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A question for the board
http://skullbrain.org/legacy/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=10310		 Page 1 of 3
Author:  Chad Hensley [ Tue May 01, 2007 7:21 am ]
Post subject:  A question for the board
I have noticed more and more board members selling off new toys almost as soon as the buy them.

What's the point of this?

If you don't like a toy, why buy it in the first place?

Are our attention spans getting so short that we're already bored with the toy before it even arrives?

I'm not hating on anyone, mostly curious...
Author:  BloodDrinker6969 [ Tue May 01, 2007 7:27 am ]
Post subject: 
I'm guilty of doing this a few times. For me the motives were, A- I dunno from pics how I feel, that's a good price, if I don't care for it in person, pass it along to a member (that's the main reason it's happened) B- (kind of the reverse) That looks great, gotta get it ::gets it in hand:: blargh, no way, not nearly what pics made it seem, pass it along.

Those are really the only 2 reasons I've ever sold something within days/weeks of getting it. And I never marked em up for profit, no harm no foul. There was only 1 other reason, once, financial obligation, and I had to bite the bullet, though I had no desire to. You know, you get something, than you get slammed with a bill you didn't know existed, and your other toys have tenure or you're less attached to the new one or whatever, so it's gotta go. I'm not ashamed of having had done it, because I feel like I had totally legit reasons, but the few times I have that's why.
Author:  Chad Hensley [ Tue May 01, 2007 7:38 am ]
Post subject: 
Now, I'm more confused.

Why don't you give me some actual examples. Like what did you not like once you got the toy in hand?
Author:  donnierobot [ Tue May 01, 2007 7:43 am ]
Post subject: 
well last week a friend returned back from a trip to japan and brought me a gift of the Tiffany Skullbrain, he knew i loved secret base but didnt really know what i had , he gave it me and said if i dont want it feel free to trade so i offered it up on the board.
no takers though ! :cry: :cry:
Author:  BloodDrinker6969 [ Tue May 01, 2007 7:46 am ]
Post subject: 
Chad Hensley wrote:
Now, I'm more confused.

Why don't you give me some actual examples. Like what did you not like once you got the toy in hand?


There are a few examples, like the Clear Pink Pop Soda guy, pics, I was not so sure, I got it for a steal and liked it alot, but not soooo much that I had to keep it, so I sold it off to someone who had it in their wants list for what I paid plus shipping, and got something I TOTALLY wanted, no doubt. That's an example of the first scenerio.

The second scenerio, didn't happen as much, only thing I can think of is the Guts Big Zag, I freaked form pics and thought it was the bomb, got it and was totally underwhelmed. And for the price it cost me, I'd rather pass it off and get something else, which I did, and ti was something I DIDN'T re-sell.

But those are both examples of the 2 main reasons I ever did it.
Author:  siphilon [ Tue May 01, 2007 7:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A question for the board
i'm starting a new policy for toys I buy and end up not liking:
I give them to my dog.

that'll teach me.

I actually have done that but most of the time i sell it off @ cost to someone who might appreciate it. Sometimes you just have to physically have it in your hands before you can determine whether you like it or not.
Author:  BloodDrinker6969 [ Tue May 01, 2007 7:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A question for the board
siphilon wrote:
I actually have done that but most of the time i sell it off @ cost to someone who might appreciate it. Sometimes you just have to physically have it in your hands before you can determine whether you like it or not.


Well yeah, exactly. I'm not making a profit at all off these. And I'm still kinda newer here too, it seems the longer I collect these, the less and less I'm doing this. You start getting a feel for what it WILL look like in hand, you know the dif. companies, you begin forming footholds in what it is you really like and want, and will like. You start realizing what you want your collection to be, and it takes a little bit of trial and error. But once you get a good feel for each company and product, this is much less likely to happen.
Author:  rhinomilk [ Tue May 01, 2007 8:06 am ]
Post subject: 
funniest thing i've seen on the board was someone trying to sell off two of the same toy they just bought. ROFL
Author:  atease [ Tue May 01, 2007 8:20 am ]
Post subject: 
my recent sales were a result of cleaning out my toy case and refocusing my collection.
Author:  akum6n [ Tue May 01, 2007 8:20 am ]
Post subject: 
While I can understand a quick buy/resell for items that looked good on-screen, but not in-hand, the thing that always perplexes me is those board members who buy up all the new releases, and then offer them up as trade bait for "all older RxH," or something similar.
Author:  locomoto566 [ Tue May 01, 2007 8:22 am ]
Post subject: 
Sometimes I'll get really limited, hard to get pieces from other sites, just to give our peeps here at skullbrain.org for a price to cover my costs, basically retail costs+paypal fee+shipping.
Author:  Anti Social Andy [ Tue May 01, 2007 8:26 am ]
Post subject: 
atease wrote:
my recent sales were a result of cleaning out my toy case and refocusing my collection.


My recent sales were a result of my tattooist getting into the zone . . . budgeted for 6 hours, ended up with closer to 12!

I'm guessing some of the instant sales may also be the KR flipperfest mentality . . . but it's pretty pointless on RFSO because of the availability of items from a wide variety of sources.
Author:  atease [ Tue May 01, 2007 8:31 am ]
Post subject: 
Scary Andy wrote:
I'm guessing some of the instant sales may also be the KR flipperfest mentality . . . but it's pretty pointless on RFSO because of the availability of items from a wide variety of sources.


I think you hit it on the head.
Author:  Roger [ Tue May 01, 2007 8:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A question for the board
Chad Hensley wrote:
I have noticed more and more board members selling off new toys almost as soon as the buy them.
You're just noticing this now, Chad? ;p

I've definitely done this, and I can cite two situations in which it's happened for me:

- It's a robot toy that lets me down in the quality department, more than likely a transforming one. I have no room for those. An example of this would be any Yamato Valkyrie.

