tankerbuilder

HI :

It has been my experience that if you are honest and above-board with the vendors they are willing to trade . All you have to do is ask " Hey , if this kit is all there , would you be willing to do a trade ." Remember though , he may just do it and then turn around and put it in the space the kit you got was in . This way everyone is happy .

  DO NOT , and I repeat DO NOT even think of selling out of your trunk ! This is unethical at least .Let the vendors  know what you want , if they have it  , and try to see if he or she will trade . I have done it many times and both the vendor and I were happy .

 The same vendor ,at the next show , called me over and told me he had a kit I might be interested in . He showed me the kit and I asked " Cash or Trade " his answer ," Either is fine , let's see what you got " Again , we both left happy .      Tanker - builder

Never thought of selling out of the trunk.  My initial question was a little vague.  My thought from the start was asking the vendors if they would like to trade...not sell anything from the trunk.  I'm looking to make friends like you did at the show, not start a riot!  

As for the honest part of trading, I have already gone through the kits and inventoried to make sure everything is there.  Some of the kits are still sealed, so I didn't open those.  I'm not trying to rip anyone off, just have some kits I know I will not do and in hopes of finding something I would like better, would like to trade.  

More good advice!  Thanks so much for the help!

Personally I make an orbit around the dealer's room first off to see if there's anything I really want and/or any really good deals. Then I head over to the raffle table and buy a few tickets. Then I check out the entries, chat with people etc. Go to lunch. Then look at the entries again, look around the dealer's room. When the show is closing I go back and hit up any dealers when they're getting ready to pack up.

1). Raffles are generally good, about 90% of the time I get way more than I paid for. If you get something you don't want if you're a member of a club you can donate it to your own club raffle- we've had kits no one wanted that have been in circulation for years! If not just look around, if you're an aircraft guy and just got an auto kit find that guy in the NASCAR shirt holding a P-51 and looking dejected. Offer him a swap!

2). You can learn a lot from stuff like 'American Pickers'. If you see a kit you've been looking for twenty years DON'T gush to the dealer the truth and then ask him 'will you take a few bucks off eh?'  Tell the dealer that it looks like a nice kit and you might sorta be interested and then ask for a deal. Frank Fritz wasn't the first 'bundler'. Grab a stack of a hundred bucks worth of kits and then ask the dealer if he'll take eighty. And don't shove a hundred dollar bill at him if you do this!!!

3). If the vendor sells the kit you've been looking for twenty years to another guy just as you walk up DON'T punch either of them in the nose!

4). Talk to people, unlike cooks and magicians most modelers are happy to tell you why they did this or how they did that. Great place to pick up tips to improve your own modeling.

5). Don't spend your gas money you need to get home or you lunch money!  

6). Sit down and take a rest every now and then. Most shows I've been to have had concrete floors - they'll kill your feet if you spend too much time standing or walking.

Good luck and have fun!

Gamera

Personally I make an orbit around the dealer's room first off to see if there's anything I really want and/or any really good deals. Then I head over to the raffle table and buy a few tickets. Then I check out the entries, chat with people etc. Go to lunch. Then look at the entries again, look around the dealer's room. When the show is closing I go back and hit up any dealers when they're getting ready to pack up.

1). Raffles are generally good, about 90% of the time I get way more than I paid for. If you get something you don't want if you're a member of a club you can donate it to your own club raffle- we've had kits no one wanted that have been in circulation for years! If not just look around, if you're an aircraft guy and just got an auto kit find that guy in the NASCAR shirt holding a P-51 and looking dejected. Offer him a swap!

2). You can learn a lot from stuff like 'American Pickers'. If you see a kit you've been looking for twenty years DON'T gush to the dealer the truth and then ask him 'will you take a few bucks off eh?'  Tell the dealer that it looks like a nice kit and you might sorta be interested and then ask for a deal. Frank Fritz wasn't the first 'bundler'. Grab a stack of a hundred bucks worth of kits and then ask the dealer if he'll take eighty. And don't shove a hundred dollar bill at him if you do this!!!

3). If the vendor sells the kit you've been looking for twenty years to another guy just as you walk up DON'T punch either of them in the nose!

4). Talk to people, unlike cooks and magicians most modelers are happy to tell you why they did this or how they did that. Great place to pick up tips to improve your own modeling.

5). Don't spend your gas money you need to get home or you lunch money!  

6). Sit down and take a rest every now and then. Most shows I've been to have had concrete floors - they'll kill your feet if you spend too much time standing or walking.

Good luck and have fun!

Now that is some good stuff there!  I really enjoyed reading those......I think I'll print it off!

Thanks!

No problem, glad to help. Think I just wrote up what the other guys had already said in a list form though!

One final note: Some people Have been known to put a bunch of scrape plastic into a vintege box and then seal it . There mission is to RIP YOU OFF!!!     Before you leave OPEN any sealed kits and check the contents!!!!    I have been to many shows  And havent had any problems. But flea markets and garage sales can be a buyer beware situation. If I question a kit I will open the box before I buy.   Some will say not to do this because you will destroy the value of a " MINT " kit.  Mint be damned ...... I want to know what I,m getting.    I only had this happen once at a flea market..... the guy wouldent let me touch the box    so I walked away.

littletimmy

One final note: Some people Have been known to put a bunch of scrape plastic into a vintege box and then seal it . There mission is to RIP YOU OFF!!!     Before you leave OPEN any sealed kits and check the contents!!!!    I have been to many shows  And havent had any problems. But flea markets and garage sales can be a buyer beware situation. If I question a kit I will open the box before I buy.   Some will say not to do this because you will destroy the value of a " MINT " kit.  Mint be damned ...... I want to know what I,m getting.    I only had this happen once at a flea market..... the guy wouldent let me touch the box    so I walked away.

