Selling your builds?

[Dragfreak]

As my shelves start to become overstuffed and crowded with models, I have decided maybe it's time to start selling off some of the nicer ones. I know it's quite obvious my builds are not professional, but I would say they're presentable. I've seen pro built models go for up to $300 I've posted one of my better builds on craigslist for $100 and after no interest I dropped it to $80 with still no interest. I figure with all the hours spent plus the materials ($25 kit, $15 in paint/clear, $10 aftermarket parts) my time and money has to be worth something. I'm scared to use ebay as I fear the model would get tossed around and beat up inside the box by careless UPS/FedEx workers (trust me, I know first hand how they handle boxes, especially if they're labeled fragile during the shipping process. For those of you who sell your models, how do you know their value? and how do you go by getting them to their customer?

[disabled modeler]

I have never sold one of my builds...traded a few over the years and built some for others to have for free. Shipping is always a BLAH_BLAH_BLAH_BLAH shoot....they ether get there ok or not some people just do not care on the job and have no respect. Usually if someone sends me something for myself Ill have it the rest of my life and will be part of my collection...a friend of mine passed and he left his collection to me about 15 years ago...still have all of them.

[pharoah]

This topic hits close to home. I've sold a lot of my builds on Ebay. I use USPS too. My brother gave me some good advice. Pack it up as good as you can,and throw it down the stairs. Maybe a couple of times. No kidding. This is what's going to happen to it in shipping.Open it back up and glue what came off back on. put the model in a sealed plastic bag,like a ziplock. Some people wrap them in Saran Wrap first.You can use packing peanuts or crumpled newspapers. But leave some 'crumple' area between the model and the box.Don't put the model in the box and start adding stuuffing. Put some under it too.I always get insurance for somewhere near the value of the model.

As far as pricing,you're not going to get rich. I've sold a lot of mine mostly to make room. I don't have a huge display area. Some have sold for what the kit cost in the first place,while some surpriwd me.I've noticed that the more 'offbeat' models usually sell for more.A weatherd car hauler or dump truck will sell for more than a nicely built 57 Corvette. And use a digital camera or a decent cell phone to take pictures! I don't know how many times I've seen what may be a nice model,but you can't really tell because it's out of focus,or partially in the dark,or half of it is cut off. There's a seller on Ebay- Wolfie's427 I thing is the name. Ha takes beautiful pictures of his builds. Most of them aren't even finished,but he still gets good prices for them.

I hope this helps

[gtx6970]

Hoping to get really good money out of builtups is very hit or miss ( usually miss )

Made the mistake of selling off a bunch a few years ago when I needed room......I am about out of room once again,,,this time I'll just get another display case

[johnbuzzed]

I don't think I'll ever sell any of my builds, even though some have inquired. Did you ever display your models at a car show? "How much are the toy cars?", the attendee inquires as he or she picks up your model. In my head, the soundtrack is something like: "You haven't got enough money for me to sell you ANYTHING." But, that's just me. And, I won't build for hire, either- that's too much like work and responsibility. I have plenty of that in my head when it comes to building what I consider to be a contest entry. I have given a few away to good friends or relatives, but that's my prerogative.

Re:packing and shipping. When we relocated, I had packed all of my built-ups individually in cardboard boxes that I got at Staples. The packing material was the least-expensive toilet paper available. Wrap the stuff around and around, side-to-side and front-to back... you'll know when to stop, Then, each was sealed in it's own zip-lock food storage bag before being p;paced in a shipping carton. Those cartons were all loaded into a "Pod" by yours truly; after a total of three moves, I had to replace one side view mirror. I know that this experience was much different than the usual suspects, but it could be adapted. Many years ago, Hank Borger wrote an article about how he packed a model for sending through the mail (or UPS or...?) I remember that his packing material of choice was popcorn- no salt or butter, please. The article contained pictures of the box being tossed around, and post-toss pictures revealed no damage whatsoever. If I were to ship something today, I would use my individual box method, enclosing that box in another big zip-lock bag, and use a LOT of those styrofoam peanuts (which I despise, but they're readily available), or invest in a whole bunch of un-popped popcorn. All that stuff would go into a much larger box for more than enough crush room and packing material.

[Harry P.]

For those of you who sell your models, how do you know their value?

Add up your costs (kit, paint/glue/supplies)... estimate the time spent building, and decide how much you want to charge for your time. Add all that up.

That's your estimate of the model's worth. Of course, any potential buyer will have their own opinion of your model's worth, and they will tell you what they're willing to pay.

[gtx6970]

I watched this one.

I have seen some builds crack the 1k mark several times in the past few months

Yet some sit unsold for 29.95

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1958-Buick-Limited-2-Dr-Hardtop-Coupe-Pro-Built-1-25-Modelhaus-Resin-/291422712853?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43da25b415&nma=true&si=jrTvUAIR34Kx%252B%252BwpmxNVkPwngWI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Edited April 14, 2015 by gtx6970

[curt raitz]

I've been selling my built kits on ebay for quite a few years.

