Anytime you mention ebay, the discussion degrades into a gripe session. Few really understand what an auction is and how to make it work, on both sides, so there ends up a lot of foolishness and complaining. This is not the time to rectify all that, so let's look at some notable things about that particular listing:
"This is an extremely rare 1/32nd Scale Kit of the Grumman F-14A Tomcat Fighter made by Tamiya (Kit 60301). The kit is no longer in production and extremely hard to find even on the secondary market."
Yeah, right. This is not a some esoteric vacform, made in a guys garage. This thing was made by a major industrial player in the injection molded hobby kit business. Do you think they tooled up to make only five of these? That said, how many do you think they made? Thousands? Tens of thousands? More?
The use of "rare" as a selling point is one of the most abused concepts on ebay. For proof, go to eBay and search just that word, "rare." The things people are trying to shove off on unsuspecting buyers as "rare" will astound you. I actually had an ebay seller respond once that it doesn't really matter if something is rare or not - as long as there is someone dumb enought to believe what the seller is telling him.
So, is this kit rare? Honestly, I don't really know, ** but enough here seem to think NOT. That tells you something. However, this bloke seems to think it is, God Bless him. The goal of every seller is to max out his profit, after all. Dont ever forget that.
By the same token, many don't really know how to do so and this guy is one of those types. I think he is sincere, based on the clues he leaves, so I'll give him that. But I'd bet my next kit that his 'Cat won't sell from this listing.
NOTE: To set the record straight, this isnt even an auction. It's a fixed sale, the price being set by the seller. He could've taken out a free classified for that. As it stands now, he has beaucoup fees to pay - whether it sells or not.
"The kit is in new condition with all parts and decals as they come originally from Tamiya."
It better be all that, for his way-beyond-market asking price.**
"I purchased the kit from a hobby store years ago with many great intentions. Obviously the military has kept me on the move to much to do justice to this kit."
Big deal, buyers dont care about that stuff. His first mistake was buying it at retail. Why a mistake? Because first, this means it was hardly rare. I mean, if it appeared on retail shelves to start with, how rare was it? Second, now he wants you to think it IS rare and is trying to turn that retail cost over to YOU, the buyer. Why would you follow him down that path?
He says it's obvious that military commitments have kept him too busy to build the Tomcat, but we take his word on that, don't we? Where is that expressly obvious in his listing?
He also says he had good intentions of building it. Now I ask you; who here hasn't had those same good intentions?!
I am being nit-picky here, I know. But this is a sales pitch, plain and simple. His whole pitch is based on rarity, but he in no way assures you with facts that it IS rare. Meanwhile, he insists you begin paying him at $250... and he's generously made it possible for you to pay more, if you want, by using the BIN tactic (and using it wrongly, I might add.)
But, does any of this make his offering rare and worth his price? Nope. This is what is called the 'personal angle' or what I would call a 'sob story'. IT's sole aim is to rationalize and justify his super-sized price.
** Okay, here's the meat - the Real Deal:
The SURE WAY to know if something is rare and really worth $$250(!!!) is to research it yourself. I did that, as part of my response on this. It only takes a short time to do when you know how and the results are enlightening:
- One of these same kits sold, 11/14/07, for $182 and that included an OOP "Verlinden Way, Vol III," which has a section devoted to just this model.
- Another of the same vintage went for $91 on 11/17/07.
- I found another seller that had 15 of the same kit, NEW with well-employed BIN pricing, for half this dude's opener, and NO ONE made a purchase. Not one soul.
Obviously there is some interest, more than I have, that's for sure. But I say that with reservation; there also seems to be a limited buyer group and THOSE aren't beating the door down to get one of these klits. Is there enough interest to warrant $250 as a starting bid, with a $350 BIN price? Again... not that I can see. This guys delusional and has lost his grip.
Just like blogging gives people the illusion of being a "published author," Ebay offers each of us the chance to be a big-dollar, Christies Inc., auctioneer. In so doing, Ebay has tapped into an "un-reality wavelength" that some people naturally tune right into once they log on. It's called avarice... suddenly, everyone is the "Donald Trump of Ebay." Such folks lose all sense of fact and forget the basic tenets of market economics. Their most fervent hope is that you will join them in their delusions and overlook their mistakes.
To be fair, not everyone offering merchandsie on eBay has lost their minds. Some know what they are doing and aren't out to rip anyone off. They've learned the "secrets" of eBay. Once you do the same and how to research these things for yourself, you will open up some REAL value on eBay. If more people did just that, much of the silliness and blatant huckstering on eBay would stop. Unfortunately, enough people haven't done their due diligence, so the whole experience is cheapened and can seem like just another hustle.
As someone already hinted at, it's your choice. Is it worth it to you? If so, pay it. If it's not, then laugh with the rest of us and go look at something else. You've lost nothing... Caveat Emptor.