Downsizing my collection

[nf3996]

I’m ‘down-sizing’ my diecast collection and I’d welcome thoughts from Forum members on how best to dispose of the unwanted aircraft models.

I have aboutt 200 diecast models, mostly Corgi and Hobby Master, but with some Gemini , Dragon,IXO and others in there too. Scale is largely 1/72, but some 1/144 as well. All are military aircraft of WWII and more recent years, both propeller and jet in their boxes with certificates (except a few de-certified items). About half are RAF aircraft, the other half a mixture of nations. None has been exposed to cigarette smoke (at least, not while in my possession), and they’ve only be been briefly displayed before being re-boxed.

I’m an experienced eBay seller, but I can’t face photographing, packing, weighing and listing 200+ items. I simply don’t have the time, nor do I have the space to store the packed-up models awaiting potential sales (many are currently residing in cupboards around my flat or in my mother’s loft). Ideally, I’d like to sell them off as one job lot, but I know I wouldn’t be getting the best price for them if I did. Are there any other options that I could try? Some thoughts I’ve had are below.

• Would a toy auctioneer be interested (any recommendations?), or are diecast aircraft too modern for auctions?

• Could I have a table at a toy fair and sell them there? I’ve never been to a toy fair, so I don’t know how they operate: are they mostly traders or do private individual sellers also sell there? I’m in east London and my nearest fair is probably at Brentwood.

• I’ve read of eBay trading assistants who’ll do the donkey work (for a cut of the price realized), but a search hasn’t turned up any who might handle diecast aircraft models.

Have any Forum members disposed of a large number of model aircraft and, if so, how did you go about it?

All suggestions gratefully received.

[tc2324]

From my understanding of toy auctioneers they tend to put large numbers of toys/diecast into `lots`. This means that you may not get a good return for them unlike selling them individually which unfortunately means going over to the dark side and posting on Evilbay.

A toy fair may be your best bet, but I have no experience with them so can`t advise on them, but other forum members on here will. :)

[kevjb64]

I have never sold at a toy fair but used to buy at them a lot . I can see two issues that current / past stall holders may be able to expand on more . Firstly , they are not as well attended as they once were I believe and secondly I would suggest you would still not shift that many models in the time provided unless you had very very keen prices .

[Angels one-five]

Toy auctions don't seem to fetch very high prices in my limited experience of them and I see your point about ebay - nightmare! I was in a similar position last year when I was going to cull and offload 50+ models prior to emigrating. I spoke with one of the forum sponsors who deals in used models and got a pretty fair offer for the lot. In the end I decided not to sell, but if you want a hassle free way of getting rid of a collection, that may be the best way of doing it. The overall price will probably depend on how many 'gems' you have in there - after all, they have to generate a profit and you probably won't get as much as you would if you sold them all individually and achieved your target price for each model.

[strix1998]

will cost you £26 for a 6ft table (and it sounds like you need a minimum of two). Be warned however that most of the exhibitor parking/unloading area is on grass and it gets very muddy at this time of year. Getting there v early to make sure that you get somewhere where you can keep one pair of wheels on the kerb is recommended.
Worth a go but as Kev says your prices would need to be competitive. Why not try the more desirable items on Ebay and try a fair for the rest?

[FierytheAngelsFell]

The downsizing dilemma. I've often wondered about how to go about this. After thinking long and hard about the hassle and cost of everything I began by offering the list to fellow collectors via the die-cast forums. That clears away a fair proportion and the collectors know what you have and what they want so no photography required. Whatever was left went to the bay.

[planejunky]

With eBay now putting their FVF's up to 15%, and add in the Paypal costs too, it's making it extremely difficult to make any reasonable money any more, especially if you only have "non-gems".

I'm wanting to off load my WWII collection and am having the same dillema at the moment. :(

[Martin Bull]

...and then there are these awful people out there who expect to pay 50 quid for a Lancaster..... ( :o :o :o )

[P51D]

I’m an experienced eBay seller,

That's what puts you off isn't it! :(

Having used E-bay before you are aware of all the work involved only to see E-bay and paypal both take a huge slice.

Must admit i have thought about downsizing a few times but if i do it won't be via E-bay.

[Punks]

Why not post a list of them on the forum with reasonable prices. I am sure that you would do well. Better customers than Evil Bay. And an audience that knows the value of the items.:cool:

[Grim Reaper]

...and then there are these awful people out there who expect to pay 50 quid for a Lancaster..... ( :o :o :o )

I would not say you are awful MB just that you must have some Scots in you somewhere :LOL: :LOL: :LOL: :LOL: :LOL:

[Grim Reaper]

Why not post a list of them on the forum with reasonable prices. I am sure that you would do well. Better customers than Evil Bay. And an audience that knows the value of the items.:cool:

Selling via the forum is not allowed punks yes he can put a list on the forum then if anyone is interested contact him by via a personal message,to come to an agreement thereafter....

