why these prices?

[inter]

I have just paid $165 for the colin bond sierra ( wich i find ok ) via my local dealer and this morning 3 off were sold on ebay for $99 each. How can that be? Surely the dealers do not make that much profit, or do they?
inter:mad:

[biante11500]

the bad part is the german series sierras from mini champs average 59.00 to 64.00 usa dollars here in the states. why does the austrailian sierras made by mini champs for biante cost twice as much. there 99.00 to 119.00 usa dollars. i could proably answer that myself. because i know what your going to say. because the biante versions are made in smaller runs. then that beg,s the question is a smaller run of a very simmilar car worth twice as much. i guess it boils down to how much a collector is willing to shell out to have a perticular model in there collection.
but i noticed the difference in price over here as soon as the moffat & brock sierras came out. now the bond caltex sierra & longhurst sierras have came out. ebay is loaded with sierras. theres about four german versions out as well at half the price.
this is one reason i have kept away from buying any of these sierras so far. they seem to have flooded the market with them right now. and there not fetching the dollars the johnson sierra does. because when it came out it was the only one out at the time, and it was a bathurst winner. this has happend to us here
already in the states. with so many companys releasing so many cars at one time. ebay is full of crap that wont sell. its really hurt the collectabillity over here. and with so many ba falcons and sierras hitting at once in austrailia you may feel the same effects we have. some times to much of a good thing is a bad thing.i have noticed also there is a huge mark up on models in austrailia. i have been buying from oz for over two years. and i noticed models from the states on aussie retailer sites with shipping added in and currancy conversion some of these dealers are making over a 100.00 dollars a car. it would be cheaper to buy them from the states and pay the shipping. im not bashing anyone im just stating facts.:mad:

[wacpt]

Try - Import Duties, value of the Aussie Dollar, Freight Costs to get them here, production costs, need I go on.

It is cheaper to freight from Europe to USA than Europe to Aus, look at the distance.

[roboneill]

these people selling these cars, must be selling them at a loss, as i wouldn't imagine that there would be close to $70.00 dollars in mark up in the retail prices..
maybei need to open a hobby shop to find out...lol..wishful thinking

[diecastdude]

Originally posted by roboneill
these people selling these cars, must be selling them at a loss, as i wouldn't imagine that there would be close to $70.00 dollars in mark up in the retail prices..
maybei need to open a hobby shop to find out...lol..wishful thinking

I believe they are breaking even or coming very close to breaking even, add in tax deductions etc and their probably in front. Its a shame and it does leave me questioning if my loyalty to my local shop can go on much longer when time and time again I can save $30 and $40 per model even allowing for their post charge simply by going to eBay. I've said it before and I'll say it again 6000 5000 and probably even 3000 is to many.

[Gan88]

Inter,

I paid $153 for my Colin Bond car. It's not retail, but it's still quite high. How much you pay basically comes down to how badly you want something. I have found that I can pretty much wait out most of the diecast releases in Australia until I find a cheaper car on ebay, on the B/S/S or at stores trying to clear stock.

There have been past discussion on why the Aussie RS500s cost more than the European versions. I have 5 Sierras (4 Aussie and 1 Euro). Note that the the Aussies car are mostly right hand drive. So they don't use the exact same moulds as the Euro ones. Also, none of the Euro releases come with signatures. Every single Aussie Sierra thus far comes with signatures.

I'd say that the difference between the opening bid and the RRP boils down to the profit margin for the seller. I know of plenty of stores that charge $10-$20 over the Biante RRP and they seem to maintain a stable clientele- bizzare.

[bev]

Originally posted by wacpt
Try - Import Duties, value of the Aussie Dollar, Freight Costs to get them here, production costs, need I go on.

It is cheaper to freight from Europe to USA than Europe to Aus, look at the distance.

PLUS....the major cost that the overseas Sierras do not have - is the driver royalty per signed certificate, plus the cost of the certificates themselves, shipping them around Australia to each driver for signature, etc. plus royalty to team owners.

[jager]

PLUS....the major cost that the overseas Sierras do not have - is the driver royalty per signed certificate, plus the cost of the certificates themselves, shipping them around Australia to each driver for signature, etc. plus royalty to team owners.

Bev, not disagreeing with you but surely a famous German or other international driver (someone like Klaus Ludwig for example) would expect just as much in royalties as Peter Brock, Dick Johnson or Colin Bond ?

[a9x]

Originally posted by jager
Bev, not disagreeing with you but surely a famous German or other international driver (someone like Klaus Ludwig for example) would expect just as much in royalties as Peter Brock, Dick Johnson or Colin Bond ?

the 1/18 minichamps texaco sierra didn't have a signed certificate so no autographed certificate no royalty?

