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Subject: 
Re: Gary Istok's Lego Book Feedback...
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.general
Date: 
Thu, 1 Jul 2004 15:26:28 GMT
Viewed: 
963 times
  
In lugnet.general, Gerhard R. Istok wrote:
In lugnet.general, Eric Strand wrote:
In lugnet.general, Gerhard R. Istok wrote:
OK, I won't be posting this in any other newsgroups.....

Here is how the Insurance Price List portion of my book will look like (pending
suggestions by AFOLs):

The examples I will use are #396 Thatcher Perkins Model Set (1976-77), the
Yellow Castle set #375/#6075 (1978-82), and 2x10 bricks spare parts pack #216
(1957-65) in the 5 conditions used by the antique toy collectibles market.


Comments?
Gary Istok

Gary,

Some other descriptions that mean more to me:
  Mint In Sealed Box  (MISB)
  Mint In Box (MIB)
  Complete with instructions
  Complete without instructions
  Complete with stickers unused
  Complete with stickers applied
  Complete without stickers

Also, which country are you determining your values from?   They seem to vary greatly.

Eric

Thanks Eric,

There are also:
Complete with instructions, no box, no stickers
Complete with out instructions, no box, no stickers
Complete with stickers unused, no box, no instructions
Complete with stickers applied, no box, no instructions....
and a few more possibilities.....

However, this starts to get unmanagable.  And for an "Insurance List", is all
this really necessary? (AFOL's have been adament about not having a "Price
List".)  With all the possible combinations multiplied by the different
conditions, the list would get quite long for each set.

I may make some exceptions for missing components, such as 10% off the value for
missing instructions or missing stickers.  And say 30% off the value for missing
box, etc.  In fact any Lego "Basic" set or "parts pack" that has no box is
really nothing more than "Lego bricks" (although there are some parts pack
contents that would be so unique as to still have premium value).  I would think
that only model sets without a box still hold collectible value beyond mere Lego
elements.

Perhaps the MISB grade will be added.  Do other folks agree that both MIB and
MISB are necessary?

And as for the value base, that would be the USA/Canada/Western Europe.  I don't
plan on having any entries more recent than 1994.  So I don't see the value as
varying that much for old sets from country to country.  The major source of
selling Lego sets is EBAY, with a lot of days having over 25,000 sets and items
available.  Yes if you sold a Yellow Castle locally in many countries, the value
received would vary from country to country, just like it varies from day to day
on EBAY.  But a Yellow Castle (from wherever) could fetch several hundred
dollars if put on EBAY, regardless of the source.

Again, the central focus of the cd/book is USA/Canada/Britain/continental
western Europe.  And I don't see the prices varying that much for those markets.
If anything, the 20% increase in value of the Euro over the other currencies
over the last 3 years has leveled out the prices even more.

Thanks,
Gary Istok

Gary,
First of all let me say that I am really looking forward to your CD/Book!
Especially for the old catalog portion w/corrections.

I agree the set description possiblities become unmanageable which is why it is
so hard to create a "price guide" or "value guide".  In addition, many of the
value variables are subjective from person to person.  The best price lists are
for "apples to apples" comparisons which is why MISB is a good starting point.

I'm not sure if you know this but a few years ago someone started an "MISB" lego
index website which tracked the EBAY closing prices of MISB only sets.  Shortly
after they had compiled some useable data, they were asked to shut down by
either EBAY or LEGO - I can't remember exactly but I think it was EBAY.

My earlier question about values from country to country was related to EBAY.
I've seen many examples where items sold on http://www.ebay.com sell for a LOT
more than items listed on http://www.ebay.de or http://www.ebay.co.uk or
http://www.ebay.nl etc...   Yes, you can search the international ebays via
ebay.com but it is a pain.  At any rate before you use ebay values make sure
you have researched whether you can do that or not.  Also, list WHICH ebay.
Perhaps the http://www.bricklink.com guys would let you quote their price guides
which I've been referring to more and more lately.

Last, when you do list values please don't inflate them.  I agree with other
AFOLs that the worst result of this would be an antique dealer referring to a
LEGO pricelist (probably for an incomplete set too).  Using your #396 Thatcher
Perkins Model Set from above, see the following:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5903800320

There was another recent one that closed on ebay.de which was in better
condition and ended at $55.

On the other hand, I DO agree that prices for "insurance" purposes are always
greater than what you actually see in the marketplace - primarily due to the
time/effort required to replace items I guess...

Thanks and keep up the hard work.  My comments aren't intended to be negative -
I really am looking forward to your CD,
Eric



Message has 1 Reply:
  Re: Gary Istok's Lego Book Feedback...
 
(...) It was eBay. Hope that helps. (20 years ago, 1-Jul-04, to lugnet.general)

Message is in Reply To:
  Re: Gary Istok's Lego Book Feedback...
 
(...) Thanks Eric, There are also: Complete with instructions, no box, no stickers Complete with out instructions, no box, no stickers Complete with stickers unused, no box, no instructions Complete with stickers applied, no box, no instructions.... (...) (20 years ago, 29-Jun-04, to lugnet.general)

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