CHEAP or FRUGAL (How You Spend Your Hobby Money)

[martinfan5]

My problem is the particular models I like to build (Pocher).

They're not made anymore (the company went out of business years ago), and unbuilt kits are getting harder and harder to find. And of course, as the remaining unbuilt kits are sold, the prices keep going up, up, up, because there's only a finite supply of them in existence.

I buy to build, not to "collect" or to resell at a profit... so every Pocher kit I buy and build means one less on the market, and that only serves to drive the price of the remaining ones up even higher. So by buying and building them (thereby reducing the number left to sell), I guess I'm actually part of the reason the prices keep climbing!

So you have no one to blame but yourself

[Jdurg]

I'm currently in a position where my employment future is uncertain. A large number of my buddies recently felt the bite of a local office being shut down, and by the end of this year I too may feel that bite. As a result, I need to really watch what I spend money on and understand that at some point this year I may be without a job and therefore need to sell a great deal of my possessions in order to just pay my rent. Therefore, when I am buying something for this hobby I need to make sure that it will be worth it in the long run.

I like building Corvettes and pretty much only build those. As a result, much of what I want to build is a kit that is no longer in production since the major manufacturers seem to have stopped making Corvette kits. So the number of kits I build each month is limited to maybe just one. (Like right now, I'm building a 1988 Corvette 1/16th Scale kit from MPC that I bought for $40.) What it also means is that when I build something, I put a full effort into it and make sure that it's built to my satisfaction.

Recently, I went and bought the Micro-Mark Photo-Etch kit so that I could build photo-etch components myself. Up front, it's a high cost, but in the long run I think this will be well worth it. That's pretty much the goal of my purchases now. Buy stuff that will be cheaper in the long run.

[The70judgeman]

My problem is the particular models I like to build (Pocher).

They're not made anymore (the company went out of business years ago), and unbuilt kits are getting harder and harder to find. And of course, as the remaining unbuilt kits are sold, the prices keep going up, up, up, because there's only a finite supply of them in existence.

I buy to build, not to "collect" or to resell at a profit... so every Pocher kit I buy and build means one less on the market, and that only serves to drive the price of the remaining ones up even higher. So by buying and building them (thereby reducing the number left to sell), I guess I'm actually part of the reason the prices keep climbing!

Oooo...somebody has expensive taste. I worked with a guy a few years ago who's dad wanted to sell me his collection of Pocher Models. At the time, I have to say I had never heard of them. Looked them up after work and was blown away at what they looked like...and the prices. He even brought a few to work for me to look at. There was no way I could give him a fair price for them...let alone for even one kit. Had to pass on them...and still kicking myself.

[martinfan5]

After watching one of the episodes for the lastest TopGear UK series, I want to get the Ferrari 250 California kit, but all the ones I am coming across what around $50 for it, not sure if I want to spend that much on it, there are other kits that I want more then that one that cost about the same or a little less.

[ZombieHunter26]

The one thing that makes me hate going into the LHS nowadays is the fujimi and italeri kit prices-

48 bucks for the technical pickup I want to eventually build... from italeri....

and I've heard some -really- good things about fujimi kits- been wanting to try one but the price range on them is around 35-40 bucks.

well, eventually I'll get out of this financial rut and be able to put some money down on one or two without wondering "do I -really- want to eat ramen this week??"

[martinfan5]

The price's are not that much better online for them

[niteowl7710]

Am I cheap? No.

Am I frugal? Yes...kinda.

I bought this heap at the show in Columbus yesterday (Sunday)

But I didn't pay anything resembling retail, heck I didn't even spend what the stickers say on a couple of those. So in a sense I was frugal as I got a mound of stuff for far less than I could buy it for at any LHS or online retailer. But at the same time if anyone has priced the London Bus, the ALF Eagle or any Tamiya kit knows that the MSRP on those is far from what anyone would consider cheap.

Incidentally if you want one of those London Buses I suggest you RUN, don't walk to the nearest place that has one in inventory that isn't going to jack the price up just to save face. Revell AG and/or the importer, or both in collusion, have decided to jack the MSRP price on those kits to nearly $150. Which means if you suffer from a LHS or online source that sells at/near retail mark-up this has turned into a triple digit kit. Even Tower Hobbies is sporting a price north of $130...I deal with an honest vendor who is selling (or may have sold the one of two he didn't sell to me) for what he actually paid for them (plus his profit mark-up) rather than jack the price up to reflect the increased price.

My London Bus was two retail Revell kits and a can of Tamiya paint cheaper than the T.H. land of mystical, magical, all powerful online retailing. So maybe I am cheap AND frugal after all. Sometimes it pays to get out of the house once in awhile!

[Casey]

Incidentally if you want one of those London Buses I suggest you RUN, don't walk to the nearest place that has one in inventory that isn't going to jack the price up just to save face. Revell AG and/or the importer, or both in collusion, have decided to jack the MSRP price on those kits to nearly $150. Which means if you suffer from a LHS or online source that sells at/near retail mark-up this has turned into a triple digit kit. Even Tower Hobbies is sporting a price north of $130...I deal with an honest vendor who is selling (or may have sold the one of two he didn't sell to me) for what he actually paid for them (plus his profit mark-up) rather than jack the price up to reflect the increased price.

My London Bus was two retail Revell kits and a can of Tamiya paint cheaper than the T.H. land of mystical, magical, all powerful online retailing. So maybe I am cheap AND frugal after all. Sometimes it pays to get out of the house once in awhile!

I'm guessing that since Hobbico recently acquired Revell-AG and also owns Tower Hobbies the price increase is not unrelated.

