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Hi all,

Real sorry if this is the wrong place to ask, but I wasn’t sure :S

Just a quick question, because I’m completely new at this, but I have some models that I want to see, and I’m just wondering which sells better: boxed models, built models or built and painted models?

Any help would be greatly appreciated (or tell me where I should ask, if this is the wrong place lol)

That's a good question, and one where there is a pretty decent answer. Models sell more or less in this order (most money to least amount of money)

1) Professionally painted to a high standard.
2) New in box.
3) New on sprue but out of box.
4) Assembled, professionally (cleaned mold lines, properly build, correct bases, correct glue, correct wargear options)
5) Assembled, poorly.
6) Painted poorly.
7) Assembled and painted poorly.

Anything other than the top three will sell around 40-60% of MSRP. 95% of the stuff you sell painted will be stripped down by the buyer and re-painted. So, unless it's painted very well, or simply primed a base colour - it's more work for the buyer. Very few people are buying average painted models to throw them on the table. Think of it like a person buy a car which has been modified with a bunch of ugly wheels, wings, and exhaust....the buyer is going to spend time "undoing" all of that mess to get back to the normal car, etc.

Poorly assembled, or poorly painted stuff can sell as little as 10-20%. I sell a ton of used wargaming stuff on commission, and some stuff is so bad I refuse to sell it, and suggest the owners throw it away (yep, it can be that bad).

New in Box.

Pro Painted might sell for more, but it will probably take longer and even then you probably have to sell an entire army at one go, because most people aren't buying a single unit to add to their 'differently painted' army.

 John Prins wrote:
New in Box.

Pro Painted might sell for more, but it will probably take longer and even then you probably have to sell an entire army at one go, because most people aren't buying a single unit to add to their 'differently painted' army.

With the exception potentially of characters and models that are the centerpiece for your army (Alarielle, Nagash, Archaon, etc.). You see this more in AoS than in 40k where these big monsters can look slightly different from your army but not be out of place.

That or you've got collectors looking for show-pieces.

Yep, the pro-painted stuff sells best if it's done in a GW-esque style and is one of the popular chapters/legions/etc.

It's also wort noting that the loadout can change the price drastically.

Optimum loadout=$$$$$
Sub optimal loadout =$$$
Worst loadout= $$
Unplayable/illegal loadout= $