[admin]

Originally posted by jager
Bev, not disagreeing with you but surely a famous German or other international driver (someone like Klaus Ludwig for example) would expect just as much in royalties as Peter Brock, Dick Johnson or Colin Bond ?

Jager....overseas the Factory owns the car and the driver(s) get nothing.
Here the driver owns the car...Longhurst, Brock, Johnson, Bond etc, so they get the fee.
Not many models of any other driver have signed certificates.....can only think of a very few.

[inter]

Originally posted by diecastdude
I believe they are breaking even or coming very close to breaking even, add in tax deductions etc and their probably in front. Its a shame and it does leave me questioning if my loyalty to my local shop can go on much longer when time and time again I can save $30 and $40 per model even allowing for their post charge simply by going to eBay. I've said it before and I'll say it again 6000 5000 and probably even 3000 is to many.
diecast dude
i support my local shop because if i order something he will get it for me, His service is A1. Lately My loyalty has been tested ( Not the model car shop's fault). It does seem that lately the 1:18 scale biante models drop in price rapidly soon after release ( Moffat 1969 falcon excludet).
I will need to shop around and be more patient.
inter



:confused:

[the_goldie]

Originally posted by diecastdude
I believe they are breaking even or coming very close to breaking even, add in tax deductions etc and their probably in front. Its a shame and it does leave me questioning if my loyalty to my local shop can go on much longer when time and time again I can save $30 and $40 per model even allowing for their post charge simply by going to eBay. I've said it before and I'll say it again 6000 5000 and probably even 3000 is to many.

I have thought about this too... it is nice to have a model shop where you can pick and choose the model with as few defects as possible, especially with some of the models released of late, eg paint chips, paint runs, broken parts etc... So in that respect it is good plus you support your local dealer.

I have seen the B&H Sierra recently starting at $99 as well!!! I paid more than that even if you include shipping. Every $5 or $10 adds up over the course of a year. Even the $8 per model charged from Biante for shipping which is damn cheap compared to some people can be a big saving if you buy from your local model shop. I buy at least 1 maybe 2 models a month but still get charged the same as if John Smith walked in off the street and bought 1 in a blue moon. I try, but oh well...

It is hard to pick which will increase if at all and that is the risk you take when getting the model at release price. But in some instances you can win, although it may be 3-6months down the track.

I think the Sierra is a rare case as there are quite a few. Even the Brock Sierra is selling cheaply and that is after being out for 6months. Maybe people thought it would go up being Brocks only Ford to be released... sometimes the gamle will pay off sometimes it won't. For example Brock #28C, Brock #1, Moffat #1D, #64E or #65E Johnson Sierra all have gone up but very few reach these prices... If you are patient you might grab a bargain or pay a higher price.

[castkrazy]

cameron ,
some good points you've mentioned there , I too have noticed over the last eight months or so the increase in defects as you mentioned .
If you have a good relationship with a reputable model shop at least you can control the Quality of the models you recieve by picking the models to your satisfaction , compared to relying on what you get sent via post whether it be of Ebay or on line shop .
Plus you can save considerably on postage & various discounts by being a regular customer & getting to know the guys your dealing with. ( As I get discounts at Most shops I deal with )

sometimes you can get bargains shopping on the net ,which is great and sometimes you don't get what you expect . I guess thats the luck of the draw with the risk you take .
As for trying to pick models that are going to be a financial investment , this is almost impossible now with so many new models emerging every month or so & high production numbers .

I think its more important if you buy what you like , and if it becomes a sought after model or appreciates in value then thats a bonus , if not then you've still got a model that you are happy
with and that appeals to you .

Also how you stated that people thought the Brock sierra would be a big hit because of it being a brock car and Brocky driving a Ford , I must admit I thought this too . I also thought this with the johnson XU1 Torana Being that Dickie was driving a Holden But the price rapidly Dropped with this model too ! Go figure Hey !

I must say though its nice when you do get a bargain or pick a model that becomes a gaining financial investment no matter where purchased from .

Cheers

Jim..

[inter]

Its official, if you do search on ebay under diecast/sierra you will find many 1/18 scale for $99. Bond,Longhurst,moffat,brock.
I do not know how they do it?
inter:mad:

[Dingo]

Easy - sell enough popular (Ambrose, Lowndes, Brock, Moffat etc.) cars and you can discount your Sierras....

[biante2959]

I don't understand why the complaints about the price of models.
I regard myself a True Blue Model car Collector and never complain about the price, as if I want it I just bu it!

