UK prices for model kits are getting worse..

[Flyssy]

Originally Posted by Lurchio

And Mick - 40 kits, starting to get very obsessive!
I'm at 17 unbuilt now and have forced myself to stop!

Not wishing to brag, but I've got about 400 kits...I've sold about 50 recently on ebay and it still hasn't made a dent in the shelves full. Before I get grief...I bought just about every one with the intention of building it someday, but I have come to the decison that I could use the money more than a life full of kits.
The great thing about ebay is that most of the time if you want something specific you can usually find it. My intention now is to sell most of them, and then if I really want something specific to look for it online when I want it.

[cybercell]

Originally Posted by phase5

Is the same in Australia. And i asked our distributer in Australia and their response was that the wholesale price to the japanese market is different to other countries around the world and they would not do the same deal to us.So Fujimi and Tamiya is so expensive over here Fujimi is worse than Tamiya most kits in Fujimi are around $55-$69aud here and around $34.00 shipped from HLJ. I,m just lucky i work in a hobby shop and buy for cost plus20%.(which is why i have to many bloody kits)

it is so true like one of my friends who only buy kits and never built it. He has over 70 unbuilt in his show case.

[exhaust smoke]

It is the VAT that kills the prices for the UK consumer. I too would like to support the LHS, especially mine, as the owners are good acquaintances of mine. Unfortunately, everybody has to look after no.1, I have been a frequent customer of HLJ for many years, and I have yet to find another model source that has such a wide selection at 'realisticly affordable' prices coupled with excellent customer service.

[V1nce]

Must just be your local Hobbycraft that sucks.

Resent purchases at my local Merry hill branch...

Tamiya RX7 with engine detail = £11.50
Toyota Celica Gt4 road car = £14.99

thats round about a japanese price when you add shipping and under if you get stung for tax at customs. I think its just the race and rally kits that are massively over priced at Hobbycraft.

I always find stuff like fujimi AE86 models that are about a £5 at HLJ marked up as "rare" and sold on UK drift sites at a silly £20 mark up. Is that fair on them crappy kits?

[Hiroboy]

Originally Posted by V1nce

Tamiya RX7 with engine detail = £11.50
Toyota Celica Gt4 road car = £14.99

Those are OK prices, but are really old kits now

[mickbench]

Originally Posted by Hiroboy

Those are OK prices, but are really old kits now

I've never seen any LHS or Hobbycraft selling kits for this price, seen some kits on online websites for around £11 onwards.

But really, £25.99 for a rally car and £34.99 for the FW24. Really, I mean I'll skick with the risks of ebay. OK, I've had a few kits cheap that need new decals, but I'm in the process of sorting this now, other then this, ebay has turned up some pretty good deals for me,

As for import taxes. I made an order with HLJ (my second order in 9 months) and brought the ferrari 550 and 575, along with the Z Tune. I also had a bottle of Tamiya Wax included total cost was £51.99. Good deal, or so I thought.. I've now educated myself with how "crappy" the taxman is and read the H M customs website. Oh how foolish I was..!! £13.80 to get the goods from the post office, total cost was £65 odd.. £22 per kit, and the Ferrari kits are rubbish IMO.. OK, I got some wax as well, but really..

Hmm.. Not in a good mood today...

[V1nce]

Those are OK prices, but are really old kits now

There not old there "rare" remember LOL