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06/04/2009 1:54 am
Three Price Ranges
There are Three Price Ranges for models in 1/43 scale: Toys (safe for three year olds) cost from $2 to $10, Collectibles, about $25 to $50, and Handbuilts $100 and up. (Two grey ares in between.) With my pension I would rather have 50 $2 models (Maisto/Bbruago from K-mart last year) than one Brooklin. I stopped buying Brooklin when the cost was over $50 (2 for $100.) There are about 20-30 companies selling Collectibles and I would love to get most of the Ixo MUS series, but my budget is limited. I may be able to get some at $27 (about 3 for $100) each but they may be sold out.
But the TOY companies can't sell in this country. But there are about 70 companies still "making" 1/43 scale model cars for less than $10. But I can't find dealers. Granted some of these companies make models a little larger, but the price is low, mainly the "pullbacks."
I include a few companies that are not manufactures, they just buy from Hongwell or High Speed, etc. But if Hongweel starts selling the model the price drops from $30 to $5.
Where can I get more models (toys) at $2 to $10?
Pete Foss
06/04/2009 2:03 am
Peter, this is an interesting topic. I have the opposite rationale...
In general, I would rather have one nice, expensive model than a large number of inexpensive ones. I have very little room to display my 1/43s, and therefore, due to the limited display room that I have, I place a premium on having an accurate model displayed.
Peter (and others who feel the same): Why do you prefer a large quantity of inexpensive models versus a small quantity of expensive ones?
Note that I do not intend to criticize Peter and others; I do not think that one set of collecting habits is better than another. I'm just very curious about the rationale underlying different collecting preferences. Thanks in advance.
06/04/2009 2:43 am
Maybe it's time to look further, Pete. Estate sales and auctions, as well as antique malls and eBay, can be a source of lower end pricing. I have a varied collection, even though I really like my white metal 1:43 models. A line of old models, such as Tootsietoy, can provide an interesting variation in a collection, with careful choices, without cluttering our limited display areas. Sometimes the "thrill of the chase" can be as much fun as the final acquisition. It also helps to have an outlet for excess models, such as a local antique mall or, again, eBay. I think the Legacy Motors autions could become such an outlet, even though I haven't had much success there in my few ventures.
06/04/2009 3:16 pm
Hi Dillon, my collecting habits include gathering together ...
old toy cars made in Britain from the early post war years. Sometimes I am lucky and find one cheaply but now they are hard to source and usually expensive when I do find one!
Unfortuntately, these old timers don't have a SRP nowadays!
Cheers Chris
Autominologist residing in the Robin Hood County
Nottinghamshire England UK
06/04/2009 3:28 pm
Pete - you've seen what I collect and know that I'm all over the place price-wise
In the last 15 years or so I've knda settled on that "middle ground" (Minichamps, etc.) For sports/racing cars of international stature, this middle ground is very well served. For USA passenger vehicles, you have to go with Brooklin and above, except for the occasional Ixo Corvette or Minichamps Mustang. I still have quite a few from the "low end" but haven't bought many in recent years since they have largely disappeared from local stores (paying $5 to ship a $4 item doesn't appeal too much to me). But I will hand it to YatMing, their 1:43 items give a good bang for the buck.
07/04/2009 2:00 am
SRP
Chris, What does this mean?
Pete
07/04/2009 7:02 am
Suggested Retail Price - prices in the UK cannot be fixed ...
but companies can suggest a price they can sell for!
Hope this helps Pete.
Cheers Chris
Autominologist residing in the Robin Hood County
Nottinghamshire England UK
07/04/2009 8:20 am
Cheap Models
Here in the UK cheaper models do not turn up at Major Supermarkets or the regular 1/43 suppliers and only infrequenty at Swap Meets. A few like Mondo Motors seem to crop up in general model shops but most are sold by "pile em high" traders such as "Pound Shops" who buy box loads from the importers who are seldom specialists in model cars and stock them next to the X Ray guns, Cowboys and Indians etc.
I dont know much about US retailing and am not sure if you have any equivalent stores over there selling "close outs" etc