OOP kit prices

This is so true. You can spot the sheep from the wolves pretty quickly by their bidding tactics.

Sure, if I'm watching some kit that I would like (at or around the opening bid amount), I will just watch it. By the time the auction is getting towards the end, the "sheep" will have either just bid the opening bid amount and forgot about it, or several will continue the bidding process driving the price up to where it is no longer a bargin.

If they just bid the opening amount or so, I will bid at the final minutes for an amount about what I think would be a good deal for the kit. If the others have already brought the price beyond that, I will look for another one. There will always be another one coming along soon.

Rob Gronovius wrote:

I also agree that eBay has become a virtual online store for many folks, but true auctions are still there, just buried among the dozens of power sellers listing hundreds of items listed at MSRP. Another phenomenon about eBay auctions is that many folks just watch the items and do not start bidding until minutes before the auction ends. Many skilled bidders do not bid until the final seconds. This insures they get the item for the lowest price, or that they will be the highest bidder for a truly wanted item (as long as their bid is high enough).

Ahhh yes.... auction snipers. While i know it's legal (and probably fair) it's aggrivating nonetheless. Those guys got me more times than i can remember. I think the most i had ever seen an auction increase was $25,000 in the last minute or so. Of course that was over in Ebay Motors...

Of course sniping is fair, they bid before the auction ends. They just want it more than you do and hedge their bet to make sure they are the high bidder.

What is really funny to watch is when two or more snipers attempt to bid for an item at the same time, the last 6 seconds or so. Snipers often bid some extraordinary amount to insure they are the high bidder, like $200 for a rather rare kit worth $100 tops. When two or more bid $200, $250, etc. in the closing seconds, the "winning" sniper ends up with a $100 kit that just cost him over $200.

Well of course i question the fairness issue merely out of frustration. But i guess that's just my own gripe.

I do admit there is some feelings of vindication to see anything way overpriced past it's worth after having being sniped though

Snipers often bid some extraordinary amount to insure they are the high bidder, like $200 for a rather rare kit worth $100 tops. When two or more bid $200, $250, etc. in the closing seconds, the "winning" sniper ends up with a $100 kit that just cost him over $200.

The price of victory is measured in more than money. I know guys who spend many thousands of dollars every year to go deer hunting. In the end they get to eat a bit of meat they have harvested themselves...some dont eat it at all and still buy meat locally. Go figger.

Well of course i question the fairness issue merely out of frustration. I do admit there is some feelings of vindication to see anything way overpriced past it's worth after having being sniped though.

Ron is right about the approach. You decide what a thing is worth to you and you set that as your bid. If you lose, c'est la vie! On the other hand, if you are an idiot or have more money than good sense, then you can do what you please. Most snipers dont sit and wait til the end, anyway. They automate their efforts and the smart ones do what I do - they research FIRST. 

The truth is that all is fair in love, war... and eBay. You've probably heard this before, but if you want justice, you're in the wrong species.

I have to add a little here as I spent too much money this past summer purchasing OOP kits for my son and my stash. Well too much money according to my wife.

I was getting fustrated with the limited kits available through my distributors, you know, mostly the newer releases. I wanted some kits that I remembered from my childhood. So I searched the internet and let me tell you, some people thing those old dusty boxes are full of gold or diamonds. So I decided to investigate this eBay thing. Humm... Some interesting kits I found yes sir. But after adding the price of the kit and shipping, humm, let's rethink this. So I started looking for sellers that had multiple kits that I was interested in and would combine shipping cost. I even contacted some of the sellers to see if they had any more old car kits that they would be selling soon. If they did I sometimes worked out a deal with them before they went up on eBay. I would have to say that 99% of my purchases I never paid more than what I would have if I went through my distributor. Yes, I got most of those OOP's below wholesale cost. Some kits as low as $1.75 and up to $7.50, with one exception, I just had to have a certain combination kit that is hard to find and cost me in the area of $50.

Months and weeks prior to my eBay bidding I noticed some of the kits I was interested in (and eventually did win) selling for much higher prices at eBay and other web sites.

