Selling Dios input.

Meddatron

Meddatron

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So I am gonna take a shot at selling some dios. The idea has been in my head for quite some time. I just needed pushed. lol. I decided to start building some little ones this week to test the market. I have 5 planned so far, 1 finished, 1 half finished, and 1 just started. Themes are gonna be varied. These are pretty much display pieces. I'm gonna try What Blood said and just put them on ebay. I have never sold on ebay. Here are my questions.

1- Be honest. What should i start it at price wise. 1 buck to try and make a name, risk selling cheap, 10 bucks, 20, etc....
2- Shipping, how do i figure out an honest shipping, US continental only to start. Do I need to figure out weight and use their calculator, flat rate it, what. I want shipping to be as close to actual cost as possible. I can't stand inflated shipping myself, so dont want to do it. If I need to figure out weight, how can one do that without scale, drive to post and do a dry run?

My plan is to sell 3 on E-bay (test waters for future dios), Donate 1 to here for Officers club give-away (If wanted), and Donate 1 to OG13's 52 week contest.

Thanks for input. Here is the first finished so you can get size, scale, and detail of the dios i have planned.




 
fogger1138

fogger1138

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No idea on price - you might want to try with the first few that you start them at a penny and see where they end up. That's a big risk, I know, but it would probably give you the best indication on price.

You going to sell any in here? Or take commissions? :)
 
fogger1138

fogger1138

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Meddatron said:
2- Shipping, how do i figure out an honest shipping, US continental only to start. Do I need to figure out weight and use their calculator, flat rate it, what. I want shipping to be as close to actual cost as possible. I can't stand inflated shipping myself, so dont want to do it. If I need to figure out weight, how can one do that without scale, drive to post and do a dry run?
Click to expand...

Package one up as solidly as you can, then weigh it - you may need to go find an automated postal center and use their scale if you don't have one at home.

eBay will calculate shipping for you, if need be. Flat rate only works if you can fit it in a flat rate box, which might not work for dios of unusual size or dimension.
 
M

MAJOR BLOOD

Size matters
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The weight should usually come close to first class shipping on the smaller sets. Really depends on the material of course and the box. Use pillow stuffing to pack them if you don't have other stuff. It is fairly inexpensive and can create a good cushion and doesn't weigh anything barely.

As for pricing, it really depends on the work you put in. I'd say between the $10-$20 mark is fair. I've seen a spray painted PTE tower go for more. $15 is more worth your time after fees probably. $10 you would have to sling quite a few but if they went you could pull in some good scratch. Hell, if you sold 10 of them that's an extra $75 (after fees) in pocket.

I'd almost start one high and if it doesn't go then knock it down a little. It's the best way to test the waters. If it goes for more awesome but if not then knock it down gradually.
 
Meddatron

Meddatron

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fogger1138 said:
You going to sell any in here? Or take commissions? :)
Click to expand...

I could offer any up here first if you guys wanted, at a fair price. Commissions are something i have been pondering. Not sure, I know what I am good at when it comes to making it scale and look real. I don't feel real confident venturing out of the comfort zone for people's money. Thats what makes commission tough is not guaranteeing i can make anything.
 
Meddatron

Meddatron

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MAJOR BLOOD said:
The weight should usually come close to first class shipping on the smaller sets. Really depends on the material of course and the box. Use pillow stuffing to pack them if you don't have other stuff. It is fairly inexpensive and can create a good cushion and doesn't weigh anything barely.

As for pricing, it really depends on the work you put in. I'd say between the $10-$20 mark is fair. I've seen a spray painted PTE tower go for more. $15 is more worth your time after fees probably. $10 you would have to sling quite a few but if they went you could pull in some good scratch. Hell, if you sold 10 of them that's an extra $75 (after fees) in pocket.

I'd almost start one high and if it doesn't go then knock it down a little. It's the best way to test the waters. If it goes for more awesome but if not then knock it down gradually.
Click to expand...

Thanks Blood



Oh and Thanks fogger!!
 
fogger1138

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Meddatron said:
I could offer any up here first if you guys wanted, at a fair price. Commissions are something i have been pondering. Not sure, I know what I am good at when it comes to making it scale and look real. I don't feel real confident venturing out of the comfort zone for people's money. Thats what makes commission tough is not guaranteeing i can make anything.
Click to expand...

I bet if you made some and offered them here, they'd sell pretty fast.
 