I prefer the "Auction" mode over the "Buy it Know" mode.

I set my original sale price to cover my costs with building the model.

Some have sold for a lot more than I expected, but mostly I'm just happy to recover the cost of the kit.

​Of course ebay and paypal get there share.

I don't factor the time to build the model into the equation...because that was my enjoyment!

I enjoy building, not collecting models.

I primarily ship via USPS, cheaper than UPS and Fed Ex.

The key to safe shipping is to "double box" them.

I use tissue paper wrapped loosely around the model, placed in a box and surrounded by packing peanuts. This box is then placed in a larger box, with at least a couple of inches of space around the box with the model in it. I use heavy packing paper scrunched up around the box instead of packing peanuts. Less weight.

The shipping costs a little more due to the larger package, but the model usually arrives safely.

Edited April 14, 2015 by curt raitz

[pharoah]

You'll notice on the Buick the quality of the photos. That has got to be a very narrow market. True,they are beautifully done,but how many guys on this forum would buy it? I'm just guessing,but I'd bet most of the buyers are serous (real) car collectors,doctors and the like.

Another thing I've noticed about Ebay. models are kind of seasonal. Around September or so the total items for sale starts to climb. After the first of the year,it drops again. and around June it drops. How many of you build much in the summer? It might be a good time to buy kits,but not to sell.

[Ramfins59]

I've had some people ask if I would sell them a few of my models but I've always declined. I've only ever built one model for someone for pay, but it turned out to be more of a "chore" than fun. I've built several models for close friends and and relatives and those were "labors of love" because I wanted to please the people whom the models were made for. My older built models get packed away in big boxes as I don't have enough space to display them all.

[Daddyfink]

One of our club members participated in the Good Guys Del Mar car show by helping us out in the model contest and make and take.

He brought along several of his builds to place in the show for display and among them was a Ford Pick Up that was almost the spit'n image of a 1:1 truck in the show. The owner of the real truck saw the kit and just had to have it. My friend asked me how much that kit was for in the hobby shop and I told him about $20 bucks and that is what he asked for in exchange for it!

Mind you, this was a very well built truck model and it was fully done, but, my friend said that it would bring more joy to the gentleman with the real truck and he could always just build another one!

So, sell the kit for what it is worth and not for what you think you put into it.

[pharoah]

I've built kits for friends,and didn't make a dime on them just counting materials. That's not why I did it.It made them happy,and they still have the models I built. They still mention the models every time I talk to them. Yes,I would charge more for a stranger,but if it's just a straight build,it wouldn't be that much.

[Austin T]

As my shelves start to become overstuffed and crowded with models, I have decided maybe it's time to start selling off some of the nicer ones. I know it's quite obvious my builds are not professional, but I would say they're presentable. I've seen pro built models go for up to $300 I've posted one of my better builds on craigslist for $100 and after no interest I dropped it to $80 with still no interest. I figure with all the hours spent plus the materials ($25 kit, $15 in paint/clear, $10 aftermarket parts) my time and money has to be worth something. I'm scared to use ebay as I fear the model would get tossed around and beat up inside the box by careless UPS/FedEx workers (trust me, I know first hand how they handle boxes, especially if they're labeled fragile during the shipping process. For those of you who sell your models, how do you know their value? and how do you go by getting them to their customer?

One thing that you also might want to consider are the ethics in selling a built kit. There was a string of shows in the TN region last year where a "builder" swept up a lot of awards and trophy's with builds he had purchased off of ebay, no one thought much of his models until someone found his ebay page and every single model was found in his recent purchase history. Not only was what he was doing morally wrong but it also heavily damaged the reputation of several shows and even my reputation as a judge. I understand once you sell a built model you have no control over it but be aware it could be used to unethically gain awards for the buyer, ask yourself if you are prepared to accept to moral weight of potentially assisting someone in cheating at a show.

[southpier]

...... I figure with all the hours spent plus the materials ($25 kit, $15 in paint/clear, $10 aftermarket parts) my time and money has to be worth something. ....

not trying to be a Negative-Nellie, but your time is worth more to you than a buyer. i think if you get your kit cost back you're ahead of the curve.

[bbowser]

not trying to be a Negative-Nellie, but your time is worth more to you than a buyer. i think if you get your kit cost back you're ahead of the curve.

I agree, if you get back the cost of materials you're doing well. A buyer can probably get a diecast for the same price so why would they spend more?

[Dirty Dave]

I've never really received an amount that a model was really "worth" when I've sold them, but I usually recoup my materials costs. The only time that I feel that I really made any money on a project was when I was building customized 1:64 diecast. A few of those went for more than expected, and shipping them is a lot less risky, as well.

Luckily, I have some builder/collector friends that like the stuff that I build, so I usually have standing offers already in place when I need to make more room.

