Local store has hard to find XD planes but @ higher price

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Razor17019
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Local store has hard to find XD planes but @ higher price

Post by Razor17019 » Tue May 10, 2005 9:05 pm

I happened by a local area toy store today on the off chance they may have some XD planes. They carried some of the earlier 21st Century boxed jeeps and tanks a long, long time ago...
So, I am looking in one area of the store they use to stock the XD items and thought oh well, no luck. So, I am looking in the R/C aisle and look up to see a Huey Slick, Eggleston bubbletop, Putt-Putt P-38 and all these wonderful planes I have read about on the internet and never seen up close before. Some ladies nearby heard me yell out WAHOO! or something like that as I ran over to gaze at the planes with the look of Homer Simpson in a donut shop!

The next thing I noticed was their cost. Of course way above the Wally World that is only about 2 miles down the road to them. The P-38 was about 69.00. The Huey was 49.00. The Kepford Corsair in a 21st Century box was 59.00 and I saw the same plane @ WM for 39.00.

I have never purchase any of the XD planes through Bad Cats or any other online dealers. How does my local toy shop compare with higher price to Bad Cat's shipping???

Let me know.
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tmanthegreat
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Post by tmanthegreat » Tue May 10, 2005 9:18 pm

Most planes usually go for around $50 at regular price. Have a look on BCA's 21c page. Cheapest shipping for XD 1:18 items usually runs about $15-$20 on top of the sale price. Given that, the prices on the aircraft you found sound about right, though the Corsair seems a bit expensive. If you want to save money, stick with Wal Mart, but if your store has a plane you want and haven't seen at Wal Mart, then get it at the store.

The Hobbytown in my AO sells most XD aircraft and armor at $30-$50 for armor and around $50 for normal-sized aircraft and $60 for the P-38. If I can't find what I want at Wal Mart, then I use the Hobbytown as a backup, and get what I can't find at either Wal Mart or Hobbytown from the online retailers.

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Local Hobby Shop

Post by OnWu » Tue May 10, 2005 9:28 pm

Two thoughts:

The guy who owns the little hobby shop has probably risked his life's savings to start the business of his dreams. There's probably also a family to support with hungry mouths to feed. He pays a great deal more than Wal Mart does for these planes and his percentage of markup will be smaller than the big corp. No shareholder's meeting, profit projections, or government subsidies; just a guy trying to make a living. How about sending some business his way.

BC may have lower prices but you'll have to add shipping. If you've shipped anything at the post office lately, you know it costs money and that's just postage. Boxes also cost major mullah--did you know the wholesale price of an XD double walled case box is, get this, $9.75 wholesale! Shipping is a convenience just like room service. People really gripe about shipping but seldom think about what it costs to operate a vehicle searching every Wal Mart in the Tri-State area. As long as a company does not gouge and profit tremendously from shipping (most don't as consumers caught on quickly to that trick) I have no problem paying my fair share.

In the end, if it were me, I'd forget about price for a moment and give the business to the local guy.

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Razor17019
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Post by Razor17019 » Tue May 10, 2005 9:38 pm

I am all for the little guy getting his share in the world of Walmarts.
Just the other day we had a vendor provide lunch for my department for our month end. I lobbied by boss to have a local, independent owned/operated mexican restaurant provide us the lunch.
We got the food back to our office and sorted and handed it out to the people and of course some people had to complain about a FREE lunch!
Anyway, I was trying to get a feel for the offset in higher price compared to the online shipping cost.
Yes, if we don't give the little guy the business, he won't be there to keep WM from taking over the world!!! or something like that.
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OnWu
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Shipping

Post by OnWu » Tue May 10, 2005 9:39 pm

$15-20 for xd shipping? That amount should be closer to $10.

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Post by OnWu » Tue May 10, 2005 9:40 pm

Very cool, Razor. Atta boy!

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Post by Zartan » Wed May 11, 2005 12:11 am

There aren’t too many of you in Canada but a local hobby shop carries some XD planes for 100 + 14.5% tax. That’s $115 CDN per plane, $93 U.S. with today’s currency converted. The owner despises Wal-Mart and I don't blame him. They push many small retailers out of business. The XD does sell at that price up here, basically because Wal-Marts and TRU's in Canada have a NO military toy policy. Only the kid stuff like 3 3/4 inch joes. Up here their stocked to the hilt with Wayne Gretzky figures and Orange County/West Coast Choppers.

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Post by toyktdlgh » Wed May 11, 2005 5:06 am

You must be referring to Johnny’s Toys. They have had the same stock for a while now. Their prices are way too high. About two years ago they had XD at a very reasonable price but now they have doubled in price. I bought a fan club 109 there for $29.99. Wal Mart seems to be the best bet.

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Wal Mart best bet?

Post by OnWu » Wed May 11, 2005 5:35 am

How could WM be the "best bet"?

He will have to do a great deal of driving around to find both a Kepford and a Eagleston.

Even if he manages those two, I don't believe the P-38 ever made it to WM. He'll need another source for that one.

WM is great for the occasional good deal but it's a pretty tough place for a serious collector to rely on. Their distribution is famously hit or miss.

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Post by Rogue » Wed May 11, 2005 6:04 am

Even finding a good hobby shop is getting tough. :(
My time is to valuable to search WM's and fight the crowds at checkout.
It all works out in the end.
Time is money, support the little guy.

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Post by vulgarvulture » Wed May 11, 2005 7:13 am

Razor: I was as excited as you when I saw XD planes recently at the HobbyTown store in Concord, CA. It was great to see some planes in person instead of only via the internet as W-Ms in my area carry a limited selection of a/c.

The price is higher than W-M for sure, but that's OK with me. As opposed to buying over the internet with shipping costs, I like being able to go to a store, see what I'm buying in person, etc. And there's the added bonus of helping keep a hobby store going.

It's great having purchasing options with 1:18 XD, after not having any for so long.

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Post by toyktdlgh » Wed May 11, 2005 9:07 am

Geeeeeeeez....
I was talking about the price.

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Post by vmf214 » Wed May 11, 2005 8:32 pm

I agree, support the little guy. PLUS, it's obviously better to see the plane in person unlike hoping what shows up in the mail is decent. :wink:
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