Glue bomb

[dartman]

Ok,I went to a flee market(I need more flees lol) and an older guy had some kits on his table.I was interested in a 70 (71 ?) duster. The car was assembled with at least 2 tubes of

glue.The only thing that was painted was the body and it looked like it was dipped in a vat of ugly.Did I mention the hood was glued shut and the roof was crushed.I thought I would get 

it to save the chassis for parts but when he told me what he wanted for it I just set it back down,thanked him and walked away.The price for this masterpiece was 12.00$.Was I wrong

thinking it was over priced? He also told how rare this 75 duster was.Dident have the heart to tell him he was wrong on the year and it wasent that rare.Sigh....ok I feel better now.  

[Kit Basher]

Happens all the time. I do exactly what you did, say thank you and walk on. No point in insulting somebody.

[slusher]

Not worth hurting his feelings when a thank you or no thanks will  take care of it ...

[Jantrix]

I'm of a different mind when this situation arises. When a person is selling something, nice goes out the window. I don't worry about feelings like I would a builder who is showing off his work on the forum or at a contest. He wants money for it now. It's up to me to make him see that it's worth $1. I'd have found the kit on ebay and shown him the same kit new for $15. I'd have pointed out the condition. He says it's rare. Call his bluff. He's hoping for a sucker.

[Zarana-X]

Even if it was rare, condition (build by a blindfolded 5-year old, etc.) is key. 

[goldfinger]

Anytime I see a kit or a builtup at a flea market or an antique shop they are way overpriced. especially here in CT. Matchbox cars too. Its frustrating because a junk shop or flea market should be where you can find a deal. Many of these people are self appointed antique experts who try to tell you why the piece of junk you are holding is so valuable. Ebay aint so bad after all.

[Tom Geiger]

Yea, there is no educating the general public!  I just say "no thanks", smile and walk away.  Back in the days when I was going to save the world I would engage the seller, but for the most part it was down the road to no good.

I remember one time I spied a kit from across the way. It was one of those AMT curbside truck model derived from a promo kit from the 1980s.  The ones you can find at model shows for $5-10.  There it was, I think it was the Ford Expedition kit, with the boxed bleached from sitting out in the sun way too long at flea markets. The shrink wrap was tattered and blowing in the breeze, box top sagging in the center.  As I approached, the seller, a big Grizzley Adams kind of guy got up and was a fixin' for a sale.  He had no price on it, and as I looked he confidently said, "$50."  Then he added that it was over 30 years old!  I told him it was a $10 kit,  maybe $5 due to the deterioration of the box. He got upset like I was trying to rob him. I told him I didn't want to buy it, I already had too many.  He started following me down the aisle yelling to the other vendors to watch me, I was a thief!   Lots of fun!

Another one of my favorites was a flea market guy who had an AMT 1953 Ford pickup kit,  built by a kid with no paint and that full tube of glue look. He wanted $25 for it.  When I told him it was a current kit and could then be bought sealed in a box unbuilt for $10,  he countered that his it was worth more because you saved the time it would take to build it.  An optimistic kinda guy!

Then there was the time I literally got kicked out of an antique shop.  They had 3 or 4 kits in their showcase, all marked like  "Genuine 1957 Chevy kit".  They were all fairly recent releases of kits of old cars.  The seller immediately got mad and loud...as I tried to explain that the kits were maybe 10 years old... and that they didn't have zip codes or bar codes in 1957!

I learned the hard way!

Edited August 4, 2015 by Tom Geiger

[XJ6]

I go to the swap meet just about every weekend and make a quick search looking Model Kits and folks I can spot one a block away 

I just casually stroll up never act overwhelmed and shrug and ask how much for the kids model kit ? with out picking it up and I have heard every response one can imagine even from some guy there selling 5 or more kits, but the point is I Always Haggle sure that's the Fun of it all even if the kit is a Amt  Truck kit sealed for only $5.00 I'll offer $4.00 A deal is A Deal ?

Now if I can only find that Pocher Kit for $20.00 I will pay and Run ?

Don aka XJ6?

[ChrisBcritter]

With what gluebombs (and parts thereof) are starting to go for on eBay, I'm not in the least bit surprised. Models like those mentioned above are finding buyers in the $10-$20 range, plus shipping. All I can guess is, maybe there are a lot of folks who don't have a hobby store nearby?

[dartman]

I dident want to engage him any more than I did,I just smiled and went on my way.

 

[Mark]

As overpriced as it might be, there might be some uneducated, just-starting-out, eBay seller out there to snatch that thing up thinking they've struck it rich.  There is usually one at any decent size flea market at any given time, just waiting to pounce.  And, after they've wasted a bunch of time and lost a ton of money, they either give up completely or get smart...but right at that moment, along comes the next newbie to start the vicious circle all over again.  The last few kits I picked up at the fleabag, I was able to get only because I saw them first.  There are deals, you just have to be there early.