[Lanceforthright]

Everyone is no doubt aware that periodically Corgi will decertify excess stock and dump them out to retailers for disposal, and I would like to obtain some opinions on this.

I collect aircraft only from the Corgi AA range, and my collection is for limited editions only. I suppose it is not that important to find No 1359 of 6 million, but it completes the set, adds value to a degree, and makes one feel warm and special about owning a great model with a limited production run.

I enjoy all my aircraft, and I guess that's the most important thing, and it's often great to find a low number on a card that spits out of a machine that has no relation to the aircraft anyway. They're more limited edition cards.

So......When they do decertify these kits, one can only assume that the authentic complete sets in say a production run of 1500, may actually be 1250. Ergo....they are further limited editions....correct?

With so many new models coming in 2007, I am constrained to be more discerning in my choice, and I'm hoping to obtain some feedback from other collectors regarding this issue. Do many of you collect certified models? Do you not care...depending on the subject of the aircraft? Do you buy whatever is cheap.

What are your primary considerations that open your wallet. I value your opinion.

Cheers

[Gambit]

They really should identify how many were decerted.

Rather than a piece of paper I think they should stamp the underside of the fuselage with a number. When you buy a ltd. edition print the number is right on the print.

I can't understand why Corgi would intentionally devalue their product and brand name, stupid idea.

[bsmith13]

I recently purchased a Merlins over Malta "Legends" set. I didn't know that it was decertified - I would have purchased it either way.

However, I can't figure out why they do this. If the edition is already limited, why confuse matters by decreasing the actual number of "certified" editions in circulation. Does decertifying ACTUALLY decrease the value of a decertified piece?

[STARMAN 352ND]

Originally Posted by Gambit

They really should identify how many were decerted.

Rather than a piece of paper I think they should stamp the underside of the fuselage with a number. When you buy a ltd. edition print the number is right on the print.

I can't understand why Corgi would intentionally devalue their product and brand name, stupid idea.

I think what happeneds is they sit around and can't sell them at their asking price.
So after a while they will Decert them so they sell it for less.
That way it's not a complete loss for them.
I think this is what happened to some of the 1/32 Old crows (but not sure)
I have a cert for mine but my friend who got his about $35.00 less then me and it didn't have a cert with it.
But yes it would be nice if they let you know how many were certified because that would value yours more.
JP

[fileasfog]

I absolutely dont care about limited editions and numbers.
I am interested in the stories behind them.
The most important thing to me is that they make me relive childhood adventures and dreams.
This being said value is not unimportant to me since I sell models from time to time to finance the purchase of other models.
There are many limited runs that do not gain value while non limited runs increase.

[timbo]

Limited editions are a big marketing exersise. I bet you find that some of the unlimiteds production runs are of similar size or smaller.

Rearange the following to find out what I feel corgi are doing with this

"Foot the yourself in shoot"

[parsig9]

Certs mean a little to me. I like the pics and info on them but having the 1st in a series is as important to me limited or not. Example: The new Halifax due next year is cool and I'll get one. The xxxx01 version is unlimited but I like it best and it being xxxx01 has, in the past, meant it will be very collectible down the road cert or no cert. I also like the Dragon credit card certs as they're unique and sturdy and have a picture of the ace. I guess I see certs as a nice feature of the whole package but they're not really more collectible for me. Finally, yes I do buy what's cheap sometimes. Not just b/c of that but, well, I like so many models for one reason or another(hist. sig, pilot, livery, campaign etc..) it's nice to have a small token of that I can look at and hold and (fly around )

[Tri-motor]

I got the 1st Squadron Hurricane (de-certified). I still paid $40 for it! The Certified models were twice that much just a week before. The strange thing about this plane was all the inventory was in UK dealers hands. I watched them on E-Bay for a month at the high certiftied cost. Most of these sold to UK buyers. After the de-cert the same buyers dropped their prices accordingly. Does Corgi refund money to these sellers?....All-in-all I wouldn't have bought it until the price dropped after de-certiftcation.

[planenuts]

I prefer models that are certified. The certificates are good for smooshing spiders

[chiefs70]

I don't mind an item being decerted as long as you get the price break. Do I prefer limited editions? Yes, I can't entirely explain why but it is purely psychological. At the end of the day, however, I buy what I like and I like aces I admire or aircraft with great a great story. To me, publicizing the run number and chucking in a 3x5 with the number is a very low cost value adding endeavor so I don't see why more companies don't do it. Corgi is basically re-releasing some of the earliest models - the Galland for example - so even the limited nature doesn't keep them from doing it again.

At the end of the day I'll buy what I like but would prefer I get that one extra piece of paper.