I'm hard pressed to pay retail prices on new kits other than to support my local hobby shop. Adding in postage to an on line purchase
and you're pretty close. The outlets that still carry model kits, Hobby Lobby, the few Wal Marts, and Michaels, don't really have the selection on newer kits and their prices are up there as well.
So how long before swap meets, model show prices hit the same ceiling ?