fat50 Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 Okay, which one of you knuckleheads keeps beating me to the kits at garage sales in the Detroit area? LOL I always ask when I'm at a garage sale, "you wouldn't have any model car kits, would you?" I'd say 6 out of 10 times this summer, the answer I get is "we had a bunch of them that sold this morning". I have only found one this summer, a AMT '66 Fairlane that I got for $10. Fess up you guys..... And anyone else score anything good so far this summer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 Okay, which one of you knuckleheads keeps beating me to the kits at garage sales in the Detroit area? LOL I always ask when I'm at a garage sale, "you wouldn't have any model car kits, would you?" I'd say 6 out of 10 times this summer, the answer I get is "we had a bunch of them that sold this morning". I have only found one this summer, a AMT '66 Fairlane that I got for $10. I'm never lucky at garage sales or flea markets! I have a friend who can go through the same flea market as me and come out with great old treasures. Me, nope! In the past year I found a plane model for 50 cents. One sale had a bunch of built Nascar cars, that weren't done all that well. You can find those sealed for $3-5 each at the shows I go to. That same seller had a 1990s Ford pickup, sealed for $3 so I grabbed that. But I keep looking for that grand hoard! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
my66s55 Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 The old addage goes: The early bird gets the worm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tubbs Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 (edited) I always see the 3 or 4 kits on the table that the guy is rock solid on $15 apiece, decent price, sure, garage sale price, not at all. no matter what kit they have, it's rare and you can't find it anywhere. Edited July 30, 2014 by tubbs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrGlueblob Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 Try Craigslist.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 The old addage goes: The early bird gets the worm. Yea but the second mouse gets the cheese! My usual flea market experience... from across the aisle I see a model kit. It's usually one of those 1990s AMT snap pickups that were derived from the promo, $5 or maybe $10 maximum at the average model car show. I can see the shrink wrap is tattered and blowing in the breeze. The box art is sun faded and the box top is sunken in from being for sale at flea markets for the last ten years. The vendor, who looks like Grizzly Adams, spies me looking at it. This is his chance! He pops up from his chair and engages me in conversation, "Dat dere is a genuine antique! They get $100 for dat on eBay! I'll let you have it for $35 cash money!" Oh boy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucket T Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 Don't feel bad Chris. The last kit I found at a yard sale was a Triumph TR4A for a dollar - about 5 years ago. All I saw this past weekend was a Revell train kit and 5 planes. Nothing on CL either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
my66s55 Posted July 30, 2014 Share Posted July 30, 2014 (edited) Yea but the second mouse gets the cheese! My usual flea market experience... from across the aisle I see a model kit. It's usually one of those 1990s AMT snap pickups that were derived from the promo, $5 or maybe $10 maximum at the average model car show. I can see the shrink wrap is tattered and blowing in the breeze. The box art is sun faded and the box top is sunken in from being for sale at flea markets for the last ten years. The vendor, who looks like Grizzly Adams, spies me looking at it. This is his chance! He pops up from his chair and engages me in conversation, "Dat dere is a genuine antique! They get $100 for dat on eBay! I'll let you have it for $35 cash money!" Oh boy! My answer to that. Put it on ebay. Good luck to ya. Then walk away. Edited July 30, 2014 by my66s55 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Haigwood Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 (edited) Not finding much at yard sales but the wife finds a few at Goodwill and Salvation Army. Bought me a 56 Ford P/U complete $5.At Fred Meyers yesterday she bought me two 65 1/2 Mustang Converts and a 1999 Mustang for $6 apieceOne day she picked up an original 32 Ford V8 "the Deuce" for 50 cents but most of it was gone, did have a set decals and some other usable parts and the box was in great shape. Now she knows to look inside first and make sure most of it is there. Edited July 31, 2014 by Jon Haigwood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 Yea but the second mouse gets the cheese! My usual flea market experience... from across the aisle I see a model kit. It's usually one of those 1990s AMT snap pickups that were derived from the promo, $5 or maybe $10 maximum at the average model car show. I can see the shrink wrap is tattered and blowing in the breeze. The box art is sun faded and the box top is sunken in from being for sale at flea markets for the last ten years. The vendor, who looks like Grizzly Adams, spies me looking at it. This is his chance! He pops up from his chair and engages me in conversation, "Dat dere is a genuine antique! They get $100 for dat on eBay! I'll let you have it for $35 cash money!" Oh boy! When I hear eBay mentioned, I'll ask them why it isn't listed if they can get that much for it there. At flea markets or garage sales, when I see eBay printouts on the seller's table, I keep moving. Nothing to see here, folks. When I ask for a price, and they have to dig out a notebook because nothing has a price tag on it, it's usually "keep moving" time there too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 When I hear eBay mentioned, I'll ask them why it isn't listed if they can get that much for it there. At flea markets or garage sales, when I see eBay printouts on the seller's table, I keep moving. Nothing to see here, folks. When I ask for a price, and they have to dig out a notebook because nothing has a price tag on it, it's usually "keep moving" time there too... At flea markets, as well as model car shows... if it isn't priced, I'm not going to bother asking. Those are the guys who will name a price after they size you up, and if you look prosperous (or stupid) they will quote a higher price. I've had shifty dealers at shows quote three different prices to three of my group. Don't they understand we all talk? There was a certain resin caster who would have out on display about 100 different kits he produced. He never put prices on any of them. I'd be looking to by several of them, and wanted to be able to add up what I was buying. So I'd ask for a price, he'd answer... I'd ask about a second kit, he'd answer quickly... by the third kit, he was annoyed... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disabled modeler Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 The old addage goes: The early bird gets the worm. Exactly...If your not early to the sales you might as well not go for all the good stuff or deals are gone. Me I always go early...I find stuff here and there at them model related. Some of my finds... MPC 71 Cyclone Nascar kit sealed still like new...15.oo 2 Monogram 78 Trans Am kits............................10.oo for the pair. AMT Foxy Box Chevy van kit...............................2.oo unbuilt AMT 70s AMC Gremlin reissue kit sealed..............1.50 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
