What is the best way to auction my MOC collection?

[Simply Sci-fi]

I have reached a momentous decision to sell a large selection of my Star Wars MOC collection via Vectis Auctioneers. All of the items are at Vectis and are currently being checked over.

There are eighty five Palitoy/Tri-logo MOCs in total, including five Star Wars 12 Backs, my set of ESB 30 Backs (minus Bossk and Rebel Soldier), a 30 Back Ben Kenobi and all of my Tri-Logos.
All of the figures are almost 100% mint condition, except for the majority of the Tri-Logos having crushed bubbles.

I would appreciate some suggestions on how to sell the collection – one huge auction perhaps (which is Vectis' suggestion), or a series of three or more (which is my preference). I am of course looking to get the best price for my collection. One big auction would make a huge impact of course but many of the MOCs could possibly get low prices due the sheer amount of items for sale.

Selling a large amount of my MOCs doesn't mean that I'm going to give up collecting. I am still as much a Star Wars fan as ever. Buying a house is of much greater priority at my time of life, which I hope that everyone will understand.

The force will be with me, hopefully.

Craig.

 

[jedisearcher]

You may be a bit stuck because Vectis only seem to have stock to do a couple of Scifi and Toy related auctions per year. So splitting it into 2 or 3 auctions like you prefer might take them a good while to get to the bit were you get the last of the cash.

Out of interest which 12 backs are they?

 

[Simply Sci-fi]

I don't mind on the speed of the sales, as long as I get the value.

Checking my list, there are four Twelve Backs - Darth Vader, C-3P0, R2-D2 and Death Squad Commander. The other one is Luke Skywalker X-Wing pilot.

 

[slim]

some things in life are more important ! , would you not make more money selling them yourself if you have the time that is ?? selling seperate is the way to go to maximise the cash mate

 

[Mr-shifter]

Hi Craig,

Undoubtedly you will be bombarded by pms soon as the waters out there are full of sharks, but would you be interested in selling some items on here or privately. There are a few trilogos that I would be interested in if you wanted to do a private sale and had prices in mind (if you had them of course).

If your trying to realise maximum possible value then I understand why the auction route would appeal, but I'm sure if you want to be patient and are realistic about prices you will make more selling on here. No commission for a start. Alternatively, have you considered taking a table at farthest from?

Good luck in whatever you do with them, and be sure to keep us updated as and when they go on sale. Even if you do go the vectis route in sure you will get interested parties from the board.

 

[Palifan]

Hi Craig,

Sad to hear you're splitting up the band but it is probably the best time to be doing that.

If you're selling that 30 back Boba Fett then I know for sure that that one will really get the big bucks. There are a few 30 back collectors on here that are trying to complete their run and maybe it would be worth seeing what they have to say as I know they will know the value. That said though I wonder if the ebay route for some of the rare ones would maximize on profits? It's a tough one for sure as you will want to get the most return on them but sometimes an item going for slightly less with no fees and to the right home might sit better with you?

Hard to advise but the very best of luck with it.

Ian

 

[PGowdy]

Personally i think you're mad to sell your stuff via Vectis, or any other auctioneers. The amount you get charged in fees. The amount the buyer gets charges in fees and the tiny amount of exposure you get compared to ebay just adds up to a whole list of "what not to do" for me. Not to mention the possibility of the site crashing mid-auction and costing you, potentially, thousands, as it has done before. Cannot understand why anyone would sell that way. Seems mad to me.

 

[palitoyjunky]

I have to agree! Vectis will take a small fortune in fees!
Amazing ur selling as another major collector/wheeler dealer has recently sold up his collection of Palitoy!
It doesn't rain it pours

 

[jedisearcher]

Personally i think you're mad to sell your stuff via Vectis, or any other auctioneers. The amount you get charged in fees. The amount the buyer gets charges in fees and the tiny amount of exposure you get compared to ebay just adds up to a whole list of "what not to do" for me. Not to mention the possibility of the site crashing mid-auction and costing you, potentially, thousands, as it has done before. Cannot understand why anyone would sell that way. Seems mad to me.

I agree, "common" stuff lends itself to ebay, but with rare stuff, you only need one big hit to come off to make an auction house pay off. Just look at the FX7 a while back, zero chance you get that much on ebay and it pays for any extra fees youre incurring on its own.

