justin

Hello Everybody!! Greetings from warm and sunny Jakarta!

I've been following the Bid Bird debate and still have strong reservations about this range. I just saw the Ansett Olympic and it is beautiful, as a model I can't fault it in any meaningful way. However;
-why the high prices? These are unlicensed, so that removes a huge cost in the case of Disney, Pokemon and Olympic models, and a cost in any model. They don't appear to do any marketing, another cost they don't have. Production runs are not very low, so they can't claim the innefficiency of low production as an excuse. Dragon, Gemini, Herpa and Starjets all manage to produce special schemes at the same price as regular models or just a slight surcharge, so they can't really claim that as an excuse either. To me these should be CHEAPER than Dragon, Gemini and Herpa, not more expensive!!
-About license, I have a double standard here I'll admit, but it seems to me that Herpa are probably the one company who has always been straight on the issue so it seems unethical to support a company that is undermining them with an illegal product. Dragon and ADi have played fast and loose before so I would have no qualms on their part.
-Without wanting to upset people this seems a bit of a scam and rip off to me.
Now I'm ready to hear everybody attack me and throw hand grenades!!!

Justin

Shawn Moynihan

Justin,

This debate is getting a little ragged. The owner feels that they are extremely desired and RARE liveries that are on an excellant mould that collectors are wiloling to pay. They are not cheap, and he is in it to make a buck. He wants to make alot of bucks. And he realizes that if he sold them cheap, then the collectors would buy all of them and sell them on Ebay for alot MORE !! If they are going to sell on Ebay for 130.00 or even more like the JAL Disney blue has sold for in the past few days. Why should he sell them for less ?

Chrisvalla

It's all about green with BB... there was a market 'want' and they're satisfying that 'want' at a premium price, nevermind legal or illegal.

After thinking about it some more, I've come to a personal decision that I will not now, nor in the future, purchase Big Bird planes no matter the price. I will not satsify their hunger for money (and my want for a rare livery) by dealing with crooks. I don't knowingly buy anything else from crooks (besides the government monopolies), so why start now.

justin

So my original feeling that it is just a huge price ramp is right? I have no objection to anybody making a profit, that's what business is about, but presumeably the fact that Herpa, Schabak, Dragon, Gemini and Starjets are still in business indicates they are making a fair profit selling their product for far less even taking higher costs into account. The argument about E-Bay doesn't really hold water as that is an excuse for EVERY manufacturer to ramp their prices, if demand is so strong why not make more. I appreciate it is the owners freedom to price his product, but it's also my freedom as a consumer to decide the price is a rip off. And I do feel there is a real question of ethics here, I try not to support companies I consider to practice below a certain acceptable set of standards and sadly this is my opinion of Big Bird. Beautiful models, but I won't be buying any.

Justin