[freakshow12]

I have sold several for 1k. Many for 500+. Did a lot of commissioned builds for 900-1k. Burned out. Gave it up. Don't get rid of your builds. I have many I wish i had hung on to. I store mine in plastic tool boxes. Make a tray to replace the lift out tray and boom. Ten models fit. I keep them all now. But I only build a few a year now

[Ramfins59]

One thing that you also might want to consider are the ethics in selling a built kit. There was a string of shows in the TN region last year where a "builder" swept up a lot of awards and trophy's with builds he had purchased off of ebay, no one thought much of his models until someone found his ebay page and every single model was found in his recent purchase history. Not only was what he was doing morally wrong but it also heavily damaged the reputation of several shows and even my reputation as a judge. I understand once you sell a built model you have no control over it but be aware it could be used to unethically gain awards for the buyer, ask yourself if you are prepared to accept to moral weight of potentially assisting someone in cheating at a show.

I see and understand what you are saying, but, how are you supposed to know, as a judge at a show, if the person entering a model in a contest is the person who actually built that model...... especially if you don't know that person and have never seen the model before.

[vamach1]

I'm thinking most box stock builds of a current kit would go for $50 to $100 so that comes out to about $1 to $4 an hour if you're lucky.

Edited April 15, 2015 by vamach1

[Hawk312]

I have been selling mine for about a decade now. It started with a 1/25 `68 L88 that ended up going for way more than I thought it would.

Over the years, I have had some real nightmares trying to ship. Some of them arrived to the buyer completely obliterated. That is, the kit was closer to "assembled" when I bought it off the shelf at Walmart than after I had shipped the built model.

Lately, I have refined my process, I usually wrap the car in TP, like layer after layer. I then surround with bubble wrap and mount it to a plastic container. I then place the plastic bin in a larger box with packing peanuts.

I have shipped a bunch of 1/12 models this way, including the `67 L88 Barrett Jackson car and the red `67 Tri-power I just sold. They both went about 1000 miles without issues. I had one guy out in California, about a 3000 mile trek from me, buy three of my 1/12 builds a few years back. All of them made it to him completely in-tact. I have been using USPS to ship.

As far as value, it is worth what someone will pay for it.

[cobraman]

In the past I have sold a bunch on ebay. Lowest about 30 dollars and highest was 212.00. I would always double box them but also add to my listing that models are fragile and buyer should be able to do minor repairs if needed. I never had problem. I used the model box itself as the first box and used bubble wrap around the model. I would then stuff some bubble wrap in one of those post office priority shoe boxes. Models always arrived in good condition.

[Austin T]

I see and understand what you are saying, but, how are you supposed to know, as a judge at a show, if the person entering a model in a contest is the person who actually built that model...... especially if you don't know that person and have never seen the model before.

That is the big issue,usually the way it is found out is someone recognizes a build they have seen online (Take the Under The Glass section for example) and then does a little digging to see where that build should be location wise and who built it. What we should have paid attention to was each of this individuals entries had a slightly different building technique, some were built by the same builder and blended right in whereas one would have a few imperfections that the others wouldn't have. Another give away is if that individual can not tell you how he built the kit or about the kit then chances are good it's fake. Sadly when you only have five judges and you have to judge 200+ cars in a four hour window you don't have time to dissect every single build. What disgusted me the most was one individual in attendance actually sold a build to the entrant (A long time before the show) and mentioned nothing of it until after the show was over.

[Mister Twister]

I always sell my models whether they are dioramas or shiny builds....I'm a builder and not much into collecting them (not even my own). I do have models that I won't sell, but, not many. After I have shown them at various contests a few times I will sell them off to the highest bidder or offer them to some regular collectors that I have become acquainted with over the years. I have sold some detailed race cars & garage dioramas to a collectors in California and Ohio for $400 to $1000 or a little more. As a seller.....I am not responsible for what someone does with my build after he or she gets it into their possession. I have seen pictures on the internet from a show where some one was showing my build as his own....... If they don't have moral issues with it then it'll just have to be that way. I did confront one buyer and ask him if he was showing my build as his and his face turned red and I left it at that...It is what it is. As far as shipping, I have sent models all over the US and quite a few to a collector in Perth Australia. The shipping on a heavily bundled package to Australia is quite expensive and damage (some pieces came off) cannot be avoided (at least for me) regardless of how it is packaged when it is shipped that far. Anyway, as I mentioned, I like building and not collecting models. I don't get sentimental about my builds nor do I have room to store all the models I have built in the last 30 years and if someone else gets enjoyment from owning them, then I am OK with that. I would prefer that people did not claim to have built a model that I built....But, that is a risk that is taken when selling one's own models to someone else. My 2 cents worth....

[tbill]

I've only been asked to sell one of my builds so far, and was offered $100 for it [71 cuda], I just couldn't do it, to me it wasn't the money, it was the fact that whenever I look at it, I instantly remember the time I spent at the bench working on it, to me, that is priceless.

[southpier]

i think that's the true value of any hobby.