Rob Hall Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 All those Ford Transit Connects are built in Turkey. And it will get interesting from here... The old ones were, the 2nd gen Transit Connect is built in Spain, and the fullsize Transits are built for NA in Kansas City. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Anderson Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Tom Geiger: Ertl never produced anything in Indiana--rather their headquarters (and until the late 1990's their diecast and plastic model kit production as well) and former manufacturing facilities are/were in Dyersville Iowa. Art Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinfan5 Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 The old ones were, the 2nd gen Transit Connect is built in Spain, and the fullsize Transits are built for NA in Kansas City. Because of the Chicken Tax, all Transit Connects where imported to Baltimore MD from Spain as Rob mentioned as passenger version, and then converted to cargo configuration by Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics , The process exploits the loophole in the customs definition of a light truck: as cargo does not need seats with seat belts or rear windows, presence of those items automatically qualifies the vehicle as a passenger vehicle and exempts the vehicle from light truck status. The new Ford Transit van, which is replacing the E-Series van is a full sized vehicle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Hall Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 (edited) Because of the Chicken Tax, all Transit Connects where imported to Baltimore MD from Spain as Rob mentioned as passenger version, and then converted to cargo configuration by Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics , The process exploits the loophole in the customs definition of a light truck: as cargo does not need seats with seat belts or rear windows, presence of those items automatically qualifies the vehicle as a passenger vehicle and exempts the vehicle from light truck status. The new Ford Transit van, which is replacing the E-Series van is a full sized vehicle Yes, and the other compact van on the market currently--the Nissan NV200/Chevy City Express--- is built in Mexico for the NA market. Ram is also going to be getting a small Fiat-based van soon to go along w/ the full size Fiat-based Promaster (which is assembled in Mexico). Though I'm not sure how any of this related to model kits..but it would be neat to have models of some of these modern vans, though. Edited June 24, 2014 by Rob Hall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alangarber Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Do what I do. Money is getting tighter for everyone. We have to pay bills ect ect to live and it leaves very little to spare. What I do is buy only what I can afford. But I will say this it also must have to do with the plastic. All the evergreen styrene peices went up in price here as well. I have stopped buying it, I only have so much to spend. I mean only 2 things can happen. #1 We put up with it and pay #2 The hobby shops and model companies put themselves out of buisness. just my 2 cents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Belugawrx Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 nuff said .. supply + demand+100o/o markup(or more ) Leads to a stale market Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbwelda Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Alan, you are from Canada, you just don't understand the American way. Live within my means, what the heck is that guy talking about anyhow? This country would be bankrupt within a week if everyone did that! jb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martinfan5 Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Have we figured out why the cost of kits has gone up yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ1971 Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 ?? Because Stone Cold Steve Austin said SO! Lol! ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Have we figured out why the cost of kits has gone up yet? I think we could talk about the price of kits all the time and all have different opinions and I mean it nicely. As long as I can afford them I will buy them a couple a month. if I didn't have so many medicines I could live so much better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Tom Geiger: Ertl never produced anything in Indiana--rather their headquarters (and until the late 1990's their diecast and plastic model kit production as well) and former manufacturing facilities are/were in Dyersville Iowa. Art Indiana, Iowa... same thing! LOL And I knew that.. don't know what I was typing late last night! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High octane Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 My model kit buyin' habits have changed over the last couple of years and I've been slowin' down in purchasing new kits quite a bit. While I still don't like the higher prices, it won't affect me too much as I'm buyin' less and hopefully I'll be buildin' more? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Handley Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 I've slowed down too, but not so much because of higher prices as much as increasingly less income for the last few years and higher expenses. With the new ownership of my store and the improvement of sales, and therefore hours (ie, more income!!!), I have bought a few kits and have put a new R/C Truck on layaway, which is a first for a few years for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 My model kit buyin' habits have changed over the last couple of years and I've been slowin' down in purchasing new kits quite a bit. While I still don't like the higher prices, it won't affect me too much as I'm buyin' less and hopefully I'll be buildin' more? I think that goes for many of us. I know I have most every kit, so I don't need repops. I will buy new kits, one of each, where I used to buy multiples. I still buy cheap kits at shows for projects and parts. I'm happy to go to a show and leave empty handed if the situation dictates. I have stopped worrying about building everything. Even if I bought 1 model a month, I'd still be falling hopelessly behind. Last year was my most productive year and I finished maybe 6-7 models. I'm content to have this unbuilt model hoard and realize that either I'll unload them one day, or my estate will have one heck of a