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Post by xtrlowz75 on Feb 11, 2012 21:29:35 GMT -5
This is not directed to the web site here, but I just have to say something about some of these robot web sites and ebay.
During a time of an economic downturn one would think after months if not a year or more of putting the same Godaikin or Popy listing on ebay week after month after year, for multiple hundreds to thousands of dollars some of these guys would maybe lower their prices to sell. Of course I am nearly under the impression that the cost of relisting has actually reached the cost of what their price is set at.
But I am wondering, could they learn to drop their prices? It is obvious demand is declining, and there is more supply than demand in these great old robots. I would love to buy a few more of them, and would love to help these sellers not gain $0 or (-) dollars for their listing, but some deal or decline in price needs to take place and not continue up, when No One is buying your item and hasn't for months! It is obvious economics of supply and demand, and the argument of getting something rather than nothing. Lower your prices to a new and more real market price people and we will buy. "If you lower (build it), we will buy (come)".
It would be awesome if the word could be passed and they would consider this, as the current ebay or random robot web site seller's prices do not reflect what most of us are really going to pay, or are paying. Your getting $0 at these prices! I would think a hundred or 2 is better than $0. Sorry just a little rant, but I hate being Mr. Obvious. I would like to own a few more of these robots but not at the price of a full carrot diamond. And this goes for Bandai and their SOC's prices. I mean you would make more money if you would lower your prices to sell more quantity of the newer versions. Much love to you all, but I gotta hate on the unrealistic prices on ebay and other sites.
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Post by admin1 aka Ed on Feb 12, 2012 0:42:37 GMT -5
I hear ya'. But those listings are fishing expeditions. After super-crazy asking prices, the semi-crazy prices are selling. As for relisting fees, I hear that you get some freebies if you sell enough toys. For the longest time I couldn't understand it either, relisting for a year, come-on
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Post by admin1 aka Ed on Feb 12, 2012 0:45:28 GMT -5
P.S. You will notice that some of the super high priced listings bother you (and me). That's because you can't just go out and find another one easily -Now the SOC's, LOL, I've yet to find one sold that was beat up. I think they'll always be out there "barely used and collector owned." Perfect vintage on the other hand......
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Post by KingboyD on Feb 12, 2012 0:52:47 GMT -5
ebay no longer charges listing fees, so the sellers lose nothing by relisting over and over, or setting high starting prices. They are not losing money, they are just not earning any.
However, I definitely feel you in terms of quantities. I imagine that the number of collectors is relatively finite. Granted, more might enter the hobby over time, but I imagine that the daily listings of Godaikins, for example, has to outnumber the number of collectors. Eventually, every collector must have prime examples of boxed toys, so the price HAS to come down eventually. However, I've been telling myself the same thing for about 12 years, and I have yet to see it happen. Ugh!
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Post by godaikincolector74 on Feb 12, 2012 0:56:38 GMT -5
Wow, every thing you said was so true, and I have thought the EXACT same thing all too often. I wanna get the most for my items as do we all, but at the same time it is bad economic times and if one really wants to sell they need to budge a bit, and MEET the buyer in the middle, as I do often....
I always start high, but not long I drop prices if I don't see the watch lists I wanna see. I can always tell when something is gonna sell or not. Funny thing about those lists, I have sold items immediately that never went on a list, an had other high priced lots listed in the 30's an 40's yet never sell, until I broke it up an made it feasible to many....
I am running at 100% positive in last 12 months, and just hit top rated power seller status with just around 269 feedbacks total. So I was pretty happy about that, an not to brag by any means, but I certainly did NOT achieve that, buying listing a 400 dollar robot for 1 grand, and setting on that price for MONTHS and NEVER compromising with the price.....
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Post by xtrlowz75 on Feb 12, 2012 15:36:35 GMT -5
Now we have started a good thread and great replies. On the prices though, I have even messaged some of these sellers who have had them on forever, and probably picked them up at an auction or a swap meet for an 8th of their selling price, and offered a few hundred. And ya know what happens? Either they decline the offer, just don't message back, or message back telling me it is worth far more! Really! Value is only gained by how much someone is willing to pay for it. If you've received $0 dollars for months if not years on that robot, and I come along and offer $150, 175, or 200 for it even though your price for the last decade has been $350 or 400, your not going to take cold hard cash waving at you?!? I just have to say "idiot". It is obvious the cash is actually worth more than the toy, especially if you paid an 8th for it originally, or your a horder with 30 more just like it in your closet. On American Pickers, even Frank encourages people who are wanting to sell to remember value is only what you can get.
I sometimes see the tag "rare" on some of these. But really they aren't that rare. We/us on this site all have some or a few, not counting all the other robot/toy sites, and when you buy one from some of these guys, 2 weeks later they put on another one that is the same. So many of them are not really THAT rare. They only ones I can even list as truly rare from Godaikin are the Tetsujin 28, Combatra, Golion, and Voltes V. The rest appeared to have been manufactured and sold in greater numbers as they appear for sale all the time. It would just be nice if they understood that sharing is caring, and some of us really want to own a few for our own collection and aren't out to resell them. Again value is what someone pays for it, not what someone randomly thinks it should go for. If we all though this way, capitalism would be dead. At least on here, I have seen the prices be more fair. So keep it up Robot-Japan, as at least you guys see the importance of collecting is only fun when you have others to share the joy with you at more affordable prices.
