Rare Kits... prices.

[Brutalform]

Not complaining, or anything, but I’ve noticed some of the more rare kits on the Bay are going for some big dollars. I normally check the price guide, then I really decide if I need/want a particular kit, before I decide what money I am willing to part with. I don’t mind going above the value listed in the guide, but lately, some of these kits are going for three to four times what they are listed in the guide for. As I do realize that it’s “just a guide”, and the market constantly changes. For example, I had my eye on a Johan Dyno Don Maverick kit, that was valued around $85 dollars, so I put a bid on it well above that, and now I was outbid with a new bid of over $200! Thats astronomical... no matter how badly I want the kit, I’ll have to pass. I do understand people can up the bid for someone, which is against Ebay rules, but it’s happening in many, many, other items as well, so I don’t think that’s the case. In closing, there are only a few kits that I really desire, probably three or four of them, that I would like to own, but at these prices, I don’t see that happening anytime soon. 

[iamsuperdan]

Pricing is kind of crazy.

A couple of years ago, I paid $9 for this.

 

Now I see it on Ebay for a little bit more.

 

 

I've actually started this one now.

 

 

 

Anyway, I pass on a lot of the kits I really want, because I just won't spend that kind of money on a kit.

 

[Modelbuilder Mark]

You are absolutely right that it is "just a guide". My dad always told me, something is  only worth what someone is willing to pay for it, and in the case of an auction site like Ebay, with a worldwide audience, those prices will easily go up beyond what that same kit might sell for at your local model contest swap meet, simply because the audience is now much larger, and will undoubtedly have more people interested in the same kit, and it only takes 2-3 people interested in the same kit for their to be a bidding war. Plus, people tend to overspend at an auction, via excitement and not thinking in terms of real money.

 

[Brutalform]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/363322452842
 

This is the one that got away from me.

[Brutalform]

3 minutes ago, Modelbuilder Mark said:

You are absolutely right that it is "just a guide". My dad always told me, something is  only worth what someone is willing to pay for it, and in the case of an auction site like Ebay, with a worldwide audience, those prices will easily go up beyond what that same kit might sell for at your local model contest swap meet, simply because the audience is now much larger, and will undoubtedly have more people interested in the same kit, and it only takes 2-3 people interested in the same kit for their to be a bidding war. Plus, people tend to overspend at an auction, via excitement and not thinking in terms of real money.

 

I totally understand. I also am a big fan of Stephen King, and collect his first edition books. I’ve seen some listed in a guide at a price, and seen them sell for 10 times that amount. But then sometimes you get lucky and get a great deal... go figure.??

[Brutalform]

7 minutes ago, iamsuperdan said:

Pricing is kind of crazy.

A couple of years ago, I paid $9 for this.

 

Now I see it on Ebay for a little bit more.

 

 

I've actually started this one now.

 

 

 

Anyway, I pass on a lot of the kits I really want, because I just won't spend that kind of money on a kit.

 

Yes. Sometimes I wonder if owning those couple rare kits I want is even in the cards anymore? 

[Brutalform]

And then that thought comes into play... “ did I loose out on the kit over a buck or two”??? when the auction is over. 

Edited March 16, 2021 by Brutalform

[slusher]

You have to keep trying and sometime it will pay off.

[Modelbuilder Mark]

16 minutes ago, Brutalform said:

And then that thought comes into play... “ did I loose out on the kit over a buck or two”??? when the auction is over. 

And that is part of the reason it keeps jetting up, "it is only a buck or two more", repeat. I have gotten caught up in it to. Now, I decide what I am willing to pay for something, and stick to it. If I find it, great, if not, I really have plenty of kits to last the rest of my life anyway. There are some I want, but I am not going to get into a bidding war in nearly all cases. I really want the Chitty Chitty Bang Bank kit from Aurora, but it goes for more than I am willing to spend. There are other, simpler kits that were popped more times, like the Badman, that I want, but I am not going to pay $80 for a kit that may get released again at some point. 

[Brutalform]

Good point.. anything can be re tooled, or re released anytime. I had the AMT original release of that Mack truck kit, (green rig on the box) that I sold for $120. Then a few months later it was re released with better quality rims, and anyone could buy it for $35. 

[Snake45]

All I can tell you is, keep checking eBay and it's likely you can get lucky sooner or later. Don't forget rebuilders and even promos. 

I've been looking for one of those DD Mavericks for a while now too. It doesn't have to be the DD version as I have the Slixx decals. But even the later generic pro stock versions are salty now too. Last fall I got a good deal on a complete Maverick promo that's only missing one A-pillar, which I can easily fix. KHills just sent me a cut-off Maverick pro stock hood scoop, so I'm good to go--I'm gonna cut the hood out of the promo body and I can scrounge up everything else I need from here and there. 

