Want to make money?

[Chris]

Everything SideShowWeta sells from LOTR ends up sold out. Once it sells out it goes for 500% or more markup on Ebay. Lately their statues have been selling out before they're even in stock.

http://www.sideshowtoy.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=0&item=9338

Trust me, it will sell out.

I can't order anymore, but you could. Order 2, use coupon code ROTKEA for 15% off. They will not charge you for them until they ship to you. By the time they ship to you they will be sold out and worth probably $800 or so apiece. So by the time you actually pay for them they will be worth more than what you're paying for them. Then you can sell them on ebay and make a profit of $1200.

[Shawn]

Chris,

Is there any guarantee to this? I mean hell, I know you can't guarantee the exact markup, but it's a little hard to rationalize spending almost $400 on some statue I have no idea about.

If you could *guarantee* at least a 300% profit or so, I'd do this.

[Chris]

I can't "guarantee" the markup. But I can show you examples.

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?cgiurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2 F&krd=1&from=R8&MfcISAPICommand=GetResult&ht=1&SortProperty=MetaEndSort&query=balrog+statue

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?query=cave+troll+statue&ht=1&sosortproperty=1&from=R10&BasicSearch=

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?query=ringwraith+on+steed&ht=1&sosortproperty=1&from=R10&BasicSearch=

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?query=aragorn+statue&ht=1&sosortproperty=1&from=R10&BasicSearch= (originally only $125)

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?query=fell+beast+statue&ht=1&sosortproperty=1&from=R10&BasicSearch=

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?query=witchking+statue&ht=1&sosortproperty=1&from=R10&BasicSearch= (this is the same character as the one I linked to)

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?query=treebeard+bust&ht=1&sosortproperty=1&from=R10&BasicSearch=

I'm not an affiliate with them or anything. But I can only order 8 as a retailer and 2 as a consumer. Since I'm maxed out my friends might as well make some money.

You definitely won't lose money on it (especially with the 15% off coupon, which expires on the 29th of this month.)

Oh.. one last thing... that statue will probably sell out in a day or so. Another good one to buy would be the Gandalf on Shadowfax one or the Sauron one. Those will appreciate nicely.

[incka]

I'm buying. Does CBSwords have an affiliate program? Some of my friends want to buy swords from a site which is more expensive than yours...

[incka]

It might be worth setting up an online store selling these statues... Infact, Um, how do you get a merchant account with them?

[Chris]

Its not worth it to setup a store, ebay will bring the best prices.

To become a retailer with them you'd have to prove you're a legitimate business and that you have registered to collect sales tax.

[Chris]

Originally posted by incka
I'm buying. Does CBSwords have an affiliate program? Some of my friends want to buy swords from a site which is more expensive than yours...

No, I don't.

[flyingpylon]

Okay, this is so unlike me, but I went ahead and ordered one. If this doesn't work out, my wife will kick my ***. And then Chris, I'll have to come kick yours! Of course if it does work out, then my wife will ask me why I didn't buy more!

It says it won't ship until July or August... hopefully these things are still popular by then. The whole LOTR thing is completely baffling to me, but whatever. I suppose I can check eBay once in a while to see how they're doing and cancel my order if the whole thing goes south.

Thanks for the tip (I think?).

[MarkB]

I imagine they'll still be popular - maybe even moreso when ROTK is released on the special edition DVD at the end of the year?

They have these figures at Lonely Planet here (or figures like them) - same with the swords Chris sells. Lush products!

[Mike]

So every product on that site should make you a profit?

Also, seeing as a load of people are now going to buy these models, will they still sell on ebay?

[Chris]

Not every product. Well eventually yes, every product, but in the short term only the hottest sellers will do it. These are the more popular characters, or the better designs.

On the right side of the page here you can see their most popular products:

http://www.sideshowtoy.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=0

Not all products are limited editions though, perhaps 5% or so are unlimited.

This statue:

http://www.sideshowtoy.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=rotks&item=9341

Is not even designed yet, there are no pictures, and yet it is one of their top sellers. At $300 it is one of their most expensive statues -- the ones that originally sold for that amount now sell for $1000+ on ebay.

[Mike]

Sounds good...but when everyone buys off there, will they still sell on ebay?

Thanks,
Mike

[MarkB]

Hopefully not everyone who buys them are buying to resell. :)

[incka]

Um, I hope they are still popular... LOTR fever can't last for ever. Alot of Chris' income in based on LOTR fever, so he'll hope it stays going. Someone told me The Hobbit is going to be made by the same people as LOTR soon, so that will keep it going...

[flyingpylon]

Originally posted by incka
LOTR fever can't last for ever.

Maybe not forever, but have you heard of a little movie called Star Wars? This seems to be a lot like that in some ways.

[Chris]

A company called Master Replicas has been making replica light sabers for years. They sell them for like $400. Everything they make sells out.

[incka]

Well, you will always have hardcore fans, but alot of general fans will move on.

[Chris]

Who do you think buys the stuff? Heh I have some customers who spend thousands.

[incka]

Yeah, a friend of mine wants to buy all your stock...

[Chris]

The statue I told you all to buy is now sold out. It isn't even going to be out until July or whatever.

[flyingpylon]

Cool. I see that it's a "limited" edition of 9500... is that higher than their other statues or not?

[Chris]

Its about the same as the newest batch, higher than previous batches.

[Mike]

To bring back an old topic...

http://www.sideshowtoy.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=lotre&item=9339
http://www.sideshowtoy.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=lotre&item=9336

Could they do well on ebay?

[Chris]

1. No, that is an open edition.

2. Most likely, especially since you're in the UK (lower supply in Europe). But you'll have to wait awhile (like 2005).

[Mike]

Ok, thanks Chris.

[incka]

I could afford to buy them now...

[flyingpylon]

I see that the Mogul Lord Witch King statues are already getting listed on eBay. Looks like people are trying to get Buy It Now buyers for about $500.

When is the best time to list these things? Before, right after, or way after it's released?

[Mike]

Have you got yours yet flyingpylon?

[Chris]

On the more indemand statues that are sure to go up I'd wait until after they're all shipped. They ship in batches of say 500 or 1000 so it'll take a little while.

On others if you just want a quick turn around you could sell them right away, but you probably will not make as much.

[flyingpylon]

Mike- I haven't gotten mine yet. I think they're supposed to ship in July or August.

Chris- Since I know absolutely nothing about LOTR, is this Mogul Lord Witch King character popular? They made 9500 statues... is that not enough (good for me) or too many (bad for me).

So much for the saying "Invest in what you know"!

[Mike]

I don't think 9500 is a lot, although that's just me :)

[thebillionaire]

If you want to sell your lightsabre's try buying the latest star wars game and just hosting games with the title of your site, or get a clan. I used to play starwars and thats how many people sold starwars items.

[flyingpylon]

Sorry to drag up such an old post, but my Morgul Lord Witch-King statue from Sideshow Collectibles is supposed to arrive today. After a brief search on eBay, it hardly looks like this is going to work out. They're selling for around what they cost. Perhaps a "limited" edition of 9500 isn't quite limited enough?

Chris, any advice? I'm trying to decide whether I should just return it.

[MarkB]

If you're is arriving now, then everyone else's is too ;) So there'll most likely be plenty of other people trying to sell them on straight away. Why not wait a few months, and see if demand goes up?

[incka]

I think 1000 years might bring you a better profit margin, however that is impractical, so I am going to agree with Mark.

[Chris]

Yes, wait and see what Christmas brings. Or sell it for a profit to someone local who doesn't bother to look on Ebay.