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Post by mecha-mania on Feb 13, 2012 4:18:58 GMT -5
Now we have started a good thread and great replies. On the prices though, I have even messaged some of these sellers who have had them on forever, and probably picked them up at an auction or a swap meet for an 8th of their selling price, and offered a few hundred. And ya know what happens? Either they decline the offer, just don't message back, or message back telling me it is worth far more! Really! Value is only gained by how much someone is willing to pay for it. If you've received $0 dollars for months if not years on that robot, and I come along and offer $150, 175, or 200 for it even though your price for the last decade has been $350 or 400, your not going to take cold hard cash waving at you?!? I just have to say "idiot". It is obvious the cash is actually worth more than the toy, especially if you paid an 8th for it originally, or your a horder with 30 more just like it in your closet. On American Pickers, even Frank encourages people who are wanting to sell to remember value is only what you can get. While i share the same sentiments as you and agree with most of what you said in your first post. I cant quite agree with the statement above. People sell toys on ebay for various reasons, some are there for profits, some are there to raise cash to make ends meet, while others are just there to clear their junk, just to name a few. So its not fair to assume that they will sell you a toy at any price you quote just because they cant sell it for months or years. Yes, i dont deny that you approach is quite sound, i got lucky once or twice using the same method. But dont get so hard done by when you get a negative response. All of us have a different value for a toy in mind, and i guess you will agree with me that there is no absolute "market value" of a toy, and its impossible to get it at the absolute cheapest or sell it at the highest value. As we all know, to close a deal, both buyer and seller must be able to compromise on a value, otherwise, no deal. Seriously, who doesnt want to pay $50 for a supposedly $300 toy? Sometimes we get lucky, but ask youself, is it a realistic valuation? Is it fair to the seller? Would seller accept? i consider myself to be relatively new in this hobby, but i have purchase from more than a couple sellers on ebay and i have always adopted this philosophy and it had brought me quite a fair amount of success. Its a willing buyer, willing seller market afterall, dont like what you see, price too unrealistic, move on, there's always a more suitable piece out there, dont be so hard on yourself, like they say, the thrill is always in the hunt Just my 2c.
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Post by godaikincolector74 on Feb 13, 2012 22:24:14 GMT -5
I could agree with you both on many points....
Good example, I got a great GX-05 Gaiking an dragon side kick set with a neat display base and plastic clear plexiglass cover for 200 even Steven. He had it listed starting bid 225, and I said I will I will give you 200 right now if you end it. The GX-05 set displayed safely in display box, so worth 200 not MIB IMO, so 150 now is fair I think, or 175 however you look at it, as box is worth maybe 20 bucks or so. I was happy, he was happy, the set looks freakin amazing in that custom made case....
I am big on communication. If I toss you an offer, an you can't take 30 seconds of precious time to say thanks for interest, but not at this time, (as I will say if not happy now if later you get in a bind an need some cash check back with me then), then I will never consider even bringing you any business, as NOTHING should be taken for granite in this economy these days, again IMO....
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Post by godaikincolector74 on Feb 14, 2012 0:52:48 GMT -5
Here you go another great example of holding out for too much and costing the seller....
GX-04S Grendizer complete SOS set. I offer a guy 320 to end it, basically 300 for set, and 20 more for ship. He says I will NOT end early, and hope I don't regret it later. I did NOT bid, moved on much to get. When you have my attention another-words, better keep me on the line, or I may throw the hook, lol. The auction ended at like 225 total shipping an all, and I wish I could have bid, lol. No doubt, they regretted that one I figure....
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Post by xtrlowz75 on Feb 14, 2012 1:57:07 GMT -5
Awesome discussion. Yes Mecha and Godaikin I agree. Good points. I do have to saw that some times what ever the price is, some times you get a great deal, and sometimes you gotta laugh when you give a good offer, they decline, then they lose out in the bidding when they could've gotten more. I now have to throw out my good deal of the week, and had to nearly give the guy a hug for selling it to me. So I walk into a local hobby shop the other day, and on one of the guys display cases sits a very nice boxed and near complete Godaikin Bioman. It was only missing the direction book, and had one little near unnoticeable chip in the plastic by one of the jet-engine intakes to Bio-Jet 2. I asked the clerk how much it is expecting a high price of $300 to $400. He proceeds to tell me the going price on Ebay for one in this condition, $375, and in the most awesome moment, tells me he'll sell it for $150 if I can pay now. Wow it had been years since I whipped out my credit card that fast! I new my wife would ground me from the credit card for buying it, but a 99% complete, nice, and boxed Bioman for $150? You better believe he came home with me. So I post these little irritated rants, and this happens? I think god was telling me to button my lip haha.
