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Not so great flea market finds...

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  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Philadelphia PA
Not so great flea market finds...
Posted by smeagol the vile on Sunday, September 19, 2010 6:58 PM

Hey a while ago I posted about all the good stuff I have been getting at the fleamarkets but after today I have realised something.  For every deal I find im finding like... two to three times that amount in disapointment. 

Went today, for example.  On two diffrent tables I saw this.

One had a vintage AT-ST and an Imperial Shuttel model kit as well as a Charger car kit and a prowler kit.  I opened up the cars first, prowler was in good condition everything sealed, so I bought it for 4$... the others though...

like most car kits the other had been started, painted and glued poorly, thrown in the box and was being resold...

The star wars kits were even worse, the AT-ST was half put together the other half missing, and the Shuttle had half of a B17 kit, literally half, just one half of the fuselage a few hunks of shuttle, and instructions...

 

 

On another table I thought I had found something good.  Two WWII Us Halftrack kits and two car kits.  I opened the car kit, same as before, poor construction job and tried to resell. 

The halftracks... One was alright... was ALMOST there, just missing part of the body, was cut out of the sprue, probably lost, then stuck back into the box and tried to sell to trick someone I suppose...

The other was like the car and the box also contained a bunch of unrelated junk parts.  All in the guise of a complete kit.

The last thing was a sealed ATM car kit, nothing fancy, something I wouldn't pay more then 5$ for at the flea market.  I ask he says "20$ but it goes for 35$ when its new"  I just had to stare at him for a few moments before walking away laughing. 

I swear the fleamarkets, while great for cheap kits, is like... a mass grave for kits that didnt go to good owners...

 

  • Member since
    September 2007
  • From: Truro Nova Scotia, Canada
Posted by SuppressionFire on Sunday, September 19, 2010 7:26 PM

You get what you pay for & buyer beware.

This summer I purchased a Revell 1/24 scale 57' Chevy Nomad station wagon at a car show & shine from a vendor (private) selling off his collection. I was all smiles as the theme for next May's model contest is 'big cars' IE Nomads, El Camino's and the such. Upon closer inspection (the kit was complete) I realized how poor of a kit it was! I could have purchased AMT kits but the Revell caught my eye. I returned to buy two mystery bags of wheels as the kits were beyond help. My 20$ bargain was looking like a lemon....

Having caught the fever to build a decent car kit I returned a third time to explain the dilemma, it had been 20 years sense I built a car kit and this Nomad was looking like a poor choice to get back into the driver's seat. He was packing up the unsold models when I eyed up a AMT Mercury kit. I asked if he would strike a deal, feeling sorry for my bad luck I purchased the 'Merc for 10$. Excellent kit and it is boxed for now, I all ready have chopped the roof line & have big plans for the 'Merc.

When time, money and energy are spent searching out bargains one wonders if its easier to just research reviews online and buy mail order the kit of the subject you like to build. for me this is more economical than visiting the LHS as that is a hour away, time, fuel, lunch, mileage add up quickly. I do stop in a purchase supplies when in the city from both LHS's, one I prefer for the family atmosphere yet the other is a better shop. I do not buy online from the likes of E-bay, just established warehouse stores like Squadron.

One LHS has a 'bargain bin' of traded in kits, I will check this stash out closer next time...The problem is I all ready have over a dozen kits here to build and about four dozen kits 3000 miles away. At my slow rate of completed models the current stash should last 20 years of steady building.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/razordws/GB%20Badges/WMIIIGBsmall.jpg

 

 

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Philadelphia PA
Posted by smeagol the vile on Sunday, September 19, 2010 8:17 PM

I have learned to ALWAYS open the box and never buy unless the parts are bagged...

 

well I need to change that procedure.  A few weeks ago I got a old Railroad building kit a police station, everything was still sealed in their bags. 

Just decided to open it up and build it while waiting for paint to strip from a figure im working on... The person opened it, tried to build it, lost the back wall, put the pieces back in and RESEALED the bag.  Dunno how he did it but parts are painted and the back wall is missing...  Im extremly POed

 

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Longmont, Colorado
Posted by Cadet Chuck on Sunday, September 19, 2010 8:54 PM

Flea market dealers know the "good stuff" and sell it off privately.  I have never found anything of value at these markets.  Everything I've seen is stuff I would have junked, if I had it long ago. 

Example: I recently saw a Buck Rogers raygun from the 1930's, but it was rusted totally, looked like it had been buried in a swamp for the last 50 years, and the guy wanted $100 for it.  It was not restorable.  I bought an identical model in near mint condition from a seller on eBay a few years ago for $75, in beautiful condition and it works, too.

I have stopped wasting my time going to these flea markets.

Gimme a pigfoot, and a bottle of beer...

  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Philadelphia PA
Posted by smeagol the vile on Sunday, September 19, 2010 9:33 PM

Your problem is your going expecting to find auction quality items.  You may but you wont.  I dont find NEW models I find older models.

 

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Bridgeview, Illinois
Posted by mg.mikael on Sunday, September 19, 2010 11:08 PM

Cadet Chuck

Flea market dealers know the "good stuff" and sell it off privately.  I have never found anything of value at these markets. 

.....at the flea markets around here you can't beat the deal on tennis balls, 6 for a dollar! Plus where else can you get counterfeit Puma, Nike, and Addidias caps, shirts and shoes at good prices. I have a counterfeit baseball cap that's lasted me 5 years of heavy use. Best two dollars I may have ever spent.Wink

"A good plan executed now is better than a perfect plan next week." - George S. Patton

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  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Philadelphia PA
Posted by smeagol the vile on Monday, September 20, 2010 9:03 AM

It also depends on where you go.  The place I go to there is a different fee for used and new stuff and they check for counterfit sellers and dont let them sell.

 

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: Pineapple Country, Queensland, Australia
Posted by Wirraway on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 12:28 AM

I just picked up the 1/10 Tamiya Super Hornet RC for $20 !  Needed a new battery but I have been walking around with a big grin on my face ever since.  Priced these at the LHS at $295.  Flea markets = good !!

"Growing old is inevitable; growing up is optional"

" A hobby should pass the time - not fill it"  -Norman Bates

 

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  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Philadelphia PA
Posted by smeagol the vile on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 1:09 AM

Exactly!  Im glad you found a good find.

I got a good find on sunday, 2 gundam kits for 10$ together. about 10$ off of the cost in the store.

 

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