What price are Minichamps models

[Cotty]

Just spotted on their site a BMW 3-SERIES TOURING 1989 WITH ENGINE SILVER but no price. I have found one on Ebay but would like to know what their worth.



Blacking the grill wouldn't be a problem, the Hartge graphics might be a bit fiddly but dont think I would find 1:43 Hartge wheels though

Edited by Cotty on Saturday 15th September 17:02

[m3evo2]

About £25.

[Cotty]

Cheers. Just bought One off Ebay

Edited by Cotty on Saturday 15th September 17:38

[motormania]

I buy all my Minichamps off eBay now, in fact all my models - brand new and cheaper than any mail-order company can knock them out for

[minichamps]

motormania said:

I buy all my Minichamps off eBay now, in fact all my models - brand new and cheaper than any mail-order company can knock them out for

This is due to the fact the majority of diecast sellers on eBay are actually private collectors with trade accounts, therefore they buy one model to keep and another one or two of each model to sell on. They don't care what price they sell them at as they're only bothered about getting models for themselves cheaper.

[ferrisbueller]

minichamps said:

motormania said:

I buy all my Minichamps off eBay now, in fact all my models - brand new and cheaper than any mail-order company can knock them out for

This is due to the fact the majority of diecast sellers on eBay are actually private collectors with trade accounts, therefore they buy one model to keep and another one or two of each model to sell on. They don't care what price they sell them at as they're only bothered about getting models for themselves cheaper.

Great. Everyone's a winner

[motormania]

minichamps said:

motormania said:

I buy all my Minichamps off eBay now, in fact all my models - brand new and cheaper than any mail-order company can knock them out for

This is due to the fact the majority of diecast sellers on eBay are actually private collectors with trade accounts, therefore they buy one model to keep and another one or two of each model to sell on. They don't care what price they sell them at as they're only bothered about getting models for themselves cheaper.

I know, and that's why I use them - market forces and all...

I know how the model industry works and it stinks - but why should I pay top $ for something I can get at rock bottom prices, and they are still mint and in their now boxes

Edited by motormania on Monday 1st October 12:57

[CIS121]

motormania said:

minichamps said:

motormania said:

I buy all my Minichamps off eBay now, in fact all my models - brand new and cheaper than any mail-order company can knock them out for

This is due to the fact the majority of diecast sellers on eBay are actually private collectors with trade accounts, therefore they buy one model to keep and another one or two of each model to sell on. They don't care what price they sell them at as they're only bothered about getting models for themselves cheaper.

I know, and that's why I use them - market forces and all...

I know how the model industry works and it stinks - but why should I pay top $ for something I can get at rock bottom prices, and they are still mint and in their now boxes

Edited by motormania on Monday 1st October 12:57

I couldn't agree more. I know shops have to make their profit, but I've had some dreadful advice from model shops over time. 3 years ago, having advised them I was a learner and looking for a suitable RC plane, I was flogged a fully aerobatic, balsa RC glider by a certain shop in Aldershot, Hants. The chap convinced me it was easy to fly and that I didn't need power. Foolishly I bougth it and on turning up at the local club, was advised of it's suitability.

I get most of my RC kit off Ebay now and it's vastly cheaper :-)

[Cotty]

Well im happy

[ferrisbueller]

Cotty said:

Well im happy

Well done chap!

I love these things. I have far too many.

[Cotty]

ferrisbueller said:

Well done chap!

I love these things. I have far too many.

Not sure I will buy any more. I just wanted a modle of my car albet a 320i with bottletops

[motormania]

CIS121 said:

I couldn't agree more. I know shops have to make their profit, but I've had some dreadful advice from model shops over time. 3 years ago, having advised them I was a learner and looking for a suitable RC plane, I was flogged a fully aerobatic, balsa RC glider by a certain shop in Aldershot, Hants. The chap convinced me it was easy to fly and that I didn't need power. Foolishly I bougth it and on turning up at the local club, was advised of it's suitability.

I get most of my RC kit off Ebay now and it's vastly cheaper :-)

My comments were not aimed at the customer facing part of the business, more so at the back end wholesalers. The wholesalers will sell models to anyone, they do not even have to prove that they are running a business! Several that I have dealt with in the past are happy to sell 1 or 2 of each item and it is this practice that has generated the 'hobby collector' buying 1 or 2 models, keeping 1 and selling off the others cheap, purely to fund his own collection.

