Caveat Emptor

[Peter Lombardo]

A few minutes ago I was up at my local hobby shop to pick up a bottle of Tenax-7R. After a few minutes of catching up with the current political issues with Fred, the old owner of the shop, I took a look around to see if anything was new.

I wandered back to the car model section to look around. There on the shelf, next to each other was the Corvette ZR1, one was the Revell (USA) kit and one was the Revell of Germany kit. Because I am working on one right now, it caught my interest.

Now, we all know that the kits, inside the box, are identical, but the price caught my eye. The Revell (USA) kit was discounted to $22.95 but the Revell of Germany kit was discounted to $39.95….that is $17.00 more for the same kit. What is up with that, Revell? We all need to be an educated consumer today. I mean really, the RoG box is not that much better.

Just thought you guys might be interested.

[Joe Handley]

I noticed that a few years ago with the kits sold by both sides of Revell, I picked up both versions of the Viper SRT-10 Roadster and the only difference I could find were RoG specific box, instructions, and decals that had some European oriented stuff on it for an extra $7 I was kinda surprised by the difference in the ZR1's so I checked Tower's model site and even that's about twice the price, but found the "Tech Department Notes" to be amazing that for the exact same kit they dumbed down the Revell version's destription:blink:

Revell ZR1 kit

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXYHV8&P=W

This is the 1/25 Scale Corvette ZR-1

Plastic Model Kit from Revell®.

Suitable for Ages 10 & Up.

FEATURES: Molded in white, transparent red and clear with chrome plated parts Soft black tires Detailed 6.2 liter V-8 supercharged engine Special wheels with new wider tires Full interior Chassis details with four plated metal exhaust tips Decals with colorful stock and custom graphics Illustrated instructions

INCLUDES: One plastic model

REQUIRES: Assembly Plastic cement (HCAR3415) Hobby knife (RMXR6909) Sprue cutter (HCAR0630) Paint (Aluminum, Gloss Red, Semi-Gloss Black, Gloss Black, Steel, Blue Metallic, Turn Signal Amber, Transparent Red)

SPECS: Scale: 1/25 Skill level: 2 Length: 7-1/32" (178.59mm) Parts: 103

COMMENTS: Due to small parts that could cause a choking hazard please keep away from children 3 years of age and younger

and the Revell of Germany ZR-01

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXZRE1&P=W

This is the 1/25 Scale Corvette ZR1

Plastic Model Kit by Revell®.

Suitable for Ages 10 & Up.

FEATURES: True-to-original representation of bodywork with fine surface details Separate movable bonnet with separate window Authentic internal fittings with dashboard and 2 seats Multi-part detailed engine with supercharger Separate exhaust assembly Detailed wheel suspension Rotating wheels Metal axles, metal and chrome parts Clear and red transparent components Waterslide decals Illustrated instructions

INCLUDES: One plastic model

REQUIRES: Assembly Hobby knife (RMXR6909) Sprue cutters (HCAR0630) Plastic cement (HCAR3415) Paint (Metallic Aluminum, Silky-Matte Black, Metallic Silver, Silky-Matte White, Matte Anthracite Gray, Silky-Matte Black, Silky-Matte Dark Gray, Gloss Blue, Clear Red, Clear Orange, Metallic Copper, Matte Medium Gray, Matte Clear, Metallic Steel, Matte Dust Gray, Gloss Ultra Marine Blue)

SPECS: Scale: 1/25 Length: 7.12" (181mm) Skill level: 3 Parts: 103

COMMENTS: Due to small parts that could cause a choking hazard please keep away from children 3 years of age and younger

[Joe Handley]

I suspect it's because the kits were first shipped to the States and them to Germany then back to the States? Or perhaps having to be sent to Germany first before the trip Stateside ??

Can't imagine that it would be because of the decal sheet that's in the RG kit being different ,, including the carbon fiber decals.

I'll have to see if we have one of the RoG Vette's at work tomorrow. I know on some of their kits they claim their made in the European Union and even had a label of the E.U. flag proudly proclaiming so. Kinda curious to see where RoG claims that this and other shared kits were molded at.

