KITS ON EBAY

[doug coursey]

BRODAK RING MASTER FROM BRODAK $161   SAME KIT ON EBAY $198??

[944_Jim]

And THAT happens more than you'd think.

Stan Fronenberg (Vintage Performance "something") sells reproductions of kits popular back in the day. His kits are reasonably priced laser-cut kits from fresh wood. Now go look at the 'Bay for an original...and the guy may be asking 3-4x as much.
The way to counter this is to enlighten the 'Bay seller on current pricing on current production. Occasionally the seller will remark his price.
I'm a sucker for nostalgia...but once a new kit is in the air, nobody will know it is a new kit unless I tell them. I can (and do) buy a lot of reproductions and parts with the money saved.

[john e. holliday]

I have tried watching kits and engines on the Ebay since before I retired.  There are some people that more money than they do brain cells.  If Brodak, Sig and RSM could get the prices some of these kits are going for they ould not be cutting back.  The same with some engines.  I still wonder how many engines are out there laying in a drawer or stuffed in a box .  I seen an engine go for ridiculous price and within a week the bay was loaded with the same type engine.

[doug coursey]

YOU CAN BUY 2 SUPER COMBAT FLIGHTSTREAK KITS AND HAVE $20 LEFT OVER FROM VINTAGE FOR THE PRICE OF 1 KIT ON EBAY

[kevin king]

Seems both Amazon and Ebay practice price gouging.

[Bill Morell]

A Merco 61 Black Streak NIB sold this week for close to $400! The "must have" mentality hard at work.

[John Rist]

I have an old Ringmaster kit.  It has a plastic canapé  which should date it.  complete except for the silk span.  Wonder what it is worth on eBay?

[Bill Morell]

Seems both Amazon and Ebay practice price gouging.

eBay doesn't practice price gouging. It is all by what people are willing to pay.

[Steve Lotz]

Here's a couple of good ones:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/144908280956


https://www.ebay.com/itm/204219989949

[Dan McEntee]

eBay doesn't practice price gouging. It is all by what people are willing to pay.

      And it really only boils down to one to three buyers sometimes, It only takes two!! My strategy is to watch auctions, and if a kit or engine brings an inflated price, it will bring some others out of the wood work,  and then the rest of us can have a chance. Some sellers just have a good reputation for their items and service. The two that Steve Lotz posted is a guy that goes by "gatafish." I have bought from him before, and had several phone conversations with him over a potential deal here in my area. He buys estates and is very picky about what he buys and gets the best used or new stuff he can find, he packs well, ships fast and is known for that, so people will push their bids on his stuff more than if I was selling stuff!! Add that to a couple of bidders that really want something and that's how prices get inflated. One transaction doesn't necessarily dictate what something is worth, and that is what I tell people. Crazy money is on eBay sometimes but also so is the extra fees and such. I don't generally set a price of something I'm selling by eBay trends.
  Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[Rusty]

Is this high?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/334625160596

[Warren Walker]

Is this high?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/334625160596

It is, but more importantly the person selling it and the person who would buy it must be.W.W.

[Peter in Fairfax, VA]

> eBay doesn't practice price gouging. It is all by what people are willing to pay.

Thanks for bringing that comment.  That seller, gatafish, provides an excellent service.  He has over 80 items offered at auction at the moment.  That's a lot of work to photograph, list and ship that many items in a week's time.

And regarding eBay, yes, they do charge for their website and payment handling service.  But the site pretty much works, so some sellers are willing to pay the price to get the service.

A recent listing for some selected balsa wood sparked some anger from an observer.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/325413700445

Again, I don't think it's fair to blame either eBay or the seller for the bids, as those come from willing buyers.

Peter

[Dennis Leonhardi]

Again, I don't think it's fair to blame either eBay or the seller for the bids, as those come from willing buyers.

Peter

Truth in a nutshell.   

[Kafin Noe’man]

Well, sometimes, if you're lucky enough, you'll get stuff with very good price.
Especially after the recent Brodak price hike on their website.

Earlier this month, I got a Brodak warbird series Kit (40 size) for only US$ 75, meanwhile it's now US$ 206 at the Brodak's website.

You won't have that much choice though, but still a good place to source your need for C/L parts.

And I also got a Prowler ARF Kit for only US$ 120 from eBay just recently. I think that was a good deal for me who lives outside the States, considering that I also need to spend more on the shipping cost.

