Any help? Ideas of other places? (disappointed)

[panzerpainter]

I was really, really tired when I posted that, and it wasnt worded very well. I dont want to seem unhappy at all, and am rewording it with an edit.
I used to sell a lot of normal stuff on ebay (mage knights) and they went sour. An occasional order was made for custom work here and there, and that was great. Now Im trying to do this full time, and its a lot faster to make them than sell them.
Any other places where I could post pics and try to sell would be of great help. The A&A forums, and ebay, cant be the only places. Any help appreciated.

[A&Aaddict]

i would love to buy your peices but their a little expensive.....

[EricM 2404]

I have full intent of buying one of your german pieces. Unfortionately I am currently saving money for a feild trip to Chicago, A case of Set 3, And vocational school fees. I simply do not have the money to spend on your miniatures. I still might make a point of buying a Ka-Mi without its floaties though

[Bobsalt]

PanzerPainter,

I REALLY want to buy some of your stuff. I absolutely love the sIG and Nashorn, and have been struggling with buying them for a couple of days. The problem is that it’s hard for me to justify the cost of them - $51 for two pieces that I never use in a game. Note that I’m NOT saying they aren’t worth it. Some of the stuff you do is more what I would expect to see in a museum diorama, not pieces in a low-complexity game.

I think part of the problem is that the people who can truly appreciate what you produce are also the very people who have the skills to produce some fairly good work of their own.

What about the possibility of painting up a bunch of stuff and going to Origins or GenCon to sell it? I wonder if people could actually see this stuff in person if that might cause them to buy. I also know that at a convention my buyers resistance tends to go down – I guess I almost get hypnotized by some of the cool stuff that’s there, and before I know it, I’m several hundred dollars lighter.

Another possibility would be to go the eBay route, but list them with a minimum bid. That way, if no one wants to pay what they’re worth, you aren’t giving your time and skills away.

[Photoner Hawkwind]

I think Bobsalt has explained most of it. I feel your frustration, but that's how economics works. We put more effort into something than consumers want to pay. Ebay does have the reserve system, which sounds like that is your best online bet unless you want your own website. Conventions are definately a popular place to sell your stuff and have you asked any local game store about selling on consignment? It doesn't cost them anything and they get the cut of your profit instead of Ebay.

[Avoll]

panzerpainter
have you ever thought of haveN your own web page
theres no doubt
your work is superb in every way
perhaps having your own web site that people could browse all your items for sell in one location
plus be able to buy right from your site via credit card or check card
then you just take the orders and ship accordingly
I could help you get your site started if this sounds like a good idea

also with your own site
you could have your site pop up from search engines from any number of key words
such as painting, A&A minis, minis, axis& allies, axis, allies, and so on
that way people would find you and you wouldNT have to worry as much about finding customers

[Knighthart]

Yeah, unfortunately, it's like preaching to the choir.

Most of the people on the Modeling 101 board are already members of the choir doing their own brush work. Many of the AAM players like the product because it's "pre-painted" miniatures (i.e. no painting or building to do ala Flames of War). And 90% of their budget is to buy the ones they need for playing local tournies, collections or massing a army.

Those doing the painting mods just want something a little different and can't justify the extra expense of painting work or commissions.

Also, welcome to the world of business and marketing. Sometimes business is taking a risk. You placed work and money into a product you thought would sale, yet it didn't. Trust me I've been there too. I agree that if you had a website that exclusively detailed your work and items for sale, your expense and risk would be less. And the local gaming store that might be able to sell them on consignment would be good too. There's a local B&M here that does this and some of the items do get purchased. I would also recommend getting a nice digital camera and take some nice macro shots of your tanks. A scanner image is just not great for showing off detail and the product. And try not to stress that the tanks didn't sale in the first hour or day or week. Perhaps, the right person hasn't come along yet.

And one more thought of encouragement: I see dozens of sites that offer painted miniatures and commission rates. I personally think these sites are way overpriced as the painter is trying to get a $20.00 an hour fee per item. If you can beat them here, then you got your nitch.

And there are many people out there that would rather buy the repaint then try to do it themselves. Sometimes, the cost of brushes and paints would be the price of a few good repainted miniatures not too mention time. This is like Starbucks. I could make the same thing at home for .25 cents but I'd rather pay $5 out of convenience.

[Avoll]

thats why I brought up the web site idea
some times the hassle of the transaction will turn off customers

people are willing to pay more when they have the convince of selecting there items and then just checking out and waiting for the product to show up at there door

plus your business seems more legitimate, which also attracts potential buyers

[A&Aaddict]

i can sell them a t Gen-Con i hope to be their myself since i live in Indianapolis.

[Stojakovic]

#1 reason I paint is because it is relaxing. I paint while I listen to music or my water fountain.

Right now I am saving for my trips to gettysburg, phily, D.C., Boston, and NYC. Plus set III. I put in some applications. So if I get hired soon. I am willing to buy one of those sigs with crew.

[panzerpainter]

I will have to give the website thing a thought. I'm rather computer stupid, and have no iea what a website would cost.
I do think I could compete with other custom-painting sites, but it would still be a bit slow I am thinking.
A convention would be great, but its all I can do to get the groceries, and dont know how I could manage a trip anywhere, not to mention this household would fall apart if i left.
I'll just keep poking and prodding, and as soon as I think its all gone to pot, I'll get more orders than I can ship out. I am mostly wanting to expand into a few other forums or "classified" that someoen might now of.
You all here in the modeling forum seem to be a lot more fun than those who just go to the marketplace, and more informed perhaps, so I figure its a good place to ask for other sites. Thanks for your responses.
P.S. I'd love to charge $20 per hour, but who would want a $40 PzIII? lol. Maybe I could find one of those hollywood stars that wears $500,000.00 clothes, thats into models, they could be talked into buying a $400 Pz III.