[Harry P.]

Now, we all know that the kits, inside the box, are identical, but the price caught my eye. The Revell (USA) kit was discounted to $22.95 but the Revell of Germany kit was discounted to $39.95….that is $17.00 more for the same kit. What is up with that, Revell? We all need to be an educated consumer today. I mean really, the RoG box is not that much better.

If the kits are identical, why would the shop stock them both? Why bother having the RoG kit on the shelf if the US version is basically the same exact kit?

[Peter Lombardo]

If the kits are identical, why would the shop stock them both? Why bother having the RoG kit on the shelf if the US version is basically the same exact kit?

Harry, I thought the same thing too. The "new" owner (an RC head) had stepped out and the old owner (Fred), my old buddy, was helping out in his place. I brought the two boxes over to him to show him and he got a good laugh out of it...he said something to the effect of..."Not my shop anymore....not my problem". Then he asked me if I wanted to buy the RoG Vette...then I got a good laugh out of it.

[Joe Handley]

In all honesty, I wouldn't even if I owned a shop. I would only carry the Revell with the expressed willingness to order the RoG versions if somebosy wanted to spend the extra dime.

Edited February 6, 2011 by Joe Handley

[route66modeler]

HI, Another buyer be ware. There is a vendor on ebay trying to pawn off the reissue of the 70 pontiac bonneville kit as the org. issue. He had it listed for $69.99. I did msg. him asking if it was the reissue kit, he did respond it was. I hate it when sellers try to pull a fast one. Steve

[Joe Handley]

I picked up both kits today, the only differences I could find were the Box, Decal sheet (not impressed with the roof decal, btw), instructions, and there was mention made on the box that it was boxed up in Germany, but made in China

[impcon]

HI, Another buyer be ware. There is a vendor on ebay trying to pawn off the reissue of the 70 pontiac bonneville kit as the org. issue. He had it listed for $69.99. I did msg. him asking if it was the reissue kit, he did respond it was. I hate it when sellers try to pull a fast one. Steve

I have seen many reissued kits - especially those where they clone the original box - offered as "vintage" The trouble is that you can't tell if the box has a bar code or not or what the AMY address is on the sides of the boxes. I have even seen built ups that were not screw chassis kits peddled as "original issue" and kits that have been offered as "promos". I suspect that some of this is honest but misinformed vendors who have been told by someone that what they have is old stuff when in fact, it isn't. Sad.. you always have to ask questions and ask for pictures if in doubt at all. I have had sellers not return requests or even acknowledge emails - I just don't bid. On the other hand, I have lucked out and gotten some annuals that were offered without the seller's realization as to what he had. An original issue '65 Impala sold today for around $10,00 - built but definitely an old build. I missed that auction..

[Zoom Zoom]

The price differential is because the model is going through more distribution channels and traveling across more oceans, and shipped in finished packaging vs. unfinished.

A Revell USA kit is produced in China, but I believe all of the kits are shipped "unfinished", and not placed inside of finished packaging, until they are in the US. They aren't shipping separate kit boxes, they are shipping a container in bulk of bagged kits and parts.

So the ZR1 was made in China, shipped in bulk quantity to the US, then packaged and distributed throughout the US.

The ZR1 in Revell AG packaging was made in China, shipped to Europe, packaged in Revell AG box w/Revell AG instructions/decals. If you get this kit in the US you are paying for the fact that it has traveled the world a lot further, and shipped to the US in a finished box. Extra level of middleman involved. It's not some evil method to rob you of your money. Caveat Emptor...

When Revell AG kits are sold via Revell USA in Revell USA boxes, they arrive to the US the same way that the Revell USA kits arrive from China, but they come from the factory in Poland, shipped in a container of bagged kits, that are shipped unfinished to the US and packaged here. That's why they are priced similarly to Revell USA kits when sold that way.

It works the same way overseas. Kits packaged for US consumption, but sold overseas, are far more expensive there than they are here. Look at the online websites from Japan, for instance, to see how much a Revell kit (from US or Europe) or AMT kit will cost them.