Collection Sale - Evaluating Prices - Combat Models

Chuck-

I would also check out rare plane detective. Just google that. He's an outstanding fellow and will give you an honest opinion on pricing and a fair deal if you're selling still.

Don

Here's a good place to start...

http://www.oldmodelkits.com/

The prices on most of the kits are colector-prices rather than builder-prices though... But it'll give you a good idea where to start your asking prices...  Be sure to "grade" the kits too.. NIB (New, in box) NIB-Opened, Used, partially built but Complete, etc..

 http://www.oldmodelkits.com/selling_your_kits.html

Some advertise in the classifieds of FSM. Another place might be to go to a model show and ask the vendors.

Paul

Thanks, Paul. How do you find people who buy and sell kit collections? What would you call that? I'm trying to think of some good google terms...

Chuck,

If you don't want to spend the time to research the current market value of each kit, your try to hire someone to do it.  People who buy and sell kit collections might be willing to appraise your collection for a fee (basically, asking them "if you had this kit in your inventory, how much would you ask for it?").

Paul

Thanks, Steve. Yes, I'm familiar with the adage that, "The value of a thing is what it will bring," or "A fair price is what a willing buyer would pay to a willing seller," I was just hoping for some way of deciding what my side of that should be.

My Dad used to look at what was happening on eBay even when he wasn't actively looking for something, and would be able to say, "Oh yeah, I saw one of those go for $xxx on eBay last month." I don't have time for that. (Funny anecdote, I remember one time Dad told me that he saw one of our kits go for over $100 on eBay, at a time when we had that same kit on sale on our website for $20; I guess somebody didn't do their research! Oh well, blame it on "eBay fever"!)

I just caught one yesterday, a kit from Dad's collection that someone was interested in, and I found in Dad's list that he had paid about $250 for it a few years ago. That seemed pretty high to me, and I was ready to let it go for less, but then I did some googling and found that kit is still out of production and one had recently sold for $500!!! Obviously, I am glad I did not sell it for $100!

I am just hoping for some hints on how to research prices to avoid "gotchas" like that.

(P.S. I should probably add, I have a pretty good feel for pricing the kits that we produce and others that we regularly sell on our website, the ones that are giving me trouble are the kits that I am selling out of Dad's collection that we have never had in inventory.)

Hey,

Looking at the current Combat Models website it says that they are now a subsidiary of Roberts Models.  That would make me think that Combat Models probably closed for a period of time and the molds, etc were purchased by Roberts Models.  SInce Combat Models was an established brand, the new owner probably wanted to keep using the established name.  Of course, all of this is pure guesswork on my part.  My thinking is that the some of the models your Dad bought were probably out of production items hence the higher prices paid than what the website now lists. 

If the majority of the items on your list are OOP, then a fair price would be the most you would feel comfortable charging without feeling like you are overcharging.  You will quickly find that if your prices are unreasonably high, you will not have many sales.  Hope this helps!

Steve