Crazy eBay PacMin prices? I've lost faith...
 

Hey everyone!

I'm a newbie on here so be kind! LOL

I collect PacMin models and I have noticed a few strange things on eBay over the last 12 months or so...

Anyone have any comments or seen strange things too? :eek:

1) Models recently being sold for a lot of money - more than they are worth (i.e $1000+ for a not too rare 1/100th). This never happened a year or so ago...

2) Models being 'sold' for a lot of money and being relisted soon afterwards

3) Models being sold under the private bid system having 'private' listed bids and being relisted

4) Models being sold to traders only to reappear again (sometimes at less than price sold)...

5) Models being bid on by the sellers other accounts to raise the price?!! Having watched a few recent sales, and, knowing the sellers userids, I've seen this happen.

6) Models listed and having a load of bids suddenly (within 1 hour or thereabouts of being listed). This also is a new thing... people used to wait and bid at the last minute...

Anyone see more of this happening recently? I put a lot of it down to removing the name from public viewing, and, private listings.

But, we've had some interesting sales recently - PacMin 1.100ths on sale for $1500...

I've bought from most of you on this website, and, also sold to most of you. I'm just put off buying at the moment because I'm now competing not against collectors, but, traders...

And, some funny business where I’m bidding against the owner...

Any comments welcome! Please - restore my faith in eBay

Perhaps 1/100th are no longer worth $300 but are now $1000 - if so, I’ll sell my collection and move to Barbados!

I was surprised nobody has posted anything on this subject before (that I could find)...

To jog your memory, here are some of the models I thought were odd...
I'm making no accusations against the models below - they all may be legitimate, or, the owners have a number of them, but, I’m interested in what's happening to restore my faith...

PacMin 747-400 Saudi Arabia - didn't it sell already?
Those PIA PacMin Models - didn't they sell already?
EOS 757s - didn't they sell already (especially the one with the mark on it)?
Qatar 777 going for $1000 (yet to appear again but I bet it does)
Etihad 777 going for $831 and now on again for a lot less
The KLM / NWA DC10 keeps making an appearance
The Delta 747 PacMin model - bought for $561, now on sale from the buyer for $545 as buy it now. If there are a load of them, surely they aren't worth $545?
Peter Max models PacMin models come and reappear via traders
Air Force Once models - remember those? Some reappeared via traders...
The use of 'rare' only to find a load of them put up for sale one after the other :-)


Any comments welcome!

I also am concerned if I sell a model, it will reappear at a higher price in the future - simply being passed on by people trading. It's not in the sprit of collecting these models - and, it certainly never used to be like this.

And, before anyone comes back defending themselves, I know it's allowed to buy and sell, and, traders are allowed etc. I just think it's a newish thing on eBay and us PacMin collectors are a small bunch (hence why I'm not naming people here!!) :p

Re: Crazy eBay PacMin prices? I've lost faith...
 

I don't follow PacMin auctions on Ebay but I do see alot of "strange" happenings in the 400 scale sector of Ebay. I am sure there is a big scam going on by many and at the same time there are many honest sellers.

Re: Crazy eBay PacMin prices? I've lost faith...
 

I'm very glad you created this tread. Looks like there's a scam on ebay with the pacmin models.

I have been checking Pacmin auctions on Ebay, almost on a daily basis.

I have seen re-listing of the same items from the same seller couple of times.

Also seeing people bidding on items continuously when the auction time is for more than 6 days!!!

I buyed a Pacmin Emirates A380 12 days ago, the seller suposedly shipped the item via usps priority mail with insurrance on the first of april.

Aparently the item got lost in route. The seller says that he dosent have a tracking number. He gave me the insurrance number, i called usps & they said the number is invalid.

I know, I know...... I feel like I been ripped off. The only good thing is that the seller responds to all my messages & he is aparently giving follow up to the situation.

Any sugestions on how to sort this matter are more than welcome!

J.

Re: Crazy eBay PacMin prices? I've lost faith...
 

