[Gort]

Call me crazy, but ...

I believe diecast manufacturers have two commitments: one, to make a profit; and two, to make their collectors happy (which sustains commitment number one). Make a profit and they stay in business. Make their collectors happy, and they’ll stay in business longer. Pretty easy.

So they wobble on a tight wire: Do they re-release popular models and enthrall a raft of new buyers, but alienate many loyal customers; or do they not re-release, lose new capital, but maintain their loyal base?

Corgi figured that one out long ago. They know that collectors collect for many reasons, one of which is pride of ownership. Which, in part, suggests that owing something unique and rare is desirable; and that many pursue this “rareness” for its own sake. Should Corgi sabotage this raison d'etre, they’ll cut their nose off despite their face. Which is why they issue “limited” models.

If rumors hold true, Dragon has yet to learn that though they’ll make a few new friends by re-releasing popular, rare AFVs, they’ll estrange others who fueled their popularity. They’ll make money on the front end, but they’ll lose more as loyal collectors abandon them. Au revoir, commitment number one.

[wmosner]

Seems like people are jumping to a lot of conclusions based strictly on unsubstantiated rumours.

[Gort]

Originally Posted by wmosner

Seems like people are jumping to a lot of conclusions based strictly on unsubstantiated rumours.

Perhaps ...

But when haven’t we jumped to conclusions on a whole bunch of issues? That's part of the fun.

[Legio LXXII]

Originally Posted by salazar

Excuse-me but it seems that a lot of people here believes that their "investiment" in purchasing small plastic/metal tanks is worth something else than you own satisfaction of having it?

If I want to invest in something valuable, it would be gold, jewels..neves model kits... Tsc Tsc

LOL, I doubt there are too many diecast collectors retiring off to their own private island or fresh from the Mercedes/Rolls Royce dealership from the millions they made off diecast speculation.

Dragon Armor is no more than the Dragon Models plastic kits prebuilt and prepainted for those that lack the time or patience to build their own, I don't see anything unique and rare about that. Dragon Armor is painted rather average too compared to what you can see cruising modeling forums. I know several painters that could do much better at building and painting a Dragon Models plastic kit (which is what Dragon Armor is). Are those then rare and unique too, or do they have to be made in a Chinese assembly line for that to apply?

Bring in Corgi, Admiral Toys or another manufacturer that solely manufactures collectors items and unique and rare makes sense (Gorts 2nd commitment comes in to play). Dragon Armor just doesn't fit into this category though (in my opinion). You see just how important collectors opinions were (for those that still care) when Dragon decided to no longer use diecast hulls. No matter what they do, there will always be people unhappy...

[hworth18]

Originally Posted by Gort

Perhaps ...

But when haven’t we jumped to conclusions on a whole bunch of issues? That's part of the fun.

True....


I have stated this before and I'll state it once again...
I collect diecast not only for the enjoyment, but also as an investment.. Having collected NASCAR diecast for years, only to see their value tank, and knowing that I threw away a ton of money on something that I can't give away now is something I remind myself of everyday.. A "collecting hobby" is based not only on the pleasure of owning something, but also knowing that the collection appreiciates in value over the years.. Do I plan to retire on my diecast?? Certainly not, but I do have some satisfaction in knowing that if I had to, I could sell may collection tomorrow for a reasonable return and I haven't just flushed another few thouand dollars down the toilet..

I see Dragon not only as a contributor to this hobby, but also a detriment, with the latter being the bigger part.. Dragon, for years, have produced tanks and planes to the extent that their product is not even worth the money paid for it (only a small number of Dragon product have any real value).. I could buy a plane, and sell it the next day for only 1/2 of what I paid.. My recent blowout sale is evidence of this fact as I offered most of the same stuff for under retail a few months ago and didn't sell one piece.. Only after I offered them at 1/2 price did anyone buy..
Now, I do think Dragon makes nice diecast, but as a collector, I saw no reason to keep them in my collection as I can wait for other manufacturers to make the same planes sometime down the road.. This is a hobby afterall, and if I expected everything at once, then it wouldn't be much of one, so just as this started 7 years ago, I can wait another 7 years, or longer to complete my collection..

Off my soapbox now..

[ZS-VAN]

Doggone, you guys sure want to keep me here for a long time! I've even been logged out reading! While I don't generally collect as an investment it is nice to see Corgi gain value. problem is, it's often up and down. I won a Sunderland I wanted for quite some time but was going for £100 regularly. Today I got one for £30! No. 330Sqn. Norwegian, if anyone's wondering.

[djjeffhall]

Legio,
Is this just a third hand rumor, or can your friend substanciate anything? Who is your friend and where thye they get their info?

[Legio LXXII]

Originally Posted by djjeffhall

Legio,
Is this just a third hand rumor, or can your friend substanciate anything? Who is your friend and where thye they get their info?

I don't know who they talked to but will see if I can find out. He said he had been talking to a Dragon rep and was told this. I don't doubt he was told this but I agree with others that it could just be speculation on the part of who ever told him that in the first place. I'll see what else I can find out.

[Cardinal]

Originally Posted by salazar

Excuse-me but it seems that a lot of people here believes that their "investiment" in purchasing small plastic/metal tanks is worth something else than you own satisfaction of having it?

If I want to invest in something valuable, it would be gold, jewels..neves model kits... Tsc Tsc

I'm with Salazar on this . Also, apart from special Cyber Hobby limited releases, Dragon never implied their models were 'limited editions'.

What irks me is this approach of trashing something without any supporting evidence whatsoever - little wonder that some companies don't want a presence on forums such as this .

MoMo, you should weigh in with your opinion as we need some additional fire-support - our position is being overrun by barbarians who lack appreciation for the finer points of Dragon Armor ...

[FormerViperDriver]

Originally Posted by salazar

Excuse-me but it seems that a lot of people here believes that their "investiment" in purchasing small plastic/metal tanks is worth something else than you own satisfaction of having it?

If I want to invest in something valuable, it would be gold, jewels..neves model kits... Tsc Tsc

Salazar, I collect like you do, for the sheer pleasure of having these models in my house. To me, the value is entirely summed up by my personal satisfaction with them.

But there are others who collect for other reasons, and I can't say they are wrong. It's just a different kind of collecting. Personally, I thing it is pretty risky as an investment, particularly because I firmly believe newer generations (GEN-X, Y, Z, etc...) are much less likely to collect these things than most of the current buyers which are mostly Baby Boomers. Not to mention the increased competition in the diecast market, which makes it even less likely that models will gain or even retain monetary value in the future (let's say 5 years down the road or more), at least on average (some exceptional models make be the exception).

So anyway, I know what they are saying, but it won't affect me one bit.

FVD