For 2025, I made a conscious decision to pare down my (some would say "massive") hex-and-counter wargame collection. I managed to make an almost noticeable dent in the collection by moving off more than 40 games. Since many of these games have been long out of print, I actually showed a profit on some! Of course, some of these 40 games shifted were offset by additional game purchases but I am still in the black for the year; and by a large margin. That success is even counting that the November and December bargain season showed its head.
Many wargame companies offer a seemingly steady stream of sales from early November through the end of the year. This year is no exception with plenty of bargains to be had. Not only are the manufacturers offering up great deals but ebay bargains are popping up with regular and increasing frequency. Now, is this plethora of bargains seasonal or a gauge of the state of the economy? I will not dive into that topic...
What I do know is that this approach to year-end is a most dangerous time for the shopper and especially me.
What caught my eye so far in this run up to year-end bargain hunting?
Some cracking looking books, Jon. Every Bullet, book is fab!
ReplyDeleteI will enjoy reading Hilton's book. I know from your recent video that you are a big fan of his works.
DeleteI shall be interested to hear what you think about "Every bullet". I've been tempted but not bitten.
ReplyDeleteWell, it is not a period I have played but always on the lookout for interesting ideas. Perhaps this will spawn a new collection?
DeleteWell, I would assume that is the purpose behind Mr Hilton writing it, Jon!
DeleteFor my sake, I hope you are wrong!
DeleteYes, I have to avoid ebay and luckily don't do boardgames, but I am spending a lot of times looking at sales which isn't good but alright if I don't buy anything! Nice looking games!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
A bargain is a hazard to our trade!
DeleteThe peril of "the bargain"!☺
ReplyDeleteI'm sure they will all come in useful!
Neil
They will be useful, for sure. I look at many wargames as I do with books. That is, as reference material and inspiration even if the game is not played much.
DeleteSome great finds there Jonathan! I really do like the ACW scenario books and have several, but of course I need to have them all!:-)
ReplyDeleteYes, you need to have them all! They are great inspiration.
DeleteI have never bought anything on eBay and rarely look at it, but I did recently find a 3d printing company in Australia with all his products at literally half price, so a few more WW2 Russians are en route as I type, plus the already ridiculously cheap Temu have had Black Friday going for three weeks, so another $35 of 3d terrain is on its way from them!
ReplyDeleteBargains can still be found on eBay if one is diligent. You have really dived into 3D printed pieces with both feet. Two pieces also arriving within the last couple of days here are some buildings for Star Wars Legion. I think I am actually getting close to trying a game.
DeleteNice buys and wins Jon, the Helion book is a cracker, very nicely done. I am tempted and I mean seriously tempted by Jim at Fife and Drum having a Black Friday sale, so more lead coul well be making it's way across the pond!!
ReplyDeleteDonnie, you should take Jim up on his offer! He may have a boat payment to make or at least put aside for travel to his next con.
DeleteSome very nice purchases, Jonathan. I suspect the last one mentioned may lead to an order of miniatures to kick start a project. Let's see how you pass this test of willpower.
ReplyDeleteYeah, let’s see if I can pass this test!
DeleteForty out and a handful in is a creditable effort. That Goose Green one looks especially interesting and I'll have a look at that myself this morning.
ReplyDeleteOne of our gaming group retired several years ago and built up a collection of several hundred games and expansions including just about everything in the C&C series, in the hope that we would all have more time and play them all in retirement. We have yet to retire though so the vast majority have remained untoucheded, and he is about to downsize and has sold the lot off. I just hope he doesn't regret it in a few years when the rest of us are retired. I did think about buying the C&C games, but then felt a bit awkward especially if he does come to rue the decision and I am now holding them, or if indeed I end up moving them on at a massive profit on eBay.
I know I should start to think about offloading some of my projects, but then I never know what I might need in the future. I always thought that my WWII naval stuff would remain in their boxes until a gamer friend rang me up and asked if I would be interested in a few games of Nimitz, so you never know what the future holds and in what direction the hobby is going to take you.
Goose Green would be a good introduction to this game series especially if the topic interests you.
DeleteI am not offloading any of my miniatures projects (Heaven forbid!) but am simply trying to reduce my boardgame footprint to more manageable levels. Perhaps a photo of my game closet might shed some light on this madness?
I may not have time to get all of the boardgames back out on the table, but I enjoy having them and I go to them often as an historical reference.
Well as long as it’s a step in the right direction Jon! 😆
ReplyDeleteCertainly a diverse range of games/books. I rarely look at eBay because it never seems to lead to anything I ‘need’ rather than things I MIGHT be able to use.
Chris
Three steps forward and one step back is still progress! Do any of us really NEED any of these things?
DeleteSome interesting purchases there, including heavy hitters, whether by rules of game size. The ACW scenario book are a great acquisition.
ReplyDeleteRegardless the main goal …. To get rid of stuff has been successful.
I think it is hard to move stuff for good prices and increasingly, unless it is a rare collectable item, I think we are at a point of selling low, donating or throwing away …… if the intention is purely to get shut. Once the mind accepts that, it all becomes rather easy.
I just did a big e-bay sell off in the summer, selling at a low price to clear the decks and I still generated £920, which has largely been ‘re-invested’ on e-bay to buy in painted figures. So I consider that to be a recycling.
In the UK if you sell more than £1000 per annum on e-bay, you get referred to the tax people and have to start going ‘self-assessed’, so unless you really want to make money, it seems better to stay under that £1000 threshold.
Norm, I have a keen interest in operational games in general and WWII in particular. Fall Blau, which utilizes a system I first played in S&T Sicily back in the '80s, intrigues me as does MMP's Hungarian Rhapsody since I am a big fan of the OCS system.
DeleteThe boardgame market does seem to have softened greatly although publishers continue pushing out new games at alarming rates. I often wonder if many simply download the rules, fire up the VASSAL module, and play without ever having purchased the game?
The USA had a similar tax scheme set to take effect in 2025 with a $600 reporting threshold. Thankfully, that scheme has been shelved.
An interesting selection of game and book purchases. The ACW scenario books look interesting.
ReplyDeleteInteresting selection, indeed! The ACW scenario books make handy references for tabletop design and development.
DeleteI'm trying to avoid EBay at the moment, under strict orders not to be making purchases before Christmas
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
DeleteIsn't it a dangerous period Jonathan. I also took advantage of MMP's sale and acquired Goose Green and the GTS title No Question of Surrender - there were no OCS titles that for me to acquire. But I am also looking closely at OSG's sale for a few more TLNB boxes. Enjoy them.
ReplyDeleteIt sure is! I will look into OSG's sale.
Delete