[DADoser]

I had posted the following yesterday within the "Good Deals" TM discussion w/ no reply/reaction - looks like this is a better place to put this part of that post:

"I was first in line and when I went in, no one else headed to the Corgi items. Gunslinger and I were coordinating to make sure we each got what we were looking for (he was at another store). I put items in my cart that I thought he/I wanted. Called him - we both found what we were looking for at the store we were at. I started puting items back that I wasn't going to get.

An old guy in a motorized chair pulls up to the end cap. He can't reach the top items. I help him get stuff down and show him the pilot figures he can't reach or see. He says: "I flew P-40's." I ask him where and when. This begins a conversation - mostly me just listening to him. He was 90 years old; retired, 24 yr. Air force pilot; During WWII he was an instructor; flew in post-war Japan - P-51's (told me about flying over Hiroshima and seeing the damage); also flew P-47s (razorbacks - never flew the bubble top); and flew P-80's in Korea.

He also trained Ralph Parr as well as either trained and/or served with/under Bud Mahurin. Just a really interesting guy - and seemed very appreciative to have me listen/talk to him. We also talked diecast - as he was also somewhat of a collector himself.

After we had been talking for awhile and we both had the models we wanted in our carts - another guy came in. He just basically bought everything decent that was left in that store. We tried talking to him a little - he was nice - but clearly not interested talking history or collections. He did say he had been to 2 other stores already.

As we (Bob, the veteran and I) were checking out - the manager told us that that guy "resells" the stuff.

I know everyone has a right to buy whatever is on the shelf - but it just irritated me a little to see someone (who may not appreciate the history) buy the stuff and resell it at a higher price to someone who does (me?).
But - on the other side, maybe he is doing a service to folks who live in rural or areas who do not have a TM. I don't know............."


As Mike also says (at least this is the way I read his take) - How is a diecast "scalper" who resells for a pure profit motive really any different than "us" buying a model to profit off of and then put that money back into our own collections? I CAN see both sides - especially if the "scalper" is using the profit to feed his children - that may be a better cause than me having an extra model stashed in the closet to trade later. ???????????

[Gambit]

I don't see any problem with people buying and selling whether they are a collector or not.

Lots of warning about the sale so everyone had the same chance to buy, so if you snooze you lose.

I wonder how many the Flying Mule will sell of the Hackl @ $120

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by Nimrod48

Checkout the pic of mine Pappy http://www.themodelhangar.com/forum/...-dscf0003z.jpg

Okay, maybe I'm just extra-dense when it comes to 109s but what exactly is the issue? I have the model from the TM sale sitting right in front of me -- the wing crosses look the same as on my Hartman 109. Time for another cup of coffee perhaps... and then another look

[PappyB]

Great story Dadoser!

As for the scalping aspect of it -- live and let live, to each their own, and all that. It is how our economy works. I mean, will any of you guys sell me your FM White 11 190 or Galland 262 for $40? (And I know more than a few folks here broke the "1 262/customer" rule, too -- buying one for their "mom, dad, kids, and family dog"... )

However, if special preference is given to these guys by TM (letting them in first cuz they will buy everything...) that's not good. Sounds like that may have happened at at least one store based on the stories in this thread.

I try flipping models from time to time. I usually don't make out all that well, but sometimes I do. I see as a way of rationalizing all the time I spend watching the market -- and it makes the wife happy when I can tell her I bought x model for XX and sold it for XXXX, she tolerates the hobby a bit better for a while. (Perhaps thinking of the long term value for the time when that frying pan does finally connect with my head... come to think of it, we're due to sign new life insurance policies next week )

And all the funds, if there are any, go back into the hobby jar.