Now that we're gettin hit with a pretty good snow storm and my semester is nearing it's end, my son and I can start working on our kits. It looks like a long cold winter but we have plenty to build.

There are at least a few ways to get a deal either on eBay, or through it. It take some effort and it isn't something newbies or walkon's will do, but it can be done. I rarely pay more than $15 per and often less - and I invariably beat any of the online hobby outlets. I consider that good enough, when you look at what almost ANYTHING costs at retail these days. I got the AMT A-20 Havoc recently for $7 and change and Tamiya's D520 for $10.

Shipping, on the other hand, is another matter. That has gone beyond stupid and most of the "features" on the new shipping options are more for the sellers benefit than anything else. And of course, you the bidder, pays for all that. I am very wary on shipping, and Ron, among others, has called attention to the rampant scams that center around it. I've done a lot of selling on eBay and combining shipping is just one way to beat the scam-ola that is Shipping on Ebay. When I see that cr@p, it is almost always a sign to hit the back button.

There is one guy I really miss, though, when it comes to bolstering the stash. His name is Paul Milam and he used to buy out kits and kit lots and then sell them as used/pre-owned. He still does it, but only at shows and not via mail or even eBay. However, you can still find him selling every AM decal known to man, it seems, on eBay. Look for 'jetpilotpaul'. Good guy to deal with.

oooooo....the Hong Kong lister almost got me. I've been trying to get a 1/32 F-14A and I saw it from them for $78. Then I saw the $78 shipping. How do these people get away with that????

As for me, I know I can get it for $130 new. So, if I can't get it, shipping included, for less than $120, I don't get it. I would place my highest bid so that the total would be $120. Yep....a couple got the kit for $120.50, but I set my limit and thats it. After getting outbid quite a few times, I finally landed a Tamiya 1994 version for $85 including shipping. Perserverance.

btw...i got outbid on that one Tomcat with the Verlinden book.  

stretchie wrote:

oooooo....the Hong Kong lister almost got me. I've been trying to get a 1/32 F-14A and I saw it from them for $78. Then I saw the $78 shipping. How do these people get away with that????

Supply and demand capitalism, plain and simple.

It's no different from a car dealer adding several thousand dollars to the MSRP of a new and desirable model, or people rushing out to buy the latest Christmas toy and reselling them in the classified, of ticket agencies (i.e., scalpers) buying Hanna Montana tickets and reselling them at hugely inflated prices.

Supply and demand capitalism, plain and simple.

And thank God for it! Its what allows you to become something other than what you are, financially, and do it your way in the bargain. Imagine such a thing happening in a collective state. We must rue that day...

Sure it can be abused, like all things. But would you cut your nose off to spite your face?

As for the Hong Kong Choppers and their shipping scams... well theyre not really scams, since they are disclosed upfront. Transparent perhaps and pretty lame, they can be lumped in with other examples of poor trading practice. The only ones hurt by them are:

The Sellers themselves ... too dumb to realize the business they lose for it and,

The Bidders... the dupes who dont look close enough to spot it, that is.

Naw, this stuff is harmless.

The real scammers are the Priority Post Pirates. These folks sell you a false bill of goods and do so under the guise of good service. The only person who benefits from this method is the PP Pirate himself and he does so by making you think you are getting something for it - although usually without the chance for negotiation. Wholly uneccessary, 10-12$ for priority post on a 7$ model kit is beyond lame... it's insulting. That is a scam.

Most often what happens is they buy the "Priority" boxes from the PO and print off the shipping voucher themselves at home/shop. The delivery person picks up the package on his/her normal rounds. This is all very convenient, but it adds costs all along the way for the buyer. Often enough, a "processing/handling and packing materials" fee is tacked on too. Guess who pays for all this?

So how come Im so high and mighty? Because Ive done all these things myself! Im a reformed PP Pirate - the truth is out, now. But, I don't do that anymore and have become a whistle blower on this. I wised up, thanks to a maxim by a man named Zig Ziglar:

"Give people what they want and need and you will get what you want and need."

