| 12.05.2018 – In the Philippines the interest in collecting comics, toys, trading cards, and other things that is a common hobby would be a lucrative business Collectibles Shops expanding not only in Greenhills, but also through social media not just the usual selling sites like eBay. This has been a big thing for most who embrace the collector market because of a huge community.
With that whenever there’s a convention or event there’s bound to be a stall or a table that sells interesting stuff such as one found during the recently concluded Manila Auto Salon that was more about custom cars and impressive exhibits that encompasses the motoring community. It’s surprisingly for such a huge event only less than a handful of sellers where there related to collectible toys. |
The experience on the last day at the Manila Auto Salon in the early part of the show was a bit lukewarm. It was a Sunday which usually most people would be there to take advantage on seeing the cars, trucks, and everything in-between the event that has been around for twelve seasons. This was also the 24th year event for the Trucks show that featured a Monster Truck decked with Pikachu’s image.
It’s a petrol heads event that are into anything four wheels. Though this is different from the extravagance of the Manila International Motor Show (MIAS) it is considered one of the rare events that you see car and truck enthusiast mingling and talking about their interest in the culture.
There was not much to find interesting to buy there unless you have a car to buy accessories or to learn more about the other parts of the show like franchising your own workshop as one of the things you will find here. Personally, I rarely go beyond and spend something that suits my fancy. The only two collectibles stores there was selling random diecast cars and rarely they get quite an attention as they are the same sellers from the previously mentioned event.
Kiosky Toys and Collectibles Shop is one of the two exhibitors that sell mostly die-cast cars from vintage Matchbox produced by Lesney, the pre-Mattel production cars to the current releases. Hot Wheels is also sold there that has been popular generally whenever you go to events. There is a huge interest in collecting these little cars, but what caught my attention were the loose LEGO figures with their horses and motor bike that almost convincingly unreal.
They are vintage LEGO Castle figures and horses that were sighted last Sunday. It was interesting also while inspecting the toys itself that they appear less genuine that you thought they’re knock offs. These days with loose LEGO sets displayed without in their packaging can sometimes appear like they are fake but they are not if you observe them thoroughly.
There are three horses and one motor bike with individual minifigure riders. There are two black horses and a white one without a saddle. The two black horses have red and blue saddle both got my curiosity finding out that each set is sold for ₱200.00 pesos. Usually, if you’re a vendor it’s a challenge to make a sale paying a space inside a convention. Though, you may have people looking at your stuff sometimes you have to give a fair deal for customers to keep coming back.
They say everything is business but sometimes in putting up with that you have to face the good and bad. You make the most of making a good relationship with clients. In my experiences in going to Sunday Markets or mini-fairs I have never met a seller in South Australia frowning while selling his/her wares, but keeping an optimistic vibe even though you never get a good sale. There to make them feel that you’re not just making a business of them you give them a good deal.
I don’t haggle but I give the seller a fair deal and you gain goo relationships between seller and buyer. In contras of doing that in the Philippines there’s zero customer service. No “Thank You” or “You’re Welcome” not a casual conversation. The seller was in it to sell and don’t care if you’re nice or not it’s like buy my stuff and I take your money that was it. Inquiring about the figures and horses that were on display was the only thing that got my attention. I tried to make a deal with the seller he just coldly said its ₱200.00 pesos each and that was it. The experience is like ‘take it or leave it’ attitude or was he going through with something?
It took me a while to decide which one and I understand that he’s going to sell them in his terms without budging to even accept a negotiated deal. It’s cool that it’s his prerogative and it didn’t bother me about not getting a good deal it’s the personality of the seller that lacks that polite attitude to convince you to buy his stuff. I’m not saying not to buy his wares all I’m saying is how he deals with people.
Yes, there are other buyers who just look like they want something from you, but at the end they discourage you that they just pull back at last moment not to get them. It’s the challenges of being a seller but at the end of the day you have to put up with the negativity and just always stay positive no matter if you didn’t get to sell your stuff.
At the same time have a good customer service in dealing with people. There are certain limits of having a good deal and I may not be an expert in that category, but having a good impression with people is important in having a good relation between buyer and customer.
It helps if you let people know kindly and sympathetically that you have limits. But always have room to have options that they can understand so they will know and give them reason to come back for them to buy your stuff. In Australia this will happen like in a perfect world, but in the Philippines you can’t avoid that most people just want to sell and get more. The collecting market is different and it feels like in a gladiator match, but I’m sure there are a few nice sellers out there.
This one just probably had those bad days or it’s his personality how this seller deals with people. It’s just my observation and even though I never had a good deal I got what I need. Unfortunately, the knight doesn’t have the helmet, but that’s okay it’s the red saddle that it’s still in good condition. Unlike the other horse with the blue saddle that also has a rider is complete with helmet and all, but the part where you attach weapons to the sides one of the clamps is broken.
But it’s alright the important part here was the horse still have a minifigure it might not be a good deal not getting both one was enough and that not bad at all.
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