Starting to get priced out of collecting FOV.

hotrodrock · Post by **hotrodrock** » Wed May 16, 2007 10:13 am

Seems all of the new FOV being released are being priced in the mid to high $40 dollar range at the online dealers with few exceptions. Not exactly sure whats driving the price increases but the new prices are getting to be $15 to $20 dollars more than just a couple of years ago. Not meaning to speak for anyone but myself, but FOV has just about lost me as far as collecting their product. They are nice pieces but as far as detail is concerned, it seems to be the same as 2 to 3 years ago but dealers want $15 to $20 more for the same item with just different paint. I know that most will say there is no comparison in detail when compared to 21st for example and I'm not arguing that point, just whether I want to pay $25 more for the same tank. And I realize there are people who collect $100 tanks which seem to have less detail than a FOV. Anyway, it just seems FOV (or maybe just the dealers) are starting to price themselves above an awful lot of peoples budget.

Ziegler2112 · Post by **Ziegler2112** » Wed May 16, 2007 11:12 am

I avoid the online d(st)ealers for the most part unless they're running a special or have shipping rates that I just can't pass up. I mostly deal with a couple of Ebayers who's prices are very fair. Right now I could buy an AAVP7A1 from Ebay for $32.99 + $9.99 for USPS Priority mail shipping. Or I could buy one from an online d(st)ealer for $ 49.99 + $7.70 USPS Priority mail shipping. That's a difference of $14.71. Unimax has absolutely nothing to do with that sort of BS.

Airman001 · Post by **Airman001** » Wed May 16, 2007 12:21 pm

All of my FOV collection have come from two sources, Target or Hobbytown. Therefore, I have no problem in getting fairly priced FOV items. If you have a Super Target or Target nearby, check them out. I have picked up a 251 half track for under $20.00. I also found, while their selection maybe limited, when I visit the Super and regular Target in my hometown, they seem to have one or two items I need or want. Also, I have been lucky enough to have a local Hobbytown that will discount items over $35.00 by up to 10%. So Happy hunting!!!!!

Ziegler2112 · Post by **Ziegler2112** » Wed May 16, 2007 12:29 pm

I love Target hopping for FOVs! It really paid off a few times in the past when I came across Enthusiast Edition vehicles boxed and priced as Action Series vehicles. No such luck this year.

tmanthegreat · Post by **tmanthegreat** » Wed May 16, 2007 1:07 pm

My FOV collection has come from a variety of sources. I have picked up a number of vehicles at Target or TRU, including an Enthusiast edition Tiger, King Tiger, and Kannonwagen. My local Hobbytown store carried FOV back in 2004, but hasn't since. Their prices were high as well. I also buy from the small online retailers when I can't find FOV anywhere else. The store www.goodstufftogo.net seems to have pretty decent prices for their FOV products.

As mentioned in an above post, however, ebay is becoming the most desirable option. Case in point for me: I just bought an MIB FOV Enthusiast Jagdpanther (Normandy 1944 scheme) for $32 total including the item price and shipping!

As far as 21c or FOV being better, it is a tough call. 21c definitely has the price advantage, and usually always the greater functionality in terms of opening hatches. However, I find that FOV generally has the better quality, detail and accuracy - and then there's the figures and accessories. In a certain few instances, their vehicles even exceed the quality and detail of the 21c variants. The FOV 88mm Gun, KingTiger, Tiger, Jagdpanther, Hanomag, Halftrack and Panzer IVs may be included in this category

Rowsdower · Post by **Rowsdower** » Wed May 16, 2007 4:11 pm

I have no problem spending an extra $10, $20, or more on Fov because the quality, detailing and wealth of accessories are worth it IMO. I have a lot of 32X and I love them but IMO 32x is a toy sold in the toy dept and FOV (Enthusiast) is a collectors piece sold by a dealer.

As far as FOV at Target, I don't waste my money on Action Series stuff, though I've been tempted and I have some modern action series vehicles from before I collected the stuff. I've never been lucky enough to find one of the fabled Enthusiast in a Action box pieces either.

ostketten · Post by **ostketten** » Wed May 16, 2007 4:38 pm

ebay is becoming the most desirable option.

I agree. Occasionaly you can catch something on sale from one of the online retailers, you just have to keep an eye out for them. I've managed to pick up a number of nice FOV pieces from Target stores in my area too, but they are primarily the action grade stuff. TRU stores around these parts are spotty at best for FOV, but every once in a while I get lucky and come away with a decent find. There are good deals to be had on ebay, but the competition can be fierce, and it's getting worse all the time in my opinion.

Hanomag · Post by **Hanomag** » Wed May 16, 2007 5:36 pm

Sadly I think alot of things are going up in price these days.

It's hard for me to swallow just over $20 for a 1/72 Tank from Dragon.
I'm ok with small increases in price every so often...as long as there is no lowering quality or corner cutting. I buy for the most part from a Hobbytown near me or Target, but some online dealers are pretty good too.

-H

Ziegler2112 · Post by **Ziegler2112** » Wed May 16, 2007 6:03 pm

ostketten wrote:
ebay is becoming the most desirable option.
TRU stores around these parts are spotty at best for FOV, but every once in a while I get lucky and come away with a decent find.

That was always the case in my area. But they've really been stocked up well this year. Last time I checked they had over 12 vehicles and almsot the same amount of soldier sets.

