How do you guys handle "field finds" and buying kits in bulk.

[Truckeer]

How do you guys handle "field finds".

I have no idea if that is what you call it when you find model kits and yard sales and when you are out and about, I stole that from collecting antique fishing lures years back.

I have had a couple of hits recently from people that have told me they have model kits for sale. I bought about 10 the other day and paid about $4 a kit, which is what the guy was asking, so it was ok.

I have another one on the horizon, the guy tells me he has "too many kits to list" and are from the 60s +. He said he just wanted me to come by and he didn't want to make a list.

I'm still pretty new to all of this, but realize that vintage kits can have some serious value attached.

How do you appraise or figure value?

If I had a list, I could check eBay or some other sites that sell vintage kits and figure out what is fair, but on the spot without knowing the value of each and every kit and how common it is, how do you figure out what to offer someone?

Do you just offer a price per kit, make them name a price, ... ?

What do you usually do?

Thanks in advance for the info...

[paul alflen]

REMEMBER THE FIRST TO SPEAK USUALLY LOSES. ASK HIM WHAT PRICE WAS HE THINKING FOR THE KITS FIRST. YOU WILL HAVE A PRICE IN YOUR HEAD OF WHAT YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY. BUT ASKING HIM FIRST COULD BE LOWER THAN THE PRICE POINT IN YOUR HEAD. IN THAT CASE YOU PROBABLY WILL BUY THE ITEM. ALWAYS ASK FOR A PACKAGE DEAL IF THERE IS A QUANTITY OF KITS, AFTER GETTING THE INDIVIDUAL PRICE ON EACH ONE FIRST. REMEMBER A CURRENT KIT HERE IN THE U.S. LIST PRICE IS 25.00. MOST 60'S KIT ARE THAT PRICE WHEN THEY REISSUE THEM. . SOME 1960'S KITS WILL BE WORTH THAN THAT SOME LESS. IT ALL DEPENDS ON DEMAND AND CONDITION OF THE KITS.IF IT IS A KIT THAT WAS NEVER REISSED EVER IT IS WORTH MORE THAN 25.00 . IF IT IS A BUILT UP DONT PAY A LOT . UNBUILT, MINT IN THE BOX, WITH A MINT BOX, IS WORTH A LOT MORE THAN 25.00 . MOPAR,CHEVY, FORD THEN AMC MODELS ARE IN GREAT DEMAND. MPC, JOHAN STUFF IS HARD TO FIND. IN THE FIELD,AT ANTIQUE MALLS YOU CAN HAVE THE FRONT COUNTER CALL THE GUY WHO OWNS THE BOOTH,TO GET A BETTER PRICE ON THE MODELS. REMEMBER ALWAYS MAKE AN OFFER OR COUNTER OFFER.THE LEAST HE CAN SAY IS NO!!! IF YOUR IN THE FIELD AND SEE THE 1960'S KITS AT 1960"S PRICES THANK GOD AND GET YOR WALLET OUT . PAY THE MAN/LADY SHUT YOUR MOUTH AND LEAVE WITH YOUR MODELS.. GOOD LUCK IN YOUR HUNT.

[Eshaver]

Matt, there are model price guides , however , they're not always a decent barometer as values fluctuate all the time . You have e-model cars , Evil bay , I won't deal with them period and Crack 's list . You can spend all day perouseing every model forum on the net . Oh that takes time and then the big model shows . Shoot, I buy kits as I need a kit . If the guy is trying to finance his retirement , I have been known to tell someone , "Yer dreamin "!

Look, I happen to be in the meuseuem exibit business and I still handle Early Ford parts . Iwon't work certain shows cause the vendor fees are too high or the crowd is a looky luer bunch . Just about all the vendors that work the Virginia , Texas , and North carolina shows know who I am . I'm out to buy a model kit to actually BUILD IT . Hey, , I know thats a "federal krime" Ya wanna know sumthin else , I don't care ! If the price is within your're budget , buy the thing !

Ed Shaver

[ra7c7er]

I buy kits in bulk all the time. Just a couple weeks ago I bought 10 kits from one guy and a month or so before that I bought about 25 but so far my biggest buy is 33 kits and about 20 pounds worth of parts.

To me it all depends on what you are going to do with them. Are you collecting, building, or reselling. Each one comes with it's own set of purchasing amounts your not going to pay as much for something your going to resell as you would for something your going to collect and a "I'm going to build it" kit will fall somewhere between the other two. Once you have that figured out you are going to do with the kits you can get closer to a price you are willing to pay.

Price guides are good but remember even though the price guide says it worth X number of dollars you still have to find a buyer that is going to pay that. I don't use eBay very often to get a price for anything be it a kit or parts. The prices are so inflated over what is found at model shows and at other online sites. If you are going to resell on eBay you can use it but otherwise just leave it be.

This is my starting point for pricing in bulk if I were buying as I was going to build the cars:

Sealed kits - 5 - 15 dollars depending on how much I want the subject car

Open complete kits - 2.50 - 7.50 again depending on subject

parts kits no matter how complete - 1 - 2.50 depending on amount complete

If you are looking at vintage kits you can probably double those prices but just find a price you are willing to pay for things and go with that. You never know though the seller might not know anything about them or just want them gone. I bought some 30+ year old kits from a guy for 1 dollar each because he just didn't want them anymore. Most of the time you will have to negotiate a little but not much.

Remember to always take cash. Most people especially older people will lower there prices if you have cash in hand. Also don't ever leave a sale on someone saying "It's worth more on ebay". They didn't sell it on ebay and you have cash.

[Eric Stone]

...

I don't use eBay very often to get a price for anything be it a kit or parts. The prices are so inflated over what is found at model shows and at other online sites. If you are going to resell on eBay you can use it but otherwise just leave it be.

...

You can use eBay if you ignore the inflated prices that are still listed for sale, and only view the completed auctions. Example- Forget about the three Something-or-others listed for $50-75, and take note of the five Something-or-others that sold for $15-20...

[jbwelda]

i would just go there and look at the models and ask him what he wants for them. then work from there. and have cash in hand. the prices i saw above are good for either common recent kits or as real "brother" prices for older stuff (if its truly 60s vintage then its deffo "older stuff"). if he has models along the lines of the (edit: let me add: vintage kits of, not recent reissues) ala kart, orange crate, original roth stuff esp tweedy pie i would think, early 60s annuals and promos, he is probably gonna want a bit for them like at least 20$ each. so let him tell you what he wants and work from there. i dont promote ripping people off so if he is happy and you are happy thats what its all about.

Edited January 7, 2011 by jbwelda