[Gan88]

Originally posted by biante2959
I don't understand why the complaints about the price of models.
I regard myself a True Blue Model car Collector and never complain about the price, as if I want it I just bu it!

Sentiments shared by wealthier collectors, I'm sure.

Keep in mind that the vast majority don't spend any more than $5000 a year, so budgeting and getting most "bang" for their dollar still counts.

I consider myself a "true blue" collector as well. But I find it more satisfying to know that I got a bargain. It adds more interest to a particular car as well. Anyone can have a collection if they are loaded. It takes more skill to have a collection when you aren't.

[the_goldie]

Well if I paid $99 for the Brock and Longhurst Sierra I would have saved enough to buy another model... Oh well thems the breaks I guess. If you wait the model goes up - if you don't it comes down - it's too hard to speculate which ones to hold off on when released so I take my chances to secure the model at RRP :) Good to see th emodel prices drop though, might just hold off on a few "wants" instead of the "I need" models.

[wayno]

I'm exactly the same. I would love to be able to hold off and pick up a model cheaper, but I know the day I do the damn thing will sell out and I will be left to rue the gap in my collection.

[Road Runner 72]

Originally posted by wayno
I'm exactly the same. I would love to be able to hold off and pick up a model cheaper, but I know the day I do the damn thing will sell out and I will be left to rue the gap in my collection.

92 skyline ring any bells. the prices are killers tho sometimes.:(

[KRAKA05]

89 DJR Sierra.....rings big bells in my head.....OUCH. Ill wait for the 88 Championship one.

[jager]

Do the math and see what answer you get. If you purchased 10 1:18 models at full retail you'd spend $1680 (exc shipping).

If on the other hand you bought 9 models cheap on eBay for $99 and had to pay $500 for the 10th (eg DJR Sierra or Skyline) you'd pay a total of $1391 - a saving of $280 or enough for almost 3 other discounted models.

If you have to pay silly money for only 1 model in 20, the difference is almost $980 ($3360 vs $2381) - enough to buy 10 other cars.

Remember though that if people stop ordering through the retailers, retailers will cut their orders and production numbers will go down (not necessarily a bad thing). There will also be more competition on eBay for models which will push prices up.

[diecastdude]

One of the comments you here over and over on this thread is

"I started collecting 2 or 3 years ago and went hard catching up on models I had missed"

Thats exactly what I did and I also went through a few different phases of what my theme was going to be before settling on whats right for me. This is probably another reason why things are how they are, collectors (a lot of them) who started 2 or 3 years ago realising their theme and not just buying everthing and every colour. Another thing I have noticed is some of the missing forum members that seem to have gone by the way side, human nature I guess, they discover the hobby go hard and fast then loose interest and move on, some of these collectors were into it big time and are no more and thats just the ones that frequented the forums.

[singer]

Originally posted by biante2959
I don't understand why the complaints about the price of models.
I regard myself a True Blue Model car Collector and never complain about the price, as if I want it I just bu it!

I'm not a wealthy collector & I do enjoy receiving a bargain that said I must concur with biante2959.
If I like a model then I buy it, provided that I can afford it. If I want it badly enough then I layby it.

[Dingo]

Speaking of crazy prices, anyone know what the deal with "pringleg" is? For those who don't know, this guy has been buying up a stack of Biante's lately, I think he dropped $700-odd for a Johnson 1984 XE, and he's high bidder on a fair few eBay auctions currently.

Notably, he's got around 100 positive feedbacks on eBay, yet he has not left one for anyone else...

[Maximus]

He also has the highest bid on the HISTORIC CAR in the Biante Auction at $1666.
This guy must be loaded.

[zeitgeist]

Originally posted by jager
If on the other hand you bought 9 models cheap on eBay for $99 and had to pay $500 for the 10th (eg DJR Sierra or Skyline) you'd pay a total of $1391.

If you have to pay silly money for only 1 model in 20, the difference is almost $980 ($3360 vs $2381) - enough to buy 10 other cars.


Very well stated. Plus, if you're a regular on the forum, hopefully you'll notice fairly quickly that a new model is desireable and jump in before the price REALLY goes through the roof.


Originally posted by diecastdude
This is probably another reason why things are how they are, collectors (a lot of them) who started 2 or 3 years ago realising their theme and not just buying everthing and every colour.
..... members ..... discover the hobby go hard and fast then loose interest and move on, some of these collectors were into it big time and are no more and thats just the ones that frequented the forums.

Another excellent point. Regarding the new models, I'm EXTREMELY selective. One racing version/one road version.

Regarding the previously-released ones that interest me , I only have the Moffat XB Brut to go and I'm done.

Actually, I see my diecast expenditures decreasing somewhat.

BC