I reckon in the clubs I have belonged to, at least 50% of the members had bought their boats ready built, usually from club members. Also in the last few years, RTS boats are coming on to the market (Graupner Graf Spee as an example), fairly expensive, but not overly so (but are very basic models), are these to be classed as second hand? Just because they are ready built. A few people just won't or can't build for themselves, and when they saw mine sailing asked how much I would sell it to them for. Most of them snatched my hand off when I told them, because they realised they were getting a model that was, although from a kit, unique, well built and reliable.
If you don't desperately need to get rid of a good model, don't drop your price. If we all did it, it would leave just the rubbish out there and perhaps potential buyers would eventually realise what real value there is in a beautifully finished, fully working and ready to go model. If someone thinks your having a bit of a laugh with your price, the simple answer is tell them to go buy a kit and radio gear then build one for themselves. The only reason they want yours is to save themselves time and money... and effort... and maybe they just don't have the skills.
Lets face it, if they commissioned someone to build and fit out their own kit.... they would get the shock of their lives!
I love that reply, maybe if a few of us who build good quality models followed this bit of advice, people just might start to realise just how much time, effort and cash goes into a scale model, even if a heavily modified kit, and start to realise that there is a big difference between an el cheapo runabout off ebay, and a well made scale model.
I do know of people that just go around buying boats from people willing to sell them too cheaply, then hacking them around the local clubs and selling them at large profits, usually after the internals are stripped out and sold elsewhere, usually ruining a perfectly set up model in the process.
Stick to your guns, stick to your prices and don't let these b's make a living out of our hard work.
John
Please, VAT on cars has sod all to do with selling model boats.