[Dutchie]

the investment of our hobby is to be happy with our models:eek: :cool: :D :)

[Dutchie]

even those big 32's Grim Reaper!!!:LOL::D

[Abbevilleslayer]

Hey nf3996 I sent you a PM.

[Grim Reaper]

even those big 32's Grim Reaper!!!:LOL::D

I`m happy with them Dutchie but Mrs GR is after you and CFBC for tempting me with them :LOL: :LOL: :LOL: :LOL:

[Abbevilleslayer]

I think my wife would probably ask me, "Where The H#@! Are You Going To Find Room For Those Damn Things?" I guess 1/48 EI P-51's and 1/72 Bombers take up enough room, but as soon as we add a new addition to the house I am having my own Den and recessed cabinets w/ recessed lighting.:D

[Punks]

Selling via the forum is not allowed punks yes he can put a list on the forum then if anyone is interested contact him by via a personal message,to come to an agreement thereafter....

Thanks for the clarification. I guess that this policy varies from forum to forum. Still posting a list and using PM's would work. Sounds reasonable.:D

[planejunky]

Still posting a list and using PM's would work. Sounds reasonable.:D

Still a very grey area I'm afraid. ;) It maybe better to invite PMs and then email people a list away from the forum altogether, however that may still break the rules. :unsure:

[Cardinal]

Still a very grey area I'm afraid. ;) It maybe better to invite PMs and then email people a list away from the forum altogether, however that may still break the rules. :unsure:

Sounds convoluted - I don't see any harm in just posting the list here and inviting PM offers ... MH has a member trade section that works exceedingly well without causing mayhem on the forum :).

[admin]

Sorry, we do not allow sales of diecast on the forum. End. Thank you.

[Upkeep]

Thanks for the clarification. I guess that this policy varies from forum to forum. Still posting a list and using PM's would work. Sounds reasonable.:D

Yes, it does, but it's really just swaps here. I understand it has been a long-standing condition & unique tradition of DAF. On the other hand, sales can be done on the other forums.

/U ;)

[Snake]

How about if I traded[swapped] some cash for your model?;)

Just wondering why this rule is in place.

I would think that it would be a good idea to be able to offer models to other collectors,before they were put on Ebay,or whatever.

Also trades would be harder to do,as one model will almost always be worth more or less than another.

It just seems a strange rule that you can trade,but not buy.

Just my opinion.

[P51D]

How about if I traded[swapped] some cash for your model?;)

Just wondering why this rule is in place.

I would think that it would be a good idea to be able to offer models to other collectors,before they were put on Ebay,or whatever.

Also trades would be harder to do,as one model will almost always be worth more or less than another.

It just seems a strange rule that you can trade,but not buy.

Just my opinion.

I think at some point in the distant past selling was allowed on the forum but it opened up a can of worms that admin didn't want to get involved in.

Admin will be awake in a few hours (I can't sleep!) and so you will probably get a proper answer some time after that :D

[Cardinal]

Yes, it does, but it's really just swaps here. I understand it has been a long-standing condition & unique tradition of DAF. On the other hand, sales can be done on the other forums.

/U ;)


Surely this whole policy can be revisited/amended within certain reasonable parameters - I just don't understand the logic of it unless there are some legal issues that we're not aware of :unsure:.

[dilligafocau]

How about if I traded[swapped] some cash for your model?;)

Just wondering why this rule is in place.

I would think that it would be a good idea to be able to offer models to other collectors,before they were put on Ebay,or whatever.

Also trades would be harder to do,as one model will almost always be worth more or less than another.

It just seems a strange rule that you can trade,but not buy.

Just my opinion.

Just a guess Snake, it keeps things on a non-commercial level.

[dilligafocau]

Surely this whole policy can be revisited/amended within certain reasonable parameters - I just don't understand the logic of it unless there are some legal issues that we're not aware of :unsure:.

Im probably talking cr4p here but......:unsure:

Daf would have to (or attempt to) screen out a lot of dodgy ebay/auction site sellers wanting to dump their stock at DAF, when things go pear-shaped, DAF is caught in the middle. The site's focus would change from a diecast collectors forum to a trading post.

[Cardinal]

Im probably talking cr4p here but......:unsure:

Daf would have to (or attempt to) screen out a lot of dodgy ebay/auction site sellers wanting to dump their stock at DAF, when things go pear-shaped, DAF is caught in the middle. The site's focus would change from a diecast collectors forum to a trading post.


I understand that there are concerns, yet the MH has successfully allowed members to trade with each other sans serious problems/fuss. Their "Classifieds" section is for established members only and has resulted in many good sales/trades between members ... I also don't see how it would take any business away from Forum Promoters.

