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eBay alternative?

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  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Tempe, AZ
eBay alternative?
Posted by eptingmike on Sunday, July 12, 2009 1:20 PM

Hi all,

I was looking over my stash(more like a small pile really!) and was thinking about clearing it out a bit.  Recently I have been doing the same with some gaming/wargaming items.  I avoid eBay these days as it seems to be more of a hassle than it is worth.  With my other interests I usual go to TheMiniaturesPage(a great site if it is your thing)and utilize there Marketplace area.  But what about plastic model kits?  Where do you go?  Do you just bite the bullet and eBay?  

Thanks

Mike

Horten_IX_Go-229

  • Member since
    March 2006
  • From: Boyertown, PA, USA
Posted by Dubau on Sunday, July 12, 2009 2:20 PM

As for me, I like ebay, I buy and sell on there, and I have had NP at all..... so for.... Whistling [:-^]

But right now with people not working and having little or no cash, it's a bad time to sell.......

                                  " It's a buyers market "

Now " IF " you can aford it why not try giving some of your kits away. I know there are a lot of people on here that could use them.

Just a though and that's my My 2 cents [2c]

Bud

 

" You've experienced a set back, and without set backs and learning how to fix them you'll never make the leap from kit builder to modeler "
  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Tempe, AZ
Posted by eptingmike on Sunday, July 12, 2009 2:40 PM

Hello,

Well I haven't had any trouble with eBay per se, it is just, well you said it, it is a buyer's market.  I feel like they have really shifted over to a format which more resembles Amazon as opposed to how eBay was when I started wheeling and dealing. 

As for giving them away, well I have to admit I am perhaps too much of a businessman at heart! Generally I try and clear out stuff in the hopes of getting close to at least breaking even.  It is about the only way I can justify the hobby to my wife!

I do, however, occasionally leave out finished/semi-finished models in an area of my apartment complex where I know some little boys live.   They get snapped up pretty quick!

Mike

Horten_IX_Go-229

  • Member since
    March 2006
  • From: Boyertown, PA, USA
Posted by Dubau on Sunday, July 12, 2009 3:12 PM

That's cool.....

And I know what you meen about getting even.

As I said, just my My 2 cents [2c]

Have a GREAT Day

Bud

" You've experienced a set back, and without set backs and learning how to fix them you'll never make the leap from kit builder to modeler "
  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Tempe, AZ
Posted by eptingmike on Sunday, July 12, 2009 3:28 PM

Thanks!

You have a great day as well.

And your two cents, well, it is priceless to me!

Mike

Horten_IX_Go-229

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Massachusetts
Posted by ajlafleche on Sunday, July 12, 2009 4:02 PM
Most of the other modeling sites allow buying, selling and trading posts at no cost to either party. The audience is smaller han ebay, but you are setting the price, take it or leave it.

Remember, if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Tempe, AZ
Posted by eptingmike on Sunday, July 12, 2009 7:17 PM

I figured as much.

Well I went ahead and just put up stuff on eBay.  As far as I can tell, I lucked out as there is some sort of special going on where there were no insertion fees so that was a lucky bonus.

Mike

Horten_IX_Go-229

  • Member since
    March 2006
  • From: Boyertown, PA, USA
Posted by Dubau on Sunday, July 12, 2009 8:51 PM

Link one so we can see what your selling.

Bud

" You've experienced a set back, and without set backs and learning how to fix them you'll never make the leap from kit builder to modeler "
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Right side of the Front row.
Posted by kirk4010 on Sunday, July 12, 2009 8:53 PM
I am lucky as a local hobby Shop has a consignment room.  You set the price and have 60 days to sell your item.  They take a certein %, less if you agree to in store credit. 
The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him as hard as you can, and keep moving.-Ulysses S. Grant
  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Tempe, AZ
Posted by eptingmike on Sunday, July 12, 2009 9:13 PM

Boy, consignment would be great.  I used to do that with musical instruments when I was a rock n roller.  Nice way to do things.

As for a link, here you go:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=150358606919

This is the one I am asking the most for, but the shipping is free.  Shipping costs are starting to be a real pain in the rump now that they more or less bump most things that used to be Parcel Post into Priority.  This kit is on the weighty side, no what I mean!  Regardless, there are a couple of other auctions up so please, click on the 'other items' link on the auction page if you are curious.  Nothing outrageously rare or wacky but perhaps a bit o' fun!

Mike

Horten_IX_Go-229

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Fort Knox
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Monday, July 13, 2009 7:07 AM

eBay is definitely a buyer's market unless you have some uncommon or high demand item. If you are trying to sell just plain kits that anyone could buy at the local hobby store or at any of the popular online hobby shops, you'll be lucky to get 50% retail for it.

But try looking for some of the rarer Bandai Star Trek kits, and they go for quite a bit more than the original retail price.

My son wants a rare World of Warcraft mount (like a special horse, bear, tiger, etc. your character can ride) for his online game. This is an item that just looks different from other mounts in the game. There are several rare ones in the game, they go from $120-$1,000 or more. And this is a virtual item, it doesn't exist in real life. You get a code that unlocks it from the game and allows you ride around it in the game. It does nothing special over the standard mounts that you acquire within the game, it just looks different.

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Tempe, AZ
Posted by eptingmike on Monday, July 13, 2009 8:09 AM

The virtual item thing just weirds me out!  I mean, when it all comes down to it, it is all ephemeral but at least a model kit is tactile!  At least you can put it on a shelf or fly it around the room going 'Vrooom!' Ha ha!!

Mike

Horten_IX_Go-229

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Fort Knox
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Monday, July 13, 2009 12:52 PM

This one went for $172, at least shipping is free!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=110410750871

The Spectral Tiger mount goes for almost $1k.
http://cgi.ebay.com/WOW-TCG-Spectral-Tiger-Mount-Loot-Card-UNSCRATCHED_W0QQitemZ380135173748

Remember, these items only exist within the game and do nothing that standard mounts do that are available to purchase within the game. A mount within the game costs 80 gold (using virtual gold your character earns by killing stuff, completing quests, selling useful items or raw materials they can harvest). The game has its own auction house where you can buy and sell items you make or acquire by chance. There is even a "black market" where you can buy in-game gold from Chinese gold farms. In China, and other Far East countries, there are masses of computer players who play to amass in-game gold (called farming). These farmers then sell the in-game gold for real money via PayPal. It is against the TOS of the game, but it is often done. I don't know of anyon who has done it but for about $5-10, you can buy 1000g for use within the game.

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Tempe, AZ
Posted by eptingmike on Monday, July 13, 2009 7:22 PM

I have some coworkers who are really into WOW so I have some idea of the 'economy' of the game.  Me, I prefer things I can touch, but then they probably think that a model tank or some historical/scifi/fantasy miniatures are lame!  Ha ha!! To each geek his own!

Mike

Horten_IX_Go-229

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