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Post by godaikincolector74 on Feb 14, 2012 3:23:39 GMT -5
Nice score on the Bioman. I once got one for like 300 with Bio-dragon as well, an set was missing half missiles only. The chrome on sword an shield was rough, but I re-touched real nice with model chrome paint, and even painted the sword hilt flat black. It looked great, did a review of it you can find over at youtube.....
The best part was, he had a tiny chip out of one of his horns, and I cut an interior section from a similar yellow flashlight, and customized it to the exact shape of horn. Glued it on real nice an painted yellow, and you could not even tell with naked eye. I could tell looking through my loupe which mags ten times, but so what next best thing. The guy I ended up selling it to loved it. One of those I wished I had kept, but I will grab another one day in better shape....
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Post by japancollector101 on Apr 6, 2012 4:04:33 GMT -5
hi guys,
I'm pretty new in regards to joining discussions, but i'm completely in agreeance with what's being discussed.
Godaikincollector74, I wish more buyers in ebay would do what you do. if you don't like the price, ask for a better deal. I had a Machine Robo Varigale-X base (like the Sun Vulcan Jaguar - but black) in near new condition, stickers unapplied and complete. only other like it was selling for $400. I start mine with $275 as I thought that it's a more realistic asking price. 10 days people watched it, there were people watching for the end of the auction, i hoped maybe to bid...but no. no worries, relisted. 10 more days and it sat there. bloody frustrating. i'd have happily negotiated with ANYONE, and more than likely sold the item well below $200!
i think some buyers could use some simple communication skills. you won't get what you want if you don't occasionally pipe up.
my 2 cents in.
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Post by Mr. Ginrai on Apr 9, 2012 20:26:15 GMT -5
I agree that the pricing definitely makes buying things difficult - especially for someone like me who comes from the 80s toy and transformer side of the hobby - for the few handfuls of Popy, godaikin, or japanese toys in general that I want to have, whether loose or boxed, I pretty much have to go on my gut feeling as far as pricing goes and it is very difficult as I try to wrestle with what is a fair offer sometimes for stuff I don't see around here as much as I do with G1 transformers for example.
In regards to ebay, most of the things I end up looking for are auctions rather than BIN. But if they were BIN, I would treat it like I would at any toy and collectibles show, yard sale, or craigslist ad, etc.
Basically I see something I want, I will make an offer. If it is absolute junk or a parts piece and you don't know any better (some dealers fit into this category) then you are getting a lowball offer based on your item's condition, no doubt about it. Otherwise worst they can say is no. It is irritating however, when I go to a show or look at ebay auctions where a guy has XYZ toy, has had it for months and won't budge at all on it, like he's holding it for ransom and I'm going to get sent one of the big punch fists in the mail to coerce me to spend ridiculous money on it.
Cash talks and when people refuse more than fair offers it blows my mind. The other part is that the people who refuse it generally need the money the most. If a seller/dealer is hard up and can't afford to keep his inventory, doesn't he realize he needs to sell SOME of it, not continue to hold it for months and months?
I got into a heated argument on another forum where I ruffled some feathers over a few particular accessories that were consistently being overpiad for on ebay and tried to explain it was a few anomalies with stupid buyers that dealers were taking advantage of and selling toy parts for ransom prices continuously, while others tried to tell me it was the market setting the prices. Bulls*it! What it comes down to is that some buyers are too impatient or too stupid to wait fora good buying opportunity, they'd rather get screwed by a dealer on a common part/toy, and then when the dealers get one of these people to pay said price they have us all trapped. That's when they start holding onto toys and listing those psycho feeler price auctions like Ed mentioned.
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Post by xiombarg on Apr 9, 2012 21:37:06 GMT -5
I got into a heated argument on another forum where I ruffled some feathers over a few particular accessories that were consistently being overpiad for on ebay and tried to explain it was a few anomalies with stupid buyers that dealers were taking advantage of and selling toy parts for ransom prices continuously, while others tried to tell me it was the market setting the prices. Bulls*it! What it comes down to is that some buyers are too impatient or too stupid to wait fora good buying opportunity, they'd rather get screwed by a dealer on a common part/toy, and then when the dealers get one of these people to pay said price they have us all trapped. That's when they start holding onto toys and listing those psycho feeler price auctions like Ed mentioned. Man, that's the truth. Dumb buyers don't help anybody, and dumb sellers make it worse. What gets me is when there will be dozens of the same figure up for sale with different sellers and all of them have the same ridiculous price, yet nobody is buying.. hence dozens of listings. I consistently find non-rare items being sold on Yahoo Japan that are cheaper even when figuring middleman fees. Dumb. Around the time when a particular batch of Hong Kong Sellers came around is when Ebay turned into the capitalist suppository that it is currently.
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Post by xtrlowz75 on Apr 9, 2012 22:47:58 GMT -5
Yep prices are still high and holding. I hope if economy continues the way it is prices will start to fall if sellers really want to sell. I've got cash to spend, but not at over-priced Flea-bay prices.
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Post by magengar on Apr 10, 2012 1:36:20 GMT -5
So "Rare" I need an umbrella to protect me from drowning in the over-saturation, and super-abundance of that one "Rare" item every time I browse and find it from seller to seller.
zozo-mag
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