[Cardinal]

Originally Posted by PappyB

Okay, what if it's a kindly grandmotherly type who's diecast addicted hubby just kicked and she's selling off his toys....

(don't mean to hyjack... guess this is tangentally connected as I daydream about finding a DD spit in scenarios like this sometimes... :-) )

I would like to think that there are collectors out there with enough decency and integrity who would choose to do the right thing and either offer a fair price or tell the owner the true value of what it is they're selling. (How would it sit with your conscience looking at such a 'bargain' on your shelf?)


(When I was a kid an 'expert' collector, who was supposed to be reputable, sorted out my [deceased] dad's stamp collection to 'assist' my mom. Lo and behold, a year or two later we found out that many duplicates of rare items had been taken/'purchased' from the collection without full disclosure on the part of the so-called collector - burns me up every time I'm reminded of it ...)

[Gort]

Originally Posted by Cardinal

I would like to think that there are collectors out there with enough decency and integrity who would choose to do the right thing and either offer a fair price or tell the owner the true value of what it is they're selling. (How would it sit with your conscience looking at such a 'bargain' on your shelf?)

Card, I understand where you're coming from ...

Honesty is the best policy. I remember grabbing a stack of discounted decal sheets at a hobby store years ago and gleefully plopping them on the counter. When the owner's wife rang them up, the total came to less than half what I expected. I blinked: It was clear the woman had made a major mistake – in my favor – but did I say anything? Nope. I remained deathly quiet, paid her, and blew out of there happy as a lark.

Two days later, however, my conscious bothered me. The woman had obviously punched the wrong cash register keys (she was filling in for her absent husband) and short changed the store in the process – big time. I'd gotten away with murder. I couldn't live with myself.

So I mailed her the difference. Conscience cleared!

But ...

Truth be told, if I were to stumble into a rare Corgi Spit (or Lancaster or whatever), and the owner asked a mere pittance for it, I'd be sorely tempted to pay and leave quietly. Why? 'Cause I'd figure the individual knew what they were doing (as opposed to that wifey clerk) and be thankful for the find.

On the other hand, if that person were the elderly wife of a dead collector, completely clueless as to the Spitfire's real worth, I'd have to tell her. If she still offered it at a ridiculously low price, I'd buy it – and gladly.

Guess it depends on the circumstances.

[PappyB]

[quote=Cardinal;42602]I would like to think that there are collectors out there with enough decency and integrity who would choose to do the right thing and either offer a fair price or tell the owner the true value of what it is they're selling. (How would it sit with your conscience looking at such a 'bargain' on your shelf?)

quote]


I'd like to think you're right, too, Card -- and I'd like to think I'm one of them (if my wife's with me, you can bet on it -- she once made me drive back to a supermarket to inform them they didn't charge us for a .99 gallon of water -- and it was raining, and we'd bought like $400 in stuff...)

I think I'd probably offer them more but I dunno if I'd say "are you nuts, that thing's worth $200!)...

[mustangdriver]

I was looking for a Lane Spitfire for a year. The cheapest I saw one was around $200.00 I wasn't sure if I was ready to drop that on one. I talked to my friend Waltz41, and he said, "Hey, I have one of those. You can just have it".

[parsig9]

I once paid $30 for a spare Galland 109 and then traded it even up for a DD Spitfire.


I slept fine...

[Raven]

I've scored my share of TM deals and won several auctions of GMP planes for great prices, but my biggest surprise was at an outing with my kids.

My boys were in their Thomas the Tank Engine phase and I took them to one of those model train shows. While we were looking at all the vendors' booths, I stumbled across one retailer with a stash of Corgi. I had been looking for the Ju-87 Graz Austria plane for a few weeks and low and behold he had one just sitting there for just $20! Nice surprise and a great price! I keep hoping I'll have another one of those moments...

I know there's a "Sugar" Lancaster out there somewhere for $40 - I just know it....

[hworth18]

Originally Posted by PappyB

Wasn't it 29.99? That's what my B-24 Sky Witch was... or was I just really lucky?

I'd have to say my most miraculous find was my wife (just in case she's reading this over my shoulder)...

Agree on both counts Pappy.. I think you are right, it was $29.99 and in answer to your other question..

Which begs the question -- if you did find a Donald Duck spit at a garage sale for $5, would you offer more for it? Or pay your money and run..??.. [/

I'd hand my $5 over knowing I made an incredible deal....
On a similar note, if you found a Picasso at a garage sale and the owner was asking $25, would you tell him about it and then offer a few million $??
Or would you be handing over the $25 with a big smile??

[Alph]

Hi Guys,
I feel many good deals come upon us over time. If a widow is selling her husbands collection buy more and give her the original MSRP than she lables. It's not taking advantage and she's getting the original value for it. I had been looking for a smaller portable aircompressor at Lowes for a year. At $365.00 I would wait until Fall to pick it up. I was at Costco last week and found their demo on sale for $175.00 They knew and the guy that missed it by 5 seconds. We all deserve an "at the right place at the right time scenario" Now and again. It's hard to say what brings us to that point in our lives,but make the best of it and don't take it for granted. Alph




MINE!!!!!!!!

[timbo]

The TM deals are up there, esp BoL, but probably the best was some I got from the UK on the bay. A bargin lot of the first 6 FW190's for about $12 each. Shipping was non-exitant as I was over viiting family at the time. Also got a deal on Strawbery Bitch and the Oboe 1/32 mossie at the same time.

I'm not6 sure what the airport x-ray machines made of that lot when I brought it all back here

Other good deals that I felt smug about were getting the Sundowner Phantom and the 12 Sq Buccaneer for under msrp.

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by parsig9

I once paid $30 for a spare Galland 109 and then traded it even up for a DD Spitfire.


I slept fine...

Yeah, we should chock moments like these off to "diecast karma" as how many times has the opposite happen?

For example, ever bought a model you lusted after for months for full price only to see it hit the bargain bins a month later?

I've been after the Strawberry Bitch B-24 for more than a year.. they've been non-existant on the 'bay and the only one I found available online in the States was $200+. So one popped up on ebay a couple weeks back for $150 delivered -- I bit the bullet...

Now, they're all over the place on ebay and one just went for $80 on the bay, (and a couple on this forum), from a U.S. based seller that in fact, is just down the street from where I live...

Oh well, least it's a sweet-looking bird!

And don't get me started on the GMP Texas Longhorn I paid full retail for only to see it hit the bins for peanuts a few months later....

Oh well, least it's a sweet-looking bird!

Now I feel better