Built X Unbuilt kit value.

[Lovefordgalaxie]

Today I was browsing our local eBay (Mercado Livre) for a Revell '40 Ford Convertible kit, and noticed something. Almost all the built models are priced lower, or at the most the same than the unbuilt kit of the same subject. Even the nice, real well done ones. 

Then, changed to eBay U.S. and it's the complete inverse. There are some nice built ups, advertised as pro built, or something in this line, and always for a lot more than the unbuilt kit. 

Never bought built models I didn't want to restore, or to use parts from, so I thought it was kind of normal to pay less for the built model, after all, all the fun of the thing is gone (that's why I'm not into collecting die casts, have only the cars I can't find in kit form). 

Is that normal, or I just got eBay in a weird day?

[Snake45]

There are many delusional people on eBay. Some are buying; more are trying to sell. 

[martinfan5]

Nope, its normal, builders in the USA think they horribly built model is worth more than a gold bar.

 

Edited February 5, 2018 by martinfan5

[bobthehobbyguy]

As always everything is only worth what someone is willing to pay. Also on ebay probuilt, vintage, and rare are always marketing hype.

[ChrisBcritter]

Never can understand the sellers who put up a high opening bid and expect a sale - better to put a low opening bid and let the market take care of the rest. If you have a never-to-be-produced-again model like a '67 Falcon or a '63 Nova wagon or any Jo-Han full-size Mopar, don't worry - there will be a feeding frenzy.

Tulio, I don't see many '40 vert builtups on eBay right now?

[Lovefordgalaxie]

Good to know. 

I almost thought of building kits for sale on eBay and giving up engineering 

[Lovefordgalaxie]

  On 2/5/2018 at 8:06 PM, ChrisBcritter said:

Never can understand the sellers who put up a high opening bid and expect a sale - better to put a low opening bid and let the market take care of the rest. If you have a never-to-be-produced-again model like a '67 Falcon or a '63 Nova wagon or any Jo-Han full-size Mopar, don't worry - there will be a feeding frenzy.

Tulio, I don't see many '40 vert builtups on eBay right now?

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That was the kit I was looking for, not the kit I found built ups from, as I started opening up the search parameters when got nothing with "Ford 1940 Conversível Revell". At the end I was looking for "Revell Ford". That was on Mercado Livre, the Brazilian eBay. Found zero units of the kit for sale.

When I went to U.S. eBay, I was searching for built up kits, not necessarily a Revell '40 Ford Convertible, as I got curious on the prices. 

Anyway I found some AMT '40 Fords. Even one built as a box art. That one was very reasonably priced by the way. 

[ChrisBcritter]

  On 2/5/2018 at 8:07 PM, Lovefordgalaxie said:

Good to know. 

I almost thought of building kits for sale on eBay and giving up engineering 

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I think you'd have to get name recognition and a following among collectors - like our forum's Paul Hettick has done - but your work is easily good enough to qualify. And I'd say the same for several other builders here. Maybe not quit engineering but it would be a a nice way to augment one's income. 

[Lovefordgalaxie]

  On 2/5/2018 at 10:47 PM, ChrisBcritter said:

I think you'd have to get name recognition and a following among collectors - like our forum's Paul Hettick has done - but your work is easily good enough to qualify. And I'd say the same for several other builders here. Maybe not quit engineering but it would be a a nice way to augment one's income. 

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I'm kidding about selling models as a living. The best way to ruin a hobby, is to do it like work. 

I build models for my cousin Marcelo quite often tough. He was into building model cars when we were kids, but he gave up on building. Didn't quit on having the built model cars tough...

Once in a while I sell a model online, but those are usually rebuilds of stuff I got already built for one reason or another.

Recently I got a '48 Ford convertible Hot Rod for the Motor City Flathead parts I installed on a '40 Ford I built. Installed a newer Ford V8 on the '48 Convertible, gave it a good clean, redid the foil, and it was sold online.  

 

[espo]

As a builder I have never understood why someone would pay more for a built model that an unbuilt in the box like new kit that you could build yourself the way you want it to be. As an example, I have taken part in the "Swap Meet" portion of a local Model Show, to sell duplicate kits or something I find I'm just never going to build. I price these kits at a fair price and less than they can be purchased new even with the 40% off coupon. People will still try all kinds of ploys to barter on this price, and then go to the guy at the next table selling the same exact kit that has been built and partially disassembled and thrown in a Zip Lock Bag  and pay more for it. I just don't understand what they are thinking. Even if they are only wanting to "mine" the parts at least in my kits they are all still there and in perfect condition. Should they be thinking of building the kit it would be better to start if a perfect kit. The effort to disassemble, clean and rebuild the "Baggy" kit would be far greater than starting with a good new kit.    

[Mike999]

  On 2/4/2018 at 11:21 PM, Snake45 said:

There are many delusional people on eBay. Some are buying; more are trying to sell. 

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I won't link to any auctions or mention any names.  But this one really floored me.  I was recently cruising eBay and saw a resin trans-kit to convert a 2-door car into a 4-door.  The complete trans-kit should have the body, interior panels and the non-split front seat. I know that because I bought exactly the same trans-kit at a kit swap meet, and paid $20 for it.  The Buy It Now price for the eBay kit was over $300 "or best offer."  The punch line: that trans-kit on eBay was missing the front seat.