Why pay more?

[dbcisco]

Why do people pay more for a kit on Ebay than you can get them in a store?
I've seen several Guillow's kits sell for much more on Ebay than I can get them at my local hobby shop. Am I clueless about something? Why would I blind purchase something and risk being ripped off, lost/damaged in transit etc. when I can walk to the store and pick it up, and pay much less. I can understand hard to find OOP lits like Sterling but my local shop has the old stock (lots of brands) from the 60's and 70's pretty cheap too.

I also see other RC and modeling items with the same phenomena, notably E-flight and Align products.

[SteveM]

I have often wondered the same thing. I won't buy on eBay unless the kit can not be purchased elsewhere (eg. discontinued) or it represents a significant reduction in price over a new kit. The risk of buying on eBay must be offset by the price.

On the other hand, if you wait you can get good deals. I got a P-38, B-17, and B-24 all in like-new condition on eBay for $25-30 each. And to me that $30 is pushing it as a new 2000 series kit can be had for as little as $60 (it was more like $55 before the MSRP was jacked to $93).

People will always do silly things so all you can do is avoid bidding against them and hope they buy from you when the time comes to sell something.

[dbcisco]

I can get Guillow's Fokkers and SE5's for $35 down the street and am willing to pay under 25 on-line. Have seen damaged kits go for $50! Needless to say I haven't got one of these on-line yet.

I have found a couple bargains on-line though:

Guillows Focke-Wulfe for $8

Wattage Spad w/electric motor and gearbox $35

COX micro P-47 $25

GWS Tiger Moth $35

Micromoth kit $15

RTF pipercub P3 $25!!!

Got Easybuilt SE5 at local shop for $13

Takes alot of watching and luck.

BTW, what have you built so far?

[SteveM]

My LHS sells at full retail so I rarely purchase anything there unless I need/want it in a hurry or it's something like balsa wood where I want to be able to select the piece. Buying a Guillow's kit from them would be a waste of money, but they have competitive ARF prices so that keeps 99% of the customers happy.

Guillow's kits that I have built so far are the 500 series BF-109, 900 series Bird Dog, and 1400 series F-15. I have a 400 series P-51 that I need to start building soon and a rather large queue behind that. I have built other kits as well, some for R/C flying, but I refrain from discussing them here on Guillow's forum as I feel that is disrespectful to them and off topic for the forum (and hence somewhat disrespectful to the other users).

If you want to see the planes that I speak of then take a look at my Virtual Aerodrome Hangar. Click on a picture to see all of the pictures associated with that plane. Also, on the left side is a list called "User's Aircraft" that contains other planes that don't yet have an image associated with them. Feel free to create an account there and upload pictures of any plane that you like, we'd all like to see them.

[supercruiser]

Why do people pay more for a kit on Ebay than you can get them in a store?
I've seen several Guillow's kits sell for much more on Ebay than I can get them at my local hobby shop. Am I clueless about something? Why would I blind purchase something and risk being ripped off, lost/damaged in transit etc. when I can walk to the store and pick it up, and pay much less. I can understand hard to find OOP lits like Sterling but my local shop has the old stock (lots of brands) from the 60's and 70's pretty cheap too.

I also see other RC and modeling items with the same phenomena, notably E-flight and Align products.

[supercruiser]

I hit the wrong button.

dbcisco,
You wouldn't happen to be talking about Penn Valley Hobby?

As far as ebay goes, I know what you mean. There are two likely reasons , if you ask me. One is bidding frenzy. People just don't like to be outbid. Second is convienence. A person can essentially never leave their house: Bid on ebay, pay by PayPal, and the stuff shows up in their mail box in a few days.
I personally try to give my local hobby shop my business whenever I can.

[dbcisco]

Yup. Penn Valley. 8 blocks away from me.

Some stuff over priced but quite a few bargains. Some stuff has the price from the 60's still on it : )

[dbcisco]

My LHS sells at full retail so I rarely purchase anything there unless I need/want it in a hurry or it's something like balsa wood where I want to be able to select the piece. Buying a Guillow's kit from them would be a waste of money, but they have competitive ARF prices so that keeps 99% of the customers happy.

