George Albany has sent us a report on the Gettysburg show.
So, I went to the Gettysburg show today; took along a friend who is not a collector, but he had a good time reliving his childhood looking at all the soldiers. He told me that two of the first words he learned to write were “Army Men” which he repeatedly wrote on his Mom’s shopping list, but it never seemed to do any good.
Nice little show, a mix of metal and plastic, probably more metal than plastic Saw a lot of familiar faces behind the tables (did not know their names). Prices were a little high. Best deal I found was someone selling misc. loose figures (mostly TSSD) $1 each. Bought a couple TSSD barbarians from him (plan to paint them up as Celts because of my partial Scots Irish heritage). The show itself was in a large room at the Eisenhower Convention Center south and west of town on the Emmittsburg Road. Like last year, a better location than the hotel on the town square. I saw several boxed Marx sets changing hands, but did not see the contents or hear the prices, so I can’t comment on those sales.
Caught up with Gary Dutko (photo attached). Gary tells me he is still doing some conversions, but is not looking to take on any commissions at this time. He is enjoying “semi-retirement” (who ever actually retires?). Said he’s had mixed luck with e-Bay lately. Gary was, however, looking to pick up a variety of loose figures, perhaps new conversions to come?
I do have a question. Was talking to a Marx dealer who had several of the “rock formations” that Marx included in a lot of their dinosaur sets and some western sets (one with the little cave, one with the pool, etc.). Told him I was looking for some recasts to paint up. He said he was not aware of any recasts, but was willing to sell me originals for $10 a piece. Told him that was more than I wanted to pay, and, why should I buy something potentially collectible and destroy any value it might have by painting it? He agreed. Is there anyone selling those pieces (recast) cheaply
So, after wandering about the show for about an hour, buying the TSSD figures and my friend buying a book about a relatively obscure battle, I took my pal on a tour off the battlefield and we went home. All in all, a nice day (great weather to see the battlefield). That’s about it for Gettysburg 2016.
— George Albany
Gary Dutko and George Albany
P.S. I was really looking for some marching bands (metal or plastic), but all I saw was metal and either stuff that I already had, or was way more expensive than I was willing to pay. I mean, really, Ducal stuff is really nice, but over $300 for eight figures (and that’s only half the band)? Like I said, nice stuff, but investing $600 or more for a sixteen figure band? Nope, I’ll continue to cast and convert my own figures.
Jamie Delson of The Toy Soldier Company sells both pieces you’re looking for in recasts. On his site, go to “Plastic Soldiers”, then go to “rocks and hills”. You’ll find the unpainted rock formation with pool recast for $12.00. You’ll find the unpainted recast rock formation with cave, as part of the 3-piece rock set, priced at $75.00 for the 3-piece set. Remember, you’ll also have an approximate $10.00 shipping/postage charge.
Getting the originals from a Marx dealer for $10.00 appears to have been a bargain. I doubt you’ll ever find those pieces, original or recast, at much less than $10.00 at any show. I remember when those rock formations came out as recasts about 20 years ago. I thought they looked pretty neat in Civil War battle scenes, Custer’s Last Stand scenarios, and with French Foreign Legion/Arab displays. I bought them. I think they were more than $10.00 even then.
I’ve been to quite a few toy soldier shows. Most of the time I’m simply a buyer. I love finding great deals where some collector is now selling things from his collection at prices well below general price trends. But I also occasionally go as a vendor. I rent a table for $50.00 ($80.00 at OTSN), along with paying $100.00+ per night hotel rates (coupled with food and gas). I’ve noticed no matter how low I price something, many customers’ first question will always be, “Can you do better on this price?” I’ve had collectors stand at my table for 10 minutes, agonizing over a $2.00 purchase, then leave and come back later, holding the bagged item and considering it for another 5 minutes. I guess they think if they do this long enough I’ll cut the price in half to $1.00, and then they’ll feel they’ve “won” the transaction.
Thanks for the head’s up on the rock formations. Looks like I should have bought the originals for $10 a piece. Will have to see if I have any mad money left after MFCA and maybe I’ll bite the bullet and buy from The Toy Soldier (or perhaps see the $10 guy at MFCA).
George
You are not ruining a rare piece and you are having fun with it. That is why we got into this hobby.
