After many years in Advertising, marketing and telling Retailers how to retail, I decided to join them, and soon realised I knew nothing except for one thing. Promise to Deliver and Deliver what you promise.
Welcome to Not Just Toys, a specialist model shop operating from Dudley St, Lower Hutt in New Zealand. Established in 2004 to satisfy the diecast model collector, it has grown to include a wide range of plastic kits, radio control, railway, hobby supplies and rockets.
Not Just Toys stocks most of the leading names in models, most sourced from importers from within New Zealand, many imported direct, these include diecast trucks (that Not Just Toys is reknown for) and Australian Super V8’s.
WHY THERE IS SUCH A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN PRICES?
When you’re talking models, you must compare apples with apples. For example, there have been a number of 1:18 2010 Ford Shelby Cobra GT500’s made, Greenlight have made one and so have AutoArt, on the surface they look identical only the Greenlight sells for around $150 while the AutoArt models is over $200. It’s the small details that make the difference plus Greenlight will probably make several thousand while AutoArt is a numbered limited edition, and once it has reached its run, there will be no more, making the AutoArt a better investment option.
Another factor that determines price is the materials used in manufacturing the model. The bulk of models are diecast, that is the basic parts are cast from metals in a die and many can be made from each die and as such they are the cheaper option. Another method is casting in white metal. White metal is a lower melting point alloy, lead or tin based where a silicone mold is produced then filled with white metal. White Metal model Manufacturers produce lower numbers of models that major manufacturers avoid, it is a specialist collectible area, and because of low numbers produced, tend to be expensive ( between 200 and $NZ400 for a 1:43 Scale Model) and not as detailed as diecast. Then there is resin. Again, a method used for producing lower numbers, but resin is able to produce the highest standard of detail. It’s hard and even feels like diecast but the detail is outstanding. Not Just Toys stocks SPARK, a range of 1:43 vehicles from open wheeler classics to land speed record holding vehicles, pricewise on a par with some diecast but cheaper than white metal.
There is another reason why advertised prices vary, apart from natural competition between model shops, and that is the Internet purchaser. Everyone believes they can buy models from overseas, place them on TradeMe and consider themselves traders. Mainstream Model Shops cannot compete, they have a shop to support, they have GST to pay at the border, expensice freight and they have GST to pay every 2 months, and often the result is closure. It may not affect the backyard operator, but is a disaster for the customer who needs their local model shop to see new models and make regular purchases on paint, glues, railway track etc, items that are too expensive or inconvenient to import or buy off the internet for the average buyer.
WHAT IS COLLECTIBLE AND HOW YOU CAN TELL?
Everything is collectible but some are more collectible than others. The more expensive models should be complete with a numbered limited edition certificate BUT, there is something else to think about.
Remember Dinky Toys from the 50’s and 60’s. They were sold as toys priced from as low as 2/6 (25c in todays money). Because they were a toy, the first thing to go in the rubbish was the box, then a lot ended up in the sandpit. 3 years ago, a mint and boxed Foden lorry from the 50’s sold at auction for over 12,000 English Pounds. So, if you’re collecting as an investment, here’s a tip. Keep your eyes on the discount centres such as the Warehouse for the cheap models, keep them boxed and see what the market does in a few years. Dinky and Corgi made at least 40,000 models from each Die, today Corgi will make as few as 750 (complete with Numbered Certificate) but because they’re now made for the Collectible market, I guarantee that in 20 or 30 years time, there could be as many as 700 of those models still around. I’m not telling you all to disappear to the Warehouse because as in all things, you get what you pay for. Above all – KEEP THE BOX!!!
WHO CAN YOU TRUST
Trust in the main comes down to personal experience. There are many buyers and sellers on the internet and one of the few checks you can make is the sellers history. However, some sellers remain anonymous and should a trade fall through, you can have a difficult time tracking them down. If the item you buy has a warranty, you have to return it to the origin to have the warranty honoured, and if the seller is overseas, you’re in for extra expense.
Not Just Toys has an actual Model Store with a street address and regular hours including Saturdays until 3pm. We can also be seen at various swapmeets around the country and even seen occasionally on TradeMe and Ebay where we clearly identify ourselves. The only stock that I will use on these sites is stock that has been around for a long time and offered to my regular customers at the same price that I expect to receive from the auction sites.
Not Just Toys is proud of its history of providing service and product guarantee. Most models stocked are opened and checked before going on display. This is one advantage of dealing with NZ Suppliers in that stock can be returned for replacement or repair. We try to avoid buying second hand unless we are sure of the providence and the item is in good condition so that we can put our own guarantee on it.
If an item in the shop has suffered damage and cannot be replaced, defects are pointed out to the customer and a generous discount is applied.
Another policy that we adhere to is that of Credit Card payments. When a customer chooses to pay by Credit Card from a remote location (the banks call this ‘Contactless Transactions’) by phone or email, we do not store the details, so all subsequent purchases will require further credit card details to be given.
This is why we prefer PayPal payments (and we will soon add PayStation Payments organised by New Zealand based Paymark Services who handle EFTPOS payments).
WHO SAYS YOU CAN’T LAYBY?
We realise that many of our items are expensive, so why not layby them from wherever you live. I can provide banking details to you so you can make a payment when it’s convenient and I’ll courier the items to you when the final payment has been made. Payment progress receipts can be mailed to you, all that we ask from you is that regular payments be made. Please be aware that normal cancellation fees could apply and the term of layby and amount of securing deposit can be negotiated at time of purchase.
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