How much do dealers typically pay when they buy model collections?

the doog wrote:

BGuy wrote: Is there really a market for this kind of thing? (Especially considering that I'm an intermediate modeller and may or may not produce quality that's competetive with professionals.)  It may or may not be a viable option, but I'd interested to hear if intermediate people can make a go of this sort of thing, and how they did it. More pain than it's worth.  First of all, you gotta build 'em--how many superb-quality models can you build a month? It takes me sometimes weeks to finish a real stunner with PE and detailing. Then, building all of those are going to require modeling materials. More money spent! Then, how good to you think you're going to model these models knowing that 1., time = money (gotta get it done and up on ebay!) and, 2., that you're not going to be keeping them and taking pride in showing them off? Not very well, would be my guess. You'll skimp on finishing and detailing. Next, you have to convince someone that it's worth more than you paid for it. Then shipping it without breaking anything--which requires attention to packing and good packing materials, which will increase your shipping costs.  Then you've gotta deal with your disappointment that that model that you thought was so excellent only sells for a few measly bucks. You'll grumble all the way to the PO! If you were already a top-quality builder, who was ready to thin out his collection by selling off say, 20-30 already-built tanks, you might have a reason to consider selling built models on eBay. Otherwise, I'd say you're wasting your time even considering it. To answer--how much do dealers typically pay...? About 1/4 of the value.

 

This was my concern--that most people's impressions of how much you can make selling models on ebay comes from seeing stuff for sale, not models that have actually *sold*.  Over the next couple of months there's no way I could build a pile of superb kits, and I kind of like my display case the way it is (i.e. not empty).  

Doog--what's your source for saying that dealers pay approximately 1/4 of a kit's value? (and what, for that matter, will affect it's value?)

BGuy wrote:

Is there really a market for this kind of thing? (Especially considering that I'm an intermediate modeller and may or may not produce quality that's competetive with professionals.)  It may or may not be a viable option, but I'd interested to hear if intermediate people can make a go of this sort of thing, and how they did it.

More pain than it's worth.  First of all, you gotta build 'em--how many superb-quality models can you build a month? It takes me sometimes weeks to finish a real stunner with PE and detailing. Then, building all of those are going to require modeling materials. More money spent! Then, how good to you think you're going to model these models knowing that 1., time = money (gotta get it done and up on ebay!) and, 2., that you're not going to be keeping them and taking pride in showing them off? Not very well, would be my guess. You'll skimp on finishing and detailing.

Next, you have to convince someone that it's worth more than you paid for it. Then shipping it without breaking anything--which requires attention to packing and good packing materials, which will increase your shipping costs. 

Then you've gotta deal with your disappointment that that model that you thought was so excellent only sells for a few measly bucks. You'll grumble all the way to the PO!

If you were already a top-quality builder, who was ready to thin out his collection by selling off say, 20-30 already-built tanks, you might have a reason to consider selling built models on eBay. Otherwise, I'd say you're wasting your time even considering it.

To answer--how much do dealers typically pay...?

About 1/4 of the value.

Apparently there is a market for built kits. Wait until you browse eBay looking at some of those "pro-built" (yeah, right) models!

That being said, there are a very few truly excellent modelers who sell built kits there and command quite high prices.

 

What I've done sometimes is use them for bartering.  For instance, I have an iPod but I have no way to put my favorite movies on in.  I built a 1/48 B-1 for my techno-oriented brother-in-law and, in exchange, he loads all of my movies for me.  I've built other kits and given them to other people in exchance for goods and services.

Eric

well the easist way would be to just build them and stick them on ebay, I have seen alot of people do that.

Is there really a market for this kind of thing? (Especially considering that I'm an intermediate modeller and may or may not produce quality that's competetive with professionals.)  It may or may not be a viable option, but I'd interested to hear if intermediate people can make a go of this sort of thing, and how they did it.

 

Ya could always go the other rout, build them and try and sell the finished product>

Thanks for the info, guys.  I guess I'll look for another way to make some christmas cash.

BGuy,

Is it possible for you to post them at work?  I posted eight of my unbuilt kits for sale here where I work and had them all sold in two days with some people asking for more.

Just a thought,

Eric

I've seen dealers re-coup their initial investment on a lot of kits just by selling a couple kits from the lot. They pay a couple bucks a kit box, and in turn, price the kits accordingly. A lot of estate sales will get about $5 for each kit and turn around and sell them for $10, $20, $30 a pop.

If you are trying to sell readily accessible current kits, you won't get much for them. The money is in the old, long out of production kits by companies you've never heard of before.

You'll probably never recoup what you've got invested in them. Start to sell them yourself at shows or on eBay.

Need extra cash, you'd probably make more working a second job flipp'in burgers or working as a janitor somewhere. You'll kick yourself later once you realize how great a loss you took on those kits or even the fact that you sold them off to begin with.

"As little as they possibly can get away with" would be my guess. Thanks to the experts on Wall Street, whose only contribution to society seems to have been phantom wealth barely worth the paper it was written on, you are now faced with the prospect of attempting your sale in a very "buyer friendly" situation.
My advice to your question on avoiding being ripped off: GET THE MONEY FIRST!
Regards and Good Luck, PWB.

This is a "how high is up?" question. It all depends. Dealers would pay the least amount possible. Your best bet is to flog the kits on eBay or Craiglist.