[Biggie]

Maybe you should be mad at Corgi, many many years ago I used to be a dealer and Corgi and some others would never offer the deals to us, they would go sell off inventory to some crap place like Tuesday Morning, leaving the faithful dealer they sell to day in and day out screwed. And they do it all the time now. So the dealers that stock any of these items are stuck now for a while , thanks to Corgi for dumping to TM. I dont blame the resellers a bit for going in and snapping up as much as they can get there hands on. What makes me mad is what Corgi does and how lousy these TM stores are, what a crappy looking lousy feeling store to shop in, I wanted to get one each of the figures and one store had a few, the other had none?? One store had a few planes on a front counter area, the other had even less burried way in the back and the stupid employees had no idea what I was talking about airplanes? corgi? in an ad, we never heard of it, must be an old ad the woman said to me ???? Such a lousy crappy store to shop Just my two cents, and I am a fan of Corgi, love some of those 1/48 WWI birds but what a stupid company overall, the way its run ? Such a lousy crappy store overall these Tuesday Mornings are.

Biggie

Originally Posted by brunowbe

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, but has anyone looked on Ebay for the recent Corgi models sold by Tuesday Morning? It looks as if a bunch of dealers snapped up these models and put them on the bay for moderate starting bids and regular price buy it nows (especially for the Hackls). Granted, people should be able to make a profit, but I feel bad for those that were not able to find the models they wanted at a decent price (such as myself) because dealers or sellers snatched them up to make a quick buck. Just some thoughts and frustration.

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by Biggie

Maybe you should be mad at Corgi, many many years ago I used to be a dealer and Corgi and some others would never offer the deals to us, they would go sell off inventory to some crap place like Tuesday Morning, leaving the faithful dealer they sell to day in and day out screwed. And they do it all the time now. So the dealers that stock any of these items are stuck now for a while , thanks to Corgi for dumping to TM. I dont blame the resellers a bit for going in and snapping up as much as they can get there hands on. What makes me mad is what Corgi does and how lousy these TM stores are, what a crappy looking lousy feeling store to shop in, I wanted to get one each of the figures and one store had a few, the other had none?? One store had a few planes on a front counter area, the other had even less burried way in the back and the stupid employees had no idea what I was talking about airplanes? corgi? in an ad, we never heard of it, must be an old ad the woman said to me ???? Such a lousy crappy store to shop Just my two cents, and I am a fan of Corgi, love some of those 1/48 WWI birds but what a stupid company overall, the way its run ? Such a lousy crappy store overall these Tuesday Mornings are.

Biggie

Overall, I agree with you on these points -- you would think Corgi could give these to the standard retail chain and let them do official sales... drive traffic to their stores, and in the process, hopefully people look at other corgi models and build some brand awareness that way. But maybe the fear is we'll all then wait for such sales and won't buy anything at full MSRP again! If so, do they really think we wouldn't find out about TM?

(And the TMs are a mess that I would happily avoid in the future... though the employees at the few I visited yesterday were quite nice.)

[Gambit]

Its amusing that Corgi wants the stores to sell at a certain price while they fire the stuff out the back door below cost every 6-10 months.

I'am surprised Hornby would allow this as part of the sale as I read they were going to buy the existing stock.

So much for trying to build up the Aviation Archive

[1250ships]

I suspect the reason Corgi dump to TM and not to their dealers is that TM will take everything in one big transaction. No need to take calls from dozens of dealers, just one call and it the work is done. Not saying it is a smart decision, but I think that is part of what drives it.

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by Gambit

Its amusing that Corgi wants the stores to sell at a certain price while they fire the stuff out the back door below cost every 6-10 months.

I'am surprised Hornby would allow this as part of the sale as I read they were going to buy the existing stock.

So much for trying to build up the Aviation Archive

I would suspect that this round of TM goods were purchased before the Hornby sale... wonder if it is the last one we'll see?

[1250ships]

Originally Posted by PappyB

I would suspect that this round of TM goods were purchased before the Hornby sale... wonder if it is the last one we'll see?

I'm sure you are right and if Hornby has half a clue this will be the end of the dumps. But I suppose much will depend on how they manage their US operations. If this is a Corgi USA decision and Hornby gives them the rope they might continue to hang themselves.