Somehow I dont think your going to get too many responses from people trying to defend their position on this matter. way to much cattle rustling going on there!

jonathanpa, I hope this all comes out well for you.

Re: Crazy eBay PacMin prices? I've lost faith...
 

I am sorry to hear about that, not only that but such a rare model that got lost in route, that just sucks. I hope you can get things squared off. There is a PacMin PeterMax CO 777 for 550. Now considering I am not a fan of CO it seems that even for a Peter Max that is way too much for that model. I have just one PacMin model and thats an AA 777 that was given to me as a gift from the CR Smith Museum. I believe the person who gave it to me as a gift paid 250 for it or so. I am by no means a PacMin collector considering I just have that AA 777, but its definately the apex of my collection., its simply beautiful. But PacMins are just way too expensive and on eBay they get ridiculous.

Re: Crazy eBay PacMin prices? I've lost faith...
 

Have you tried contacting eBay with the listing numbers? Bidding on your own item to create artifical demand is a serious eBay violation.

Re: Crazy eBay PacMin prices? I've lost faith...
 

PacMin Fan, You must have read my mind! I have made some of the observations that you have. I have been collecting these display models for some 30 yrs now mainly "Eastern Bloc" models when I can find them and I do have some Pacmin models in the collection also. Now how much a model is worth will always depend on how much the item means to the buyer, I know that, but no way on this earth are these 1/100 Pacmin items worth the prices we are seeing of late and this is a fairly recent thing. About a year ago I purchased (not via ebay) a very rare and almost mint 1/72 BEA Vanguard model which used to belong to a Vanguard captain, the model is almost 50 years old still in its original packaging with the captains name and original address on the BEA label. IMO that is a rare model and I did break my own normal price ceiling to buy it and most likely will never repeat the exercise. With all due respect to Pacmin collectors on here IMO NO Pacmin model is worth anywhere near what that Vanguard cost me....in 50 yrs time one or two might be. I know that Pacmins are very good, and as I said I have some of my own but there are many good alternative model makers that we can collect out there, but if Pacmins are your thing then I guess you're going to go for them. For me about Euro:350 is my ceiling for most models that I have purchased with the exception of that Vanguard. These are just my own observations and not intended to be criticism of how others collect and what they buy:).

Re: Crazy eBay PacMin prices? I've lost faith...
 

jonathanpa, I sincerely hope you get a good result on this. A similar thing happened to me a few years ago involving a 1/100 Iran Air 747SP. It did turn up eventually but with a wrecked port wing. Hopefully your outcome will be better, please keep us posted!

Re: Crazy eBay PacMin prices? I've lost faith...
 

Put in your best bid and forget about it, dont go over the odds, nobody is going to give away a rare model for cents either, i recently sold a few AC 1:400 club models on ebay limited to 120 each only sold for $6 , heart breaking to have to do that.

Find out what is really rare and hard to find, the word rare is used far too much on ebay, some models still avaible at retailers

Re: Crazy eBay PacMin prices? I've lost faith...
 

Guys! the PACMIN Emirates A380 arrived today safely! It took 11 working days for the USPS to deliver an item it was supposed to arrive in 3 days, INCREDIBLE!!!!

The only thing I can say is that I owe an apology to the ebay dealer, actually, the guy wrote to me almost on a daily basis to follow up.... Great guy!!!

For the ebay seller: Sorry man... I know I was driving you crazy! But you did great! Thanks!!!

Re: Crazy eBay PacMin prices? I've lost faith...
 

Yes alot of this has been happening as of late. Its beginning to look like some are bidding on their own items or through friends to hike up the price of these models and they end up having close to 20 bids and the auction finishes with the model selling for 3 times what its worth. Then a few weeks later it appears again with the same seller. There's more than meets the eye here.

The best thing to do is to avoid such auctions and not bid on them. If the seller is so determined to jack up the price of these models and spoil the market, then let him 'buy' them.

Re: Crazy eBay PacMin prices? I've lost faith...
 

