Best Place for Deals on kits?

Aside from Amazon and Ebay...contest vendor tables...IF there's any contests in or around your area. Even if it's a 1-2hr drive, it can be well worth it. Bring cash! Buy multiples from the same vendor...they're more likely to haggle the price when you "bundle". Best deals are toward the end of the show...they don't want to take ALL their kits back home, and are quite eager to unload some for a better price. I've built a sizable stash from vendor tables, at less than 1/2 of retail, if not less.

Now and then, you can find some good deals at Squadron.com or Sprue Bros.

The best prices I've seen from an online hobby store are from Scale Hobbyist. They don't run sales, but their everyday prices are often still better than the 10% or even the 20% sales prices from other places.

I've found one here in Idaho, its not a huge selection, mostly Trumpeter stuff, but considerably less than several other online shops. Go to www.toytownidaho.com. I've done a search just for Trumpeter and it brings up a few things.

I picked up the 1/32 Chinese F-7(Mig-21) for $19.95. I also picked up a 1/48 Wellington Mk III for the same price. I picked mine up in person at the store, and I dont see the Wellingtons online

Scale Hobbyst has the best prices on the internet but for rock bottom prices theres nothing like the vendor tables at model shows. Sometimes you find tons of stuff for VERY good low prices and remember the prices are negotiable. I never pay for what the sellers first throws out.

eBay for sure. But you can also find the worst deals. 

Awesome! thanks for the info, im up in bozeman, any shows coming anywhere near me or idaho that you know of?

Hi Sgt!  By any chance are you on Facebook?  I'm a member of a couple of buy/sell/trade modeling groups on FB and, oh man!, can you find some deals!  On the two groups to which I belong, Mondays through Fridays are set aside for strictly sales and trades.  The weekends, however, are purely for auctions.  I just bought a 1/48 scale B-25 (Monogram) for $11.  I've seen kits that would normally sell in the stores for $35 go for as low as $8.  

I'm not sure if I can mention the names of the groups here but, if you're interested, send me a message and I can let you know.  I think there are lots of Facebook groups like them, though.  If you did a search for something like "model aircraft groups", you'll probably get a fair share of results.  One work of warning.  It CAN be addicting!  Okay, I guess that was four words of warning but you get my drift.

Eric

PS.  I was thinking of what you said about the inexpensive Revell/Monogram kits.  Those kits are my absolute favorites!  Check out mustang-hobbies.com.  They've got a good variety of those at probably the cheapest retail prices I've ever seen.  Last month I picked up the wonderful Monogram F-86 with "The Huff" markings for $8 (I think shipping was something like $9.50 give or take).

Sgt. Scale

Awesome! thanks for the info, im up in bozeman, any shows coming anywhere near me or idaho that you know of?

 

Chack here

http://calendar.ipmsusa3.org/all-events

Also check on the web and hobby shops  for local smaller shows

I mostly buy from Scale Hobbyist and Hobblinc.

Scale Hobbyist has generally the lowest prices and a very good selection of accessories. I would rate them as A++ in Selection, Price, Shipping, and customer service.

Hobbylinc does have some hard to find kits. Their prices are very close to Scale Hobbyist and occassional sales are good. The thing I like about Hobbylinc is their rewards program. You earn points for buying kits, Posting pictures of the completed kit, reviewing the kit, and if someone finds your review helpful. With reward points I have pruchased kits with lower prices than anywhere else and/or saved on shipping. Over the years I have used over $120 in rewards points.

Typically I purchase anywhere from 10 to 15 kits a year and the ordering is about 50/50 split between the two places.

https://www.hobbylinc.com/

https://www.scalehobbyist.com/index.php

Hey Sgt.,

What everyone has said is pretty much it.  eBay can have some good deals...but you'll have to play the game and do a lot of watching.  Amazon can be good too.  Vendor tables at model show are the best!  And like someone said, don't pay what they are asking for.  LOL!  Always haggle with them.  The more you get from one table, the more you can haggle.  And yes, if you stay untill the end of the show.  No telling what you can come home with!  Someone mentioned Facebook.  I have never looked into that, but I have heard a couple of people mention it.  I'll be checking it out soon.  Hope this helps.

Eagle90

Eagle90

 Vendor tables at model show are the best!  And like someone said, don't pay what they are asking for.  LOL!  Always haggle with them.  The more you get from one table, the more you can haggle.  And yes, if you stay untill the end of the show.  No telling what you can come home with!  

Eagle90

 

Ahh that was me Bobby, never pay the asking price.  I have seen you at the vending area with both hands full of goodies LOL. Yea at the end some sellers slash as much as 50% of their asking price.

plasticjunkie

 

 

Eagle90

 Vendor tables at model show are the best!  And like someone said, don't pay what they are asking for.  LOL!  Always haggle with them.  The more you get from one table, the more you can haggle.  And yes, if you stay untill the end of the show.  No telling what you can come home with!  

Eagle90

 

 

 

Ahh that was me Bobby, never pay the asking price.  I have seen you at the vending area with both hands full of goodies LOL. Yea at the end some sellers slash as much as 50% of their asking price.

 

You are correct PJ!  I still remember you telling me after I bought stuff at a table, "why didn't you haggle with him?"  You taught me a great lesson my friend...much appreciated.  :)

There is a show in Venice on 25 March..........got the cash set aside already!  LOL!

I might stay a night during Modelpalooza this year to see the show both days.

Bobby

Jaxcon show in Jacksonville is tomorrow. I won't be able to make it but try that one if you can. I think the Venice show may be cars only?