Thanks, I would never have thought of that to happen.  Sad, very sad.

I will admit to being warned about a certain vendor at my club's show. He would often shrinkwrap less than perfect kits (like an aircraft kit missing the clear parts) and sell them as mint, unopened.

Rob Gronovius

I will admit to being warned about a certain vendor at my club's show. He would often shrinkwrap less than perfect kits (like an aircraft kit missing the clear parts) and sell them as mint, unopened.

So, the lesson here is to always open (if they don't let you before) after purchase and check!  Thanks again!

Eagle90

littletimmy

One final note: Some people Have been known to put a bunch of scrape plastic into a vintege box and then seal it . There mission is to RIP YOU OFF!!!     Before you leave OPEN any sealed kits and check the contents!!!!    I have been to many shows  And havent had any problems. But flea markets and garage sales can be a buyer beware situation. If I question a kit I will open the box before I buy.   Some will say not to do this because you will destroy the value of a " MINT " kit.  Mint be damned ...... I want to know what I,m getting.    I only had this happen once at a flea market..... the guy wouldent let me touch the box    so I walked away.

Thanks, I would never have thought of that to happen.  Sad, very sad.

I've been attending contests since 1980 and I've never heard of that happening. I'd say it's a pretty rare thing and would have to be a one time dealer. Word will get around super quick that Jim Bob is scamming people like that. Heck, if a guy is reticent to deal and has higher than normal prices, word gets around and he won't sell much. Once the reputation is shot, it's really hard to regain. There's another guy who vends in southern New England/New York who comes off as a PITA, but he has good prices and is willing to drop them if you're looking to buy. I got a Bronco M114 with all the goodies for $45 when the retail was $70. he'd marked it $50 and I asked if he could dfo beter. When I'm looking for armor, I always check him out and ignore the personality quirks.

I,m not saying it happens every day of the week  but..... it happens.   At shows your 99% safe. Its the flea markets and garage sales where you have to be carful. Some people dont care about reputation and if they get found out they just move on.  Once you get a kit home only to discover its full of rocks and garbage its too late. Going to get your money back turns into a he said- he said thing where you cant win.   I open kits before I buy.    Besides.....Isnt that what everybody does anyway?      You open it the minute your out of the hobby store.  It,s  The "icing on the cake"    To smell that virgin plastic........    To dream of the build to come.

You also open boxes you bought online to check that the contents arrived undamaged dont you?

littletimmy

One final note: Some people Have been known to put a bunch of scrape plastic into a vintege box and then seal it . There mission is to RIP YOU OFF!!!     Before you leave OPEN any sealed kits and check the contents!!!!    I have been to many shows  And havent had any problems. But flea markets and garage sales can be a buyer beware situation. If I question a kit I will open the box before I buy.   Some will say not to do this because you will destroy the value of a " MINT " kit.  Mint be damned ...... I want to know what I,m getting.    I only had this happen once at a flea market..... the guy wouldent let me touch the box    so I walked away.

He wouldnt let me open the box. Got into an argument how it was mint and opening it would decrease the value. But I was going to pay for it so why was he worried?  Then I heard the faint sound of broken glass shuffling in the box. after that he wouldnt let me near the box untill he had my cash!     KISS MY *** !!!

After that I open all kits that are sealed. Most venders allow it. there getting cash so its a win/win for all.

BTW   It was a Jo-Han kit. The Haulin Hearse. Current value  around$100.   He was selling it for$55

Whats that they say about too good to be true?

littletimmy

He wouldnt let me open the box. Got into an argument how it was mint and opening it would decrease the value. But I was going to pay for it so why was he worried?  Then I heard the faint sound of broken glass shuffling in the box. after that he wouldnt let me near the box untill he had my cash!     KISS MY *** !!!

After that I open all kits that are sealed. Most venders allow it. there getting cash so its a win/win for all.

BTW   It was a Jo-Han kit. The Haulin Hearse. Current value  around$100.   He was selling it for$55

Whats that they say about too good to be true?

O.K., another silly question...you say to ask to open a sealed kit.  Do you mean the shrink wrapped stuff from the manufacture, or have these vendors had them opened already and did something to "seal" them up again?  Sorry for the silly question, but I don't want to offend anyone there by asking the wrong things.  Thank you all for your advice and help....it is greatly appreciated!

Eagle90

There are many venders who will re-wrap a kit. They dont intend to rip you off . They are just trying to keep the kit altogether.

There are a few people out there who actually X- ray kits .... just to be sure that a mint kit is what is in the box.

I cant afford to buy a x-ray machine.

Maybe I could strap a kit to my chest and visit the Emergency room.  

The guy that runs    oldmodelkits.com   Opens every kit that he gets and inspects it thoroughly.

My "other" favorite website  BTW.

littletimmy

There are a few people out there who actually X- ray kits .... just to be sure that a mint kit is what is in the box.

I cant afford to buy a x-ray machine.

Maybe I could strap a kit to my chest and visit the Emergency room.  

The guy that runs    oldmodelkits.com   Opens every kit that he gets and inspects it thoroughly.

My "other" favorite website  BTW.

Absolutely!  Alan is a great guy.  When I got back into the hobby, I e-mailed him about the great articles he has on his site.  We got to talking and he gave me "store" credit for some of my stuff.  Got a couple of really good kits from him.  I check his site almost every day.  Great for references too.

O.K., it's 1:30 in the morning, I'm trying to get to bed so I can get up early to head to the show.

So who is going to be there?  Anyone planning on being there?  I'll have a black jacket with a small National Weather Service emblem on the front.  Hope to see someone from FSM forum there.

Either way, I'll be posting pics from the show tomorrow night.

Eagle90

Hmmm....it never occurred to me to do anything other than walk around and enjoy the show.