A new trend selling kit parts?

[HotRodaSaurus]

 Following on from my Parts Count in Vintage kits post I just had a look on the dreaded 'Bay' and there appears to be a new way of making cash from old kits, or maybe, even new ones. 

Selling breakable or missing parts for a single $ or £ you could make about $$$+. Would you pay the prices for a set of wheels for a project  or one of these hinges rather than purchase a new kit for your restoration?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1969-Plymouth-GTX-Hood-Hinges-1-25-Scale-AMT-/322037950409?hash=item4afaf527c9:g:pnAAAOSwBahVVhZ2

Please note though, I am not picking on anyone here as I don't know if this seller is a member. Just a listing I spotted looking at some kits available.

Cheers, John.

 

 

 

[gtx6970]

Been happening for some time. Are they getting rich? not likely. Especially selling pieces form modern kits.

 

I know one of the sellers that parts out vintage kits and he says he does quite well at it

[CFMgarage]

I like this topic so I'm gonna weigh in my opinion...My answer is YES and NO in the same time.

What I mean by that is yes, I'm willing to buy a new set of wheels and tires, or a new windshield, or bumper if it's necessary for my project, unless the price is significantly higher than it's respected percentage of the kit.

As in, if a set of wheels and tires is $12 plus shipping from a kit that I can most likely but for $20 as a full kit, then I'll just get the kit -> But if it's a seller who is out to be reasonable and sells that same wheel and tire kit for $5 plus shipping, I'll do that.

(Just like those a-hole sellers who put up dually beds for $25-30 on ebay *just the bed* because they know duallies are big money these days - even snap kits go for $60-70)

[MrBuick]

Personally I think it's great that people do this. Just yesterday (or maybe the day before) a fellow user was able to find a bench seat for a project he's working on without having to buy an entire kit. He's in the UK, so I'm sure shipping costs from the US make purchasing an entire kit run $40+ if he can't find one in the EU. As for what people charge, I don't think it's really anyone's place to complain. Everything in this world is worth what someone else is willing to pay...if there are people who are willing to shell out $25-$30 for a truck bed, then the seller is perfectly justified in asking for that much because obviously there's a market out there at those prices. Just as with a retail store, they're selling stuff to make a profit, not do people favors. I've bought stuff over the years that I was fully aware was probably not "worth" what I ended up paying, but it had become worth it to me, because it was something I wanted and had been looking at for a long time...sometimes the seller is just waiting for "that person" to come along...nothing wrong with that. Plus, if they list it 10 times and it never sells because nobody's willing to pay that much for that piece, then they're the one with something "on the shelf" instead of money in the bank, and they'll eventually figure out they probably need to lower the price. 

[crazyjim]

Seems to me theres' an old quote that covers this issue - "There's a sucker born every minute."

[JTalmage]

I actually just bought some parts from a kit parter off ebay the other day... and to be honest what I got them for was pretty reasonable. Considering I can't just show up to a swap meet and pick a kit apart and buy just what I need. However yes I have seen some sellers who are sniffing glue I think and they want an arm and a leg for them and I dislike that... but maybe my experience was rare, I got what I needed and cheap.

[HotRodaSaurus]

I used to collect old AMT trophy series, Annuals plus the odd vintage Monogram boxes just for the artwork. Boxes from Black Widow, Green Hornet, Amt's 49 Mercury and Romme's Rod, that sort of thing. Most came with a few odd parts, often a mixture of the stock parts and custom bits in the case of my 49 Merc. Maybe this could be a way to make a few £ if i have no use for them in the parts box

Yes postage can be a bit of a killer for international destinations but how rare is that part? I need 1 headlight for an old Monogram 1/20th Sport(Deuce) Coupe, never seen a cheap box of bits, may consider re-popping the remaining one if I never find a cheap enough incomplete kit.

[gtx6970]

Seems to me theres' an old quote that covers this issue - "There's a sucker born every minute."

 

Guess I'm a sucker then... I collect vintage kits, all builders and in some case a few need parts. If not for these sellers I would be stuck with resin IF  its even avail at all . Just recently picked up a really REALLY nice 1960 Oldsmobile kit. 99% complete and almost ready to rebuild. The steering wheel was MIA,,,as luck would have it I found one on Ebay for not much more than one avail thru Modelhaus. With Modelhaus closed for the time being for me it was a no brainer.

Same seller was also parting out an original issue Johan 1960 Dodge, and I happen to need a rear bumper for mine,,,,, Got that to. So for me ( and I'm sure many others ) Glad to see them do it .

 

Model kits are no different then there 1/1 scale counterpart. Some are more worth more in pieces than they are as a whole.

Edited April 1, 2016 by gtx6970

[MrBuick]

 

Guess I'm a sucker then... I collect vintage kits, all builders and in some case a few need parts. If not for these sellers I would be stuck with resin IF  its even avail at all . Just recently picked up a really REALLY nice 1960 Oldsmobile kit. 99% complete and almost ready to rebuild. The steering wheel was MIA,,,as luck would have it I found one on Ebay for not much more than one avail thru Modelhaus. With Modelhaus closed for the time being for me it was a no brainer.

Same seller was also parting out an original issue Johan 1960 Dodge, and I happen to need a rear bumper for mine,,,,, Got that to. So for me ( and I'm sure many others ) Glad to see them do it .

Yep, me too...the way I look at it is, it's only money. I can make money, but I can't make some of the parts I need. 

[Eshaver]

Yep, me too...the way I look at it is, it's only money. I can make money, but I can't make some of the parts I need. 

This practice has been going on for years . I remember a site known as Model Junk yard

[HotRodaSaurus]

This practice has been going on for years . I remember a site known as Model Junk yard

I sort of remember that one. Didn't they sell near complete, restorable and a few glue bombs leold kits rather than individual parts?

