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Topic starter
10/01/2009 7:20 pm
Dick mentioned the price of NEO to $75.00....
This is REALLY expensive. NEO is widely available for around $55.00; there is a seller currently on Ebay selling NEO's Volvo models for $34.99 including shipping to US.
NEO models are made in China by Minimax, who is the owner of the Spark brand. Spark were the first company to make resin models to go the diecast route with high-volume production. They also make the Bizarre line. The models are made of resin, but should not be considered "handmade", since it's a manufacturing facility, spitting out thousands of models a month. They are indeed assembled by hand, but so are Ixo and Minichamps. No robots capable of such accurate job exist, unless you work for NASA and costs aren't the issue.
11/01/2009 12:11 am
I saw NEO Jags at a toy fair recently and they were £48 each!
Autominologist residing in the Robin Hood County
Nottinghamshire England UK
11/01/2009 2:17 am
The price I quoted is the MSRP.
Currency fluctuations can cause quite a difference as the Euro has recently dropped a little and the Pound dropped a lot against the US Dollar. A $35 price is under dealer cost.
11/01/2009 4:33 am
The only logical explanation for the NEO's at $34.99 may be that they are bootlegged out of China.
I never implied that they were handbuilt, only that their quality approaches handbuilt.
11/01/2009 6:06 am
Here is what I just received from the US distributor...
"Actually, All these Volvo's were recalled for sub-standard quality and they were liquidated for cost to recover something at all.....
We just have to live through the time till they are gone."
Buy them at your risk.
11/01/2009 6:46 am
Well these models will never be gone! They will be ...
forever in circulation!
IMO NEO should have destroyed them! I doubt that the suppliers of these rejects state that these models are sub-standard! Did any of the Volvo issue meet the quality set by NEO?
Hopefully quality control measures will be tighten up for future releases.
Chris
Autominologist residing in the Robin Hood County
Nottinghamshire England UK
11/01/2009 6:51 am
Well for a list price of £48 NEO needs to issue niche products ....
that no one else does or they need to be exceptional quality!
Cheers Chris
Autominologist residing in the Robin Hood County
Nottinghamshire England UK
11/01/2009 8:11 am
Chris, why not contact the distributor or the manufacturer with your thoughts?
11/01/2009 8:58 am
NEOs prices have risen in the UK owing to the weak pound.
I was told this by a dealer friend at Salisbury Swapmeet today. He also had the Spark Minisprint and Mini Marcos - beautiful little models.
11/01/2009 11:58 am
Ouch! The Oxford one is much cheaper but apparently the build quality is very variable, as it is with the Daimlers. I can't speak from personal experience as the Jags I've seen from Oxford have been good. In outline they look just like Minimarque's version but the NEO is definitely different - the boot area is a little too flat. I'd still buy either though.