[Avoll]

#1 reason I paint is because it is relaxing. I paint while I listen to music or my water fountain.

Right now I am saving for my trips to gettysburg, phily, D.C., Boston, and NYC. Plus set III. I put in some applications. So if I get hired soon. I am willing to buy one of those sigs with crew.

hear ya on that
helps me sleep also

[Avoll]

i can sell them a t Gen-Con i hope to be their myself since i live in Indianapolis.

whos all going to Gen-Con this year

[Old Tanker]

My son, Sean K. Reynolds and my dsaughter always go

[Photoner Hawkwind]

Maybe I could find one of those hollywood stars that wears $500,000.00 clothes, thats into models, they could be talked into buying a $400 Pz III.

Already tried that at the academy awards the other day. No luck :(

[Avoll]

I will have to give the website thing a thought. I'm rather computer stupid, and have no iea what a website would cost.
I do think I could compete with other custom-painting sites, but it would still be a bit slow I am thinking.
A convention would be great, but its all I can do to get the groceries, and dont know how I could manage a trip anywhere, not to mention this household would fall apart if i left.
I'll just keep poking and prodding, and as soon as I think its all gone to pot, I'll get more orders than I can ship out. I am mostly wanting to expand into a few other forums or "classified" that someoen might now of.
You all here in the modeling forum seem to be a lot more fun than those who just go to the marketplace, and more informed perhaps, so I figure its a good place to ask for other sites. Thanks for your responses.
P.S. I'd love to charge $20 per hour, but who would want a $40 PzIII? lol. Maybe I could find one of those hollywood stars that wears $500,000.00 clothes, thats into models, they could be talked into buying a $400 Pz III.

well if you need some computer/webpage info, just PM
I can PM you with some good web hosts
and could get you started on web site building

I could generate you some flash menus and banners or whatever
and all I would ask in return would be that you let me post what I did for your site on my resume

[Bobsalt]

whos all going to Gen-Con this year

I'm planning on going to both Gen-Con in Indy and Origins this summer.

[A&Aaddict]

indy gen con live 20 minutes away:D

[MajorMatch]

Tell you the truth Gen Con for me is outa the question :( , living in Hawaii. And Panzerpainter were do you have pics of your repaints, would realy like to see them. I have not painted any AAM, but did repaint and remod lots of Mage Knight (ouch!) and Star Wars Minis. Not sure if I will repaint AAM but I might want to get some from you. :D

[Stojakovic]

Tell you the truth Gen Con for me is outa the question :( , living in Hawaii. And Panzerpainter were do you have pics of your repaints, would realy like to see them. I have not painted any AAM, but did repaint and remod lots of Mage Knight (ouch!) and Star Wars Minis. Not sure if I will repaint AAM but I might want to get some from you. :D

see the pics. right here on the modeling forum.

[panzerpainter]

Thanks for all the suggestions, Im still considering the web page thing. I do like the interaction thing of being on a forum, and am hoping to find other "forums" where people discuss other types of modeling / military miniatures. Do Roco collectors have a place? Maybe Takara, FOW, etc, have places just like this one? Although a web page sounds interesting, it also sounds "lonely". I like to post, read, chat, etc, as I do business.

[PatrickWR]

Thanks for all the suggestions, Im still considering the web page thing. I do like the interaction thing of being on a forum, and am hoping to find other "forums" where people discuss other types of modeling / military miniatures. Do Roco collectors have a place? Maybe Takara, FOW, etc, have places just like this one? Although a web page sounds interesting, it also sounds "lonely". I like to post, read, chat, etc, as I do business.

Here's a nice web forum for 1/144 scale Takara and Dragon Can*Do mini-tanks.

http://p208.ezboard.com/b144miniarmour

Also, there's always The Miniatures Page. (http://theminiaturespage.com/) It's worth browsing around to see if they have a thriving sale/trade section. I believe you hafta pay a small price for a premium membership, but a basic membership is free.

[panzerpainter]

I have marked those sites in my favorites, and will be checking them out when I have a bit more time. I've about used up my "free time" for today, and I need to get more stuff painted. But as soon as I have a couple hours I will browse through those and see whats going on. Looks promising, and just the kind of places Im looking for. Pretty soon though, I will need a couple more hands surgically attached.

[Avoll]

Thanks for all the suggestions, Im still considering the web page thing. I do like the interaction thing of being on a forum, and am hoping to find other "forums" where people discuss other types of modeling / military miniatures. Do Roco collectors have a place? Maybe Takara, FOW, etc, have places just like this one? Although a web page sounds interesting, it also sounds "lonely". I like to post, read, chat, etc, as I do business.

well you could link all your posts, chat, etc to your web site
more links you have to your site the more traffic your going to get
not to mention all the hits you would get from search engines

besides your work you do is worthy of its own site :D

[A&Aaddict]

no kidding..............

[Mr_G]

I was really, really tired when I posted that, and it wasnt worded very well. I dont want to seem unhappy at all, and am rewording it with an edit.
I used to sell a lot of normal stuff on ebay (mage knights) and they went sour. An occasional order was made for custom work here and there, and that was great. Now Im trying to do this full time, and its a lot faster to make them than sell them.
Any other places where I could post pics and try to sell would be of great help. The A&A forums, and ebay, cant be the only places. Any help appreciated.

You may try to get one or two at your local game shop, if they allow such things. I know of a few places where they sell complete painted warhammer armies (what's to prevent anyone from doing the same for A&AM I ask you?)

you have nothing to lose by trying :D