Every season it surprises me how many brand new models I see at garage sales. It must be one of those gifts that are given by relatives and shoved into the closet. This is good news for you because most of the models that you find at garage sales are basically brand new in the box. I have bought and sold dozens of models and when you see them sitting there new in the box, don't hesitate to snap them up at a dollar a piece. Larger models will sell for a little bit more, sometimes up to $5. If I pay for a $5 model, it needs to be complete in the box (make sure it has instructions!), the box needs to be in good condition and the parts still need to be attached to the plastic frame. Some models will sell better than others, and you may end up with a couple that are not even worth it to sell once you factor in the shipping. For these I will wait until I have a few and list them as a lot, or wait and sell them at your own garage sale, or craigslist.
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| No! Do not buy. |
Often times there will be paints included or sold as another lot, do yourself a favor and avoid these. Although they are expensive in the store, they just don't sell that well on ebay, and most likely the person buying your model already has a whole bunch of paints. There certainly are exceptions to this rule, and some vintage paints are worth good money, just be sure you know what you're doing before you end up needing a Haz-Mat team to come clean out your garage from all the old chemicals that are worth less than the glass jar they are kept in.
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| Pocher models... Cha-Ching! |
As with any product, there are a few model makers who produce nothing but the best. If you ever see models by a company named Pocher at a price of less than a couple hundred dollars, grab it. Pocher models are typically 1/8 scale and have thousands of pieces. They regularly sell on ebay for four figures, even after they have been constructed. Other high end model brand is Hasegawa, Doyusha, and Tamiya. Typically, the larger the model, the more money it brings.
I recently bought this model on the right for $1. It is 1:25 scale. The smaller models are hit or miss, but almost always worth gambling a dollar on, especially when they are in such good condition, and completely new. Again, be sure to look for the instructions, decals, and check all the loose part trees for missing pieces. Final price on this model was $13.25, certainly worth the 20 minutes of work spent on this item. Keep in mind that these models sell for about $25 new in the store.
What kind of models have you had luck flipping? Tell us about it!
I recently bought this model on the right for $1. It is 1:25 scale. The smaller models are hit or miss, but almost always worth gambling a dollar on, especially when they are in such good condition, and completely new. Again, be sure to look for the instructions, decals, and check all the loose part trees for missing pieces. Final price on this model was $13.25, certainly worth the 20 minutes of work spent on this item. Keep in mind that these models sell for about $25 new in the store.