I once spoke with an account manager at one of the bigger wholesalers (who also do it!) about a guy who came in on a Friday and bought £400 in models to sell at a toy fair over the weekend. He came back in the following week with big smiles and said he cleared the lot for £500 and made £100 profit. However, the account manager, after talking with him for a while, made him aware that he had not made a profit of £100 as he thought. There was the cost of the stall for 2 days at the fair, his hotel costs for the weekend and petrol money as well as money for meals and refreshments through the day. Basically he'd come away with a loose, but he couldn't see it!!!

This sums up the whole trade, because the wholesalers couldn't care less who buys what and what quantities becuase they are still selling at the same price as those shop owners who might be buying say qtys of 6 of each item to stock up in their shops. The wholesalers are only interested in clearing the stock. The only wholesaler who tends not to operate this way is Amerang, but then of course they are all tied up with Modelzone and GrandPrixLegends - despite what some mught say! So they can shift stock quite easily.

I once asked the same account manager I mention above about why the wholesalers do not get together and stop the practice of selling 1 or 2 models and stick to selling just box qtys, thereby killing off the 'hobbyist'. He said he'd love to do that, but even if we all agreed to do it, it would only need one wholesaler to go behind the backs of all the others and you'd be back to how they operate now.

I'm surpirsed that in today's web enabled world that we live in that the manufacturers don't just deal directly with the customer and miss out the middle men, then everyone would be happy.

Then again, as it stands today, I'm quite happy becuase as a collector again (having got out of the trade of selling models) I can get some fantastic bargains off eBay and with the insider knowledge that I have it makes me laugh how these ebayers are selling stuff sooo cheap. Good example is that I have just won an Eddie Stobart lights and sounds model that has a normal retail price of £99, therefore the standard trade price will be in the region of approx £55 + VAT. I know some retailers are selling them for £10 or £20 cheaper to undercut the competition but I just picked one for £52 off eBay, almost £50 off retail, and even less than trade. So either the guy selling it had no idea of the value of the model, or it was hot, either way I'm a happy bunny

Edited by motormania on Wednesday 3rd October 08:56

[Cotty]

I couldn't resist another one, currently awaiting delivery of this little beauty.

[Marc W]

See you're addicted now, soon you'll have hundreds!

I've actually lost count...

[jagdpanther]

Cotty said:

I couldn't resist another one, currently awaiting delivery of this little beauty.

Thats a handsome little beastie!


Ive become slightly addicted to trawling Ebay and buying 1:43 cars, mostly of racing pedigree, for pocket change

So far (after a couple of weeks) I have

1:43
Lancia 037
Lancia Stratos
Subaru Imprezza 2000 (Richard Burns - Robert Reid)
Opel Ascona
Ford GT MkII
Ac Cobra 427
Mercedes CLK GTR

I also have two 1:18th scale models: 1 Tuscan & 1 Lancia Stratos, but both were gifts

I want and I mean as soon as money allows, desperately want the 1:43 Mk1 & 2 Escorts and a couple of the BMW's

[Cotty]

jagdpanther said:

I want and I mean as soon as money allows, desperately want the 1:43 Mk1 & 2 Escorts and a couple of the BMW's

So you woundn't be intersted in this



http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ford-Transit-Escort-MK2-RS18...

[jagdpanther]

Cotty said:

jagdpanther said:

I want and I mean as soon as money allows, desperately want the 1:43 Mk1 & 2 Escorts and a couple of the BMW's

So you woundn't be intersted in this



http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ford-Transit-Escort-MK2-RS18...

I cant say this (and I mean this honestly) with enough impact


W I B B L E





Cotty, I love you and hate you in the same breath

[Cotty]

Its the van and trailer that does it for me. A model is a model but having the van and trailer creates a bit of a story "how did the car get on the trailer ie where did it come from, where is it going, whats it going to do when it arrives" etc etc. Perhaps just how my mind works but it creates more interest that just the original model.

Edited by Cotty on Friday 4th January 21:25

[jagdpanther]

Cotty said:

Its the van and trailer that does it for me. A model is a model but having the van and trailer creates a bit of a story "how did the car get on the trailer ie where did it come from, where is it going, whats it going to do when it arrives" etc etc. Perhaps just how my mind works but it creates more interest that just the original model.

Edited by Cotty on Friday 4th January 21:25

Its a nice touch for sure

I think my cousin has this one, but isnt willing to let it go

[m3evo2]

Cotty said:

Its the van and trailer that does it for me. A model is a model but having the van and trailer creates a bit of a story "how did the car get on the trailer ie where did it come from, where is it going, whats it going to do when it arrives" etc etc. Perhaps just how my mind works but it creates more interest that just the original model.

Edited by Cotty on Friday 4th January 21:25

I agree kind of why I like this model