Fair Price

[TauCaptain]

Can someone explain to me what Fair Price is?

From what I can see 50% what someone payed for an item seems to be fair. I don't understand this. If I pay $40 for a tank and it's in a sealed box people want it for $20.

Now add in the fact that a good paint job is added and they still want 50% off the price.

I don't understand this also.

If someone could please explain this it be great.

[Zaakath]

My Opinion:

I come here so I don't have to pay the outrageous retail prices. For me the hobby includes painting the models, and if your's is painted, I'm gonna have to scrub the paint off. If we're trading, I'm going on a retail by retail basis, unless yours is painted, in which case it is less.

For cash deals, 50% off is a bit much for something NIB, opened and assembled are different stories; but like I said, it's just my opinion.

Everyone is going to have a different rate that they want to get things for. It's called BARTERtown. Barter and make counter offers for things.

Jack

[TauCaptain]

I"ve had 2 good trades. Other than that the people that have responded want me to drive to their house and drop the models off at no charge for anything.

[Linrandir]

Some people are always going to be like that.

One story that Morlock and I still laugh about is the kid who wanted to convince me that because his Dark Eldar Warriors were assembled and primed, they were worth more than retail price.

The best thing to do is decide for yourself what you're willing to accept in trade value/etc. and stick to it. For me, I trade on a retail-for-retail basis unless there are other considerations like the condition of a model. If I am buying something, the rule of thumb is no smaller discount than 25% off sticker price for a NIB model.

[Brian Khazad]

The bottom line really is that 'Fair Price' is a price that you and the other person can agree on. Your idea of what constitutes a Fair Price won't necessarily match what someone else calls one.

Still, here are some things to consider - I hope they help.

First, a number of places online sell 40k and other hobby stuff at a discount. Buying from the Warstore (as an example) you can save up to 25% off (with a decent volume) and free shipping. Thus, if I'm trading with someone for something new in a box and they expect me to pay shipping, I'll expect at around 30% off - otherwise I can get it new from a retailer cheaper.

Second, while your tank might be painted - and it might be painted extremely well - it won't necessarily match the color scheme of my army. Thus, an unpainted tank is worth more to me than a painted tank that I'm going to have to find a way to strip. The more work I (or someone else) has to put into something to get it the way they want it, the less they'll be willing to pay for it.

This goes for assembled models as well. A perfect example from my own Marine army: I'm somewhat *edit* about how my marines go together. There are 5 different front torsos in a marine tactical box (as I call them: Aquilla, Skull, straps, Wings, Wing with crossbones), and 2 different types of legs (Mk6 legs without kneepads, and Mk7 with the kneepads). Same thing for the heads (skull, assault, bare, & so on). As I said, I'm *edit*. Each squad is set up a specific way - IE one squad has Skull Torso, Skull Helmet, and Mk6 legs. Another is Aquilla Torso, Bare helmet, Mk7 legs. And so on and so on. Thus, your marines could be perfectly assembled, but since they aren't want I'm really needing/wanting I won't pay as much for them.

Another consideration for assembled models is painting. Some people prefer to paint models BEFORE they assemble them so they can get into all the nooks & crannies better and/or be more detailed with parts that are hard to reach with a paintbrush. For them an assembled model is a lot harder to work with.

So, to use the examples you gave, you have a tank you paid $40 for. Assuming that's the full GW retail price, people can buy that tank online for $30 and get free shipping. Or, they can get it new-in-box on ebay for around $25-28 (if they trust ebay and the seller there). In the case of a NiB tank, then the $20 they want to pay is definately too low - politely tell them no and move on. But don't expect to get $40 out of it - it simply isn't realistic.
As for the painted tank, that's more nebulous. A WELL painted tank that's EXACTLY the paint scheme someone has for it's army can be worth a lot more than the tank itself sometimes. However, that's for something close to a professional paint job with plenty of pictures and a good reputation. If the tank isn't at that level of painting, and it doesn't match someone's army that they're wanting the tank for, then 50% really isn't all that unreasonable an offer. Metal figures strip easily, thus paint on them isn't as much of a hassle. On tanks that are mostly plastic, stripping paint isn't nearly as easy, so people simply won't be willing to pay as much.

Here are some guidelines I use for myself. Note they are just my personal guidelines and mean absolutely nothing else to anyone else on Bartertown, so feel free to ignore them or use them as a starting point.

For NiB stuff, I'll try to get 35%-40% off - especially if I'm paying shipping. Any higher and I can probably get it cheaper on Ebay.

For plastic stuff that's on-the-sprue with no paint, not assembled, and perfect except for the box, the 35%-40% off works unless there are parts missing. From there it'll depend on what's missing.

For metal stuff that's not in box/blister, but not assembled/painted, same thing - 35%-40% plus shipping.

For metal that's assembled well (with pictures to prove it) 40% off. For metal that's painted, anywhere from 40%-50% off depending on how thick the paint is, whether it's sealed, whether it's well assembled and so on.

For plastic kits that are assembled and/or painted, it ranges from 40%-50% off depending on how well it's assembled (with pictures to prove it), how close the paint matches the army i've got, how much work I'll have to do to get it the way I want it and so on.

