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(Apologies if this is in the wrong forum or has been covered in another thread I didn't find)

I discovered a bunch of my old 2nd-3rd edition Eldar and my mostly 3rd edition Tyrannids in storage. I don't want to keep them, so I am thinking about selling them on eBay. These are back from a time when I painted table-top quality, but my painting was bad enough that I doubt it adds any value to the miniatures themselves.

Would they sell easier if I stripped the paint off before trying to sell them?

Any other tips for selling miniatures or dealing with eBay in general would be appreciated.

It depends how bad they are to begin with, just try to price it as appropriate as possible.

I sold a bloodthirster for £15(£5 on delivery) because of the flaws and i had tried numerous things to put it together. Was I happy with the price?? Yea.

It all depends on how much you value it really.

Also do not skip on the packaging if its already built, a broken model or so isnt going to look good.

Try Dakka, BarterTown and others first.

There are always those looking for these items and you will not need to pay a "listing fee".

johnscott10 wrote:It all depends on how much you value it really.

I don't. At all. I just want them gone, and I'd rather get them into the hands of someone who will enjoy them than chuck them in the trash like I did last time.

JOHIRA wrote:(Apologies if this is in the wrong forum or has been covered in another thread I didn't find)

I discovered a bunch of my old 2nd-3rd edition Eldar and my mostly 3rd edition Tyrannids in storage. I don't want to keep them, so I am thinking about selling them on eBay. These are back from a time when I painted table-top quality, but my painting was bad enough that I doubt it adds any value to the miniatures themselves.

Would they sell easier if I stripped the paint off before trying to sell them?

Any other tips for selling miniatures or dealing with eBay in general would be appreciated.

Strip the mini , it'll make the auction look alot more attractive and fetch a higher price.

Honestly it depends. I stripped my stuff because I wouldn't have bought stuff that crappily painted myself either and or have stripped my stuff notwithstanding.

On the other side, some people, irrespective of how bad the paint job is, will be elated. Sometimes the paintjob isn't so much an issue about good looking models but identifiable ownership. It's one of th reasons I painted my Iron Warriors slightly different, and why I run a Salamanders army that is not green: argue that the yellow/orange-gray model belongs to you.... especially when your entire army is green, and my entire army is yellow/orange-gray. It doesnt have to be robbery prevention either, but when you want to effect a quick table cleanup....... It all depends. I reckon you could probably charge a small fee for strping the miniatures if someone wants them stripped.

I would sell them painted on the basis that some customers might want finished figures.

I pay about 50-60% of retail for painted Tyranid models which I strip and convert for my army.

JOHIRA wrote:

johnscott10 wrote:It all depends on how much you value it really.

I don't. At all. I just want them gone, and I'd rather get them into the hands of someone who will enjoy them than chuck them in the trash like I did last time.

You've got a lot easier road if you don't value them at all. Stripping minis and listing them as separate auctions are steps you should take to maximize the selling price that you get for your minis. If you really don't care how much they go for, but just want them to go to a "good gaming home", post the Eldar in one auction, and the Tyranids in another. Take some pictures of the entire army, and some close ups showing a few models each (for all of the models). Make sure to give the auction a week, so that collectors can find it, and put a good description, so that that completist who is looking for a particular group of models might locate the lot. Set a reasonable starting bid (even 1¢ if you really want to see them go) and a reasonable shipping price. Don't hose yourself on shipping. You want to get the models to a good home, not punish yourself.

It's NOT going to be nearly as profitable, but the people who spend money on auctions of entire painted collections (if those collections aren't rare, like Praetorians, or distinguished, like something from Dave Taylor), are probably going to be a collector of that army who will strip and use the models, or a new player who will now have a chance to get a whole army. In either case, you have probably delivered your models to a good gaming home.

Depending on the models, you can get 60 to 70% of retail on unpainted/(well) stripped models.
On painted models, you will usually top out at about 50%.

If that matters to you, strip 'em.


Eric

I'd say take some pics and post em and see what people think. worst case scenario you have to repaint, but somepeople will pay mroe for a basic paint job even if it isn't the greatest becaue they jsut want to play with them

Just do NOT prime over the paint jobs and refer to them as "primed."
That's seriously bad trader JuJu. It will get you a bad rep quick.
I don't know if it would qualify you for a transaction report here but, on BTown, you'd definitely qualify for a negative reference.


Eric

http://www.dakkadakka.com/wiki/en/A_Guide_to_Selling_Miniatures_on_Ebay

Thanks for your help, everyone.