So far, so good for me.

[David_Ruff]

You just have to be a smart buyer on Flea Bay.  Flea Bay takes huge fees from sellers.  I won't sell there.  Back in the day in the beginning of eBay I wanted to see how dumb people were so I posted a used pair of running shoes.  I figured nobody would buy USED shoes.  I was wrong.

[Ty Marcucci]

I as well as others on here have noted that if  you post "looking for a---" on here, it WILL appear on ebay in less than 24 hours, Every time, Check for yourself.

[Marty Hammersmith]

I as well as others on here have noted that if  you post "looking for a---" on here, it WILL appear on ebay in less than 24 hours, Every time, Check for yourself.

I have not found that to be the case. I was looking for a number of things on here. I never saw a correlation of listings on ebay with anything I've mentioned here. Why would anyone do that? Sell it here direct and save the 15% fee.

[john e. holliday]

I too the old DOC Holliday have noticed that also.  Some one will ask about a kit, an engine or parts and it is already on the bay.  Are the computer nerds for getting to do a search.

Yes I;m grumpy, just got woke up from nap.

[Mike Griffin]

I as well as others on here have noted that if  you post "looking for a---" on here, it WILL appear on ebay in less than 24 hours, Every time, Check for yourself.

I have also TY.  Several times. 

Mike

[Dick Pacini]

Links are bad.

Here's a couple of good ones:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/144908280956


https://www.ebay.com/itm/204219989949

[Tony Drago]

Links are bad.

 
If those two links are for what I think they were for. There were 2 Speedee biit kits for sale. A F-86 and a F-84. They had a hefty buy it how price on them with a make an offer option. They both were in the multi color last issue boxes. V.G. condition. They both sold for well over a hundred plus dollars.

[Colin McRae]

There is nothing wrong w/ any Ebay sale.

Something is worth what a purchaser is willing to pay. If someone is not happy with the offered price, don't buy it.

I can't think of a more simple concept.

[Steve Thompson]

There are a lot of kits selling now for what seem like crazy prices to me.  I guess it is all relative.  I have bought $25 Carl Goldberg 1/2a kits that sold for 12 bucks when I was younger that have a $2 price on the box.  Now they go for about $80 and up.

I was shocked to see a SIG Senior sell for $500 last week.  It was nice and in a sealed box.  If someone wanted a nice one for their collection, that was it.  But it sure doesn't seem like there would be $500 in ribs and stick in there.  What else is in the box?  Associated memories?

For me, it has always been a wonderful experience to open a new kit.  All the possibilities.  I really like SIG kits, my favorite.  But sealed means it loses its "value" if you open it.  Then again, I bought a Golden Bee off ebay that was still in its 1960s bubble pack and immediately opened it up and put it on a plane.  I paid a little extra to get one that was still new and then I got the joy of being the one to open it.  Like I didn't get to do when I was a kid.  The package was cool, I saved it.  With NOS or NIB, you are paying for someone to store it for you all those years.  Emotion is a big factor too.

I probably have an armload of "collector" kits.  They arrive and I live the dream and then they go when I know I won't build them, or interests change.  I also have a couple armloads that I definitely want to build.  I hope I live long enough... 

I had not sold anything on ebay for 3 or 4 years and tried again this spring.  Now they require you to link them to your bank account for deposits and payment.  I was concerned about that.  They made huge changes for selling and I could not navigate the convoluted and crazy shipping system.  Used to be able to just put in a price for shipping based on knowledge/guess.  If I charged too much, I always refunded the difference.  Usually, I paid a little extra.  Not anymore.  It was quite frustrating.  I only sell to lower 48 states and have to do a bunch of clicks each time to get that.  When they automatically signed me up for international shipping, that was the end of selling for me.  I still buy on there and have recently had two big problems with the seller not able to get the shipping computer to work for them.  I am understanding and offer my sympathies and patience. 

So, ebay is broken in my opinion and takes a cut that I think approaches 14% for sale and shipping charges.  USPS put a big surcharge on long packages and the price to ship a kit is high now.  SIG isn't making new kits, so old ones become "rare".  Combine that with a popular kit that is sealed, and you get a $500 SIG Senior. 

I would rather give them away than suffer the new ebay.  My relative's son is in 4th grade and very building inclined.  I see a lot of potential in him.  If I can get him interested in flying models, we are both set.  For Christmas, balsa kits are headed his way.


Pitts off.

