Plastic Figure Showcase Part Three Ebay today I want to look at Ebay and give you some of my feelings. When Ebay started in 1995 many dealers thought as this would a great way to help really boost sales. Instead they found it to be grind and game changer.
Plastic Figure Showcase Part Three Ebay Prices
One thing we have seen is the change onthe prices on what people will pay. We all have heard the stories of how someone found an item put it up on Ebay and got big bucks. I recently sold a Marx truck on Ebay for $41.00 which I got for a few dollars. Lesser mention is how prices on many items have dropped. Take for an example Marx Germans. I was watching an auction of the figures and saw they ended up at less than 50 cents each. While you might think this is a fair price, years ago they would have sold between $1.00 to $2.00. I am now bundling them with accessories to move them out.
Many items that use to sell quickly now sit even after you discount the price.
Plastic Figure Showcase Part Three Ebay Timpo
Some areas of our hobbies you really have to know your stuff. Case in point Timpo, you have to know what is real and not. Recently someone put up on Ebay a Timpo Custer figure. The figure had a major problem as the hair was too long to the one normal figure considered Custer. It was figured that the person used a Viking head to make the Custer figure.
I recently sent a friend a Transogram cowboy figure as a gift. He told me that people claim the hat as a rare Timpo color variation. Timpo collectors are after rare variations. The Timpo figures from some countries just concern me. So if you collect these figures you need know your stuff.
Plastic Figure Showcase Part Three Ebay Still Ebay Can Be Rewarding
As I say in the title Ebay can be rewarding. You can move items that you would never sell in your area Take for example the Payton teepees (Actual three Payton and Chinese copy.) I have above. How long would it take to sell them at a show or flea market. One of the problems with toy shows is you are getting the same people almost every time. With Ebay you are reaching the world. You are getting people that do not have shows or good flea markets. I have been surprised what sells.
So if you know how to deal with it Ebay can be an rewarding experience.
In my opinion I think has been both a help and negative. It depends.
Most buyers will have better chance find many good deals. Especially without the need of spending time going around and travel else. But also for those the miss of toy show is important .But -Every year there are far less shows around and distance is a big issue.
Yet for others(Sellers) had decrease value.
For me as barrely not time had help me as seller and buyer and been great
Also i use other international non ebay sites too that are great In my findings and i had sold on those too.
The prices had decline in my opinion in many vintage because Ebay shows them in huge amount loose lots individual sales per week/sellers versus few toy soldiers show in a year .The amount lot sales in ebay prompt many buyers wait and bid or not. Also bid low ;letting sellers decrease prices to sale then.
Also many sellers are not quite toy soldiers collectors. Other resellers and other simple trying sale stuff belonging to his/her family that care less x price value.
High fees x sellers in ebay and paypal had prompt sellers( myself included) reduce price to move then opposite to others that increase the price to recover the fees increases imposses but then they have a longer wait time.
Regarding buyers get items damage or else Ebay protection covers all included return shipping so I do not think is any problem when buying without seen minor defect in figures else.You can just either return included refund shipping fes pay by seller or cover by ebay /paypal.
While for sellers the returns issues are become a big problem as is a 85% loss either way.
Last but not least Marx germans are all over in tons everywhere and i understand the nostalgia like ,but in my personal like have only one each pose as not a nice interesting set ,neither well done figures in my adult collectible more historical view only.
This is my personal observation as over 20 years ebay buyer and seller only please .
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I did not know Payton copy that teepee. I always thought was Heralds original. HK knock it off from 60s and 70s after a lot.I know is been reissue all over cloned after ..
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I sometimes buy soldiers off Ebay hard to find at somewhat reasonable price.
I purchased some WW2 US troops from Conte and was very pleased.
However I just received some Publis Saracens yesterday… disappointed they were
made of rubber and or very soft plastic.
On Ebay you can find collectable items which would be impossible to locate otherwise. So that is very positive. Prices can vary profoundly so you just have to be knowledgeable about the item you want and what it is worth to you. If the photos are blurry or the description is vague , probably best to skip it. So, basic free enterprise market common sense; Buyer beware, prices are what the market will bear, etc. Access to the entire world as you say, so a very level playing field indeed.
Yes the key point is you have to be careful and know your item. Ebay has given you access to the world.
Ebay can be a double-edged sword. As Paul said – you have to be careful. Back when it first started Ebay was a blessing as it allowed me to pick up items from my childhood that had been lost or stolen along the way (like the Ft Apaches I occasionally rant on). I also was able to pick up on stuff that didn’t show up under my tree and at fairly reasonable prices.
I think for the past several years bargains were getting hard to find as ignorant buyers were willing to pay too much for items they wanted (but, as I’ve said many times – if you are happy you got a bargain). And we’ve all laughed about the items that go, “Toy Soldiers – MARX?”
Probably not, just a hook to get you to look. Hopefully you won’t know any better.
I’ve pretty much managed to get all the “vintage” stuff I was looking for – but won’t pass up a really great bargain.
And Ebay has been great for me as I try to recreate the playsets of my childhood for my grandsons as I try to get them hooked on toy soldiers. And there are still some regular sellers out there who manage to sell recent releases at great prices. So all in all, I think Ebay has done more good than bad for the hobby. As Paul said, Ebay has given us access to the world. O brave new world…
Ebay is a blessing and a curse. I have been selling a massive mostly Marx collection I bought for the past six months. Some HTF items have gone for stupid high money (thanks). Artillery shells have gone way high (esp German 88 & Space cannon). Other WWII accessories & allies have gone high BUT AWI, ACW, Western & WWII common figures are selling low. Last night I was looking at an 1993 nail order STADS LIST. Gray ACW Centennials $10 each. I put up 2 lots of Union figures 50 in all original poses + a few centennials & 2 lots of 45 Confederate figures in all original poses (except flagbearer) and 6-8 centennials. LESS than a dollar a figure and got NO bids. I got into the hobby due to my childhood love of the ACW playsets. I remember paying $6-8 for blue centennials and $3-5 for other Civil War figures. I was sad.
opening bid on the ACW lots was 39.99.
I remember when I first started selling on Ebay. I put up issue Four of Famous Monsters of Filmland for sale. The persson who got it said to me that got it. this magazine is suppose to be rare yours the fourth one I have seen.
I agree with Paul,Wayne and Kent ,pretty much same experience for most all .
Especially sellers /buyers i guess .Is a lost and and win battle ,but better than before where was only shows or print list .You can describe photo better a figure in ebay listing than in a list .But those ebay ,USPS else plus packing fees investment are a killer too.
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