Nice haul, James.

Edited March 26, 2012 by Casey

[Darren B]

Am I cheap? No.

Am I frugal? Yes...kinda.

I bought this heap at the show in Columbus yesterday (Sunday)

But I didn't pay anything resembling retail, heck I didn't even spend what the stickers say on a couple of those. So in a sense I was frugal as I got a mound of stuff for far less than I could buy it for at any LHS or online retailer. But at the same time if anyone has priced the London Bus, the ALF Eagle or any Tamiya kit knows that the MSRP on those is far from what anyone would consider cheap.

Incidentally if you want one of those London Buses I suggest you RUN, don't walk to the nearest place that has one in inventory that isn't going to jack the price up just to save face. Revell AG and/or the importer, or both in collusion, have decided to jack the MSRP price on those kits to nearly $150. Which means if you suffer from a LHS or online source that sells at/near retail mark-up this has turned into a triple digit kit. Even Tower Hobbies is sporting a price north of $130...I deal with an honest vendor who is selling (or may have sold the one of two he didn't sell to me) for what he actually paid for them (plus his profit mark-up) rather than jack the price up to reflect the increased price.

My London Bus was two retail Revell kits and a can of Tamiya paint cheaper than the T.H. land of mystical, magical, all powerful online retailing. So maybe I am cheap AND frugal after all. Sometimes it pays to get out of the house once in awhile!

Biggest reason i bought one (london bus) at my lhs plus one of the owners is in our lhc and gives us 15% off of all purchases brought it down to 90.00 still pretty high but better than $150.00. But for what you get with the bus not a bad deal, as i have paid for military tank model kits off the shelve for $75.00 and those are 1/35th which is a lot less plastic than the bus. Just won't be building it for a long time as i have way to many builds going on right now any way.

As for cheap or frugal, lately been spending more than my budget allows lately, myself i need to cut back, bought a sherline lathe, a ton of kits and around $250.00 in photo etch and resin parts...............I figure i shouldn't need to buy any more photo etch for at least five years thou!

Edited March 26, 2012 by Darren B

[Jantrix]

My problem is the particular models I like to build (Pocher).

Hey Harry, I sent you a private message concerning what you build. Can you check your messages and get back with me?

[Dr. Cranky]

I think kit prices will continue to rise, but most of us are addicted beyond repair, so most of the money goes towards kits, etc . . .

Rob, Fujimi kits are expensive, sure, but they tend to be great kits too.

[greymack]

Hi there all well here is how I see the hobby we spend what we can afford and look for ther best deals out there.To spend a few bucks on some kits is better then blowing your money away on stupid stuff and we all know what they can be.So spend a few dollars but don't blow the budget and be crafty.

[Dr. Cranky]

George, you bring up a good point. My wife and I have been eating home cooked meals now for a number of years, and that has helped our budget. People think eating out is a better alternative, but it can run up quick and destroy your budged.

The point is, like everything in life, you have to prioritize . . . simple as that.

['08SEAL]

Well, if I got the cash, I will get any kits I want. If I dont got the cash and need paint, my dad will float me some since I dont got a job. But I cant buy any more models till I get the ones I have started finished so, crud.

[Dingo5162]

If I want it then I buy it from the Staes for around $20us otherwise I go to my LHS and get it from there depending on what it is, I usaully pay around $45-55aust for a AMT or Monogram kit if I wait long enough I can get it of the net in cardstock for free.

Dingo

Edited March 26, 2012 by Dingo5162

[The70judgeman]

How's this for frugal. My wife likes to shop at thrift stores, mostly for books and knick knacks, but thought of me last night. Here's what I got. It was slightly started and everything else was included in the box. Oh yeah, the kit is complete too.

Edited March 26, 2012 by The70judgeman

[ZTony8]

I'll go with "frugal".

For example,I like Tamiya kits but I won't pay the ridiculous list prices for them.So I buy most of them when one local hobby shop puts their Tamiyas that don't sell well on 40% off clearance.Recently I ran across super deals at another hobby shop that bought a large private collection.Like other modelers I also prowl the toy shows looking for bargains.The foreign car models aren't in high demand here in metro Detroit so I often can find them at very reasonable prices at the shows.I also use 40% off coupons from the local Michael's and Hobby Lobby to buy supplies and kits.

So far I've resisted any temptation to pay high dollar for old domestic kits.Perhaps because I remember when those kits were $1.50-$2.50 and because the quality and level of detail of modern kits is so much better I've not succumbed to the lure of ancient styrene.

[Darren B]

I'll go with "frugal".

For example,I like Tamiya kits but I won't pay the ridiculous list prices for them.So I buy most of them when one local hobby shop puts their Tamiyas that don't sell well on 40% off clearance.Recently I ran across super deals at another hobby shop that bought a large private collection.Like other modelers I also prowl the toy shows looking for bargains.The foreign car models aren't in high demand here in metro Detroit so I often can find them at very reasonable prices at the shows.I also use 40% off coupons from the local Michael's and Hobby Lobby to buy supplies and kits.

So far I've resisted any temptation to pay high dollar for old domestic kits.Perhaps because I remember when those kits were $1.50-$2.50 and because the quality and level of detail of modern kits is so much better I've not succumbed to the lure of ancient styrene.

I know what you mean, been buying some reissued amts and find out that the older stuff was not engineered quite as good as the new stuff kinda have to do a lot of work to get them to look good, not all of them i want to make that clear have had a lot of good luck on most, some of the semis and the 49 ford could use some re engineering however...........

Edited March 26, 2012 by Darren B