[Marty Hammersmith]

Is that “Pitts off” like Earl Pitts the great American?

[Dave_Trible]

The price of kits and many engines have gotten pretty serious in the last year or two.   I think it has finally dawned on people that this stuff isn't made any more and they better grab anything of interest while they can-darned the price.   This is especially true of those who aren't into building from plans or scratch and most engine manufacturers are closed.  There is enough stuff out there to keep those left in the hobby going for a long time,  seeing many estates of modelers also going up on the bay'.  You will just have to pay the going rate.  I'm sure if you were to set up and make these item for sale today the prices would have to be similar in order for the business to survive.   When nobody wants to pay it,  the business goes away.

Dave

[Steve Thompson]

Marty, you got it!  After a big rant, it seems to fit.  I like that you chose the word "great".   Hah

[David_Ruff]

FYI on Sig Banshee

https://www.ebay.com/itm/225904304461?hash=item3498f2214d:g:LkYAAOSwDfdlblRe&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAsG2NlYVI%2F5XX9bb7aiVHxSMczBVHfEnJ5dqD93xJTZTMiQxutMMD8qkAMuiKEM2T91grDlOXl%2BGDc28QsvmetDuWxFM7gr4UmdJQCCgxC7dqWbb0TBWGQCtH3wfDlI5Ox1MIR0nH%2BHQGlx%2FAA4sYJImFs7vqzS2YDxcv7Ykpr%2FkC3TAlw0Cnwh4ayLFz%2BZp5G%2FsWqIsoCPhggKzcbBuldGxxA45Pdw7afCRnKzHJfS0M%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5j5veWHYw

[Dan McEntee]

FYI on Sig Banshee

https://www.ebay.com/itm/225904304461?hash=item3498f2214d:g:LkYAAOSwDfdlblRe&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAsG2NlYVI%2F5XX9bb7aiVHxSMczBVHfEnJ5dqD93xJTZTMiQxutMMD8qkAMuiKEM2T91grDlOXl%2BGDc28QsvmetDuWxFM7gr4UmdJQCCgxC7dqWbb0TBWGQCtH3wfDlI5Ox1MIR0nH%2BHQGlx%2FAA4sYJImFs7vqzS2YDxcv7Ykpr%2FkC3TAlw0Cnwh4ayLFz%2BZp5G%2FsWqIsoCPhggKzcbBuldGxxA45Pdw7afCRnKzHJfS0M%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5j5veWHYw

   I'll be watching this to see where it goes. The seller has put up other SIG kits recently, including just balsa parts collections, and they have finished off pretty high. people were bidding more for Banshees that they were listed for even when they they were still available from SIG!! I firmly believe that there are a few people with deep pockets that just watch eBay and are addicted to it. Some will bid high just to prevent someone else from getting it. I still don't think eBay is a barometer of any kind of value for any item. It's an auction and people get carried away. I have seen kits listed at "Buy It Now" listings for less than what some go in an auction because people get carried away!!
 Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[john e. holliday]

David and Dan look at the shipping.

[Dan McEntee]

David and Dan look at the shipping.

  Actually Doc, for a kit box that long 17 dollar range isn't too bad in this day and age. Most of these eBay seller start at 25$ or more. I'm beginning to think anything under 20 bucks is acceptable unless i can supply my own shipping label through Pirateship.
  Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[Dave_Trible]

Yeah something went sideways with shipping in general this last year or so-  somehow length became a big deal.  You can ship heavy things cheaper than long things.  I paid more to ship in a roll of carbon that didn't weigh much ( box about 6 x 6 x about 42) than a square box of dope (about 15 lbs.) from Aircraft Spruce.  Kit boxes are long things....I shipped in two sheets of 1/32" aircraft ply and one 1/16"   36 x 48.   That shipping was as much as the wood.....

Dave

[Dan McEntee]

Yeah something went sideways with shipping in general this last year or so-  somehow length became a big deal.  You can ship heavy things cheaper than long things.  I paid more to ship in a roll of carbon that didn't weigh much ( box about 6 x 6 x about 42) than a square box of dope (about 15 lbs.) from Aircraft Spruce.  Kit boxes are long things....I shipped in two sheets of 1/32" aircraft ply and one 1/16"   36 x 48.   That shipping was as much as the wood.....

Dave

   The USPS has that surcharge for packages over 36". I'm not sure if UPS does or not. I would hazard a guess that may be one of many reasons Brodak discontinued ARFs. Sales may have really dropped off on those.

