Last week I wandered over to Ebay for the first time in months to see what was happening. Came across a Hasagawa 1/72 T-33 and although I don’t normally build models of kerosene burning dog whistles I put a bid in on it. It fell within my guidelines for buying a kit, namely if the kit and shipping costs less than what it would cost me in the hobby shop plus the cost of a 140 mile round trip there, I,ll bid on it. Any how a box show up day before yesterday and when I opened it there were not one but two kits in it. One had been started but had all the parts, instructions and decals with it and the other kit is still factory wrapped. Could have knocked me over with a feather. (I’ll probably get screwed royally on the next bid I win)
I don’t buy much on eBay, but have never had a problem. Most sellers seem to be legit. Just be careful about getting caught up in a bidding war. I decide what an item is worth to me, including shipping costs, & make a bid. If I win, fine, if not, it was worth more to the winning bidder than it was to me.
Regards, Rick
I have good luck so far both when buying and when selling. I go pretty much the same way as Rick, I decide what my max spend will be and won’t go over that (have missed out on several kits I really want but just can’t afford some of those prices). I don’t always put in my full bid up front but may go a few dollars lower so I don’t loose out on a last second bid. I also like to look at the auctions ending soonest. Usually can find something I want that no one has bid on and can get it for their starting price.
Sweet deal Quincy… that’s the kind of thing that would never happen to me.
You’ve got the right idea Rick, I think that sometimes people get wrapped up in out bidding the person they’re in the “war” with and go over what they would normally pay… probably makes the seller happy though…lol.
I’ve only boughten one thing from Ebay, a L19 Bird Dog and liked what I received. There are good people out there.
Most of my models have come from ebay. I’ve had all good experiences except the one time I bought some paint. One of the lids came off during shipping & got all over everything. The seller reimbursed me for the auction.
I’ve had pretty good luck with ebay, but like one of the other posters I will only buy a model if the cost plus shipping is significantly cheaper than one of my LHS, I like to support the brick and mortar shops as much as possible but am a sucker for a good deal. The other exception is for a kit I can’t get otherwise. Excessive shipping and getting caught up in bidding wars are probably the worst “dangers” of ebay, as far as getting what I was looking for all have been as promised or better although I haven’t had one throw in an extra kit yet (hope, hope). I also read everything very carefully, a couple of times I’ve almost bid on empty boxes or built kits but after reading the whole description realized what was actually for sale.
I have brought a number of kits from Ebay…and even get them sent from the good old US of A, although I think that I often rip myself off with the shipping costs. But I can’t help it…must…have …that …kit!
Good one, Quincy - you’ve had great luck!!
And it’s a kerosene burning dog whistle!!! LOL!!
Have a good one, mate!
Like, wow, man. That’s cool.
Guess you had a stroke of good luck. I’ve not really found good deals on e-bay that much. Only one actually springs to mind that was a GOOD deal. And I’ve been screwed before, so just be careful, as most people out there are legit, but there are enough of those that could care less about you, and just want money, one way or the other.
I have never had that kind of luck with ebay, but I have used them for five years and have not been burned yet. I think you just have to use common sense when dealing that way.
Thad
ROFLMAO
That was GREAT!! I can’t wait to use that in my answer to someone’s “What do YOU do for a living?” question!!!
“I operate kerosene-burning dog whistles.”
LOL!! And to think I used to simply tell people that I turned dinosaurs into noise!
I’ve gotten most of my model collection from eBay. (50 or so kits and growing) Some of them have been really great prices, 50% off or more than I’d pay at my LHS, while others were a little less than what I can get at a LHS or Internet shop, but always at a savings. I haven’t had any bad experiences, and have in fact met some really nice and fair people. That’s not to say I’ve never had a problem come up, there have been a few. But the Seller always worked with me to resolve it. All have been more than willing to help. I also basically stick to the guidlines that everyone else has mentioned. Only pay the amount you were willing to pay locally. There are some exeptions, like on kits from the 70’s that you built as a kid and MUST have again, and they are NOWHERE else but on eBay. Then it’s a matter of how much you want it. Recently I saw a Revell 1/32 “Jack” Japanese fighter from the 70’s sell for $305 !!! Others have gone for well over $100. To me, that’s just complete lunacy. But collectors are sometimes funny people…
The one thing I really pay attention to is the Seller’s feedback rating. If he has completed a lot of transactions and has a 99% or more positive rating, the chances are you are going to get a fair very deal. Any feedback of 98% to 95%, I read the negative responses to see If there is a pattern of what the problem was. Some buyers do give unfair feedback from time to time. But, anything less than 95%, I won’t even look at. Maybe that’s what has kept my eBay experiences to this point pleasant ones.
Ted
I always check with the two model shops within a half hour of me first before I bid on eBay-- gots to keep the local guys as healthy as possible. But eBay has gotten me some moels I surely couldn’t find anywhere else. But as othrs have said, youshould have steely nerves and not get sucked into a bidding frenzy. I do two things to cure that. One, whenever I can, I am a sniper at the very end of the auction to avoid the price being jacked by someone who in fact has succumbed to bid frenzy. Two, I check with a few on-line model shops to see if the same kit is available from them at a lower price. I bought a 1/9 Protar Gilera 500cc GP bike from an on-line shop at almost half of an auction bid.
I like e-bay when I can get stuff for less than it would be at the store (Well, I’m rather a big fan of the pre-built Gundam model lots… score alot of kits for a decent price usually )
I actually only got one aircraft model (The Testors B-2 ) since I couldn’t find it anywhere at all…
And I also just got an origional resin model for half it’s origional price (hell, the recast for it costs $99… ) So I’m happy…
Just be careful what you bid on, and you’ll be safe 
Hey, if so many of you guys are not bidding on e-bay, how come I get outbid so many times?
I just love e-bay, I have had so many good deals and only a few times I got caught up on the “bidding war”.
Borislav
How do I find models on ebay??? What are the key words to search with?
I agree with bdelov but you really have to watch the bidding wars. woodbeck3 go to e-bay then browse-
toys & hobbies-
models, kits
I won’t go over twenty dollars on my bids, thatb includes shipping. So far I’ve had no problems except for losing a few that I really wanted that went for a few dollars more than I wanted to bid (one went for 50 cents more than 20!!) If you set a firm limit and never exceed it, you shouldn’t have any problems with bid wars. just my [2c] for what its worth.