Dealers vs Collectors

[drof]

Why is it that members are quick to jump down the throats of dealers, but if we look in our own backyard, the Biante Buy/Sell/Swap that we see fellow collectors doing the same. You don't all get on the bandwagon and write statements about these people as you do the dealers, Why??
At the end of the day if you are willing to spend hundreds more dollars on a model, well thats your own buzz, you pay for what YOU are willing to pay.
Why do people put down others for what prices they charge? The people that are complaining have a choice, Buy it or not! But don't complain because you personally think there ripping off someone, well hello that someone is'nt you!! If I had to pay extra for a model because of various factors, so be it, at least I will have one, and it is only me and my feelings that matter. As the saying goes,If you don't like it, don't buy it!!
We don't all get on the forums and complain about the local Dairy owner that goes to the big Supermarket and buys hundreds of tins of Baked Beans on special at .99 cents a tin and goes back to his Dairy and sells them for $1.99 a tin.
In summary you have choices, BUY it or NOT!!

Regards

Dave from Kiwiland!!

[Grubby]

Dave

I hear what you are saying and mostly agree.

However I do think that what really annoys the collectors isn't the fact that someone is wanting twice the original price. It is the fact that these sellers seem to have anywhere from 6-12 of the same model ( usually sold out ) for sale at these inflated prices.

When we ( collectors ) sell models for increased prices ( due to market values ), we are selling one model, of which the proceeds usually go towards the purchasing of our next model or two.

At the end of the day, as you said, we collectors have the final say as to whether we are willing to pay for that exclusive model or model that we think our collection is not complete without.

The choice is that of each individual.

Grubby

[drof-etah-I]

Dairy owners, baked beans?? When did dairy farmers start selling Baked Beans????

The point of the arguement is the fact that the Dealer/Seller placed these items on the auction sites as soon as his stock arrived. I don't know how many he was/is intending to sell this way, but he is obviously in it for a fast buck, therefore depriving some of his LOYAL customers a chance to purchase them at normal retail price. It was bad enough putting them on one site, but to put them on two with different prices, that is going overboard. I've got nothing against people selling items on these or other sites (buy/sell/swap) for whatever price they feel is right, but surely dealers have some ethics and loyalty to there regular customers.

Keep a couple of models back for a while and then sell them at a REASONABLE price, sure, but to try and do it just as they are released and at over-inflated prices. I think that's just greedy.

After all this blew up, a new member arrived 911targa, who I have my suspitions is Traffic Toys (my apologies if it's not), who was defending what traffic did by saying that the items where up for bidding starting at $1, but buy now for $295.

No one's going to bid. These models are so exclusive, no one is going to wait and see if they have the winning bid, they'll buy now rather than not have one at all. Fine. This is the purpose of selling, but is it suitable practice for a retailer to sell a small number of the items in his/her shop then flog the majority on Ebay/Sold for over-the-top prices?

It's illegal to buy Concert tickets and then sell them outside the venue on the night for ridiculous prices (eg: Kylie Minogue concert tickets over the net $1000). Get real!!! Where'as the difference between the two.

If this is the way Traffic want to deal, that's there decision, but how long do you think customers will stay loyal if the dealers do this. The customers are the ones who keep these businesses going.

My vote......BAD MOVE TRAFFIC. I shop where loyalty and ethics mean more than a quick buck!!!!!!!!

[perry]

Regardsless of what the product is, it all comes down to supply and demand. If you want it bad enough, you pay the price. No one is forcing anyone to buy the products.

I do not go to work out of love, i go there to make money. Whoever these guys are on ebay/sold.com.au that are selling them, are doing to make a living too. Is that wrong?

Just because biante/autoart/whoever produce a product that has a great dedicated following, doesnt mean everyone involved with the retailing should be doing it for love.

Just as i see it...

[drof-etah-I]

I agree with your comments and there is no legal binding preventing dealers from doing what Traffic did, but I still think it boils down to ethics and greed. How did they know this particular model was going to be SO sought after and why put them on the auction as soon as they received their supply.

