heirloom sets? I think that I saw an HS2 just sell on eBay for $650. Am I correct that when these sets first came out that they were priced in the $400 or $450 range?
Click to expand...

I sold an HS1 set, without its box, about four years ago, at the West Coaster for $750. However, I believe prices have come down since then.
 
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