checkmate Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 2 Monogram 78 Trans Am kits............................10.oo for the pair. AMT Foxy Box Chevy van kit...............................2.oo unbuilt I love Trans Am's and vans. The price of that van is crazy. Awesome buying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lordairgtar Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 I got a 57 T-Bird kit last week for $7. Kit finds are rare around here. Goodwill? Forget about it...and they are the surliest people to deal with. Best thing to say to vendors who ask a too high price is what I say (especially if they won't haggle), is "You wanna sell kits, or are you running a museum?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitbash1 Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 (edited) I have zero luck with yard sales and flea markets when it comes to model kits. Maybe it's a regional thing. The same for Goodwill or the Sally-Ann, I've come across nothing in the way of cars, planes, ships or military kits. I'm envious of anybody who can find kits in these places. Edited August 1, 2014 by kitbash1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyK Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 It's good to read I'm not the only one who strikes out at garage sales, etc. Years ago I used to go to those neighborhood garage sales but don't waste my time anymore. I encountered too many people as described above that think they're going to get rich selling some model kits or forgot what "garage sales" were originally intended to be. Flea markets or swap meets are just as bad. I never understood how the seller could possible know the actual price he wants on every single kit he has when the price isn't on it. You've really memorized all 100 or so kits prices in your head?! Maybe you should be doing something more productive with that kind of brain power. We had a neighborhood garage sale some years ago and I had about 30 kits all priced at $5. Never sold any of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disabled modeler Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 I love Trans Am's and vans. The price of that van is crazy. Awesome buying. Id love to have a van/TA like yours!.... I love van kits too just wish they could reissue the early to mid 70s Dodge van kits....my favorites of the van kits. Another I have been looking for is the 75 Firebird or TA. Garage sales pay off every once in awhile but its not as easy as it once was out there...When I was a kid a neighbor had a washing machine box 1/2 full of old built models and parts for 10.oo....it left with me kept them all but shared with my brother...ah the good old days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webestang Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 I found a few good deals at church rummage sales this year.....found a Ford "Bigfoot" still sealed for $6 and a 1/32 scale (curbside) VW Bug for $2. Here in St. Louis we have this Toy show...... http://www.toymanshow.com/ Sometimes I find good deals there. But at the local monthly flea-market kits are WAY over priced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle potts Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 In my neck of the woods there are few, if any, models at garage sales, flea markets, or goodwill. And what you do find are often times over priced. I did find one this summer at goodwill, a '06 mustang for $3.00. My grandson is building it right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisBcritter Posted August 2, 2014 Share Posted August 2, 2014 Same here - the estate sale I was at this morning had an AMT '72 Pinto for $15.00 and an Aurora Battle Aces of the Road Porsche "Messerschmidt" (sic) for $20.00. Looked inside to find both kits had been started, clumsily, and the Pinto lacked a body. When one of the sellers asked if I was interested, I explained to him just why I wasn't, and surprisingly he was apologetic about it. Guess there are a few good eggs out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbwelda Posted August 2, 2014 Share Posted August 2, 2014 if you had the slightest interest in them, particularly if it was later in the day, you should have offered him 5$ to get them out of there. he probably would have taken it after you had shown him what was up. jb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisBcritter Posted August 2, 2014 Share Posted August 2, 2014 It was the first day of the sale and I didn't feel much like haggling, but maybe I'll check back on them later today. I still have most of a '74 Pinto I'd just as soon trade off anyway... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Haigwood Posted August 2, 2014 Share Posted August 2, 2014 Looking at it from the other side.A few years back the Wife had a yard sale and I put out about 50 unbuilt kits @10 and sold one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted August 2, 2014 Share Posted August 2, 2014 Looking at it from the other side.A few years back the Wife had a yard sale and I put out about 50 unbuilt kits @10 and sold one. Yea, garage sale buyers pretty much are just looking for cheap consumer goods. We had one recently here in PA and sold all our $1 items... old glassware, Beanie Babies, kids junk... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Haigwood Posted August 2, 2014 Share Posted August 2, 2014 (edited) Yea, garage sale buyers pretty much are just looking for cheap consumer goods. We had one recently here in PA and sold all our $1 items... old glassware, Beanie Babies, kids junk...I will probably get a table at the next Pacific Northwest Model Car Fest and sell or trade a few. I might even have a couple done to enter Edited August 2, 2014 by Jon Haigwood Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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