M

MAJOR BLOOD

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One thing with shipping big dio's is that the box you put them in usually weighs more than the actual diorama. If you do larger ones perhaps you should make it "some assembly required" or put toothpicks in the material so they can put it together fast. It will help save on space and a larger box probably.
 
Meddatron

Meddatron

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MAJOR BLOOD said:
One thing with shipping big dio's is that the box you put them in usually weighs more than the actual diorama. If you do larger ones perhaps you should make it "some assembly required" or put toothpicks in the material so they can put it together fast. It will help save on space and a larger box probably.
Click to expand...

One of the reasons i wanted to start small, make shipping easy and under 10 bucks. I shipped a similar sized one to Tofujesse and it cost under 8.
 
fogger1138

fogger1138

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Meddatron said:
I would definately much rather skip the middle man ebay if i could. Would be cooler to see people use them in pics down the road. The one guy who got one of mine at Slayercon 1 in the raffle uses it when he posts customs. I get giddy each time.
Click to expand...

I know, I was pissed I didn't win it. :)
 
Meddatron

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If its OK with Admins here, Once they are finished I'll start a thread for them to sell. I'll give both Darkwise and admins here first choice for the sites to do with as they wish. The other 3 I'll make up for grabs.
 
G.I.*EDDIE

G.I.*EDDIE

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I feel your insecurities about the whole deal Medd...it's the main reason I've never wanted to do commissions...I always feel like guys see stuff in pics and think its awesome...then I'd wonder that once they had whatever I did for them in hand, if they still genuinely like it...but you have to consider the guys buying it, don't have the time or maybe skill and just want it done...this is where you come in...they'll be plenty happy I'm sure...
 
Rick

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Tough to price art. Maybe Ebay and let the Market decide to get a guage.

As a point of reference though my local hobby store sells a shite load of foam pieces all 1/35 scale though.

Stone walls in my dios go for 20 to 25 each

Rock cropping goes for 35

My brick wall that I double as a stucco wall with arches is 25.

I'm sure thay are that cheap since they are poured into a mold now, but there are some of buildings that range from 25 to 150

I think in our scale/market somewhere from 20 to 50 seems tolerable to most of us for most things outside of a figure.
 
Obi-Shinobi

Obi-Shinobi

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Shit man... I'd buy your dios. I love the one that I won at Slayercon, just haven't made any figs recently to show it off with since the first few.That will change shortly.

And here it is, for you guys that may not have seen it before - quality piece, imo.



 
Monkeywrench

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No idea on price but I do know that I want your first offering already!

I think this is a great idea Med!
 
Meddatron

Meddatron

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Thanks for all the input!!

I'll post them here and go from there, maybe 15-20 each.

I have a underground hatch one coming next, The hatch will be hollow so if user wants to raise the dio they could make it appear someone is going in or out of it. thinking rock face backdrop. Hatch Lid will be on a raise and swivel pin. The other i have working is a double view, corner to corner wall, one side is interior of house with window, other is the exterior.
 
Meddatron

Meddatron

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thanks!!

Next dio is done. Hatch Dio. Hatch tube goes straight through the dio so Dio can be raised and give illusion of a guy entering or leaving it. Hatch lid is on a swivel and and is set up to raise up and swing. So when in down/closed position it won't move. Video camera is on a swivel, Hard to see but the lens is a clear LED light. Was thinking about putting a tresspassers will be shot sign but decided against it. here are the pics.





 
Monkeywrench

Monkeywrench

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Awesome!!

Will you be making mutables of these? Or is each piece going to be a one of a kind?
 
Monkeywrench

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Meddatron said:
Probably one of a kinds, but i can repeat the setups if someone wants. They wouldnt be identical, but could be close.
Click to expand...

Wow! That my make the demand higher. I'm sure you will probably get a few pieces that more than one person will want. I would keep that in mind, obviously like you said they won't be completely identical.
 
G.I.*EDDIE

G.I.*EDDIE

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Sweet!...Somehow I missed the one I was really waiting to see...I love the hatch one!...so cool...that one for sure needs some night time lighting shots...
 
Tofujesse

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OK, I got my first dio from Medd and I gotta tell you guys this dio looks better in person than in the pics and in the pis they look fricken awesome. Great craftsmanship I would say you could get upwards of 40+ specially if they are one offs. How can I order some more?
 
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