That is the bad part of selling as vendor/dealing with buyers at shows. Most goes shows are not rich .Many are retired that need to live counting their money as other senses .The hobby is a luxury for many in order to keep the happiness of the nostalgic items/toys they want and love with pride, so money counts. Others are resellers that look to get deal to resale then either eBay/else or friends /buyers who they know will pay far more . And few but the “pain” are scumbag cheap buyers trying to reap off thinking you are desperate or don’t know too much about value. Most of time you can see difference and work things out. I always play (the buy me more and I give you a deal!!).O some items I put a lower than normal market price sing with (deal price market on it) so if they ask they got a (NOPE-NOT ) cut answer.
and always with smile. SIGN MARKETING AT SALE VENDORS places is always the best to prevent most question of bargain/deal at shows or even online. It work for large business and even smaller. It had work for me many times still not a 100% secured way.
My good friend Gary, He was looking for some items for me too as it happens.
George – Kent Sprecher has recast Marx rocks for $12 per set of 3. That’s Toy soldier HQ.
Just re-checked. It might be $12 for the one piece. I guess you’ll have to ask. At any rate, it’s a recast, so no originals shall be harmed, and it is nowhere near $75.
Unfortunately, this is how erroneous information gets passed around. Look closely at the Toy Soldier HQ price for a Marx recast unpainted rock formation with pool. The price is $12.00 at Toy Soldier HQ, the exact same price for the exact same piece offered by Delson’s Toy Soldier Company, who also offers the piece for $12.00.
There’s a second 3-piece grouping or recasts, which includes two flat rock formations with a third rock formation that’s got a little cave hold in it. Delson offers the 3-piece set for $75.00, and he has the pieces available for sale. Toy Soldier HQ quotes the pieces individually for sale, at a lower price, but states quite plainly that it doesn’t actually have the pieces for sale. Prices quoted on pieces that aren’t actually available are somewhat meaningless, wouldn’t you agree?
Both dealers, whether Sprecher or Delson, will add a minimum $6.00 postage onto their order, for a total cost of the Recast rock formation with pool of at least $18.00, regardless of which vendor you order it from.
The hard, sad truth is this: A dealer at the show offered the original piece for $10.00. To purchase the same item in recast from either of two prominent mail order vendors (Delson or Sprecher) will cost nearly twice that. If a buyer at a show is determined to get the absolute best price available, he has to become aware prior to the show what the going rates are from the mail order dealers, plus postage. I’ve made similar mistakes many times at shows, passing up genuine bargains because I didn’t know what comparable prices were being asked elsewhere. It’s really just a matter of live and learn.
The recasts are still in some supply in Mexico, but the Mexicans have raised their prices. I try to get them when I can, but the lowest I can retail them for is $10-12 each and make any money. Original pieces go for $20-30 each and the $10 show price was a bargain. As for shipping, rates continue to go up, over which no dealer has any say in the matter. Ebay has brought out some bad behavior so I now add tracking to every box which has brought the once or twice a month “I didn’t get my package” to a halt. With the cost of the box, tape and adding tracking the cheapest I can send a small box is $4 first class and as big as the terrain pieces are they would be $6-8 depending on how many were purchased. As I continue to get pieces every now and then I leave the listing at my website, but OUT OF STOCK.
Kent
I am aware of that the changes in the plastic figure market in Mexico. Many of the companies are gone that I bought from 30 years ago. What is left is at a higher price. This life I remember what I was able to buy Timpo Vikings 30 years ago and what I have to pay now. The prices on original figures are in a flux as well. I am seeing some figures staying the same and others going down. It all depends on demand.
I went to put tracking on all packages because of EBay required it years ago. It is inevitable that postage will go up and sellers can only absorb so much of the cost and have to pass it along to the buyer.
One man bought out the other two major mold owners and controls everything. he feels Americans have come down and basically cheated him and maybe even took some molds. His nephew is trying to make a go of it, but they do not even know all the molds they own and his uncle puts a usage fee every time he uses a mold so the nephew has to charge more. Needless to say as the wholesale price has risen the retail price has risen and as they keep using mostly silver collector reception is cool. There are many new manufacturers so the competition for the collector’s dollar is stiff. I have noticed Marx figure prices coming down somewhat. The other big 5; Auburn, Ideal, Lido, MPC and Tim-Mee/Processed Plastic seem to be selling better for me in the past 1-2 years.
And now as last news from eBay ,PayPal is splitting from eBay, meaning more issues for sellers when transaction goes wrong and fee will increase soon. So once again we have to adjust and look for other ways around to play the game.
Erwin
Small business must be able to turn on a dime to meet the challenges of today’s world.