Enjoyment or investment?
Discussion
Pick up a model magazine and you'd be forgiven for thinking that the model world is a great place to invest your earnings. Look at the prices that the old Dinky and Matchbox or even the odd Corgi model makes at auction these days, so it must be a sound bet to collect all these wonderful new models...
Well I have always thought this notion to be completely false and here are my reasons for my opinion.
The models that sell at auction are very rare because they were sold 30-50 years ago when the models were marketed to children as toys. I'm sure you are like me when you can think back to what we did to all our toy cars when we were kids, smashed them, set fire to them, I even tried to blow them up with lots of cherry bombs!! I got through several Batmobiles and countless other classics. Today of course, most have gone, making those left very rare and collectible and hence why prices can sometimes reach 3 or even 4 figures at auction.
Now this is the problem...
Many people think that models released today will also fetch these kind of prices in years to come and stock-pile them in their attics waiting for the day when they can enjoy a nice retirement. WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE!!! With 1000's of models sold now as collectibles and not toys, they are not falling into the hands of children, but grown men and women who are looking after them. These models today will not become rare and therefore prices will never rise, even with inflation.
A case in point...
I myself collect Eddie Stobart models and have been slowly filling all the gaps in my collection with just a small handful of models now missing that were released before I started to collect them. Apart from one model, I have never had to pay more then the original RRP for any old models, even though some are rare to get hold of, because you know that if you wait long enough, another one comes onto the market that is the right price, especially if you trawl auction web sites. Many of the Corgi 1:50 scale trucks retail at over £60 these days. The most I have paid recently for one was under £30 less that 50% of the original retail price. Note, I always purchase Mint condition models too, so it’s not like I will accept second best.
I collect these models because I enjoy them, and have an impressive display of Eddie Stobart models, well over 200 models now. I don't stock-pile them in the attic or garage because I know that they will never be worth anything, not to retire on anyway, so why leave them to gather dust?
The media in this industry does nothing but encourage this notion of wealth and is leaving a lot of collectors with a false hope of happiness when they retire and decide to cash in on their collections.
I have spoken at length in the past four years to contacts within the industry, retailers, wholesalers and brands and I have not yet come across an individual who disagrees with my thoughts, which only strengthens my frustration that I work in an industry that continues to make out it's a great investment!
In addition to my Stobart collection, I have some 500+ other models which are all packed away at present, only because I have not the space to display them! Will they be worth anything in years to come, of course not, but that's not why I keep hold of them. When the time comes, and space permits me to, I shall have them all on display again.
As a retailer myself, you might think that I'm crazy to talk like this, but I have always wanted to encourage collectors to buy models that give them enjoyment to look at, because if they think it's an investment then they are sadly mistaken...
Comments anyone?
Well I have always thought this notion to be completely false and here are my reasons for my opinion.
The models that sell at auction are very rare because they were sold 30-50 years ago when the models were marketed to children as toys. I'm sure you are like me when you can think back to what we did to all our toy cars when we were kids, smashed them, set fire to them, I even tried to blow them up with lots of cherry bombs!! I got through several Batmobiles and countless other classics. Today of course, most have gone, making those left very rare and collectible and hence why prices can sometimes reach 3 or even 4 figures at auction.
Now this is the problem...
Many people think that models released today will also fetch these kind of prices in years to come and stock-pile them in their attics waiting for the day when they can enjoy a nice retirement. WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE!!! With 1000's of models sold now as collectibles and not toys, they are not falling into the hands of children, but grown men and women who are looking after them. These models today will not become rare and therefore prices will never rise, even with inflation.
A case in point...
I myself collect Eddie Stobart models and have been slowly filling all the gaps in my collection with just a small handful of models now missing that were released before I started to collect them. Apart from one model, I have never had to pay more then the original RRP for any old models, even though some are rare to get hold of, because you know that if you wait long enough, another one comes onto the market that is the right price, especially if you trawl auction web sites. Many of the Corgi 1:50 scale trucks retail at over £60 these days. The most I have paid recently for one was under £30 less that 50% of the original retail price. Note, I always purchase Mint condition models too, so it’s not like I will accept second best.