I hope that helps. Like I said, it's only my opinion and really carries no weight with anyone else on Bartertown. But it at least gives you an idea of what someone else on Bartertown might expect.

-Dwarf

[MagickalMemories]

First off, B.K. said:

This goes for assembled models as well. A perfect example from my own Marine army: I'm somewhat *Naughty Word!* about how my marines go together. <SNIP> Each squad is set up a specific way <SNIP> Thus, your marines could be perfectly assembled, but since they aren't want I'm really needing/wanting I won't pay as much for them.

Holy moly. And here I thought I was the only one that *edit*.
Of course, I play Chaos... so, I purposefully don't keep all armor types in a squad the same... but I am particular about which piece goes where!
LOL

Also, based on B.K.'s assessment of things...
If I can get you to sell me what I want for 50% off, I will take it. Period. it is called bartertown. If someone doesn't like my offer, they are welcome to shoot an offer back at me. I expect that and (on the RARE occasion it hasn't happened), I'm disappointed when the person doesn't counter (whether they accept my offer or not).

I don't pay more than 75% for anything, unless it is OOP, or I REEEEEAAALLLYYYY want it.
If you want me to buy assembled models, they have to be metal and I have to have proof. Plus, with a lower rating, I'd likely require you to ship first (and if they were misrepresented, I will be shipping them back).
Plastics that have been assembled, primed and/or painted have become STRICT no-no's for me.
I find that my particular point of view on quality is not shared by everyone. once a model is assembled, it cannot be disassembled (please, older crowd, no Johnny-5 jokes LOL) without risking permanent damage to the model. Same goes for paint of any type (including primer). I have had far too many bad experiences.

Stripped metal has to be one HECK of a deal. I find that, all too often, someone stopped stripping the model at "good enough," instead of "good." More work for me.

As far as painted models go;
Nope. No thanks. In my opinion, too many people slop paint on a model and call it painted for me to risk it. I am too picky about my models. I will be painting it, or someone I have carefully chosen will be painting it. If it is painted, it is of no use to me.

If your model is painted well, and you want to get more than a small pittance for it, then you need to cruise over to Ebay, where there is a market for that sorta thing. They don't go over so well here.

Now, where trade is concerned, it gets kinda wierd. In that case, what I am willing to give/take in trade is in direct proportion to how much I like what you have/are offering. If I want your stuff more than mine, I would be willing to trade in your favor. If not, then the direct opposite is in effect. If I am pretty neutral about preferences, then it'll be a retail for retail.
That's not to say that I am unwilling to budge in my assessments. If I offer a deal in my favor and you counter with something equal, or close... I may bite. It depends on how much I like you, to be honest. Same goes for cash deals. If we are pretty close on a deal, and I like you, I will WORK to make it happen.

You could get a hundred different people responding to you with a hundred different answers. It is all relative.
IMO, a 50% offer on your tank is fair. If your tank is worth more, then throw it on Ebay. it'll serve you better.

Lin, as far as the whole assembled & primed thing goes... I could buy that arguement, actually.
If models were assembled in a way I am happy with, in a manner that meets my strict standards, and primed with a flawless base coat (no grit or missing spots), I might pay more than retail... but I'd have to see the models, first.
It would be MORE than worth the trouble (assuming it's rank & file minis & nothing I'd want to convert) of going through all the trouble myself.

Shoot. When I was cleaning the multitudes of pieces for the berzerkers I assembled (only 24 of them), I'd have GLADLY paid someone local to me $8 to $12 to do it all by my standards, if the offer had come up.

Eric

[Brian Khazad]

LOL. Wish I had known that - MO isn't so far from kansas, and as perfectionist as I am about flashing and assembling my models, I probably could have met your standards just by meeting my own. Takes me longer to clean models than it does to paint them sometimes.

But I think the major point that I didn't mention (and MM did) is that it IS Bartertown. If you put a $40 tank up and someone offers you $20 for it, Barter with them. Send them a PM or email saying "It's still new in the box, so $20 is too low. I'd be willing to take $30 for it" or something like that. Communicate with the prospective purchaser and remember that many times people will low-ball their first offer. As MM said, they don't always expect people to take it but if the poster takes the offer, then they just got a great deal. Don't take it personally, just send a counter-offer and keep going.

-Dwarf

[MagickalMemories]

LOL

It's far when you consider that I am in St. Louis. LOL

Shoot. If you're willing to make the trip, I'd probably pay you to assemble my whole next army I'll be purchasing! At $10 (average) per box, it would be WAAAAY worth it (for ME)!

Eric

[Commander_Dante]

For NIB Items I never drop Below 30% off Retail unless I'm getting an absolute Creampuff of a deal in which case I'm willing to go with more of a discount.

[TauCaptain]

I want to redo my entire Tau army. I have 3000+ of Tau that are fully painted and Table top good. It's buy and play. I have people wanting to buy it for 50% off. To me you are getting a fully painted, well done army with some conversions that are cool. I'd not let it go for much under what I paid for it.

