RECASTERS !!!

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Please don't get me wrong....I am not painting eBay as bad or evil...merely the recasters and fraudsters on eBay. eBay and like places affords the so and so who does illegitimate things an anonymity that can only be uncovered by someone inadvertently buying something dodgy and having their fingers burnt.

I like many have also managed to get good bargains and good rarities on eBay...but to anyone new to the hobby the watchword on eBay and like sites Is beware. It is a minefield that can if not trodden well will make you lose heart.

The thing with recasters on eBay is that they will often have multiples...the bargains will be from established dealers with recognized manufacturers wares and then you will have the odd seller offloading his stash and dealers in second hand collectible kits.

The best way to avoid such mishaps is to visit shows and familiarize your self with the manufacturers...they don't bite! Seek out the sellers of their own stash and visit the dealers of collectible items....you will then gain the confidence that will help you avoid the recasters!
 
Know what you are buying and from whom you are buying on ebay.
From time to time you can find some real bargains and rarities.

Just beware recasters are from different counties listing on ebay. Just to name a few (no offence) from China, Poland, Russian Federation, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, UK, USA, Hungary, Ukraine, Argentia, Greece and Italy.

If the kit comes in a plain white box with or without a photocopy of the original picture from the original manufacture or no packaging at all, they are mostly recasts. If the listing borrow pictures from the original manufacture or does not show the kit they are selling, they are all recasts.

Here is a sarcastic joke on selling recasts on ebay. But there are some useful points from buyers point of view to spot a recast though.
http://hakomike.blogspot.ca/2012/11/a-guide-for-selling-recasts-on-ebay.html
 
Geeze,...more than a few...too bad their ebay name can't be listed...but would it do any good?....It is what it is,...which is a long and overly extended subject that experience and awareness will only help the modeler who really cares......regards........Wayne
 
Just beware recasters are from different counties listing on ebay. Just to name a few (no offence) from China, Poland, Russian Federation, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, UK, USA, Hungary, Ukraine, Argentia, Greece and Italy.



I highlighted this sentence just to reaffirm what I said about 9 months ago,when I spotted a counterfeiter from Hungary: Open the gate to one, and one hundred will follow.

These people only exist for two reasons:

1) They found a distribution channel (that is of course eBay)
2) Their products are cheaper, specially because they are not subjected to the addition of all costs implicated in manufacturing and resell.


How to fight this, assuming eBay does't take no firm position and otherwise the list will continue to enlarge?


Very easy - but painful to some. And please understand - don't flak the guy typing. He is not responsible for the current situation of events.

The truth is hard to swallow but it is simple to tell - this business is nowadays so small that it doesn't have leverage to sustain resell.

Second - it has direct selling efficient distribution: of course eBay!

So, you manufacturing guys want to get rid of re-casters once and for all? Quite easy - sell on eBay at the values re-casters do, and unfortunately to some very honest companies, finish reselling. Heck, it's painful to say this - but businesses are like quick sands - you can't just stand looking at a problem without doing nothing - that's management! ACT!

This may sound to some like a punch in the stomach! But this procedure it is already being done: Mitches are selling directly - great products and no recasts, simply because a recaster can't feel attracted by values he can't follow. I spotted Stormtroopers models too on eBay at great values: This is the needed countermeasure!

You want to eliminate Recasters - use their rules! This market is for creators and not for counterfeiters to take benefit of leverage to maximize sales ... while the guys that invested in novelties go bankrupt.

(I'm sorry people, my life is money. A hobby is a hobby. This is supposed to be relaxing but if I can contribute to eradicate this plague, I will dress my business suit here as well. I'm really tired of these freaks growing everyday)
 
Kevin: The problem of this business is that it is way too artisan and has costs, and costs, and costs, and costs added ... and a re-caster simply chops them off. I already listed them right here on this forum: This is a direct copy paste of myself:

Normal chain supply management of figurine industry: Research Cost+Sculptor Cost+Casting Cost+Marketing Costs+Fixed and Operating Costs+Brand Profit+Transport to Re seller Cost+Inventory Costs+Other Fixed and Operating Costs of Re-seller+Re seller Profit+VAT = Price to the Customer without shipping = $60.00+S&H

(and I suppressed capital investment, to make things look simpler)

Knock off cost: Miniature Purchase+Casting Cost+Illicit Profit + (VAT? I wonder if they even pay VAT...) = Price to the Customer without Shipping = $20.00+S&H


It's hard to make companies generate money: That's why you see many people manufacturing and just few deciding. Some months ago, I stated we would see a raise in the number of individuals selling recasts: It happened! Period - it's done, it's done! And as long as there is money to pick it will continue to enlarge: I won't be surprise to see re-casters competing among themselves.

And once the past I predicted happened, today I will predict two events in this industry - two different scenarios:

1) Scenario one - Action: Copyright owners start selling directly on eBay, chopping away unneeded and unnecessary costs ... Consequence: Re-casters don't profit, so bye-bye recasters ... go down the sinking toilet.

2) Scenario two - Action: Nothing is done by owners such as Young, Nuts, Life ... Consequence: Bye-bye Young, Nuts, Life ... no sales, no new products, no motivation, no capital expenditure in new products. Re-casters will happily sell their range and will parasite some future naive entrepreneurial in this business as well. What happens currently to Kirin will multiply by all companies that will shut.


Ideally there would be a scenario three: eBay blocks all piracy. Since this doesn't happen - either you act fast ... or you go down in flames: Businesses are not suited for fainthearted people. I am extremely sorry to say this ... but events are events and facts are facts: Either companies act or they will sink.
 
