TrooperWill
Padawan
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2017
- Messages
- 90
Hi all, probably been asked before, but what mistakes/cons have you fallen for, what lessons did you learn?
I have two id like to share and would love to hear what mistakes other hobbyist have made.
1: at a car boot sale, saw a guy with 6 falcons, 3 AT-ST, 2 AT-AT, 4 Reb troop trans. etc. clearly a big collector, nice guy, we chatted for a age while my GF rolled her eyes and exchanged knowing looks with the guys wife, had a peek at a few of his ships, but mine at home were more complete, then he unveiled a near complete Falcon missing just the smugglers floor, which i had at home. he only wanted £50 for it, and as i had the part at home, and i figured i could sell my spare one after robbing the floor out of it on eBay, therefore gaining a complete falcon and the parts i didn't have (training ball and gunners seat) for next to nothing. i bit his hand off for it, didn't think twice about it as he was a really nice guy.
so i get it home, put it side by side with mine and start swapping over the best condition parts to have a truly minty complete one on display when i realised the training ball was a fake, just a black bead on a thread, no multiple facets or any markings. cant believe i didn't spot it before as its about half too big as well. i was well gutted, and didn't dare tell my Gf as she had stumped up the cash and was annoyed i spent so much on myself when we only took about £80 with us and had to pass on some nice ride on toys for my son.
i feel like he probably knew full well as he had earlier tried telling me he had a fully complete troop transport for sale for a bargain price if i was interested, and when i opened it he didn't have the escape hatch or ANY of the gunners deck in the back.when i said it was incomplete he just laughed and said my mistake and i figured he had made a mistake, now i realise i was taken in by a conman who hid behind being a genuinely friendly and seemingly knowledgeable guy.
2: i took a few year break from collecting when we were a bit tight on cash when my son was born, we went to do a car-boot and sell loads of old stuff, ended up doing quite well and had about £300 by lunchtime.i went for a walk and found a nice older retired couple selling tools, lawnmower deckchairs, clearly cleared out their shed/garage. they had a reb troop trans. and Vader's Star destroyer play-set, both dusty, but BOTH COMPLETE. i got very excited and asked the guy what he wanted for them and he said a "give me a fiver for both and I think there is several action figures for them in the toolbox over there!" to my eternal regret and shame i then remembered that i had stopped collecting star wars, was considering selling my mint loose run if money situation didn't improve, and i didn't fancy trying to explain why i had bought them to my GF who would probably kick off if i came back having spent money we didn't have on what she saw as clutter we didn't need.
I POLITELY THANKED HIM FOR HIS TIME AND WENT ON MY WAY!!?!
having resumed collecting since, I'm nearing a complete loose minty run and having now found most of the play-sets and vehicles but not Vader's Star destroyer i genuinely feel haunted by that few minutes... the ones that got away lurk in my thoughts and taunt me on what or who could have been lurking inside the toolbox as i didn't even look... just because i wasn't actively collecting at the time.
Anyway, thanks for reading the essay above, tell me, what did you miss out on or regret buying??
I have two id like to share and would love to hear what mistakes other hobbyist have made.
1: at a car boot sale, saw a guy with 6 falcons, 3 AT-ST, 2 AT-AT, 4 Reb troop trans. etc. clearly a big collector, nice guy, we chatted for a age while my GF rolled her eyes and exchanged knowing looks with the guys wife, had a peek at a few of his ships, but mine at home were more complete, then he unveiled a near complete Falcon missing just the smugglers floor, which i had at home. he only wanted £50 for it, and as i had the part at home, and i figured i could sell my spare one after robbing the floor out of it on eBay, therefore gaining a complete falcon and the parts i didn't have (training ball and gunners seat) for next to nothing. i bit his hand off for it, didn't think twice about it as he was a really nice guy.
so i get it home, put it side by side with mine and start swapping over the best condition parts to have a truly minty complete one on display when i realised the training ball was a fake, just a black bead on a thread, no multiple facets or any markings. cant believe i didn't spot it before as its about half too big as well. i was well gutted, and didn't dare tell my Gf as she had stumped up the cash and was annoyed i spent so much on myself when we only took about £80 with us and had to pass on some nice ride on toys for my son.
i feel like he probably knew full well as he had earlier tried telling me he had a fully complete troop transport for sale for a bargain price if i was interested, and when i opened it he didn't have the escape hatch or ANY of the gunners deck in the back.when i said it was incomplete he just laughed and said my mistake and i figured he had made a mistake, now i realise i was taken in by a conman who hid behind being a genuinely friendly and seemingly knowledgeable guy.
2: i took a few year break from collecting when we were a bit tight on cash when my son was born, we went to do a car-boot and sell loads of old stuff, ended up doing quite well and had about £300 by lunchtime.i went for a walk and found a nice older retired couple selling tools, lawnmower deckchairs, clearly cleared out their shed/garage. they had a reb troop trans. and Vader's Star destroyer play-set, both dusty, but BOTH COMPLETE. i got very excited and asked the guy what he wanted for them and he said a "give me a fiver for both and I think there is several action figures for them in the toolbox over there!" to my eternal regret and shame i then remembered that i had stopped collecting star wars, was considering selling my mint loose run if money situation didn't improve, and i didn't fancy trying to explain why i had bought them to my GF who would probably kick off if i came back having spent money we didn't have on what she saw as clutter we didn't need.
I POLITELY THANKED HIM FOR HIS TIME AND WENT ON MY WAY!!?!
having resumed collecting since, I'm nearing a complete loose minty run and having now found most of the play-sets and vehicles but not Vader's Star destroyer i genuinely feel haunted by that few minutes... the ones that got away lurk in my thoughts and taunt me on what or who could have been lurking inside the toolbox as i didn't even look... just because i wasn't actively collecting at the time.
Anyway, thanks for reading the essay above, tell me, what did you miss out on or regret buying??