- It's a vinyl toy from a manufacturer/genre/etc. that I haven't personally handled yet, it looks really cool on the internet. But when I get it in my hands, it disappoints. Example of this would be the TTToys figures.

Vintage toys rarely get the turnaround treatment. Make of that what you will.

I sold the SDCC Skullpirate a few months after I got it. I really just bought it for trade bait, and when it didn't get me what I wanted, I sold it at cost. I'll probably be doing the same for the other Super7 Fan Club exclusives. If someone chooses to brand me a "flipper," then so be it.
Author:  Chad Hensley [ Tue May 01, 2007 8:49 am ]
Post subject: 
If you sell an item for cost or less, is that flipping?
Author:  locomoto566 [ Tue May 01, 2007 9:02 am ]
Post subject: 
Chad Hensley wrote:
If you sell an item for cost or less, is that flipping?


Yes, but the good kind.
Author:  Dean [ Tue May 01, 2007 9:02 am ]
Post subject: 
Chad Hensley wrote:
If you sell an item for cost or less, is that flipping?


No! :-) As I understand, "flipping" means turning something around for a profit. It becomes more of a dirty word when the profit margin is obvious collector-gouging or just silly greed. My perspective anyway.

The only time I've sold something new, it wsa because I'd bought the item for someone who couldn't afford it at the moment; neither could I. I did not flip, and the buyer appeared to be very happy with the purchase.

Another time I allllllmost did this because I got a toy home and thought "not feelin' it" a little prematurely. I'm so glad I changed my mind and cancelled the post. I love that toy now.
Author:  Vombie [ Tue May 01, 2007 9:14 am ]
Post subject: 
Though I've only just started collecting in that past few months, I'm already guilty of this. Basically, I don't decide I want it for certain until I see it in person--really get a feel for it--unless I'm already familiar with the sculpt or something. I'm trying a little this, a little that. What I'm not crazy about I've sold--but not for much more than what I paid.

I've also made a trade--both the sale and trade were within days of me actually getting the figures from the shop. I thought they were nice, but they just didn't do it for me--and I knew there were ppl out there who wanted it a whole lot more. I could put some $$ back in my pocket or perhaps trade for something I definitely will keep. You do the right thing and good things happen to you.

I even have a piece or two that I really like, but am holding on to in case I need some quick $$$ eBay-style. This is an expensive hobby, so it's always good to have a little insurance.

What's on my want list I hope stays if I'm lucky enough to get it. Everything else I'm just eager to see it in person and next to my not-for-sale-or-trade pieces.

I think "flipping" is when you get something rare for retail and then jack up the price like it's nobody's business. I'm not sure. RFSO could use a glossary!
Author:  liquidsky [ Tue May 01, 2007 9:18 am ]
Post subject: 
akum6n wrote:
While I can understand a quick buy/resell for items that looked good on-screen, but not in-hand, the thing that always perplexes me is those board members who buy up all the new releases, and then offer them up as trade bait for "all older RxH," or something similar.


That might pertain to me. I end up with dups as I'm not organized and sometimes buy from two or three sources. Or forget I have something on order and buy it elsewhere.

New releases aren't going to open any vault doors.
Author:  khanate [ Tue May 01, 2007 9:20 am ]
Post subject: 
Internet buying is hit or miss, yet it's the only way for most people to get these things. I've bought a few things that look completely different in person, due to bad photos - someone takes a pic with way too much light or a flash, and it misrepresents colors and textures. I'm pretty particular with color schemes so it can be a real deal breaker when you think something is deep red, but turns out to be pink.

Also, YJA descriptions basically suck, and trying to get responses from sellers on specific details is near-impossible, so sometimes you get disappointed when a piece arrives.

Also, what Blooddrinker said.
Author:  BloodDrinker6969 [ Tue May 01, 2007 9:36 am ]
Post subject: 
Yeah, I've done that, bought 2 of something without keeping track and had a leftover. That's another good point. Between here, eBay and YJA sometimes you totally F'up and get more than 1.
Author:  toybotstudios [ Tue May 01, 2007 9:40 am ]
Post subject: 
rhinomilk wrote:
funniest thing i've seen on the board was someone trying to sell off two of the same toy they just bought. ROFL


that was funny. poor kid clam thought the bemon or whatever was a different colorway than the one he already had so he bought it and then tried to sell it.
Author:  tavaro [ Tue May 01, 2007 9:45 am ]
Post subject: 
2 days ago, I bid on a superfest chaos on YJA. I really wanted it, so I got robbed.

The next day, I found one on YJA for the RFSO price.. so naturally, I picked it up. Thus, leaving me w/ 2 mutant chaos..

I plan to sell one at exactly half of what the combined two cost me..

am I a flipper ?
Author:  Dean [ Tue May 01, 2007 9:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: A question for the board
Roger wrote:
Vintage toys rarely get the turnaround treatment. Make of that what you will.


What I'd make of that is that if one pursues a vintage toy, they truly want it "for love," not for any faddish or "cool" factor. Vintage toys tend to cost, so the ROI equation is all about true collecting, not "I'll keep this for x amount of time until I tire of it."

This is a great thread. I appreciate that people are offering perspectives and examples without accusations and rancor.
Author:  liquidsky [ Tue May 01, 2007 9:56 am ]
Post subject: 
I've also had conversations with people who are on limited budgets. They want to see a toy firsthand or experience it for a couple weeks. So they'll buy something only to resell it later to fund another purchase. Crazy but true.

Personally I think reselling stuff is a hassle and I try to avoid it. The lowballers and flakes come out and fill your inbox. Then paypal. Then box it up. Did it actually get to the buyer? Does the buyer not have any issues? Arrggh.
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