Obviously Biante can't commission enough models for everyone can have one and seems everyone wants this one, but isn't Traffic contributing to the demand by "PREYING" on the unfortunate ones who missed out. Yes people will pay whatever the price is if they want it badly enough, but don't you think they should have the same chance as anyone else who walks into the shop and gets one at the RRP before shopping on the auction sites. Traffic are bypassing themselves as dealers. I ASSUME they buy them at some sort of wholesale price which makes their profit even larger. I know they buy a product to on sell, but is that the right way of doing it. Like I said before, keep a FEW back for sale at a later date, but sell the majority at the normal rate, thereby pleasing more people.
This subject has definately hit a nerve with many people as can be seen by the number of viewings these two threads have had and by the comments made. My question to you is would you buy from your regular dealer if you knew he was short changing his regular customers, including yourself, by putting his most wanted stock on an auction site the day or two after he received them forcing his regular customers to go elsewhere and pay alot more than if he had waited a couple of extra days?

It's his decision and that's fine, but I still think it boils down to ethics and greed.

By the way, my dealer let me know when I could pick mine up so I'm not talking from the ones who missed out point of view, just from the point of view of a reseller.

[Aussiecollector]

Yes it sucks, but unfortunately there will always be sombody with more money than you or I that will pay the asking price, I would love a dollar for every Auction I have missed out on because some guy in Japan or the states with squllions wants the same Mclaren as me and is prepared to pay absurd dollars for it.

But not withstanding the Tactics of TT in Melbourne and some of the Dealers here in Sydney is a disgrace and is just GREED.

To make a store like this hurt you need to stop buying not just the djr Sierra but any other products they sell, then their margins will fall due to lack of volume sales and then they will start to look for customers again and maybe learn there lesson.

Its the same here in Sydney, one dealer (location "olympics is the clue") has a great looking display, lots of stock walls of cars, so much so that most of it has been sitting there for over 2 years.

The HRT 1999 Bathurst cars listed at $1200.00 a piece have been there since the day they arrived (remember when those cars were released).

2000 HRT Bathurst cars $300.00, (suttons around the corner have them at $105.00.
He has CC signature series cars listed at $179.00 "please" I am not even talking about the Longhurst or the big kev, just the regular editions.

He thinks he's an expert on every model and yesterday when I was in there (I was in area and 20% off sale is on) he proceeded to tell me how the djr was a rip off as it was a Minichamps car (dah) and said that the (road version) one he had was better, I said I did'nt think any of them were out, he went to the shelf and proudly showed me the car in the minichamps box, I said MMM and left before I showed my laughter, "It was an escort"

Guys like this are a joke, the only time he sells anything is when he has a 20% off sale and onkly then would you buy the cars that arn't marked up by more than 20% which ain't many.

He's not the only one theres another in westfield Hornsby they have $180.00 on the 1/18th CC Bathurst winners from 1999, $550.00 on Gibson Motorsport Bathurst car. Once again the stores been open nearly a year and the boxes are gathering dust.

Let them carry the stock until the point were its ruined by light and dust and see if they can sell it at they inflated prices.

Glenn
It pays to shop around.

[drof-etah-I]

My point exactly. Treat your regular customers the way Traffic have done, and you loose them.

Glad someone agrees

[passenger]

AUSSIECOLLECTOR.

this place you talk about wouldnt be a service station would it ,as flemington markets sounds better than olympics !.
because i had just bought a VL 1990 bathurst winner from suttons $105 , and had heardof this placeand thought i would have a look, and he had one for $290 on looking around everything was so dear like brock xu1 for $950 with sig. on roof , i hadnt been collecting long and realised this was not the place to be in .
talking to one the girls in there he didnt seem tomove many models (wonder why ) so i wont be back.
i`d hate to see what he would sell a SIERRA for :eek:

[timbo333]

Hey guys....talking of 'good' dealers....There is a shop in Perth where I get a lot of my goodies from, mainly diecast and slot cars for me.

Its an Alladdins cave...you can spend hours in there drooling over what they have....

Anyway they having a sale of Biante cars...all commodores unfortunately but all new and only $75.00 each (1:18 scale).

They also have the 1:43 XY or XW GTHO falcons in every colour (all 11) for $35.00 each or all 11 for $350.00 (thats $31.82 each...) great deal.

No I don't own the shop or work there....Stanbridge's have genuine sales and deserve the right support.

I've bought 3 1:18 Commodores and they allowed me to lay-by at the discounted price.

Recently they needed more stock room..I picked up 4 1:18 classic Carlectable for $20.00 each or $60.00 the lot......bloody bargain!!