Improvise, adapt, overcome! Sometimes that's the best you can do. 

[Brutalform]

I hear ya Snake.. been many times I’ve scrounged parts, bodies, hoods, etc, to get the project done. 

[thomascoffey1959@gmail.com]

  I refuse to engage in auctions. If and when I do buy ,its from a reputable vendor ,such as, deans, Spotlight, roundup ,or local hobby shop.  I simply can't afford it.

[Mark]

The Dyno Don issue Maverick hasn't been $85 or less in about thirty years, at least in unassembled form.  So much for that value guide.

Between the Maverick and Comet pro stocks (same kit, few different parts) the generic pro stock Maverick went OOP way before the Comet did, and thus has been harder to get.  Now, with any real Jo-Han kit production being twenty years in the past, expect everything to go through the roof.  

[Sledsel]

Personally, things like this I believe is crazy

https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-MPC-MINUTE-MAN-1971-72-PRO-STOCK-MUSTANG/164757010400?hash=item265c4877e0:g:4z8AAOSwK61gTNLr 

 

 

[Mark]

The crazy stuff is changing hands between collectors.  That Mustang isn't even a particularly accurate kit.  It had some unique parts but not enough of them.  Someone wanting to duplicate it as a builder could get 90% of the way there with currently available parts, and with a small amount of work would have a more accurate one to boot.

[sfhess]

You can get a resin Maverick from Southern Motorsport Hobbies for about $40.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

I've noticed lately kits that I really don't consider rare going for stupid prices. Seen the AMT General lee going for well over $100 and Daisy's Road Runner for over $200. Know you can't get Dukes of Hazzard kits anymore but they sure aren't good enough kits to be worth that much.

[Plowboy]

For me, patience is the key to ebay and getting a good deal. For three or four years, I was after a unibody F-100. I didn't care what year as long as it was a unibody. But, they always went right at or over $100. Too much for me! Then, a few years ago, I found three in a search. So, I thought I would bid on all three and maybe score one of them. I put my max bid on all three. One ended in a couple of days. The other two ended three weeks later within four days of each other. I ended up winning all three for less than $50 each shipped! I couldn't believe it! I went for years without one and in less than a month, I had three. One was a '61. The other two were '62s. With ebay, rare kits are like subways. If you miss one, just wait and another will come along.  

[Snake45]

2 minutes ago, Captain Spaulding said:

I've noticed lately kits that I really don't consider rare going for stupid prices. Seen the AMT General lee going for well over $100 and Daisy's Road Runner for over $200. Know you can't get Dukes of Hazzard kits anymore but they sure aren't good enough kits to be worth that much.

My favorite glue bomb vendor, at the last toy show, had a fairly cleanly built--not a glue bomb, but not exceptional in any way--GL he wanted $85 for. This is the guy who's sold me a lot of nice rebuilders for $5 and $10. 

[Sledsel]

7 minutes ago, Captain Spaulding said:

I've noticed lately kits that I really don't consider rare going for stupid prices. Seen the AMT General lee going for well over $100 and Daisy's Road Runner for over $200. Know you can't get Dukes of Hazzard kits anymore but they sure aren't good enough kits to be worth that much.

Wow, I sold my last GL for $15...... 6 months ago. Should have went to fleabay with it

[Captain Spaulding]

10 minutes ago, Snake45 said:

My favorite glue bomb vendor, at the last toy show, had a fairly cleanly built--not a glue bomb, but not exceptional in any way--GL he wanted $85 for. This is the guy who's sold me a lot of nice rebuilders for $5 and $10. 

$85 is nuts for a what is basically a $20 kit 

6 minutes ago, Sledsel said:

Wow, I sold my last GL for $15...... 6 months ago. Should have went to fleabay with it

Should of sold it there, just don't forget to put rare in the title like I've noticed them doing lol.

[Sledsel]

5 minutes ago, Captain Spaulding said:

$85 is nuts for a what is basically a $20 kit 

Should of sold it there, just don't forget to put rare in the title like I've noticed them doing lol.

Ohhh.... I was thinking "Circa"  or "LOOK!" 

LMAO

 

Edited March 16, 2021 by Sledsel

[Captain Spaulding]

23 minutes ago, Sledsel said:

Ohhh.... I was thinking "Circa"  or "LOOK!" 

LMAO

 

Ha add them all rare, circa, look and don't forget the key selling word wow ?.

[Mr. Metallic]

Just curious, what "price guide" are you using? I didn't realize those were still a thing. Not being sarcastic, just didn't know.

If you're using eBay as your primary buying source I would look at past auctions to see what the current trend for any item you're interested in truly is.