e-Bay minis, what\'s the draw?

[DennisMech]

I\'ve never understood the draw of buying minis on e-bay. Ok, well maybe I get buying armies, because some people cant paint, but play the game, and want a respectable looking army. So I guess i see a market in army painting (the only prob being the price, it\'s worth more then it sells for, but it\'s doesnt not make it a lot of money to spend) but i really dont get master class single mini painting. Sure, maybe you\'d want to pick up a mediocre single mini because you need an OK hero, but can\'t paint, but why would you buy a 500$ mini for you\'re army? Even if it wasn\'t for an army, why would you want it? to display it? That would seem odd, since it wouldnt be your work. The only thing I can think of is to study it, but that still seems a little steep for just a mini to study. So what\'s the draw? By the way, i mean no offence to people who buy or sell these minis, I\'m just curious of the motives.

 

[kevd82]

While I have never sold a painted miniature myself (although I am sure I could get some nice offers to NOT paint lol), I think alot of the people who buy the high dollar pieces are collectors, not fellow painters or even gamers.

 

[Rachel]

it\'s a mix...

I\'ve had someone buy a $40 mini to study, and a $200 mini to game with . So it totally depends on the person and how they see their disposable income - for me, buying swanky minis is too expensive. But if it was only a small proportion of the amount i\'d blow on fun stuff in a week, I\'d buy a $500 mini in a second. Heck, even if it was only once a year for a birthday present (for me of course!) I\'d do it if I could afford it.

For the collector I can see the appeal of having a \'name\' mini, in the same way some people like autographed stuff or designer, one-off clothes.

So to summarise my nonsensical rambling, I think that the draw depends on the person, their income, their interests, and is probably difficult to quantify with a generalisation .

 

[Shroud]

Many of my buyers are wealthy people who don\'t have a lot of spare time to paint but enjoy (a) gaming with a well painted army or (b) collecting nicely painted art (figs).

 

[DeerHeart]

D-Mech, I think that if you look at mini painting as art, then it will all fall into place for you.

 

[DennisMech]

D-mech, never been called that before.

Now I see what you mean, art collecters, huh. I\'ve never met a collecter in person, though often I feel that I\'d like to own a mini by a top painter, I could have a display stand in my house. Though soon I\'ll have a sculpt from Repent, which is kinda the same, if more utilitarian. But what about the tons of mediocre minis that go for 20 bucks? Who buys those?

 

[MaestroOfMayhem]

Originally posted by DennisMech
D-mech, never been called that before.

Now I see what you mean, art collecters, huh. I\'ve never met a collecter in person, though often I feel that I\'d like to own a mini by a top painter, I could have a display stand in my house. Though soon I\'ll have a sculpt from Repent, which is kinda the same, if more utilitarian. But what about the tons of mediocre minis that go for 20 bucks? Who buys those?

You can buy the mini\'s cheap, strip them and then paint them yourself. Cutting cost and helping the enviroment at the same time!

 

[Impernouncable]

Originally posted by DennisMechBut what about the tons of mediocre minis that go for 20 bucks? Who buys those?

What can I say, some people not only can\'t paint well but also have no eye for it either.

I\'ve thought about doing some work for sale on Ebay, but I need to get a decent camera first. I\'m looking it at as a good excuse work on lots of different stuff. When I get around to it I\'ll probably focusing mostly on skirmish based games like Mordheim, Necromunda, Bloodbowl, Confrontation, whatever else catches my eye.