sale. I'm happy to go to a show and leave empty handed if the situation dictates. Then I stop and think about how fortunate I am not to need anything at all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High octane Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 Yes I too am fortunate that I have the number of kits that I do, and it doesn't bother me if I leave a swap meet or a hobby shop "empty handed." After all, they are model kits that need to be painted and built and that takes time. They're not baseball cards were one needs them ALL. As far as my "estate" goes, I won't be here so I don't really care what happens to my stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nasutoc1 Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 when i was a young teen i could buy a AMT model for a $1.50 at my local candy store. boy have prices gone up in 40yrs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Geiger Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 when i was a young teen i could buy a AMT model for a $1.50 at my local candy store. boy have prices gone up in 40yrs. In my experience the local candy store only had Palmer kits! You had to go to a variety store like Two Guys to get AMT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Anderson Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 when i was a young teen i could buy a AMT model for a $1.50 at my local candy store. boy have prices gone up in 40yrs. Yes, and back in those days, a Snickers Bar was a nickel--look at the price today! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1930fordpickup Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 Yes, and back in those days, a Snickers Bar was a nickel--look at the price today! When I could buy a snickers bar for 50 cents models were 5 to 8 dollars resale . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
my66s55 Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 (edited) When it was a nickle, it was bigger! Edited June 28, 2014 by my66s55 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry P. Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 I remember when "penny candy" still sold for literally a penny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
my66s55 Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 I remember when "penny candy" still sold for literally a penny. And it was still bigger. A grape Nehi was a nickle and in Michigan, you could scout out 5 empties and trade them in for a new for the 1 cent deposit. A mug of A & W root beer was a nickle at there stand. The moral to the story is simple. Inflation happens. You can take advantage of this situation by buying today opposed to a higher price in the future. The choice is yours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dieseldawg142 Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 (edited) ........ Edited May 11, 2018 by dieseldawg142 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High octane Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 Ahhhhh, the good old days. Yes I remember the penny candy, the nickel candy bars, a quarter to get into the movies,etc. I forgot how much it cost to ride the bus/streetcar and the EL/subway though. Life was a lot simpler then and everybody was working, and everything was made in the U.S.A. My how times have changed. Some for the good, and some not so good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exotics_Builder Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 I think that goes for many of us. I know I have most every kit, so I don't need repops. I will buy new kits, one of each, where I used to buy multiples. I still buy cheap kits at shows for projects and parts. I'm happy to go to a show and leave empty handed if the situation dictates. I have stopped worrying about building everything. Even if I bought 1 model a month, I'd still be falling hopelessly behind. Last year was my most productive year and I finished maybe 6-7 models. I'm content to have this unbuilt model hoard and realize that either I'll unload them one day, or my estate will have one heck of a sale. I'm happy to go to a show and leave empty handed if the situation dictates. Then I stop and think about how fortunate I am not to need anything at all! I am in the same boat also. In addition getting ready to move. When I look at the stash I have acquired and my build rate (even allowing for retirement), I made the decision to hold back what I buy to what I really would treasure to build. Even culling out the the stash I have over 400 unbuilt kits (I know a piker to many). But I have also have a rash of HO stuff still sitting in the boxes and a layout only drafted on the computer. I have previous issues of a lot of stuff being reissued, so no desire to increase shelf space. So I have been cherry picking the interesting stuff (like the Tamiya LaFerrari) and adding some aftermarket sets (like MCG PE and Aoshima wheels). If a lot of us do this (and have been blessed to amass a stash) or wind up hoarding our dollars, that makes it more difficult to have large sells of any release, new or reissue. When I interviewed Revell folks a couple of years ago, a couple of really big sellers were the 49 Merc custom, Snap Ferrari Enzo, and snap Camaro (Concept one if I recollect). I think a lot of the reasons mentioned for price creep have already been stated in this thread and contribute to some degree. Remember, the model manufacturer gets the wholesale (adjusted by any volume discounts). They would have to cover: R&D Design Administrative Tooling Manufacturing Licensing Distribution and shipping Advertising Taxes Customer Service Goodwill and promotions Profit etc. The retailer then marks up. I would submit Hobby Lobby and Michaels are still making some profit with the discount coupons. A LHS would have a different pricing model than a franchise (like Hobbytown USA) or a chain (like Hobby Lobby). I'm also sure that there are segments where price can be inflated because of subject. For example is an IPhone really worth the several hundred dollar price? If you think so you buy, else you seek alternatives. When I talk to folks who are into military, aircraft or ships, they sort of chuckle on pricing as they have been hit much harder. Same with trains, particularly certain scales. I guess the only time we really have to worry about pricing is if Gordon Gekko becomes chairman and CEO of a model company Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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