Rowsdower · Post by **Rowsdower** » Wed May 16, 2007 7:22 pm

My TRU stinks for FOV! The only FOV I've seen there in the last year or so is the MLRS and the Brit desert Grant plus the Spitfire and some figure packs. They were just as bad with GI Joe. I almost had a heart attack when I went in there early this year and found 10 of the 6 figure Viper packs. Needless to say I picked up a few. Suprisingly the one place they excel is in the R Zone electronics section where they have a really good selection of Wii and Gamecube games.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » Thu May 17, 2007 7:32 am

The price increase is a problem. Previously I purchased 5-8 Dragon tanks a year. Now I buy 3-5. The FOV stuff has "shot up" too, so, I purchase, maybe 1 FOV, 1/32 every other year. Since I mainly collect 1/72, it is not a big deal to me, but, if 1/32 were my scale, I'd be in trouble. Evidently, FOV thinks that the market can bear the increase. If we don't buy, prices will have to come down. Specials can be found, if you pay attention to the various sites. It is, however, time consuming.

GooglyDoogly · Post by **GooglyDoogly** » Thu May 17, 2007 10:20 pm

Philip wrote:Evidently, FOV thinks that the market can bear the increase. If we don't buy, prices will have to come down.

Actually, if we don't buy, Unimax will go out of business, and no more new 1/32 FOV for any of us.

And the old releases will be highly collectible and would probably shot up in price.

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Thu May 17, 2007 10:36 pm

GooglyDoogly wrote:
Philip wrote:Evidently, FOV thinks that the market can bear the increase. If we don't buy, prices will have to come down.
Actually, if we don't buy, Unimax will go out of business, and no more new 1/32 FOV for any of us.

And the old releases will be highly collectible and would probably shot up in price.

viewtopic.php?t=8176&highlight=

I just started a rant

Rowsdower · Post by **Rowsdower** » Fri May 18, 2007 9:31 am

schizuki wrote:When you look at the price of plastic models, plus the time and skill required to assemble and paint them, a die-cast finished metal tank still looks like a bargain.

Good point! I built scale models from about age six to twenty six. I have since developed tremors in my hands which make the fine assembly and detail painting impossible. So IMO, $30-$50 isn't too much to ask for a beautiful piece of FOV 1:32 armor that rivals hand-built in quality. And the $15 21st 32x offerings are great as well.

ChairmanMilo · Post by **ChairmanMilo** » Fri May 18, 2007 9:45 am

Rowsdower wrote:
schizuki wrote:When you look at the price of plastic models, plus the time and skill required to assemble and paint them, a die-cast finished metal tank still looks like a bargain.
Good point! I built scale models from about age six to twenty six. I have since developed tremors in my hands which make the fine assembly and detail painting impossible. So IMO, $30-$50 isn't too much to ask for a beautiful piece of FOV 1:32 armor that rivals hand-built in quality. And the $15 21st 32x offerings are great as well.

I would have to agree with that as well. As they stand, the prices for brand-new Forces of Valor pale in comparison to the price of professionally-built models, whether you do them yourself or buy them from a modeller. They might not be perfect, but they look great when you're not terribly fussy.

Rowsdower · Post by **Rowsdower** » Fri May 18, 2007 1:16 pm

The prices for unbuilt high quality kits from Tamiya and other popular brands can be around $30-$40 and up just for the kit alone. Add to it all the things you need from glue and paint to airbrush and compressor and after-market high detail parts and that $40 FOV King Tiger looks pretty good.

flanker · Post by **flanker** » Fri May 18, 2007 11:14 pm

"I avoid the online d(st)ealers for the most part unless they're running a special or have shipping rates that I just can't pass up. I mostly deal with a couple of Ebayers who's prices are very fair."

I quite agree....
I buy at conventions. Specifically the West Coaster here in Cal. Sometimes you get killer great prices. I picked up several FOV 32nd vehicles at 30-50% off. I think some vendors just want to unload rether than haul the stuff back with them.

On the other hand a couple of online dealers I have been most happy with is www.diecastdirect.com. They give you free shipping on orders over a certain amount + their prices are quite good. Another is www.hobbybunker.com. They only charge a flat $6 no matter how big the order is + they have the best prices.

ChairmanMilo · Post by **ChairmanMilo** » Fri May 18, 2007 11:32 pm

I only buy from two online sources nowadays. The World War II Attic in Omerville, Quebec has reasonable shipping for one or more items, plus he uses UPS for next-day shipping. His prices are extraordinarily reasonable considering that most places in Toronto charge $50-80.00 CDN for 1:32 FoV! I have another source through eBay - anythingfoursale based in Vancouver B.C. Although his prices are higher and he charges slightly more for shipping, he has a huge inventory of FoV 1:32, 1:48 and 1:72. I don't buy as much from him because it takes longer for packages to get to Toronto from Vancouver, believe it or not

The more time you leave a package in Canada Post's hands, the more likely it is to arrive in bad condition

I've almost given up on buying FoV on eBay from American sellers, except for certain bargains that I just can't pass up (for instance, the 1:72 Panavia Tornado... for less than ten dollars!). The new shipping costs are a bit much, so I will probably stick with my Canadian suppliers.

Jagdpanther · Post by **Jagdpanther** » Sat May 19, 2007 3:34 pm

Well I get FOV and 21st stuff pretty reasonable from a local toy soldier shop. I guess because I buy alot there they give me a discount.