Here is my thinking on it. You are getting a fully painted army that looks good. So thats over 50 hours of painting time for all the models I've done. Plus the paint and flocking.

To me if I paid $800 for everything included to paint the army I shouldn't be offered $400 for it. I wouldn't be happy selling it for $600 but at least I'm getting a good amount of lost money I put into the army.

[ekister]

My 2 cents - based on the tau army only.

I hear your plea, but you will have a really hard time selling a painted army for full price unless you are a professional painter and can provide high quality photos of your work. It just isn't going to happen here. Perhaps on eBay you can fetch a higher price, but at Bartertown, painted stuff is not in high demand.

Again, if you can provide high quality pictures that show a very well painted army (and preception varies) you might get 50%. If you had that type of painting skills, you would be better off on eBay anyway.

I feel your pain, espcially since I have a couple of nicely painted armies that I am thinking of selling. I know I will not be able to get what I put into them. If they were unpainted, I would get a nice price becuase of the size and selection of units. But since they are painted - no chance.

Here is an example of why: pretend you buy a new car. Drive it off the lot and to the dealer it loses value that minute. Sure there will always be someone willing to buy it, but you will most likely lose some money.

Now imagine that you bought a new car, took out the nice stereo and replaced it with something cheap, stripped the nice new tires and put on old bald ones, took out the leather seats and put in vinyl. Then think what it would sell for. To some people painting a model makes it look, sound or feel like what you did to that new car. You lose value.

Imagine another new car, straight from the factory, this time its a Porsche. You get your car and you take out the factory stereo and put in an Alpine 4000 watt system, you drop the Pirelle tires and change to Bridgestone and you add Sprewell rims (2000 a pop), you change the paint to high intensity lime green and you add some cool paint effects. What have you done to your car? Well, you have increased its value and some people would buy it for more, but to others you have ruined a very nice sports car and they wouldn't give you half its true value because they would have to "fix" all the things you changed to get it back to a stock Porsche.

Maybe not the best examples, but I hope you get the idea.

Good luck selling your army. My suggestion, trade first and try to get and equal point or value army that you are interested in. As far as selling, get some really good photos, hope someone thinks you are good and head to eBay. If you stay here, you will most likely not get 60% of its "true" value.

Ekister

[MagickalMemories]

I'm with Ekister 100% on this one.
I say 100%, because he left roome for chance.
He said you "most likely" wouldn't get your 60%.

If I was looking for an army, and you had exactly what I am looking for, I would easily give 60%, if it was painted to my standards, AND you shipped first, so I had the opportunity to back out of the deal after seeing the models.
I always cover my rear.

The thing is, you would have to HAPPEN to have exactly what I am looking for. I'm not looking for Tau but, if I was, I would not look for an army as a "3000 point" army. It could be 3000 points of Firewarriors, for heaven's sake!
I would look for the specific composition I desired. You would have to be close or dead on accurate. Since I don't want to have a stray unit or 2 that doesn't match, I'd have to paint to match your scheme & style if I wanted to add to it. Seeing that the games I play in are 2500 point games, a 3000 point Army doesn't give me a lot of room to move in the Force Org chart, either.

Based on the rest of the information you've provided, my suggestions are as provided:

Get good pics. Great pics, in fact.
List is on BTown at the 60% off you are willing to take and stress that the price is firm. No negotiation.
If it doesn't sell in a week or 2, head to Ebay with it as ONE lot. Put your Minimum accepted price as a minimum bid.
List it there up to twice.
If it STILL doesn't sell, either piece it out there or sell it at half off here. If you piece it out, you MIGHT make more than selling it as one lot at half off.... but you might only sell your "best" or most sought after minis... then you'll bave a closet full of stuff that nobody wants.

Eric

[IYANDEN_WRAITHLORD]

It also depends on your situation, personally.
Myself, I've been out of the game for a year at least, and I still have 3x as big an army as anyone I know.

I'd gladly accept 50% retail for my stuff (its in impeccible shape too), simply to get rid of it.

Fair Price all depends on the circumstances surrounding the models/people themselves

-Budgets
-Model condition
- Models themselves ( I want a heavy weapons team, but only 3 of your 6 models have heavy weapons, etc etc)
- Whether the buyer is really that picky about you having a different yellow then he wants. ( )

It all depends really.

But for the most part, I'd go about 10-15% off retail for NIB models, simply because, if someone wanted the models that badly, they'd just go to a store and not have to worry about whether or not they're being scammed and whatnot.

On another note.... anyone remember me? It's been a while.

[MagickalMemories]

The guy with the longest trade name on Bartertown? How could we forget him?!
LOL

So, what is this army (out of curiosity) that is so immense? You have my curiosity roused.

(Mods & Admin: I promise not to stray off topic after this)

IW stated it simply and clearly:

Fair Price all depends on the circumstances surrounding the models/people themselves

Eric

[IYANDEN_WRAITHLORD]

Hahaha, yeah, I think mine is the longest.
I don't know why I had to do it in caps though.

It's an Eldar army, I have it in its entirety for sale. All 10,000+ pts worth

And yeah, that's as simple as you could put it, that it depends on the people/models involved.