I often see listing prices escalate to an incredible high only to see the item "miraculously" appear a couple of months later. Ebay has created a bidding loophole by now making "negative feedback" a thing of the past. Any seller can now have family, friends, whoever, shill bid for them. I stay away from most of those listings with early high bids and just wait until the last 5 seconds if theres something really rare worth going after.

PS: OT: If you really want to see some ridiculous prices try seller "Disneyjet". Ex: Revell Convair 990. Prices range between $199.00 usd to $279.00 usd. This is the same two or three kits listed about 15 times. A really strange seller. He does this with all his "rare" kits. I dont know how he survives. They never sell.

Re: Crazy eBay PacMin prices? I've lost faith...
 

Very pleased for you sir!:)

Re: Crazy eBay PacMin prices? I've lost faith...
 

Thanks!!! :)

Re: Crazy eBay PacMin prices? I've lost faith...
 

I have noticed the same strange multiple appearances by some of the usual suspects (Peter Max, PIA, Some of our Middle East Carriers, etc.). It indeed seems as if there is some 'trading' going. It's a shame as it seems to put a damper on people willing to bid on models. I am a private collector and have acquired numerous 1/100 models from various companies, such as pacmin or space models, but now I am trying to reduce my collection to essentials (In my case... guess... SAA). Seeing what is going on with ebay I just don't feel comfortable putting my models up as I prefer for them to go to a collector that appreciates them not for the monetary value but rather their representation of a favorite aircraft or airline. Well, I guess I have to bite the bullet soon, anyways, I'll probably start advertising them on this site first. :neutral:

Re: Crazy eBay PacMin prices? I've lost faith...
 

The insanity on eBay (or is that the manipulation?) continues. Recently a 1/100 FedEx went for 15% more than the current list price from the FedEx Store. Today (8/14/09) a Lufthansa DC-11 in 1/100 went for more than $1000. I can buy custom 1/50 scale for those dollars.

Re: Crazy eBay PacMin prices? I've lost faith...
 

Yes, the crazy prices continue - even in the credit crunch. :eek:

Why pay $1000 for a PacMin 1/100th Lufthansa Cargo MD-11 when they would make one for you for that? You could also get details on it - aerials, extras etc for that price.

Lufthansa MD-11 PACMIN solid resin model on eBay (end time 14-Aug-09 22:18:02 BST)

Seems very strange to me.

I see Etihad and Qatar Airways are making reappearances.

PIA seller has gone quiet recently - maybe he finally shifted the 777s (from the Dubai Air Show)...!!!! :D

Re: Crazy eBay PacMin prices? I've lost faith...
 

I too am glad this thread was started, and the next step for us is to report this suspicious activity to the "Fleabay" representatives.

I collect 1:500, and the activity on Herpa's and Starjets is taking a similar, odd turn.

Just be careful folks, and don't let the instant gratification of Ebay overwhelm your budget.

Re: Crazy eBay PacMin prices? I've lost faith...
 

I would not be too sure of that.
eBay item no: 180397794692 :D

Re: Crazy eBay PacMin prices? I've lost faith...
 

:D I should now begin predicting lottery numbers...

Guess what's just appeared on eBay - yes, you are right... PIA, and Qatar PacMin models...

Both say 'brand new' and yet the Qatar model can't be new since the tail design is the old one (the Oryx is much bigger on the new models).

So, I presume the seller (Homa-A300) has a link into PacMin for 'spare models / test models' or another way of getting PacMin models from PacMin... LOL

Anyway, the bit that has cheered me up today - as I type, the PIA PacMin model has only been on a few hours and already its doubled it's start price (was $100 now $213 and 6 days 18 hours to go).

As someone said earlier, this early bidding is very strange :rolleyes:

Cynic? Moi? :D

Re: Crazy eBay PacMin prices? I've lost faith...
 

I wonder how much a 100 scale Doyusha L1011 EAL would sell for?LOL
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/7171/dscn0241s.jpg

Re: Crazy eBay PacMin prices? I've lost faith...
 