Hard to prove it either way tho :wink:

 

[PGowdy]

Personally i think you're mad to sell your stuff via Vectis, or any other auctioneers. The amount you get charged in fees. The amount the buyer gets charges in fees and the tiny amount of exposure you get compared to ebay just adds up to a whole list of "what not to do" for me. Not to mention the possibility of the site crashing mid-auction and costing you, potentially, thousands, as it has done before. Cannot understand why anyone would sell that way. Seems mad to me.

I agree, "common" stuff lends itself to ebay, but with rare stuff, you only need one big hit to come off to make an auction house pay off. Just look at the FX7 a while back, zero chance you get that much on ebay and it pays for any extra fees youre incurring on its own.

Hard to prove it either way tho :wink:

But why not just do that on ebay? ebay gets the big money too. Bigger usually.

 

[Grant]

I'd have considered the Luke Bespin 30 back minus the Auction Fees of course. 8)

 

[Simply Sci-fi]

Thanks for all of the comments so far. I weighed up my options very seriously before opting for the Vectis route. I decided against Ebay because I don't want to be responsible for packing and posting valuable items. Plus I have had too many buyers ripping me off, claiming things haven't arrived or changing their minds and wanting a refund. Selling individual items to individual buyers would also be a nightmare.

Vectis has my items now and hopefully with the world's collectors able to bid, I'll get the very best prices. I'm willing to pay the commission for that. I'm hoping to beat the Vinyl Caped Jawa for price on my 30 Back Boba Fett and Vectis seems to be the best place for that.

The only question left open is the timing of the auctions and how many to split the collection into.

Craig.

 

[Jez]

Well best of luck Craig and be sure to advertise the auctions on here, or at the very least remind me when it's on!

 

[palitoyjunky]

It's going to b one emotional auction :!:

 

[Frunkstar]

Well to me also Vectis Auctions seems like a bit of a mad idea, when you have the forum with no fee's well respected & genuinely interested collectors right on your doorstep, I will give the same advice I did on another thread only a week or so back, that being, if you don't have the time or can't be bothered with the hassle, then ask if one of the members here is willing to broker it for a small percentage or the allure of something nice you have, then it could be posted up on all 3 forums like Bram has been doing with that other collection, I personally feel that would be the best way to go for you, I for one have never used Vectis, the fee's just make me cringe & I would much rather buy from a known forum member than any auction site/house.

But I wish you luck with whatever you choose to do with it & hope it helps fund your new home.

 

[Mr-shifter]

With a collection like this Vectis will drop the selling fees to a bare minimum. The 30 back Boba Fett alone will promote and bring so many people in for a sale that they could make the selling fee next to nothing as they will make all their commission on people coming to see how much the other stuff will go for and bidding on boxes of **** while they are there.

What concerns me about Vectis is their "experts". I don't believe they know a great deal about what they are selling. I know first hand that they have sold boxes of loose figures with repro accessories. Whilst I would expect this off ebay, I wouldn't expect an auction house to sell fakes. I know they would probably argue they don't have the time to check every loose weapon but its still poor in my opinion. Saying that, I have and probably will buy through them again, if its the right piece at the right price.

At least give us time to save up a bit eh Craig. Don't forget its Anaheim in April and air fairs to LA aren't cheap.

 

[itfciain]

In terms of packaging, anything I have had from them has left a lot to be desired - I get the fact that you don't want the responsibility but you are paying quite a high premium for them to do it for you

With regards to dates, I would favour doing this all in one lot and making sure that they do a similar sort of promotional trip around the conventions that they did with the VC Jawa

As for a date - I would certainly avoid Jan/Feb as people are still recovering from Xmas and have credit card bills to pay - I would say May/June would probably be good - longer days, better weather and people feel good about life

 

[Grant_C]

Craig- wait till the next Episode 7 trailer comes out. (April) :wink:

 

[itfciain]

With regards to Vectis - this auction here is why I would be very wary of letting them market/auction my items - clearly the main point of this lot is it came in the 99p Woolies Bag - and that three of the figures are in (opened) baggies - yet in the picture all we see is the figures - probably the least valuable element of the lot !

http://www.vectis.co.uk/Page/ViewLot.aspx?LotId=561143

 

[jedisearcher]

I don't think you get the choice as to when the auction is. They'll have a Toy/Scifi auction in their diary already and they'll just slot the new stuff into that.

Vectis do package stuff pretty well now (that's not always been the case) but I've bitched about their descriptions before and if you look at the current stuff they have loads of cards described as Excellent and they're creased and battered. But I guess that's buyer beware, rather than seller beware.

Splitting into two is good as you can wait for the money. There's also a ton of 30's floating around at the moment and not selling so perhaps it might be worth waiting with those?