An introduction to collecting car brochures Part 3 What to look for when buying.
If you have read the previous articles in this series you should now have a clear idea of what brochures you are trying to obtain for your collection.
Now for the fun bit! Starting, maintaining and increasing your collection.
As you are collecting second-hand items, the condition of an item you are after can vary dramatically. Also, it does not help that sellers regularly either omit or misdescribe items.
Therefore, it is paramount that you ask the right questions and look for what the seller hasnt said as much as what he has in his advert description.
Having been disappointed on more than a few occasions when a pristine item has arrived through my letterbox, I have a checklist that I consult before committing to buying. The list is as follows:
1)What is the size of the item in centimetres? Pictures can be deceptive and what looks like a 21cm x 29cm item, may be much smaller in size.
2)How many pages long is it? Beware that on smaller brochures, there can be confusion between seller and buyer with what represents a page. My firm only uses the term pages for items that are 6 pages long or more. Otherwise, we use the term number of sides. As a reputable seller, this avoids any confusion and disappointment.
3)What is the reference number of the brochure? Most manufacturers have a code system for their brochures that you will become familiar with very quickly. By keeping a note of the references, you will avoid duplicates in your collection.
4)What is the condition of the brochure? Amazingly, very few sellers have a condition scale attached to the advert (we do). One persons pristine may be fit only for the bin in other collectors eyes! I therefore ignore vague words like the above and ask direct questions Has it any creases or tears and if so how many and how bad? Any fading? Any foxing (A term used to describe stains, specks, spots and blotches in paper)? Any water or damp damage?
5)How will the item be delivered to you? On auction sites especially, it is natural to go for the cheapest posting method. However, if the item is being sent for the cost of the stamp, can you really expect anything more than for it to be delivered in a flimsy envelope? Probably not. The only way that a collectable paper item should be sent is in a card-backed envelope preferably marked do not bend with the item wrapped in plastic to prevent water damage and a return address inside, just in case the postal system loses it. I also insist on a proof of posting, again just in case the item goes missing. For any item over a preset limit, in my case 30/$60, I offer to pay extra for recorded delivery. Better safe than sorry.
If you get a satisfactory answer to the questions above, you will be as certain as you can be that you will get the item and that it will be of a standard reflecting the price you have paid. The list sounds a bit daunting, but essentially it boils down to ensuring you know what you are getting and making sure it arrives in the same condition with which it left the seller.
Many is the time that I have received a sodden envelope that contains a perfectly preserved item because I have insisted on it being wrapped in plastic. If the seller says, he does not normally do this, offer to pay extra for the service or if practical, collect the item. If your seller cannot or will not take this care, may I suggest that you walk away and wait for another to turn up.
Please remember that for older brochures especially, a bit of fading and foxing and the odd crease or small tear is perfectly acceptable. In fact, I prefer an item with a patina to an as new item as it seems to have more character.
Finally, unless it is extremely rare, I would avoid buying any incomplete, falling apart or badly damaged brochures. On the whole, they have little or no value and it is best to wait for a better one to be offered for sale.
Next week, I will be discussing the correct way to store your collection.
Tags: Advert, Blotches, Brochure, Car Brochures, Car Part, Confusion, Creases, Disappointment, Letterbox, Occasions, Reference Number, Specks, Stains, Vague WordsRelated posts
Buying a car can be hard enough; do I want a hatchback, saloon, 4-door, 2-door, convertible, four-wheel drive? How much can I afford to pay for insurance? Furthermore, being given the hard sell in the dealership showroom can add more pressure. However, do we need the hard sell or have we already subconsciously made a decision on the car we would like to buy?
Studies have shown that many customers do not need the hard sell, but instead just a picture to show off the features of the car. Weve all probably seen an advert on television or a picture in a magazine or newspaper, which has made us look at the car and want to have one on the spot! Obviously, it aids the customer if the picture is of something sleek and stylish rather than a rust-bucket, which is why the desirability of vehicles such as a sporty hatchback is high.
Manufacturers are clever in the way that theyll do this. Youll notice on more occasions than not with car adverts that the price provided is not for the car you are seeing. The picture of the car will be the top of the range version with all of the possible extras, but in fact the price youll be told is the starting from price for the lowest car in its range. The price for the actual car you are viewing will usually be in small print at the bottom of the advert.
Do, however, the roles of celebrities come into play in persuading us to purchase a certain make or type of car? I believe that they do.
Take a look at the BMW X5 for example. Since the release of this car, every celebrity and their dog have one. I believe as a consequence of this, the amount of non-celebrities driving this car has risen dramatically. The same can be said for a few cars, which brings the assumption that we, to some extent, base our lifestyles on celebrities, who influence us to purchase cars that are deemed fashionable and popular by them.
The bases for buying a certain car by many will be will my friends laugh at me? and will I look cool in it?. After all, the technological strides of manufacturers recently have meant that the reliability and performance of vehicles is very good, and certainly more than adequate for most drivers using city and country roads. So what else can there be to influence the decision of car buyers other than the cool factor?
Maybe, the running costs and fuel consumption is prominent somewhat; especially for the four-wheel drive and high performance vehicles. However, the celebrity power has certainly persuaded many in their car buying decisions, and will almost definitely continue to do so.
Tags: Advert, Aids, Assumption, Behaviours, Bmw, Bmw X5, Car Adverts, Car Buying, Car Price, Cars, Celebrities, Celebrity, Consequence, Extent, Four Wheel Drive, Insurance, Lifestyles, Occasions, Rust Bucket, Wheel