  Type at you later,
    Dan McEntee

[Peter in Fairfax, VA]

You're right, Dan.  UPS is better for kits than USPS for the reason you stated.  To our good fortune, Pirateship is the way to go, as it offers both for an easy comparison.

Some more USPS detail will follow.  There are two cutoffs at USPS.  Btw, for very long items, such as certain ARFs, or certain destinations, like AK and HI, USPS gets back in the picture.

USPS length fee details attached.

Peter

[Colin McRae]

   The USPS has that surcharge for packages over 36". I'm not sure if UPS does or not. I would hazard a guess that may be one of many reasons Brodak discontinued ARFs. Sales may have really dropped off on those.

  Type at you later,
    Dan McEntee

It's not just shipping costs for Brodak.

I talked to Brodak some time ago and they said the costs to put ARF's but together in China was going to go up significantly. To be profitable, they would have to sell a larger ARF (say a Vector 40 for instance) for $400-$500. And no one would buy one at that price.

[doug coursey]

It's not just shipping costs for Brodak.

I talked to Brodak some time ago and they said the costs to put ARF's but together in China was going to go up significantly. To be profitable, they would have to sell a larger ARF (say a Vector 40 for instance) for $400-$500. And no one would buy one at that price.

I REALIZE BALSA ANDOTHER PARTS HAVE GONE UP BUT I CANT SEE MANY KITS BEING SOLD FOR ALMOST $300,I LIKE THEIR KITS AND HAVE QUITE A FEW OF THEM I BOUGHT WHEN PRICES WERE MUCH LOWER.

[Steve Thompson]

Crazy prices for everything:

In just the last three years, after forced covid shutdown and supply chain problems, it seems everyone just raised their prices because they could, because everyone else did.  I understand a manufacturer could be forced to if their costs went up.  But prices went up by leaps and bounds - based on what, fuel costs?  There is a big problem...  Wages did not go up much at all.  Housing is nuts, where house payments are up so much and a much larger part of monthly expense now.  Folks are having a hard time.  If they quit spending, are big price cuts coming soon?

[Gerald Arana]

Crazy prices for everything:

In just the last three years, after forced covid shutdown and supply chain problems, it seems everyone just raised their prices because they could, because everyone else did.  I understand a manufacturer could be forced to if their costs went up.  But prices went up by leaps and bounds - based on what, fuel costs?  There is a big problem...  Wages did not go up much at all.  Housing is nuts, where house payments are up so much and a much larger part of monthly expense now.  Folks are having a hard time.  If they quit spending, are big price cuts coming soon?

Steve; What part of the country are you in? Here in Californication (yeah we're all getting screwed) houses in my neighborhood are selling for !.2-1.6K .............Thats over $1000.00 a month TAXES! I don't have the slightest idea how in the 'L they are doing it.

Glad we bought our house 53 years ago and are under Prop 13. If that ever goes away, I'll have to go away too.

Cheers, Jerry

[David_Ruff]

Well I just won a Kenhi Panther. Original kit.

[Wayne Collier]

Crazy prices for everything:

In just the last three years, after forced covid shutdown and supply chain problems, it seems everyone just raised their prices because they could, because everyone else did.  I understand a manufacturer could be forced to if their costs went up.  But prices went up by leaps and bounds - based on what, fuel costs?  …

I’ve worked in product distribution for decades. In the past few years “supply chain issues” has become a catch phrase that is largely mythical. Yes there were some hiccups like micro chips but that was more of a manufacturing delay. The company I work for experienced almost zero supply chain problems. Keep in mind that in the last year several trucking companies have experienced lay offs and some have closed due to lack of volume associated with inflation caused by the fed intentionality trying to slow the economy. Fuel costs? Most major carriers bill for freight and add a fuel surcharge based on current fuel prices, so fuel cost is more of a straight pass through than an increase in rates.  Major carriers bill differently than parcel delivery companies.

[David_Ruff]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/145529805105?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=bpzucdO2Qse&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=NgsIQk5OQIO&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[Paul Smith]

Back in the day there were two, three, or even four middlemen between the manufacturer and the end user and we never saw a shipping fee.

Now all the middemen have been exterminated and the buyer gets hit with a shipping charge.  If they sell 100% customer-direct the shipping should be in the base price, unless there is an option to pick it up. 