Guillow's kits that I have built so far are the 500 series BF-109, 900 series Bird Dog, and 1400 series F-15. I have a 400 series P-51 that I need to start building soon and a rather large queue behind that. I have built other kits as well, some for R/C flying, but I refrain from discussing them here on Guillow's forum as I feel that is disrespectful to them and off topic for the forum (and hence somewhat disrespectful to the other users).

If you want to see the planes that I speak of then take a look at my Virtual Aerodrome Hangar. Click on a picture to see all of the pictures associated with that plane. Also, on the left side is a list called "User's Aircraft" that contains other planes that don't yet have an image associated with them. Feel free to create an account there and upload pictures of any plane that you like, we'd all like to see them.

I didn't mean to be disrespectful. I was just trying to make a point. I don't mind paying full price for a new guillow's kit at the LHS (or even a little more for OOP/NOS), I just don't understand some of the e-baying I've seen.
I will have to set up a web page to share my toys. BTW, I love your WWI planes .

When I build the FW I'll have to share it here.

[John1963]

I use to wonder the same thing,but then I got to looking at the area some of the people are at.In some cases running up to the LHS is just not an option.

[SteveM]

I use to wonder the same thing,but then I got to looking at the area some of the people are at.In some cases running up to the LHS is just not an option.

That's fine, but why one day does a shrink wrapped B-29 (something no hobby shop will have) sell for $120 then 2-3 months later $250 then a month or two after that back down to $120 range?

I just sold an opened 500 series kit on ebay for $0.25 more than a new one from one of the many reputable online hobby shops (eg. Hobbylinc and AC Supply) that will deliver to those people with no LHS.

[dbcisco]

But they can get them delivered alot cheaper from other on-line shops.
I think some are just Ebay-holics that can't stand being "beaten" on a bid.

I just bought a Guillow's Morse for half price at a LHS that was going out of business. It looks like the LHS's are going the way of my computer store in 1991 (frown) and the Electronics/TV repair shop before that.
I also picked up the Guillow's Fokker and Sopwith.

If these hold up with Monocote or Coverlite I will never buy anything but Guillow's. I got a competitor's SE5 and the wings warped with monocote when I barely started shrinking it.

Has anyone else tried Monokote or Coverlite (Red Baron esp.)?

[SteveM]

I think you are right about people not wanting to be beaten. In the past I have let myself bid higher than I initially wanted to then realized that for only a few dollars more I could buy that item new. At that point I let the other bidder take it, I don't think I have ever paid more than an item was worth.

As for your covering options, is this for RC? Even if not for RC, you may find this list very helpful in order to see what others have used to cover their Guillow's planes. Some use kit tissue/silkspan and others a light plastic film like Solite. I don't think you want to use Monokote as you might get warping on these smaller birds. I am building a 400 series P-51 and still have to decide between paper, Solite, or Doculam (a clear laminating film that can be painted). Since it will be RC tissue/silkspan is not a great idea since it punctures easily.

[dbcisco]

I want to do RC with electric motors. The Sopwith looks like it will be no problem. Not sure about the others.

I am not concerned about weight as the motors (370) I am using can fly a J-3 that is about three times the weight. Even if I have to add reinforcement stringers or plywood (or even CF) it would be OK. I am just not sure how much or where to add them.

I also have some silk shirts I would be happy to cut up if I thought it would look nicer than paper. I know most of these are done with super light materials, but surely there must be a few "tanks" out there.

[T-Hauler]

db, I just finished my first kit of any type which happend to be a Guillows Sopwith rc electric. For reinforcement I used the vinyl supplied with the kit to give the motor a sound mount. The only other reinforcement added was to center the top wings main (stringer ?) instead of connecting two at the center. Here are a couple photos if you are interested.

[dbcisco]

Thanks. I will be doing the Scout soon.