I recycle packing materials. No added fees. I try to mail single kits as large envelope packages. Cheaper. I only charge actual shipping at parcel post rates. Cheaper, again. I weigh my packages on a scale - half a pound either way can make a difference. Accurate is better. I declare all this in my listings... full disclosure.

Here's the TRUTH: As a seller, I am nothing without willing bidders.

If I can please them with realistic shipping that doesn't rake them over the coals, then guess who they are happy to buy from? I win, they win, and I have yet to lose money doing it this way. In fact, I make more.

Working the Pirate Way, I often had listings sit and languish, costing me fees for something unsold or which only got minimal interest. Seems real easy to figure out, but it also seems that many don't get it. 

No way to sugar coat this: these sorts dont get my bid and very often I call them down for their methods. It's an odd paradox - when you let people know they are losing money and offer them a solution, they become defensive, even bellicose.

Of course, you do what you want, as your mileage may vary.

Being thorough, pays.

...it just takes work and research. BTW, the extras alone are worth more separately than what I paid for the whole package. 

As I said. Been there, done that. YOU.... are da man.

cardshark_14 wrote:

Definitely! Just because you've found one item for sale, doesn't mean there aren't a lot more that are cheaper, further down in the search. Also, I try to purchase kits with 'bonuses'. For example, I also recently picked up an AMT A-20G, for $30.00. However, mine includes resin KMC control surfaces, True Details Wheels and Raft, both the U/C and interior Eduard PE sets, and a sheet of Aeromaster decals. If you hunt, you can find great deals...it just takes work and research. BTW, the extras alone are worth more separately than what I paid for the whole package.

I've found the same thing.  I was looking for the Tamiya 1/700 HMS Nelson, but I wasn't finding that kit for less than $20.  This shortly after Airfix went under mind you.   During one of my weekly searches to find this kit, I spotted a factory sealed 1/600 HMs Nelson and HMS George V in a bundle auction.  No bids with 3 days to go, and there was a Buy it Now totaling $34 including shipping.  I think the shipping was $6 or so.  The clincher was that the Tom's Modelworks AM for the Nelson and the Gold Medal Models for the other was included!  The two AM sets add up to around $40 just buying them off a regular online vendor. 

I think that was the best deal I ever had on Ebay, but there has been a few other great deals that were just for the kit.

well wirraway....i watched quite a few kits go by for over retail (including shipping). i started to get discouraged. but then the magic one came around and i got it for a good price.

i guess patience is the key.

I bought that kit at a silent auction for the church for $8.00 and I was high bidder by a dollar. The kit was already built but it made a nice addition to my collection.

Tony

I've been buying and selling here and there on E-Bay for about 7 years. I sold a car on E-Bay and even bought my last car there. I've only been ripped 1 or 2 times and one of those was my fault for getting too excited about the item and forgetting to look at the guys' feedback rating.

I'll be honest, when I'm selling I'm trying to make honest money. I'm not going to rip someone off for an extra buck but I do want to sell my item. Last thing I sold was a computer game called NASCAR Racing Season 2003. I bought it a few years ago used for less than $5. I saw the price they were selling for and pulled mine out. I did list as rare because you can't find it anywhere. It sold for almost $75...I didn't feel bad because the people bidding didn't need an arm twisting!!! I charged actual price for shipping but added $2 for supplies. I pack my items well and stuff like that costs money. I disclose that right up front and the people who bid/win know what the cost is. I'm not going to spend money out of my profit to buy supplies. There are many times my shipping charge doesn't cover the actual shipping cost. I don't try to make money on shipping and have even refunded a shipping charge to someone if I think they didn't get a fair deal. I hate when someone sell low $ and ships high $. Caveat Emptor.

I've only been ripped 1 or 2 times and one of those was my fault for getting too excited about the item and forgetting to look at the guys' feedback rating.

Good point. Caveat Emptor applies and there is some responsibility on the buyers part to keep the seller honest.

I charged actual price for shipping but added $2 for supplies. I pack my items well and stuff like that costs money. I disclose that right up front and the people who bid/win know what the cost is. I'm not going to spend money out of my profit to buy supplies. There are many times my shipping charge doesn't cover the actual shipping cost. I don't try to make money on shipping and have even refunded a shipping charge to someone if I think they didn't get a fair deal. I hate when someone sell low $ and ships high $. Caveat Emptor.