[doug coursey]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/166522898406?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3D




   and this is down from $342.99

[Marty Hammersmith]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/145529805105?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=bpzucdO2Qse&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=NgsIQk5OQIO&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

That's a nice model. I don't think the price is out of line in this environment. If I can open a box and build an airplane without having to scour the Internet looking for wood and pieces, time is worth SOMETHING. I have a ridiculous amount of time invested in my current scratch built Akromaster. I had to make the leading and trailing edges from balsa on hand. I wasted 2 trips to a hobby store that's 45 minutes from my house. It'd be a nice change to put in a movie, grab a drink and open a box knowing I can just build for once.

[Mike Griffin]

If I am reading this correctly, that is the reserve and bidding starts at no less than $150.00 with 8 days left to go on bidding.  Also, look at the shipping cost, almost $42.00.  Lets see 8 days from now what this kit sells for.

Mike

[Marty Hammersmith]

You are reading that correctly. About $200 for a 52" wingspan classic kit. Im sort of keeping an eye on that one though I already have the plans.

[Dave_Trible]

Considering most of this stuff isn't made any more,  and you don't have a local hobby shop with 50 kits or engines sitting on the shelf for 1965 prices,  I guess paying whatever someone is willing to pay for something is fair.   It may be buy it now or forget it ever existed.   I know I've paid too much for some of the stuff I have but also got bargains on other things.  Some things  I paid (x) for two years ago I could sell back now for (xxx) and may just do some of that.   A better investment than the savings account.

Dave

[Dan McEntee]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/166522898406?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3D




   and this is down from $342.99

   This is the kind that really kill me!! It's one of those "super sellers" that has over 19,000 items listed!! He has this Nobler kit listed, and in the description tells you to check all the photos, but he only shows one photo and it's of the end panel of the lid!! The box could be empty or full of empty die cut sheets. And as it has been pointed out that they have it "marked down" to $270 from $342 and change!! And it still has the original $14.95 price hand written on it!. I'm watching this one just to see where he goes with the price and if anyone bites on it. If it's an undisturbed kit, some one with deep pockets that has to have it could pay $250 for it to add to a collection. I see some of these on eBay that have shrink wrap on them and the seller mentions that in the add. I don't think I have EVER seen a kit of that vintage and size that was shrunk wrapped from the factory, I the kits wee too big and the wrap and equipment deemed to expensive, a quick piece of box tape to hold it shut is all they needed! ) so you have to be wary of that kind of scam. You really have to be careful these days!
   Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[Dave_Trible]

   This is the kind that really kill me!! It's one of those "super sellers" that has over 19,000 items listed!! He has this Nobler kit listed, and in the description tells you to check all the photos, but he only shows one photo and it's of the end panel of the lid!! The box could be empty or full of empty die cut sheets. And as it has been pointed out that they have it "marked down" to $270 from $342 and change!! And it still has the original $14.95 price hand written on it!. I'm watching this one just to see where he goes with the price and if anyone bites on it. If it's an undisturbed kit, some one with deep pockets that has to have it could pay $250 for it to add to a collection. I see some of these on eBay that have shrink wrap on them and the seller mentions that in the add. I don't think I have EVER seen a kit of that vintage and size that was shrunk wrapped from the factory, I the kits wee too big and the wrap and equipment deemed to expensive, a quick piece of box tape to hold it shut is all they needed! ) so you have to be wary of that kind of scam. You really have to be careful these days!
   Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

In 'those days' everybody wanted to open the box in the hobby shop to check it out before they coughed up the hard won $14.95!  Shrink wrap would have been shunned.  The first shrink wrapped kits I remember were the last of the Scientific 1/2A kits and Guillows rubber jobs sold at Woolco...when 'big' box stores sold a few kits.  That had to be early 70s.....I'm not too sure Woolco didn't wrap them.  While I worked at CMI models Johnny Carr bought a machine to start shrink wrapping the kits.  He said that was the only way he was going to be able to sell the kits through the big chain outlets.  That was 1970-71......

Dave

[944_Jim]

Then there is a recent post on RCG.
The guy bought a "believed to be complete kit (vendor's words)". The buyer gets the kit and starts picking through the punched-out sheets and parts only to discover this appears to be a "vintage box with larger scraps" from a collection." I keep my larger scraps in much the same kind of kit box.

I seem to remember he paid a premium for a long-desired kit. Either the seller doesn't know what he is selling, or mis-represented the lot.