[CFBC]

I really do not wish to go any further into this subject of selling on the forum to be honest as it IS NOT going to happen. Period and sorry to be blunt.

Sometime ago or a couple of years ago w did allow selling to take place to members who were established and it was left up to their own decision to be honest, reliable and upfront with those that they traded with or sold too.

Now, the odd one went through "ok", their trading was excellent and it was fine.

Then, once word got out that the DAF was allowing sales within the forum we had a number of members join-up and a couple of established members who offered models via the forum. All I will say is that the seller was not all that geniune n terms of his desciptions and the person buying was not happoy on receipt and it really opened-up a can of worms of dealing with both parties.

It fell back on the forum to mediate between the two parties and come to a successful decision, but this then started to spiral with others, then we had a lost parcel and this spilled on to the forum. It got into a mess and the wo members were actually contact directed by me to sort it out.

No offence to anyone here as a member, but my experiance is that give something for free and with some members it is abused and to be honest we moderate, spend a lot of time in the background that you guys do not see to a point of the forum taking over your life and yet we have established auction sites with established rules, etc..... This is why they charge...

Swaps are ok, a list with the words "selling" in will not be accepted, but looking to exchange I will accept (bending of rules a bit), but out and out sales I/we don't want to know and hope that has clarfified the situation. Obviously you post exchange and PM and someone pm's you, then it's your choice of what you wish to exchange........ We cannot control this and WILL NOT accept or be held responsible for any outcomes and therefore will not get involved as a forum.

Oh, and if the "bending of the rules" get's abused, then I will simply pull that as we found that Ebayers would simply list their "lot" and I know we have a lot of these sellers on here selling new product which again would actually cause problems with our Promoters.

Again, direct sales via the forum for members will not happen, sorry. If you want to sell, then list via the MHII, any other forum or auction site, but it won't be this one and I don't mean to offend or it is not my intenions to offend anyone by this statement.

CFBC/Admin

[P51D]

I really do not wish to go any further into this subject of selling on the forum to be honest as it IS NOT going to happen. Period and sorry to be blunt.

Sometime ago or a couple of years ago w did allow selling to take place to members who were established and it was left up to their own decision to be honest, reliable and upfront with those that they traded with or sold too.

Now, the odd one went through "ok", their trading was excellent and it was fine.

Then, once word got out that the DAF was allowing sales within the forum we had a number of members join-up and a couple of established members who offered models via the forum. All I will say is that the seller was not all that geniune n terms of his desciptions and the person buying was not happoy on receipt and it really opened-up a can of worms of dealing with both parties.

It fell back on the forum to mediate between the two parties and come to a successful decision, but this then started to spiral with others, then we had a lost parcel and this spilled on to the forum. It got into a mess and the wo members were actually contact directed by me to sort it out.

No offence to anyone here as a member, but my experiance is that give something for free and with some members it is abused and to be honest we moderate, spend a lot of time in the background that you guys do not see to a point of the forum taking over your life and yet we have established auction sites with established rules, etc..... This is why they charge...

Swaps are ok, a list with the words "selling" in will not be accepted, but looking to exchange I will accept (bending of rules a bit), but out and out sales I/we don't want to know and hope that has clarfified the situation. Obviously you post exchange and PM and someone pm's you, then it's your choice of what you wish to exchange........ We cannot control this and WILL NOT accept or be held responsible for any outcomes and therefore will not get involved as a forum.

Oh, and if the "bending of the rules" get's abused, then I will simply pull that as we found that Ebayers would simply list their "lot" and I know we have a lot of these sellers on here selling new product which again would actually cause problems with our Promoters.

Again, direct sales via the forum for members will not happen, sorry. If you want to sell, then list via the MHII, any other forum or auction site, but it won't be this one and I don't mean to offend or it is not my intenions to offend anyone by this statement.

CFBC/Admin

Good answer as usual CFBC. I know this question comes up every couple of years or so but I can never remember the details.

More importantly i'm impressed that admin were up answering questions at 6.39am! (how many forums can match that! :LOL: )

[CFBC]

More importantly i'm impressed that admin were up answering questions at 6.39am! (how many forums can match that! :LOL: )

:LOL: And it was not for a mini-ms CFBC either... I had to wake her up at 7am! :LOL:

[P51D]

:LOL: And it was not for a mini-ms CFBC either... I had to wake her up at 7am! :LOL:

:LOL: Up before mini-ms CFBC....and waking her up :eek:!

Can only assume the early starts are in preperation for her future role as forum administrator?

How old is she now by the way?

[Scottuk]

I've just been sorting out an issue as Admin on another Forum about problems in the "For Sale" section and wouldn't like to see similar things happening on here.