You are almost there, so here's the final tip: Never charge for supplies; recycle them. I turn priortiy post boxes inside out, re-use packing and so on - so this stuff costs me nothing by doing so. I don't add a bogus handling fee, either. I declare that the bidders pay NOTHING for these things up front. See, the thing to do is get your bidders excited about bidding. One sure way to do it is to get down to their level. They see the stupid shipping charges, too, and feel seller fascism in both the gut and wallet. They want what you've got, but they feel the noose over their head when sellers pull that elitist crap on them - so they minimize their bids! Why would you drive them to that?? 

Here's what only the savvy sellers know: This is auctioning, not retail. Auctions are a unique thing and so there is a different psychology at work. With auctions, what you must do is motivate your bidders - not dictate to them. When you do that, you get more of them coming and the sell price can run. In your case you sold a $5 vid game for $75. (BTW, *RARE* is blatantly OVERUSED by everybody. Don't stoop to that tactic and you'll be ahead of the pack.)

SO, lesse....you made a 1500% profit on that $5 game. I'd say thats tidy. While it probably wouldn't have made a difference, you could have come off a dollars worth of bubble wrap for a 1500% markup, dont you agree? Declare THAT and watch people take notice. But overall you have the right idea: Be a straight dealer and people will come. That makes you savvy.

I do my best to be fair and honest. I've also taken a beating on starting off at .10 too. I think the main thing is to investigate to see what people WANT and sell that. I had some stuff I couldn't GIVE away and it suprised me because I had (for instance) a tie-dyed Led Zep t-shirt listed starting at $1 no reserve actual shipping cost...No takers. I sold a 3 month old Belking N1 wireless card for my notebook. Paid $140, got $27. I've also included REAL freebees if I feel a buyer paid a lot more than expected. I sold an old worn Jeff Bagwell shirt thinking I would get $5-$10. The lady who ended up getting it paid $42...Without telling her I included and autographed Bagwell card I got a spring traing a while back. Now that's a FREEBEE!!! The kid that bought my car, I gave him the bra, brake pads, factory radio and shop manuals I was selling separately...Total retail on that stuff was over $500. I always want my customers to feel good about doing business with me.

As a seller you want to look at the whole picture, the profit I made on the game balances out what I lost on the card. I got people excited about my 1998 Trans Am convertible by giving and honest detailed description so no one would think I was selling crap and provided everyone with a copy of the Carfax instead of making them go get it themselves. The bidding went nuts and it sold in 7 days for more than what I was selling it locally AND it had been for sale here for 7 months.

I do like buying models and books and guitar equipment (just got a new quilted Ibanez body) online but jusy like most new stuff you will end up paying more than store price when you factor in shipping. That's the other reason I wouldn't sell brand new off the shelf stuff.

You're learning real good. Its another Golden RUle rule that says,

"you make your money when you buy your merchandise, NOT when you sell it." 

You dont wanna know how many people miss this one altogether. The only real way to make money is to sell used stuff that you got for a good price. For example, lets say you buy a model kit at retail, then try to sell it at the same price later so you "dont lose money." That's delusional. If people want to pay retail they can go to Hobby Lobby. All the personal "dont have time to build it" stories, reserve pricing silliness and shipping tricks you wanna try wont get you there.

The next BIG RULE is one you hit on, too - You have to have merchandise that is desirable. Who cares if you call a pair of plastic cows *RARE*, or have yet another beat up George Foreman grill to sell. No one wants this crap. What is important to you as a seller is to know what sells and how to research it's value. Once you do that and get a feel for this stuff, you can hardly lose.

BTW, I start everything at $.99, as a rule. BUT, I follow my own rules as noted above...

1. You make your money when you buy your stuff, NOT when you sell it. POUND that one into your head if you want to be a profitable seller.

2. Sell only desirable merchandise. NEVER sell the same junk as everyone else.

 I have yet to lose money and I am, by my own calculations, 33% ahead than similar items sold by others. It's the psychology you gotta understand.