Check their website at www.stanbridges.com.au if you have'nt already.:D

[drof]

drof-I-etah, Have you got a serious problem with me personally or Fords in general, for nearly every reply you have put on these Forums in one way or the other you have had a dig at me. Grow up.
In my world Diarys are little shops or superettes, but in your world Dairys are Cow Farmers, it must be a fetish of yours as the things you say on these forums are what comes out the Cows behind....S**T.
Please stick to what the Forums are all about, our passions, our hobby, Diecast Model Cars.

Dave from Kiwiland!!

[Highlander]

The only way to slow inflating Prices,would be to increase production numbers,it worked well with Tru Blu 8,274 units,they have barely risen in price and every body got one, and is happy.And it worked with the GEM LOWNDES
Greens Tuf and the Sierra at 6,000 units it becomes a supply and demand problem.
I would prefer to see 8,274 as the Standard release.

Cheers

[mustang1966]

There can be some bargains found on Ebay and Sold. I picked up a Wild Violet 1/18 XYGTHO last year just before Xmas for $180. It was an Xmas present for the Mrs. There has been several bargains to be found.

When the Johnson XE came out. I came to the Biante web site and thought I had missed out, so went on a hunt and managed to find one. A week latter I got a box from Biante and to my surprise was a DJ XE falcon. I sold that car to a collector whom I knew missed out for exactly the price I paid for it. That is something I would expect amongst collectors but is not always the case.

Most model shop I have come across has been damn good with an exception of one shop in Sydney. I often wonder why this person still manages to stay in business. I feel that AussieCollector and myself are talking about the same shop.

That shop was one place I refused to call in search of my DJR Sierra. And one thing for sure is they will never get any sales from me.

[drof-etah-I]

Drof
No Problem. Just call'em as I see'em.

[Aussiecollector]

Mustang, He did'nt get any djr cars and when I was there last week they did not have the 00 Motorsport either so maybe he is in trouble with Biante. He would be stupid enough though to say no to Biante and stick with CC, as he was raving about the new 1/18th cars that are going to (his words) show Biante a thing or two.

He is good sometimes for a bargin especially on sundays when the wrong staff are on and your can put one over them.

Glenn

[mustang1966]

Aussie,

Yeah I was not sure/did not care if he had the car. I rang almost every dealer in Australia to try and find the DJR Sierra but stopped when it came to that shop.

I agree with what you have said, I will refuse to buy from that shop because I think he is a rip and a con. I wonder how many people get sucked in. I took the Mrs in there one night a few weeks ago, she wanted a Glenn Seton 1/43 CC. When she saw the price of the cars her jaw dropped and could not believe the prices.

At the end of the day when people like us see what he is doing, they will lose most customers.

I feel there are many legit collectors out there who are getting sold things at a price far more from what they were orginally.

Have you tried the Model shop in Clyde? From what I have been told he is a nice bloke and is pretty good on prices.

[Aussiecollector]

Yes,

The shop you refer to is Automodels, Mark is the man to speak to they are not huge (compared to Sherriffs) but they are loyal and will go out of their way to help and get you something if you ask.

The also give 10% off on all purchases to regulars that are loyal to them.

They used to be on the north side of Parramatta on Church Street.

Glenn

[Xcesiv308]

Hi guys,, it's good to see there are retailers out there that value their bread and butter of their business, I have a reatiler that sounds very similar to what you described Aussie, he has looked after myself as well as other collectors in town that I know of, Classic example: last month I had a serious vehicle accident in which I am going to suffer quite a loss, I had a several models on order which come in over this period, I went to my retailer and explained my situation. He has supported me through this period as I guess he values me as a customer, now I find that through a ridiculous decision, his supplier of the models we all love collecting has stopped supplying him, putting most collectors in the area in a disadvantaged situation. So guys if you have a retailer that looks after you in the way you should be as a collector, consider them in the same light as they do you,, because they are far a few between,, as most are only out to take your money and stuff everything else.. anyhow that is my 50 cents worth..
HAPPY COLLECTING

Tys

[ZORAK]

Yep I spent over a grand with Traffic Toys as my first purchase there. I knew they were a bad supplier by the second purchase and poor customer relations skills. That was some time ago now. After that I got burned buy a dealer on the nothern coast of NSW. I now buy all my stuff from a great Ford Dealer in country Victoria. He is willing to hold things for me for a bit if times are tight for a few weeks and doesn't up the price of the models etc. I guess TT has lost about $5000 worth of business to me alone (so far!) and frankly I would rather not have the model then deal with those *&%&^% again.