[Ron Hamilton]

I have no problem with most of the kit parts sellers. I do a lot of restorations, and with The Modelhaus closing down, and having a huge backlog, this may be the wave of the future. I tend to seek out new, or lightly used original parts, and the people I buy from has been really helpful to my projects. However, those parts sellers who want ridiculous prices for their parts will not get any of my business .

[mikemodeler]

To take a complete kit and part it out and (hopefully) yielding more money than a complete kit would, is acceptable. Do I find it frustrating? Sure, can't say I haven't been tempted to do the same but I don't have the time and patience to undertake such a project.

As has been stated, if you need the part, then the practice fulfills a need within the hobby. 

[om617]

I have no problem with most of the kit parts sellers.

X2

The ones i buy from are reasonable to start out with,and those who have crazy prices dont get they`re stuff sold. 

Also i somtimes bid on junk parts lots. Once i bid on a 59 Bonneville junker with a station wagon roof,i thought it was it

but when i recive it there where three zip-lock bags,one with 3 sets of wheels and tires for the new Pontiac Ventura,one

bag had 3 Revell parts pack hemi engines + two sets of decent cast 64 Bonneville bumpers,unplated. The last bag had lots

of bundles of wire for detail and what looks like a vintage custom upholsry kit.  

[kurth]

I just find it frustrating when I am looking for a kit I want to build and the only one on ebay is one being parted out.  Or when the parts auctions clutter up search results.  I had a heck of a time tracking down the Monogram Dodge Ramcharger truck, it took a few months, between the overpriced Buy it now kits which never sell, and the part-it out auctions.  

It does sometimes make me sad to see a great old, somewhat hard to find kit being parted out, knowing it will never get built.

 

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

This topic has been hammered on a few times, and like most of you, I don't have a problem with somebody parting a kit and making two or three times in parts over what the kit costs whole. The only thing that chaps my backside is the guys asking as much for a set of wheels or tires or one bumper as you can buy a whole kit for...and their damm listings run to the thousands...over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over...

That, and the guys starting bidding at $39.95 for a gluebomb literally covered in animal feces, dirt and bugs, when some other guy is asking $.99 (that's 99 cents, by the way) for a not-too-bad one.

Who are the clowns who buy this stupid-money garbage and then post glowingly positive feedback?

Edited April 1, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[Tom Geiger]

 The only thing that chaps my backside is the guys asking as much for a set of wheels or tires or one bumper as you can buy a whole kit for...and their damm listings run to the thousands...over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over...

It's called "some guy who figured out how to make a living on eBay".  If he's got hundreds to thousands of listings for these items, then he found a niche and has to be making money.  Good for him, and I'm not supporting him on welfare.

On the other hand, I'd really like to have a nice street rod. Still, I remember back when new cars cost $3000 so a street rod shouldn't cost more than that!  Wanna come to Pennsylvania and build me a street rod for $3 an hour?   

 

[Spex84]

"Who are the clowns who buy this stupid-money garbage and then post glowingly positive feedback?"

Some of these people maintain multiple accounts, and cross-post positive feedback to themselves. I first noticed it when I found a seller who was selling kits for $3.99 with $35 shipping. Turned out most of the completed sales were to accounts that had been created in the same month as the seller's and they all spoke in a similar fashion.

It bugs me when people buy brand new kits, open the box, and sell, say, the wheels for $15 and the exhaust pipes for $10 and so on. Ridiculous.

The other thing is, I like to be able to search for kits by price--but that means there are dozens of pages of decals, instructions, and separated-out parts to wade through. If there WERE any kits for a decent deal, they'd be completely hidden amid the the chaff.

[Ace-Garageguy]

On the other hand, I'd really like to have a nice street rod. Still, I remember back when new cars cost $3000 so a street rod shouldn't cost more than that!  Wanna come to Pennsylvania and build me a street rod for $3 an hour?   

I guess I'm too stupid to get your point, but I'll be happy to for $100 per. 

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

 If he's got hundreds to thousands of listings for these items, then he found a niche and has to be making money.

Ummm...no. He's just taking a free ride using up server space on ebay to repeatedly relist his insanely overpriced parts. Only fools buy stuff for prices like that, but there are plenty of maggots willing to make suckers of fools...and find ways to get paid for doing essentially nothing, 100% skill-free.  

[Tom Geiger]

I guess I'm too stupid to get your point, but I'll be happy to for $100 per. 

 

Bingo!  I bill my time at $110 an hour.  So if you were to sell things on eBay you couldn't do it for $25 a part either!   

I wouldn't begrudge you your $100 an hour, in fact I'd consider that a fair value for your talent.  You wouldn't sell your services for $25 an hour and I don't blame you.  So I understand this guys need to make a living at his wage level.

Edited April 2, 2016 by Tom Geiger

[Art Anderson]

This practice has been going on for years . I remember a site known as Model Junk yard

Yup, ALL the way back to the late 1970's, in fact!

Art

[Ace-Garageguy]

Bingo!  I bill my time at $110 an hour.  So if you were to sell things on eBay you couldn't do it for $25 a part either!   

I wouldn't begrudge you your $100 an hour, in fact I'd consider that a fair value for your talent.  

Plus expenses, of course.   

[72 Charger]

As Colby (Mr Buick ) said he posted on my wanted post for a 70 Plymouth Road Runner Bench seat that there was an Ebay member selling just what I was after . My problem was solved after my wanted post had been up for weeks with no response . Im sure that I will be able to use or even resell the rest of the parts that I don't need . I think its good that people sell kit parts like this . I may even strat doing it my self with all the stuff I know that I will never use

Thank you Mr Buick

[Tom Geiger]

Plus expenses, of course.   

Of course!