I collect these models because I enjoy them, and have an impressive display of Eddie Stobart models, well over 200 models now. I don't stock-pile them in the attic or garage because I know that they will never be worth anything, not to retire on anyway, so why leave them to gather dust?
The media in this industry does nothing but encourage this notion of wealth and is leaving a lot of collectors with a false hope of happiness when they retire and decide to cash in on their collections.
I have spoken at length in the past four years to contacts within the industry, retailers, wholesalers and brands and I have not yet come across an individual who disagrees with my thoughts, which only strengthens my frustration that I work in an industry that continues to make out it's a great investment!
In addition to my Stobart collection, I have some 500+ other models which are all packed away at present, only because I have not the space to display them! Will they be worth anything in years to come, of course not, but that's not why I keep hold of them. When the time comes, and space permits me to, I shall have them all on display again.
As a retailer myself, you might think that I'm crazy to talk like this, but I have always wanted to encourage collectors to buy models that give them enjoyment to look at, because if they think it's an investment then they are sadly mistaken...
Comments anyone?
I agree.
The whole "collection" aspect of models is rather over-emphasised. Ironically, with plastic kits, they tend to be more collectable and valuable when still unbuilt in their original boxes, rather than made up kits.
However, there is no doubt that some models are more collectable than others. It's just hard to predict what will become valuable and, if it does, will it stay valuable. Also, the only people who tend to recognise the value of rare and obscure models are other model collectors.
The whole "collection" aspect of models is rather over-emphasised. Ironically, with plastic kits, they tend to be more collectable and valuable when still unbuilt in their original boxes, rather than made up kits.
However, there is no doubt that some models are more collectable than others. It's just hard to predict what will become valuable and, if it does, will it stay valuable. Also, the only people who tend to recognise the value of rare and obscure models are other model collectors.
Nicholas Blair said:
I collect because I like what I see - the money aspect/future value doesn't come into it.
Admittidly, I'll buy a model and get it through the post and may never actully take it out of the box, but stick it away as I've no room to display.
Admittidly, I'll buy a model and get it through the post and may never actully take it out of the box, but stick it away as I've no room to display.
Exactly that. I buy because i like. Nothing more, not for re-sale value or any other reason.
I agree, some people will pay silly money to fill gaps in their collections. Like I said before, I collect Eddie Stobart models and I'm slowly 'filling' the gaps of my collection and have seen some I need being sold at 3 x their original RRP. Well I'm sorry, but I'm not that worried if I can't complete the collection if it means paying those kind of silly prices.
All but one has been purchased below the original RRP, only one, where I purchased slightly over the RRP, by around a fiver, but the model was Mint and I might have missed it next time around.
I agree that some Minichamp models sell for silly prices, but I blame both the magazines in the model industry for artifically inflating prices and also the fools who pay it. If we all stopped paying inflated prices, the 'ebayers' (dare I use that word!!
) will soon drop their prices because even they do not want to sit on dead stock.
All but one has been purchased below the original RRP, only one, where I purchased slightly over the RRP, by around a fiver, but the model was Mint and I might have missed it next time around.
I agree that some Minichamp models sell for silly prices, but I blame both the magazines in the model industry for artifically inflating prices and also the fools who pay it. If we all stopped paying inflated prices, the 'ebayers' (dare I use that word!!
) will soon drop their prices because even they do not want to sit on dead stock. autoart said:
I agree that some Minichamp models sell for silly prices, but I blame both the magazines in the model industry for artifically inflating prices and also the fools who pay it. If we all stopped paying inflated prices, the 'ebayers' (dare I use that word!! ) will soon drop their prices because even they do not want to sit on dead stock.
) will soon drop their prices because even they do not want to sit on dead stock. Talking of which, when does your sale start ?
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