As a long time ebay seller (10 years) I can offer some observations:

1) Many of the sellers are well known in the hobby. We know each other's ebay nicknames. To be certain that an auction is not being shill bidded up by the seller, stick with sellers that you know and have dealt with in the past.

2) A seller whose models keep getting relisted, sold, not sold, same models etc.. this smells like a rat to me. I personally would not have anything to do with such auctions and would completely avoid the seller(s) in question.

3) With exception to a few airline stores, Pacmin models CANNOT be purchased in airline liveries direct from Pacmin, so you cannot have these models custom made by Pacmin.

4) The prices may realistically reach figures certain collectors would terms as out of this world, but it is a possibility that collectors in other countries who are extremely wealthy are bidding the prices to very high levels. Who knows, maybe some Sheik is using his petro dollars to buy these models. Or it could be a movie star bidding.

5) Personally, I hate the way ebay nolonger allows us to see the full names of the bidder in the bid history page. They do this for "privacy reasons" but I think it completely removes the transparency of the bidding process. Shill bidders can hide behind the fact that nobody can see their real nicknames. Complain to ebay.. which is an excercise in futility.

Re: Crazy eBay PacMin prices? I've lost faith...
 

Yo Henry. Long time no see or hear my friend. How are you doing?
Glad to see you becoming a regular on DAC now.

Re: Crazy eBay PacMin prices? I've lost faith...
 

It is very nice to be on this superb site. I have re-ignited my collecting (both 1/200 metal diecasts and agent display models) and this is the site to be on.

Unfortunately I have not been able to attend the annual shows in the US for a number of years now, as it is no longer possible for us Canadians to bring goodies across the border. I'll spare you the gory details but I've had some less than pleasant experiences at the border, so the stress level and risks of arrest just aren't worth it anymore. I try and attend the annual show at Frankfurt in November, which is pretty good for models (and other airline collectibles as well).

I sure would like to attend the shows in the US... as I miss attending.

Re: Crazy eBay PacMin prices? I've lost faith...
 

I have dropped out of the show circuit as well, due more to financial
reasons, but it is great being involved in the hobby again and coming
across old friends. Working for Gemini Jets now helps as well.
Hope we can cross paths again one day.:cool:

Re: Crazy eBay PacMin prices? I've lost faith...
 

Rod, I am glad to hear you are with GJ ... I am super impressed with the new 1/200 metal models by GJ. The all metal DC-9s are really fabulous and the price point is very reasonable. Given the detail specially...

My dream model is a 1/100 scale Vickers Viscount ... with the same detail as the GJ DC-9. The shape would have to be super accurate. There would be so many liveries that could be produced. It would be neat if the gear could be up or down. I am going to post a poll to see if I am the only collector who would like to see this model.. or if there are many other people that would like such a model. It would be interesting to see the level of interest ...

Re: Crazy eBay PacMin prices? I've lost faith...
 

Here we go again...

PACMIN VARIG BRASIL BOEING MD 11 1:100 SCALE - eBay (item 150371881510 end time Sep-19-09 13:53:23 PDT)

Re: Crazy eBay PacMin prices? I've lost faith...
 

A well known PacMin collector from USA first offered $2,000.00 for my one of 80 made 1:100 PacMin B-777-300ER (Airline from Gulf), then increased his offer to $3,000.00.
So, price $2,000 for an ultra rare PacMin (RG M11) on eBay is nothing strange, as there are collectors who can pay. In Japan there is high demand for Varig PacMin models from Japanese collector(s). I know that 1:100 PacMin RG 744 was paid US$2,000.00.
I was ready to pay high price for an 1:100 KLM 737-700/800, but, recently I was lucky to purchase through exchange from a KLM employee one of two PacMin custom made KL738Ws.
PACMIN models are work-of-art and the quality and accuracy can't be compared by any other brand except by very rare and hard to find custom-made CONQUEST MODELS.