Sorry, I have heard it all now, selling at the cost or recasters is ludicrous and is business suicide, who runs a business to make a loss? Lend me a tenner and I will pay you £5 back.
I understand the good intentions but please take into account the costs WE pay out of our own pockets. Some pieces don't even cover master costs, we take that hit, but I'm not going to pay out of my pocket to start a recaster crusade, and who would.

This business is also small that we CANNOT shift the quantities to sell at recaster prices.

Mitches HAS and is being recast, please do a bit of homework before you suggest I/others, use another's business model, a model I would never entertain by the way. His business model is also slightly different as he and his team have the time to cast resin and sell in large quantities ALL day, a luxury others with other jobs don't have if we want to provide high quality casts EVERY time.

As said before, from this side at least the answer I think is to offer a limited run, get my slice, pull the piece and if you want it after that hope a recaster has picked it up, at least I will have had my cut first.

Keep poking the monkey and telling us our products are too expensive and it's down to us, try sitting on my side (and others) of the fence. Hell I don't care anymore, if you want cheap S**t, you know where to go
From a very very disgruntled one man band
Gra
 
Hey Graham, when you complain certain products don't sell - that is business risk - there are miniatures I would not buy and even being offered I would step them aside. That is another bad news I have to give: You invest in what looks sellable to your eyes ... a recaster will only recast your best sellers. Again, I have no good news to give.


My friend - try to locate someone with a collection of grays the side of mine: I'm on your side. I've seen this in so many areas that if you believe you can sustain the current situation the future will not be bright: Don't aim the mortar to me - focus the problem - is eBay shutting re-casters? NO!


The problem is that the guy typing takes the grenades ... while the problem is miles away ... and still not solved and still growing and growing. I'm being fair, but I have no good news to give.
 
To
Hey Graham, when you complain certain products don't sell - that is business risk - there are miniatures I would not buy and even being offered I would step them aside.

My friend - try to locate someone with a collection of grays the side of mine: I'm on your side. I've seen this in so many areas that if you believe you can sustain the current situation the future will not be bright.

But the problem is that the guy typing takes the grenades ... while the problem is miles away ...
To be honest Bt without being rude what you are proposing is ludicrous mate and I tried in my earlier post to be subtle but perhaps I was being too subtle...no offence.Kevin
 
Hey Graham, when you complain certain products don't sell - that is business risk - there are miniatures I would not buy and even being offered I would step them aside.

My friend - try to locate someone with a collection of grays the side of mine: I'm on your side. I've seen this in so many areas that if you believe you can sustain the current situation the future will not be bright.

But the problem is that the guy typing takes the grenades ... while the problem is miles away ...
Well it doesn't sound like you're on my side anymore, if so you wouldn't suggest what you do and compare products and manufacturers that in my eyes offer different levels of product, then tell us to sell cheaper, it's insulting.
You're not giving a broad opinion anymore but comparing and now advising.
I wish I could sit you down one to one and show what goes into bringing a piece, let alone a range to market.
As said, the choice is yours, I will say that if and when I pull the plug it will be on my terms, as is the way I run my business. You only get the grenades because you keep throwing them in.
 
Graham, in life you can do two things:

First: Don't speak, don't see, don't hear ... let others take the fire

Second: Participate. But everyone is different, so am I.

I'm tired of saying for over 9 months: This happens in all fields you can possibly imagine. Your profit is eroding - Some act, others don't.

If I wanted to have a friendly speech it would be much more easy: "man, recasters are bad, you are great. Keep going, you have my support, a recast has no quality, don't buy from them ... yadda yadda yadda "... does this generate sales? No, but it surely keeps people friendly.

Liked or not, believe me - you want to get rid of pirates - if eBay does nothing use the recasters rules. Simple as that


But this is far from friendly. I'm sorry Graham! No harm feeling intended!

eBay is becoming a supermarket of counterfeiters: This is certainly the problem. And frankly a big problem!
 
Let's leave it there Nuno, I have had my fill of this thread and we have both given our views.
Given your example I think it interesting to see who has and hasn't contributed to this thread, maybe that shows where the passion lay !
Must go as just casting up some resin for EBay.
Regards
Gra
 
If I was a manufacturer I would only produce a small selection of top quality pieces, such as Carl Reid Moz Curry etc sculpt. I would then ask the modellers what they would like to have and would actually buy it if produced. Subject to a minimum order of say 50 pieces, I would ask for a small deposit to reserve your piece,say £5. I would show work in progress and give a firm commitment for delivery, upon which I would want final payment. You buy your figures from me, not through any other Retailer.This way I have covered my costs and hopefully got my profit up front. You get the figures you want to have, rather than what is available. And the only way a recaster gets hold of one to recast,is if you sell yours on to him. Not the perfect answer ,but it does go some way towards addressing the problem. You will not get the huge number of new products as of now, but you will get top quality subjects that you all want to see. I remember when Ray Lamb used to produce one figure a year, and he would unveil it at Euro. His Stand would be swamped as everyone clambered to see and buy the latest top quality figure he had delivered. My suggestion is that you modellers have really commissioned the piece you all want rather than the manufacturer .
 
I have always believed that to survive you must adapt.....adapt to changes and continually change with the changing situation/ environment.

I suppose those that adapt will thrive and those that dont will do what they do.

Everybody has a theory but i suppose only time will tell what happens .

I am just glad i produce /manufacture my own products.

The buisness is changing

Stuart
 
I have always believed that to survive you must adapt



Cheers! This is the number one rule in business: He who adapts, not only survives but growths as well (y)


...And how many times, this happens, picking the remains of the ones falling apart ... way too static to adapt to changes until the permanent bills and lack of sales closed them for good.


BTW - Stu your one piece busts are truly spectacular! Cheers!!! Market them, make noise! I mean NOISE! (y)
 


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